Abdullah Interviews Yousef Al-Qanai

I love nay sayers, naysayers are a gift. They make you want to prove them wrong, work hard on yourself, create something new and blaze a new route to success.

I understand that many of you are very familiar with AYMSTRONG, a community that supports fitness and overall well being. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about this community, starting with the meaning of the word AYMSTSTRONG, vision, goals and the master mind behind it all.

Today’s guest is Mr.Yousef Al-Qanai, CEO and founder of AYMSTRONG. I have not met the guy honestly, but we communicate over email a lot, he seems fun and down to earth yet focused and determined to achieve everything he puts his mind to.

There are many wonderful highlights in this interview, however, my personal favorite is how he went on to study a field that seems intangible to his parents, his culture and country all in all. Still, he made a success story out of this situation, created his own company, certified as a fitness expert from the ISSA, DWFitness and is now the youngest arab to ever join a Marathon Des Sables, which will be held in 2011.

Also, Yousef was kind enough to share his success story, his before and after transformation pictures, lots of deep candid details that await you readers.

Yousef, speak !
My name is Yousef Faisal AL-Qanai. Founder & CEO of AYMSTRONG, and a Fitness Expert accredited by the International Sports and Sciences Association (ISSA), and (DWFitness).  I have also earned a Business Degree from The University of Tasmania in Australia, studied in ACK Kuwait.

My interest is Health & Fitness Training.  And my favorite sport is running. I also like creativity by all means, anything that moves our emotions, Sport does it for me, im just so passionate about life.

Give me a small brief about AYMSTRONG
AYMSTRONG’s name is derived from the word (I AM STRONG) just spelled differently in our unique way.

Our Vision is to be the leader in the human empowerment industry, making sure that every client joining our cause leaves leading a healthier and a more productive life. Our Mission is to guide and empower our clients to develop them selves, through a community of qualified experts, events, and activities.

Our Logo is a ‘Trace of a wolf on a rock’ Its a symbol of guidance to follow a trace.  I have chosen this theme as a way to show strength and guidance to all the people that joins our programs.  At AYMSTRONG We guide our clients to a healthier and a more productive life. The trace is the sign for that.

Our Departments in AYMSTRONG
Health & Fitness (HF):
Delivers events and activities in the field of Health & Fitness.

Human Development (HD):
Delivers events and activities that aims at developing human potential (Such as business, media, art…etc).

What inspired you to tap into who you are now  ?
I spent my early years gaining weight and becoming obese, up until i was 17 i was weighting 130 KG with no hope at all. and one day i woke up in the morning and decided that i don’t like who i am and i must do something about it NOW.  Procrastination is not allowed when it comes down to your health and happiness being on the line.

I lost 50 KG in a period of 8 months, then started doing sports to get in shape. A year after that i realized that i should help people do the same, so i studied health & Fitness from ISSA and earned my accreditation, and now I’m training for the ‘Toughest Footrace on Earth’ The Marathon Des Sables.
You can follow and comment on my training HERE

Tell us about the Marathon Des Sables (MDS) And why do you want to join it ?
The MDS is the toughest challenge known to humanity, its a 240 KM distance of footrace in the middle of the Sahara of Morocco, for a period of 6 days. The reason i want to join it is because its the total opposite of how i was. To go from being overweight, to a fitness expert to finishing the toughest footrace on earth is a dream, and its a Miracle that will help me deliver and strengthen the message of AYMSTRONG. Which is to be STRONG in every aspect of your life and to know your purpose in life.

And i hope by achieving such victory, to be able to help others take on their Marathon in Life stronger and in a more positive manner.

What differs you from the rest of the competition out there?
Our Passion differs us, everybody working with AYMSTRONG or volunteered to working with us shares one passion, which is our purpose and role to humanity.

We have a strong belief in the importance of leadership, i feel ashamed to say that a lot of the people around me these days have lost their leadership sense and their leadership responsibility, some will argue by saying they are not in position that requires their leadership, it is wrong, we are leaders to our younger brothers and sisters and we are responsible to influence with honor.

What difficulties came along the wat, how did you overcome them ?
The first difficulty i faced is studying Fitness Training. Because it is not very common in Kuwait to study this field, it is not a popular one and our culture has its own way of thinking that we should do what everybody does to remain sustainable and achieve security.  In a way, its correct, being a Fitness Expert will not secure me a job here in Kuwait, but building the first health and fitness company from scratch ? worked pretty fine.

All those boundaries,, breaking them wasn’t easy to do at all. At a certain point i had to prove to my family and the people around me that passion in what you do is the king that takes down all boundaries. even boundaries as big as China’s great wall.  No typicality or cultural restrictions should ever limit our desire to achieve what we want deep inside of us.

Future Plans ?
I am currently preparing for the Marathon Des Sables 2011, They have recognized me as the youngest Arab ever to participate at this Marathon. Training has been extremely difficult, but i will never give up.

Future Plans for AYMSTRONG. I want to host international events that gets people involved and to make a difference that remains forever.

Support, family & friends ?
My family supported me all the way to start my business, mainly my parents, all respect to them.

My University doctors,  Dr.Christine, Dr.Rosa, Dr.Hernan, Dr.Serguei, Mr.Chris Picone, and Ms.Vasilya.  They are the best teachers in the world, i learned life from them before i learned education, and they offered their support for me from the start.

Special people like Mark Gillett, and my cousin Hussain Al-Essa supported me all the way with their knowledge and experience.

My best friends ‘Alwyn, Mido, Nabeel, Faisal’ are one of the few people that always believed in me, its very rare to find people like them nowadays.

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now ?
Im in the boat of life, Wherever it takes me, ill deal with its beauty and counter its difficulty.  I see myself doing events all around the globe to deliver the message of AYMSTRONG.

Throw something for p0ach.com readers !
The reason of success, is being passionate in what you do. If you are not passionate about your current self, current job or current or current being. Know that its all due to choices you have made earlier in your life, and choices you have made yesterday and today. And its never tomorrow to make a change.

Always always remember this quote “You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore”. – André Gide

The quote means, that If you remain at your comfort zone at everything you do, you will never discover new oceans. Take on the boat, surf with a goal in mind, and BELIEVE that if you get lost along the way, the earth is round so does the whole universe and one day you must find land, which is your goal.

Contact:
yousef@alqanai.com
AYMSTRONG
Personal Website
Skype: yousefalqanai