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Achieve

A ride for a cause

There are bicycle riders and then there is Rahul Kumawat, who is riding all over the country for a cause.
by Mamta D

Rahul Kumawat (25) is a young design engineer at RNTBCI, who is undertaking a rather unusual, self-funded project: from November 20 to mid-December 2013, Rahul will go on a solo cycle expedition from Chennai to New Delhi, covering as many as 25 locations.

Rahul Kumawat Why? Not to prove anything to himself or the world, or even to test his own endurance. Rather, the goal of the expedition is to promote awareness of several social causes that he feels deserve attention. From blood donation appeals to promoting palliative care for cancer patients and spreading awareness about a little boy, Arian’s battle against Hunter Syndrome, Rahul Kumawat (or @Pedal_India as he is popularly known on Twitter), hopes to do them all.

It’s not easy for a working professional with no additional funds and no sponsor to embark on such a mission. “But I have made up my mind and regardless of the fact that till the last minute no sponsor has backed me, I will fulfill my goal. My project is a self-funded one and all I have with me are the blessings of my well-wishers and friends,” Rahul says.

Rahul will also be passing through Maharashtra. If all goes as planned, he will reach Mumbai on November 30 or December 1. Mumbaikars can meet him on his Mumbai leg as he cycles from the Gateway of India to Bhayander – they can meet, motivate, and if possible join him on his expedition.

Says Rahul, “I have been an active member of the Tamil Nadu cycling club and Chennai trekking club and Madras Randonneurs. Cycling Rahul Kumawat's trusty steedis one of my biggest passions and over the years, it has kept me healthy. Today I wish to channelise my passion for cycling into doing something good for society.” Earlier, in 2012, he completed a ride of 800 kilometres in four days to raise funds for cancer treatment. Later, he completed BRM 200 km organised by Audax France. A BRM (Brevet des Randonneurs Mondiaux) is a long-distance, free-paced cycling event.

His solo expedition, which started two days ago, is aptly titled ‘Ride Inside Bhartiya States’ as he will be covering major Indian states during his epic journey. Though the full ride is primarily a solo one, Rahul wants to make the experience a participatory exercise by inviting people to sign up for a part of the ride. A boy has signed up with RIBS to ride from Bangalore to Tumkur. In the last one week, several others have signed up to ride along with Rahul.

While Rahul will be doing the actual physical task of cycling, supporting him behind the scenes is Team RIBS comprising Kuheli and a few others. Team RIBS will monitor and update his progress on various social media networks including Twitter and Facebook.

Rahul KumawatRoute map:

– Beginning from SRM University, Chennai, Rahul first set out to Guduvancherry, then Vellore.

– From there, he will make his way to Karnataka, followed by Maharashtra and then Gujarat.

– From Gujarat, Rahul heads to Rajasthan and finally culminates his journey in the North of India.

If you are keen to participate in this mission, or know more about the cause Rahul’s promoting or just want to ride along for fun, visit https://www.facebook.com/ribsbharat or get in touch with Team RIBS at ribsbharat@gmail.com.

(Pictures courtesy J Vijaykumar)

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Wellness

Aching back? Here’s how you set it right

Backaches have a detrimental effect on our work and leisure hours. Treat the problem before it develops into something serious.
by Sharad Panjwani

A backache can make you miserable, rendering daily routines difficult to achieve and a constant reminder that something’s not right. But though back pain may slow you down, there’s no reason you can’t erase it from your life for ever.

Shruti Khopkar (31) was active before her wedding two years ago – she would exercise every day, be on the move even at work, run errands and get at least seven hours of sleep. “But I had to quit my job after the wedding, and soon, there was a lot of work at home. Within months, I developed a persistent backache that just would not go away.”

The answer came after two visits to a specialist. “My posture had changed because I was constantly at home, either cooking or tending to the home. I developed this habit of slouching in my couch and reading or watching TV. When I had been exercising with my trainer, he had ensured that my posture was perfect.” Shruti went back to functional training, and with proper workouts for her back and core, she does not feel an ache in her back any more.

Set it right

Backaches are rarely very serious, unless a slipped disc or strained spinal column is rendering you immobile. Very often, small corrections in postures and habits go a long way in alleviating back pain.

sleep well– Sleep well: Most people with backache complain of stiffness when they wake up in the morning. While a small amount of stiffness if expected after hours of rest, a pain in the back is unacceptable. Your mattress could be the culprit – either too soft to support your spine as you sleep, or too firm to let your muscles rest. If not your mattress, it could be a lingering problem that you may have ignored.

