Woman Today April 2011 by Oryx Group of Magazines

contents

april 2011

Be... AGELESS.

The Map of Our Lives Every line, wrinkle and scar tells a tale. The story of our sometimes happy, sometimes not, but always unique life. Streak your hair pink or leave it grey. Get botox or flaunt the lines.

24 If a man goes grey, people call him distinguished. But if a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gone grey they simply call her old! Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not fair is it, asks Nadira Mendis Amarasinghe.

Ready for mommydom?

When you have a child is important, but more important is when you are ready to have one. Dr Rajka Milanovic Galbraith explores the myths and facts surrounding older mums. 2011 April

15 WT TRANSFORM

Alyson on the move

Watch Alyson transform. She works with Nicole Van Hattem and a host of other trainers and coaches to get her groove back.

Woman Today cheers her on.

18 worldwidewoman 44 health & fitness

Bending the age rule

Ageing with dignity and grace is an attitude. And Yoga could show the way, says Jacki Woodworth.

It is all in the mind

Since the day we were born we have been growing. Why do some people see it is as growing up and others see it as growing old, asks life coach Nicole Van Hattem.

64 thinking aloud

The fine art of Abaya The Women of management Tahrir Square People often talk about developing 52 stylestop

April 2011

leadership among women. When it comes to Qatari women, the word is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Abaya Managementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; says Dr Kholode Al-Obaidli. She talks to Cassey Oliveira about the 14 laws she devised to evoke a leader within every Abaya wearing Qatari woman...

Nouran Khalil recounts her days at Tahrir Square with her compatriots, bringing about a much needed change to the country, and the region.

VOLUME VI / ISSUE 04

april 2011

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Yousuf Jassem Al Darwish Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Sehgal Executive Vice President Alpana Roy Vice President Ravi Raman

Managing Editor Vani Saraswathi Deputy Editor Sindhu Nair fashion & lifestyle correspondent Orna Ballout Editorial Co-ordinator Cassey Oliveira correspondents Pragati Shukla Ezdhar Ali Contributor Shalinee Bharadwaj Art Director Venkat Reddy Asst Director – production Sujith Heenatigala assistant Art Director Hanan Abu Saiam Senior Graphic Designers Ayush Indrajith Sampath Gunathilaka M D photography Rob Altamirano Managers – Marketing Mohammed Sami Zulfikar Jiffry Senior Media Consultant Chaturka Karandana Media Consultants Victoria Ferraris HASSAN REKKAB Marketing research & support executive amjeth ali

Accountant Pratap Chandran

sr. distribution Executive Bikram Shrestha Distribution Support Arjun Timilsina Bhimal rai

Published by Oryx Advertising Co WLL P.O. Box 3272; Doha-Qatar Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584 Fax: (+974) 44550982 Email: wtoday@omsqatar.com website: www.omsqatar.com Copyright © 2011 Oryx Advertising Co WLL Address all your correspondence to Woman Today, Oryx Advertising Co WLL, P.O. Box 3272; Doha-Qatar Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, Fax:(+974) 44550982, email: wtoday@omsqatar.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for advertising contents. Licensing/ Republishing WT content: To obtain permission for text syndication in books, newsletters, magazines, newspapers and web or to use images/pictures carried in Woman Today, please contact our syndication and licensing department on the numbers given above. Permission is also required to photocopy a WT article for classroom use, course packs, business or general use. Custom reprints: Published article/s to be used as stand-alone pieces can be reprinted by us on special request. The reprint cost is based on the length of the article and the quantity ordered. Contact our custom publishing division on the numbers given above for more information.To subscribe to Woman Today call our subscription department on the numbers given above.

April 2011

FROM THE EDITOR

What is the crux of good communication? How we express ourselves, and how well we make ourselves be understood? Life coach Rachel Anastasi has a different take. When she said communication is in the listening, you could hear and feel the 50 odd women in the room, slap their forehead and go, ‘of course it is...’ It would be an exaggeration to say the two hours at the ‘Master your mindset’ workshop (organised by Qatar Professional Women’s Network) was life-changing. But, it did help lay bare my prejudices, and evidently nudged all of us towards a better way of dealing with relationships and situations. We are all, ‘Already, Always, Listening’, said Rachel. And before you mutter ‘gibberish’ and flip the page, stop. We ARE. It’s that little voice in our head that draws conclusions even before we start a discussion. It’s that mocking tone that writes-off our weight loss resolution, even before we step on the treadmill. It’s that diffidence that holds us back from knocking on our boss’s door to demand our due. It’s that voice that tells us: this person never understands, I don’t have the will power, I am not good enough, he doesn’t care... It’s that voice that tells us how to hear something. A voice that finds evidence in every past experience, to form a conclusion for a present situation. The Already, Always, Listening (AAL) is the sum total of our prejudices, our fears, our doubts... It’s what keeps us from truly embracing the opportunities of the present. Dr Kholode Al-Obaidli has obviously learnt to ignore her AAL (14 rules of Abaya management, pg 18). Alyson Gilpin who is starting her transformation with Woman Today and Art of Abundant Living (pg 15) is learning to do so. This month, Woman Today is trying to gag the Already, Always, Listening voice that tells us we are too old or too young for something. We are learning to be ageless. Let’s raise a toast to a fulfilled and successful YOU!

Vani Saraswathi

GO GREEN

Nokia E63

Woman Today invites readers’ feedback Share your views on the magazine or any issue connected to Qatar. One lucky reader will win a Nokia E63. Write to: The Editor, Woman Today, PO Box 3272, Doha Fax: (+974) 44550982, email: wtoday@omsqatar.com

Woman Today reserves the right to edit correspondence. Views and opinions expressed in the published letters may not necessarily be that of the publication’s. Prizes sponsored by:

April 2011

letters Why just a day? I have always wondered why we need a day to celebrate being a woman. Do we need to be treated special on just one day? Further, why is there a need to be treated special? In the same context, why do we need one day to respect mothers? Don’t we deserve respect and love 365 days? I don’t want a day to celebrate me. I love being me and I love being a woman everyday. Suzanne Louis To be a woman The March issue of Woman Today has truly caught the essence of Women’s Day. It’s amazing to see the variety of roles women play, especially in Qatar. I am sure centuries ago, one wouldn’t envisage a woman in such roles. I also completely agree with the Editor when she says we need a day to celebrate. On this day we are entitled to feel proud of how far we have come in the race towards equality. Woman Today does a fantastic job at featuring powerful women in their every issue who are a great source of inspiration for other women. Meena Mendonca Super Mom I was reading the article ‘Kryptonite Mom’ in the March issue of Woman Today and it felt like reading my own story. I am a mother of two and balancing work and home is a task. Despite a hectic life I enjoy spending time with my kids. Their smiles can drown out all anxiety. I take this opportunity to salute all mothers (including me) who are masters at home

and at work as well. Luisa Sheen Women Talk I am a regular reader of Woman Today. I love the way your magazine explores every angle of a woman’s life – work/life balance, health and fitness, pregnancy, food – almost everything. It’s highly inspiring to read about the lives of women living in Qatar - their journey, aspirations, and dreams. Every issue has a unique theme. Can’t wait to read the next issue. Rita D’Souza Expecting Mothers Thank you Woman Today for having a few pages reserved for pregnant women. It was great to read the ‘myths on pregnancy’. I found it very informative, especially the paragraph on how to stay fit. I was wondering if you could feature something on fashion for pregnant women in the next issue. Maternity wear can be boring sometimes. It would be great to read about styling tips for pregnant women. Sharon Vaz THE ROLES WE PLAY The March issue of Woman Today was yet another beautiful compilation of inspiring stories. Reading the various roles that women play made me wonder how far women have come in the race towards equality. To see them perform diverse roles is amazing. I also enjoyed reading Thinking Aloud. Some words definitely go well with women, and the truth and dare added to the fun. Susan George

short

No job better than bad job... experts say!

Researchers analysed data from more than 7,000 people of working age in Australia found that those who were unemployed had poorer mental health overall than those with jobs. However, the study authors also found that the mental health of people with badly paid, poorly supported or short-term jobs could be as bad as, or even worse, than that of those who were jobless. People with the poorest quality jobs experienced the largest decline in mental health over time.

Super Moon lights up a gloomy sky

Road Test

When it’s time to get off the wheel Tired eyes, constant yawning, a foggy brain, and a nodding head are clear signs that you’re sleepy – too sleepy to drive safely. Ok, but here are subtler signs: Frequent squinting and blinking, missed streets or exits, difficulty picturing previous turns or stretches of road. Take your foot of the pedal, and pull over and take a nap. But don’t continue to drive, because you are putting yourself, and everyone around you in danger.

April 2011

trikes on Libya, protests in Bahrain, Japan grappling with nuclear meltdown – and amidst all that chaos the Moon decided to get closer to us, offering a magnificent view. The full moon on March 19 coincided with its closest approach to the Earth, 221,565 miles (356,575 km), making the so-called “super moon” look slightly larger than average. The statue of freedom, on top of the US Capitol Hill is pictured against a perigee moon as it rises in Washington, DC. A perigee moon is visible when the moon’s orbit position is at its closest point to Earth during a full moon phase.

top 10 tips

Make your BB battery work for you

martphones help us to keep in touch with the office, stay connected to friends and family, and remain on top of what’s happening in the world. So it can be very frustrating to find your device running low on battery. Mike Al-Mefleh, Product Management Director for Research In Motion (RIM) Middle East, the maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, provides us with a few useful tips to help prolong the battery life.

1. Avoid power hungry apps While media and gaming are part of the BlackBerry experience, excessive game playing or media consumption will drain your battery no matter what. Other battery drainers are any apps that stream data over wireless connections. You can also save battery life by limiting notifications that are sent from an app. 2. Understand and maximise use of wireless connections Manage your connections. Turn off wifi and Bluetooth when they are not in use as they can really drain your battery. If you are in a no coverage area, turn off the mobile network so that your BlackBerry doesn’t waste power trying to find a cellular connection. 3. Close unused apps Open the BlackBerry Application Switcher by holding down the BlackBerry Menu button and close all unused applications. If you haven’t done this before, chances are that you have all kind of apps open and sitting there eating away at your battery life. 4. Standby mode Put your BlackBerry in standby mode when it is not in use. It not only locks your keyboard, but also deactivates the display, conserving battery life. Depending on your model, this can be done by either holding down the Mute button or by holding down the red power button. 5. Disable camera flash Granted, using your camera’s flash once in a while won’t make a big difference but repeated use of

your BlackBerry device’s flash will deplete the battery life. The options for turning off your automatic flash can be found under camera settings. 6. Add Email Accounts Sparingly Do you really need to add that email account that you set up in the 90s, which now only receives junk mail? Every time you get a notification from that account it is taking away from your battery life. Only add the accounts you use. 7. Adjust Your Screen Backlight The brighter your screen and the longer it is on the more of your battery it uses. Another alternative? You can adjust the backlight brightness settings by going into your Options or Preferences and selecting Screen/Keyboard. Here, you can adjust the backlight settings to your preferences. You will want to set the Backlight Timeout to your preferred time setting. Or, use your holster! Doing this automatically shuts off the display, ensuring a longer battery life. Alternatively if you press the ‘lock’ button on the top of your smartphone, this also blanks out the display. 8. Keep Battery Connections Clean As with all battery-operated devices, it is a good idea to take the battery out from time to time and make sure there is no dust on the connections, as this can cause your BlackBerry smartphone to use much more juice than it would if it were clean. 9. Give your BlackBerry smartphone some shut eye One way to improve battery life is to turn off your device while you’re sleeping. With the Auto On/Off feature, you can set your BlackBerry to turn off at a specific time each day and turn back on again in the morning, either at a pre-set time or with your alarm clock setting. You can access this feature in Options? Device? Auto On/Off. Once you make changes here, hit the Menu key and select Save to save your changes. 10. And finally, be prepared It may seem like common sense, but all too often people forget to charge their smartphone battery. After long hours at the office or on the go using social apps and keeping in contact with friends, your battery can easily run down. Try keeping a spare charger at the office or with you when you are on the go. Also, a spare, fully charged battery is inexpensive and will always be there for you in a bind.

