Mumbai Marathon !!!!!

Mumbai Marathon is the biggest event. Every year the athletes from all over the world come here to participate in the Marathon. In recent years there has been a great awareness amongst the people about running, you could see people running in the morning in many cities in the country and they have also formed groups in different suburbs. They have also made several WhatsApp groups to exchange information. So now people are more aware of the strength training, diet and exercises regarding running. It's actually good that now what they know have to eat, drink and how much rest they need. So it's good for the runners. Running off late has become a passion for many.  Because it's a very good exercise and you don't need any equipment to run, just a pair of shoes and a tracksuit is enough and you can do it anywhere, anytime. On road, in the garden, walking tracks. So it's really very easy to pursue ruining as a hobby. Plus it has huge health benefits. Basically, when you run, you can get rid of many health issues, right from diabetes, BP etc.. Which are these days have become very common even amongst youngsters. So with running you can at least keep them in check. Plus it has a huge mental stress-busting capacity. So it eventually makes you live a healthy life.  These days people are running everywhere for their carrier, life, promotion, everywhere there is a race and it is tiresome. Since running is in our genes to run. Like, run for the food run for the job, run for success.  And so if we run physically, we are more in control on the other races. So that it is the biggest benefit of running because if your mind and body are strong and healthy, you can live a good life.

 So nowadays running as an exercise and way of life is pursued by many and that is what is on display here in Mumbai Marathon. When we went there to collect the bib, there was a huge crowd in a large pendant the organizers had arranged to issue the bibs and other information about the event.

There are many categories in the marathon first for the elite runners those who are very fast and basically professional runners who participate in competition right from Olympics to other sporting events. Second is the full marathon that is for those amateurs who run the full 48k marathon then its half marathon and 10 k marathon then there is old people's senior citizen group and for handy capped too. The pendant was vibrant. Many stalls were there for sports wears, shoes, health drinks and foods and other health equipment etc. 

All the positive energy could be felt all over. People were very excited to collect the BIB and other material like T-shirts and bags etc. which the organisers were providing. Some people were taking photos in front of the big curtain displaying the MTT logo and picture of a runner and a replica of the medal.

Many people were waiting for their friends and group members and chit chatting with them. Some people were coming with their baggage because they were coming directly from either airport of trains. They come across the country to participate in this great event.



It would be the end of the Marathon season which started in July. So it is a GALA festival for the runners. There will a holiday for runner s now ….hahaha!! (and a big relief for their spouses too!!!!!!!!)   since last 5-6 months, they training vigorously for this GALA event and all of them are eager to participate and check their capabilities. Now I am also excited to see my husband run and will be there to cheer him  !!--

A Smile!!!

A Smile is a God's gift to mankind, only we can smile which no species can!!!  You don't need to understand other person's language to smile at him. A smile will convey your feeling to that person. A smile can start a conversation with a stranger. It sends good vibes when a person smiles at you isn't it?. You will immediately feel good. I remember once I was waiting at a traffic signal and just watching here and there. There was a car next to me and the lady inside, she was a foreigner, also was doing the same thing as me!!  We saw each other and exchanged smile!!! It doesn't need any acquaintance to smile!

 When you are in a crowded place and feeling lonely and if a person smiles at you, you will instantly feel secure and happy.right? It's a  strength of a smile. 

A child's smile is like a God's smile in itself. It's so innocent and full of joy. It will fill your heart with love and happiness. It’s also a great stress buster.

When you fight with somebody and your heart is full of anger then also if another person gives a smile you will have to reciprocate!!!  It’s a friendly gesture!!!  It's a good gesture and costs you nothing but gains a lot!!  The other person is bound to respect you.

Think of a waiting room of a hospital or a doctor. The staff and nurses are moving with serious faces and one nurse comes with a smiling face immediately all the people will feel a bit relaxed. Because the atmosphere in the hospital is so tense and serious, a smile works wonders. The same thing happens with the doctor too.  A doctor with a smiley face can cure his patients effectively and early than a serious one. They say when you see such doctor with a smiling face half of the disease is gone. Smile assures a well being.

The same thing happens when you come home and a person opens the door with a smiley face you will immediately feel relaxed. It is supposed to be like that because the home is a place where you relax and if you are welcomed like this then nothing like it!!

