Breaking Barriers

Bismah Ahmed, Miss District of Coumbia, with her awards: Miss Fitness Award, Ambassador of District of Columbia Award, and the Miss DC recognition

Bismah Ahmed, the new Miss DC, lobbies for real representation – and affordable housing

ABHIJIT MASIH

Bismah Ahmed, a Pakistani American, is the new Miss District of Columbia. She now has a shot at becoming Miss America when the competition is held in August.

Ahmed, the first South Asian Muslim to win the Miss DC for America crown, spoke to SEEMA about her Pakistani heritage, her road to Miss Washington DC and what that win means to her.

Tell us about your background.

My parents are both from Pakistan. My mom went to college in Turkey and then came here. My dad came here when he was in elementary or middle school, so he was younger. Yeah, so then they

Miss Capitol Hill in Washington DC

MISS DC FOR AMERICA LOVES

Favorite show – “Bridgerton” Favorite movie – Superhero movies, Marvel movies. Avenger movies. Favorite outfit – A suit. “I know that

sounds crazy. But having a fun suit is my favorite thing.”

met after college and got married. And they’ve always been in Virginia.

How was it growing up in Virginia when for most South Asian kids it’s really challenging?

It was very challenging. You have to find a balance. You don’t want to disrespect culture in any way. You want to honor that. But then you also want to fit in to this society you’re growing up, especially when you’re born here. It can be confusing. Like with everybody’s journey, you find yourself and what’s true to you and how you want to make that balance.

What causes do you want to amplify during your reign?

One of the big things that I’m advocating for is diversity and representation, diversity and beauty – making sure that people who look like us are out there too, because we’re part of the community.

You have a full-time day job. Tell us about it and your other interests?

I work for the Apartment and Office Building Association. I started working for them seven years ago. I am a lobbyist. I am in politics. I’m the Vice President of Government Affairs for Virginia. Then I won Miss DC, which is really cool. I’m the first South Asian, Pakistani person to win. I think it’s really great to get the awareness, which I’m excited to do.

When did you realize you were interested in the glamour world and that you could be part of it?

Actually, I didn’t sign up for Miss DC until two months before the competition. I got the call while I was in my busy session for work. And I was, like, I guess I’ll do it. I’ve never done anything like this before. So it was very unexpected. It came out of nowhere.

How supportive were your parents in you entering the Miss DC competition, your choice of pursuing a career in beauty and glamour?

There was a lot of misinterpretation on what it actually is, how I’m presenting myself and all of that. But once we had that conversation, there was more understanding. You know, because

“ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I’M ADVOCATING FOR IS DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION, DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY – MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE US ARE OUT THERE TOO, BECAUSE WE’RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.”

I’m really going out there representing my culture. I definitely am more covered up than everybody else.

You are the first South Asian Muslim Miss DC? What does that mean to you, especially as a Muslim?

I think it means that our voice is heard nationally. And I think that there is that representation that you keep talking about, it’s like we’re part of this community, we are here. We should have a voice. This is an unexpected way to do it. But even in politics, I usually work with older white men. I’m very diverse in my politics, where I’m a minority woman. It was really hard to break into that field and get people to take you seriously when you are so different. But I think that it’s our responsibility to kind of break the mold.

What are your thoughts on tokenism in the fashion world? Do you think we, as South Asians, are filling in to complete the color palette?

I think that we are getting there. I think there is a lot of work to be done. For example, there was another Muslim that competed, and she was a hijabi. Her name was Halima. And now, you know, she has made national headlines because she was covered up and she was different. There are people going into the beauty field and breaking those barriers. And they’re being noticed. I think that once more people start going into these fields or getting noticed, it’s gonna become way more normalized.

How’s the preparation coming along for Miss America in August?

It’s been interesting. I think that there’s so much work and I have to work with designers and all of that. It’s really cool. I also have a lot of support from friends and family. So they’re helping me out a lot and helping me make my dresses, and stitch those dresses out for me... just helping me go through all the work. Some of my friends are makeup artists, they’re doing my makeup for all my events… Hairstylists... It takes a whole team. But I’m so proud that I have so much support.

What’s that one thing that you’re really anxious about for the competition?

I don’t know if I’m anxious about it. I’m excited to bring that diverse take that nobody else will bring. But I guess anxious [about] maybe walking in heels.

It’s a great platform. What are the issues you want to address using this platform?

My concern also is affordable housing. I’m a sevenyear lobbyist for the housing industry. I think we need more money, especially in the DMV, for affordable housing. This is something that I advocate for every single day. I talk to politicians about this. We need to make sure our federal and state funding for housing is there. That’s something that I’m very passionate about.

Name an inspirational woman who you consider a role model?

There are so many women that I feel like I need... It’s hard to come up with one specifically. I think my mom is a role model for me. She’s been through a lot in her life and has overcome a lot. Just seeing that example has helped me become who I am today.