Dirtiest places at home Did you say the toilet? Well, you ARE in for a surprise. The Kitchen Sink Your toilet may be cleaner than your kitchen sink. Food particles from plates left to soak or rinsed from dishes on their way to the dishwasher can serve as a breeding ground for illness-causing bacteria, including E.coli and salmonella. They can get on your hands or spread to foods. To sanitise your sink and prevent the spread of bacteria wash it with a solution of bleach and water once a day and then letting the solution run down the drain. Your Toothbrush Oh, yes! You put it in your mouth twice a day, but do you ever think of all the germs lurking on it? If the germs from your own mouth weren’t enough to contaminate your toothbrush, the germs from your toilet certainly are. Flushing the toilet sends a spray of bacteria – and virus-contaminated water droplets into air. These germs, researchers say, can float around in the bathroom for at least two hours after each flush before landing on surfaces – including your toothbrush. Air out and dry between uses – but not too close to the toilet. Also, replace your toothbrush often, particularly after you’ve been sick, and close your toilet lid before flushing. TV Remote Control It’s dropped on the floor, stuffed between the sofa cushions, coughed on and sneezed at. Everyone in the house handles it. Wipe the remote with a bleach or alcohol wipe.

2011 April

Wat c h m e

transform

I’m Alyson and I’m 45-years-old, a wife and a mother to two boys. I am a teacher of a year five class at a private school in Qatar. I am originally from South Africa, but have residency in Australia. I was once gorgeous and exciting but I feel as if I’ve been swallowed by life’s demands, juggling too many balls and dropping most of them. I desperately want to lose weight for health reasons and for myself, and I really want to improve my relationship with my husband and the overall quality of my family life. I didn’t know how to start making the changes I needed. I was looking for real answers after years of trying all kinds of diets and self-help books that didn’t quite give me what I needed. A friend recommended I contact Nicole van Hattem of Art of Abundant Living, a Health Coach. I had my health history consultation with Nicole and we realised I was READY for a BIG CHANGE – A TRANSFORMATION. The journey has started and I am very excited and motivated. I am hoping that by sharing my experience, my transformation, that it will inspire you the reader to create your best life. I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but if I can do it – you can too!

STATS Age

: 45 years

Height

: 160cms

Weight

: 98.1kgs (216 pounds)

BMI

: 38.11

Body Fat : 44% DRESS SIZE : 22 UK

2011 April

waist: 106.5cm

bust: 119.5cm

Alyson on the move... Transforming one woman at a time CIR

O CLE

F LIFE

Spirituality

Creativity

LE RC CI

Finance

L OF

Joy

IFE Career

Education

Relationship

Home Environment

Health Home Cooking

Physical Activity

O LE RC CI

RC CI

OF LE

LIFE

Social Life

By Nicole Van Hattem

have found that the best way to identify whether I am the right Coach for this person and if they are ready to make a commitment to empowering themselves is by starting with a health history consultation. I reviewed with Alyson her health history questionnaire in detail. We explored not only her medical status and concerns, we also explored the story of Alyson’s life to have a better understanding of her perspective on her situation. We briefly discussed her areas of strength, parts of her life that are already working well, discussed her readiness to make changes, her commitment to a six month programme and who her support network could be. I explained the wellness journey programme

to Alyson, and that we would be meeting formally twice a month with additional support by email and phone as needed, we would explorenewfoods,define anexercise plan,setand accomplish goals, enhance relationships, and invest in what nourishes her mind body spirit. Alyson and I both agreed that the time was right for her transformation. Alyson left the session with a food diary handout (see form) to begin recording key areas of food intake, mood, physical activity, quality of sleep and levels of hunger. Alyson also took away with her the Circle of Life (see left), a tool that I use to help clients take time out to consider their level of satisfaction with key areas of their life.

FE F LI

What is Woman Today Transform? Woman Today Transform has been launched to show you how a normal woman with a normal life in Qatar, with life’s every day challenges and her own personal health hurdles, can be empowered to take back control of her right to a vibrantly healthy body and mind. To expose followers of Woman Today Transform to the wide array of health services, products, knowledge, people and activities that exist to support you with your personal health journey. A complete approach Everything in your life is interconnected. The quality of your relationships, your level and type of physical activity, your satisfaction with your work or career, the quality of your spiritual practice and the food you choose to put into your body, together these combine to create your overall sense of wellbeing and health. Going on a diet, taking medication or getting some exercise alone are unlikely to provide you with the level of health,

April 2011

joy and vitality you are looking for. Approach the journey in a complete way – a holistic (whole person) approach, to create sustainable health and wellness in your life. This is how you TRANSFORM. In a balanced, empowering and sustainable way, Nicole Van Hattem will guide Alyson through the first six months of her wellness journey. Each month, in Woman Today, Nicole will review Alyson’s progress through Woman Today Transform, with additional input from medical and alternative practitioners and suppliers of health services and products in Qatar. Cheer for Alyson as she shares her experience, thoughts, and challenges. Follow her on: wttransform.wordpress.com wttransform One woman – transforming her world!

hips: 132cm

abdomen: 127cm

Main challenges Structural

Three herniated discs in her back & Pronation in her feet

Weight

Significantly overweight with 44 percent body fat – has been advised by medical professionals to consider gastric sleeve surgery to lose weight and relieve back pain Session 1 In our first formal session together, Alyson and I reviewed together her food diary. It was clear that Alyson already understood the basics of nutrition and the need for a balanced and varied diet. We identified some quick wins and health habits to get started on. We then reviewed Alyson’s Circle of Life. Her scores were very low in all areas, with the exception being the high scores for the relationships with her two sons. The Circle of Life gave us the opportunity to celebrate what was wonderful in her life and to clarify where Alyson wanted to make changes. Then we agreed on top 3 areas to focus on during our early sessions together: Health, Physical Activity and Relationships. We spent some time clarifying exactly what Alyson’s goals would be in each of these areas. At the end of the session, she was given key action points, and the resources to help achieve these.

Drink eight+ glasses of water a day, review portion sizes, slow down – chew, chew, chew and practise mindfulness at meal times Join Curves (fitness centre) and complete their circuit training three times a week, walk or swim in her own compound an additional twice a week at a gentle relaxed pace Begin to be aware of her thoughts and when possible, write these down

Thoughts & Beliefs

Depression, grief over tragic loss of her young son, believes that she cannot lose weight

Habits & Skills

Healthy quick cooking, goal setting, time management, success thinking

WEEKLY FOOD DIARY Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Time

Support

Breakfast

Family is supportive. However, may resist if changes impact them. Friends and colleagues are supportive. Has a good relationship with her General Practitioner

Snacks Time Lunch

Snacks Time Dinner

Snacks Other Calories Water

Nicole van Hattem is a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach, writer, speaker, presenter and Corporate Wellness Consultant. Nicole is also the Founding Director of Art of Abundant Living and runs a thriving health coaching practice. Nicole’s passion is to guide and support clients as they make the changes they’re ready for and that work for their lifestyle and health style. The process is empowering and supportive and enables Nicole’s clients to get the most out of this incredible life and to live it in health, abundance and joy. With over 20 years professional experience working with multi-national corporations in the Gulf Region, UK and Australia, Nicole’s main areas of expertise are: * Individual wellness coaching * Corporate health and wellness programs * Employee engagement initiatives * Leadership development Nicole transformed her own life and as a result her body transformed too. To read her story and view the before and after pictures, please visit www.artofabundantliving.com – Success Stories.

Stress: High

Main Goals Lose weight

Improve relationship with husband and overall quality of family life Reduce reliance on medications and surgery More energy and vibrancy and renewed passion for life Build confidence in herself and her ability to create the best life for herself and her family

2011 April

woman

worldwide

black vs white The fine art of Abaya management People often talk about developing leadership among women. When it comes to Qatari women, the word is ‘Abaya Management’ says Dr Kholode Al-Obaidli. At Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), hers was the only abaya among a committee of thobes – a situation that led her to emerge as a distinct black amongst the white. She talks to Cassey Oliveira about the 14 laws she devised to evoke a leader within every Abaya wearing Qatari woman...

here exists a glass ceiling for Qatari women in the corporate world which Dr Kholode surmises is born out of a patriarchal society. “Paternalism acts as an impediment when it comes to providing equal opportunities for women to shatter this ceiling. Because women are late arrivals in the management sector, the balance of Qatari males and females in managerial positions is significantly out of sync,” she says. This visible dearth of women, she feels, is because male managers usually recruit other male employees. “Men are more comfortable working with men rather than women due to cultural conditioning. Of course, there are exceptions,” she says.

April 2011

The Golden Rules... 1

Know and understand your work-environment All managers develop a particular management style while working with subordinates, management peers, and upper management. I tried to understand my environment and all the elements within it, particularly the way I related to Qatari males. This approach provided me with an insight of how to manage better.

Establish your presence First insert yourself in the management world and then assert yourself through your values. Take every opportunity to surface on a committee; make top notch presentations or attend meetings where Thobe management congregate.

Always remember names I usually like addressing people by their first name to break the ice. Men especially like it when women address them by their first name. This is how Abayas build the “likability factor”.

Be innovative and show no fear when doing so Don’t accept your job as it is. Try to implement it differently. Read up on cutting edge ideas and share them at Thobe dominated management meetings. Let your voice and opinion be heard.

Use your feminine side and humour to establish your authenticity Don’t be an open book; don’t openly talk about your plans. Use your feminine mystique to manoeuvre through a thobe-dominated work environment. Also, don’t take life too seriously. Use humour to your advantage.

When a void of leadership exists – fill it! Show that you are capable of resolving a key issue. Take on more management responsibilities above and beyond your current management position. Women are by nature problem-solvers. Don’t just give solutions for a problem, solve it.

When attending presentations, sit front row and centre During presentations, change a monologue to a visual dialogue by writing notes, nodding head, eye contact, asking questions to the presenter. The more attention he pays to you, the more he validates your importance to the Thobe audience.

Always congratulate presenters after their presentation When you congratulate men after their presentations, they most often will support you later. This will go a long way toward building a credible ally.

Develop a power walk and a power posture while seated at meetings. A good walk and posture reflects confidence, preparedness and knowledge. It has been said that an ounce of image is worth more than a pound of effectiveness. Develop a walk of confidence by walking erect and smiling as you pass others.

Consciously use subconscious ideas. Consciousness is your actions and subconscious is your thoughts. Begin by telegraphing your thoughts and desires to others, and then gradually turn them into self fulfilling prophecies.

Never give up! When you want something strongly, you usually get it. But you won’t get it if you are easily discouraged and take NO as the final answer. NO is not the end, it’s always the beginning of something new. Do not let minor losses deter you from your objective of being successful.