A  person with a serious face will make the surrounding serious and tense you think twice before talking to him. But a person with a smiling face always makes the surrounding happy and joyful. you will easily be friends with such a person. That's the magic of a smile……SO KEEP SMILING!!!!!!

A day in a housewife's life !!!

                             Tumhari Sulu

Saw movie "Tumhari Sulu" the other day. It’s a nice movie. How a simple housewife has her aspirations, but her first priority is her family. She puts herself last on the priority list. She many times kills her aspirations and finds joy in small things in the life. But that doesn’t mean that she doesn't have any, she has to keep her dreams alive in the back of the mind and must try for an opportunity. You never know when it will knock on the door.

People always ask me "what do I do?" then my reply is "I am a housewife" so they again ask " yes, what do you do the whole day?" People think once the kids are gone to school and husband to the office then we are ready to sleep or watch TV or chit-chat with friends. Just imagine one day if she sleeps without doing her housework, it would be a big chaos. She has kept the home neat and clean, prepare dinner, snacks for kids when they come home from school. Bring veggies, fruits eggs, bread, biscuits and other sundry items, ironing clothes, shoe polish etc. after that there are repairs, so the plumber, electrician, gadwalls freeze, oven, washing machine repairs, carpenter all sorts of stuff is there. Another big task is to fix cupboards, make places for new stuff which we buy very frequently these days, and rearrange the stuff like clothes and other things. One would argue that it does n’t happen every day! Fine but then some of them happens every month …once or twice. Then there are guests, to stay tor just for dinner or snacks. Then we are the ones who have to a visit the patients, either relatives or friends because we have to maintain the relations. Then there are social, family functions also which is again our responsibility because we are at home!!

By the way, in a housewife's life, Sunday and Saturdays are fully occupied by the kids and husband, because it is a holiday for them.  So double work for her. So other five days she has to schedule some time for herself,  she has managed her me time. My day starts around 6.30am with some yoga, pranayama exercises then newspaper with tea biscuit. After that, I make breakfast and Tiffin. It is over by 9.30-10 am. Then I take bath and perform pooja. By the time my maid comes and I do other things like dusting, removing dried clothes from the rod and fold them, sort, and put them on their proper places. Keep clothes for washing. Then I take rest for some time and watch tv. The maid goes after an hour or so. Then it's time to go out to buy some veggies, fruits and glossary or some sundry items.  It takes around an hour or so, I return home around 1 pm then I have my lunch while watching TV. Then cleaning table and platform etc.  By 1.30-2 pm I have a nap or just lie on the bed reading book or magazine, or watch some YouTube videos till 4 pm, then I have my tea, check WhatsApp or social media, then there is the biggest boring job to fix the utensils which the maid had cleaned then again some chit chat with friends on phone or with neighbours or some WhatsApp or so then prepare something for dinner when I go to yoga classes for one and half hours. And by 8.30 pm I am at home, we have dinner and again clean table, utensils, platform. Fix all the stuff.  That’s it so it's done now by 9.30 pm and the day is over.

So it is always a busy day in a housewife's life too. Then there is doctor, parlour, shopping for households or clothes which we have to manage in that particular slot when all are out, without disturbing their schedule. Once or twice its kitty party also. Now hope all the doubts of one's mind are clear about the million dollar question "what do you do all day?"

I don't say that every housewife's life is totally busy and occupied all 7 days. Yes, we can schedule our work accordingly and we have that liberty too. We are not working continuously the whole day, we do take rest in between. But the fact is when all the members in the home are relaxing and do whatever they want on holidays and in the evening we are working. There is again overload when its maid's off or festivals, or there are guests at home. So all these things also must be taken into consideration. So a housewife also is a working woman and we must respect and recognize her work too.

Making Hill Green!!!!

When I came to stay in this suburb, we were very happy to see a hill just behind our building and we could see the greenery on it. As it was the month of June, so the hill was totally green with dense trees all over. It really was a great and soothing experience.

But after the monsoon when fall arrived in the month of November, the hill was covered with leafless trees which were definitely not a great scene. The greenery was taken over by leafless branches.

