Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

MUMBAI

JANUARY 2016 Volume 1 Issue 9

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January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

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content January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | wwww.livinglocalmag.com

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8 6 different ways to Winterize Summer Clothes

Out of 12 months in a year, weather in Mumbai is hot, humid, and sweaty for almost 9-10 months.

While the other 2-3 months get quite...

26 Tattoo gear up for photo-realism at its peak Tattoos are supposed to mean something to you.

Something personal, something meaningful, something that toucheson

On the 30ish Slope

12 Strong, Like a Girl

Here is a simple dream, a crisp white shirt, bag full of books and endless dreams. I write this article as a woman who was once a girl....

28 Chef Around The Corner

28 Serving up the Sauce: 14 Sauce Story

12 Advertise with Living Local Mumbai 4

When we hear the term ‘continental food’, a fixed number of same old European dishes enter our mind.... +91 9769302244 / +919930233137 advertise@livinglocalmag.com www.livinglocalmag.com

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

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Inspire

34 Turning wounds into wisdom - Shivani Khetan, ExpressO Talks

Women Making a Difference

Even though I always tried to consciously believe in it, I found that more often than not it was easier said and done. Until I met a woman, who was actually...

42 One Tree At a Time - Rastaa ChaapB)

The popular dictum goes that women are closer to nature than men are, and these bunch of ladies in the hood are proving that right, one...

35 From the Golden Agers, with loveB)

Chronicles of the Hood

Interesting conversations happen when people are asked to express themselves without giving it a lot of thought. On a pleasantly breezy evening, I came

44 Dariya MahalUB)

The hood of Andheri West is dotted with different locales and each place has a name of its own. What comes across as an upmarket...

38 Pratibimb - A Cultural Extravaganza

VJTI cultural festival Pratibimb saw some great dancing, singing, and some famous personalities. A footfall of over 12,500 was recorded

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44 50 Unraveling ADHD: Myths & Facts

Mr Shah described his 4-year-old son Saransh as being extremely naughty, disobedient. A “toofan”, “uncontrollable” who is only interested in...

Disclaimer: The acceptance of advertising in this publication does not constitute or imply endorsement by the Publisher of any product or service. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for any claims made in any advertisement. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse to accept any advertisement. Publisher’s acceptance of an advertisement for publication in the Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the product or service advertised.

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

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Contributors Let your voice be heard whether it is on the topic of health and wellness, local news, or an event you want to share in your Hood. Write to us at: articles@livinglocalmag.com

SIDHARTH SODHI Actor Writer

PRIYA SHAH Founder & Chief Image Consultant at Bespoke image solutions. www.bespokeimagesolutions.com

POOJA KOCHAR Founder of 30ishblogging. Blogger, Speaker and Photographer.

30ishblogging.blogspot.in

VISHAL DHAWAN Vishal Dhawan is a financial planner by profession and founder of Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors Pvt. Ltd. vishal.dhawan@planahead.in

DR LILY KISWANI, MD,DGO Integrative Medicine, A4MI Nutritional Therapeutics e-mail: drlk.integrative@gmail.com

SHERENE KHARAWALA HR and marketing lecturer.

Passionate about painting, writing, people and travel.

Founder of the blog - Looking through the simpleton’s lens NIVEDITA MATALIYA Counseling psychologist specializing in children and relationship counseling. Her initiative, ‘Little tornados’, is a child empowerment center in Lokhandwala. littletornados@rediffmail.com

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

DR. SHARMILA NAYAK Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist Skin / Hair Like they say… “A stitch in time saves nine” likewise “Proper skin care in time will prevent wrinkles and lines”.

MOHINI Mohini is a Tarot Card reader, Hypnotherapist and a Life Coach. She also teaches reading Tarot Cards and various self-healing techniques.

DIVYA PANDAY Lives in her own world. Wants to travel and explore little-big things in the world

ZEBA AKHTAR Foodie, Ambitious, Theory Digger.

Loves Bombay, Coffee and the Sea

BHAVNA KAPOOR Holistic Health Coach, Iyengar Yoga Practitioner, Founder of The Health Nut!

SANJAY HINGORANI I am foodie who lives to eat. I may write a cook book someday but at the moment I am just enjoying my passion, cooking great food be it Indian, Italian, Thai, Arabic.

SUBHASHINI SHEOPURI An Andheri West resident.A freelance journalist for past 15 years

MUMBAI

January 2016 Volume 1 Issue 9

New Year Resolutions – Follow Your Heart It’s that time of the year when resolutions are flying all over your head. You pick some incomplete ones from the last year and reinvent some new ones. Chances are we have forgotten most of the ones we promised to ourselves last year or the year before. Why? Think about it. If they were so important you wouldn’t have forgotten them and probably as a result of that you would have completed most of them in the given 365 days timeline.

I have a friend who has a resolution to Lose weight… every year. That’s not a resolution. That’s a desire. Resolution would be to go workout 5 days of the week and the result would be the desired effect.

We all make resolutions. Elders may not openly talk about them as the kids proudly claim them the 1st day of the year. But we all do. Humans want change… for the better. They want the coming year to be better than the last one. We like to believe that every year begins with a clean slate. It begins with a hope of a better life – materialistic or spiritual or personal.

Management Neeraj Vasudeva Content Zeba Akhtar (Assistant Content Manager) Sidharth Sodhi Graphic Designer Rishav Kumar Photographer Manali Jain Sales & Marketing Ali Ansari (Andheri West) (ali.ansari@livinglocalmag.com) Prajesh Podikalam (Bandra-Khar) (prajesh@livinglocalmag.com)

But is there a trick to achieve that?

Editor-in-chief Anubhav Anand Twitter- @anubhavanand

I’d like to believe there is. And it lies in these three simple words - Follow Your Heart. It’s not a secret mantra. It is the simplest mantra. A mantra I make a point to follow every year.

I have tried to stay consistent with this mantra for quite a few years now. It may sound too generic if you read it the way it is. But if you simply apply it and follow it, you won’t need another resolution. If your heart desires to Lose weight… you will work towards it… every single day of the year. ‘Cause your heart desires it. If your heart desires to start writing your own blog this year… you will. ‘Cause your heart desires it.

There is so much to attain and so much to accomplish. There will be unending lists to all that. Try putting this 1 item on the top of your checklist – ‘Follow your Heart this year’.

It’s worth a shot. You never know what all gets accomplished as a byproduct of this one simple mantra (read as resolution at this time of the year). The magic of a magnificent 2016 awaits all of us. Follow your Heart!

So here’s wishing that you fulfill all your resolutions this year.

A very Happy New Year!

Owned, Published, Printed and Edited by Anubhav Anand.

Printed at SWASTIK PRINTS, Gabriel Joseph Compound, Kajuwadi, Cardinal Gracious Rd., Chakala, Andheri (East), Mumbai- 400099 and Published from G-701, Sky Anchorage Co-Op Hsg Society Ltd., Panch Marg, Off Yari Road, Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400061.

Scan QR Code Editor: editor@livinglocalmag.com Visit Us Online

Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors and advertisers in our publication and on our website do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or publishers.

The Publisher shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages or losses arising out of the use or inability to use the magazine, any errors on pages, misrepresentations or omissions in the content, advertisements or products and services offered and take no responsibility for any issues arising from the use of suppliers who have advertised.

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

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LL | lifestyle

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Different Ways to

Winterize Summer Clothes

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ut of 12 months in a year, the weather in Mumbai is hot, humid, and sweaty for almost 9-10 months. While the other 2-3 months get quite pleasant and non-humid (hence non-sweaty days) and quite chilled at nights. And the latter has arrived! So, is it time to pull out the same old sweaters that you’ve been stocking for a trip abroad or this festive season?

Not this time folks. Because getting into same sweat-shirt every winter is just so monotonous and traditional sweaters turn a person 10 times older than their age. So does that mean you create a completely new wardrobe for just 2 months? Most women want to look chic during winters but often remain confused about the styling. Hence, creating a new wardrobe may not be economical to everyone’s pocket.

So this winter, bring out your inner fashionable diva and winterize your summer clothes, while adding/buying few winter garments to maintain the warmth. In order to make appropriate use of all your summer garments you need to accumulate few winter basics like cardigan, jackets, stockings, scarves and boots.

Before we start let us understand the key to styling in winters – which is “Layering” Layers are a solution to transitioning your summer clothing

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by Priya Shah

to winter; to which the combinations are endless. You can either layer up (cardigan, jacket, scarf) or layer under (stockings and thermals.) Point to remember is – keep the undermost layer well-fitted to get better shape of the body. The beauty of layers is - often during the day, it may get warmer or cooler- so you can always remove/add a layer depending on your requirement.

Here I’m putting down a guide making use of garments you could use this winter for various occasions like interviews, meetings, partying, college or work. You can pick up the style that suits your lifestyle and personal taste and make it your style statement this winter.

1. Shorts

A pair of shorts is a regular garment for a lot of women in our city. Instead of giving them up during winters, you can pair them up with different stockings or leggings (printed or solid) available in stores or online. And trust me, adding strappy sandals to this mixture, looks really adorable.

This combo of legging + shorts can take you to work, college, outings, parties or dates provided you match the right top.

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

2. Floral prints

Who says floral works only in summer?