See no barriers or obstacles – just challenges Do not be daunted by what you perceive to be barriers or obstacles which prevent you from doing your job. Obstacles are a valuable opportunity for you to reinvent yourself.

Don’t ask permission to do your job, rather ask for forgiveness, but only when needed Qatari women are smart and intelligent. However, they often lack confidence. They more often will ask permission to do something. Your boss cares about your result, not your approach. So do it! When asking for permission you empower others to say “NO”. It’s also okay to commit mistakes, but not repeat them. Learn from them.

Use the ‘Crucible’ to your advantage Crucibles are difficulties that you face at work – political, financial or personal. They are growth opportunities that test your ability to solve problems while demands are placed on you in terms of accountability and positive outcomes. Try to twist difficulty to your advantage. (The above was part of Dr Kholode’s presentation at the How Women Work conference, powered by Woman Today. See page 56 for details) 2011 April

woman

worldwide

Legal speak

Your thoughts in a line Abaya can be used as a sword rather than a shield Obstacles Learning opportunities Leader Effectiveness Your strength Can sometimes be your weakness Woman Reservoir of Potential power

“From a cultural perspective, men usually view women as mothers, daughters or sisters. They rarely have had experiences working with women at their same administrative level. Hence they are unappreciative of a woman’s skills such as team building and critical analysis.” It was these skills that catapulted Dr Kholode to the level of a Curriculum Design and Assessment Manager at the Innovative Leadership Centre (ILC), Director of Scholarship Office, and Director of Planning and Development at QOC, a government entity. Her 14 laws stem from her experience in working with her male counterparts. And she hopes that these rules would give Qatari women a paradigm on how to engage with “Thobes” on a daily work basis. “Black and white are both powerful colours. But the power lies in mixing the two to form a grey. We need to see this grey when men and women work together.”

Her role model

For Dr Kholode, “Any person who shows tremen-

April 2011

Hobby Reading books on management and women’s issues Family First priority Fear A temporary sensation to overcome Obstacle for women leaders Sustaining their leadership Women’s Day A day of recognition Ageing At 30 you gain maturity; at 40 you gain wisdom. Waiting to turn 40!

dous progress to benefit the larger society in a short amount of time is a role model.” While she names many, HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser AlMissned ranks first. “Her Highness is an advocate for women rights, cultural dialogues, education and research both nationally and internationally. She has made a positive attempt to shatter the glass ceiling.” Others include Sheikha Al-Mayasa and Sheikha Hind, Maha Al-Ghonim, CEO of Global House Investments in Kuwait, and Dr Hanan Al-Kuwari, CEO of Hamad Corporation. “I try learning something from each of them,” she says. “Women can inspire other women by showing respect, confidence and harmony in their work/life balance. Each woman has a story to tell, and you can learn from each.”

Born a leader

“I believe everything can be taught if you are willing to learn,” says Dr Kholode who attributes her leading personality to her father. “My father always

Though promotion of women’s rights in Qatar is on the national public policy agenda, legislation will be required to put these rights in motion says Kholode. She suggests two laws: The first would address affirmative action for Qatari women in the workforce. This could include goals and time tables for each ministry to assure that women achieve parity in top level management positions over a slated time frame. The second is the formation of an Equal Employment Commission that addresses grievances when women feel that their rights in the work place have been violated.

dr Kholode’s book Educational Reform in Qatar is a study of the perceptions of women ESL teachers regarding Qatar’s educational reforms. The book is available at Amazon. After resigning from QOC, she is currently on a career break to look after her baby daughter.

raised a competition among us siblings. But it was never about competing with others; it was about competing with myself.” Another influence on her strong personality was her experience in UK. Dr Kholode had moved to the UK with her family in 2002 to pursue higher studies. It was then that she learnt to be independent. “I learnt how to balance between being a full time mother and full time student.” Interning with RAND Corporation in Santa Monica Headquarter at summer 2007 further gave her insights of the business world of the West. “I was introduced to the world of research, work values of time management, meeting deadlines, respecting and relating to colleagues – both men and women, the HR system and critical analysis. I tried to bring these values to the Qatari work culture at QOC,” she says. Her innovative ideas have led to people describing her as a ‘liberal conservative’. “But I am neither of them. I am an advocate of change in a conservative environment,” she says

The Map

faded scar from a childhood fall; stretch marks on the belly following child birth; crowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feet that remind you of the endless hours of laughter with your girlfriends; a sore thumb because of all the texting you do in a day; the two tiny frown lines on the forehead from a time of financial worries; the laugh line that sometimes doubles up as a grimace when kids get out of hand; the first grey strand you noticed, the evening you were waiting for your appraisal results to come in; and then the dozens that joined the merry grey band over broken hearts, marriage and child birth...

Our Lives

Every line, wrinkle and scar tells a tale. The story of our sometimes happy, sometimes not, but always unique life. We fight hard to hold onto those memories and lessons, and we fight equally hard to get rid of the telltale signs. Often, it is not ageing itself that we fear, as much as the absoluteness of a number. To be a 16, a 25, a 45... Numbers burdened with expectation of what you are supposed to have achieved. Who drew up this timetable? That by 23 you bag a job, by 25 a man, by 27 a child, and by 30 a content life... Who stamped the sell by date on our lives? Does it matter if you choose to have your child at 20, and go to college at 27? Or if you decided to enrol in university the day your grandchild stepped into the kindergarten? Streak your hair pink or leave it grey. Get a botox or flaunt the lines.

t don â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Just umber n l e t a e yo u r rul e. lif

Be AGELESS. 2011 April

ageless

If a man goes grey, people call him distinguished. But if a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gone grey they simply call her old! Lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not fair is it? asks Nadira Mendis Amarasinghe.

April 2011

ith attitudes like this flying around the place, no wonder most women have panic attacks the moment they spot their first grey hair. I remember a few months after arriving in Doha, I was standing in front of the mirror drying my hair when I caught a sudden glint. I ignored it thinking it was the sun reflecting off one of my fashionably coloured streaks. But it refused to be ignored. Like a mirror flashing in the sunlight it kept glinting tauntingly at me till I examined it closer, only to discover not one but four grey hairs at the top of my head. Horror of all horrors! I quickly plucked out the offending strands and have kept doing it regularly. Thank goodness in the last three years they haven’t gone forth and multiplied because, if the truth be known, I don’t feel ready to go grey. But why do we women fear the ‘G’ word so much? We frequently add the most absurd unnatural colours to our hair, hot pink, blue, green etc in the name of fashion, but we hyperventilate at the sight of a silver hair like it is a signed death warrant. From experience, the more we learn about something the less we fear it. So let’s first try to understand grey hair. If you let me go scientific on you for a moment, “hair colour” is simply the pigmentation of hair follicles due to two types of melanin; eumelanin and pheomelanin. Generally, if more melanin is present, the colour of the hair is darker; if less melanin is present, the hair is lighter. Experts say that levels of melanin can vary over time causing a person’s hair colour to change. Grey or white hair is not actually a true grey or white pigment. In fact, it is due to lack of pigmentation and melanin. The clear hair appear as grey or white because of the way light reflects off them. Now that we know a bit about the physiology behind grey hair, those of us who stress over our grey hairs might actually be able to do something to control it a bit. But does it make us feel any better about ourselves? In this world where beauty is synonymous with youth it is no wonder that a woman thinks it is the beginning of the end when she finds her first grey hair. Grey hair is often seen as a sign of a woman 'letting herself go'. The idea that grey equals old age taints many aspects of a woman’s life:

Relationships When we start going grey and think we are getting

‘old’ the first thing we begin to doubt is our attractiveness. We fear losing our partner’s interest because we have started to look ‘old’. We are soon bombarded with tips on how to stay beautiful by covering up that grey. For instance the hair colour industry plies us with information about products that give us “100 percent grey coverage in 44 different shades” or they make a grandiose promise that says by colouring our hair we will feel we are “worth it”! With all these external sources of not-so-helpful information, we women allow the grey on our head get into our heads thus affecting our relationships.

Other factors that cause greying: Grey hair typically occurs naturally as people age. In some cases, grey hair may be caused by thyroid deficiencies or a deficiency of B12. Smoking can also be linked to grey hair because smoking is directly linked to premature aging. Excessive stress is the principal creator of free and unstable molecules that can damage vulnerable cells like Melanocytes and influence melanin production which in turn produce grey hair. Highly chlorinated water can also affect a person’s hair turning it grey early. Note: Some things that do not produce grey hair or increase the number of grey hairs is pulling them out, a sudden fright or certain types of shampoos.

Economic Disadvantages Grey hair affects our professional lives too. It has an annoying tendency to make us ‘too old’ for the job market. Where men’s hair is seen as a sign of experience and wisdom, in the corporate world, women fear being thought of as outdated and past

their ‘use-by’ date so to speak, if their grey hair begins to show. The thought of younger looking people overtaking us in our race to reach the top of the corporate ladder sends us scrambling for the hair dyes in one of the previously mentioned 44 shades. ‘Hide the grey to get ahead’ seems to be one of the mottos in today’s professional world.

Innate feelings The appearance of the first grey hair is one of those ‘age reminders’ we all dread. With it, as if attached to its root and spreading rapidly through our brains, are all sorts of other notions about ourselves that push us further along the path of feeling old. We gradually start doubting our attractiveness and start trying to cover up because we fear being perceived as old or old-fashioned. These perceptions sometimes affect our behaviour and thoughts. For instance, we might start dressing less trendily or we might change our behaviour to something that we might perceive as more in keeping with our ageing status. We might even allow the colour of our hair to cloud decisions we make about our lifestyle, pushing us to pick choices that are meant for older, more ‘settled’ people.

Good news... Though the sight of a single grey hair can shake our self-confidence, there is good news for all of us. The world is changing, and so is its views on grey hair. First of all we are in the process of getting rid of the ‘G’ word. We no longer go grey, we now go platinum, or pewter, or sterling, snow, silver, ice or pearl! Things are already beginning to sound better don’t you think? Do you remember the character Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) from the movie The Devil Wears Prada? Now here is an attractive, powerful woman who wears her silver coif with flair. Dame Judi Dench, Helen Mirren and Emmylou Harris are just a few of the women who have helped break the stereotype of grey, oops sorry, pearl hair. They wear their hair with style and elegance and continue to look amazingly attractive. With so many glamorous silver haired ladies around, more women find that the decision to have grey hair is quite liberating; the decision allows them to feel confident about their natural beauty. Here is what some beauticians have to say about using your grey hair to your advantage by combining it well with other aspects of yourself: 2011 April

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Hairstyle Ladies with grey hair need to select a hairstyle that is both contemporary and chic. Many women automatically revert to a matronly and boring haircut when their hair is fully grey. However, this type of style causes the woman to look older and less glamorous. Just because your hair is grey doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a fashionable style. Consult a professional stylist to determine a haircut and style that works best with your face shape, facial features and hair texture. Note: Grey hair that is styled straight promotes shine, while grey hair with layers or curls looks youthful and glamorous. The pixie cut is also popular for women with grey hair – think Dame Judi Dench.

Make-up Many women make the mistake of toning down their make-up usage once they turn grey. However, grey hair causes the complexion to look significantly paler. To avoid this look, use makeup to highlight your facial features. Eyebrows are of utmost importance and should be well shaped and defined. Eyelids should be

coloured with neutral colours that have cool undertones, such as ivory, charcoal, grey and navy. To prevent unnecessary heaviness, mascara should only be worn on the upper lashes. The cheeks can have bold colours to brighten up the complexion. Grey hair looks best with rose, peach or pink blush shades. However, avoid applying the colour too heavily. Lipstick shades can be coral, raspberry and pink, with a bit of clear lip gloss to add extra vibrancy.

