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Deal with it

When a biker chased me…

A Mumbaikar describes her ordeal when a biker chased her autorickshaw on Link Road earlier this week.

by Rachel Tseng

I faced a rather unpleasant incident in the morning of Monday, September 2. I tried my best not to think about it as I was determined not to allow it to affect my work, my day.

chased by a biker Yesterday, as I collected my newspaper from the front door, I read the headlines of a leading English daily and was in for a rude shock – “Bikers harass fashion stylist in auto at Malad”.

I read the article on the front page, quickly turned over to page 2 to read the rest of the article which contained a picture of those pervert bikers and no, I did not recognise them – have never seen them before.

As the details of the article began to sink in my mind I recounted the unpleasant incident I faced the previous day.

What happened on Monday Between 11:30 to 12, I was travelling alone in an auto from Malad to Andheri and took the Link Road (the busy main road). On the stretch of road between Hypercity and Mega Mall, I noticed a lone biker with a helmet and sunglasses whistling at me and trying to get my attention. I simply ignored him and he went out of sight due to the traffic.

Suddenly, just as I was crossing Mega Mall, he emerged from the left hand side, again started whistling at me and started saying something to me, which I could not hear due to the noise from the moving vehicles around me. He was mouthing something with a disgusting, cheeky smile on his face. By now I was fuming and was apprehensive as to what should I do if he followed me and nobody comes forward to help me on a “busy road”.

I got my phone camera ready to take his picture and that of his number plate. Luckily, because I had to take a U-turn at the following signal – Patliputra Signal – the auto driver stopped in the second lane whereas the biker was way ahead of my auto in the third lane. From where I was, I could see the biker but he could not see me. As he halted at the signal, I saw him frantically looking for me in each and every auto around him – not once, but he peeped in every auto a couple of times. His sheer disappointment

mumbai by nightwas clearly visible from his body language and the frustrated manner in which he accelerated his bike, broke the signal and huffed off. At that moment, I was just relieved that the sick creature lost me. As my day passed and I went about with my work, the experience of being chased and troubled by a disgusting man lingered at the back of my mind.

Almost every day I read about how unsafe Mumbai has become, increase in the number of crimes against women and children, etc. I am aware that just like other women, I too can be a victim some day, but I have never been able to imagine or think beyond that. I have no words to express the numbness in me. Being born, raised, educated and worked in Mumbai, I consider myself a blue blood Mumbaikar. Mumbai is not just where I have lived all my life but this city is my home, my identity! All my life I have boasted about the cosmopolitan life in Mumbai, the availability of transport at any given time and the freedom of an independent woman to move around freely and fearlessly. My barrage of praises is not based on statistical reports but purely on personal experience.

Not too long ago when I was in Fashion School, after college I used to work as a backstage helper at fashion shows. I still recall the days after a fashion show at the Taj, I would board a local train at 11:30 pm, alight at Andheri and hop into an auto for home without a hint of fear. My parents never came to pick me up, never called to check on my safety nor did they nag me about working late. Somewhere at that time they were just confident that their girl was okay.

With the drastic change in the social situation – a surge of perverts, mentally sick and frustrated people with regressive thoughts, my city, my Mumbai is infested, threatened and troubled by these social thugs who are sometimes under disguise or just pop out of nowhere to make your life miserable for no fault of yours.

Whoever you are, whatever you may be – I will not allow you to bog me down. I still do and will continue to move around freely but (sadly) not fearlessly!

Rachel Tseng is a fashion designer and she lives in the suburbs in Mumbai.

(All pictures are used for representational purpose only. Pictures courtesy timesofindia.com, dnaindia.com)

Categories
Wellness

Foot care made easy

They take a lot of pressure, but they are relatively easy to take care of, too. Follow these simple steps.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

taking care of your feetIf you think you are overworked, and if the stress in your body is focussed only in your shoulders and back, think again. While these parts of your body definitely bear the brunt of a stressful life, we actually forget that the most stresses are concentrated in our legs, and mostly in our feet.

Our feet don’t just take us places, they take the strain of sudden movement when we run for the bus or the train, spend long periods resting as we sit at our desks and the blood pools in them, get very little attention as regards a tone-up and massage, and are hardly ever exercised like they should be. What’s more, we don’t notice their poor health till the skin on our sole starts callusing, or we develop painful corns or bunions due to wrong footwear, or even such potentially serious conditions such as DVT in the vessels in the feet, and which may cause painful cramps and spasms.

Yet, it’s not too late to start caring for your feet. Just follow these steps and you’re good:
– Invest in a rubber cricket ball and place it near your feet. Whether at home watching TV or working at your desk in office, move your feet backwards and forwards over the ball in a regular motion. This stimulates blood circulation and massages aching muscles.