I think it is just a myth or a rule to break! Pick up any one floral item from these- blouse, dress, printed pants or accessories like bag, hat, scarf or boots and create an outfit using colors from the floral print and it can be a great way to winterize your floral summer items. (eg. A Floral print in the picture contains crimson, navy blue, green, purple and a tinge of pink – picking out any 2 or 3 colors out of all and using it in hat, scarf, stocking, boots, cardigan would look fabulous.)

them why not make use of it? Wearing them with sweater is way too boring and it makes you look older. This section is specially for working individuals who want to be in their Indian attire, also look professional and combat the cold – could use this. A long vest/jacket, longer than or equal to the length of kurta is one of the ideal pick. Alternatively ikat, shiburi printed jackets are trending too (as shown in the picture) to keep you warm. If it still feels cold you could add cashmere of pashmina shawl in a nice style. Note: Peep-toes go great with this combination.

6. Shift Dress

Shift dress is my personal favorite for winter. V-neck sleeveless shift dress + turtleneck long sleeves, round neck shift dress + scoop neck t-shirt/blouse or any shift dress + collared shirt - along with stockings. These amalgamations are perfect to take you for formal and informal occasions. The picture depicts a casual look on left and formal one on the right.

3. Maxi Dress/Skirt

A maxi dress is a mark of a woman according to me. Plus if you’re a lover of different styles, you will surely not want to give up on your maxi dresses/skirts.

To top it, maxi dress/skirts is ideal for winters as it gives maximum coverage and there is no limit to layering it. As projected in the picture, you could add a scarf, cardigan or jacket to keep you warm or you could use a sweatshirt or t-shirt over the dress to style it differently. Note: Boots look great with attire.

Layering Layers are a solution to transitioning your summer clothing to winter; to which the combinations are endless

Most women want to look chic during

4. Crop Tops

“Crop tops can’t be worn in winter” – is a myth again! There are ways to style the crop top so that they look just awesome for this weather. Wearing them along with a long kimono or long vest is just suitable for “Mumbai” kind of winter.

Achromatic (b/w) looks classy & if you’re a color person do pay attention to using different color schemes to get you a chic look.

5. Kurta

winters but often remain confused about the styling

Kurta is the most common garment of us and since we already have many of January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

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LL | lifestyle

LOADED WITH TASTE Tired of the monotony that’s crept into your food? Looking for something that’s not ‘cheese and toppings on dough’?

We were too. And that’s when we came up with “Stuffed” a quick service restaurant, that’s only quick about bringing satisfaction to your doorstep.

The pain of finding decent shawarma and pasta without causing too big a dent in their wallet led husband-wife duo – Ridhima and Shreyans Vijay – to start QSR (Quick Service Restaurants) chain, Stuffed. They quit their plush corporate jobs to pursue the interest of a foodie inside them.

Stuffed serves Authentic Lebanese and Italian cuisine prepared with the highest quality ingredients and a whole lotta love. No more boring food for the people of Andheri West.

Our healthy choices including but not limited to shawarmas, pastas, salads, and sandwiches that stuff your stomach to your hearts content, made from recipes crafted to perfection, curated for happiness, delivered fresh, hot and scrumptious, at your doorstep, Stuffed, with love.

“One basic philosophy which we always believed in is the food should be fulfilling” says Ridhima. That led to the name ‘STUFFED’. One should feel stuffed after having food at ‘STUFFED’.

We are the only restaurant that serves both Regular as well as Large Shawarmas. The Large Shawarma has been introduced keeping in mind the appetite for lunch and dinner. We want to change the notion of Shawarma as a snack. Even the pastas and salads that we serve are more than what you get at more established outlets.

The feedback has been extremely encouraging. We have a very high percentage of repeat customers. In fact, a few months back we were rated as the best shawarma place in Mumbai. This reinforces our belief in our offering. We currently feature in Zomato in categories like the “Best Pocket Friendly” in Mumbai.

After Andheri East and Powai, we have now opened in Andheri West to delight the people here.

Customers can place an order via our website www.stuffed.co.in and avail great offers or call their number 022-65559565 / 8450912377. Address: Shop 1, Mayfair CHSL, Raviraj Oberoi Complex, Behind SAB TV, Andheri West.

Stuffed delivers from 11 am to 11 pm and currently serves all areas in Andheri West.

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

STUFFED ADV

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 11

LL | lifestyle On the 30ish Slope

Strong,

like a girl

Pooja Kochar: Founder of 30ishblogging and PhotoblogHER Blogger, Photographer and Speaker

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ere is a simple dream, a crisp white shirt, bag full of books and endless dreams. I write this article as a woman who was once a girl. What if, I jumped backwards from 30ish to 13ish? This is the conversation, I would have with myself.

Don’t be afraid of your body changing, this is going to make you more beautiful.

Don’t fear uncomfortable attention, you are capable enough to deal with it.

Don’t let anyone make choices on your behalf, you are brilliant.

You are a diamond, a rose, a shiny ball of fire, God’s best creation.

You are loved.

Life Hack: Each time a woman, stands up for herself, she stands for the entire race.

A girl’s self-esteem peaks at 9 and drops at 12. If she is empowered, it jumps at 20 again. We met these stunning & fiercely intelligent young girls and asked them to select a word that defined them. They picked words like strong, fire, power, smile, beautiful. The most striking quality was that they were completely

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unafraid and beyond inhibitions. Girls don’t decide to hate their bodies, we teach them to.

She is not going to turn 25, and suddenly bloom into a confident young woman. We have to assure them at every vulnerable stage that she is beautiful, PhotoblogHER is my attempt to talk about positive body image.

All our lives we make decisions based on these precious years of growth. A self-assured child is the most powerful source of inspiration. Let them be ambitious, creative, and independent.

Take everything that is bright within you and introduce it to someone. As privileged strong women, we should take ownership and inspire the next generation to live fearlessly.

I dedicate this article to our change makers, our dreamers, and our visionaries. It is my passion and mission to make every girl child have the same opportunity that I did. “You are beautiful not like the magazines, but because of the way you think, the way you love, the way focus, the way you stand strong.” Every girl’s self-worth matters.

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

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www.shutterstock.com/Rawpixel.com

LL | lifestyle

Stop making New Year resolutions, start acting on them

If you are in your 20s You may have goals like funding your Post Graduation by yourself. You need to know the year of your goal and the corpus required. You can consider student loans for the same. You may seek the help of your family to act as guarantor. Once you are employed post completion of your degree, you can pay off your loan.

return of 12% each year, you will need to save Rs. 10,000 per month if you start at 20 and Rs. 30,000 per month if you start at 30. So start early.

If you are above 30 Owning a house, child education, pocket money to parents, emergency fund, and debt repayment could be some of your goals.

It may not be possible to achieve all that you want in this phase, but defining your priorities is critical. Since this

A sabbatical for pursuing further studies could be another goal.

Flexibility in the investments products that you use is critical, as you could find goals changing rapidly in this phase.

Retirement Planning is an important goal which most people in their 20s do not pay attention to. For e.g. If you need a corpus of say Rs. 10 Crores when you are 60 years old, assuming a rate of

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

will also be a very busy period from a career and family perspective, look for how you can add time to your life by outsourcing the management of your financial life, whilst it is still relatively simple.

If you are saving for a long-term goal, consider a mix of debt and equity with high allocation towards equity. For short term goals look for safer instruments like bank FDs, liquid and ultra- short term funds. Tax saving is important but don’t make that the only focus.

Control the loans you take. Make sure

www.shutterstock.com/Antonio Guillem

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t’s the start of a new year. It is also a time to evaluate your ‘hits and misses’ – financial resolutions that you made at the beginning of the year that you kept, those that you did not keep, as well as what you want to achieve in terms of goals. Goals may differ based what stage of life you are in.

you are adequately insured for both life and health insurance to control risks to achieving your goals.

Above 45 Child’s Post graduation and marriage could be on your list.

You are also closer to your retirement.

Remember that it will be critical to keep reskilling yourself, as corporate careers are shortening. Provide monies for that. Think about what you will do with your free time in retirement. Also, ensure that you have your wills and succession planning in place, so that any unfortunate event does not leave your family running from pillar to post.

www.shutterstock.com/Rawpixel.com

Have a healthy and wealthy year ahead.

Vishal Dhawan is a certified financial planner by profession and founder of Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors Pvt. Ltd. He can be reached at vishal.dhawan@planahead.in.

Vishal’s rich experience of close to 20 years in the financial services industry has led him to frequently write columns in various business and general media both domestically and internationally, and he appears on television

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 15

LL | health & beauty

Dr. Sharmila Nayak is a renowned & skilled celebrity cosmetic dermatologist with a vast experience of over 14 years in practice.

She specializes in making customized skin treatments to deliver the best results for every client.

Dr. Nayak is an expert in Skin, Hair & Nail issues in men, women & teens.

Her passion and expertise lies in facial contouring, sculpting, rejuvenation and anti-ageing solutions. She has been trained internationally on non-invasive treatments & injectables like Botox & Fillers.

Solve Your

Skin Woes!

by Dr. Sharmila Nayak Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist Sakhiya Skin Clinic

EXPERT SPEAK Q. I am 37 years old. Suddenly over the last 6 months I am feeling my facial skin becoming loose and my jaw line doesn’t seem to be that sharp as it used to be. This is also making my laugh lines more prominent. I am regular with my facials, using sunscreen and night creams but it doesn’t seem to help. Is there any facial or treatment which could help improve my skin?

Archana Singh, Delhi Dear Archana, As you cross your thirties, the aging process sets in and you start losing the elasticity of skin. Gravity and fat loss also adds on to the effect. As a result of this, lines on face become visible and the skin starts to sag.

It’s good to know that you are investing time in taking care of your skin. Facials and creams help in hydrating the skin and keeping it radiant. Once the skin starts sagging, lines and wrinkles become prominent, minimally invasive treatments like Radio frequency skin tightening and threads will help in a big way.

Threads have gained popularity in

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recent times. They are made up of Poly diaxanone which is an absorbable material and helps in boosting the collagen in the skin. Hence they help in lifting and firming the skin.

