5 Most Charismatic: Young Indian Royals

Maharaja Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur

The last titular King of Jaipur, Highness Bhawani Singh, had no son, hence in 2002 he adopted his daughter’s elder son, Sawai Padmanabh Singh. Maharaja Padmanabh Singh is the current head of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur. At the young age of 22 he is a national level polo player, an accomplished model, who has walked for brands like Dolce & Gabbana during the Milan Men’s Fashion Week.

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar of Mysore

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar is the twenty-seventh custodian of the
erstwhile ruling family of the Kingdom of Mysore and head of the Wadiyar dynasty.
Currently he is the head of the Wadiyar dynasty at a young age of twenty-three
years. He is presently titled as the Maharaja of Mysore. It is said that the total value
of the asset owned by them sums up to nearly ten thousand crores.

Princess Mriganka Singh of Jammu and Kashmir

An Indian businessman and politician Yuvraj Vikramaditya Singh’s daughter princess Mriganka Singh is the face of the fashion and luxury brand, DiaColor. She’s been a fashion model, walking ramps for many brands, but on the other hand she reportedly works towards the upliftment of children with special needs.

Lakshayraj Singh of Mewar

Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar’s son Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar has excelled in his line of profession as an Executive Director of the luxury HRH Group of Hotels. He has given a new dimension to the face of destination weddings and continues to do so even today. On a personal note he’s a sports lover and is passionate about catching up with social issues like education, health and environment to the forefront.

Princess Mohena Singh of Rewa

Maharaja of Rewa, Martand Singh’s granddaughter Princess Mohena Singh is a spectacular dancer, fashion model and a choreographer. She has also stepped into the world of acting, by giving her part in a daily soap ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’. She recently got married to Politician Suyesh Pawat, in October 2019.

Staying Fit is Simply Possible : Dr. Padma Srivastava

Prof Padma, Head of Neurology at AIIMS, New Delhi, has a string of achievements to her credit she enlists some simple, intelligent ways to stay fit!

Five Healthy Lifestyle Choices

1.No smoking
2.No alcohol
3.A body mass index less then 25
4.Daily exercise for 30 minutes
5.A healthy diet score in the top 40% had an 80% reduction of stroke compared with participants who achieved none!

Improve Lifestyle

Rate of cardiovascular mortality in people with stroke over a 10 year period is reduced by 90% on engaging in lifestyle behaviors such as eating sufficient fruits and vegetables, exercising, maintaining a BMI of < 29 Kg/m 2 and not smoking!

Lower Blood Pressure!

GOAL- Maintain a blood pressure level not more than 120/80 mm Hg. How to achieve it?

Reduce salt in your diet. Ideally not more than half a teaspoon per day.
More polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in the diet and avoid saturated fats.
4 to 5cups of fruits and vegetables per day; one serving of fish two to three times a week and several daily servings of whole grains and low fat dairy.
Get more exercise – atleast 30 minutes of activity per day.
Quit smoking. Period!

Exercise- Its very important!

GOAL- Exercise at a moderate intensity at least five days a week. How to achieve it?

Take a walk around your neighborhood every day.
Start a fitness club with friends
When you exercise reach a level at which your breathing hard but you can still talk.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
If you don’t have a consecutive 30 minutes to exercise, break it up into 10 or 15 minute sessions a few times a day.

Keep weight under check

GOAL- Ideal BMI 25 or less
How to achieve it?

Try to eat no more than 1500 t 2000 calories per day.
Increase the amount of exercise you do like walking, playing, or making activity a part of every single day.

Dr. Padma Srivastava
MD, DM, FRCP (Eidin), FAMS, FNASc, FIAN, FNA
Professor, Head, Department of Neurology
Chief, Neurosciences Center
AIIMS, New Delhi
Hon, Professor, UCLAN, UK.

The Inspiring Story of Prof Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER

The Inspiring Story of Prof Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER & What Makes Him a Real-Life Hero

In conversation with The Lifestyle Journalist Editor-in-Chief Dr Neha Miglani

He has traversed a long journey. From literally walking nine kilometers a day to reach his school in Rajgarh district of Himachal Pradesh back in 1961, to climbing stairs of a stage to receive ‘Oscar in Pediatric Ophthalmology’ in Barcelona in 2015 and ‘Best of the Best Award’ in San Francisco in 2013 and again at New Orleans in 2016. The journey is incredibly inspiring!

A real-life hero, if one may call him that. He has come really far. Given his humble beginnings and his family’s struggle, his story is tremendously inspirational. The son of a farmer, who ardently performs eye-surgeries or examines patients and offers consultation to them till 11am,despite being the busiest man in PGIMER.

Padma Shri
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2018-19 by the President of India for his significant contributions in the field of medicine. He is recognized for his innovative surgical procedures in childhood cataract and offering charitable and tertiary care services to millions of patients.

Meet Prof Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER, who completes 41.5 years in the institute and profession and whose indomitable spirit, hard-work, backed with high professional competency have brought him so far. His family is a robust support system for him. His wife, Mrs. Asha Kumari, a caring mother and an incredibly loving grandmother, makes sure he doesn’t compromise on his physical exercise while performing his professional duties. So while they go for a nature walk together on a Sunday, she makes sure he walks long enough even as he is busy clicking photographs (thanks to his keen interest in nature photography!).

“We are content with what we have. We live a life of satisfaction and are happy with whatever resources and money we have,” cite the couple who are ardent meditators and spiritualists.

At a global level, what is the one thing that needs to be learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic?

In 100 years, this is the second most disastrous pandemic after the Spanish flu. COVID-19 pandemic has taught us the ‘New Normal’. With masks, social distancing and washing hands frequently as basic norms, this pandemic has taught us the appropriate behavior. As doctors or surgeons earlier, we used to wear masks only in Operation Theatres and sometimes not in OPD’s. With the new normal, even the risk of other respiratory diseases has also gone down. This pandemic has taught the world to stay prepared for such situations even in the future. This time, there was no preparation. And still India is in a powerful position when it comes to vaccination. Even in PGI, from 100 bedded COVID-19 hospitals, we went up to 300 beds. So COVID-19 has taught us all many significant lessons.