– If you suffer from poor circulation in your feet, try this: Slather a soothing lotion or a deep tissue oil on your feet, and massage firmly for two minutes. Next, warm a pair of socks and put these on for half an hour. Do not walk while the socks are on.

– If you’ve suffered a cut or injury on your feet due to new footwear, disinfect it immediately.

– A good indication of whether you are over-exercising or walking too many kilometres is when your feet develop aches or swell up. Walk briskly but only as much as your feet can take, and drink a lot of water before you exercise.

– In this weather, your feet are likely to get sweaty and give rise to bacterial infections. Give your feet a thorough disinfecting treatment – in a tub of warm water, squeeze the juice of foot bathtwo lemons and soak for 20 minutes. Next, rub a pumice stone or foot scraper gently over dead skin, then soak your feet in a fresh tub of lemon water for 10 minutes. Clean out your nails, file them and complete the treatment with a generous slathering of neem oil on your feet. Wear old socks over your feet and avoid walking for a while.

– If your feet have been bearing the brunt of too much running around at work, follow a regimen of massage before washing feet with warm water. You can use coconut oil or olive oil for a good massage.

– Do these simple exercises every day:

1) Rotate your ankles clockwise and anticlockwise for a fixed number of times. Your legs and body should be stationery.
2) Hold your ankles and bend your feet upwards and downwards slowly, for a fixed number of times.
3) If you are prone to cramps in your legs, flex your toes and point them as low as you can towards the ground. Then flex again and point them as high as you can. Do this slowly without pressurising your calf muscles.

– It is a good idea to have a pedicure and foot spa every two weeks, but ensure that the equipment used is clean.

(Pictures courtesy healthmeup.com, zongyi.blogspot.com)

Categories
Achieve

Mumbai boy wins national DJ finals

Mumbai’s DJ Roane Ace won against 12 other shortlisted DJs; he will represent India at London in October this year.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The DMC World DJ Championship, which is the prominent showcase for DJ talent around the world, held their India national finals two days ago. The finale had 13 top DJs from all across the country battling it out for the winner’s spot.

The shortlisted contestants were DJ Monty (from Pune), DJ Eshwar (Mumbai), DJ Manoj (Mumbai), DJ Skip (Delhi), DJ Craig (Chennai), DJ Kave (Chennai), DJ Raw-Z (Chennai) DJ V-key Arora (Delhi), DJ Navendu (Delhi), DJ Nipun (Mumbai), DJ Rahil Khan (Mumbai), DJ Roane Ace (Mumbai) and DJ Ishy (Delhi).

DJ Roane AceDJ Roane Ace (in picture on left) was chosen as the winner by an esteemed jury comprising Luke Kenny, DJ A-Myth and Sumit Shenoy. Leading turntablist DJ and artist URI Solanki hosted the event.

Roane Ace’s winning entry has earned him a chance to represent India in the world finals which will be held on October 5, 2013 in London. Additionally, the winner and the runners up of DMC 2013 will represent India at IDA that shall be held in Poland on December 7 this year.

On the eve of the finale, Abdul Salam Shaikh from Code 9, the firm that brought the championship to India said, “We had conceptualised this [event] with the aim of being able to recognise exceptional work in the world of DJing in India. It was exhilarating to witness the championship take shape, thanks to our esteemed partners and our esteemed panel of judges, who came on board to support this initiative.”

A spokesperson from DMC said, “The Indian finals were conducted on par with international standards, the audience received an opportunity to Judges with the winner DJ Roane Aceview some excellent sets by the contestants.”

Luke Kenny added, “I am overwhelmed by the unprecedented response received in the first installment of this championship. This platform was much needed to encourage, support and award the best budding DJs in India.”

 (Pictures courtesy Code 9)

Categories
Beauty

Work-outs made simpler

This is the season of unpredictable, heavy showers. So what do you do when your outdoor exercise plans fall through?
by Deepa Mistry

The weather may be rainy, gloomy, dull and it’s always humid, since the rains have become so unpredictable. This has affected so many of our outdoor activities like shopping, exercising or even going to the gym. Rains have disturbed our regular exercise routines on many occasions, but don’t let this season deter you from a great workout even if it means you have to do it at home.

Try these:
skipping– It is a good idea to invest in a skipping rope. If you are used to going out for an early morning walk or jog, a sudden shower can delay or derail your plan. But stick to your daily cardio kick: warm up with a few stretching exercises, followed by jogging on the spot. Once you’re done stretching your legs and arms, skip for 15 minutes. This provides the same or more of the benefits of a jog, and it will tone your leg and arm muscles.