Get help: Flip your mattress to distribute your weight evenly over it. Also, do a simple stretching exercise when you wake up every morning. Some people experience back pain if they don’t sleep enough. If you can, take a couple of days off from work simply to rest your back. If the pain is acute, you will need medical help.

– Don’t sleep too much: However, those with back pain would do well to not rest too much in bed. Says Dr Rahul Shringare, orthopaedic surgeon, “Too much bed rest weakens the back further. You should engage yourself in moderate activity like walking, but not run or do gardening.”

Get help: Alternate your periods of rest with periods of activity. Avoid gymming or running that will strain your back. However, do light stretching so that your back gets exercise and does not ‘freeze’.

– Exercise: Though some people give themselves a backache by overdoing their exercise routines, it is exercise that can rescue them. However, the workout you do must be approvedback pain by a certified trainer and your doctor, if you’ve consulted one.

Get help: Walking keeps the spine and back in a neutral position, so it’s a good exercise. Yoga also helps alleviate backache. Try ‘sarpasan’ for a strong back – lie down on the floor with your palms placed under your shoulders. Slowly lift your back (without lifting your feet off the ground) keeping your elbows at not more than 60 degrees angle. Hold for three seconds, then release. Repeat laps of 10 and do two sets.

– Better posture: Slouching at the computer, suddenly bending to pick up an object off the floor, even coughing while bending over, can give you painful back spasms that take days to heal. Though you will do damage even with a rigid back at all times, you must remember to sit up straight at work or at home, and to avoid putting pressure on the lower back, support your lumbar with a firm pillow when you sit.

Get help: Always bend your knees when you bend over. Keeping the knees locked and your legs straight when bending puts tremendous pressure on your spine. Every once in a while, get up from your seat and stretch, take a short walk around the office. Keep your back as straight as you can without feeling pressure in the lumbar. Your shoulders must be aligned in a straight plane, instead of rounded inwards.

– Avoid massaging a sore back: Wrong exercise or a blunt trauma can bruise and inflame your back muscles, causing swelling. Most people wrongly assume that massage creams and oils are to be applied on swollen, painful  areas of the body – these are only to be used on aching parts that are not inflamed or swollen.

Get help: If your back is swollen, apply an ice pack till the swelling goes down. After this, apply heat pads to repair the tender muscles in the painful area. Do not rub with a massage cream, it will only tear the tender muscles and tissue.

– Strengthen your abs: It seems strange, but it is true that if your ab core is weak, it will strain your back further. People with strong abs are found to experience less back pain than others.

Get help: Strong abs does not mean a six-pack, but a core that can easily do crunches or flips without spasms. Get a fitness trainer to prescribe exercises for stronger abdominal muscles. Also consider exercises for hamstrings, chest and calves.

– See a specialist: A back pain cannot be treated simply with painkillers and a bit of moderate exercise. If your problem is long-term, you might need to see a specialist.

Get help: Ask your specialist for exercises to do at home or work, and for suggested lifestyle changes. Follow his/her advice to the letter.

(Pictures courtesy www.topnews.in, www.vitality-centre.com, www.apollolife.com)

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Beauty

Smoke ’em out!

Sexy, dramatic and smouldering – a smokey eye lifts your look like nothing else. Here’s how you get it done.
by Ankita Pathak

There’s nothing quite like a pair of smokey eyes staring at you. Smokey eyes are sexy, dramatic and smoldering, and instantly lift your look. When it comes to learning a new eye makeup technique, learning how to do a smokey eye should be the very first thing a woman should make a beeline for.

The smokey eye look isn’t limited only to runways, the red carpet, or black tie events. With many colour variations and options available, many women are deciding to wear this sultry look more often. But to learn how to do it, you’ll have to go back to the basics.

And all you really need is a classic kohl pencil. Because you can actually create a full smokey eye by smearing and blending your liner up and out. That’s it! You can do it with any colour, as long as it’s a classic kohl pencil. You will instantly love this look because it gives your eyelid more of a ‘watercolour’ finish that you can’t get with eyeshadow.

kohl pencilTools of the trade:

– Kohl pencil — almost every brand offers a kohl version, and most offer it in many colours.

– Blending brush

– Mascara

– Setting powder — you can use the same powder you set your face makeup with, just make sure it’s translucent.

Steps to follow:

– Line your upper lashline from the inner corner to the outer corner.

– Draw another line directly above that one.

– Keep drawing lines above each other until you reach the crease.

– Blend back and forth with the blending brush over the area you’ve filled in. You can also use your finger, but it’s a little messier!

