Friday 23 February 2018

5 Natural Remedies to prevent premature Grey hairs - Aish

Splendid Pri! Volunteering ourselves in such wonderful platforms does give us satisfaction and appreciation to both our heart and soul. Thanks for making me involve in such voluntary paths. 

Going to our hometown is not just to feel the nostalgic memories but also to receive the reminiscence from our grandparents. While reviving our childhood memories, we get to learn more about the lifestyles still followed by our grandparents. One such lifestyle that never cease to impress us is the essence of hair. Without any chemical shampoos, artificial colors, straighteners or curls, there are still people around us living with natural remedies. 

How many of us feel that in this fast-moving world with stress and anxiety, we are losing our hair with hair fall, shades of grey, dandruff and other irritations in a very young age? 





When we touch 30, we feel that we are growing old, not mainly by the changes in our face but by the slow buds of white lines on our hair. Nowadays young minds with lots of pressure and stress commence using hair dyes, colors and other means to cease the white lines. Many thinks to act fast due to time factor, young age and fast pace, but are slow to understand that such hasty actions always have effects. To avoid the plenty of side effects from such chemical and artificial colors, why not we try simple, quick and homemade natural methods to not only sustain our hair color but to give the required nutrition and strength to our scalp and hair. 

Read on For Oil Nourishment : Roots-from-Folks-Aish.html

         For Beauty & Hair Tips : Home-dwelling-beauty-kits-Aish.html     

           For Winter Care Tips  : 10-Amazing-natural-winter-therapies-Aish.html

5 Natural Homemade remedies to prevent premature grey hairs 

1. Basil leaves + Curry Leaves + Coconut Oil + Fenugreek seeds 

Process: 
  • Take 8 to 10 Basil (Tulsi in Indian languages) along with a bunch of Curry leaves and a half teaspoon of fenugreek seeds.
  • Blend the ingredients into a paste and keep aside.
  • Heat the coconut oil and add the paste to it. 
  • Place it aside to cool down. 
  • Take a strainer and extract the oil separately from the solids. 
  • Pour the oil in a bottle and use it every day, while, rinse your hair with the solids and Shikakai (Acacia Concinna), which is rightly available in any Ayurveda stores to sustain the color.


Benefits:

The medicinal extracts in Basil help in preventing the scalp infection while the Vitamins and essential calcium in Curry leaves enliven the hair. 

Fenugreek seeds acts as an emulsifier, making it useful as a stabilizer as well as thickening agent while the natural antioxidants and nutrients found in coconut oil boost hair growth and regrowth.

2. Triphala Churna + Oil 

Process: 
  • Heat 2 teaspoons of Almond Oil / Coconut Oil.
  • Add a teaspoon of Triphala powder to it and stir well.
  • Allow the oil to cool, then apply it on hair and wash it well with Shikakai (Acacia Concinna), which is rightly available in any Ayurveda stores.


Benefits:

Triphala is the herbal blend of the three different fruits (Emblica Officinalis the biological name for Gooseberry, Terminalia Bellirica known as Bibhitaki and Terminalia Chebula known for Haritaki). These powerful ingredients have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help in preventing premature grey hairs.

All these fruits are rightly available in any ayurvedic stores or we get the blended powder in the name of Triphala Churna.

The fatty acids and the Vitamins in the Almond oil nourishes the scalp and treats hair damages.

4. Tea decoction + Black Sesame seeds

Process:
  • Blend the black sesame seeds and add it with the tea decoction.
  • Apply it well on the scalp and leave it for 1 to 2 hours, then rinse the hair well without any shampoo.





Benefits:

Tea decoction is made by adding 2 teaspoons of tea powder to the boiling water. This acts as keratin boost and it gives the melanin which restores the natural pigment of the hair. 
Black sesame seeds is the rich source of protein and Omega 6 fatty acids that help in preventing the white lines of hair.

5. Castor Oil + Coconut Oil

Process:
  • Mix Castor oil and Coconut oil in a bowl and apply it on the hair for about an hour or two.
  • Then Rinse well with Shikakai (Acacia Concinna), which is rightly available in any Ayurveda stores.