– Get a pair of dumbbells, as they help burn fat when used in various exercises. Do curls, squats, lunges, rows and kickbacks using dumbbells for an effective workout.

– Also try push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, pull-ups and chair dips. These will tone your arms, shoulders and ab muscles.

– If you are not a gym person, sit-ups, waist bends, knee bends, and calf exercises are a great way to flex your muscles. Pick a spot in your home that lets you hold on to a support and also provides ample space to spread yourself.

– Enroll in a kickboxing class. Kickboxing is a fast and energetic workout which burns several calories per hour, faster than burning kickboxingcalories on an exercycle or a cross-trainer.

– Dancing is the best workout for everybody. Just turn up the volume and dance like no one’s watching. This makes the body flexible and is the most enjoyable workout.

– If you’ve been thinking of investing in a treadmill this maybe the best time to buy it, as it will last you a long time and you don’t need to go out for your walk or run.

– Yoga is the most recommended indoor exercise. Practice simple asanas to keep yourself fit. Yoga also helps reduce respiratory problems that are very common during the monsoon season. Encourage your children and family to practice pranayam daily, as it increases concentration and reduces stress levels. Besides, yoga is very beneficial for pregnant women and heart patients. Suryanamaskar should be practised atleast five times daily, early in the morning.

– Don’t be a couch potato; ditch the television and opt for cleaning. It has been found that sweeping and mopping the floors provides as much exercise as 10 minutes on the treadmill. Even tidying up your room, making the beds, cleaning the ceiling fan are activities that burn calories and tone your arms and shoulders.

– Exercise balls are another useful tool for home exercise programmes. They may be used for balance and proprioceptive training, core strengthening, and as a bench to perform your bench press on. They come in different sizes and will often include an entire workout programme for you to follow, so choose one based on your requirements.

– Skip the lift and take the stairs. This is a very effective for fat burn. On the days that you can’t go out and exercise, walk up and down the stairs at a constant speed for a good workout.

– YouTube has several exercise videos to choose from, and several TV channels offer fitness programmes. Choose from a traditional or step aerobic workout, belly dancing, yoga and other formats. These programmes have a host who explains the exercises and how to do them. Alternatively, invest in a fitness trainer who will design an indoor workout for you.

(Pictures courtesy alyssaeleven.wordpress.com, houstonblackbelt.com, www.goodhousekeeping.com)

Categories
Wellness

Vaginal discharge: good or not?

Not all vaginal discharge is bad. You only have to start worrying when it changes colour or develops an odour.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

It’s annoying and sometimes uncomfortable, but there’s no getting away from it – vaginal discharge is a necessary evil in every woman’s life.

Vaginal discharge serves a primary function: it is secreted as a ‘clean up’ mechanism for a woman’s reproductive system, especially in the days immediately after the end of the monthly menstrual cycle. Its function is to rid the uterine and vaginal tract clear of old cells and fluid, and it is nature’s way of keeping the uterus, cervix and vagina clean.

How much discharge is normal?
vaginal discharge symptomsSays gynaecologist Dr Prachi Kakkar, “The amount of discharge varies from woman to woman, so what’s normal for one may be abnormal for another. Besides, the amount and intensity varies on other factors such as stress, an infection, an illness, use of antibiotics, ageing and pregnancy.”

While some women can experience a discharge daily, not counting the days they have a period, others can have occasional discharge. “As long as the discharge is transparent or slightly whitish, without an odour and it is not thick, the discharge is considered normal,” says Dr Kakkar.

When you should worry
The first sign of some distress in the uterine tract is normally exhibited through the vaginal discharge, says Dr Kirti Soman, Nagpur-based gynaecologist. “Whether a localised infection or a larger issue like a fibroid, the vaginal discharge will give the first indication of the condition,” Dr Soman says. “You might experience a sudden, heavy discharge. On the other hand, you might experience extreme dryness in the vaginal area with no discharge at all. Either way, it should sound an alarm bell.”

Additionally, the discharge may change appearance, which is when you should be concerned. “If it changes colour – becomes yellow or greenish or clotted white, like curd – and if it develops a strong fishy or unpleasant smell, then it means you have developed an infection. It may be a yeast infection or vaginosis or even a sexually-transmitted disease like gonorrhoea. The good news is that these infections can be treated with oral medication and if doctor’s orders are strictly followed, they can clear up in a few weeks,” Dr Soman explains.