For the laughter lines that have already formed, hyaluronic acid dermal fillers would help erase or soften up the lines.

You could consult a dermatologist for proper guidance.

Q. I am a working professional. I do clean up once a month but the glow doesn’t seem to last for more than 7 to 10 days. I have lot of fine hair for which I have to bleach every 15 days. I feel my skin has become sensitive and it has started looking patchy on the sides of my cheek. All this is worrying me.

Is there a way to avoid too much of chemicals on skin?

Sonali S. Mumbai Hi Sonali, we genuinely understand your concern. With increasing pollution and chemicals in our surroundings, one should opt for products or treatments with least chemicals.

Bleaching if necessary can be done once a month. Bleach can at times

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

make the skin sensitive and more prone to pigmentation in the long run. So nowadays a lot of people are opting for laser bleach which safely and effectively bleaches the fine hair and also improves the skin tone and complexion.

Regular facials hydrate the skin and also give a glow but most of the times, people notice that it does not last for more than a week or two. A good idea would be to visit a qualified doctor who could make a personalised regime for you in the form of medifacials followed by a good home care regime. Medifacials not only help in calming down your skin but also help in lightening the pigment patches without increasing the skin sensitivity.

Meanwhile start applying a sunscreen religiously and start taking vitamin C supplements on a daily basis.

Got a question about your skin and didn’t know whom to ask?

Please write in to mumbai@sakhiyaskinclinic.com and Dr. Sharmila Nayak would be happy to answer your queries.

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LL | health & beauty

by Bhavna Kapoor

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t’s the first month of 2016, and all of us are looking to get healthier, shed some weight, and have a great year ahead.

The one thing that comes in the way are food cravings! We all blame the tipping weighing scales on cravings for the ‘wrong foods’ don’t we? Many people ask me how do I manage to sit in a coffee shop and control myself from reaching out to that gooey brownie or butter croissant. The answer is – I don’t control myself. I don’t need to, because I understand cravings and have a better way to deal with them.

What are cravings? And why do we get them? We don’t get them because we have a sweet tooth, but because it is a way of our body trying to speak to us.

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Our body is a super intelligent creation of nature and it is always trying to talk to us. If we get hurt on our leg, the pain is a way of the body telling us that we need to pay attention, there as something is wrong. If the pain was not there, there would be no way of even knowing that we are hurt. Similarly cravings are a signal from the body trying to tell us we lack something in our lives. It could be nourishment or it could be an emotional void, which we try to fill with food. But because this food may not nourish us or fill the emotional void, the cravings never go.

The key to overcoming cravings therefore lies not in controlling them or giving in to them but rather working towards overcoming them.

healthiest way to conquer it is by helping ourselves with a big bowl of fresh seasonal fruit every morning!!! Try it! It works. Give yourself a few weeks,

Nutritionally, a sweet craving means that we lack energy. The easiest,

and notice how strong your sweet tooth is feeling. I am not saying, force an apple

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

down your throat at 5pm when what you are dreaming of is a Jalebi. That is not going to work. Eat the fruit in the morning, every morning, lots of it. Then notice in a few weeks the intensity of your 5 pm jalebi craving. It will surely be much lesser.

A salty/savory craving usually signifies, a deficiency of minerals and the best way to overcome that is by including loads of leafy greens in your diet. Leafy greens are loaded with minerals from the earth, so go ahead add them in your salads, smoothies and juices. Get your fill each day.

Bhavna is a Holistic Health Coach and Whole foods Plant based chef. She is a featured as a coach on P.C.R.M. (www.pcrm.org).

She helps people achieve their health goals such as Lose weight, improve their gut health, energy levels, reverse diabetes through changes in diet and lifestyle. To know more about her, or to schedule a consultation, visit www.healthnut.in

At the emotional level, reflect on what may be missing, which aspect of your life is feels undernourished. Is it lack of satisfaction at work, an unresolved relationship, or an unfulfilled dream? Dig deep and see what is bothering you, and if that is a trigger that leads you to reach out to those fries, then there you go. No matter how much you eat, its not going to satisfy you.

So lets begin the year with a greater awareness of our body and what it is trying to say to us and use this understanding to create a better our relationship with it.

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LL | health & beauty

The scary truth about

DIABETES, and what to do about it

by Dr. Lily Keswani, MD, DGO, Integrative Medicine

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iabetes, although a serious health concern on its own, can lead to numerous health repercussions that can have lasting effects. Below are some of the complications diabetes can lead to.

Your cholesterol and blood pressure rise up!

It doesn’t matter if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes – all diabetes leads to hardening of the arteries and lowers your good cholesterol.

kidneys, contributing to kidney failure.

An early sign of the condition is protein in the urine, which is observed upon urine analysis.

Nearly half of those with uncontrolled diabetes will develop kidney damage within 10 years and 40 percent will progress as far as kidney failure. At the stage of kidney failure, dialysis or a kidney transplant may be required.

Your risk of heart disease increases.

You run the risk of multiple chronic conditions, which can shave years off your life.

Aside from raising cholesterol and blood pressure, which can damage the heart, untreated diabetes, can hurt the heart muscle directly. Diabetics have twice the risk of experiencing heart attack and the risk of stroke is quadrupled. And while strokes can be fatal, they can also lend to lifelong issues, such as paralysis or speech problems.

Your vision fades.

Stress

Diabetic retinopathy affects roughly four million diabetics. It can begin occurring up to seven years before it is diagnosed.

The stress caused by the knowledge that you have diabetes, and are prone to complications, can itself worsen the condition.

At first, diabetic retinopathy does not present symptoms, but over time the images you see will appear darker.

One study found that diabetics whose HbA1c levels (a measurement of glucose control) rose by one percent increased their risk of developing retinopathy by one-third. The study found that 10,000 people go blind each year due to diabetic retinopathy.

Financial cost

Studies have shown that 70 percent of diabetes patients also have hypertension, which can increase your risk of stroke or heart attack.

Your kidneys fail.

High blood glucose can damage the

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The cost of medication, insulin injections, doctor visits, time taken off work, cost of dialysis and treatment of other complications, can be crippling.

An Indian study concluded that the #1 cause of insolvency was a serious health condition.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO? Here’s what JK, a 62 yr old diabetic, has to say: I have diabetes since 28 years and

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

I am taking insulin since 13 years. My children are fed up because they want to eat sweets, they have to pay for my treatment, they have to take leave to take me to doctor.

I am taking integrative medicine treatment for 4 months. Now I have lost 6 kgs weight, I don’t need insulin, my blood sugar is 87 and I am more active.

I don’t visit other doctors, I don’t have risk for complications and I am very happy. I can go out again and I have no worry for insulin.

Integrative medicine goes to the root cause of any condition and reverses it.

Diabetes can be reversed in a matter of weeks.

To know how you can cure yourself or a loved one from any illnesses using a wholesome, natural process that attacks the cause, not the symptoms, drop me a mail at drlk.integrative.com

CAMBRIDGE

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LL | health & beauty

DNA SPA FACIAL

Synthia Lau International Beauty and Wellness Expert (Singapore)

H

ere is a facial technique, which stimulates the natural skin functions to enhance the complexion. The polypeptide enzyme accelerates cells production resulting in thicker/smoother skin. The proteolytic enzyme gently removes dead cells and stimulates enzymatic activity leading to a livelier and brighter complexion.

Damaged tissue is repaired and the skin thickens resulting in reduced sensitivity. The auto healing process intensifies production of collagen/ elastin and the skin looks younger. It includes application of Nano sunblock, which reflects sunlight resulting in a total cover shield against its damaging effect. It results in fairer skin and reduced pigmentation. To complete the program, we recommend a course of eight facials at a frequency of once a week.

means that for mature skin at around 50 years of age, the production of new cells is very slow. If we can significantly increase energy within the cells in the treatment process, we can cause the cavities in the pore areas to be filled up thereby removing the pitted scars rapidly, and we can exfoliate the dead cells quickly resulting in a more even colour tone. The answer is YES! We are able to do this!

AN UNIQUE AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION: A unique blend of strong actives to treat the following problems:

There is a need to activate the skin’s Auto Healing Function (AHF) so that the skin begins to produce collagen and becomes firmer and suppler.

Pitted scars Severe acne Wrinkles Pigmentation Uneven skin tone Lack-luster skin The approach: There is a sharp decline in cell’s energy (ATP regenerator of energy) as we age.

This is particularly significant after the age of 30 years, when energy levels decline sharply until it levels off from age 50 years at an extremely low level of around 25% of peak energy. This

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The ability to boost cells’ production by protection of a general hormone, FGF-2.

This will improve skin’s ability to synthesize production within the cells, thereby leading to the rapid removal of scars, and uneven skin tone.

The use of proteolytic enzyme, which has an intense desquamating function, works best. As a result, the top layer of skin is shed faster than normal rate.

This action leads to rapid increase of new cells which in turn leads to rapid removal of scars and uneven skin tone. The use of tretinoin-like

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

substance to control tyrosine activities, thereby lighten skin.

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 23

LL | health & beauty

ASK THE

Hair Expert

www.shutterstock.com/Subbotina Anna

Dr Snehal Sriram is a renowned dermatologist, specializing in Cosmetic Dermatology. She has won many academic and research accolades including a gold medal at Dr Snehal Sriram (MD) Mumbai University. Now Medical Director, she is leading the medical Trica Hair Clinic team at Trica Hair Clinic, a chain specializing in result oriented solutions for all hair problems. You can reach her at snehal@ trica.in.

Q. I have been getting painful pimplelike boils on the scalp for the past 2-3 years. They become better at times, again new ones come up. Why do they occur and what should I do?