Clothing When selecting clothing to pair with grey hair, choose items that are modern and structured. Grey hair is typically thought of as being elegant and sophisticated. For this reason, it is important to carry that idea over into your wardrobe. For example, do not wear styles that are overly feminine with bows, intricate floral patterns or frills. These styles tend to clash with the sophistication of the grey hair and instead of adding youth they scream out frump. Choose button-down shirts, fitted cardigans and jackets and boot-cut or straight-leg pants. Avoid looking matronly by selecting clothing styles that

emphasise your natural curves. Do not be afraid to select bold, bright colours to provide a contrast to your grey hair. Avoid relying on black, white, grey or pale colours, because like with make-up, neutral colours tend to wash out a complexion when worn with grey hair. There you have it – some truths about grey! Just because your hair’s turning grey doesn’t mean you suddenly have to look like your grandmother. If your hair looks good on you with full colour, it can look good without colour too. So come on, ladies think about it. If it feels right to you, embrace the silver! You’ve earned the right to be beautiful whether or not you’re grey. And if you believe you are beautiful, other people will, too

(The author is a psychologist & counsellor. She writes for Woman Today and addresses various psychological and emotional issues. If you have questions you wish answered, write in to wtoday@ omsqatar.com)

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why numbers shouldn’t rule our life Does a miniskirt look cute after 30? Can you still wear skinny jeans in your 40s? The rules of fashion are ever changing and they only seem to get more complicated as we age.

By Sonali Raman

April 2011

In a world where women are told that 50 is the new 40, 40 is the new 30 and leggings are the new anything, it can be stressful to figure out what exactly constitutes 'appropriate' dress for one’s age. Unfortunately for today’s active, fun-loving, professional woman, trying to dress as young as you feel sometimes results in embarrassing fashion fauxpas. As we all know – what looks good on Paris Hilton will not work for the rest of us. But that does not mean that 'appropriate' is the synonym for 'boring.' The key is to figure out your own personal style and let that guide you – not the trends. Know your body shape; this is essential. There is plenty of room for expression while still conveying an image of maturity.

20-Something Chic

Even if you are the same size you were in the ninth grade, it does not mean you can wear the same clothing. Your wardrobe should reflect a competent adult. In your teens you weren’t afraid to take fashion risks and individuality was the objective. But now you what you wear reflects your status, personality and style sense. DOs Now is the time to wear mini skirts, low necklines, sexy camisoles and fitted jackets! Add chunky jewellery to a young flirty dress to make it a bit more grown-up. Contrast a sophisticated fabric like lace or brocade with a younger silhouette like a baby doll dress. Strapless dresses are ideal for your age. DON’Ts Don’t buy cheap clothes and accessories – you are not 18 anymore. Invest in some key classic pieces from higher-end brands that are no longer intimidating. Don’t follow trends blindly – you can’t go around looking like Rihanna in your everyday life and at work! Wearing tight, ill-fitting clothes to show off your figure is a no-no. Dress to fit your body type tastefully. Exposed tattoos and piercings should have been left behind in your teens. Inspiration: Blake Lively, Olivia Palermo and Kate Middleton.

Don't Do

Don’t: Low Rise Jeans And T-Shirts With Risque Messages Are Best Left Behind In Your Teens. Do: Form Fitting Tasteful Pencil Skirts And Blouses Are Perfect For Work.

2011 April

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40s Fashionista

By now you know who you are and what you like. You have learnt how to make fashion work for you. Clothes are well-tailored but not tight fitting. Lifestyles are changing for you, however there is also the chance that you now have that thickening waistline that won’t disappear and breasts that seem to go south. But you now have more money to buy the brands that you like so pick and choose elements from current trends carefully. DOs Wide leg trousers are more flattering than skinny pants. Wear them with short fitted jackets and a brightly coloured blouse. Metallics work well – but ensure you wear clothes with only a slight shimmer. Look for ‘ladylike’ dresses which are so trendy now, to flatter your curves. Find shirts that flatter your bustline and make it look more proportionate. Tank tops with wider straps work well too. Lower and wider necklines can show off those shoulder bones and still lovely neck.

Don't

Flirty 30s

Women in their 30s are balancing the roles of a career woman and a mother along with their social lives and need to have flexible wardrobes to adapt. It’s not always easy to find clothes that represent who you are as jeans are cut to suit teenagers and the women’s section has jeans, which are too dowdy. DOs For work – wear knee-length skirts with boots and blouses with ruffles under your jacket to bring in freshness. Wear bright colours - but stick to one per ensemble. You can rock Audrey Hepburn style LBDs now – so go for the on-trend fifties look! Accessorise! Follow trends to your heart’s content and glam up your outfit with fashionable accessories, bags and shoes. You can afford to show some cleavage and skin. DON’Ts Don’t wear very tight clothing that highlights the additional curves and try layering if you want to cover some extra pounds. Avoid transparent clothing. Wear a fitted camisole under a thin blouse. Try not to follow trends as they are mostly meant for teens and twenty something’s. Go for the classic looks which you couldn’t carry off in your twenties. T-shirts with messages and cute cartoon figures are not for you. Look for simple T-shirts made from better quality fabrics – so they will go with the others classics in your wardrobe. Inspiration: Reese Witherspoon, Penelope Cruz and Kate Moss. Don’t: You don't want to look like your young teen cousin! Do: a fitted jersey dress accessorised with a scarf, a brightly coloured ruffled blouse worn with a suit keeps it young yet mature.

April 2011

Don't

DON’Ts Stretchy and clingy fabrics are a no-no, as you will feel self-conscious. However you can layer a fitted top with a light wrap like a pashmina or a blazer. Mini skirts now look tarty no matter how slim and fit you are! Knee length skirts work much better. Tent-like dresses and flared baby-doll styles are not for you – dresses with structure and an a-line would be more natural for your shape. Don’t forget black – its slimming, classic and appealing. Inspiration: Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker and Demi Moore.

Fabulous in your 50s

You have settled into a lifestyle but still want to add some drama to spice it up. The emphasis switches from sexy to sophisticated and classy, luxe fabrics like cashmere, fine wools and cotton-silks are now more the thing. Fit and attitude plays a big part now. You want to be noticed and complimented at this age without being compromised. DOs Shirt dresses, trench coats, pea jackets are eternally youthful in spirit. Black turtlenecks are a great investment and flatter. Chic, minimalist details are less ageing than having too much bling. Soft and supple leather works when teamed with a lace skirt or trousers. Slimmer leg trousers with chunky shoes and a beautiful blouse flatters.

Don't Don’t: Dull Grey Hair, Loose Baggy Clothes Will Make You Look Old Before Your Time. Do: Knitted Dresses With Long Cardigans Hide The Extra Pounds Well, Knee-Length Draped Evening Dresses Are Perfect For Curves.

DON’Ts Don’t expose the lines and wrinkles in your neck and upper arms. Don’t wear shapeless clothes with high-top sneakers - a dead give away of your age! You don’t have to cut your hair short and sport those overly puffed styles. Longer hair well styled or pulled into a chic ponytail is much more smart and youthful. Don’t wear shawls – too granny! Aging is a case of mind over matter! Inspiration: Michelle Pfeiffer, Madonna and Julianne Moore. Don’t: Short Puffed Hairstyles And Exposed Neck And Upper Arms Give Away Your Age. Do: Knee-Length Boots Add That Edge To A Classy Trench. Note The High-Neck Blouse. Evening Dresses In Jewel Tones Can Add A Youthful Touch.

2011 April

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the -oh! Speed breaker or breaking speed? By SHALINEE BHARADWAJ

ot realising how time slipped by, we find ourselves standing face to face with the dreaded 40+! Bang! It hits hard even if nothing much has changed really. We can still act funny and have fun; we can shop, dine and party with the same fervour; our list of friends is growing and we are still ‘happening’ on FB! What probably differs is the caution. Hairline fractures at the slightest blow have become a reality now. The mirror reflects some lines and a few sags. Our crowning glory may not look so glorious any more but besides this, we are just the same.

I’m not 40; I’m eighteen with 22 years experience. Anonymous True to these words, 40 is the new young! An age when maturity, reasoning and confidence create new avatar. An age fast keeping its stake as the ‘prime’ in a modern woman’s life. Woman Today brings to you some tips and tricks for making the most of this striking milestone.

April 2011

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Age is an opportunity no less Than youth itself, though in another dress. And as the evening twilight fades away The sky is filled with stars, invisible by the day. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in Morituri Salutamus Staying healthy Surely 40s roar but also tugging at your sleeve is the launch of declining body strength and health. It’s best to realise that you no longer can take a shot at long jumping without putting body and ego at risk. No matter how young you are at heart, your body demands careful monitoring and medical guidance. Prevention is the best cure and early identification of a ‘systems fault’ can go a long way in maintaining good health. Medical experts have prescribed few tests that should form a part of every woman’s health regime. The mammogram: Regular breast self examinations are a must for an early detection of breast cancer. The Pap smear: For cervical cancer, the key to recovery is early detection and Pap smear helps in identifying this killer at a treatable and curable stage. Bone density test for osteoporosis: Be on alert for this silent killer that makes your bones porous and brittle. Blood pressure, Cholesterol level, ECG (Electro cardiogram): It’s important to keep a check on your heart and monitor its condition regularly. More so if you run a family history of heart diseases. Skin test: Abnormal skin spots and moles could be signs of skin cancer and should be periodically checked for. Colonoscopy: Colon-rectal cancer is thought of as men’s cancer; however it is a major killer among women as well. Keep a watch. Diabetes: Usually creeps in at this age and needs to be monitored regularly. Blood and urine tests: A clue to many of the health problems that can be detected and cured, for a healthy you.

April 2011

Fashion Wise Forty ushers an era of recovering from the menaces of child birth-weight gain, loosened skin and a diffident you! Getting back in the old jeans becomes our pivotal goal and we continue holding sentiments towards our spaghettis. Difficult as it may sound, it is good to dress up your age. For starters, dump the sleeveless. Or if you insist, keep a jacket on. Dress smart. For formal attire, check out skirt-and pant-suits in upscale colours like chocolate, champagne, and black. Stay with non-neon colours on your nails. It’s best to minimise make-up or go in for natural shades. Avoid the glitz. Limit the accessories. A neat, well maintained haircut makes you look younger. Avoid dramatic hair colours. Go with darker tint to hide signs of greying, if you prefer. A strict skin regime is a must. Cleanse, tone and moisturise. Be liberal with the moisturiser as with age skin gets drier. Exfoliate your skin with exfoliating soaps and scrub. Use facial mask to remove the dirt and grime from your face and do not forget to wash your face before going to bed at night. Apply sunscreen when going out in the sun. Nutrition and exercise for body and mind Due to the aging process, body metabolism slows down and the efficiency of the stomach decreases enormously. At this stage it is useful to follow a healthy nutritious diet with regular exercise. ‘Healthy food in right amounts’ is the mantra. Oats, berries, nuts, beans, fruits and vegetables have been certified by health professionals as aids to keep skin younger and softer. Consume milk and milk products daily to avoid the onset of osteoporosis. Avoid fats and sweets. Water is the life saver! Adopt the mantra of eight glasses of water a day. It replenishes

lost fluids in the body thereby hydrating your whole system as well as your skin. Maintain a good posture. Stooping makes you appear older and is not good for proper functioning of your internal organs. Walk and sit straight for a youthful aura. Sweat it out in sports and exercise. Swimming is good for maintaining a toned body. Or simply go for a walk. Keep yourself mobile. Rediscover your life When was the last time we thought of inner peace and happiness? Words that were often mouthed by our moms make sense today. Try Yoga-it’s a healer for both body and mind. Maintain a garden, it soothes your nerves. Indulge in social activities that interest you-join a charitable organization, a reading group or a women’s network involved in some productive projects. Freelance or try hands at starting up your own business. Many successful business women started late in their lives! Bonds formed over the years have been tested and strengthened by now. It’s a good time to reconnect with friends and family who have been with you in days of glory and descent

20s were formative, 30s were experimental, 40s look definitive, for sure! Time to step up and go!

