Undercover mission

The contours of Ibrahim8217;s body aren8217;t as readily apparent: she leads her exercise classes clad in a headscarf, a long-sleeved tunic that falls to her knees and long black pants 8212; traditional Muslim attire. In March 2006, after spending four years coaching clients in their homes, Ibrahim opened a personal training studio that caters exclusively to women. 8220;A lot of people think that Muslim women stay home. We are out there doing just about everything,8221; Ibrahim said.

With 50,000 in savings and a healthy dose of sweat equity from her four children and her husband, a New Haven police officer, Ibrahim, 31, who is certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, transformed a former falafel restaurant into a spacious-feeling lavender and white studio.

Since 2004, hundreds of women have attended 8220;boot camp.8221; Many of the women who participate in the up-with-the-sun exercise classes at New Haven8217;s Bowen Field are not Muslim. They show up three times a week for an hourlong workout wearing sleeveless T-shirts and shorts or capris. It doesn8217;t seem to matter that their instructor is covered head to toe.

Ibrahim8217;s love of exercise began early.

8220;My sister and I would go to the beach when we were kids in full scarves, long shirts and pants and run into the water. The lifeguards would just stare at us,8221; said Ibrahim.

She didn8217;t begin her own fitness regimen, however, until after the birth of her first child 13 years ago. When she gave birth, Ibrahim, whose pre-pregnancy weight was 115 pounds, weighed almost 200 pounds. 8220;My son weighed 8 pounds,8221; she said. 8220;The rest was me.8221;

Determined to lose the weight, she began tottering from her New Haven home to Bowen Field, three blocks away. Four months later, she was back to 115. Friends, neighbors and the women at the mosque commented on her weight loss and began asking for advice.

Her first clients were Muslim women who wouldn8217;t go to a regular gym because it would involve mixing with men, which would violate their religious principles, she said. 8220;Other women don8217;t exercise because of their dress; they8217;ll say it8217;s too restrictive or they think they can8217;t maintain their modesty 8212; these are just excuses.

8220;I pin my scarf to my shirt so it doesn8217;t fly up when I run. I exercise in the morning or the evening when it8217;s cooler,8221; said Ibrahim, who sews her own cotton exercise tunics. 8220;My clients who refer me don8217;t always tell their friends I8217;m covered,8221; Ibrahim said. 8220;They8217;ll tell them I8217;m black, but they won8217;t tell them I8217;m Muslim.8221; -Janice Podsada LAT-WP