How will you know if you’ve got a problem?
– If you experience sudden heavy discharge, try and chart for how long you’ve been suffering it. Ditto for sudden dryness and lack of discharge for days, if you’ve previously had doucheregular discharge. Ideally, you should not wait for longer than a week to see a doctor.
– A change of colour and smell of the discharge is an indication of an infection. An infection exists if the discharge is yellow, greenish, grey or curdy in appearance, and if it smells bad.
– You may get an infection if you have sexual intercourse with a person infected with chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
– If you’re experiencing pain during intercourse or if the vagina is swollen/dry, you may have an infection in the cervix.
– Do not try to treat yourself at home using douches (in pic on right) or vaginal washes purchased off the market without a doctor’s advice. There is a high chance of you killing the healthy cells in your system if you use a douche, or certain cleansing solutions in your vaginal area.
– Some infections recur, so if you’ve been treated once, don’t assume you won’t ever need treatment again. Consult your doctor when making lifestyle, food and medication choices.

(Pictures courtesy www.didibahini.com, www.ladycarehealth.com, www.women-health-info.com)

Categories
Beauty

Prevent early signs of aging

Are you worried that your skin looks older than you? Follow a few simple steps and reduce wrinkles right now.
by Deepa Mistry

No one likes to look old, whether they are in their early 30s or older. To look younger, we all end up spending a bomb on over-the-counter products, prescription creams and fillers, and, most drastically, cosmetic surgery. But do any of these really work? Maybe yes, but only temporarily.

Wrinkles are an inevitable part of the natural aging process. As we become older, our skin becomes thinner, drier and less elastic. Our skin’s ability to protect itself from damage is also reduced as we age. Eventually wrinkles, creases and lines form on our skin.

According to Medilexicon’s medical dictionary, “A wrinkle is a furrow, fold, or crease in the skin, particularly of a type seen with increasing occurrence as a result of sun exposure or, in perioral skin (skin lining the inside of the mouth), cigarette smoking; associated with degeneration of dermal elastic tissue.”

Wrinkles are the creases, folds or ridges we see on our skin. The first most visible signs, however, appear on our face. There are two main types of wrinkles: Surface lines and Deep furrows. Most wrinkles tend to appear in the parts of the body which receive the most sun exposure, including the backs of hands, face, neck and tops of forearms. With our lifestyles, apart from the normal aging process, there are many other factors that cause wrinkles.

smokingSmoking produces free radicals in the body. These cause wrinkles and age-related skin problems to develop sooner. Free radicals also increase the risk of non-melanoma skin cancers. Smokers tend to have thinner skin, and more and deeper wrinkles than nonsmokers. Cigarette smokers are also more prone to skin cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma and giant basal cell carcinoma.

Research has found that women who smoke have much lower levels of Vitamin E secretions in their skin. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may help protect the skin from sun damage. People who spend considerable time out in the sun if their job requires them to or during their leisure hours are more likely to develop wrinkles earlier. Avoid smoking; heavy smokers are almost five times more likely to show excessive wrinkling than nonsmokers. Even passive smoke is dangerous to skin.

Protect your skin from the sun. Sunlight exposure is the most important cause of early aging of skin (a process called photoaging). Sunlight exposure is also the main cause of skin cancers.

The two types of sun rays that can injure the skin are ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). Exposure sunlight exposureto ultraviolet radiation accounts for most of the symptoms of early skin aging. Much of the damage is underway by age 20. Even small amounts of UV radiation trigger the processes leading to skin wrinkles.

Intense exposure to sunlight in early life is an important cause of melanoma, an aggressive type of skin cancer. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses.

your genesDon’t blame your genes. Your genes only govern 30 per cent of how you age. The other 70 per cent is up to you. Eat healthy; a diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains, along with healthy oils (such as olive oil) may protect the skin from damage by free radicals. This is because these foods have high levels of antioxidants. Increase your intake of antioxidants like pomegranates, blueberries, green tea or fruits with high water content. Daily exercise keeps blood flowing, which brings oxygen to the skin.

Be happy. Yes you heard it right! A research shows that men and women who are depressed or divorced or those using antidepressants looked older than married or widowed people of the same age. At the very least, being happy will help you not care so much about the wrinkles!

Wrinkles are not considered medical conditions or life-threatening or harmful to physical health. Getting rid of wrinkles or taking steps to postpone their development are always optional measures, because it is important for the individual to bear this in mind when considering treatment options. At the end of the day, it’s all about feeling good about yourself.

With inputs from: Skin wrinkles and blemishes | University of Maryland Medical Center.

(Pictures courtesy www.vibhalife.com, blogs.independent.co.uk, www.healthtap.com, www.india-forums.com)

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