– Trace the lower lashline with the same kohl pencil.

– Smudge the line back and forth with the Q-tip using short strokes to really work it into the lashline.

– Finish with a couple coats of mascara.

– Set it with a quick dusting of translucent setting powder.blending brush

Pair your look with a pink-nude cheek and lip and voila! You now have yourself a makeup job that took a matter of minutes and a few simple tools. Of course, practice makes perfect so for all of you makeup novices out there – try this look out on an off day to be sure your results are just as stunning as those gracing the runways in Milan.

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Guest writer

Why I’ve wanted Sachin Tendulkar to retire

A cricket fan explains her love for the man in Jersey No 10 and why he should have retired earlier.
by Ritika Bhandari Parekh

I was a cricket fan first and then a girl. When we cousins played together, I got three chances to be called ‘out’ completely and still prefer that arrangement. Sachin Tendulkar is my hero. He is the sole reason for me to watch cricket, enjoy it and understand too.

When I was seven years old, an India-Australia match was being telecast live. It was dinner time for my dad and he liked eating in front of the TV. It was a Saturday and since 3 pm that day, while my mom was watching Swabhimaan on DD, I’d wished the match would start soon. Now it was 9 pm and I was completing my Maths homework.

Green grass, our men in a light blue jerseys, a few of them had moustaches and there was Shane Warne. He was bowling to the man whom today we refer to as ‘God’. His greatness was recognised by the likes of Donald Bradman, another legend. Despite the commentary, something about the noise on the field made me stop scribbling my homework and watch. Or maybe it was my mother’s “I hope aisa ek six maare Sachin ke inki vaat lag jaye.” It was a tense over, followed by a cool Pepsi ad.

“Why are people crazy about cricket, Papa?” I asked.

“Just watch the game,” he said.

sachin tendulkarSo I did. Every time there was a ball hit for four runs, I felt happy. Sachin’s quick two runs made my heart skip beats. And slowly, I was able to identify that there were 11 players in total on one country’s team. India lost the game for a few runs that day. But I was very proud to be able to talk cricket now. My favourite player had to be Sachin Tendulkar.

As I became a teenager, a few glances were cast over Ganguly as he and Sachin made some awesome opening batsmen entries. But only humble Sachin in all the wonderful ads, especially the ‘Roz khaao ande’ one took my heart away. I remember how he later partnered with Sehwag and went on to form new alliances.

Better still, his jubilance on taking five wickets in a match with Nayan Mongia as the wicket keeper is still etched in my memory. From his recent wins, the T20 match that bashed Shoaib Akhtar and finally, picking up the World Cup is fresh in my mind. But the Master Blaster doesn’t hold the charm he held once.

The media waited for his 100th hundred in ODIs, with every match India played reduced to just the man with Jersey No. 10. It stopped being about winning matches, it just became about how Sachin was always so close, yet so far. It was unfair to blame Sachin, as he never proclaimed his own greatness or thought he was God. But diehard Sachin fan that I was, I still felt that he was a legendary senior player and the youth did deserve a chance to show their caliber. As a fan, I thought he should retire. Would his retirement guarantee more wins? Maybe not. But the cynics would stop blaming him for our losses.

I wanted him to retire gracefully, to at least bid goodbye to the one-day matches. I was still a fan, a fan who never put up any Sachin Tendulkar posters, who still does not remember his runs accurately or even the Series he won his best plays in. Yet I am a fan, because I can’t watch cricket if Sachin is not playing. I do not seem to care where he is playing, but more on how.

And now that it’s time…

Dinner table conversations with a cricket match on, will never be the same again. Sachin’s decision to retire has sent a ripple of relief mixed with shock amongst his fans and naysayers. This November 14 will not be just another Children’s Day in India, it will be a day when the legend will say goodbye.

Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium will witness an atmosphere of euphoria like never before. How can we predict that? Days before Sachin’s last test match, every billboard is saluting the Master Blaster. If music is your constant companion, then tune in to any FM channel and the RJ will regale you with Sachin trivia. Are you in front of the idiot box? Shows like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma have a ‘We will miss you Sachin’ theme for the storyline.

It is hard and a bit impossible to not know that the God of Indian cricket is bidding adieu. And for the iPhone generation, there cannot be a better chance to be a part of history in the making. Everyone wants to grab a ticket.

And there is a sinking feeling that no one can ever again make me watch a cricket match. My reason to experience a match in the stadium has vanished with Sachin’s retirement announcement. I was seven years old when I first saw him play. His humility and smile still make me swoon like a teenager.