Vritika, 28 years.

Dear Vritika, Scalp acne or folliculitis is a common problem. The usual causes are oily/ greasy scalp, itchy scalp, infrequent hair wash, product (shampoo, oil etc) residue on scalp due to improper hair wash, excess oiling etc. These tend to block the scalp pores leading to microbial infection resulting in folliculitis. It is advisable to wash hair frequently (minimum 3 times a week) using pH balanced antimicrobial shampoos. Remember to rinse the shampoo thoroughly. Antibacterial lotions like clindamycin may help, at times you may need antibacterial tablets. Since your problem is recurrent, you will benefit from scalp rejuvenation treatments that exfoliate and unclog the pores monthly.

Q. My daughter who is 15 years old is having a lot of hair fall all of a sudden.

Her scalp and hair looks oily in spite

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of shampooing three times a week.

She also has dandruff. Please advice. Prerna Ravindran.

Dear Prerna, Your daughter as every teenager, is going through hormonal changes and add to it, the stress of studies. The play of different hormones in the body affect the hair cycle. This causes hair fall as well as sebum (oil) secretion making scalp oily and greasy. Also teenagers are usually not into very healthy diets adding to nutritional stress on hair, thus aggravating hair fall. My recommendation would be to start her on hair supplements containing Amino acids, Biotin, Zinc and Minerals.

Teenagers are always rushing, so tend to leave residues of shampoo on the scalp after hair wash. This along with oil secretion and fungal infection results in dandruff. She may use medicated anti-dandruff shampoo containing Climbazole or Ciclopirox twice a week.

Rinse it off thoroughly, and follow up with a suitable hair conditioner.

Q. I am 44 yrs old. I have been having hair fall off and on since past 3 years.

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

But since last one year I find that my hair growth has slowed down and also my hair is going thinner (my pony tail is very thin). Am worried as I have long hair and now I have to cut them. Please help. - Hema S. Dear Hema, I understand how you must be feeling.

But you are not alone. You are in what is called a pre-menopausal phase when our body is going through hormonal changes. This results in thinning of hair from terminal (thick dark hair) hair to vellus hair (medical term for thin fine hair). Also ‘Hair Ageing� leads to slow hair growth. To treat the same you would need to see a hair doctor, who may prescribe hair nourishing serums and vitamin supplements along with medicines to reverse the action of hormones that are thinning your hair, if need be. You will benefit greatly from Biogenesis hair growth stimulating treatments especially if your thinning is significant. Do take good care of your scalp by keep it clean and nourished. A healthy diet and daily dose of exercise will keep your hair healthy and rejuvenated.

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 25

LL | health & beauty

Tattoo gear up for Photo-realism at its peak

T

attoos are supposed to mean something to you.

Something personal, something meaningful, something that touches your heart and motivates you. That’s what a tattoo should be for. Therefore, here is something trendy for you. Some real tattoo in town, now u can carry the portrait of your loved ones on your body.

Realistic tattoos most commonly depict portraits or landscapes that mimic the fine details of a photograph.

The skill to mimic the exact photo, including fine details and colors is unique and difficult to pose. The style is also called photo-realism and not all tattoo artists are able to master this style. The popularity of realistic tattoos has grown tremendously over the years and some have become viral sensations on social media.

Family Portraits and movie characters/celebrities have been in tremendous demand over the last couple of years.

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“Photo realism is different from just high detailed tattooing. With realism, you need to have a picture to go by. High detail is simply adding some shading here and there to make a tattoo look more detailed where in realism you need to pay attention to the true lighting of the subject. Realism tattoo needs to be at least three inches high for the main object so you will have plenty of room to apply the detail.” says, Sunny Bhanushali, Managing Director and Tattoo Artist, Aliens Tattoo He adds, “Photo-realistic tattoos are quite different than old school tattoos, there are no strong thick outlines to the tattoo, it is more like a realism sketch or a painting.

Creating 3D/realistic textures is the most important part in photo-realistic tattoo. A proper execution of each and every detail of the given photo including all the fine textures pushes the same tattoo to the next level of photo-realism, i.e. Hyperrealism tattoo.”

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

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LL | food Chef Around The Corner Chirag Wadhwa

Serving up the Sauce:

by Zeba Akhtar

W

hen we hear the term ‘continental food’, a fixed number of same old European dishes enter our mind. But there is someone in the hood, who is gradually attempting at breaking this monotony associated with continental food, by cooking up a concoction of 14 dear sauces!

contemporary European cuisine.

A man of many experiences, Chirag happens to be a lawyer by degree, a foodie by craving, an actor by passion, and a first time restaurateur by

The man in question here is entrepreneur cum chef, Chirag Wadhwa, who has brought over the gift of contemporary European cuisine to the hood of Andheri.

Set amidst the posh lane of J.P Road, Chirag opened the doors of his debut restaurant venture, 14 Sauce Story and brought in the flavors of

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

inspiration. Despite having worked across different genres, food is something that always remained on his mind, and thus he wanted to bring to the hood, a place where continental cuisine means more than just the regulars.

When I first walked into the place, I was warmly greeted by the man himself and he took me through the menu, all the while explaining the concept behind particular dishes. “I do not believe in serving below average food. I believe in quality which is why sourcing the staff and setting up the place was such a task for me because I was not ready to settle for anything less than what was on my mind.” Says Chirag as he explained the

initial barriers during setting up.

For a true continental food lover, this place spells amazingness. We kicked off with some frozen kiwi virgin margherita. Next came their savoury churros with three different sauces, out of which the garlic aioli won my heart straight. Next up were mushrooms baked with goat cheese and pine nuts- a balance of flavors and textures. The next appetizer was chicken meatballs, which were well spiced. Post that Chirag introduced me to the 14 sauce signature platter which comes with 14 different sauces from the world over, most of which are home- made, along with fries, onion rings, lavash, home fries, fish fingers, lamb pockets, chicken meat balls and wings. It sure was an absolute delight with the wasabi Mayo being my favorite. Their main course too is a treat and he strongly suggests vegetarian lasagna, parmesan crusted chicken, and herb-baked fish in chive beurre blanc.

When asked about the response from people with regards to the food, he humbly answered saying that,

“Not everyone has the same palette. Some of our clients do walk in with different expectations, and we try our best to serve them well. But I am sure 14 Sauce Story is a sheer delight for those food connoisseurs who really care about authentic cuisine.”

The place exudes a blend of a fine dine but by evening, transforms itself into a club and Chirag likes to term it as a concept of club café.

So if you are on the lookout for some fresh flavors, then you know where to head next!

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 29

LL | food

R E C I P ES

by Sanjay Hingorani

PANEER IN WHITE SAUCE Ingredients: 250 gms. paneer, cubed and lightly fried in butter Five beans cut into halves Carrot one small size, cut thinly.

Oregano - one tbsp Chilli Flakes - one tbsp Maida - one tbsp Butter - four tbsp Method: For the white sauce: Take two tbsp butter in a pan Add the maida mix for two minutes. Now add cold milk till you get a fine paste, it shouldn’t have lumps. If there are lumps, strain it through a colander.

In a pan take one tbsp butter and lightly toss beans and carrots. Then add the paneer, salt; red chilli flakes and oregano. Toss it for a while. Now add the white sauce. Mix for two three mins. Done.

Serve with garlic bread.

Eat, Enjoy, Repeat.

SIMPLE FISH CURRY Ingredients: Rohu fish - 6 pieces Onion paste - three tbsp Roasted jeera powder - one tsp Tumeric - one tsp Cashew paste - two tbsp Chilli paste - one tsp Tomato puree - two tbsp Potatoes - two boiled Salt as required Method: Rub salt and tumeric on the fish pieces. Keep aside In a pan take 100 gms mustard oil. When it’s hot fry the fish pieces till golden brown.

Remove and drain.

In the same oil add onion paste and fry them till the raw smell goes away. Add the masalas and roast well. Then add the tomato puree and cashew paste. Cover it till the oil separates.

Now add one and half cups of water and cover for 7 to 8 minutes.

When the curry is semi thick add the fish and cover for two minutes. Once done add fresh coriander.

Serve with rice Eat, Enjoy, Repeat.

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

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LL | community What’s Happening

Presents - Health in your hands – 6 week program 9th Jan – 13th Feb (Every Saturday) + Support meetings on 19th March & 16th April Kick start 2016 by taking your health in your hands. Lose weight, get over addictions and cravings, improve energy levels, and feel fresh, active, and empowered!

Holistic Health Coach Bhavna Kapoor, will help you achieve a healthful balance through group coaching sessions (6 sessions over 1.5 months, and 2 supporting sessions in March and April).

• Understanding of healthy diet/plant based/raw foods and weekly guidance on how to incorporate them into diet.

• Mindful eating and Relaxation techniques with a Yoga expert • Sessions with holistic healing practitioners.

• Cooking demos/ practice sessions • Trips to supermarket • Weekly exercises and challenges focused on achieving results through lifestyle change and Date – every Saturday from 9th Jan – 13th Feb. Support meet ups 19th March, 16th April Time – 12.30 – 3.30pm Venue – Sol Essence Centre for Well Being, 708, Aston, Shastri Nagar (above Mercedes Showroom, near Lokhandwala Circle), Andheri West.

More info/register - www.healthnut.in, 9821524977 What previous programme participants have to say Sonali Parekh - the biggest change I see in myself is that I trust my body more.

I have stopped counting calories for the first time in 10 years. My cravings for unhealthy food have completely disappeared.

Smita Dighe – The program is a complete management of health and mind.

After 6 weeks, at least 10-12 people have commented that I have lost weight.

