Sohum Sutras

Today I went for Russell Peter live show which was held in Sirifort . I loved it. But I had gone with my two teenaged boys and it was a bit embarrassing to be with them and hear him constantly swear. Rest we had our dose of laughter medicine . My client today asked me as to what Madonna does for her workout. Madonna is really old, but she's in amazing shape! She can put young girls to shame with her toned body. Madonna is a devotee of Ashtanga Yoga , which is a particularly strenuous form of yoga. Kareena Kapoor who achieved size 0 also claims that power Yoga helped her achieve that. Madonna is regularly spotted cycling to the gym. That's two workouts in one! A healthy diet is also part of Madonna's game plan. She barely touches junk food, preferring a diet of natural unrefined foods, like whole grains and tons of vegetables. Similar statement about diet plan was also made by Kareena. Power Yoga is really strenuous. Unlike other forms of Yoga, this is not static. It is...

These pictures are for you and for all of you who are away from home and missing India's Diwali. I hope you can feel at home ( just a bit) by seeing these. Past few days have been lots of Diwali parties, visiting friends, distributing and receiving Diwali gifts, bad traffic jams on Delhi roads and lots of fun. Right now I am in my room, with my lap top and I can hear Dhol (drum) beats and crackers on the road outside. Soon it is going to be Puja time. Thats my Mandir ( Puja Room).                                                 This is the passage to my fitness centre. My Home

This article, written by me appeared in October issue of magazine- The Wedding affair . It is a nice, bright, glossy, very popular magazine meant for people about to get married. I write regularly for this magazine. This article is titles- Festive Fitness and gives tips on keeping trim during Diwali festivities. I always model for my own article. In one of the pictures, you also see my adorable dog who appeared in print for the first time and is on her way to becoming a celebrity dog. Ha ha. Yes taking your dog out for a walk is an exercise in itself .

When I was a young kid, most of my afternoons, after coming back from school, were spent on the terrace of our house, basking in the sun. Mom would keep hot meals ready for us and we would enjoy vegetable pulao, hot and fresh, with curd and pickle. We would do our homework there and sometimes I would sleep with my grandmom, there, till the time it was evening, and sun had gone down. Mind you, we were very unaware of sunscreens and all, at that time. Yet, we had the best possible skin, hair, nails and health. Similarly, at night we did not have AC. We would sleep on the terrace, in cool breeze, gazing the starlit sky and listening to my grandmom's stories. We would wake up when the Sun started hurting our eyes. At times at night, when it started raining, we would quickly have to get up, fold our sheets and run down, with our pillows in hand. Such things are unheard of now. I have not seen any of today's kids ever experiencing this. They would not compromise their AC rooms and su...

I am elated. I am on top of the world. I am overjoyed. I am flattered. I owe all this to Shalu , who has written such a cute blog post about me. Please do read it. Thanks Shalu. You are a star. http://seizetheahamoments.blogspot.com/2008/10/entrepreneurship-passion-persistence.html and Pushpanjali has left such a nice comment for my previous post. You both have given me my best Diwali present. Thanks girls. Thanks for being what you are. Aaj main upar aasman neeche....

Diwali is so close. Everyone is in festive mood. People are shopping, exchanging gifts, etc. My clients are still doing their fitness sessions religiously. Strangely they are not making any excuses about traffic jams etc. Everyone seems to be sticking to their fitness regimes. I am also keeping a very tight check on their diet. No one is allowed to binge on extra sweets, chocolates etc. Yes they have late night parties and sleep is getting affected but thats about it. These days spend extra time, cleaning up your houses and making them spic and span. Visit beautiful fairs that are going on. I particularly like Akshay Pratishthan in Swiss Embassy. Then I also went to Blind School Diwali fair. These are huge fairs where the crowd is great and I do all my Diwali shopping of beautiful candles from. I must confess I am very fond of aroma candles, Incence sticks, reeds, etc. I also host amazing Diwali party for all my friends where I like to decorate my house with fresh flowers, float...

What are the options of healthy drinks when you go out. Lets have a list of some here 1. Iced Tea 2. Fresh Lime/lemonade 3. Fruit Juice 4. Ginger ale 5. Smoothie 6. Green Tea/ Jasmine Tea 7. Kombucha 8. Turkish Mint Drink 9. Fresh fruit juice/ vegetable juice 10. Mango panna 11. Buttermilk/ mango lassi/ lassi 12. Flavored seltze r. Carbonated, but zero calories. 13. Apple cider . Has 120 calories per cup, but packs a tangy, substantial flavor. 14. Ovaltine made with skim milk. It’s chocolaty, fortified with vitamins and minerals, high in calcium and protein and 170 calories per cup. 15. Soya Milk shake 16. KVASS Kvass is a very refreshing Russian beverage which is made in many Russian households about once a week. Kvass is a lacto-fermented beverage made from stale rye bread. It tastes like beer but is not alcoholic. Kvass is considered a tonic for digestion and excellent thirst. It is also recognized that kvass is safer to drink than water. Kvass protects against infectious disease, ...