Benefits:

The Omega 3 fatty acids in the castor oil prevent the gray hair and helps the scalp to boost circulation of blood.

Why go in search of artificial colors and chemicals when we have such essential natural Remedies to prevent our premature grey hairs in our Home!

Thursday 15 February 2018

Volunteering: A Path to Attain Nirvana?- Pri.

"That moment when you forget that you are volunteering to help change lives because it is changing yours…"



Volunteering is reaching to the right people on time, with possible services with a true heart of giving. Let alone the rest of expectations, rather see the changes that you trigger as a ripple. When small drops of changes start to collect, often we realize the magnitude much later, not knowing how everything happened and fell-in-place. Ability lost is like being in a place of slaughtered state that is no good than being an object. All the roads to knowledge lead to the place of rebirth; to share to multiply. When in a state of object, so to say...it is necessary to recover the lost knowledge and bring it to the place of rebirth. One such great cause is offering to be a Guru to change the lives of much needed young citizens. Molding the clay when wet (young) is easier than trying to mold the same when dry. Much can be done to shape young ones and to nurture them to be great humans.

I have been volunteering online for a while now. I found eVidyaloka on www.onlinevolunteering.org/en , knowing their cause, I instantly felt drawn to it. I loved every moment of working with them. I initially registered for the volunteer teacher opportunity. But, due to the timing constraints (In terms of time zone, as the classes are conducted during Indian school hours) I could not commit confidently to the role. Being a teacher means that we take responsibility of a class for at least a term, so then I decided to do Content Writing. I love the fact that I learn something new, every day. With every assignment of lessons I was confident that I could do more. It is a very refreshing experience, especially for someone like me who has lots of time. It feels great to work knowing that my time is put to best use.




Evidyaloka connects volunteer teachers to children in remote villages to provide quality education. Below is an introduction for those who want to know more about them. I recommend anyone who can afford the time to look into this genuine organization.


"eVidyaloka is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on transforming the educational landscape of rural India. Registered under the Trusts Act, the organization creates digital classrooms for children in remote villages, with the support of local communities and Volunteer Teachers from across the globe. With standardized lesson plans and teaching aids for a consistent learning experience, the children from government schools receive e-quality education for a promising & rewarding future."

Their Vision: To create a knowledgeable & empowered rural India through quality education.

Their Mission: Connecting passionate volunteers with children in remote villages of India, to provide quality education.

They have about 839 teachers involved, 7,125 Children benefited so far and they have conducted about 23,611 Online Classes.



I feel honored and blessed to have found eVidyaloka. I sincerely thank them for having recognized me as a Content Volunteer Champion for the year 2017. Being locked-in on a Dependent Visa can be haunting and depressing all at the same time. Volunteering is something that keeps me alive here, eVidyaloka has truly liberated me emotionally and mentally. The feeling that my work is being used by others, gives me a sense of inner-peace. It has been a win-win situation for me, I have gained more compared to what time I spent working. 

Joy of Giving, Love of Sharing; Nirvana Personified! 


You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you 
give.”~ Winston Churchill








Sunday 11 February 2018

Is the relationship between a Dad and Son, sweet? - Aish

Wonderful Pri! These ten basic hatha Yoga poses will definitely be handy for beginners.

Many of us do rise a question when it comes to the relationship between a Dad and a son. Here is a short story depicting the nuances of such a heavenly relationship betwwen the two with wonderful incidents.


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Vyas was a very ambitious boy from childhood. His father would compromise nothing for studies. Dad felt that "One would be respected only because of his Education."
Dad was so strict that both Vyas and his sister Vaibhavi would get scared of him and always hold a book while dad is at home. Dad wanted everything to be perfect, so to get that would yell and make the things get done. Dad had thought that to make things right, this is the only solution. If you want a kid to listen, be strict was Dad's view.


Mom was very calm and patient, she would never utter a word against Dad as she knew Dad was a great pillar for all. Dad gave his full support tomom in making their kids shine apart foem education. Vyas was a State level Tennis player while Vaibhavi excelled in Vocal.