I am 4 kilos lighter on the weighing scale. I have an overall feeling of bliss in the body and outlook. I have stopped all medication for constipation.

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

Learn all you can about dance, the fun way! One will be familiarized with up to 4 styles of dance in around 200 minutes! It’s a unique one day festival promoted and organized by Ensemble dance studios to educate new dancers about various dance styles and the basic differences between the same. Students will also get to interact with professionals, which will give them an insight into the professional dance industry.

Sessions will be conducted by senior choreographers and instructors who are experts in their respective genres.

When? : January 23rd Onwards Where? : Bhaktivedanta Swami Vivekananda Mission School, Mumbai

What’s Happening

Power Fit (Angamardana+Surya Shakti) “To have a body which is not a nuisance, to have a body which cooperates with you is a tremendous boon” ----Sadhguru--Power Fit is a program aimed at creating and culturing the body making it physically Strong and Fit. The underlying practices Angamardana and Surya Shakti are ancient yogic process towards one’s ultimate fitness.

‘Strength without Flexibility will not lead to Wellbeing’ -- Sadhguru-Innumerable Benefits Strengthens Muscular, Skeletal, Blood Circulatory Systems Aids Weight Loss Builds Flexibility & Fitness Tones Organs & Physical Body Corrects Hormonal Imbalances Strengthens and Enhances Spine Flexibility Improves Immunity Lubricates Joints Above all strengthens the Basic Energy System Angamardana Intro Venue: Bhakti Vedant Mission School, Shastri Nagar, Andheri (W) Dates: Jan 27 - Jan 31, 2016 (7 sessions) Time: Angmardana | Jan 27 - 31 | 6:00pm - 8:15pm Surya Shakti | Jan 30 -31 | 6.30am - 8.30am Registration Fee: Power Fit Rs 4500/- * Surya Shakti Rs 1500/*Precondition - To enrol only for Surya Shakti participant must have done Angamardana or Surya Kriya earlier Contact: 9920273224

Switchtude Level 1 & 2 Mumbai - 23ed / 24th Jan Timings: 1-5 P.M.

Pankaj Udhas’ soulful voice has touched hearts all over the globe. Jashn A Live Concert by Padmashri Pankaj Udhas is an evening celebrating 35 years of his amazing journey, where the maestro will be performing some of his most recognized musical renditions. Come and celebrate the talented Ghazal singer’s best melodies at this magical event as this is the perfect evening for every fan of Ghazal music.

When? : January 9th, 2016 Where? : Bhaidas Theater, Juhu Scheme

UNQUOTE THE QUOTES Sometimes you just have to turn the page to realize there is more to your book of life than the page that you are stuck on. Stop being afraid to move on.

Close this chapter of hurt and never re-read t again .It’s time to get what your life deserves and move on from the things that don’t deserve you. Don’t spend your days trying to correct your past, instead let go and let God create something better for your future.

- Unknown Being strong is to love someone in silence, to radiate happiness when we are unhappy. To forgive someone who does not deserve forgiveness, to stay calm in the moments of despair, to show joy when we don’t feel it, to smile when you want to cry, to make someone happy when your own heart is broken, to be silent when we feel like screaming out our anguish, to comfort when we need to be comforted and to have faith when sometimes we no longer believe.

- Unknown The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people don’t just happen.

- Unknown When the voice inside your head tells you that you are weak, say No. You are not. You are not weak. Because some parts of you are made of metal and metal is malleable, which is to say, you can bend and dent, but you will never break.

When somebody tells you that you are a disappointment, remember that you are somebody else’s hope, always. You are hope, always. When all this time, you have existed for the purpose of becoming invisible, teach yourself the opposite.

Your hands are made to touch, so touch.

Hold, teach your voice to say things other than words that make you feel small, because you are the opposite of small.

-Unknown

by Divya Panday

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 33

LL | community Inspire

Turning Wounds Into Wisdom -Shivani Khetan, ExpressO Talks

by Zeba Akhtar

OPRAH WINFREY IS AN INSPIRATION TO MANY, AND THERE IS ONE PARTICULAR QUOTE BY HER WHICH HAS STAYED WITH ME OVER THE YEARS: “TURN YOUR WOUNDS INTO WISDOM.” – OPRAH WINFREY

E

ven though I always tried to consciously believe in it, I found that more often than not it was easier said and done. Until I met a woman, who was actually living by this dictum and making it come true, each day.

The person in question here is Shivani Khetan, founder of ExpressO Talksa non -profit community, aimed at inculcating a culture of sharing experiences, speaking out, reflecting on life and healing in the process.

Belonging to a contemporary Indian family, Shivani had the perfect life with two absolutely adorable daughters, until one fine day, everything was altered and she underwent the tedious process of a divorce, which is generally considered to be a major upheaval, especially in the Indian scenario.

This is where the wound began to turn into wisdom, and Shivani, who had previously studied psychology and done numerous courses on life coaching and counselling realized that there may be many people like her who go through difficult times, and more often than not do not discuss/share their issues for fear of being stigmatized or judged.

It is with this idea in mind, that Shivani created a voluntary group on Facebook, inviting people to meet up for a cup of coffee in a group and share their stories.

She was overwhelmed by the response when the first meet had close to 29 attendees, and thus began the circle of

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conversation. They share instances of gratitude, happiness, easy living, fears, and purpose amongst many other concepts.

“When I administer a coffee meet, or any session for that matter, I try and maintain an atmosphere that is conducive to opening up and sharing. It is surprising to see how anonymity makes for a good catalyst for conversation. People know that they will not be judged at this platform, and hence do not mind sharing the gravest details with ease.

This is what makes ExpressO Talks a

to gear up and tackle their situations.

When people find out that even celebrities with ‘ideal’ lives have gone through issues in life, they inculcate a sense of relativity, and get inspired to hold on and fight the battle.

Apart from ExpressO Talks, Shivani also manages her career as a life coach, and a relationship counselor making sure she can share her experiences and knowledge with those people who are undergoing similar situations in life.

Not only does she manage to keep up with her meets, Shivani is already expanding the reach of ExpressO Talks with over a Apart from ExpressO Talks, Shivani also manages 100 attendees for sessions, her career as a life coach, and a relationship and sessions in other cities apart from Mumbai! counselor making sure she can share her

experiences and knowledge with those people who are undergoing similar situations in life place to seek comfort, and I glad that I am being able to provide that for people.” Explains Shivani, as she shared as to why does the initiative matters so much to her.

Gauging the initial reactions, Shivani soon approached r e n o w n e d personalities and celebrities to come forward for these meets, and it could be a great push for the attending people

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

We wish her all the best, and if any one of you wish to connect with her, you could visit her Facebook page, “ExpressO Talks” and be a part of a community of sharers!

The Hooders Express

From the Golden Agers, with love

by Sherene Kharawala

I

nteresting conversations happen when people are asked to express themselves without giving it a lot of thought. On a pleasantly breezy evening, I came across these two elderly gentlemen at the Lokhandwala garden, which is nestled at the Lokhandwala back road. They were in the middle of an animated discussion with each other sharing anecdotes and issues that they come across in their everyday life. They spoke on diverse issues starting from politics to what we must and must not adapt from the western culture; to the secret of a happy married life. I am thankful to them for allowing me to be a part of their discussions and for sharing snippets of their conversation for the Hooder’s Express.

that we are not aware of,” quipped the other.

Today morning when I went for my morning walk in the park, I saw a gentleman walk his dog in the park.

What I particularly would like to mention about the two of them is that when the dog soiled a spot in the park, he immediately like a responsible citizen picked up after his dog. People should learn from that gentleman.

“I saw another strange thing happen. I witnessed a couple talking to their dog in English! I dint know dogs understood English!”

“May be this is the High society fashion

to express themselves

“I say, why can’t we learn good things from the western culture which this younger generation seems to be so attracted to like cleanliness, discipline, and of course like how that gentleman picked up after his dog dirtied the park?

He looked like he truly loved his dog.”

“I see so many of these irresponsible fellows spitting around! I had almost saved myself from being spat on by

Interesting conversations happen when people are asked without giving it a lot of thought some irresponsible loony! I asked him why you have to spit on the roads; why do you have to eat something that makes you want to spit!? I asked. He replies to me ‘Saab where to spit then?’ I told him that he must try to spit in his pocket!”

“I see another common phenomenon that is happening around. This younger generation does not know what is understanding, compromise, and adjustment. These are the three key words these children need now-a-days to have a lasting marriage between them and not learn the wrong things from the western culture like intolerance towards each other. I have seen couples that cannot stand each other, the moment they are together they quarrel.”

“You won’t believe in my case, although I am too old to remember many things; my wife and I must have had our differences in opinion may be once or twice in a year” adds the other.

“Marriage is about total adjustment between each other. I know the negative qualities about my wife, but why stretch on that? Forget it! Tolerate! She knows some of my bad qualities she also lets go, unless it is affecting the family.”

“Level of understanding between couples is very important.” The other concedes.

“I think this younger generation must not follow the western culture blindly.

Some of what it teaches is of good influence. Others I don’t agree with them.” He concludes.

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 35

LL | community

C

New rooner In Our

Andheri Hood

by Subhashini Sheopuri

L

okhandwala Complex is a nesting ground for innumerable talented young guys and girls who are here to make a mark for themselves in the scintillating world of live concerts, music albums, films and television.

One such young and dashing singer was recently introduced at a musical gathering at the Juhu Gymkhana Club in Mumbai amidst a lot of loud applause and fanfare. This young man is Mahesh Rao, Vice-President with a leading multinational market research firm, a Mangalorean Konkani all the way from Hyderabad. Friends here is a fresh new voice in the music arena, with a glint of contemporary vocal craft and a hint of vintage nostalgia.