Ajmal Khan Park Near Karol Bagh, spread over an area of five acres, has musical fountains run by Delhi Tourism that provides a refreshing getaway from the bustle of the city. The scintillating lights synchronised with music, and the cascading water turn this complex into a quiet heaven, particularly during the heat of summer. The musical fountain is in operation for two hours every day after sunset except on Tuesday. Buddha Jayanti Park Good picnic spot. In commemoration of 2,500th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Get there from the Ridge Road, Shankar Road or Sardar Patel Marg. Children's Park Near India Gate, has swings, slides and an aquarium. Deer Park A paradise for morning walkers, has huts for staying and is approachable from Hauz Khas Village, Safdarjang Enclave or near the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association courts side. Dhaula Kuan Complex Near Dhaula Kuan. It has an artificial lake, hanging bridge, playground and waterfalls. A cooling experience especially during the summer. ...

If you are looking to pick up some sports activities in Delhi, there are many options available. Let us see one by one. For Horse riding , there is a riding club in Race Course . There are two fantastic Sports Complexes in South Delhi, which have a variety of sports. Sirifort and Saket sports complex . These are managed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA). In Sirifort, there are Total 12 tennis courtss including 8 synthetic courts, Tennis practice wall, Indoor Multipurpose Stadium, Badminton, glass back wall Squash Courts, Table Tennis, Billiards/Snooker, Basket Ball, Hockey, Cricket, Cricket Practice pitches, Football, Jogging Track, Children Park, Skating, Golf Driving Range, Pitch & Putt Course, Olympic Size Swimming Pool, Toddlers Pool, Air Rifle/Pistol Shooting Range, Aerobics, Yoga, Taekwondo, Fitness Centre, Naturopathy Centre, Health & Nutrition Centre, Reiki, Sports Shop, Snack Bars. A Multipurpose Indoor Stadium has been recently added. In South Delhi, there ...

I am quite particular about the quality of food I eat. I am a vegetarian and the quantity I eat is really less. So I rather make sure that the quality is very good. I like organic fruits and vegetables. One place that I can recommend in Delhi for buying organic products is Namdhari . They have one shop in Green Park Extension and the other in New Friends Colony. They would have most exotic vegetables and other grocery items. Despite the fact that they have organic fruits and vegetables, their prices are reasonable. Earlier they were in Green Park Market and also had amazing salad Bar. Talking about the Salad Bar, I would highly recommend Nirula's Potpourri in CP, where they have the best spread of salad buffet for lunch. Another place worth mentioning is Modern Bazar in Vasant Vihar. I like this because I get everything that would not be available anywhere else. A variety of cheese- low fat, fresh Mozarella, some imported herbs and spices, snacks for my growing up boys to pack in...

Today is Karva Chauth . For those of you who are not from India, let me tell you that it is celebrated mostly by North Indians. The event of Karwa Chauth is growing bigger with each passing day. Along with traditional items such as henna, beauty products and fashionable clothes, the demand of special eateries are also gearing up. Nowadays, Karwa Chauth is more of fun than a serious festival. The festival of Karwa Chauth provides an opportunity for all married women to get close to their in-laws. It possesses a tremendous social and cultural significance. In Hindu Dharam, the goal of life is Self-realization or the attainment of God and fasting has been a much sought after path to attain this. All Hindu fast have a deep spiritual and religious significance. According to Hindu scriptures, fasting helps create an attachment with the God by establishing a harmonious relationship between the body and the soul. This is thought to be imperative for the well being of a human being as it nouris...

 I am posting 10 questions for my readers to answer 1. What do you do as a part of your fitness regimen? (e.g walking, yoga, tennis, aerobics, etc) 2. Which meal of the day is most important to you and why? 3. Which fitness fads have you followed in the past which proved to be useless? 4. What is your fitness goal? (e.g loose weight, build muscle, get more flexible etc) 5. Do you think hiring a personal trainer makes sense? Do you have one? If you don't then why? 6. Which is your favourite brand of fitness apparel, shoes, gear? 7. What is the weirdest advice you have got till date as far as fitness/beauty/some beauty product/ some particular exercise, is concerned? Or share any myth that you heard. 8. What all changes in your body have you seen when you start to exercise? 9. Which food items are you addicted to/ crave for? What is your favourite cuisine? 10. One fitness tip that you would like to share.