Gradually, board exams arrived, it was 10th board for Vaibhavi and 12th for Vyas.

The day of results approached, Vyas feared a lot for his marks and Dad's tensions knew no bounds. To everyone's amazement both Vyas and Vaibhavi scored very well. Dad's happiness had no words as Vyas got admitted in one of the prestigious institutions but very far from home. Vyas could see the other side of his Dad for the first time when dad bid farewell with tears intact in eyes. But slowly distance made him realize less about the love and affection of his family.


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Friends became his soul companions and only reliable source, building a wall
towards his family. When Vaibhavi questioned about this distance, Mom and Dad freezing their emotions made up stories saying, "After a certain age, boys would move on with friends" or Mom saying, "Just like your Dad, not knowing how to express his love".


Vaibhavi sensed more seeing Vyas out with his friends, talk to them through phone even when he had come for a month's vacation..Getting anger for silly reasons, finding mistakes for petty things and of all those, showing displeasure for whatever Dad does. A New Vyas, a friend for his friends, neither a brother nor a son.

Vyas who feared for the stern actions of his Dad now could not even tolerate a polite objection too. Many a times, Vaibhavi would make things cool between her father and brother. But that was the age of hasty decisions. Vyas wished to move farther and thus ended up settling in Overseas after his Masters there.

Vaibhavi was shattered when she got to know that, her brother who once shared simple talks with her had not uttered a single word about his marriage plan with the girl of his choice. Vaibhavi still could not turn herself to stone when Vyas made a video call from abroad. Mom felt exceptionally happy with her children's true love when she saw both with tears of affection as Vyas apologized to Vaibhavi.


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Both Vaibhavi and Rashmi were Pregnant. Vaibhavi with her husband Rishab settled in Canada while Vyas with Rashmi got settled in London. Since Rashmi's mom was no more, Mom had to take up the responsibilities for both of their deliveries. Mom and Dad together went to different continents. Both felt that Rashmi is highly educated as she too studied in the same college of Vyas and is equally earning. So they used to tell Vaibhavi to learn more from Rashmi. This did not go down well with Rishab but was very smart not to open up.

Vaibhavi was that girl who thought that words out of haste always leads to distance in relationship and fortunate was she to get a life partner with same thoughts.
With a heavy heart Mom and Dad had to leave 3 months old Ved in Vaibhavi's hands and move to London.


Landing there, Mom and dad never missed to have a video call with Vaibhavi and see little Ved grow. Not much they knew that this affection fell prey to Vyas.

Vyas and Rashmi felt why not they be given the same importance; little did they know that they both were always praised to Vaibhavi. This drift slowly augmented and finally when Dad casually poked Vyas with words, he burst out all that he had concealed for ages. "Was I given any love that I asked for? Was I treated kindly? When I turn to my childhood, I could not feel any sweet memories..Why?" Heavy tears started rolling down from Dad's eyes while Mom could not control her weep.


Both understood that his comparison with his sister has nothing to do but his yearn for the love had made him speak when he affectionately answered Vaibhavi's phone call.

With all those words spat out, which he had locked up for years Vyas left the place feeling an ease at heart. The next few days passed on with silence except for 2 months old Vansh's sounds.


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Dad was busy reading a book when Vyas entered the room and sat beside Dad. Placing his head on Dad's lap just as he did before Dad bid his first farewell leaving from his College, Vyas apologized with tears uncontrollable, understanding that Dad's way of care may be different but the sweet emotional bond between them never changes.

Dad lifted him up with tears and for the first time hugged Vyas with all his affection symbolizing all the years of love and felt proud that his son was the same little hero!

Each and every home would have come up with such experience! "Father", the first and everlasting hero of each child. Parenting is different from each of us, Father's love to a child may be different, some open up their affection while others push standing back, but are always there! Never to underestimate the true love of a Father!

Tuesday 6 February 2018

On a snowy day (A Children's Poem)- Pri.

Here is a Children's poem!😍




On a snowy day, I play...

Everything is so cold and icy.
I wish to have soup, warm and spicy!