COVID-19 has changed the way people perceive life and even social norms, events. The second wave is threatening everyday life yet again. What is your take on this, and how does one visualize a normal life yet again?

From a medical point of view, more primary and second health care facilities need to be set up in each Tehsil and district. From the perspective of infrastructure and manpower both, there are important takeaways from this pandemic. Doctors can’t work from home, unlike other professions. During the full lockdown period and even curfew, there has not been a single day when we have not been to the hospital. The job is such. Although telemedicine is very useful in following up with patients, there is no substitute for physically examining the patients. One must learn to cope with this new normal as an individual and move ahead with positivity. As far as normalcy is concerned, we need to follow the protocol (wearing of mask & social distancing etc.) for a long time. At the same time mass-vaccination covering large population of the country will help to eliminate COVID 19 pandemic and bring normalcy.

One topmost achievement or a significant improvement you brought about during your tenure as Director, PGIMER.

In the patient care, teaching and research; there is significant improvement at the institute (PGIMER, Chandigarh) over the years. Under the NIRF rankings, for three years successively, we have been the second-best medical institution in the country. In Cadaveric Organ Donation, we have been ranked the ‘Best Hospital’ for the last four years successively in the country. As far as cleanliness is concerned, we are among the best in the country. These are some top achievements, and there are many more. There is a lot of work to be done yet!

What is the one most important thing ‘yet to achieve’ for PGI, which is also on your to-do list?

3 million patients were coming to PGIMER annually before the COVID-19 pandemic, not just from the neighbouring states but also far off states. Therefore, we are coming up with a new Screening OPD, on 50.76 acres of land in Sarangpur (very close to the existing PGI), near Chandigarh. This will help manage the existent rush of patients. Besides screening OPD, there is a 500 bedded trauma centre coming up there, a big Oncology centre with all kinds of services in it- including medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiotherapy and re-habilitation. There will also be a Gastroenterology and Hepatology centre with 600 beds and a 200-bed Endocrinology centre.
Additionally, the Neurosciences centre is already coming up in our existing campus and a ‘mother and child’ care 300 bedded centre. We are also coming up with a geriatric centre to take care of the health of older people better. So we intend to provide the most cost-effective and best tertiary care services.

What is your advice to junior doctors and medical students who aspire to enter leading institutes like PGIMER as faculty/or permanent profiles?

There is no substitute for hard work. Stay committed, stay focused and ethical. One must not compromise on ethics at all. This is an institute of national importance, and there is a certain depth of dedication required to be here. Also, teamwork is extremely important. Individual achievement does not make much sense till it is teamwork and the whole team is excelling.

Often commercial and vested interests in the medical profession take a toll on patients. What is your take on the commercialization of the medical profession?

There is a tendency to recover the money that one has invested in medical studies. But ethics must be a part of the medical profession, come what may. What procedure has to be followed for a patient must be followed.

What is your health mantra in one line?
I wake up early in the morning and meditate every day.

Family support is imperative to reach and sustain at top positions, be it any profession. How do you rate your own family’s contribution in your illustrious career?

My family has been tremendously supportive and is my backbone. My wife, Asha, has been a solid support for me. My two daughters- Shikha and Shilpa are both married, and whatever time I get with my grandchildren, I try to instil good values in them. These days children are glued to gadgets, so my wife and I try to motivate them towards good social and cultural values and educate them to pay attention when someone is talking to them, rather than staying with gadgets. Although these children are brilliant and ahead of their age. At 3, my grandson would tell the nearby petrol station using Google maps and it astonished me! My wife constructively engages our grandchildren with nature. She would take them to the garden when they come home and tell them about fruits, trees and assist them in gardening.

If you were not a doctor, what would you have been?
I would have been a science teacher if I wasn’t a doctor.

Who is your inspiration and why?
My father Late Sh Dhianu Ram was a farmer and used to work very hard. He was dedicated and honest- he was my first inspiration. My school teacher- Sh. Shivraj Singh Negi was another big inspiration in my life. He took us to appear for Class 5 exams in hills when there was no system of examination in schools. Late Prof. IS Jain and Prof. Amod Gupta has been my professional inspirations. I learnt a lot from them. My spiritual Guru from Radha Soami Satsang Beas has taught me to be a good human being. He taught me to give my head, heart and soul in work.

Your hobby or your way of relaxing?
Nature photography! I have at least 20,000 photos of birds and nature in my phone. Not just nature photography I like to do the same in my profession also related to eye-surgeries and ophthalmology. I also love travelling. Places like Kerala or the North-East are nice to be close to nature and travel to new places.

Your life mantra
I never had a feeling of revenge for anyone. It is the lowliest act one can do. Hence, I think and do good for all. I excuse people, even if they commit big mistakes. As far as possible, one must do that. So in that space of compassion, things automatically work.

What are your plans ahead of the Directorship of PGIMER?
I plan to do charitable work. I am very clear about that. I wish to offer my services for poor people and those who are genuinely needy.

Life Mantra- FORGIVENESS
“I don’t believe in taking revenge against anyone. Whatever one may do, I excuse themand
never think of taking revenge. It is a lowly act to take revenge.”

MY INSPIRATION
My father, my school teacher, my two professional mentors and my spiritual guru- all have contributed significantly to my life and have made me who I am today.

LIFESTYLE
“I am a pure Vegetarian. I wake up at 4.30 am and meditate. Positive thinking and forgiveness-these values give me the strength to move forward. My family is my support and backbone.”

Top 5 Health Tips
1) Follow COVID-19 protocol- Wash hands frequently, wear face masks and maintain social distancing.

2) Get vaccinated and stay protected.

3) Take out some time for physical fitness. Walk or yoga must be a part of one’s routine.

4) Positive thinking will bring about positive actions. That is the seed. Therefore, think positive and meditate regularly.

5) A balanced diet is essential.

Fit & Inspirational at 70! Madhu Bahl, Regional Director & Manager, DAV Schools

An ace educationist, a sports enthusiast, someone who took Chandigarh at the international map in Roller Skating, a good Samaritan, a strong visionary and someone who carries an aura of discipline and grace along. Meet Mrs. Madhu Bahl, who is tremendously elegant at 70 and has an undying zeal to educate students of all strata- privileged and lesser privileged. Her unique initiative Saral Ahsaas, in which she adopted 450 children of Bapu Dhaam Colony to educate them for free, won her laurels at the national level, including an award by President of India, the State Award, among several others. Her list of achievements is endless, and there are countless teachers and students whose careers she has shaped in all these decades. Here is a candid conversation between this phenomenal, graceful lady with TLJ Editor-in-Chief Dr Neha Miglani

What is your life philosophy ?