Mahesh belongs to a family of Carnatic musicians and his family has patronized Classical music since decades. Hailing from a music oriented family; the seeds were sown in his young mind at a very early age. He started learning classical vocals when he was 7 years old, and further went on to learning classical violin. It is his extensive listening of old recordings and attendance of live concerts of great Maestros belonging to both Carnatic and Hindustani Music styles, that has been a big source of learning and inspiration.

After a long stint in his corporate career, he has decided to get back to dedicating his efforts towards learning Hindustani vocals and Western Guitar. Besides,

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Indian Classical & Folk Music, which helps him connect with his inner self and offer a sense of purpose, he also loves Fusion, Sufi, Qawwali, and Ghazals, Bhajans as well as the more soulful compositions of Bollywood Music.

He thinks one lifetime is too short to learn, leave alone master any form of rendition. Indian music teaches Sur, Taal and Ras, which helps, appreciate other forms as well, because world-over music is about these three elements, only the expression is different.

For a singer to survive in the competitive world of today, every genre is relevant, and honing one’s talent is a never ending tryst

When asked about how much success a vocalist derives due to extensive study of Classical Music, these were his exact words, “There are lots of factors that

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

determine success. We have quite a few examples of accomplished singers who have not had any formal training in music as such. We also have examples of those, who despite having immense talent; loads of training & knowledge of music do not get opportunities. And there are also those whose standards of success are very different & unconventional and nowhere related to fame or money.”

For a singer to survive in the competitive world of today, every genre is relevant, and honing one’s talent is a never ending tryst. Mahesh Rao has one special quality which makes him stand out in the crowd and that is his immense humility and soft-spoken attitude.

Jamming with friends or singing at karaoke joints is a pastime, his actual dream is to be a star performer at music concerts and make his foray into playback singing. After a hard day’s work he comes home to his bachelor pad and before you know it, he is calmly seated with his tanpura humming a latest Bollywood number by popular singers like Sonu Nigam and Arijit or some golden oldie by Kishore Kumar and Mohd Rafi, or blasting out a classical ‘Taan’.This is his euphoria, the soothing balm to his ever busy Virgo mind.

PRATIBIMB A CULTURAL EXTRAVAGANZA

V

JTI cultural festival Pratibimb saw some great dancing, singing, and some famous personalities. A footfall of over 12,500 was recorded.

Over 12,500 footfalls were recorded at Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute’s (VJTI) annual festival, Pratibimb, a cultural extravaganza powered by Times Of India held between December 22 and 24. The festival kicked off with 11 departments of the Institute fighting it out at various singing, dramatics and dance contests. Sharad Malhotra and Urvashi Sharma judged events like group dance, mono acting was judged by Gulshan Pandey and Anirudh Dave.

Duster movie starring Juhi Chawla, Diya Dutta, and Shabana Azmi. Mumbai’s got talent was a major crowd puller.

Sharad Malhotra and Urvashi Sharma judged events like group dance, mono acting was judged by Gulshan Pandey and Anirudh Dave

On the 2nd day of the fest, the campus was buzzing with events such as mono acting and singing. Some of the popular events were solo and duet dance, the instrumental music contest, fresh face, Symphony and many more. Aishwarya Sakhuja judged solo dance. Fresh face event was judged by Malvika Singhania and Akhil Aryan. The instrumental events were judged by Dilraj Kaur.

On day 2. Aditi Singh Sharma along with her band performed on various famous tracks of her like ‘sooraj dhoobha hai’, ‘offo’, and many more.

Pratibimb’s flagship event, Mumbai’s Got Talent, a talent hunt comprised of dancers, singers, comedians, all variety acts, and other talented acts etc. This event had a variety of acts on display. The contest was judged by the star-cast of Chalk and January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 37

LL | community

Spreading Smile at

GIFTING IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS!

U

topia is now 4 years old. An event which started as a dream of a few is now the dream of many. Utopia initially created just a few hundred smiling kids. This latest one saw more than one thousand kids smiling as they enjoyed a day full of fun events, games, adventure activities and lots more. This year utopia had over 17 different societies participating in 25 events across various age groups from Junior KG to Grade 12. The participating societies were: Gundecha Symphony, Dheeraj Gaurav, Raheja Classique, Tarapore Towers, Windermere, Mahindra Eminent, Silver Sand, Green Acres, Royal Classic, Karachi Society, Meridian Towers, Mahindra Gardens, Anmol, Rustomjee Elenza, Serenity, Imperial Heights. The day started with Bollywood’s favourite award winning anchor and actor Manish Paul as the Guest of Honour who was very glad to motivate the kids and encourage them.

The Performing Arts stage started the day with folk dance. The juniors, our little wonders, were dressed in various costumes - one saw the AVATAR of Jake and Neytiri walk and mesmerized the crowd. There were little kids carrying a message about wet waste and dry waste but the Pyramids of Egypt clinched the first prize.

Literary stage kick started with kids spinning a yarn. Whereas at the Fine

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Utopia

arts venue, kids went into a world of colorful imagination.

The whizz kids could not wait to have the quiz sheets roll out and the brainy ones were sharpening their pencils.

Utopia saw moms come all set to celebrate the day with their Cake Decoration and Salad Making. It was hard to say that professionals did not decorate these.

The crowd was entertained throughout the day with our celebrity judges who were very sporting and engaged beautifully with kids and parents alike!

Ayub Khan, Praneet Bhatt, Shikha Singh, Pooja Chopra, Deepshika, Tamara Menon, Mimoh, Aparna Bajpai, Shaleen Sharma and Shireesh Sharma... to name a few!!

Utopia had a few new events like “The Change Maker,” an event based on Environmental Sustainability. The judges were amazed at the creativity displayed by the kids and their ideas on how they could change the environment around them!

The day saw a good mix of singing, dancing, and parents debating with their loved ones. The Filmi Chakkar event set the stage for display of new talent and the Ad Mad World saw several new products being launched.

The Grand finale was the Fashion Show.

The theme that stole the show was “Save the Endangered!”

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

Utopia Champions trophy for 2015 was bagged by the indomitable Mahindra Eminent. They won Croma vouchers for Rs 50,000/. In addition, every winner in every event (First, Second and Third) received vouchers from Smaash, Kidzania and Starbucks.

Ferrero Rocher juniors’ events.

sponsored

utopia

Super Fresh, gave vouchers for free fruits and vegetables to winners of both the Cooking events and winners of Fashion show.

We would like to sincerely thank, Radius, our prime sponsor that supported the cause of getting many societies together and giving the kids a platform to showcase their talent.

We would like to thank JBCN International School, our Venue Partners, The World Dance Academy, our Dance Partners and all the other sponsors for collaborating with us in our attempt at creating a Utopian World.

An event which started as a dream of a few is now the dream of many

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 39

LL | community

Looking Back At The Year That Was-

2015!

1. AAP comes to power: With the major ruckus being created in Delhi, about who shall wield political power, the Aam Aadmi Party once again came to power with 67 out of 70 seats being secured by them, and once again, Arvind Kejriwal became the chief minister of New Delhi.

2. Yemen Airlift: Now being made into a major motion picture, the operation known as ‘Magic Carpet’ was the greatest airlift undertaken by India in history to save Indian civilians from the Gulf War in Iraq! Kudos to the Indian Government for the effort.

That’s the thing about time, day after day, we feel that nothing changes, but when we look back at it everything changes all of a sudden.

With 2015 already gone by, let us take a look at the various twists and turns that it withheld.

Amidst such calamity, however, the spirit of happiness did not die down! While Chennai drowned, the whole of India came together to help it resurge. While Paris and Beirut wept, the whole of the world prayed for them.

While Nepal was shattering, its neighbors stormed to help it back on its feet. India rejoiced with Shahrukh and Kajol, and Salman’s message for communal harmony with Bajrangi Bhaijaan, while Adele soothed the nerves of millions with her latest tracks!

While the Indian Cricket Team could not win the world cup, fans still did not give up on them.

Such was the year, full calamities, but not short resilience.

3. The Nepal Earthquake: When an earthquake of magnitude 7.9 on the Richter scale hit Nepal in April, the entire work shook along with it. One of the gravest incidents of loss of life and property.

4. Paris, Japan, Beirut, and Mexico Calamity: A terrorist attack, a bomb blast, an earthquake, and another killing.

Four different cities, four different calamities, and one day-November 13th, 2015. A black Friday for the world over.

5. Success for Mars: Scientists undertook a massive discovery! They found flowing liquid water on Mars, a feat that the world still reckons.

of of

And it is on such a note of positivity, that we are all set to welcome 2016!

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

6. Chennai Floods: The city of Chennai and the state of Tamil Nadu faced massive floods with a death toll of over 230 people. It is said that the floods were one of the worst in the history of Tamil Nadu. But what came through was the relief and rescue work, where people from all walks of life and from different parts of the country came together to the rescue of their beloved Chennai.

In A Nutshell!

W

ell the year 2015 did pass by in a jiffy, didn’t it? We are already in another year, and writing the date still feels strange, doesn’t it?

Each year, the moment we get the calendar, the first thing we look at, are the holidays!

Let’s take a look at the holidays that we need to be prepping up for!