I walk with my dad, outside, to play with snow,
I hope the sun does not shine to make it flow!
I hope the wind does not come through now, to blow!
My hands are freezing, I do not want to go.

My snowman is fluffy and frosty,
I love his big smile, oh so mighty!

On a snowy day, I play...





FORM:Symetrelle

The Symetrelle is an enchanting ten-line form created by Julie Moeller, writing as Bluejewel on the AllPoetry.com website.

It begins and ends with the same subject line of seven syllables. Then an enveloping set of mono-rhymed couplets leads into and out of the main content with lines of nine syllables. The main body is a mono-rhymed quatrain (four-line stanza) with eleven syllable lines.





Monday 5 February 2018

Ten Basic Hatha Yoga Poses for Beginners- Pri.

Nice post Aish! Good to know some ways to easily care for feet.😊


Yoga is relaxation of body, mind and soul. When done regularly, body becomes more flexible and strong. Eventually, the technique helps in weight-management and helps to be grounded spiritually. Here is a quick guide for beginners to do a ten-pose Yoga session.


Mountain Pose (Tadasana)



1. Stand with feet together and relax your shoulders and let your arms lose at sides.

2. Raise your arms slowly as you inhale bring the palms facing each other.

3. Reaching towards the sky hold the posture for a few seconds.

4. Exhale, bring your arms down slowly.

5. Repeat Tadasana a few times to warm-up your body.


Forward Fold (Uttanasana)



1. Keep your feet hip-width apart and stand straight.

2. Inhale as you extend your spine.

3. Exhale as you bend down and try to touch your toes without bending your knees.

4. Relax shoulders and hold the pose for few seconds.

5. Inhale as you stand up.


Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)





1. While on your hands and knees, inhale as you put your fingers flat on the mat getting ready for the pose.

2. Exhale and lift your knees off the floor pushing the mid-section of the body upwards.

3. Try and keep the feet flat pushing to the ground.Hold the position for a few minutes.

4. Inhale and release. Put your knees slowly on the floor.

5. Relax then repeat.


Plank (Chaturanga)



1. While on downward dog pose, when ready for the transition, inhale and lower your body curling the toes and bending elbows.

2. From head to heels the body is in the same level. Hold the position for few seconds.

3. Exhale and lie on your stomach putting the head on one side and relax.

4. Repeat the pose as needed.


Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)




1. After the Plank pose, while on your stomach place your arms under your shoulders.

2. Keeping elbows close to your upper-body, inhale as you extend the spine pushing using the palms. 

3. Keep ears away from your shoulders and lengthen your spine look up the ceiling.

4. Exhale and relax, lie on your stomach putting the head on the other side.

5. Repeat as needed.

 

Tree Pose (Vrikshasana)




1. Stand with your feet together and arms relaxed on your sides.

2. Inhale, slowly shift your weight on to one leg, lift the other leg and place the foot on the inside of the thigh. Move your hand in prayer position in front of your chest. Exhale and find the balance.

3. Inhale, bring the arms up towards the sky palms facing each other. Hold the position for a few seconds.

4. Exhale and release the pose.

5. Repeat on the other side.


Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)




1. Stand with legs about 4-feet apart turn right foot 90 degrees and left foot slightly inwards.

2. Inhale, raise arms parallel to the floor opening-up the chest and stretching the right arm towards right side.

3. Exhale. Extend the arms, look towards your right fingertips.

4. Inhale, extend and tilt the body bringing right arm down to touch inside of the right feet and left arm reaching the ceiling.

5. Hold the posture for few seconds, exhale and release. 

6. Relax. Repeat on the other side.


Seated Twists (Ardha Matsyendrasana)



1. While on a seated position extend your legs flat on the floor.

2. Put the right foot on the ouside of the left thigh crossing over.  

3. Put left arm on the outer side of the right knee and elbows touching the thigh.

4. Inhale,twist the body towards right and gaze behind.

5. Hold the position for a few seconds, exhale and release.

6. Repeat on the other side.


Bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)




1. Lying on the back, put the arms on the sides, feet flat on the floor and knees bent positioned up towards the ceiling. Or keep the knees unbent for a more advanced pose.