 One day we went to roam around on the other side of the hill and we were surprised to see the small saplings, bushes and some trees as well, all over and few people were busy watering them. I was curious and asked about it. So they told the whole story of how it all started.

  it appears that around 10 years back few residents of the area used to come to the hill for a walk and were worried about the barren hill and thought something to do to make it green. They started making bunds and ponds to stop rainwater from flowing down and catch it in small ponds so that it would penetrate and will support the trees. Then they made pits for trees and planted local trees, because the imported variety of trees, Gliricidia which was on the other side of the hill was of no use for the birds. Birds don't make nests on it and they don't even get food from those trees. So the indigenous plants are more useful. So like Peeple, Mango, Banayan, Neem,  Jamoon, Bamboo etc. were planted. As these remain green all through the year, insects and fruits on it provide food for the birds. The birds also make nests on it. So it's good for the environment too.

The small group started with some hundred plants in the beginning.  They took good care of the plant by protecting them from cattle, fire and providing them water regularly. They have also made some water tanks on the hill so that it’s a bit easy to water the plants, still, it’s a tough job to carry water cans all the way and climb and water the plants. But they are doing it with devotion. They have formed an NGO called Vasundhara  Swachhata  Abhiyan for the same purpose and they have some 200 plus members there but only a few of them are regular. Others like me are occasional. After so many years of continuous efforts, the hill is now green. Not only this hill but they have made the adjoining hill also green, which is a noble cause. The trees are now grown up to 10-12 feet and would definitely become big trees in the future. And the hill will become a dense forest soon. The birds have already started chirping and making the nest there. It's really good to walk around on the hill. I am happy to join with the group.  Global warming is a big environmental issue so we must contribute at least something towards it.    

Right to Privacy?

Last week when the Supreme Court of India passed verdict on right to privacy, it was really a great day. Everybody was rejoicing since it is a very basic right for an individual. And with a verdict of a right to privacy India joined the club of a very few western countries where they have the right. It was indeed a proud moment for us as Indians.

Right to privacy is a fundamental right now. It allows us to keep our personal information secret. We are not bound to share the information which we don't want to share, e.g. I can refuse to tell my birthplace, or my caste or religion if I think it will be misused or if I am not comfortable sharing with.

But then I am confused about what information I really can hide? From whom? If the government asks me my details for driving license or pan no. then is it a breach of the fundamental right or a bank asks me for my financial details and my marital status? Or the school, colleges ask about my personal details. It is obviously mandatory to give our birthplace, address gender details to the school otherwise it would be chaos. Or even when the government is conducting a national survey for census or a survey to find out the socio-economic and educational situation of the people then is it a breach? And if we refuse to give the correct information then how will the government decide the welfare policies for the people? And other policies for the State.

Now we live in a digital world, we are all connected to the world with many electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, personal computers, tab etc. and we are sharing our views on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp,  Instagram, LinkedIn, many more, so whenever you open your Facebook you could see some ads or posts which are not subscribed by you, or not in your friend list but still they appear on your wall. These ads

are those which you might be interested in and you might take a look at it. Like shopping websites for women that too clothing or fashion etc. for boys or men gadgets vehicles or even when I open Amazon app I will get many products on my home screen, which are might be of my interests. I get many junk emails in my mailbox, or I get SMS to form many companies. Even on twitter, I would invariably receive the posts of my interests, like political or social posts. So all of them are chasing my activities on the net and trying to tempt the consumer inside me or trying to show me the ads which I would like to read. The list goes on. That means all the time I am connected to the internet through any of the devices, I am accessible to somebody and somebody is spying whatever I am doing, wherever I am going, whatever I am buying, eating, travelling etc. Life is like an open book these days.

So even though we want to hide our personal information, are we able to do so? Is the question now.  So when we were rejoicing for the verdict, why were we? 

Yoga

Nowadays everybody wants to learn 'Yoga " which is a way of life for many in the world. Yoga will keep you healthy and your life becomes much easier once you start practising YOGA. I myself doing YOGA since last 12 years I do SURYANAMASKAR every day. At least 12 NAMASKARA I do every day. Sunday. I don't do YOGA that’s a rest day for me. I will go for walk on the hill that day so it is a little variation in the exercise also. So it doesn’t become monotonous. Human tendency is that if we do something for long we get bored of it. No matter what it is. We get bored with YOGA too if we do it without any break. So I skip it for one day and simply take rest or do another type of exercise like jogging, hill climbing etc.