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W h at’s your

number?

A Woman Today poll reveals the thoughts of women on age.

What's old?

40 50 60 Fiddle dee dee, next question

33%

56% Age is a Mindset... Choose to be whatever age you want. It’s a choice you make. Our imagination is boundless. We can play with it as much as we like to be able to get in touch with the four-year-old that’s still very much a part of us. Or that ten-year-old or that twenty-one year old; those parts of us we can tap into whenever we choose. In the second half of my 40-something years, I still feel incredibly youthful. My body does too, despite a few minor setbacks here and there. I believe the secret is staying connected to the feelings of energy and vibrancy of my younger years, which serve me to feel alive and well. If we choose to do this, I believe it will translate into the way we hold ourselves! Jeanine Bailey Co founder of Empower People – Specialists in Human Development

Do you/would you hide your grey hair? Yes

of similar age group of older age group

38%

By her face

By her eyes

35%

24%

41%

I was living in Abu Dhabi when I stepped into the 40s with a big splash. The morning started off with helium balloons in bold colours bobbing up in the ceiling with the Big 4 all over them, and 40s napkins to match. As I got into the school library where I worked, there were more balloons from my colleagues and a birthday cake to cut before classes came in. “It’s your librarian’s 40th birthday,” my colleague told the excited seven- and eight- year-olds who walked into the library expecting to take balloons instead of books. Some mumbled something and started working out how many tens that April 2011

75%

Do you think it's ill-mannered to ask a woman her age? Why?

How do you judge a woman's age? By her hands

of younger age group

17%

62%

When I turned 40...

While socialising, do your mingle with women...

Yes

No 43%

57%

go ahead and ask! would make. It was my six-year-old son who wouldn’t let it go. He had an announcement for everyone who rang the phone or came near our doorbell. I immediately became his reference calendar. When his school celebrated its 40th anniversary, it was a question of how many months was the school older than I was; but when Abu Dhabi celebrated its 36th National Day, it was “Mum, Abu Dhabi is 36 years old, so that’s ...let’s see....”The good thing about getting older is that you savour and cherish the big moments you have had and the loved ones who have been part of your life. And for the down moments, I see the truth in the saying that ‘you can

dread the increasing candles on your cake?

12%

With every birthday... You wish to be 20 again You feel it's only a number that changes You think of how far you have come in life

32%

56%

You are as old as you feel

Do you lie about your age? Always

Occasionally

What is the ideal age difference between husband and wife?

Never

Not more than 5 years It doesn't matter

Would you date a younger guy? Yes

Not more than 10 years

36%

34%

Maybe

30%

91%

13%

53%

34%

Love is number blind

How far would you go to hide your age? Cosmetic surgery Age gracefully

Regular application of beauty products

36%

I had to take over my dad’s business in India when I was not quite 15. I lived like I was going on 50 (and 20 as well). I never got to be a typical teenager. On the other hand, I learned quite early what matters. Life’s amazing! We need so little from this world and have the capacity to give back much more. After my mom passed away two years ago, I completely overhauled my life. I sold the business in Doha, changed careers, ended a bad marriage. I live like I’m 40 (39 actually) going on 20 now. I no longer work 20-hour days, and cherish life more. One thing hasn’t changed though. When I was 17, I decided I was going to have a baby at 72. Science is finally catching up! Priya Lorraine Dominica D’Souza Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar

57% look back at them with peaceful reflection rather than the if only, and why me and what if. ’Age is hopefully a legal excuse for me to make time away from commitments for a regular walk or jog ‘Inshallah’; something I used to love but haven’t done for years. The downside is that I might need to start eating less of what I like and more of what I should. Amira Abed Educational Programmes Developer Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing 2011 April

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Ready for

mommydom?

When you have a child is important, but more important is when you are ready to have one. Dr Rajka Milanovic Galbraith explores the myths and facts surrounding older mums.

was a month short of 40 when I had my second child. My girlfriend, also an older mom, said “At least you can say you had all your children before you turned 40.” Another ‘older’ mom relays the story of how her eight-year-old son wished she was younger like his friend’s mom (only 29) who bought him Black Ops (a reportedly violent game) for his Xbox. The medical community terms us as Advanced Maternal Age (over 35) moms. Though it seems as if the stigma of having a child when you are older never ends, the reality is that more and more older women are having children. The number of women over 40 having babies has tripled in the UK in the last two decades (from 9336 to 26,976).

April 2011

Why? Some women are busy with their higher education. Or in my case, I was so sleep deprived during my medical training, that I was never an appealing date choice – falling asleep at dinner, in movies and once while standing up. Some women don’t have a choice of when they can have children. Perhaps they have not found the right partner or due to infertility. (This is not to say a woman needs a partner to have a child, plenty of women have opted to be single moms by choice.)

Old Vs Young moms

When I polled both young and older moms, here is what I found. The younger moms had more energy and more patience while dealing with their children’s noisiness and energy. They also were more willing to be silly in public, pulling faces and jumping on the trampolines in the play zones (please don’t tell anyone, I was kicked off of Gondolania’s trampoline just last month) while older moms had more patience overall. The older moms felt like they had better financial stability, and have had time to spend on themselves as individuals and as a couple prior to having children. One mom, an orthopaedic hand surgeon in the US says “No, I do not wish that I had my children younger. It was important for me to finish training before I could consider such an undertaking! Also, I got to have plenty of personal adult time which younger parents may miss out on.” Although a couple of moms who both had children in their 20s and then again in their late 30s said they were more cognisant of the social pressures which caused them to worry about their child’s development, about what they did or didn’t eat during pregnancy, and about whether they were being the “super mom”. These moms also noted 1. During the bewitching hour before dinner, when kids are less energy and being less able to tired and hungry and more apt to act out, implement a fun tolerate sleepless nights during the routine or activity. We have a “dance party” where we later pregnancies. crank up the music (usually Black Eyed Peas) and dance in the living room until we laugh. Medical issues 2. Make going upstairs to bed fun. We sing the Grand Ole Several moms find it painful to Duke of York all the way up the stairs, acting out the song hear comments about increasing as we walk. Which child wants to be excluded from the infertility as you age when they fun? were not moms by choice but by 3. When your children are young it is easy to overdo it by circumstance. Yes, it is true that taking them everywhere and doing everything. Limit your your infertility drops as you age. activities away from the home to every other day. That And unfortunately, you are most way you can have a day of rest at home in between. fertile in your teens when you

Top three parenting tips

least want children. Your chance of getting pregnant at age 30 is 20 percent per month whereas by age 40 this drops to five percent. These statistics were highlighted only so that women were aware of them, not to cause distress for those who didn’t have children. Medically speaking there is a higher incidence of both genetic (chromosomal) and non-chromosomal defects, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and premature birth to name a few. The good news is that there are plenty of women who have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies after the age of 35. But, it is even more important to seek pre-natal care to ensure this healthiness. Whether you are a younger or an older mom, have a choice or don’t have a choice of when you can have children, enjoy motherhood to the fullest. Just savour the moment. To your child, you are as young as you act Dr Rajka Milanovic Galbraith is an American Board certified family physician, a mother of two and a wife who has resided in Doha f of the past 6 years. She has over 14 years of clinical experience and is regarded highly by her patients, colleagues and staff. Recently she launched a website: www.expatdoctormom.com which provides up to date information in a wide variety of areas including: healthcare, parenting, travel, and entrepreneurship. Dr Rajka will be writing a regular column covering subjects from women and family health to parenting issues. If you have questions you wish answered, please write to wtoday@omsqatar.com, subject line ‘Ask the Doc’.

ask the doc

What Screening Tests should a pregnant woman over 35 have? The American College of Obstaetricians and Gynaecologists recommends that all pregnant women be offered screening tests to assess their risk of having a baby with a birth defect or genetic disorder regardless of age. In addition a detailed second trimester ultrasound at 18 to 20 weeks of gestation is suggested. First trimester screening tests include the following blood tests – (Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) ) along with an ultrasound exam to measure nuchal thickness (the back of the neck) of the foetus. An increase in this space may be a sign of Down’s syndrome, trisomy 18, or other chromosomal problems Second trimester tests include a Multiple marker screen where 3-4 of the following hormones are measured – Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Estriol, Human chorionic gonadotropin, and Inhibin-A. Note that these non-invasive tests cannot tell you whether your baby has a defect; they only tell you your actual risk against women of the same age. If these above screening tests raise concern, then a woman can be offered invasive testing with either CVS (chorionic villus sampling) or Amniocentesis.

What medical conditions is a pregnant woman over the age of 35 at risk of? Ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, fetal chromosomal abnormalities, some congenital anomalies, placenta previa, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery. Such complications may, in turn, result in preterm birth.

Should all women who deliver for the first time have an episiotomy? In the past, episiotomies were done routinely to make repair easier, improve wound healing and reduce the extension of tears. Now it has been recommended against by the American College of Obstaetricians and Gynaecologists because of the lack of evidence to support its routine use in spontaneous and instrumental deliveries.

2011 April

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from botox to lifts

r i x i l e e Th

of youth? By SHALINEE BHARADWAJ

Play it safe

ooking 50 is great, if you are 60! Ageing gracefully might be a dictum with the modern women but running parallel is the never ending desire to stay young and creaseless! While the baton of an aging body doesn’t spare anyone, it is possible to turn the clock, somewhat. Science today is busy marketing the fruits of technology, promising the fabled ‘Fountain of Youth’ to anyone who can afford it. The power of the surgeon’s scalpel lies in an increasing percentage of humanity (men and women) willing to ‘set back the clock’. Check out the Internet sites and it is commonplace to see advertisements assuring you a ‘rejuvenated comeback’ after a vacation combined with plastic surgery! With little or no downtime and the backing of a simpler, safer technology that is getting cheaper, cosmetic/aesthetic or plastic surgery is surely paving the way for a fresher looking world! Does it mean that we are heading towards a Frankenstein-ian plastic world where no one ages? “Not at all! It is important to understand that contrary to the misconception, cosmetic or plastic surgery aims at retaining the natural, healthy look in the person. Only a touch is required at the affected area that helps to enhance the natural looks without appearing surgical or plastic faced. I will never advise

April 2011

my patients to take up extreme surgeries in order to look what you are not naturally. Surgery can turn the clock back by reducing the most visible signs of ageing but it cannot stop the clock from ticking,” explains Dr Ahmed Makki, MD FRCS, Senior Consultant Surgeon, Plastic Surgicentre, Doha.

