My article on Durga Puja fashion, published in Northeast Today

My article on Durga Puja fashion in Northeast Today

My Tai Chii article in Maxposure group "Tridhatu" (Tathastu) magazine

My Tai Chii article in Maxposure group "Tridhatu" (Tathastu) magazine

Gracefully Tai Chi

 

Extremely beneficial for both the mind and body, Tai Chi is gaining popularity these days. But if you are expecting magic overnight, this form of exercise derived from martial art is not for you. A slow but graceful art, people sometimes tend to get bored as it requires patience and leave halfway but if you are under the right instructor, you will definitely continue. So it’s better know more about it and then take the plunge.

 

Kakoli Thakur

 

What is Tai Chi?

Tai Chi can best be defined as a moving form of yoga and meditation combined. Originally derived from an old Chinese martial art form, it is a sequence of movements performed slowly and gracefully. The main aim of Tai Chi is to foster the circulation of this 'chi' within the body, enhancing the health and vitality of the person. It also helps to foster a calm and tranquil mind.

Tai chi is not like yummy fast food and you cannot learn it in 15 days, so do not get fooled by people who tell you it’s possible. “You have to understand the essence, there is a whole process and you have to go step by step. You cannot jump from A to B. You can learn B only when A is already inside you clear. Don’t go by the glamour of the dress or the institute, check the credentials before joining any classes,” says expert Kanishk Sharma, who has been practising Tai Chi for the last 26 years.

“Dedication, understanding and loving of the art is important when you want to learn Tai Chi. It’s very important from whom you are learning.”

Talking about one of his favourite students, Buddha Paul, he said, “I found this homeless boy in Pune. He was hungry for martial arts and some Karate guy was fooling him. I trained him for two years and now he is training the boys in the Indian Army.”

Different studies across the world have shown the benefits of Tai Chi. It helps in mind-body coordination, it increases inner body strength, generates inner strength.

A study from Ireland found that a combo of exercise, meditation, and breathing helped relieve anxiety and depression among participants.

It helps increase muscle strength, flexibility and balance and tackles diseases like anxiety, arthritis, fatigue, joint stiffness, muscle tension, poor posture and stress – common among the fast-paced lives of executives and corporates.

Says Tai Chi expert JK Singh: “There is no age factor, people who prefer soft martial art due to old age can prefer Tai Chi.”

Tai Chi has different levels but it takes around six months to learn basic course. After that people can practise at home for fitness.

According to Tai Chi expert Rajeev Sabharwal, Tai Chi is a self-healing art. “It is slow meditation through hand and leg movements. It helps people who have blood pressure, arthritis, spine problem, dizziness, etc.”

The problem is that people get excited after reading about it a lot but since these are slow exercises, they get bored, he says. “People should be matured enough to know its benefits, I would say if they are above 18 they can understand its depth. To maintain fitness we teach 18 moves, which takes around 20 to 25 classes to learn. If one practises between 20 and 40 minutes on a regular basis, it’s enough,” Sabharwal elaborates.

But when one wants to take it professionally, it’s like a journey; it can be 10 years, 15 years or even more. “Though I am an instructor I still feel I have a long way to go,” says Sabharwal.

In layman terms, the breathing exercises along with hand and leg movements help to open all blockages inside our body, it’s a fight between muscles to generate inner strength.

People even with heart ailments and other chronic diseases should practise Tai Chi.

Rajeev Sabharwal shared an experience, “Once a woman from China came to me and said, ‘I am from China, I know the health benefits of Tai Chi, I have cancer, please teach me so that I gain inner strength to fight the cancer inside me.’ I was touched. While practising Tai Chi, we breathe in and out again and again through slow exercises. The oxygen we take in again and again helps in healing any disease.”

 

Different types of Tai Chi styles:

Most beginners think of Tai Chi as just one art form and don’t realize the multitude of styles available.

The five major Tai Chi styles are:

Yang style is widely practiced worldwide.

Wu style emphasize small, compact movements.

Chen style is the original style. It alternates slow-motion movements with short, fast, explosive and appeals youth and martial artists.

Hao style is rare. Its primary focus is on internal chi movements with physical motions being much less important.

Combination styles mix and match movements from the four other styles.