DATE

DAY

HOLIDAY

15th January

Friday

Pongal, Makar Sankranti

16th January

Saturday

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

26th January

Tuesday

Republic Day

12th February

Friday

Vasant Panchami

25th March

Friday

Good Friday

27th March

Sunday

Easter

14th April

Thursday

Ambedkar Jayanti

07th July

Thursday

Eid al-Fitr, Ramadan

15th August

Monday

Independence Day

18th August

Thursday

Rakhi, Raksha Bandhan

05th September

Monday

Ganesh Chaturthi

13th September

Tuesday

Onam, Eid al-Adha, Bakrid

02nd October

Sunday

Gandhi Jayanti

03rd October

Monday

Al-Hijra, Islamic New Year

11th October

Tuesday

Dussehra, Madhvacharya Jayanti

12th October

Wednesday

Day of Ashura, Muharram

30th October

Sunday

Diwali, Lakshmi Puja

06th November

Sunday

Chhath Puja

14th November

Monday

Guru Nanak Jayanti

12th December

Monday

Milad an-Nabi, Id-e-Milad

25th December

Sunday

Merry Christmas

Well, now that we are already stepping in to a brand new year, let us see, what does 2016 have in store for us!

• LEAP YEAR: We almost forgot to mention that, 2016 is another leap year.

Yes, February this year shall now have 29 days!

• CRICKET MANIA: This year is going to be massive for Indian cricket as well as for the rest of the world. Team India is beginning the year with their tour of Australia in January 2016. This shall be followed by a series against Sri Lanka in

February, along with The Asia Cup. And if that was not enough, then the month of March announces the beginning of the ICC T20 World Cup. Can you wait to watch Team India lift the trophy once again?

• WORLD SPORTS: Not only is this year marked for cricket, but it also a great year for world sports in general. The month of August shall witness sports like never before in the 2016 Summer Olympics, which are to be held in Rio De Janerio!

• WORLD PEACE: Yes, finally, Afghanistan is going to be at rest and the last of the British, American, and Australian Troops shall be leaving the country for good.

• LONG WEEKENDS: If you have been planning on making various trips but could never manage the leave, now is your time. 2016, in India is the year of holidays and long weekends. With close to 12 long weekends splattered throughout the year, this is your time to go out and make merry!

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 41

LL | community Women - Making a Difference

ONE TREE AT A TIME RASTAA CHAAP

by Zeba Akhtar

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

T

he popular dictum goes that women are closer to nature than men are, and these bunch of ladies in the hood are proving that right, one tree at a time.

Meet the dedicated group of women called ‘Rastaa Chaap’ which is an endeavor by women coming together to do their bit to save the trees around their neighborhoods. They were saddened and angered by the present state of the trees across the suburbs of Juhu, Versova, Bandra, and Khar and felt that they should do something active about it instead of just complaining or talking about it.

Together they carved an agenda for their group, which is not only about tree restoration, but is an attempt to create an awareness about the dying and rotting of trees which usually goes unnoticed.

One of the members Anuradha, took us through their vision, which was to: 1. Create awareness by painting the dead trees that thereby garner people’s attention and beautifying our neighborhood.

2. De choke the trees that choked up by the paver blocks and build embankments to safe guard the trees 3. Revive and revitalize trees that are still living by pesticides and save the tree 4. Plant more trees wherever possible – on the roads, school compounds, private homes etc.

They are a motely group of around 13 women who began this bandwagon.

When asked about the choice of name for their initiative they explained saying: “Rastaa Chaap is figuratively a tree handprint but literally means reduction of carbon footprints! However much we try, it is so easy to go for that evening walk and not even bat an eyelid for concern for a dead tree around us simply because we haven’t noticed!

That’s exactly where Rastaa Chaap pitches in. Our aim to beautify the surroundings goes hand in hand with art with a purpose. The idea is to stir up the local gentry ... to wake up, act fast, and act now on our climate, global warming, and tree depletion issues. We have realised through our painting endeavors that people are interested in helping ...

They just don’t have the means. Rastaa

Chaap is happy to give a platform to these citizens to voice and act their concerns for the environment.”

Most of us are generally awed by the sheer beauty that these women imbue the trees with.

However, painting trees is not their primary concern.

The main aim is to try to restore trees that are on the path to decay, and plant more in place of those that are already dying.

Rastaa Chaap is figuratively a tree handprint but literally means reduction of carbon footprints Depending on the size, a tree takes a minimum of two days, and the process is exhaustive. It begins with de barking, cleaning, and sand papering the tree, followed by chemical treatment and two coats of primer. Once the painting is done, it is coated with varnish to seal in the paint.

With 15 trees already modified, these women have been painting up quite a storm and have had prime Bollywood celebrities also join in to help and support that cause, which only takes the awareness levels to a new high. Also, these powerful women do not seek any help from authorities, and are instead focusing on the Gandhian ideals of selfempowerment.

They too agree with the dictum of women being closer to nature and

community despite being successful professionals themselves. They believe in the power of women and the keep ability of transferring the energies from one mother to the other Mother i.e.

Mother Earth! However, with time they have garnered the support of men as well and look forward to incorporating everyone in the community.

One of the members has questioned another old lady whether she had noticed the newly painted tree before its transformation and the answer was in the negative. This in itself is a valid proof of the power that these group of inspiring women have been infusing our environment with!

More power to you!

You go, girls!

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 43

LL | community Chronicles of the Hood

DARIYA MAHAL

by Zeba Akhtar

T

he hood of Andheri West is dotted with different locales and each place has a name of its own. What comes across as an upmarket and posh urbane neighborhood is actually a place seething in history which most of us have not bothered much to know about.

How often do we visit a place and actually bother to think of the name, the alleys, the structures, and the years of history backing it?

As a resident of Versova, I always pass by this rustic looking beautiful old bungalow, by the name of Dariya Mahal.

Not only does it grab my attention every time I walk on the J.P Road stretch, but also captivates my attention every time I take a stroll on the Versova beach with its sprawling balconies and sea -facing porch littered beautifully with bougainvillea flowers that add an amazing contrast to the frozen yellow of this old bungalow.

The curious bug in me hit the right cord, and I set out to know what exactly was this structure. Upon further investigation, I found out that Dariya Mahal is not just any other fancy bungalow on the block. It is currently, the last of the Seven Bungalows.

44

Now where exactly does the name, Seven Bungalows come from. Well, before Andheri turned into the concrete jungle that it is today, the seaside of this hood was dotted by Seven Bungalows, which belonged to personalities such as the Maharaja of Gwalior, the Maharaja of Kutch, Dadabhai Naoroji, Sir Rustom Masani, Sorabjee Talati, the Khambatta’s, and the Chinai’s.

Dariya Mahal is the last of this cluster of Seven Bungalows and belonged to Manek Lal Chinai, who was one of the wealthiest textile merchants in the city. This massive house was built for him in the 1930’s by a British architect known as Claude Batley. To his credit lie the architectural planning of major historical buildings in Mumbai such as The Bombay Central Station, Bombay Gymkhana, Lincoln House, Breach Candy, Jinnah House, Cousrow Bagh in Colaba and The Bombay Club.

Dariya Mahal was the dream house of Manek Lal Chinai, and is now maintained by his grandsons. The bungalow, because of its appeal has been rented out to many a shoots, and was also featured in the film Lage Raho Munnabhai starring Sanjay Dutt and Vidya Balan.

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

Today, this bungalow with 20 rooms and a dramatic view stands tall amidst the hustle and bustle of Versova, still holding on to its essence from another era, reminding us each day of Mumbai’s colonial tryst with the British.

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 45

LL | community Entrepreneur Of The Hood Dhaval & Priya Shah

Helping Create Wholesome Careers

by Zeba Akhtar

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

C

areer counselling is making major rounds in the country. However, more often than not, it is always a temporary, two-hour procedure that hardly gives any vital support to the person seeking counselling.

Understanding this vital point, two young entrepreneurs decided to come up with a platform that is way past the hasty sessions, which we term as career counselling. Meet Dhaval and Priya Shah, the husband and wife duo, who together founded ‘The Holis Tree’, an organization which not just deals in career counselling but focusses on teens and helps them in identity formation, while developing their creativity, emotional intelligence, relationship management & most importantly helps them choose & develop the right career according to their “innate qualities.”

Finally, leaving them once they get a job with strengthened roots; ready to face and transform the world.

Dhaval is an engineer by degree, and Priya is a Certified Image Consultant & Founder of Bespoke Image Solutions assisting individuals to appear and be confident about themselves. Together, they had been a part of the ‘Make A Difference’ initiative where they both experienced the state of educational inequity in the country. Moreover, they realized that a career is something with which an individual has to deal with for over 35 years of their existence and facts reveal that 90 percent of people remain unhappy with the career decisions made during their teens.

It is with such an understanding that the initial seeds of The Holis Tree were sown. They have come up with a very unique support system for teens throughout their journey. It’s called “CAREER- En route right path” Right from 8th standard onwards a

kid is associated with the organization where the mentors try and:-

Two young entrepreneurs decided to come up with a platform that is way past the hasty sessions, which we term as career counselling

1. Understand all aspects of the child’s life 2. Understand their social background (family/friends) 3. Study their innate qualities and discover their strengths & weaknesses 4. Regular discussion, motivation, and strategy building for self-growth 5. Help them psychologically & strategically for 10th standard 6. Suggest relevant career options after thorough evaluation 7. In depth collaborative study of the careers given to them 8. Bridging school to college transitional gap 9. Fear removal exercises (Internship based on core qualities) 10. Mentor Program Thus, a teen approximately spends 2-3 years where they help him grow as an individual and thus his career.

Such is the uniqueness of the concept that within a short span of eight months, The Holis Tree has covered more than 4,500 teenage students and has garnered support from students, parents, teachers, as well as senior educationists.

Their aim is to prepare teens for work life and the real world, and in order to help them gain practical exposure, their mentor program is based around this idea, where they invite people from different professions to come in and mentor these teens

by means of conversations, internships, guidance as well as counselling and support along with helping them relate theory to practice, and help build their mindset for the careers of their choice.