The new age

The cosmetic menu is getting juicier; as fast as going out for coffee and returning with a refreshed look! Healthier eating, longer life spans and higher disposable incomes have helped to hold back the years. However, for many people the biggest boost comes from the surgeon’s scalpel, a recent survey found. Plastic surgery has ushered an era where 60 is the new middle age, looks wise at least! With wrinkle-buster Botox now considered mainstream, the next beauty trend is fat-removing liposuction during your lunch break. “Today the technologies employed for cosmetic surgery are very developed and safe. However it is important that the patient is prepared before undertaking any sort of procedure. Procedures cannot be generalised for everyone. An experienced and well trained doctor will be able to make out what is most suitable and safe for you, after a few sessions of consultation. The third essential component to a successful surgery is a well equipped place where it

Undoubtedly plastic surgery can literally shape poor self image and heighten self confidence in those who do not feel comfortable in their bodies but, before you take the first step it helps to be adequately aware of the ‘yuck behind the tuck’! It makes sense to remember the bottom line-plastic surgery is a surgery and involves all the inherent risks of an invasive medical procedure. Bruising, swelling, bleeding, infections can cause a risk to your physical health and well being. The achieved results have a ‘face life’ after which the signs of aging start making a comeback! Joan Rivers, the legendary Hollywood comedian actress and author of several popular books has definitely chopped years off her age with multi surgeries but it has come with an exceptionally stretched smile and squeezed up eyes. Fear of depression and emotional stress at not attaining the desired result is quite common. There are a number of reported instances of plastic surgery gone wrong-deformation, acute scarring and even leading to paralysis in some cases. While the charm of a youthful appearance pulls many, it is important to make informed decisions before undertaking any course of action. Non invasive procedures and facial and body exercises targeted for the sagging muscles can be a safer alternative to a healthy young body.

Procedures performed at Plastic Surgicentre to look ‘young’: Face Lifting: It includes removing

pregnancy or when breast feeding.

excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and

Dr Ahmed Makki Senior Consultant Surgeon, Plastic Surgicentre will be performed. Certain procedures require general anaesthesia, for which the surgery should be done in a well equipped hospital,” says Dr Makki. The Middle East is fast becoming a desirable destination for ‘a medical vacation’ involving plastic surgery, with Lebanon currently ruling the roost. As people grow more aware about beauty and looking good, plastic surgery is becoming more of an extension of normal beauty procedures at the parlours. “In Doha, commonly performed surgeries are post pregnancy and child birth. Majority of the cases are for tummy tuck and breast lift/reduction or enlargement. Second common category is corrective surgery for loose, lax skin after weight reduction. When we lose weight, our face becomes thin; this can be corrected by fillers that bring back the healthy look. We also have men coming in for liposuction and reduction of breast tissue. Surgery for looking young comes third. We have men and women coming in for face lift, nose job, eyelid surgery, Botox, fillers, microdermabrasion, to achieve a fresher look,” he says.

Plastic surgery – A blessing in disguise?

For some people seeking plastic surgery, expectations are unrealistically high. Basing their hopes on the before-and-after albums offered in surgeons’ offices, they expect to achieve a perfect body or to look just like their favourite celeb. But those albums only show how someone else’s liposuction, breast augmentation, or Beyonce-bum enhancement turned out! To avoid any after disappointments, this sensitive issue can be taken care of by using computer generated models of how you will look after the surgery. Commenting on his take on plastic surgery for enhancing beauty, Dr Makki opines that keeping your expectations as realistic is the key to happiness! “Do not expect over-the-board results or transformations. Our

re-draping the skin of your face and neck. A

Injectible fillers: Injectible filler

facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction

or fat can help improve the skin’s texture by

with other procedures such as a forehead lift,

filling in the laugh lines and facial creases that

eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.

often occur with aging.

Forehead Lift: While no one is immune

Breast Lift: Over the years, factors such

to the effects of aging, a forehead lift, also

as pregnancy, nursing, and the force of gravity

known as a brow lift, can minimise drooping

take their toll on a woman’s breasts. Breast lift,

eyebrows, 'hooding' over the eyes, fore-

or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to raise

head furrows and frown lines that come with

and reshape sagging breasts.

age. The result can be a more alert, more animated, more youthful appearance that can last from five to 10 years or longer.

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): This surgical procedure removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower

Feather Lift (Aptos Threads

abdomen and tightens the muscles of the ab-

Lifting): The 'Feather-Lift' is a non-

dominal wall, thus reducing the appearance

surgical approach to facial lifting utilising the

of a protruding abdomen. But it does produce

patented 'Aptos(r) threads' made of polypro-

a permanent scar.

pylene. Blepharoplasty

Laser resurfacing: Often utilised

(Eyelid surgery): This procedure can

as a compliment to surgery, it is excellent for

correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags

treating fine lines on the cheeks, beneath the

below your eyes-features that make you look

eyes and around the mouth - the lines that are

older and more tired than you feel, and may

difficult to correct with surgery.

even interfere with your vision.

Fractional laser resurfacing

Botox injections: People often dis-

is a new method of skin rejuvenation that only

like their central frown line, which is caused by

treats a fraction of the skin, leaving the sur-

concentrating, squinting, or frowning. Botox

rounding areas alone.

injections can successfully reduce its prominence and even lessen crow’s feet and other expression lines. The effect lasts between four and six months. Treatment cannot be used in

goal is to keep you looking natural, fresh and healthy. Plastic surgery helps you to not only achieve a physically younger body but also a boosted confidence. You are ready to face the world with panache, so why not?” Beauty is a fast growing business. And for those who blanch at the idea of going under the knife are

Thermage: This procedure gives you softened wrinkles and lines by promoting new collagen growth for younger looking skin.

fuelling another boom that of anti-aging products, the fastest growing in the skincare business! And to tap this multibillion dollar seam, companies are scrambling to discover ever more unusual products. The take is always yours, which way to go, is your choice! It is only human to strive for beauty, looking in the mirror and liking what you see! 2011 April

ageless

PrettyW men! By SHALINEE BHARADWAJ

AFP

In an industry where looking a day over 25 is a liability; some female celebs have maintained their appealing sparkle well. Whether or not they got the ‘jobs’ done is trifling, they appear youthful and vivacious and that is what matters! Woman Today takes a peep into the timeless world of some Hollywood celebrities who present exemplary cases of defying age, in body and mind. They not only look amazingly gorgeous at 50+ years but are also pretty dynamic in their relationships. They provide incessant fodder for the paparazzi’s sneaking lens, walking hand-in-hand at some romantic location with men younger in age! And why not so?

Elizabeth Taylor

lizabeth Taylor was 79, when she closed her beautiful voilet eyes forever. And it was the end of yet another glorious chapter in the history of Hollywood. This beauty could never be called ‘Old’. Considering the fact that she looked breath-takingly gorgeous even in her late 70’s, she could still give younger stars a run for their money. Her personal life was equally vibrant. Eight marriages, seven husbands? Her charm refuses to fade. RIP Liz.

(Age: 79)

Christie Brinkley

his American model is best known for her three consecutive appearances on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, and her long-running contract with Cover Girl–the longest ever of any model in history. She featured in famous music videos for Billy Joel (Uptown Girl, Keeping the Faith, All about Soul, River of Dreams, A Matter of Trust and Leningrad) and Mick Jones Just Wanna Hold. Once married to musician Billy Joel, the Uptown Girl is amazingly gorgeous at 57 and still turns heads around! She married for the fourth time at a ripe age of 42 with Peter Cook, former model and an architect who was 37, but split in 2008.

(Age: 57)

April 2011

Sharon Stone

The ever-so-sexy Basic Instinct star no longer needs to cross over her legs to get attention. She got all of it after the big beauty cosmetic brand ‘Dior’ signed a multi-million dollar deal to represent their age defying skin care and makeup product range, making her the face of Dior at 47! Always a darling of celeb gossip columns, she boasts of a string of relationships with younger men behind her.

(Age: 53)

Madonna

AFP

The Material Girl probably has a body of a 25-year old. At 53, she is as fit as a fiddle, thanks to her huge passion for staying in top shape. Madonna has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is recognised as the world’s top-selling female recording artist of all time by the Guinness World Records. A vibrant entertainer and skilful actress, she is lately being seen with boyfriend Brahim Zaibat, a 24 year old French breakdancer. AFP

(Age: 53)

Michelle Pfeiffer

She first appeared on the cover of People’s first ‘50 Most Beautiful People in the World’ issue in 1990 and since then Pfeiffer has made the cut numerous times and we can totally see why! This Cat Women is still appeals in her seductive ‘meowww’ look. Apart from a few lines here and there, she is as young as can be.

AFP

(Age: 53)

Meryl Streep

Meryl is widely regarded as one of the most talented and respected actresses of the modern era. She is one woman who looks settled, comfortable and satisfied with what she has got. She has grown gracefully over the years, confidence bringing out her beauty, vibrancy and maturity. Peacefully married to sculptor Don Gummer since 1978, she is the proud mother of four children.

(Age: 62) 2011 April

fitness

health&

Bending the

age rule

By Jacki Woodworth

arenting guru Barbara Coloroso taught me to always find ways to empower children with age appropriate choices. Even within the seemingly non-negotiable facts, there are choices. True, 7pm bedtime may be a non-negotiable fact, however a child can chose which PJs to wear or which bedtime story to read. Tidy your room? Non-negotiable fact. Child’s choice? When it gets done (anytime BEFORE playtime). Over the years I have used this handy parenting tool in many other aspects of my life. In fact, as I write this, I can imagine Coloroso’s words; ‘Ageing? Definitely a non-negotiable fact; the choosing is in attitude. Ageing with dignity and grace is an attitude. Research is constantly informing us that to age well we need to eat right, sleep well, reduce stress, surround yourself with positive, supportive relationships and engage regularly in activities that improve strength, balance, flexibility, and cardiovascular capacity. Easier said than done? This is where attitude comes in. If interested, I mean REALLY interested in aging with dignity and grace, the first step is to adopt an attitude of commitment and self-discipline. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit” (Aristotle). Yoga has taught me that with patience and persistence, it is possible to make significant change IF you are willing to commit to it. Participation in yoga is referred to as 'practice', meaning we come back to it again and again. It is a slow process of doing over and over again that which we want to become habit in our lives. One of the grandfathers of yoga, Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois was known for repeating to students, “Practice, practice, all is coming.” Slowly the repetition sinks into you, like rain seeping into the parched and thirsty desert. Whether it is the physical practice ‘on the mat’, becoming more aware of negative thought patterns through mindful meditation practice, or practicing non-violence/compassion (known as Ahimsa) toward self and others, it all sinks in, shway, shway. I’m not what one might call a ‘typical’ yogi. I came to love yoga in my mid 40s. This is later in life than many, but this does not mean the benefits have been any less. Over the past four years the commitment has slowly etched itself into my life and the improvements have been many. My levels of strength, flexibility, balance, acceptance and awareness have all improved, in all realms – physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual. There have certainly been times when I grew impatient and discouraged, when I pushed too hard, forgetting that yoga is a process, not a destination. I struggled with this concept of patience, being accustomed to a ‘quick fix’ world full of promises for effortless solutions. Weight loss, anti-aging, lift, firm, cleanse, or tone. You name it, if we can swallow it or