 

Fee structure:

·        Fee varies from institute to institute. Generally starts from Rs 3000 per month.

·        The fee varies from instructor to instructor. Can be anything between Rs 500 and Rs 1000 per class.

 

Why Tai Chi:

·        Movements are low-impact and gentle and put minimal stress on muscles and joints.

·        The risk of injury is very low.

·        Can do it anywhere, anytime.

·        It requires very little space and no special clothing or equipment.

·        Can do it at own pace.

·        It's non-competitive.

·        It can be done in groups or alone.

 

 

Article on winter fashion, published in Northeast Today

http://www.northeasttoday.in/go-stylish-chill/​



Article on winter fashion in Northeast Today

Durga Puja, down memory lane

Durga Puja, down memory lane

 

The word Durga Puja gets every Bengali into a festive mood and equally excited, no matter in which part of the world he or she stays in. As Durga Puja is approaching on October 1, I get nostalgic thinking about those four days during our growing up years. The first thing that came to our mind was shopping, and counting dresses (whether we had at least two dresses for each of the four days). Then came the unending wait: counting how many days and then, how many hours were left for Durga Ma to arrive.

For mornings, there were strict instructions from our mothers to collect flowers and offer them at the puja mandap. It was only during that time of the year when we were early risers. To get more and more flowers, we did not hesitate even to climb the hills to get the best of the lot (in our native place, foothills of Guwahati, Assam). Toy guns were a special possession. So were those moments when we fought with our siblings over bullet rolls to insert in our guns, especially to shoo away boys who would run after us with their guns to dig holes in our new dresses.

We got special permission to roam around with friends during daytime and satiate out taste buds with all the ice-creams, chat and what not with a little raise in our pocket money as special puja allowance. Lunch time was standing in long queues in the sun to get the most tasty food in puja pandals. Evening time was hopping from one pandal to another, admiring different idols and pandal decorations with our parents. If not, then we sit in our neighbourhood pandal and chat with friends on every topic and have a snack break after every half an hour. We went home just to change dresses and to sleep at night, dead tired after roaming the whole day.

As we stepped into our teenage years, Puja time was proposal time from boys. Though we got excited at each proposal but we would love to say ‘NO’ to all and giggle at everything.

But things are no more the same. Now the first thought that comes to our mind is whether we would get leave. With mall culture entering our lives in a big way and shopping becoming a normal phenomenon, buying clothes no more has the same charm. Now children love to play more with computers and mobiles. And there is no safety, so we are scared to send our children to roam carefree like we did in our childhood.

Still, a few things are still the same: The wait for puja, buying at least something new to wear, having yummy prasad in pandals and tasty snacks from all food stalls visible. The special beat of the dhak and the chant Durga Mai ki Jai take us down memory lane! On Dashami day, we still feel the vacuum inside after the immersion of the idol. Only a Bengali can understand the importance of Durga Puja in their lives with the belief ‘Achche bochor abar hobe!’ (Ma will come again next year).

Follow my blog: Mixed Bag

 

 

published in assam tribune, Good bye Orkut, thank you Facebook!

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/showpage.asp?id=Sunday_Reading,2,348,216,1068,717

Linked to the world

As news of Orkut signing out of cyber space started doing the rounds, a sense of déjà vu sank in. For us, Orkut would always be special. For, it was our first brush with social networking cutting across distance, cities and even countries. This was where we first discovered our long lost friends, kept in touch with colleagues and relative and shared our precious moments captured in camera with our nearest and dearest ones. That was time when people used to look in aghast at those who were not part of Orkut. That was till Facebook arrived on the scene and became a part and parcel of our lives.

When Orkut finally logs out in September, I will definitely remember it but won’t miss it much thanks to Facebook. Orkut was

 

good as start-up, but Facebook with its vast options is way ahead. It is like switching from a basic cell phone to a touchscreen smartphone –like we remember our first Nokia 3315 that would not break even if thrown on the floor but don’t miss it as now we have our iphones, Samsung Galaxy phones or the Nokia Lumias.

Facebook is now like our cup of morning tea – if we don’t check it once we get up we don’t get that kick that refreshes us for the rest of the day – and also like the daily newspaper – if we don’t read it we miss out on the daily updates of friends and all that they have shared.

