Hi! Tell us about yourself and your training
Hi, my name is Adegbola Maruf. My stage name is Murphy Yoga. I was born on June 23, 1995 (25 years old ). I’m a Nigerian base in Lagos.
It’s been four years now since I started my contortion journey when I discovered how flexible I was. I discovered my flexibility when I was pushed by a friend from a stair case and I was rolling down until I got to the bottoms of the case.
I found myself folded like a fish at the bottom. It was so amazing as people around me started bringing out their phones to take pictures and make some videos.
My hobbies aside from being flexible is swimming. I love going into any kinds of water to swim . So much fun too as well.
Describe a typical day of training
Swimming helps me a lot for arms as it makes them more flexible whenever I go swimming.
I train three times everyday, which is morning, afternoon and night, and I spend four hours on each time.
The equipment I used or what you can find with it are my yoga mat,racket, and my rope that all I make use of when doing my exercises. I don’t really have a special exercise then my back bend.
Yes, I do cardio exercises like swimming. Swimming helps me a lot for arms as it makes them more flexible whenever I go swimming.
I prefer doing my training alone. It makes me more focused and I think straight. Training alone makes me realize how strong I am. So I love doing my training alone.
How do you keep going and push harder?
What keeps me up most times when am done is I would think of where am I coming from and how far I have gone and also think of my future how closer I am and imagined seeing my mum face looking at me.
I always think of my goals and dreams like breaking Guinness World Records and seeing myself teach millions of people how to contort . That’s enough to bring me up when I am so down.
The biggest challenge is people so look down on me when they see me coming up until when they see what I am capable of doing. I don’t know how to kill that in people.
How are you doing today and what does the future look like?
I have been doing so well and happy. So excited to be the best of me, I never give up on myself.
Hopefully in five years, I would love to see myself in a big hall teaching millions how to do what I love doing with the world record certificate.
My advice to my younger self is let no one tells you that you can’t be the best of you. Let no one stop you from being yourself even if these people happen to be your parents.
Prove them wrong and keep on pushing it hard. Keep walking and don’t be so hard on yourself. Soon the world will celebrate with you.
How do you recover, rest and handle injuries?
Here is what I do whenever I got injured: I don’t take medicine.
When my bones hurt, I take hot water to heal myself and I will feel better some hours later.
I usually sleep eight hours every night.
How is your diet and what supplements do you use?
Being a good contortionist, there are some things you need to stop eating/drinking or if possible you can do without or you take lesser of it. E.g like sugar, milk and meat. These major three things give you a lazy body when doing your flexible work out.
Here’s my diet looks like:
- I take boiled potatoes in the morning
- nuts in the afternoon
- and beans in the evening
What has inspired and motivated you?
I got inspired and motivated by listening to music. Most of the time, I would listen to Wizkid songs.
Music cools me down and makes me feel much stronger than before.
I believe music is power.
The best advice I have received is from my bro and my mentor is that I should never stop believing in myself.
Advice for other people who want to improve themselves?
My legs work so perfectly more than my imagination.
Something people don’t believe. I always tell people that no matter how challenges you experience, these should not stop you from pursuing your goals.
Of which I am a living testimony: Two legs are bent (bow legs) and I bend perfectly with it. Nothing I can’t do with the legs. My legs work so perfectly more than my imagination.
Keep on doing what you are doing. Your time would surely come. You just need to work out and be ready for the opportunity coming your way.
Are you taking on clients right now?
Not at the moment.
Where can we learn more about you?
Instagram: @murphy_yoga
Twitter: @murphy_yoga