Such a program is a great endeavor to wear out initial inhibitions, which most people have when it comes to choosing the career of their choice.

Professionals who are on the lookout to become a mentor for one of these kids can connect with the founders for the same.

In a country like India where ‘career’ and profession no longer remain a person’s private business and he or she is ploughed under the weight of family, parents, peers, siblings, society and a million other expectations, an organization like The Holis Tree comes across as a breath of fresh air for sure.

If you would like your child to be a part of the same, then you should definitely connect with their team.

Professionals who are on the lookout to become a mentor for one of these kids can connect with the founders for the same

Website: www.theholistree.com Email Id: theholistree@gmail.com Facebook page:www.facebook.com/ holistree Twitter handle: theholistree Linkedin: theholistree

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 47

LL | kids & parenting

Mathematics in the

Montessori environment

M

athematics is the science of structure, order, and relations that has evolved from early elemental practices of counting, and describing shapes.

It is the science of logical reasoning and quantitative calculations.

Every child is born with the innate need for order, the tendency towards exactness, precision, manipulation, and calculation. This is the mathematical mind. In the Montessori environment, the child is put in direct contact with

activities that nurture this potential for developing a strong logical foundation for reasoning and calculations.

The Montessori environment creates a strong base for mathematics in several ways, when we introduce the Exercises of Practical Life. Every activity in the Montessori environment is a complete set in itself and laid out in order of logical progression of complexity. This appeals to the child’s sense of order.

The child understands sequencing of actions in a logical and precise manner.

This also develops concentration in the child.

Gradually, we move the child to the Sensorial Area, where every set of material is made with a scientific objective.

The materials are made with great precision and in gradation.

As the child works with Sensorial Materials, he comes into direct contact with the various qualities present in nature.

He also carries out calculations and extracts from these experiences abstract ideas of properties of matter e.g. baric tablets offer impressions of weight and their precise difference

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

in weight. So whether it is colour, texture, size, the Sensorial Materials are based on Mathematical Concepts.

The Geometry Cabinet offers shapes to the child’s fingertips. The child learns about different shapes in 2D and 3D in a multi-sensory manner.

Mathematics is the science of structure, order, and relations that has evolved from early elemental practices of counting, and describing shapes.

Dr. Montessori visualized a unique way of presenting mathematics to the child.

The basis for mathematics is counting. Counting is a natural instinct, and children do it joyfully.

So, the beginning of the Mathematics section in the Montessori environment is counting.

Dr. Montessori did not want children to learn through mere rote memorization but actual experiences.

Hence, we give them activities so they can touch, handle, manipulate, repeat activities and can do independent work with the mathematical material. Once the child is comfortable counting until nine, we directly introduce him to the decimal system with place value up to 1000. This is because young children love large numbers and enjoy the manipulations and activities based on mathematical exercises. Slowly, we bring the child to abstraction through the concrete. By age six, the child in the Montessori classroom has been exposed to fractions, algebra, geometry, multiplication, division, square roots through beautiful, scientific materials that develops a life-long love and enthusiasm for mathematics.

O

ES NEW

January 2016 | Volume 1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 49

LL | kids & parenting

UNRAVELING ADHD: MYTHS & FACTS

by Nivedita Mataliya

M

Nivedita Mataliya is a counseling psychologist specializing in children and relationship counseling

r Shah described his 4-year-old son Saransh as being extremely naughty, disobedient.

A “toofan”, “uncontrollable” who is only interested in “tod-phod” (breaking things) and kuda kudi (jumping around). He said that Saransh was spoilt due to the excessive pampering by his mother and grandparents. As a result Saransh had stopped doing anything that he was told. His teachers were having a difficult time with him in school. Mr. Shah felt that sending him to a hostel was the only way to “discipline” him.

In the last article, we attempted to understand what ADHD is. In this article, we will understand the myths and facts about the notions and causes of ADHD. Here they go: Notion: The child is spoilt due to the upbringing and excessive pampering due to which he has developed ADHD. This is a myth. Upbringing cannot lead to a child developing ADHD.

This is a myth. A disturbed environment has several effects in children but it does not cause ADHD. Notion: My child eats too many sweets and chocolates hence he is hyperactive.

This is a myth. Diet does not lead to ADHD. What Does Cause ADHD-The Facts: Heredity and Genetics Heredity is the most common cause of ADHD. Research has shown that ADHD may run in families. Therefore, if a parent has ADHD, the child has a 50% higher chance of having it. If a sibling has ADHD, then child has more than a 30% chance of having it.

Brain Structure and Functioning Studies using brain imaging have shown that there are differences in the brain structure in children with ADHD.

Notion: The child is excessively into TV, mobile phones and gaming. This has led to ADHD.

Certain areas of the brain tend to be smaller and less active in children with ADHD then compared with other children.

This also is a myth. Research until date has indicated no connection between excessive TV exposure and ADHD

There is also a difference in the balance of chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain and the neural pathways.

Notion: Disturbed or violent home environment leads to ADHD.

Pregnancy and ADHD

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

Research has shown a correlation between pregnant mothers who smoked tobacco products or consumed alcohol during their pregnancy and a higher incidence of ADHD in their children.

Exposure to Toxic Substances such as lead, and pesticides during pregnancy is also associated with a higher incidence of ADHD. The toxic exposure hinders brain tissue development.

Low birth weight and premature birth (before the 37th week of pregnancy) increases the probability of having ADHD. Brain Injury Tumour in the brain or injury to the brain, either in the womb or during the first few years of the child’s life can cause problems of attention and inhibition leading to ADHD. Yes, it can be strenuous to deal with children with ADHD, but given the right attention and guidance, they can be extremely good in their own areas of interest.

In the final part of this article, we will discuss what are the methods, which parents can adopt for children with ADHD. Until Then Happy Parenting.

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TAROTSCOPE

YOUR FORECAST FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2016

THE YEAR AHEAD FOR CAPRICORN Happy Birth Anniversary!

The particular issue that had caught your emotional attention for the past year or so, but had not been completely amenable to your nature, is now about to become more solid, grounded and helpful to you. Things will get better slowly, so be patient.

Use tried and tested methods to look after your financial and physical health.

(Please note: The guide uses Zodiac Signs according to date of birth, and not according to your Sun Sign, Moon Sign or Ascendant. There is no cusp.)

ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) January will be a good month for you. Just leave what you don’t understand for later; it will explain itself.

Participate in all activities, but focus only on enjoyment, not winning. Finances will need alert care. Health will be good with home-cooked food and sufficient rest.

TAURUS (April 21st-May 20th): January may prove to be too adventurous for your taste, but you have a good handle on it, so no worries! Being calm is a good strategy to adopt for now.

Let nothing provoke you; it is not needed now. Finances will be as usual. Health will benefit from careful diet.

GEMINI (May 21st-June 20th): January will be a month where you will have a handle on everything, and people watching you will wonder at how brilliant you are! You will have the exact ways to tackle all issues. Take care you don’t experiment with finances. Also, don’t overexert yourself for anything.

CANCER (June 21st-July 21st): In January, you have to take very good care of your emotional health. Activities will be intense. Make sure you pace yourself according to your comfort. Be alert that you stay out of what is not your business. Finances are stable.

Health will benefit from wholesome food and lots of rest.

52

LEO (July 22nd-August 22nd): January is a very good month for you. Use your intellect to plan your activities as you have available the exact energies you need to succeed. Practise forgiveness. Finances will be much the same as before. Health will benefit from calming and grounding routines.

VIRGO (August 23rd-September 22nd): January is a good month for you to enforce your own rules and beliefs, in a nice and kind way. Things may get a tad too exciting, but you can handle it. Finances require a level-headed approach. Health will benefit from nourishing food and regular exercises.

LIBRA

(September 23rd-October 22nd):

January is a mixed bag for you, with every fruit you pick up having an inedible appendage to it. You, however, can deal with everything. Focus on the naysayers and convert them now.

Don’t take chances with finances, and that doesn’t really rhyme! Do not compromise in care for your digestion and your downtime.

MOHINI BASU is a Tarot Card reader, Hypnotherapist and Life Coach.

She can be contacted on mohini.tarot@yahoo.com.

Her website is theredfoxanddeerlady. wordpress.com.

January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)

SCORPIO

(October 23rd November 22nd):

January will only apparently challenge you, because you will soon understand that you have everything you need to overcome any challenge. Just keep your cool pulled close to you and you are good. Finances may surprise you a little, so indulge yourself. Health will benefit from wholesome food and yoga.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd-December 21st):

January will give you the idea that it has your name on it. It does. However, exercise a whole lot of caution in everything you do to ensure your eventual success. Crosscheck everything. Finances are moving, so you might as well spend on things you need. Health will benefit from exciting activities. Go dancing!

CAPRICORN

(December 22nd–January 19th):

January is a month of challenges that will be well handled by you if you act from your innate wisdom, and not according to external pressure. You will be energetic so channelize yourself in productive work. Finances will be as usual. Health will require calming food and quiet activities.

AQUARIUS (January 20th–February 18th): January will be a productive month for you, if you give some and take some! You have good ideas. It will help to blend them with experience from people who have more of that. Finances will be much as usual. Health will benefit from a careful diet and regular exercise.

PISCES (February 19th-March 20th): January, as with the past so many months, will need you to be calm, collected and in the observer mode. Resist trying to interpret everything and you will be able to see many different modes of thought in action. This is of benefit to you in the long run. Finances will remain as usual. Health will benefit from imaginative activities like hobbies, and dancing.

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LL |

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January 2016 | Volume1 Issue 9 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)