NEW STAR IN THE YOGA FIRMAMENTS

Modern-day guru and cultural icon Aditi Shah takes things to the next level

ABHIJIT MASIH

Woodstock 1969 is synonymous with a weekend in upstate New York with a legendary status in music history. The first-ever mega music festival, it quickly spiraled out of control, with an almost 450,000-strong crowd turning up despite the rain. To calm the crowd, the organizers called in yoga guru Swami Satchidanand, who gave the opening address, setting a tone of peace that lasted through the three days of the festival.

Unlike in the East, and more specifically unlike India, yoga in the US does not go back too long. The credit of bringing this idea to America is attributed to Swami Vivekanand, who gave a famous speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. In just over a century, yoga has become a mainstream path to wellness among everyday Americans and celebrities alike. A practice that was unheard of in the West is now being promoted, practiced and taught by modern day gurus – such as Aditi Shah.

Shah, is a Peloton instructor for whom yoga goes beyond movement and a practice that can bring freedom and joy to life. She has lived and practiced yoga both in India and New York City. She has been named one of New York City’s best instructors and helped launch Peloton yoga and meditation in 2018.

She is an extraordinary young yoga instructor whose popularity stems from her lifelong relationship with yoga.

Calming the Energy With Yoga

Shah lacked the calm composure and serenity you associate with a yoga instructor while growing up in New Jersey. She speaks about her bohemian younger self, “I was such a wild child growing up. I was running around outdoors, climbing trees, and didn’t really understand how to slow down.”

Jersey Girl

“I grew up in Bridgewater. Now there are some temples in that area and there is a South Asian population, but when I grew up, it was me and, you know, two or three other South Asians. I was lucky enough to visit India at least once a year, I think my first trip to India was when I was, like, six months old. I really, you know, felt so at home in India.”

Return to India

After college, she moved to Bengaluru, where her parents had retired to. At an age when many are conflicted about careers, Shah explored interests in the creative fields but always found her way back to yoga.

She recalls, “I didn’t really fall in love with this practice until I got a little older and felt that pull to slow down myself, to explore myself a little bit deeper, or to explore these questions looming in my mind, as I was trying to figure out how to become an adult.”

Finding Herself First

Shah majored in mathematics, and did the usual internships that could have led to a career in investment banking. But she could not picture herself in a role that limited her to a predictable box.

“I realized that that’s really not something I didn’t see myself doing and living a happy life,” she said. “It just didn’t feel right for me.” But, like her mother, she was always aware of the creative side of herself, having played the violin ever since she was a kid, and, then, because she had a penchant for the bright lights.

“I’ve always loved being on camera, and I thought I’m gonna go for it,” Shah said. “My mom – my parents – were, honestly, quite supportive. Kudos to them. They were and always have been so supportive and incredible, through my changing life path.”

Single Girl in Mumbai

The love for the camera took Shah to tinsel town, to consider a career in modeling or Bollywood. She did a few assignments for international brands such as Garnier and Revlon, but her move to Mumbai was temporary.

“I think I learned so much from moving to a new

Aditi Shah’s parents introduced her to yoga country in a new city. I have the advantage of feeling somewhat at home with India in general, because I grew up going to India, but it’s very different [being there]. Let me tell you, as a single woman who moved to a city like Mumbai, it’s a completely different culture and way of life in India versus [as against] New Jersey.”

Shah didn’t take to the city as most people usually do. However, she did find a few positives.

“I really enjoyed the adventure,” she said, “I was lucky enough to find some amazing friends and have this really incredible career as a creative person. And I really enjoyed every moment of being on camera.”

Off to New York City with Half a Suitcase of Clothes

Shah carried on for a while and then found her way back to the U.S.

“I ended up in New York as I signed with agencies to pursue another different acting course at Stella Adler,” Shah said. While in

NYC, Shah decided to work upon an idea that was brewing for a long time within her.

“I had this idea that when I retire, I’m going to open a yoga studio, like that was my retirement plan. So starting in India,

I started learning a little bit more and

I was practicing there with teachers.

And when I moved back to the US, I thought, ‘Why don’t I get a certification that will count in the U.S.’” Yoga was a standard in the Shah household, whether in New Jersey or in India. Her parents introduced her to the practice and the philosophies that went with it. But she really reconnected and fell in love with yoga when studying in New York. It was there that she decided to make it her vocation. “Earlier, I wasn’t really sure,” Shah said. “I’d just been studying with teachers one-on-one in India, not in any kind of an organized way. I came here and did a training session that summer [with] Stella Adler. It just really changed my perspective. So I stayed in New

“I HAD THIS IDEA THAT WHEN I RETIRE, I’M GOING TO OPEN A YOGA STUDIO, LIKE THAT WAS MY RETIREMENT PLAN. SO STARTING IN INDIA, I STARTED LEARNING A LITTLE BIT MORE AND I WAS PRACTICING THERE WITH TEACHERS. AND WHEN I MOVED BACK TO THE US, I THOUGHT, ‘WHY DON’T I GET A CERTIFICATION THAT WILL COUNT IN THE U.S.”