Another pill worth mentioning to cure acne is Diane 35 . Diane-35 is a contraceptive pill that doubles as a very effective acne treatment. Diane-35 provides contraceptive protection as reliable as other pills while it also relieves acne, greasy skin and hairy skin. Essentially, Diane-35 works by regulating your hormones: estrogen and progestogen (reproductive hormones) and androgen (which can cause acne, by prompting excess oil production in your skin). When can you start using Diane-35? When taking the Pill for the first time or after being off the Pill for a while, you should take Diane-35 on the first day of your period or menstruation. In this case, contraceptive protection is provided from the first day of Pill intake. How is Diane-35 taken? A package of Diane-35 contains 21 Pills. Start with a Pill marked with the correct day of the week. You should take one Pill each day following the direction of the arrows. After the entire package has been consumed, take a 7-day pause during...

This post is dedicated to mea culpa, who in my previous post asked me about treatment pimples (acne). Years back, I also had this acute problem of acne on my face. It used to really bother and concern me. I had tried everything possible with my limited knowledge (basically all the home made packs recommended by my mom). Some people told me to drink extremely bitter neem juice. I even did that (foolishly). I used to think that it was due to excessive sweat that I had because of my workout. For quite sometime, I would pacify myself thinking that only teenagers had it, so it was a sign of me being forever 16. Finally I was training a client of mine, who told me about a dermatologist, whom she was consulting. I took his name and number and consulted him. He gave me a prescription of a drug called Roaccutane . That time, only the imported one was available in Indian market and it was very expensive. Now there is Indian version also available called Isotretinoin . This drug miraculously help...

My Mom always recommends using home made face packs from her kitchen. Though I personally find them quite useless, I must share what all she does recommend. 1. As a teenager, when acne started erupting like a volcano on my face, she told me to grind moong sabut dal (pink colored), mix it with water or milk and apply it. Must say that this was the worst face pack I have ever ever applied. 2. She used to tell me to apply milk with cotton. She said it works like a cleanser, toner, astringent. 3. Multani mitti (clay) was another recommendation. 4. She still applies tomato pulp, cucumber paste, lemon juice on her face, just as she religiously applies mehendi (hena) to color her hair and keeps it overnight. This she does on weekly basis. 5. I also used to apply a paste of chandan (sandalwood) and haldi (turmeric). That was not so bad. At least it smelled OK. 6. I know a guy who applies a juice of potato on everyday basis on his face and swears by it. He says that it takes care of his pigment...

I Just saw this song from our very famous Hindi Movie Sholay . So many people have watched this. It is a blockbuster. Do view this once again. I find both of them so GAY . Wonder why has anyone not noticed this ever. Every move, action, wording of the song is GAY .

Another product I like is Origins. I have tried quite a number of their products and they all seem reasonably good. One of their face pack is Out of Trouble® 10 minute mask to rescue problem skin I use it as a quick fix to clean my skin and feel fresh. The colour and texture are like a toothpaste- very white. But in 10 minutes, it does its job well. Then I have an Active charcoal mask It feels very warm on the face and I decided to use it only in winters. It does not work well in Delhi summer heat. Here you need something cooling and refreshing. This is a black coloured face mask. It helps to clean up even the clogged pores. With lots of pollution in Delhi, it does work well. Recently I bought Getting Warmer™ Purifying clay mask. For the body, I tried Ginger body smoother Must say is a great scrub with mesmerizing fragrance. Their sensory therapy is another exquisite. What I am not particularly fond of are their cosmetics like mascara, lip gloss etc. But T...

Shalimar Bagh The beautiful Fountains Entering Mughal Gardens Very Unusual Tree Distant view of Pari Mahal Gate of Mughal Garden Entering Pari Mahal Helipad seen from Pari Mahal Dal Lake and Chaar Chinaar Shakracharya Golf Course House Boats Shikara Ride

The promise was to dedicate this week to beauty products. But I had a quick trip to Srinagar. And I must dedicate this post to the most awesome hot beverage that I had there. And that is Kashmiri Kahwa. I am a person who has never tasted tea or coffee in my life. So when this was offered, I outrightly refused. But my host told me that it is not regular tea. It contains kashmiri green tea, saffron, cardamoms, almonds, cinnamon stick (dalchini), cloves (laung), sugar or honey. I found it so refreshing and healthy, that I actually lost the count of number of cups that I drained. It is served in a samawar which has burning coal in its centre, which keeps the kahwa piping hot. Confession: I have come back addicted to it.