Sachin Tendulkar – one man who was born great, achieved greatness and had greatness thrust on him by a nation of cricket fanatics. And yet, so little has been heard from him. Of him and for him, a bevy of celebrities, athletes and sporting stars from other fields have given their sound bytes. But it is the curly haired man’s thin and delicate voice that will boom this Thursday. It’s time to paint the town with the awesome and humbling effect called Sachin Tendulkar.

Ritika Bhandari Parekh is a closet writer, who hopes you stumble by her writings. Currently she is exploring the bylanes of Lalbaug, searching for a thin crust pizza base, preferably whole wheat.

 (Pictures courtesy www.cricketdawn.com, www.mirror.co.uk)

Categories
Beauty

Make your own beauty products

Did you know that you can make body scrubs, lip balms, and even hair spray at home? We explain how.
by Ankita Pathak

You need a variety of cosmetics for several needs, but what you probably didn’t know is that you can make most products at home! From hair and skin treatments to makeup, perfume, teeth and nail whitening – there are so many great products to make and use!  And who says you need to spend a lot?  Some of the ingredients you need may already be lying around your house. So let’s get started on making your own beauty stash!

Tinted lip balmTinted Lip Balm

You will need:

Blob of lipstick

Vitamin E capsule

½ tsp Vaseline

¼ tsp glycerin

Essential oils

Empty syringe

1 empty pot container

In a bowl, place Vaseline, Vitamin E, glycerin and lipstick on a double boiler to blend. After the mixture melts together, remove from heat and add a drop of your favorite essential oil to it. Fill your lip pot with the ready mixture using the disposable syringe. Voila! You have your very own lip stain!

Lip and body scrub

You will need:

2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp oats and chocolate powderbody scrub

2 tbsp olive oil and honey

1 empty jar

Take a glass jar and start by mixing the oats, honey and chocolate powder. Oats act as an exfoliant and honey helps in moisturising. Add sugar and olive oil to soak all the ingredients and let the mixture sit for two hours. Use the scrub mixture on lips and body to remove any dead skin.

Eye makeup remover

You will need: 2 tbsp white mustard oil or 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil.

Dab a cotton ball into the oil to remove eye make-up and waterproof mascara. Rinse face with cold water. This homemade eye makeup remover will work in a pinch if you run out of your normal brand. It’s also a great way to save money instead of using expensive makeup removers.

Eyeshadow primer

Eyeshadow primerYou will need:

½ tsp natural chap stick

1 tsp cornstarch

1 ½ tsp liquid foundation

Container

Get a clean container or use a sample jar but you could also use an old eye shadow pot. Run the chap stick under warm water for a minute before you add it to the mixture. Put all the ingredients in container and mix well. Use the primer as an eye shadow base to make your eye make-up last longer.

Hairspray

You will need:

1 lemon

300 ml water

2 tbsp vodka

Place the lemon (chopped into pieces) into a saucepan with the water. Bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer until the lemon softens. Strain and then leave to sit until it’s completely cooled. Transfer the liquid into a sterilised spray bottle. Next, add the vodka then give it a quick shake.

Glitter nail polish    Glitter nail polish

You will need:

Transparent nail paint

Paper cone/ funnel

Glitter powder of your choice

Start by emptying a small amount of the clear polish in to the garbage, you will need space for the glitter.  Pour a small amount of glitter at a time with the help of a paper funnel, keep pouring until you achieve the glittered look you want.  Once you’ve put all the glitter in the bottle, shake it vigorously to get the glitter and polish to mix.

Blackhead removal solution

You will need:

1 lemon

1 tbsp honey

Rub the lemon dipped in honey on face, emphasise the black heads prone areas like nose, chin etc. Leave the lemon and honey mixture on your face for about five minutes, then wash it with cold water. You will see the results immediately. Additionally, lemon juice will also fade other marks/spots on the face and honey will moisturise.

Tan remover

You will need:

1 tomato

Sugar

Buttermilk

Apply squashed tomato juice with 6 spoons of buttermilk and sugar on the sunburn affected areas to cure them quickly. Tomato helps in lightening skin and buttermilk helps in moisturising. Do this repeatedly for a week and notice the difference.

Have you made any beauty products at home? Tell us about them in the comments section below.

(Pictures courtesy talkingpretty.com, makeup.me.uk, www.fashiondivadesign.com, www.fashionncare.com)

Categories
Achieve

Navin Kundra sings for British Royalty, Bollywood next?

As Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla tour South Asia, singer Navin Kundra shares the excitement of singing for British Royalty.
by Salil Jayakar

British singer and songwriter Navin Kundra is a huge name in the UK – his remarkable career thus far includes performing with (and in front of) the Who’s Who of the Indian and international music scene, setting a Guinness Book Record by raising £10,000 for the British Asian Trust, and most recently, performing for Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at the St James Palace on October 24, 2013.

It was about this latest performance for the British Royals that Salil Jayakar spoke to Navin about. Excerpts from the interview:

Salil Jayakar (SJ): Performing for the Royals… what was the experience like?

Navin Kundra with Royals 3Navin Kundra (NK): It was a dream come true! Being invited by the President of the British Asian Trust to perform for Royalty is just one of those things that you never expect to happen to you, and it happened to me. Definitely the biggest highlight of my career so far! It was a stunning experience and one which I will treasure for the rest of my life. Yes, I was extremely nervous.  I think anyone would be, and perhaps more so because I knew I was going to be singing in Hindi and Punjabi which are languages they aren’t most familiar with.

SJ: How did the opportunity come about?

NK: In 2011, I was invited to become a celebrity ambassador for the British Asian Trust (BAT), a charitable Trust founded by HRH The Prince Of Wales. That year I helped the Trust raise £10,000 by breaking a Guinness World Record for the biggest Bollywood dance to my song ‘Mehbooba’. Ahead of their tour of South Asia, the Royals held a reception party at St James’s Palace and the President of the Trust asked if I would perform for them.  My first reaction was, ‘Is this for real?’

Then the President casually added, “Navin, I don’t mean to add any pressure but last year the Royals did a tour of Australia and we got Kylie Minogue to perform at their pre-tour reception party…” Yes… I felt the pressure at that point, but I also knew that an opportunity like this only ever comes round once in a lifetime so I said yes as I jumped up and down with excitement!

SJ: You asked Prince Charles to call the Duchess of Cornwall ‘Mehbooba’. Were you worried at all about how they’d react?

NK: (Laughs) This was not at all planned so I had no time to think about how they would react. It was completely spontaneous and happened because I saw that they were enjoying my Navin Kundra with Royals 1performance and responding positively to the music, particularly during my rendition of the Kishore Kumar classic, ‘O Mere Dil Ke Chain’.  I chose that song because it is a Bollywood classic, and as the first British Asian artist to sing in St James’s Palace, I was representing both my South Asian and British roots so I wanted my performance to capture the versatility and riches of our culture and music, too.

After that song I offered to add to Prince Charles’ Hindi vocabulary saying it would help him whilst on tour. Indeed, everyone at The Palace burst into laughter when I said the word ‘Mehbooba’, and when Prince Charles said the word back with perfect pronunciation, everyone cheered (see pic on right).

SJ: What did the Royals say to you post the performance?

NK: They were very complimentary and told me that I have a stunning voice and enjoyed my music. They then asked me what ‘Mehbooba’ meant to which I replied ‘beloved’. I could see the relief on the Royal couple’s faces after I told them the English translation and I joked, “See… it’s not as bad as it sounds!”  They were very charming, thanked me for entertaining them and their guests, said they hoped to see me perform again and wished me good luck for my career. A few days ago I received a ‘thank you’ letter from them, which is now my prized possession!

Watch ‘Mehbooba’ here:

 

SJ: Many British Asians have made their mark in Bollywood over the years. Do you have any Bollywood aspirations?

NK: Bollywood is one of the biggest foundations of my music base and I would love to work in the industry and have my music featured in the movies. If I was to get the right opportunity, I would definitely take it up and am confident that I can bring a new fresh sound and voice to the scene. I plan to visit Mumbai in early December this year, so watch this space.

SJ: Famous last words…

NK: ‘Dare to begin’ because I am living proof [of the fact] that anything is possible. Five years ago, I never thought that I would have the opportunity to represent South Asians all over the world and sing for Royalty, I never thought that I would achieve six number one singles and break a Guinness World Record, or that I would be awarded the 2013 ‘Entertainer of the Year’ in the Houses of Parliament. All of this has happened because I took those first steps towards building on my dream and anyone can do it.

You don’t need to have a huge record label behind you, tonnes of financing or be related to the industry you want to break into, you just need laser focus – and that applies to any industry, not just music or entertainment.

Navin Kundra’s new single ‘PA NA NA’ releases on November 7, 2013 and is available to download on iTunes and other digital stores. For more on Navin, check out his digital presence at www.navin-online.com or visit his FB page at www.facebook.com/navinfanpage or tweet to him @NavinKundra.

(Pictures courtesy Navin Kundra)

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