April 2011

lather it on for quick results...bring it on! Over the past several decades I’ve tried my share of quick fix solutions – the only thing quick about them was how quickly they drained my wallet and DIDN’T fix anything. Yoga is NOT like this. It is a worthy commitment. Three fundamental yogic concepts guide my daily practice now, and are especially helpful on days when I feel tired, discouraged or impatient. These are three of the five ‘Niyamas’; the attitudes that guide our approach to our internal world, to ourselves. They are passionate self-discipline (tapas), self-observation (svadhyaya) and surrender (isvarapranidhana). As a ‘mature’ yoga practioner, these help me to ‘keep it real’ and not get trapped back in the ‘quick fix’ thinking! I try to take it ‘one day at a time’ because when you think about, that’s all we really have isn’t it? “You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way”. (author, E.L. Doctorow). So Ladies, yes, the truth is we are growing older. Whether ‘kicking and screaming’ or with dignity and grace, the choice is YOURS alone. One path toward dignity and grace is yoga, give it a try. You’re never too old to come home to yourself on the mat (Jacki Woodworth teaches yoga and mindfulness at Yama Yoga Studios. For more information please see www.yamayogastudios.com)

fitness

health&

ends, p e d r ot yea nt n s n e doe upoer am men e p e Ag em . Som some . t p n d h upo ealtld, anrow u t bu nd h rn o er g a bo rds ev n e ar Edwa n o y â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tr

l l a s I It the in nd i m

By a n le V Nicoat tem H

April 2011

geing – we’ve been doing it all our lives. Since the day we were born we have been growing. Why do some people see it is as growing up and others see it as growing old? Take a good look at the people around you. Find someone who you consider older than you and looks as though they are really enjoying every day of their life? What makes them stand out in your mind? How do they act? Do they seem old or ageless to you? What’s going on or not going on in their lives? Chances are that if you were to really get to know this person you will find that they face some of the same challenges you do. Perhaps they have financial goals to be attained, a challenging career or work situation or even searching for their life’s purpose. Maybe they are separated from loved ones living abroad, have materialistic wants or needs, even health challenges or relationships that could be improved. Now really listen to the words they use to describe the world around them, how they describe themselves, and how they see the part they play in this life. Those I know, who are considered by society as old in terms of years, and filled with ageless beauty and energy, are those who have mastered their mindsets. Despite having lived lives filled with inspiring experiences and in some cases faced with insurmountable challenges, they approach life as an ongoing adventure and not as a test of endurance. They are filled with an active passion for life, have a strong connection with something greater than themselves and invest daily in their own wellbeing. The strongest asset appears to be the way they think about the events that they experience, the storis that they tell themselves about what happens to them or around them. It’s how they choose to see their world and their life that makes the difference. These wonderful people choose a mindset that is youthful. Their bodies have aged and in some cases their physical abilities have changed, however they haven’t adopted an old person’s mindset. Through their eyes you can see that there are cycles in life: a time to be a child and then a teenager, a young adult, to find a life partner and raise children, to work hard and honour your responsibilities, to live your life’s purpose, to guide the next generation and be at peace. There is no sense of loss or struggle against the flow

of life and neither is there a resignation that getting older means becoming less. The different stages in life present different opportunities to grow, develop, contribute and live in different ways. These energetic, vibrant individuals don’t see their cup as half full or half empty, rather they see their cup as always filling. The world’s population of centenarians is projectedtoreachnearly6millionbymid-century.Weare living longer and longer, and with an attitude to life having a profound effect on the quality of life, it’s time to choose whether you are going to be an old person or a youthful older person. Practice the habit of becoming mindful of the quality of your thoughts. Listen to the conversation you are having with yourself. If you are having trouble tracking them, write them down in a journal and review them. Ask yourself whether your thoughts are creating a view of your world that keeps you youthful. If this internal dialogue could use a boost, write down a script that will help you to see your life the way that you want to see it. Practice this script over and over in your mind until it replaces the “old” script. Need more help? There are many books and techniques you can learn, or use a coach to help you master your mindset

Recipe of the Month

1 cup of nut milk, rice milk or soy milk or low fat cows milk 1 ripe banana Handful of goji berries Blend with some ice and enjoy

FOOD FOCUS Goji Berries (wolf berries) Goji berries have the highest antioxidant content on the Earth. It has an Orac (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) rating of 18500 (it is a standard used by the US Department of Agriculture for measuring total antioxidant capacity). This is much higher than what is seen in fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants have anti-aging properties and help in improving your overall immunity so that the body can fight against diseases. Goji berries are perhaps the most nutritionally rich berry-fruit on the planet. They taste delicious and are well-balanced for nearly all body types, blood types, and metabolisms. Blend into smoothies, juices and elixirs. Use as a tea additive or as a tea by itself. Add to salads. Use with nuts and seeds in trail mix – chew them like raisins.

Nicole van Hattem is an Executive Health Coach, writer, speaker, presenter and corporate wellness consultant. She is also the founder and director of Art of Abundant Living and runs a thriving health coaching practice. Satisfy your hunger for life – to find out more go to www.artofabundantliving.com, join Art of Abundant Living on Facebook or follow Nicole on twitter @balanced _ nicole and LinkedIn

2011 April

Discover the Secret to Healthy Hair or centuries, alchemist and healers worldwide have turned to nature’s rich resources for their medicinal powers. With the oil from the macadamia nut found throughout the South Pacific and the uniquely rare Argan seeds of Morocco, nature has provided us with some of the most beneficial elements for healthful skin and hair. Macadamia Natural Oil™ products combine the oils of these highly nutritional nuts with special blends of nature’s most nourishing botanicals to formulate the ultimate in hair rejuvenation and maintenance. Revitalize your hairs natural essence and beauty. Create a protective layer that replenishes and enriches with essential proteins. Enjoy soft, silky, glossy hair without oily or waxy residues. This is the essence of nature. This is the beauty of Macadamia – the secret to healthy hair. Alnazih Trading Company W.L.L. SALWA: Tel.: Fax:

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Gharafa: Area 51, Road 660, Gharafa Tel.: +974 4487 5268 Al Nasr: New Mirqab Street, Fereej Al Nasr Tel.: +974 4436 5798 email :

customerservice@alnazih.com

WHAT MAKES MACADAMIA OIL SO SPECIAL? Macadamia oil’s unique composition gives it an uncanny similarity and compatibility to your body’s own natural oils and allows for unbelievable absorption and rapid penetration into the hair and skin. An incredibly rich concentration of essential fatty acids, natural anti-oxidants and vitamins penetrates, smoothes and coats the hair shaft, improving elasticity and strength and leaving hair deeply nourished and revitalized. Macadamia oil naturally hydrates and replenishes lost emollients in the hair, leaving behind a protective barrier that helps prevent moisture loss. Noticeably softens and smoothes thick, coarse or dry hair THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE PERFORMANCE Macadamia Oil: Very rich in essential fatty acids, Macadamia oil has the distinctive feature of resembling sebum. This replication of the natural oils our scalp produces for protection make it an ideal enriching and replenishing agent with rapid absorption. A high content of palmitoleic acid (cishexadec-9-enoic acid), which is an essential component of human sebum.

Macadamia nut oil contains the highest amount of palmitoleic acid (an Omega 7 fatty acid) of any plant. This essential component of human sebum plays an integral role in lubrication, softening and protection of protein structures. Palmitoleic acid is plentiful in our bodies when we are young, but decreases with aging. Argan Oil: The oil is rich in Omega 9, Linoleic, Oleic, and unsaturated fatty acids shown to be very beneficial in improving hair strength and health. The uncommon combination of sterols found in Argan oil allow for more rapid penetration because their structure is very similar to human sterols. It naturally contains incredibly high levels of Vitamin E which helps revive and renew hair damaged by heat, wind, oxidization or over-styling and processing and creates the perfect condition for healthy hair to grow. Both Oils: Essential fatty acids are the building blocks of the cell membrane; therefore, the omega’s found in Macadamia and Argan oil can be metabolized and directly assimilated into the skin. Also, essential fatty acids smooth and coat the follicle shaft and have been shown to extend the life of color treated hair. They both are rich in natural antioxidants that are effective free-radical fighters - helping to repair cellular membrane damage and improve strength. MACADAMIA NATURAL OIL™ TREATMENT BENEFITS Provides intense nourishment, smoothing and a long lasting, tangle-free, frizz-free finish. Hair is ultra-smooth, manageable and shiny. Instant absorption and light-weight, non-greasy feel. Shown to extend the life of color treatments by reducing fading. Natural UV protection Reduces drying time an amazing 40-50% PRODUCT OVERVIEW The Macadamia Natural Oil products deeply nourish and revitalize dry, brittle hair by strengthening the hair for improved manageability, and the elimination of frizz and tangles while adding shine without an oily residue or build-up. The Macadamia Natural Oil line contains the healing powers of two of nature’s most wondrous oils: Macadamia Nut Oil and Argan Seed Oil. For thousands of years, Australian aborigines have consumed the macadamia nut for its high nutritional value and health-promoting benefits. Today, macadamia oil is widely revered for its incredible benefits to hair, skin and overall health by promoting shiny hair and radiant skin. Argan Seed Oil, known as “liquid gold” to Moroccans, has been used by countless generations for its beneficial use in skin, hair, nail and therapeutic treatments. This rare and difficult to obtain oil restores shine and softness to dry, brittle hair while nourishing hair damaged by chemical services. Together, macadamia oil and argan oil replenish the hair’s natural emollients with the high content of essential fatty acids found naturally in both of these exceptional oils. The combined benefits help to nourish and protect the hair from harmful UV rays while repairing hair follicles for improved elasticity and shine.

THE PRODUCTS Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment is a therapeutic oil perfect for all hair types and is especially beneficial to dry, damaged hair. The Healing Oil Treatment is instantly absorbed, weightlessly infusing the hair with moisture and nutrients for silky smooth, healthy looking hair while providing natural UV protection from photo and sun damage. Dry, brittle hair is miraculously rejuvenated with increased shine and control. How to Use: Apply a small amount to damp or dry hair. Comb through for even distribution. Healing Oil Treatment can also be added as an enhancement to other conditioning and finishing products or mixed into color or other chemical service preparations for improved absorption and effectiveness, resulting in more vivid and long-lasting applications. To enhance your color service, add two pumps of Healing Oil Treatment to your color mixture before application. Mix thoroughly and apply color as usual. Macadamia Deep Repair Masque is a revitalizing hair reconstructor for dry, damaged hair. A combination of macadamia oil and argan oil along with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts rejuvenate and rebuild the hair, leaving the hair deeply nourished for improved elasticity and shine with long-lasting conditioning benefits. How to Use: After shampooing and towel drying the hair, take a small amount of Macadamia Deep Repair Masque in the palm of your hand. Rub your palms together and apply evenly to damp hair. Comb through for even distribution. For an ultra conditioning and reparative treatment, add a small amount of Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment to the the Deep Repair Masque application. Leave in for 5 to 10 minutes to penetrate the cuticles of the hair. No heat is required for processing. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Style as desired. The Deep Repair Masque is an intense, revitalizing hair treatment and should not be used more than twice a week for best results. Macadamia Nourishing Leave-In Cream is a leave-in conditioning texture cream infused with nourishing oils to tame unruly locks while adding silky softness, shine and UV protection. How to Use: Apply a small amount of the Nourishing Leave-In Cream in the palm of your hand. Rub your palms together and apply evenly to damp or dry hair. For a more intense, conditioning treatment, add a small amount of Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment to the Nourishing Leave-In Cream application. Comb through for even distribution. Style as desired. Macadamia Rejuvenating Shampoo is a moisturizing shampoo for all hair types and is excellent for dry, damaged hair. The Rejuvenating Shampoo gently cleanses the hair while weightlessly replenishing moisture and protecting the hair from environmental elements. How to Use: Wet the hair with warm water and shampoo with Macadamia Rejuvenating Shampoo. Gently massage the scalp and roots with your fingertips and work into a rich lather. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and towel dry. Repeat if necessary.