My life is dedicated to education, and my only passion is to educate students. Not just those
who are privileged but even those who are lesser privileged. ‘Saral Ahsaas’ has been very
close to my heart. It was not easy to go to colony and convince parents to send their children
to us. Now, one cannot make out the difference between regular students and them!

Your biggest challenge in life so far (Professional and personal).

When I initiated the project to educate the lesser privilege, there were minor challenges. The
personal hygiene of these children from slums was so low that teachers used to keep
handkerchief on their mouths when entered the class to teach them. Gradually with discipline
and by imbibing good values, these children became so smart, clean and confident.

You biggest strength and support system.

My family has been my biggest strength: my father-in-law, Sh. B.S. Bahl, a leading
educationist, was my Guru. He passed away two years ago at the age of 103, and till his last
breath, he was working and used to come to school every day. My husband, Dr. Arun Bahl, a
noted author of Chemistry books, is my robust support system. I am tremendously proud of
my children, who are also a source of pride and strength. My daughter, Vani Bahl, is a Gold
Medallist from the prestigious Chandigarh College of Architecture and is currently in San
Franciso. Jai Krishnan Chathu, my son-in-law (Vani’s husband), is an I.T. specialist and a
Software Engineer working on Artificial Intelligence at Sunnyvale in California (USA) in a
highly reputed company. He is called J.K. by his friends and family members. J.K. is a very
hardworking, multi-talented person and a great human being. He, along with Vani, spend
quality time in their 7-acre land, which they have purchased for horticulture purpose. He
achieved a Degree in Permaculture along with Vani from the University of Stanford, Austin.
He specializes in landscaping and growing several kinds of fruit trees and other medicinal
plants on his farmland. He is very fond of pet dogs and has adopted two of them.
My son, Vishal Bahl, is a Chemical Engineer and did his MBA from Carnegie Mellon
University; he is in Minneapolis. My daughter-in-law, Amber Bahl, runs her own business in
the U.S. and is connected with school education. My grandson, Arnav, is a gifted child and is
way ahead of his age. He already chants Maha Mrityanjay Japa at a tender age, and his
parents have given him good Indian values. I am blessed with a brilliant and supportive
family. Not just my children, even their spouses are very talented.

How do you unwind after a long day?

I like to watch movies, of any kind, on Netlfix and other platforms. That is my way of
relaxing and unwinding! I also listen to gazals, particularly Jagjit Singh gazals.

Few things you want to improve in yourself.

I think I get restless sometimes. I know that things will be taken care of, but sometimes I do
get jittery.

Your top qualities, from your perspective.

I am a perfectionist. Whatever I do, I do it 100%, with all my heart. I get involved and do
things. I also like to create leaders and inculcate leadership quality in others. I am a quick
learner, and once I decide to do something, there is no looking back. Also, I love to dress up,
and I am very fond of accessorising my outfits. I think it makes you feel confident and
smart!

What is your take on the new National Education Policy? What are the most
transformational points in NEP?

Honestly, there is a lot of confusion about NEP. There are no clear instructions or guidelines
from MHRD on several aspects. We have distributed copies of NEP to our entire staff, and
we are thoroughly studying it. April 1 NEP is coming into force, but there is a dire need to
organise workshops and have orientation for all teachers on its real worth and the implementation strategy.

Do you feel there is a scope for improvement in curriculums in Indian schools? If yes, what kind of changes must be brought about ?

There are scores of capacity building workshops held in schools, but there is a lack of
direction. The ‘impact’ is missing. Many topics were deducted from the biology curriculum,
for instance, but the load will now come on students in Classes XI and XII.

What is your message to other women on International Women’s Day, especially to all
those who look up to you?

Think of collective good of the society. Do not discriminate between people. Contribute as
much as possible to charitable activities, to social work. Women have a lot of inner strength;
they must use it not just to nurture their own families but to also take care of the society at
large.

A Glorious Career of an Inspirational Woman

2001- CBSE National Teachers Award- She received the prestigious National CBSE Teachers Award,
given by the then MHRD Minister Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi at India International Centre, New Delhi.

2003- Teachers State Award- She received the Teachers State Award in public recognition for her
valuable services to the community as a teacher of outstanding merit, award by then Education-cum-
Home Secretary, UT Administration, Sh. R.S. Gujral.

2005- National Teachers Award- In recognition of her valuable services to the community as a teacher of
outstanding merit, she was honored with the National Teachers Award in 2005 by the then President of
India Sh. Abdul Kalam.

2006- she received Mahatma Hansraj Gold Medal by the Governor of Kerala, Sh. RL Bhatia and
Padmashree Sh. GP Chopra ji. The award consisted of a pure 22-carat gold medal. In the same year, she
received the Tara Chand Saboo Award by the Governor of Punjab.

2007- Punjab Rattan Award- She was conferred with ‘Punjab Rattan Award’ by All India Conference of
Intellectuals, awarded by Governor of Haryana, Dr. A.R. Kidwai for her contribution in the field of Roller
Skating.

2007- 5th Computer Literacy Excellence Awards (National & State) – She received this prestigious
honour by the then Union Minister for Communication & Information Technology Sh. Thiru A. Raja. And Minister of State for Communication & Information Technology Sh. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Create an Exquisite Lifestyle with HOLZER

Break the monotony of your space by seamlessly combining perfect craftsmanship and visual appeal with ‘Holzer’. With marvellous furnishing options, one can easily find unmatched allure and make a better choice. Here in conversation with Mr. Varun Kaher– Managing Director of Holzer– The Furniture Boutique’ on how Holzer is serving its clients brilliantly for years now and the brand is creating interiors that are not only high on function but also inspire the senses.

Please walk us through your trailblazing journey in the furniture industry. What do you love most about it? Any important lessons that your professional life has taught you?

Since, its inception in the year 2010, Holzer has been a dream project for me that has constantly evolved in all aspects. Most importantly our aesthetic sensibility and undeniable work ethic still remains of utmost importance to the entire team. Manifesting dream homes for our clients into reality is the prime motto we follow.