Guys if you have noticed the change in my title image, it is all thanks to Abhinav. Do check his blog at http://thephotoshopper.blogspot.com He has been very helpful with giving me a new logo. In fact, following were the logos he suggested and then mutually we agreed to the one above. If you have any suggestions, they are always welcome. Initially I liked this one the best

An interesting range of beauty products from India is Forest Essentials. They have a beautiful range of skin care, body care, hair care products. Recently I have seen even their baby care products. I love their aggarbattis (incense sticks) and oils. Their fragrances are so very ethnic and refreshing, unlike other fancy products. I love their sandalwood and mogra range. Though my mom likes Indian Rose better. But we both like their bath and shower oils in our own chosen fragrances. The skin feels so supple and nice if you put these light oils after a bath. The range meant for babies has a lovely picture of Bal Gopal (Lord Krishna). All the products from Forest Essentials are purely herbal and ayurvedic. They have very nice gift hampers as well and I have gifted these to many of my friends. So far all my friends have appreciated them. My mom, who is a firm and staunch believer of naturopathy and prefers homemade products and ubtans to any other, also fell in love with these, wh...

Monday morning. A new week has begun. This week I am going to be focussing on beauty products, face packs, scrubs.... One product and brand that I can swear by is La Mer . All their products are exceptionally good. In fact, I have never been to a parlor to get a facial etc done. These are the products I use at home and the job is done. They are expensive but worth it. Out of many of La Mer's products, one that I like especially, is The Refining Facia l.It is white coloured scrub. It has tiny Diamond particles in it that stay even after you have washed the face. It makes the skin so very radiant. Trust me, I don't even need any make up like foundation and compact after this. The Creme de la mer is an OK product- nothing great. Do watch their video on their website. It is indeed a miraculous product. If you know of any such miraculous products- home made or off the shelf, do share them.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Symptoms associated with Breast Cancer The most common outward sign of breast cancer is a hard lump in the breast that is usually not movable and may or may not be painful. The skin over the lump may be thickened and dimpled (like the skin of an oranges) or indented in areas where the cancer has spread. The nipple may be inverted (turned inward) or leak dark fluid. Possible symptoms of breast cancer include: A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area. A change in the size or shape of the breast. Thickening, swelling, distortion, or tenderness of the breast Skin irritation or dimpling Nipple pain, scaliness, ulceration, or retraction. A change in the way the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple looks or feels (for example, warm, swollen, red, or scaly). Swelling or lump in armpit. Breast pain is commonly due to benign conditions and is usually not the first symptom of breast cancer.

My clients often ask me as to what do I do for my fitness regime. Is it aerobics, or is it Yoga? Do I go for a walk? Do I always take care of my diet? Don't I have cravings? My answer to all the above is- Don't unnecessarily complicate your life and your workout . Human Body is a perfect machine. We have, so much written about fitness. There are many fitness blogs and websites. Everyday we hear about a new fitness fad, new gadget and every day a new research comes up which tells that the previous one was wrong. There are contraindicated exercises each describing how 'A particular' exercise is wrong or harmful. Reebok manuals always said that backward bending is wrong, ballistic stretching can lead to injuries, squatting beyond 90 degree knee bend can cause injury. I used to then wonder, Yoga has so many asanas involving backward bending. Are they alll wrong and to be avoided? I used to see Indian cricketers on the field doing lots of ballistic stretching (involving bou...

Keeping trim during Diwali festivities would seem to be a paradox because mithai and Diwali go hand in hand with each other. You give and receive laddoos, barfis & chocolates as gifts and they certainly aren't low in calories! Keeping fit is also difficult because shopping trips, traffic, and fatigue (because of the shopping and traffic) disrupt your regular fitness routine. Does this mean you should give up and resign yourself to gaining, on the average, seven pounds by the time December rolls around? Not if you consider these suggestions for a healthy and guilt-free festive season. Eat only the foods you really enjoy. Special (usually high calorie) foods are part of this special season. Food plays a big part in celebrations and parties. It would be miserable to have to gnaw on salads while watching everyone else descend on the food-laden family table. Let yourself go and join in the festivities. However, limit yourself to eating only those foods you really enjoy. Do not use t...

These days I am fasting during Navratras . So are most of my clients. People do keep asking me what all they can have during the 9 day fasts. Some people do it for religious reasons, while others do it for dieting. Is typical Navratra food real low in calories? Everywhere in Delhi, there are advertisements about Navratra food/thali/platters being sold. Haldiram has many options. When we were kids, mom used to make exotic Navratra dishes at home. But now I see most of the people going to eat Navratra food available at Nirula's, Evergreen, etc. Typical Navratra food is fattening. Kuttu ki roti/puri are heavy. People fry the potatoes, swang ke chawal, saboodana ki tikki or khichdi, kheer, saboodana papad, pakodas- these are all high calorie foods, which would make you put on weight rather than loosing it. What I do is have milk and milk products. Chach is my all time favorite. Low fat yogurt, smoothie, raita of cucumber, boiled potato is other option. I also have low fat paneer (cot...