So for YOGA we can do it anytime anywhere it doesn’t need any instruments or big space only 6*3 feet area is enough and we just need a mat for YOGA. Don't have to go anywhere else, at home we can do YOGA. And anytime we of the day. Only thing is that our stomach should be empty that means we should not have food before 2 hours of YOGA and any drinks before 1 hour. So you can do it in the morning when you wake up that is the best time for any exercise and so for YOGA too. Because you are fresh and no disturbances like phone or TV etc. is there. So you can perform YOGA peacefully.

The second thing is you need a YOGA mat or any mat so that the energy doesn’t flow through the floor. You must do some warm-up exercises first so that your body is well prepared for exercise. And at last, must do SHAVASAN for cooling down.

Now about actual YOGA exercise. YOGA is basically a combination of breathing and physical movements. With controlled breathing, you start feeling better and calm. You must concentrate on breathing while doing all the movements. When you stretch your body you have to inhale slowly and when you loosen your body you have to breathe out slowly. That is the biggest and most important thing in YOGA. In fact, it can have a reverse impact if we don't follow the rule. Breathing is the most important factor in YOGA.

Like in SURYA NAMASKARA when you stretch your hands up that is your second position., you must breathe in slowly. Then when you bend down for the third pose you have to breathe out or exhale slowly. So always remember this thing stretching – breath in, loose body- exhale. If you do only 12 SURYA NAMASKARA every day that is enough for you to keep you fit and healthy. YOGA gives peace of mind. and you will start feeling better after a few days since all your body is stretched you will feel some changes in your body like your neck ache, backache is gone your are more energetic and relax. As you control and concentrate on breathing it relaxes your mind too and makes you feel calm. and you will find that your concentration level also increased. after a few months of regular practice, your body will be totally pain-free. and you will feel more positive since when there is no pain in the body we are more productive as it is very natural that when you are having pain your mind is always occupied with the pain and you are unable to concentrate on your work. So this part will be definitely going to improve and you will be more productive and enthusiastic.

PRANAYAMA is also a part of YOGASANA but it should be performed under the guidance of a well-known person only. Otherwise, it may have adverse effects. There are various types of pranayamas but few are very popular and comparatively easy to perform like ANULOM VILOM, KAPALBHATI, DEERGHA SHWASAN, BHRAMARI, UDGITH etc. They can even cure diseases if performed regularly and correctly.



Meditation is also a part of Yoga. Meditation is you have to sit upright straight with your hand either in any Mudra or just keep in on each other in the middle and close your eyes. Try to observe the breathing. Going out and coming in. Cool breath is coming in and warm breath is going out. Sit for a few minutes. Initially, start with a couple of minutes and then you can increase the timing. If you meditate regularly for 15 minutes daily you can even cure a few of your diseases.






The above picture shows the SuryaNamaskar.

A Hill

I like to come here on the hill…it is a part of my life actually. It's my hobby to start in the morning or preferably early morning and climb the hill. I am so eager to climb it and reach the top. I am so used to the path now ..where the shrub is. where are the turn and all those stones and rocks here…even the grass and the small plants and those flowers …I am so familiar to the climb now and the steep climb on a particular turn…it's really exhausting but once I climb that particular stretch then it feels so nice like conquering something…that feeling is really great. when I climb the hill slowly I feel like all the shrubs and birds and stones are waiting for me!!! Those particular smells in a particular season they all energize me. That lily is blooming now and the yellow small flowers of grass look so cute. In the spring yellow behaves and blue bells attract everybody's attention they have such a soothing effect that you are filled with a positive energy. And same happens with the birds too in spring I find so many birds chirping there. They are calling us to see the beauty of nature.
While climbing it’s a great joy to see all the houses and buildings going away and becoming small and we are going up…. At the beginning, I could see only the closer world but once I go up you see far beyond .i could see the huge world and I are on top of it !!! Actually, you could see the world from a high rise building too but there is a basic difference ….here you are on the ground and you could feel the earth and in the building, it's not there…there you make sure that the floor is clean without dust !!!! Yes, DUST !!! That’s the difference here we are with the earth and sometimes with mud too and still, we love it. With all those shrubs and stones, flowers and birds around it give me the feeling of closeness to nature and myself …sitting on the plateau its just divine one cannot compare it with any joy. Sitting on a rock here and watching the rising sun … that orange yellow light spreading all over..sitting quietly on a rock here watching the sun rising .. birds chirping and the sweet smell of the dew …its all just divine. I get recharged for the whole day. It’s a boost for me a perfect start of a day.!!!!