What inspired you to come in this business?

10 years ago, I felt there was a big gap in the industry of bespoke furniture. People were forced to buy ready-made products and if they ever shared an idea or liking about imported furniture, they received a typical answer- that it’s imported and it wasn’t possible to get the same finishing here in India! For clients who ever visited abroad, there was no customization possibility without a minimum order quantity and they were left with no option other than to buy that particular piece in ready stock. Upon careful observation of the loopholes in the industry, we planned a workshop equipped with all high-tech machinery and experienced craftsmanship. All this made it possible for us to customize everything from a small pack table to furniture needs of an entire house!

Who has been your role model and why?

My role model is my Father. He inspired me to think big, think fast, and think ahead and most importantly to stay positive in every scenario!

How COVID has affected the business scenario in the entertainment industry?

I think COVID has affected the industry in a positive way. People are doing small social gatherings and functions at their homes, so in other words they are investing more on their home rather than other things. As a result we are overloaded and we have to setup one more manufacturing plant on urgent basis to cater to the growing demand.

One activity that helps you relax and unwind?

Playing and spending time with my 4-year-old daughter Amayra.

Your life mantras

‘Time management’ and ‘Discipline’ is very important.

What are some attributes that contribute to the unique features of your company ?

We are only company in the region that has 15,000 Sq ft display of customizable furniture and we have an expertise in bespoke furniture. We are one stop shop where you get a complete package from designing to execution. We are equipped with furniture, furnishings, lighting, and art effects!

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A Tale of Grit & Determination : Rishi Arora

Scores of failures did not deter him from trying out new ideas

Rishi come from a middle-class family from a small city of Firozpur in Punjab. His YouTube channels ‘Be Ghent’ and ‘Rishi Arora’ have 1 Million+ and 70k+ subscribers on YouTube as a lifestyle vlogger and lifestyle content creator. He also performed at the YouTube Fanfest at Delhi. However, his journey wasn’t as easy as it may seem! He had his own share of mighty struggle with one failure after other. Yet he did not give up. Initially, he had started as a dish washer and cashier at a McDonalds Drive-through. He then started giving home tuitions and later began a website also but failed at that too. He then began a night food delivery business in Chandigarh, which wasn’t successful. He first tried YouTube with his channel “Posirational”, followed by “RA Countdown”, then by “GagsVines TV” and finally by his fourth channel “TeesriNazar”; but all of them failed one by one. Within 8-9 months, four of his channels had failed. Times were so hard that he had to sell his Activa Scooty to buy some equipment for the upgradation of the quality of videos.

Rishi bought a camera on finance and finally started his fifth and current YouTube Channel “Be Ghent” in April 2017. This channel was all about Indian Men’s Lifestyle in Hindi with a mission that “Everyone is perfect. It’s all about knowing your strengths and weaknesses.” He started sharing his own experiences of life, fashion and grooming. His audience loved the way of communication and representation. The audience connected more to him as a friend and also started communicating this through their numerous replies and comments on his videos. “My channel started getting more and more views and gaining new audiences daily. I worked with leading brands like Gillete, Myntra, Philips, ET Money, Groww, Upstox, Mama Earth, etc. The journey has been so phenomenal and magical that the person who once had to sell his Activa Scooty for new equipment now bought and gifted his parents a brand new Creta car!,” says Rishi.

Rishi’s audience now looks up to him as an elder brother who came out stronger through his life’s struggles and has built his life and is continuing to do so every day while inspiring others through the process of it.

DR. NAIYA BANSAL MAKING LIVES BEAUTIFUL & BETTER

Dr. Naiya has been applying her gift of precision to aesthetic laser skin treatments. Here, in this interview, she talks about her venture and new advancements in the field. Let’s ask this leading expert about the advanced world of non-invasive skin treatments.

Please share something about your journey in the medical field.

I have always fantasized about the idea of bringing difference in people’s lives by the use of medical skills. Dermatology was the perfect way to achieve that desire. One factor that encouraged me to become a dermatologist was the challenge that came with obtaining the postgraduate seat in the field and the absolute charm of this specialty, in itself. I feel blessed to be trained in an Army Institute where I got the best possible training and exposure to the latest advancements and technology in the field.

Why did you choose to be a Dermatologist?

Dermatology is the most upcoming and advanced field of medicine with lots of excitement and the ability to bring a difference in a patient’s life. I have been naturally inclined towards being a dermatologist as it was a very upcoming field with a lot of scope for learning new and interesting things and it dealt with making people more beautiful and happier by boosting their confidence and self-esteem.

Please tell us more about your venture.

Dr. Naiya Bansal’s skin and laser clinic is a result of a lot of hard work, passion, training in the field of dermatology, both in the country and abroad, and procurement of the best equipment and staff to deliver the best possible results to our patients and also provide them quality service. Our motto is to provide the latest technology at the best prices in the field of dermatology and cosmetology. We believe in making skin and cosmetology services very much accessible and common to most of the patients, making them safer and result oriented.

What are the biggest myths about laser treatments ?

The biggest myth about Laser treatment is that lasers are like radiation beams that are harmful to our body and health. I have to repeatedly assure my patients that lasers are not harmful, at all. In fact, they are the safest and most precise energy-based devices which are specifically targeted towards only a certain component like a hair follicle or a pigmentary cell. And they are absolutely not harmful to the internal body too.

When a person comes for a consultation, how do you develop a plan with them ?

When a person comes for a consultation, we ask for their concerns. We try to understand the real skin and aesthetic needs of the patient, also his/her financial capability, time constraints, occupation, and health profile so, that we can offer the best-customized plan. We aim at providing the best results at minimum cost and downtime.

How many types of laser treatments are there? What is the most common?

There are a number of laser treatments available each one of them designed for a separate indication like hair reduction lasers, lasers for pigmentary issues. There are different laser treatments for scar treatment like carbon dioxide laser, lasers which are indicated for vascular skin conditions like an IPL and PDL laser, other lasers which are done for various growths like moles, warts, etc. The most commonly used laser in any dermatology practice is a diode laser since it caters to the most universal problem which is excessive facial and body hair growth in both men and women. It is the most commonly available and cost-effective laser treatment.