Now with smartphones in every hand, not being online on FB 24x7 is almost like being an outcast.

Like on Facebook is full of action; it makes the most introvert person in real life and outspoken and witty in the cyber world. It’s a 24/7 competition for many who keep on posting status almost every hour to outdo each other.

While some self-proclaimed models feel FB is a platform to showcase their pictures, others post pictures of their babies daily as if it’s a baby book.  And still many others click pictures just to post them no matter how small is the occasion is or whether it’s any occasion at all. If it’s an outstation trip, then a new album or multiple albums follow suit.

Some give a daily dose of their lives, about their mood, what’s in menu, husband’s new ways of romancing, kids’ daily progress, books to read, movies to watch, just random videos and thoughts and what not.

One of my office colleagues, who thinks he is a scholar, always is after those who are into Facebooking, “What will happen to today’s youth who is wasting time on Facebook.” I am sure he is not alone, but I want to tell them that it may be sheer madness but Facebook has its own charm.

On the flip side, then there are human bugs who have the irritating habit of tagging – and bugging -- all in whatever they post. A Facebook friend’s friend used to tag me in everything – right from her good morning wish and different thoughts throughout the day and end with a good night. I had to put my friend in the acquaintance list because of that taggy friend of hers.

Then there are those who take pride in declaring their smallest of achievement with élan, giving others the chance to mock at them. Once I had a message war with one of my ex-colleagues who was upset because I forgot to click the ‘like’ button when she posted about her local beauty pageant success.

Many make their relationship public and some even declare break-ups on Facebook. Once when it happened with one of my relatives, the boy had to say sorry to the girl when people started sending him hate messages because of breaking a relationship with a girl on a social network.

But then Facebook is not about sharing random things. Time and again, it has played a very important role in spreading important information and uniting masses – be it the Anna movement or the December 16 rape aftermath in Delhi.

Sometimes I wonder how life will be without Facebook. As I deleted Orkut account today, I thank my stars that I have Facebook to keep me connected to the world.

 

Health article --- Add fun to fitness...in Maxposure group "DLF Promenade" magazine

My health article in a Maxposure Media Group magazine

 

Going unconventional

Kakoli Thakur

Staying fit has become the mantra to beat today’s hectic lifestyle. While some hit the gym, others start taking yoga classes. But no matter how much they try, they often get bored and tend to discontinue. So, more and more people are looking for hatke options with some fun element to it.

To help you out of the sedentary lifestyle and make exercising a fun-filled experience, we list out some alternative ways to stay fit.

 

Hula hoop

You must have seen children, youngsters and slim damsels twirl and roll circular hoops on TV. But most wouldn’t know that hula-hooping has re-emerged as a great cardio workout to slim your waist, hips, buttocks and thighs while toning your abdominals and lower back muscles. The best part of hooping is it does not restrict you. It can be done indoors or outside, on your own. Or you can just join a class.

Hula hoop expert Bhawna Grower, says, “If you hoop for 60 minutes, you will burn 500 calories. Thirty minutes hooping every day is enough to have a flat tummy. The best part is you can hoop anytime while watching TV, or talking on phone.”

Hooping is like killing two birds with one stone. It not only helps in maintaining a flat tummy, but also tones the whole body. Heavy or exercise hoops are used for fitness purposes. The plastic hoops which we generally see, are used by kids for fun purposes or for dance shows, she says.

“The flexibility factor also doubles. We cater to women of the age group of 18-55. Sometimes women come to us and say their three- year-old daughters want to learn hula hooping for fun purposes. To make it more interesting, I add dance steps along with basic hooping with blasting music or a popular number at the background, which gives it a double effect.”

 

Zumba

If you had a childhood dream to dance but never tried, why not try Zumba. This aerobic workout blends choreographed footwork and body movements from salsa, merengue, flamenco and other dances to sculpt your body and burn fat. When you’re grooving to the spicy Latin beats or even apna Bollywood numbers, you won’t even realise that you’re toning your abs, thighs, glutes and arms. An hour of Zumba helps you burn approximately 300-400 calories.

“Zumba is a fitness dance style and it is very popular these days. It depends on individual to individual either one bounces or hops or jumps. To make it more interesting, we make people dance to the latest popular Bollywood numbers,” says Manisha Singhal, zumba expert.

