Doctor Rana Alsharif is no ordinary young lady. Take a glance at her Instagram account and you’ll be blown away by how strong and determined she really is. In fact, she defies all synonyms of what you or I might consider the ‘norm,’ considering the stereotypes readily associated with women from the Middle East. Aside from being a wife and mother, Rana is a dentist and a weightlifting enthusiast… and if you spend some time reading this article, you will learn that there is more than one way to lift like a woman.
If you believe that Palestinian women huddle all day inside their homes fearing a barrage of bombs, you might be in for a surprise. People in Palestine have found a way around the constraints that have been their constant and unwelcome companion for the last seven decades and counting.
“Our strong belief in God gives us the motivation to live… and live as fully as it is possible for us,” explained Rana. “Palestinians view Gaza as a giant prison where they do not have access to freedom, let alone anything else. However, we do not want to succumb to depression. God gave us the chance to live and we are determined to live in the best way we can.”
Rana moved to the United States five years ago and considers this part of the world her new home. Her parents and other loved ones remain in Palestine. She recalls a childhood that is in stark contrast to what her two-year old son experiences.
“Looking back, I fully realize that my childhood in Palestine was not as normal as it should’ve been for a child elsewhere. Gaza has always been under siege. You cannot travel abroad. There is a severe shortage of electricity and water which, you would agree, are the basic necessities of life nowadays.”
I asked her if she was ever afraid. “Definitely!” she responded, pondering over her answer for a moment. “Can you imagine a child who panics at the mere sound of an airplane zooming through the sky? In a safer, normal part of the world children smile and feel excited at the sight of a jet. But to us, airplanes were a symbol of war. It meant that an Israeli plane might bomb our homes without remorse.”
Her memories would’ve been completely marred with darkness had it not been for her parents’ insistence that they needed to look beyond their limitations and count their blessings, instead.
“My father did not want us to dwell upon our misery,” stated Alsharif. “Instead, he insisted we divert our attention by incorporating positive habits into our daily lives, like exercise.”
Rana’s parents tried their best to raise their children as normally as was possible, given their circumstances. Her family frequented the YMCA in Gaza where they spent hours working out together. “This is how I grew up. My parents were doctors. They understood the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. My father, in fact, was an avid soccer player in his youth. He always encouraged us to make time for physical activity no matter what.”
Aside from focusing on exercise, her father often took the family to an institution that served as a mini version of parliament. Explained Rana, “There, children were given the opportunity to reach out to the legislative council and discuss their basic human rights… It was a chance for us to understand that we had to fight for our survival and that we had a voice. The regular visits conditioned us to hone important skills such as assertiveness and confidence. Meeting with likeminded people encouraged us to dream of a world far beyond the intimidating walls that separate Gaza from the rest of the world.”
Rana did not have any Jewish friends, growing up. “The only time we came in direct contact with them was if we were to pass the border. Now that I’m in the United States, I will have more chances of meeting and befriending Jewish people. How ironic is that?”
I asked her whether that was the majority consensus. “Indeed!” she responded. “We have no problem befriending Jewish people. History attests to the fact that Muslims, Jews, and Christians all lived together in peace for centuries the world over. Our issue is with Zionists – the gang who has stolen our land and claimed it as their own.”
After high school, Rana’s family encouraged her to travel to Jordan for further education. She submitted applications to the schools of medicine as well as dentistry.
“To be honest, dentistry was not my first career option. I wanted to become a doctor but my grades were not high enough to qualify me for medical school. I did, however, receive partial scholarship from the Jordanian government. That, coupled with the fact that the Dentistry school in Jordan accepted my grades, made the decision to enroll easy.”
As she progressed through her coursework, Rana realized that she was meant to become a dentist. “I felt comfortable working with patients and assessing their dental needs. I enjoyed helping them achieve their best smiles and reached the conclusion that this profession, indeed, was my true calling.”
Soon after, she moved to the United States with her husband, Alaa. He, too, is a dentist by profession. In his free time, he encouraged Rana to join him at the gym. Just like her, he had been an athlete his entire life.