Is laser treatment safe for the face?

Laser treatments are absolutely safe for the face.

What is Botox treatment?

Botox is a neurotoxin derived from bacteria which relaxes the action of muscles when injected. It has been widely used to treat the dynamic wrinkles of facial expressions. It relaxes the muscles which are responsible for causing wrinkles on the face. The results are very quick and last for 4-6 months. It is a pretty safe procedure when done by an experienced and skilled dermatologist.

Are there any side-effects involved?

There are no major side effects involved if done appropriately.

What do you suggest as follow-up care for most of the procedures?

As a follow up most of the procedures require just a little sun protection. There are a few specific post-procedure instructions which we usually explain with the individual treatment.

What does your usual day look like?

My usual day starts at home like any other working woman, winding things at home making breakfast for my two daughters and my husband and then rushing to work, checking my appointments for the day, attending to my patients’ one after the other, incorporating procedures appropriately to keep the waiting period as minimum as possible. And this keeps going on till the end of the day with a lunch break of two hours in between.

What are some latest technological advancements that you have in store?

We have recently added a very effective technology with a combination of fractional carbon dioxide laser along with the micro-needling radiofrequency technique which in combination can help tackle acne scars, open pores, and wrinkles without downtime or side effects. Also, we have introduced a painless mesotherapy technique at our center for patients with hair loss. We are soon going to add a totally new facial rejuvenation equipment which is currently not available anywhere in the Tricity.

What/Who is your source of inspiration?

All the women entrepreneurs out there really inspire me. Working women who achieve professional goals despite having a busy time at home inspire me to keep moving forward.

What, according to you, are your strengths?

My strengths are hard work, appropriate knowledge about my field, and a continuous desire to keep improving and learning the latest technologies and thereby keeping myself updated with the new and latest things in my field.

How do you handle stress? One activity that helps you relax and unwind?

I try to handle stress by taking a little time off. I practice yoga which helps me to keep my mind and body energized. At times, switching off your mind from work and focusing on your personal hobbies do help as well; even it is just for one day.

How do you look back at your journey so far? Any important lessons that your
professional life has taught you?

I feel very grateful and positive for the kind of response we have received in such a short duration of time. There is still a lot more to achieve always. An important lesson that I have learned from my professional life is that if you work hard and be kind and fair, amazing things will definitely come your way.

Who do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to a lot of hard work, real passion, a few right decisions made in time and a good-will that we were able to generate in such a short span of time. And this all would not have been possible without the support of my husband and family.

Where do you see yourself 5 years down the lane?

I see ourselves as the most sought after skin and laser clinic of Tricity. We hope to add more and more equipment to provide the latest skin, cosmetology, and laser services to the people of Tricity with a plan of starting one more branch in Mohali very soon. Services that we provide are advanced skin, laser, and cosmetology procedures like medi- facials, customized chemical peels, laser treatments for scars, pigmentation, and birthmarks, Mesotherapy, PRP, and various other skin rejuvenation procedures.

For more information about Dr.Naiya Bansal :https://www.drnaiyabansalskinclinic.com/

The Lockdown Wedding of JULIE SAMUELS and BEN SCHLANG

Here is a conversation with Julie, the lockdown bride, who along with her partner Ben have already carved a niche by having a lockdown wedding!

What would be an ideal lockdown wedding according to you?
Well, not having a lockdown wedding! And if I had to, one where I could still have all of my guests present.

Do you feel lockdown has narrowed down redundant expenses on big fat weddings?
Well, of course. We barely spent any money for our quarantine wedding.

Please tell us about your wedding plan (during COVID 19)?
It was just me, Ben and my parents. We included close family and friends on Zoom. We had our Rabbi on the TV. It was all about the love and living in the moment

What was your wedding celebration like?
Since we got married during the height of the epidemic on April 18, we did not invite anyone to be there in person except for my parents, who we were living with at the time. We had our photographer wear a mask and stay 6 feet away.

How can one make their celebration intimate yet memorable given the current circumstances?
Focus on the love and the significance instead of all of the things (flowers, clothing, etc).

Now that the summer wedding events have been postponed, what are the alternate dates available for the wedding celebrations? Are venues’ still available in November and December, considering these are busy wedding months?
Depending on your venue, it will vary. Some are very booked up and some might have some availability. Would likely need to reach out and find out directly!

With your own experience, please share how can brides keep their outfits ‘up-to-date’ with weddings getting postponed?
Hopefully your wedding dress makes you feel happy and brings you joy and is “timeless” in your eyes, so postponing in a year or so wouldn’t make much of a difference!

Many weddings have been postponed to winter months (later part of the year); would the brides need to change jewellery to follow the season’s trend?
It depends on what jewellery they were planning to wear. Again, if it was timeless and not trendy or seasonal, then maybe not!

What do you miss the most about pre-lockdown life, personally and professionally?
Being with the people I love – the ability to hug, kiss and celebrate in person.

Take us through your journey of actual wedding date and how you decided to have a Zoom wedding?
We got engaged on 12/31/2018 and were planning to have a large wedding in Brooklyn on 4/18/2020. On 3/16/2020 we decided to postpone the wedding to 9/6/2020. We have a backup date on hold in late 2021 – we are not optimistic about 9/6/2020 happening. We thought we wanted to still get legally married on 4/18 so we got our marriage license in March, while we still could. We went back and forth about doing it. Since Ben’s family is in Florida, we weren’t sure if we wanted to do it without them. As the pandemic continued and we became more and more uncertain about actually being able to have our large wedding in September, we decided to get married on 4/18. We made that decision just a few days prior, Wednesday, 4/15. We knew we had to do it virtual because we wanted Ben’s parents to be involved.

So how were guests invited to your Zoom wedding? Did you make personal calls?
We decided to invite close family and our bridal party to the live wedding, but we sent a video and pictures out to all of our invited wedding guests the next day. We sent emails!

How was your experience of having a virtual wedding?
I am so glad we did it. It turned a potentially very disappointing day into something I will never forget. Our friends and family were so supportive and made us feel really loved and appreciated. To be honest, however, it was very hard to focus during the ceremony! I had so many thoughts running through my head – I was worried about everyone being able to hear us, hear the rabbi, see us, see the rabbi, etc. In addition, although it is incredibly special and wonderful, it was a little anticlimactic! Usually, you follow a ceremony with a big celebration with tons of friends and family, but we only had my parents physically with us.