“Since it’s more of cardio vascular moves, we ask our students to fill a medical consensus form. Instead of practising at home, it’s always advisable to join a class as you are under the supervision of an instructor and it’s always fun to dance in groups,” she says.

If that isn’t enough to convince you, Zumba has a huge international fan following, including celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Jackie Chan, Kirstie Alley, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Emma Watson, Halle Berry, Toni Braxton, Shakira among others.

 

Skating

The next time you take your kid to learn skating, don’t just be a silent spectator. Ask if you can also join in. Skating can be an interesting alternative to running because it’s easier on the joints. Skating is also a good aerobic workout that tones your lower body and of course builds leg strength. You can burn between 180 and 330 calories from one hour of continuous skating depending on the speed and intensity.

Says speed skating and roller hockey skating expert Zahid Khan, “Skating increases stamina, helps in keeping the stomach toned and makes the leg muscles strong. There are different types of skating such as music, artistic and figure skating. To make it more interesting, we add music at the background, we put lifts and we keep on experimenting. We keep on organising championships, matches and annual carnivals.”

“Though only children used to learn earlier, gradually a lot of young parents are showing interest in skating after seeing the fun and knowing the health quotient,” he says.

 

Salsa

If you are not getting time with your partner why not join a salsa class for weekends? You will spend quality time together, get closer and stay fit at the same time.  And the next time you party, just hit the dance floor instantly with your partner, what say.

Whether you choose the Cuban Casino style, the Colombian variation, the Miami Salsa or the Los Angeles/New York version, the twists, turns and fast-paced movements will ensure every part of your body feels the calories burn away.

Says Meraz Alam, Salsa expert, “Salsa is basically a social dance, it is generally performed in social gatherings. Salsa is really in demand now and one can burn 250-300 calories after one session. It is a couple dance, it’s relaxing, steps are easy and age is never a hurdle. The dance makes you more flexible and most importantly it boosts your confidence, develops your personality and you become a more stylish person.”

She adds, “I have seen quite a lot ‘damsel in distress’ types turning into stylish ladies after two to three months. In our classes, along with dance, we emphasise on how to dress up, styling tips, etc. I know people who were not at all social turn into confident individual after learning salsa.”

 

Jazz

One more fun dance way to stay fit and become a more stylish person at the same time is Jazz. If you have forgotten that you once used to make the right moves and you go ‘oo la la’ when you see jazz dancers on television shows, you can always join a jazz class. This type of dancing is energetic and fun, consists of unique moves, fancy footwork, big leaps and quick turns – every element needed to tone up your body.

“The best part of Jazz is it does overall stretching; it improves stamina and strengthens muscles. We do 15-20 minutes warm-up sessions before the dance. We ask our students to wear funky clothes and they get all the more excited,” expert Manisha Singhal.

 

 

Rope jumping/skipping

As a kid, you must remember doing rope jumping – alone or in groups -- just for fun. But what you probably didn’t know at that time that it was one of the factors that helped you remain agile and fit. This full-body cardiovascular workout can do wonders by strengthening your muscles and bones and improving your coordination and make you feel like a kid again. And just 15 minutes of jumping rope burns about 200 calories. Aim for three 10-minute rope-jumping workouts every week. Before you skip, always start with a short warm-up.

“I always wanted to stay fit but never could take out time from my hectic schedule. I got this idea from a website and I found it just amazing. Taking out 10-minutes is not that tough. After skipping for 10 minutes, I feel so fresh and energetic. I would definitely suggest to people like me who struggle to take out time for fitness,” says Rahul Chowdhury who has been practising rope jumping for the last six months.

 

Frisbee

Deepshikha Sharma was a mere spectator, watching kids play from her balcony. She was always worried about her weight but now she is happy as she has started playing Frisbee. A fun game and a serious sport, played in tournaments in the US and Canada, at the same time, Frisbee will make you sweat it out – in what is really good news for calorie watchers.

“I always used to watch kids playing Frisbee in our apartment park with awe. Until one day I came through an article. You burn 679 calories if you run at a pace of 11 minutes per mile while if you play Frisbee the same time you burn 572 calories. It inspired me and now I play Frisbee with my kids and family in the evening every day. I often involve my neighbours call my friends on weekends. Sometimes I feel my childhood is back and Frisbee is my fitness mantra.”

