Memories from Expat Life in Abu Dhabi (Throat Chakra)

I was sitting in Jakarta airport in October 2017, about to fly to Abu Dhabi to step into my new job at an International Private School when I received a DM. It was from someone who ran the alumni newsletter at my High School, who wanted to feature me as an “Alumni Success Story.” I remember thinking, “me? An alumni success story? I’m a 25 year old divorcee who is constantly running away and wanted to kill herself a few months ago  but ok… if you say so!” The proposed feature never moved forward, but what was significant to me was that they had even asked.

That moment was when I realized how warped my own self perception was. Here I was thinking I was the biggest mEsS - and others were looking at my life and considering me successful. And that’s when I realized our lives make up millions of moments. And one moment, where I made a mistake, did not define me as a person.

I landed in Abu Dhabi and it was like someone was opening up the curtains on windows that had been drawn shut for a long, long time. I would describe it honestly as life after death.  I wrote on one Instagram caption that every day was a miracle and everything was magic.

What I remember was for the first time in a long time, I had hope. I would get the feedback from colleagues I worked with that I was always so happy, or always so chill, and I would think, “Yall have no idea what I went through to get to this point.”

The pictures reflect this for me. Brightness. Sunrises. Sunsets. Sweetness. Simplicity.

However, all things come in twos. And with the light, came darkness. I definitely wasn’t telling all my colleagues that I’d run away from Kuwait leaving an apartment behind full of stuff, on a sick leave and was undergoing a divorce.  Minor details.

Shame and secrets make you sick, and as I got introduced to the world of all you can drink brunches and ladies nights in the United Arab Emirates, I began to slide down the drinking scale further and faster than I wanted to.

I got sober about 1.5 years after I moved to the UAE, and because it was the place where I found my true self, I’ll always consider it my home.

In this blog post, I share photos from the first year in Abu Dhabi.

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The throat chakra is the fifth chakra. Its Sanskrit name is Vishudda, or purification. The fifth chakra is physically connected to the shoulders, neck and jaw. It’s all about living your truth and finding peace with your truth (Judith 36).

This is my apartment view over Abu Dhabi. The persian gulf is to the right, that's one of our many swimming pools in front of me. There were several gyms and playgrounds in our complex that I rarely used. It was incredible.

The school provided us with a budget to outfit our apartments, and I was so proud of decorating my new place. I still really miss that apartment in Abu Dhabi. It was very special.

I was so happy to finally have a proper bathtub in my apartment in Abu Dhabi! I loved setting it up at night with nice candles lit.

This is a photo of me shortly after my arrival in Abu Dhabi at the Grand Mosque.

My life, when I got to Abu Dhabi, became a whirlwind of brunches, ladies nights, and day drinking. It's so fascinating when I look at photos of myself there because I just look so different.

In Abu Dhabi I actually loved my teaching job and the school I worked for. I really enjoyed working on things like decorating the classroom. We had plenty of resources, including paper and paint, unlike my school in Abu Dhabi, which made creation a joy.

The desert is incredible in Abu Dhabi and it's only a short drive away from where I lived. Whenever I had guests visiting I would take them for the desert safari.

I spent a lot of time when I was living in Abu Dhabi sitting in five star hotels eating and drinking on every night of the week. It feels so far away from my lifestyle now.

In this photo I am sitting across from the Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque, having cocktails on a Thursday night as the sunset.

A lot of my photos of me in the elevator in my apartment building, my face looks like this. I am guessing it's a sad face because of how hungover I am!

We have Throat Chakra Merchandise Available with the Mindful Life Practice. Here's some of the items!

AUTHENTIC (Throat Chakra) Racerback Tank

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Authentic: Sweat Series

What does it mean to be authentically and unapologetically you? The throat chakra is all about speaking our truth, which is why I’ve created this “Mindful Sweat” five class series intentionally designed to build strength and have fun. 

The Authentic series is unique - because it’s “Mindful Sweat” - a yoga-barre fusion very authentic to me, because I created it.

I became certified to teach Barre classes in 2019, shortly after becoming sober. I loved teaching Barre, but I also felt like an imposter teaching it: it just did not come naturally to me. I was not a ballerina, I was a yogi. That’s why I ended up gradually fusing more and more of my yoga training into my Barre classes, until they became what was authentically me: and thus, “Mindful Sweat” was born.

During these classes, after a yoga-inspired warm-up, we will move into power mode - toning and strengthening the body with functional movement exercises set to upbeat music. Depending on the theme, there may be a focus on core, arms, legs, or cardio: with low impact options offered. We'll seamlessly transition into a mindful stretch at the end, followed by savasana. You'll leave having strengthened and stretched your body, and centered your mind. 

Join as a member at the Mindful Life App and try our sweat classes today here!