The Real Yoga Girl RACHEL BRATHEN

She is a teacher of yoga and the author of the book Yoga Girl, which became a New York Times best-seller. She has millions of followers on her social media accounts. Her self-founded yoga studio called ‘Island Yoga Aruba’ is her place comfort place to just be! A leading magazine also rated Rachel as the most influential social media person in the fitness category! Here is a candid conversation with the leading yoga lady.

How do you define yourself as an individual (and professional/as yogi)?

I am first and foremost, a mother and a wife. I am a friend, a daughter and a sister. I also consider myself a writer, a yoga teacher, podcast host, entrepreneur and someone who is always searching for deeper healing and meaning in my life. After all, that is the practice!

When did you realize that you had such a strong interest in fitness?

I wouldn’t say it was such a strong interest in fitness, but more an interest in getting to know myself better and feel good in my body. It all led me to yoga. It began after I moved to Costa Rica when I was 18.

How did you discover yoga?

I first discovered meditation when I attended a meditation center in Sweden when I was 18. After moving to Costa Rica shortly after, meditation played a big role in my life. I was also reading all the books I could find on yoga’s philosophy and history. It was only after practicing meditation for years that I slowly transitioned into an asana practice.

When did you first start teaching yoga?

I began teaching yoga after I moved to Aruba when I was 21 years old. This is when the asana part of my practice really developed. It started with teaching small classes on the beach, to teaching at a hotel, and now owning my own studio.

Why did you decide to open a studio in a commercial space?

I had such a strong, committed community of yoga practitioners in Aruba, as well as a community all over the world – it just made sense to have a place for all of us to gather together. I wanted to create a place that everyone could truly call home.

Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like?

I grew up in Uppsala and Stockholm, Sweden, mostly with my mother and siblings. My childhood was full of drama, separation, loss and unhappiness. I really didn’t see any meaning in my life until I attended that meditation center. Everything changed after that and I began on the journey I am still on today.

How did you make transition into a fitness career?

Again, I don’t really consider myself as having a career in fitness because that’s not what yoga is, but my transition to doing this work began when I started teaching classes to the local community where I live. A few years later, I started sharing my journey on Instagramand after that I began traveling around the world and sharing my practice through yoga classes, books, podcasts and more.

Do you have a fitness mentor or role model?

Yes, Ram Dass! I come back to his teachings again and again, and have ever since I began this journey over a decade ago. There is something about his words that ring such truth in my heart.

View this post on Instagram
home. ⁣ ⁣ forever in love with you @babaramdass
A post shared by Rachel Brathen (@yoga_girl) on Dec 22, 2019 at 7:21pm PST

What motivates you or pulls you towards fitness?

When I am practicing yoga, I am in the present moment. I am not in the past, overthinking things that happened, and I am not in the future feeling anxious about what is to come. I am in my body, not in my thinking mind. It is this practice that brings me back every time. Our entire life is spent in the present moment, so the more we can tune into that, the more at peace we will be.

From where do you get your inspiration?

Right now my biggest inspiration is my daughter. She is 3 years old, and nothing but herself. She cries when she is sad, rests when she is tired, laughs when she is happy. I think adults can learn a lot about feeling their emotions through the role model of a toddler who always remains true to theirs!

View this post on Instagram
good morning💛 #yogaeverydamnday
A post shared by Rachel Brathen (@yoga_girl) on Apr 5, 2020 at 4:54am PDT

Please tell us about the best moments of your career so far.

The moments that stand out to me career-wise are the release of my two best-selling books, and the launch of my platform Yoga Girl (www.yogagirl.com). I have put so much heart and love into these, and seeing them out in the world feels like the first step in important work for all of us.

View this post on Instagram
TODAY IS THE DAY!!⁣✨🎉 ⁣ The highly anticipated release of 𝐓𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐆𝐨 by @yoga_girl is finally out today at a bookseller near you! ⁣ ⁣ Explore what it means to move through grief, let go, move through fear, and continue to live life fully with immense love in this powerful and inspiring story.⁣ ⁣ Did you get your copy yet? Tag us as you read and let us know your favorite parts <3⁣ ⁣ #toloveandletgo #yogagirlbooks #love #loss #yogainspiration #booklaunch
A post shared by Yoga Girl® (@yogagirlofficial) on Sep 17, 2019 at 10:14am PDT

What does your regular day look like in lockdown?

Aruba is slowly transitioning out of lockdown – something I have mixed feelings about! It has been nice to connect with our community again, but somehow I miss the quiet days at home with my family! Usually I spend the morning having breakfast with my family, then my daughter goes to daycare and I roll out my mat to practice. After that I spend some time behind my computer working, then I do my Dynamic Meditation (right now I am practicing dynamic every day!), prepare lunch and pick my daughter up. In the afternoon we tend to our vegetable garden, do arts and crafts, play or do something fun, like go to the beach! Our days are pretty calm.

View this post on Instagram
Have you worked with the energies of the Gemini New Moon and incoming Gemini season? It’s not too late to set your intentions for the lunar cycle!⁣ ⁣ Use the energy of the new moon to support you in planting seeds of creation, and making an action plan to get started!⁣ ⁣ For this practice, bring all of your sacred items; crystals, feathers, candles, incense, tea and a journal. Ground through meditation, then open and clear the energetic channels with a gentle flow. Start by warming up the spine, wrists and upper back, then flow through a peaceful hip opening sequence, finishing with some deep hip release and a beautiful, healing Savasana. ⁣ ⁣ After the practice, sit down and journal on what it is that you want to let go of, what is holding you back, what you do not want to bring with you into the coming lunar cycle. Leave it all behind in the lunar cycle past. ⁣ ⁣ Then, take some time and journal around these 5 themes, setting 3 intentions for each and 3 dreams and goals. ⁣ ⁣ – Mind – work, finances, abundance, career, study.⁣ ⁣ – Body – physical wellbeing, health, wellness, free from illness.⁣ ⁣ – Spirit – connection to spirit, universe, service, and creating sacred spaces. ⁣ ⁣ – Heart – relationships, self-love, how you treat yourself, therapy, healing ⁣ ⁣ – Home – your house or physical space that you reside in, living area, living space, garden, material things.⁣ ⁣ Take some time when you are finished to breathe and let the energies settle. Rest, drink water, do whatever it is in order to recharge and reset. Happy New Moon!⁣ ⁣ #newmooningemini #geminiseason #setintentions #newmoon
A post shared by Yoga Girl® (@yogagirlofficial) on May 25, 2020 at 8:49am PDT

What are your top ‘yoga’ tips?