 

Exercise                                   Time                                        Calories

CONVENTIONAL EXERCISES

Step aerobics                                       60 minutes                               360-714 

(depending on  type)

Gym                                                  60 min                           350-450

(Heavy workout for a man of average weight)

Running                                   60min                                      580

(at 5 miles per hour or 12 min per mile)

Cycling                                    60 min                           580

(at a brisk speed, not cycling for leisure)

 

 

FUN WAY OUT:

Hula Hoop                               60minutes                                500.

Zumba                                     60 min                                      300-400.

Skating                                    60min                                                180-330

(depends on intensity)

Salsa                                         60                                             400-480.

(depends on weight of person)

Rope jumping                                   15 minutes                                         200 calories

Frisbee                                     60                                            572 calories.

(Depends on speed)

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

True, women still cannot have it all

True, women still cannot have it all

I was reading an interview of Indra K. Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, in which she spoke about balancing career and motherhood. I wondered if all mothers go through the same dilemma -- no matter what zenith a woman has reached in her career.

“Why women still cannot have it all. We pretend we have it all. And every day you have to make a decision about whether you are going to be a wife or a mother, in fact many times during the day you have to make those decisions. And you have to co-opt a lot of people to help you. We co-opted our families to help us. We plan our lives meticulously so we can be decent parents. But if you ask our daughters, I'm not sure they will say that I've been a good mom. I'm not sure,” Nooyi said.

A girl child is taught she is equal to her fellow boys in all ways. Girls also outdo boys in many fields till education is completed. Till then, all seems to be well.  

The first obstacle comes when a girl is of marriageable age. No girl wants to leave her blossoming career at that point. Marriage changes a lot of things but only the lucky ones can continue the same way with the support of the new family.

A recent census data showed some shocking information. It said nearly 160 million women in India -- 88% of which are of working age, which is between 15 to 59 years -- just remain at home doing "household duties".  Note that these are women who reported themselves as 'not working'. All the other women who work, whether full time or part time, also do domestic work. But these 16 crore are the Great Invisible Workforce, primarily involved in care work and rearing families. The total number of women in the age group of 15-59 years, according to Census data released earlier, is just under 355 million. What the latest data shows is that about 45% of them, or nearly half, are confined solely to domestic duties.
Then comes the pressure to conceive when women are generally at the peak of their career. Some unwillingly give in to the pressure and some consciously opt for motherhood as the biological clock seems to be ticking away. Others prefer to remain a DINKS (double income no kids) couple. For those who give in, dilemma is in store for them at every step. Those who are fit enough continue working till the last month and then take maternity leave. Others have to take long leave due to health issues (sometimes it is without pay). Many even quit thinking that’s the priority in life at that point of time.

And then comes the heavy responsibility of motherhood. You are lucky if you have an extended family in the same city. Your maid becomes your right and left hand, and their ‘nakhras’ are endless. If you have no support system, then you have to go hunting for good day care centres. If some day your child falls ill and you cannot manage an off -- which often happens -- then you die of guilt.

If you have to go outstation for an official trip then it’s too much of headache –your day care centre refuses to support you, no relative can come to give a helping hand, your husband cannot take leave and at the same time you cannot say ‘No’ to the trip. And after managing a whole lot of things somehow, your child sulks when you come back: “Mom you were not there”.

Even Nooyi said, “You know, you have to cope, because you die with guilt. You just die with guilt. My observation, is that the biological clock and the career clock are in total conflict with each other. Total, complete conflict. When you have to have kids you have to build your career. Just as you're rising to middle management your kids need you because they're teenagers, they need you for the teenage years. And that's the time your husband becomes a teenager too, so he needs you (laughing). They need you too. What do you do? And as you grow even more, your parents need you because they're aging. So we're screwed. We have no ... we cannot have it all. Do you know what? Coping mechanisms. Train people at work. Train your family to be your extended family.”

After trying to be the super woman for too long, many quit their successful careers and only the ambitious ones hold the fort. Those who give up go into an almost depression mode because of an ‘identity crisis’.