Aditi Shah says she was a “wild child” growing up

York with half a suitcase of clothes and some savings and yeah, decided to start your yoga world.”

Changing Pathways

She did a few gigs on TV in the U.S., but a promising acting career could not keep Shah away for long from yoga, and she finally spurned the arc lights for asanas. She says yoga was a constant in her life even when she was in India.

“When I was in Bangalore with my mom practicing all the time, she would ask me, why don’t you think about opening a yoga school or learning a little bit more about yoga? Yoga, at that point, was something I wanted for myself; I didn’t see it as a career. But I’ve always been really interested in being creative. What I love about it is the opportunities to storytell and to connect on this human level, which is really why I think I also like being a teacher now.”

Her love for yoga was a gradual extension of her love of movement. Even while very young, she was curious to experience how people find wholeness, joy and some sort of meaningful and deep connection through yoga.

She says, “I practiced because it made me feel good. And I learned because I was curious about it. And as I became

more and more of a practitioner, the more I felt like I needed to learn some of the philosophy behind it. What are all these different practices? And how do I know what’s the right one for me? What am I supposed to be feeling or doing?”

Storytelling Through Yoga

Shah explains the storytelling through yoga that she advocates and practices:

“The way in which I think about yoga and meditation and all of these practices is that they are very selfreflective. When we take the opportunity to reflect, whether that’s through asana practice, through meditation, or through any form in which we are choosing to reflect upon ourselves, we start to uncover the ways in which we are storytelling. The ways in which I decide that I’m strong, or I am good enough for this, or that I’m self-doubting. When we start to look inward honestly, we have the space to discover the ways in which we relate to ourselves and others. That’s what I mean by storytelling.”

The Rapid Spread and Acceptance of Yoga in the West

As mentioned earlier, yoga is a recent import to the

West. In fact, the first studio opened in the U.S. in 1947, when Indra Devi became the first Westerner to study with Sri Krishnamacharya, considered the grandfather of yoga in America. Since then, the ideas and practices of various kinds of yoga have flown in thick and fast from the

East. Shah explains why things changed so fast: “Yoga offers this deeper way of connecting with ourselves. I feel that meditation and yoga offer us a lens through which we can start to look at the stories we’re telling ourselves, the ways we create the story of our lives, create the stories of our relationships, and in which we perhaps keep ourselves from feeling freedom. You can replace the word

“freedom” with a lot of different ones. I think that opportunity is invaluable. So, hopefully, I think those feelings of connecting in a deep way and the opportunity to maybe relate to yourself differently through all these different sorts of yoga and meditation practices… I hope that’s what draws people.”

Entering the Cool Peloton Community

Even though Shah had tasted success and popularity through her television roles, the most significant being the Emmy-winning “Inside Amy Schumer,” meteoric fame came with Peloton.

A combination of the practice and philosophy of yoga saw her being named one of New York City’s best instructors. That helped in the launch of Peloton yoga and meditation in 2018.

Shah described how that came about.

“I was teaching in New York City, running teacher training, and [holding] a meditation pop-up. Peloton reached out to me. They slid into my DMs [direct messages]. That was smart – just asking if I was interested as Peloton was thinking about beginning a yoga vertical. Would I be interested in, perhaps, auditioning?” After an audition and a few rounds of interviews that led to another stint before the camera, she was a star.

Peloton Popularity – Peak and Pitfalls

The height of the pandemic saw Peloton enjoying a market cap of $50 billion. The company founded only in 2012 experienced incredible success – and a few setbacks, including a couple of recalls for a bike and treadmill. With a new CEO at the helm, the company seems to be miles ahead of competition that came up

PHOTO CREDIT : PELOTON APPAREL

Aditi Shah’s love for yoga is an extension of her love of movement

with their own low-cost alternatives to Peloton.

Shah explains why she got a cult following.

“I love my students, I am really, genuinely, authentically, interested in sharing these practices in a way that is accessible. I hope that’s a part of why I can relate to a lot of people, and that they relate back to me. I am lucky to have this awesome community of Peloton. They really show up, and they’re really supportive. I love connecting with them, hearing their stories, and watching their wins. So yes, I think it’s a pretty cool job.”

In-Person Vs On-Camera Sessions

Shah does not mind the medium she teaches in.

“Whether you are teaching in person or through a camera, I think so much of being a teacher is about being a human, sharing a practice through your experience, and being willing to be vulnerable so you can connect with other people,” Shah said.