Always, always, always listen to your body! Listen to your needs and adapt the practice to meet them. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing on the mat. Your practice is for you. It’s easy to start comparing ourselves to others so remember that this journey is unique to you – it’s yours, and yours alone. Keep practicing and you will feel changes in your body, mind and heart.

Any pro tips for people trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle at their homes?

If you can learn to love yourself as you are, without feeling the need to change, you will automatically adopt a healthier lifestyle. You will cherish your body for all that it is and the blessings it gives you every day, and then you will treat it better, and then you will love it even more. It is a beautiful cycle that starts with knowingyou are good enough the way you are. I recommend healing practices like journaling, and sharing, as complements to our yoga practice to continue doing the inner work we need to feel balanced in life.

What does your daily diet include?

My family and I are vegan. For breakfast, we usually start with a smoothie, and we love pancakes! I make my own plant-based mix that’s both nutritious and delicious. Every day looks really different depending on how I am feeling. I love green juice and salads, but also banana bread and a glass of wine!Lunches are usually soups or stews and my husband Dennis and I usually cook dinner together. It ranges from vegan chili to veggie burgers to curries… Really anything you can imagine! We love being creative in the kitchen together.

Favorite Holiday Destination
My home country, Sweden to visit my friends and family. Costa Rica is also a second home to me, and I love going there with my husband and daughter.
Favorite Movie
Jeff, Who Lives At Home
Your Pamper fix
Spending time in my garden, for sure! And I love our sauna, and taking long baths.
Favorite Food
I love dahl! And tacos.

What advice would you offer someone just discovered yoga?

Be patient with yourself. Yoga and meditation are lifelong practices. So many people quit when they are just getting to the good part. If you are willing to look deep within yourself, to heal what needs to be healed so you can heal the community around you, then welcome to the practice!
What are some common fitness mistakes you’d caution people to avoid?
Don’t get caught up focusing on what you look like. What matters is how you feel! You don’t have to go into the deepest posture you can every chance you get. Our bodies are different every day, so our practice on the mat should look different every day. The most important part of the practice is listening to your own body.

How has fitness and yoga changed your life?

It has changed every aspect of my life! Yoga is a sacred practice and so much more than exercise (with great benefits to our bodies and our health, of course!). It is a lifelong practice, and something I try to incorporate into all parts of my life, from my practice on my mat, to my relationships, my business, and even when I am standing in the grocery store line feeling impatient. Yoga helps me ground into myself; it’s an anchor in my day-to-day life.

More about Rachel Brathen : https://www.instagram.com/yogagirlofficial/

Joy builds immunity, Stress hampers it!

North India’s leading homeopath Dr. Vivek Mohan enlightens how the COVID 19 times are preparing us for a bigger change. Health and hygiene- physical and mental, will become paramount in times post Corona pandemic.

In order to stay well we must understand some basic nuances of health and life. This lockdown is a dress rehearsal for us in many ways. Certain things we need to incorporate in our day to day life and these will now become more relevant and evident. For all the changes that are being witnessed now there is no time frame. These changes are here to stay! Letís accept this! The disease advises us to practice a certain way of living in order to avoid falling ill. So letís plan our day, our month, and our life accordingly.

Our economy, our life, our health; all are equally important! We need to look and practice afresh. Therefore letís not have any baggage- mentally and health-wise! Letís live life light and happily. The incentive to rebuild ourselves with enthusiasm will give us joy. This will considerably increase our immunity. Joy builds immunity and stress hampers it. This is the most important thing to understand. All we need to do is correct our perspective towards living our life. So physical distancing needs to be accepted as a reality and letís move on with it.

We will reach the goal together and beat any such pandemic that surfaces. COVID 19 has taught us interdependence! Not independence! “I obey rules, you gain. You obey, I stay well. So simple!”

In the words of Robert Frost- The woods are dark and deep.And in the words of the great sage of India Swami Vivekanand- Arise awake and stop not till the goal is reached…

Why Policing is needed to control COVID 19?

The full form of the word POLICE is ‘Public Officer for Legal Investigations and Criminal Emergencies’. It is strange that we need police assistance and insistence to keep people indoors for their health care. Let’s understand why such a situation is happening. There are countries (though only a couple) where same norms are being followed by the people to the hilt without any Police help. The result is, total flattening of the curve and no casualties!

Demand for integrated township likely to go up post COVID 19

The disruption caused by COVID19 is likely to push the demand for gated communities with self-sustainable ecosystem!Market projection suggests that young families will seek environments that are controllable, safe and secure, while providing amenities that reduce need to venture out.

An analysis of the real estate sector said that townships and condominium complexes, that are augmented or with adjacencies to schools, health facilities and recreational options, will witness higher demand. ‘New developments will witness design evolution, as business centers will become common place within gated communities and building clusters. Demand for tech enabled services for various domestic chores (housekeeping, food preparation, driving, house managers etc.) will likely see a substantial uptick in metros and large cities.

Here are some potential impacts of the current situation on the real-estate sector. The housing sector is expected to see the muted demand with significant reduction in the new launches. The buyers only would be the end user, who is residing on a rental accommodation or wish to upgrade their smaller property to bigger or rural areas to urban. Another aspect of the real estate is the commercial property. With the expected slowdown in the US and Europeon economies, the existing demand for commercial real estate may either get curtailed or postponed till H2 (second half of the current year).

Outcomes:

1.The highest possibility of postponements of REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) launching, which means further liquidity pressure on real estate developers.

2. Fresh equity investments into Real-Estate sector of country will slow down, with almost all sectors going through turmoil.

Results:

The prices of steel, cement, bricks, labour vages and logistics are likely to increase thereby leading to increase in price of property developing currently or it could be compensated by a cost cutting through unemployment (post COVID 19) of around 30 percent.