“Sports have always been a major part of my life,” said Alaa. “I played soccer in college and dabbled in weight lifting. I hope more people realize that working out is actually good for them. It relieves stress and, more important, teaches discipline.”
The couple joined their local gym and got to work. “She was a little opposed to it at first,” smiled Alaa. “She worried that she might get more buffed than necessary. However, I explained to her that women do not necessarily bulk up unless they take certain steroids and such.”
The thought appealed to Rana and she started to regularly train with her husband by her side.
“He was very encouraging,” added Rana, “The first few times I felt sort of intimidated. I worried people would stare at me not only because I’m a woman… but I’m a woman who wears a hijab. My husband encouraged me to drown out all that unnecessary noise and focus on myself.”
“The point is you must remind yourself constantly to defeat the enemy within if you really want to achieve anything!” Alaa added. “You cannot get anywhere in life if you worry about what others might think… Back home, seeing a woman lifting was unusual. You might see them on the treadmill now and then but watching them with a barbell on their shoulders is not considered an ordinary scene. But then even guys get uncomfortable when they are lifting for the first time. They worry people are watching them because they don’t know what they’re doing.”
“Alaa taught me how to progress slowly from the smallest weights to the heaviest,” shared Rana. “He introduced me to the supplements that helped me develop the stamina necessary to lift heavy and build muscle. I enjoy working out with my husband. I feel safer. He guides me on how to maintain proper posture while weight training, which is very important… and I know I can count on him to spot me when needed.”
“I’m proud of the fact that my wife chooses to lift on her own now!” beamed Alaa. “My advice to other women is to always be yourself. Never feel ashamed of your appearance. Don’t worry about feeling judged because you look different. Embrace your perceived difference, instead, and work hard to get to where you need to be.”
As time has passed, fellow-gym goers have more or less grown accustomed to seeing Rana dominate the weight room. Although the day I worked out with her, I noticed a woman glancing at her in an uncomfortable manner – to put it politely. The interesting fact is that the woman, herself, did not sport an appearance that might conform to what society would consider the norm. She had a half-shaven head, bright blue tresses, and tattoos all over her arms and right cheek. I pondered over the irony briefly until my friend diverted my attention to the leg-press machine.
“Four-hundred pounds?” she teased.
“Sure,” I responded, feeling a bit unsure. It’s been a while since I’ve lifted. A year ago, I could press 420 pounds and do three sets of 15 repetitions. I need to steal inspiration from my friend and get back into the scheme of things.
“I’m more confident than I’ve ever been,” stated Rana. “My husband’s support, not only in terms of body building, but in every aspect of our lives has enabled me to move past my comfort zone and do things that make me truly happy. He is the reason why I’m a different, more aware and mature woman.”
Rana wants everyone to give physical activity more than a passing thought. “It’s not just a matter of having a thin waist or maintaining a certain weight. Exercise can improve your state of mind and allow you to appreciate life more. Believe me when I say that there are people in far worse circumstances who still find ways to not only survive but to enjoy whatever little they have. Physical activity enables them to look on the bright side even in the worst of situations. Here, we are living in a safe environment and have access to the best living conditions. Why should we not live life to the fullest?”
To connect with Rana Alsharif, please visit her instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rtalsharif/
Aleah Worthem says
So proud of you. I love to see women of all races colors and backgrounds not just doing cardio, but lifting weights in the gym!
Seema Khan says
Absolutely! At my gym, I see more and more women crossing that invisible line over to the weight room. It’s always uplifting to see a woman standing in the midst of men. The sweet thing is that the men at my gym allow them space and are generally respectful.
Mikel says
Hi, I’m so supportive of women that do things outside of the norm and I can completely agree about exercise improving the state of mind. In fact I have a friend who swears that since she has started exercising more, she has felt growth not only spiritually but mentally. She’s super happy about the changes she has made in her life. By the way I love the editorial look of this blog.
Seema Khan says
Thank you so very much for your comment. I completely agree. We look towards exercise as a means to change our shape. Although there is nothing wrong with that outlook, the impact working out has on the brain is phenomenal. Our entire attitude can improve if we choose to move more and focus on our abilities rather than our limitations. Warm regards!