2. Inhale, move the heels close to the glutes preparing for the position.

3. Clasp hands below your pelvis or hold your hips for support. Pressing the feet and palms lift your body up bringing chin to chest. 

4. Hold the position for few seconds.

5. Exhale and relax. Repeat as needed.

  

Corpse pose (Shavasana)




1. Lie on your back, arms relaxed by the sides and feet facing outwards forming a relaxed "V".

2. Palms face upwards and arms do not touch the body.

3. Spine lies flat on the mat.

4. Take relaxing breadths closing your eyes.

5. After a few minutes when ready slowly roll towards your right, take a few seconds before coming to a seated position.


And of course, keep hydrated! Feel your body, mind and spirit centered and refreshed. 

9 Best Home Cures for Pedicures - Aish

Wonderful to explore the mighty waves resulting the prodigy of doom ; penned up very well as a poem Pri!!

Be it Summer, Winter or any season we name, the most used as well affected body part equally to our face is our feet. But the reality is, the more we care for our face we tend to ignore our feet. Normally, we feel why spend money to one's feet when we conceal it with shoes or sandals and due to this we get sore feet, cracked heel or nail fungus. 

To avoid such infections, spending hugely for spa and travelling to salon ; why not sit at home, relax, try out natural pedicure for our feet and feel the wonders!!

In the field of dance, performances on different places with varied surfaces are customary. 

Thus being in this art form for years made me discover these natural pedicures by unwinding at home free from travel hassels.

9 HOME PEDICURES  



1. Mix Rice flour with honey and apply on the feet. Rice flour exfoliates the skin well while honey acts as a skin toner.

2. Apply Vaseline on the feet and wear socks before heading to bed. Made out of petroleum jelly, Vaseline helps preventing clogs in pores.

3. Soak feet in the warm water mixed with salt and lemon, the best result for fine feet. The citric acid in lemon and salt help in cleansing the deep pores in skin.

4. Soak feet in warm water added with rose water and glycerin. Glycerin helps in cell maturation and retains the smoothness of skin while rose water acts as an anti-inflammatory that can help reduce skin irritation.

5. Soak feet in the soapy water and then scrub with the pumice stone to get the glowing feet. Pumice stones are used for removing dead skin and calluses around feet.

6. Better to wear socks or slippers when at home if not wearing shoes indoors.

7. Before heading to bed get a bottle of warm water and roll it up on the bed to help oneself feel the warmth on bed.

8. Soak feet in the warm water with vinegar added to it. The acetic acid in Vinegar helps in reducing nail fungus. 

9. Not many homes are with hot bags to eliminate cramps or pain in legs. A gentle rub on the pain with a warm water filled glass bottle helps in reduction of pain and acts as a smoother.

Also try out facial beauty with natural ingredients from Home-dwelling-beauty-kits-Aish and get rid of Winter soreness by sneaking into Amazing-natural-winter-therapies-Aish

These handy tips for Pedicures help us get our lovely feet back..Not necessary to cover up too much then on..


HAPPY FEET!!

Sunday 4 February 2018

The prodigy of doom (A Tritina Poem)- Pri

Interesting Aish! Lovely way to spend time with kids while encouraging them to be creative. Well done.😊

I am sharing one of my poems that was published in Authors Haunt Ocean Anthology 2011.





The prodigy of doom 

  
Raging ocean, massive and mighty
provokes magnificent vigorous waves 
that portend destruction; to warn.

As violent dark clouds bound and warn,
threatening thunders sound mighty,
lightning strikes stretching to waves.

Rapid raindrops fall to raise giant waves,
monstrous rash whirlwind blows that warn,
Raving birds in dreadful sky fly, so mighty.

The prodigy of doom; mighty waves warn!   


Form: Tritina 

The Tritina is the little brother to the Sestina. Instead of end rhymes, each stanza uses three specific unrhymed words in a specific sequence at the end of the lines. The following is the sequence in which you will use those three end-words for the first three stanzas:
ABC CAB BCA

The final stanza will use all three words in order, ABC, at the end of the line.