Real Estate Overview:

The real estate sector is one of the largest employment generation in the country and has a multiplier effect around 250 allied industries. The sector is expected to contribute to around 13 per cent to the country’s Gdp by 2025 and become the third largest globally at USD 1 Trillion by 2030.. However the year 2020 has been and will be a mixed bag for the Indian real estate industry, having attracted investment worth USD 5 billion. Around 66 percent of these investments would be in the commercial real estate owing to healthy demand from private equity investors for stable rent yield assets. This was unexpected to boost growth by steering consumptions in real estate and associated sectors.

Column by Gaurav Kakkar

A Real Estate Marketing Strategist and Sale Influencer

Make an Effort- Relationship Therapy

Relationship Therapy is no longer a taboo. Educated couples do understand the importance of stability , financial security, children and sex in their relationship. In a tete-e-tete with
Dr. Shefali Batra, she shares interesting things about relationship therapy, treatments, after-effects and how couples can benefit from it.

What is Relation Therapy?
Most people spend much of their lives in close relationships to others. Romantic relationships add meaning to existence and are a source of deep fulfilment and are essential sources of support, love, health and well-being. They, however, demand a good deal of hard work, dedication, and compromise; and could face frequent challenges, thus making them a source of stress too. Unresolved or ill-resolved conflicts plague the relationship by allowing tension to mount and faith to crumble.
Relationship therapy is the art and science of making relationships work. It could focus on understanding interpersonal communication styles, interacting positively with each other (verbal and physical), correcting irrational expectations, and building a sense of dependability and accountability in the couple.

The severity of the problem and best approach for the couples
Although it appears abstract and intangible, relationship wellness can be objectively measured. There are numerous building blocks that strengthen romantic relationships. By creating and identifying the framework of wellness, we can conclude a relationship score card really, that describes a given relationship’s strength, and delineates areas which can be worked upon.
Wellness measurement tools are used that assess variables like communication style, relationship satisfaction, sexual contentment, sexual communication, partner reliability and dependability, and relationship cost benefit analysis, to name a few. The information obtained from these tests throws light on the couple’s perception of their relationship and behavioural aspects of their partner.
All of this information helps me understand how one or both the partners are impacted by the stressor(s) and where the relationship is headed. Some key questions I always ask the couple are –
– Do you think this will work?
– Do you want to make it work?
– Are you willing to change?
– Do you still love your partner?
These basic questions throw light on the severity of the problem and the action plan to mend the relationship springs from there.
The treatment approach transforms as therapy progresses. Initial phases are more of supportive listening and empathizing. Based on the client’s pace, they are engaged with more directive and engaging self-awareness and self-change protocols.

Assignments and exercises to the couples
Like any medical illness, relationship problems are unique to the couple hence the healing or mending process is also much customized. Some exercises based on the requirements of the particular couple are given. These are explained to the couple in session and a detailed protocol is sent on email so that they have ready access to the process of adopting these tools to fix the issues.
These exercises include introspection and awareness, setting one’s personal goals, setting relationship goals, monitoring one’s own mood, identifying conflict triggers, communicating assertively, avoiding personalization, clarifying misunderstandings, building interpersonal respect, replacing the ‘I’ with ‘we’, going out on a first date, mending nonverbal cues and taking a short time out.
These couples are advised weekly follow ups to see the couple’s compliance, monitor their successes, identify hurdles in self change and modify the strategies to overcome these hurdles.

Suggestions for couples to make an effort
“I always tell couples that-Two happy people make a happy couple. Two frustrated people make a frustrated couple.”
People hope that their partner will change and resultantly the relationship will change, but they rarely have the energy or commitment to change themselves. The world we need to change is actually within us. People get frustrated or angry with circumstances that are beyond their control. They believe if they can control these situations, they will be happy. But this isn’t always feasible. We can’t control the traffic or the emergency meetings or an illness in the family or the poor performance of a child in school, loss of a partner’s job or what a third person told our partner that made us feel insecure. We can’t change what’s happening outside us but we can work on how that affects what is happening inside us. This single thought can help couples take active steps towards mending their relationship.
Einstein said, ‘We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.’

Some patterns over the time which are common in most of the couples
Some toxic emotional and behavioural patterns I have noticed in couples.
– Overdependence where one cannot think for oneself, and relies on their partner for all life decisions as well as happiness. This strains the active partner while the dependent one feels neglected and uncared for.
– Possessive partners can get paranoid and controlling. A lot of effort goes into proving one’s fidelity and commitment, and as hard as one may try, the relationship crumbles from its root owing to lack of trust.
– Passive aggression relationships are constantly fighting a cold war. Sarcasm kills communication and even when one insists it was in good humour, the partner who was taunted gradually withdraws and the relationship gets ill.
– Lack of communication is by far the deadliest virus that distances couples from one another and closes channels for conflict resolution. I know of couples who choose to withdraw to keep the peace but are unable to get back as they treaded too far.
– Lack of accountability enables couples to renounce all personal responsibility and makes them believe that the other one partner is at fault. Even while in therapy, they tend to place it on the therapist but refuse to work on themselves!”

Time needed for recovery
“A medicine for headache usually takes 20 minutes to show effect while antibiotics take two days. Antidepressants need four weeks and cancer medicines can take over several months. Therapy response for emotional issues unfortunately does not have an absolute predictability quotient as multiple variables and confounding factors impact the response. The degree of self-awareness, willingness to change, co-existent anxiety or depression, ongoing stressors, the appropriateness of the therapy approach all impact how a couple responds. I have seen rapid changes in cognitively inclined couples who have managed to mend their differences with minimal outside help. But I also deal with couples with deep rooted and strongly held negative thinking patterns and ongoing stressors which might need several weeks and months of ongoing therapy. At an average, I think 2 months of weekly sessions is a good window to start seeing change.
After weeks and months of deep-rooted cognitive analysis, couples are already empowered to objectively identify variables that gauge their progress. Some of these include but are not limited to-Frequency of arguments, Mood state monitoring, Objective questionnaires, Communication in session and Corroboration by the partner.”

(In words of Dr. Shefali Batra is a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapist. She’s the Founder of MINDFRAMES and Co-Founder of InnerHour.)