Balance Is Not Achievable

When people talk about balance, I think it is not always achievable,” Shah says. “It’s not always a reasonable expectation, depending on what our

SHAH’S LIFE MANTRAS

• Yoga, meditation and other such practices are very self-reflective. When we start to look inward honestly and we have the space for us to discover the ways in which we’re relating to ourselves and others. • Feelings of connecting in a deep way and the opportunity to relate to yourself differently, through all these different sorts of yoga and meditation practices, is the drawing factor to yoga. • So much of being a teacher is about being a human and sharing a practice through your experience and being willing enough to be vulnerable that you can connect with other people. • Balance is not always achievable. It’s not always a reasonable expectation, depending on what our goals are. But it is a reasonable expectation to have priorities. • Meditation is a deep and meaningful practice. There’s a lot of bang for your buck because if you spend five or 10 minutes on it daily, it really can change a lot for you. • It’s helpful to think about getting into meditation as habit stacking. You brush your teeth every day. The same way, just add meditation to that. • There is space for everyone. We all can support one another and still rise together. • Failure is just pointing you in a different direction. It’s not anything wrong or bad.

It’s an opportunity – like data.

“I FEEL THAT MEDITATION IS SUCH A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL PRACTICE, THERE’S A LOT OF BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. YOU SPEND 5 OR 10 MINUTES ON A DAILY BASIS, AND IT REALLY CAN CHANGE A LOT FOR YOU”

goals are. But I do think it is a reasonable expectation for us to have priorities.” She believes the individual needs to decide what should take precedence.

Shah also has advice on what could help one ascertain your priorities – meditation.

“I feel that meditation is such a deep and meaningful practice, there’s a lot of bang for your buck,” she says. “You spend 5 or 10 minutes on a daily basis, and it really can change a lot for you.”

Finding Time to Discipline the Mind

From my own experience, there were two main impediments for me when I attempt to meditate – finding time and keeping my mind from wandering off.

Shah offers wisdom to overcome both challenges,

“I think that’s such a relatable experience,” she says. “I think that everybody’s felt that way, including me. It’s helpful to think about getting into meditation as habitstacking. You brush your teeth every day. The same way, just add meditation to that. So every time you brush your teeth in the morning, you meditate every morning.” She even discusses how to rid the mind of the clutter of thoughts.

“Concentration on any object can be a meditation practice,” she says. “I really liked Boston meditation, which is a little different from the yoga philosophy… But I love it. It gives me the space to not completely clear my brain. It gives me the space to relate to myself in a different way, where I can be the observer of what’s happening, as opposed to trying to get rid of everything that’s happening. So that, to me, is a game-changer. It’s like finding a practice or a teacher that helps you to be able to meditate in whatever way that you want to meditate. Kudos to you if you can find that space – while gardening, walking or running.”

Is Yoga Alone Sufficient for a Toned Body?

No, is her honest answer. While regularly practicing yoga can help increase flexibility and muscle strength, it may have to be supplemented with some other exercises.

“Asanas can be challenging. It is a movement practice. All these other parts of yoga generally encourage healthier lifestyles,” Shah said. “Everybody’s body is different. So it’s hard to know what anything looks like on anybody else. I like to mix it up. I love to practice yoga, but I also like to weight-train, and I love Pilates. I run, I’m just interested in being active. And so I do a lot of other things, too.”

Overcoming Anxiety Through Yoga

Shah addresses the way she dealt with anxiety – and how that method can help others.

“One of the things that really helped me when I began teaching was to think about the fact that when I walk into a classroom, it’s not about me,” she said. “It’s about what I have to share. It’s about that information. It’s not about me personally. The thing that has helped me the most is remembering that I’m human, and I’m talking to other humans, and it’s okay to do that. If you’ve ever taken my class, I fall over all the time. I’m not a perfect person, I think being comfortable with being vulnerable has been hugely helpful to me.”

Failure, a Stepping Stone to Fulfillment

Shah’s life has had many inflection points, which took her from Bridgewater to Bangalore to Mumbai and finally to New York City. Her career took many turns as well – from modeling and acting to finally her true calling as a yoga instructor. Having lived alone in Mumbai and New York City, Shah has good advice for young women to survive and thrive on their own.

She advises in the same homiletic manner: “A place like New York City is really competitive. I truly believe that there is space for everyone. We all can support one another and still rise together. The other thing I really strongly believe is that failure is just; it’s just pointing you in a different direction. It’s not anything wrong or bad. It’s an opportunity. It’s like data, basically telling me how I can problem-solve creatively. Those are two things that have really helped me personally.”

Shah’s popularity as a yoga instructor evidently is not just due to physical practice and teaching, but also due to her deep understanding of the psychology behind the practice. Shah may not be a swami addressing a crowd of rock and roll fans, but with her knowledge of practice and philosophy, she surely is a rock star in the yoga world.