Advertorial

fitness

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Mountain Climber Place your hands on stairs, a step, a chair or a table. Suck your belly button in and keep a straight spine. Pull one knee toward your chest, then alternate. Keep up the pace and continue for 30 steps. And jump with one leg forward while you extend the other one. Alternate the legs.

1 2

Lunges Classic toning exercise! Take a big step forward and drop your body towards the ground. Keep a proud stance, chest out and stomach sucked in for alignment. Take a step back and alternate between legs.

April Fitness...

Baby got Back! Fit, long and toned thighs and a firm derriere are the ultimate goal for most girls. Those warm summer nights are creeping up upon us, so it is time to dig in and work hard to fit into your favourite glamour attire! Repeat each of these exercises 30 times, take a 60 second rest (and stretch!) before starting the next one. Complete the series four times in a row, three times per week and by the end of April youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be nobodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fool!

April 2011

Hip Raise Put your heels and lower legs on a fit ball or chair with your hands beside your body. Inhale, and as you exhale, squeeze your glutes together, lifting your whole body off the floor. Lower slowly and repeat.

Hamstring Curl Stay in the same position as exercise three (hips off the floor, arms beside your body) and roll the ball closer to you with your feet. Remember to suck in your tummy. Roll back out to the starting position and repeat.

The staff at Six Senses Spa will be back next month for a fitter May.

2011 April

stop

style

Kenzo’s sensational collection

enzo has infused all colours of the season in its new spring/summer 2011 collection. Inspired by the brand’s DNA of flowers, colour and lacquered red, the collection offers a variety of floral prints with a bright colour palette.

Sparkly event

This year, Art Dubai – one of the world's most contemporary art events, exhibited a dazzling new collection from Van Cleef & Arpels. The Les Voyages Extraordinaires collection is inspired by four stories from the father of science fiction, French writer Jules Verne. The highlights of the collection include the Olindias clip that captures the grace and femininity of a legendary sea nymph, the Berenice Constellation ring, the Stromboli set and the Makis necklace that has all the luxuriance of the tropical African forest in an explosion of colours.

Aigner at The Pearl-Qatar

oha has yet another brand on its luxury list with the opening of the new Aigner store at The Pearl-Qatar. The ceremony was attended by many of Doha’s VIPs who were keen to grab a look at the coveted brand’s latest offerings, and specialised Aigner bag master, Christina Buettner was on hand to inaugurate the chic new boutique. A range of beautiful bags, wallets, belts and stylish clothing is available from the new store. The spring/summer 2011 collection is inspired by the idea of mother nature meeting technology; matt confronts gloss while tradition mixes with innovation. The colour palette comprises a range of versatile and contrasting elements; while luxury new leathers have been used including soft crocodile, lizard and python.

April 2011

Cool summers with

Babyshop

abyshop’s spring/summer 2011 collection is full of bright colours, vibrant detailing, cool styling and tasteful prints. Fabrics such as Poplin, Fine gauge and linen are weather friendly, free flowing and easy to maintain. The prints are dominated by colourful stripes, check designs and polka dots. For the boys, the theme is Speed Racing; and for the girls, it’s Disney. Other lines include the playful and energetic Gear collection, and the Lee Cooper collection which is an ethnic mix of style and comfort. Say hello to summers!

Pick your accessory

his season Versace plays with proportion and opposites in its spring/summer women’s collection–short vs. long, high vs. low, plain vs. patterned, dull vs. bright, and fabric vs. flesh. The same theme applies for its accessories as well. Purses and handbags are created from contrasting materials with decorations that are either bright or dull. There are also small bags that feature the Greek fret motif as decoration, and not as a logo. In shoes, stiletto heels replace the platforms to give you a new high.

Hide the signs

uxe has come up with a new antiageing product, the Nuxuriance Eye and Lip, that offers a global anti-aging action on the five visible signs of aging of eye and lip contours –dark circles, brown spots, puffy eyes, wrinkles and skin slackening. Enriched with herbal ingredients such as araucaria seeds, maca roots, plant caffeine, etc, these magical molecules work their way through your skin, thus revitalising it. Stay young with Nuxe!

2011 April

stop

style

When curves

rock! A mums’ day treat

Evans gave Woman Today reader and lady about town Karen AlKharouf a Mother’s day treat. A free makeover, tips on how to carry the curves, and an outfit thrown in.

Karen before the makeover.

April 2011

aren Al Kharouf, born and raised in the US, is co-founder and owner of Secrets974 Beauty Center. She moved to Doha over five years ago. She is committed to sharing the vision "believe in the impossible, and make it a realty" and is dedicated to causes that seem impossible to achieve or overcome. True to her lifestyle, Karen manages Think Pink Qatar, a Breast Cancer Organisation operating under the umbrella of the Qatar National Cancer Society which she started in 2008 with husband Shadi Al Kharouf. Think Pink Qatar was established to raise the awareness and to educate women and men in Qatar of the need for early detection and treatment of Breast Cancer. Karen dedicates her efforts to her grandmother Agnes who died of Breast Cancer at age 77. "She was my rock and shaped who I am today," she says. It is her mommy role that "gives her the power to move through any obstacles in her path" she says, talking about her three children, Elvis, Krysta, and Brenton-Konner. Krysta accompanied her mum for the makeover.

Sama Al-Wasmi helps Karen with the look. Sama flew in from Kuwait for the special Mother’s day event, which was celebrated in Evans at Landmark Mall.

Size rules Dress it to the Max. The Maxi Dress hides a multitude of sins, wear this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with flats, and layer it with lightweight knits! Replace with heels and jewelry for an evening look. Shrink your bottom. Harem pants are a great slimming illusion! The draping fabric skims the bottom and thighs-simply magic! Belt it up! Draw the eye with a great looking belt! Placed at waist height highlights your narrow waist, place slightly higher to elongate your legs! Lengthen your legs. High heels and neutral tones aid in making your legs look longer... another handy leg lengthening tip is to wear the same color trousers and heels.

"Match your metals! If your outfit has gold accents, make sure your accessories, shoes and purse have gold also, otherwise it is a bit distracting!" "Loving the way this classic shirt is dressed up with a pair of snakeskin flats and classic black bag..." Being a plus size woman I embrace my shape and I wear clothes that compliment my size and personality. I love to dress in the latest fashion and I select cloths that make me feel good about myself. My advice to other plus size women is to find cloths that give you that uplift and make you feel confident of who you are. Remember no two women are built the same and we all can not all be size two but we can all look good when we choose the right outfit to fit our shape, you can be beautiful at any size.

Karen PS: Thanks Ameera of Secrets974 for Hair and MakeUp; and Krysta Thompson of University of Arizona for Creative Development, for helping out. 2011 April

town

around

How Women Work

Power Meet

hen professional women, from all walks of life, share a platform to relate their success stories – it’s inspiring. The How Women Work (HWW) conference continued to serve as this inspirational platform in its second edition held at Katara Cultural Village last month. True to its slogan, the conference was successful at ‘inspiring women to define and create their success.’ While opening the event, Qatar Businesswoman Forum, Vice-Chairperson, Aisha Al-Fardan said, “Women should never forget their rich traditions despite living in a modern world. Without our past we are nothing. Our traditions help us in being firmly rooted to the ground. Even if we lose in our endeavours, we must think big and look forward. We must emerge with a stronger personality after every encounter in life.” She also spoke about her journey towards becoming a successful Arab businesswoman and praised the Qatari leaders for taking initiatives to empower women. The day long conference had around 20 sessions to choose from. Some of them included networking secrets, time management for working women, developing confidence as a leader, work/life balance, and communication and business etiquettes. A new feature to the conference was a debate titled ‘The Glass Ceiling No Longer Exists’ hosted by Qatar debates. The debate saw panellists put

April 2011

forward their opinions on gender equality in the country. There was also a ‘90 second pitch’ session during which various women received an opportunity to introduce their business ideas to the audience. The HWW conference is the brainchild of Carolin Zeitler, Director of Arcata Interactive Communication Coaching. This year she was joined by Empower People’s Co-Founders and Directors Jeanine Bailey and Alison Ringrow to organise the event. The conference was powered by Woman Today and endorsed by the Qatari Business Women’s Association. Carolin said, “It was a great experience organising the second edition of HWW conference as a team. Compared to last year, there were a few changes. We included a competition for students, organised a debate, and also changed our venue to the beautiful Katara. This new venue helped us strengthen our focus on making women understand different cultures. Also, there was an increase in the number of participants and speakers as well.” Basking in the success of the second edition, Carolin has plans ready for the next edition. “Many of the participants complained that they couldn’t attend more than three sessions during the event. Hence we are holding monthly workshops of the popular sessions until the next conference.” “The third edition of HWW will focus on three major areas – women as entrepreneurs, as employees and as individuals,” she added

town

around

Top 10 Books:

The Confession By John Grisham How Hard Can It Be By Jeremy Clarkson Full Dark, No Stars By Stephen King Conversation With Myself By Nelson Mandela Worth Dying For By Lee Child Cross Fire By James Patterson The Finkler Question By Howard Jacobson Homecoming By Cathy Kelly Mortal Remains By Kathy Reichs My Life In Doha By Rachel Hajar

Movie Dvds:

Mothers’ Day The Hyatt Way

his Mother’s day, mothers were treated to something special at Hyatt Plaza. From complimentary make-overs by Pari Gallery experts, to a cooking demonstration by W Doha’s Executive-Chef Prakash Seetul, to a cooking competition that had winners dine at the five-star Spice Market restaurant at W Doha – it was fun throughout. There was also a competition on Facebook where mothers were requested to post pictures of them with their kids for one of three categories – Sweetest Moment, Lookalike Moment and Wacky Moment. Winners of each category received gift vouchers of QR200 from Giant Stores. Kids too were kept entertained with the art and craft workshops at the mall. Meanwhile, as part of its eight anniversary celebrations, the mall unveiled its official mall magazine ‘Hyatt Plaza’ to provide its customers and visitors with information regarding the mall.

Wonders of the sea: Qatar Marine Festival

he ten day Qatar Marine Festival had thousands of visitors throng the Katara Cultural Village East side seafront to witness one of the major edutainment events of the year. Highlights of the festival included the first ever Seals Show in Qatar, ‘Secrets of the Sea’ musical, the spectacular Dancing Fountain, and the Bahrana exhibition of live sea creatures. Over a dozen floats depicting an array of sea creatures including crabs, fishes, seashells and mythological figures such as mermaids added to the carnival like atmosphere. Other interesting features of the festival were the huge sand sculptures at the Sands Kingdom, paintings at the Visual Art Symposium, and the Al Fereej zone which showcased exhibits of traditional handicrafts, folklore music and dance, a traditional photo studio and cafè and regional traditional games.

April 2011

Despicable Me Bambi – Diamond Edition Social Network Inception – Special Edition Beverly Hills – Chihuahua 2 Ramona & Beezus Red Wronged Man Twilight Saga Eclipse Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Music Cds:

Justin Bieber: My Worlds Special Edition Adele: 21 2011 Grammy Nominees Rihanna: Loud Mars: Doo-Wops & Hooligans Now That’s What I Call Music Justin Bieber: My World 2.0 Pacha Global Bx3 Era: Era The Very Best Of David Guetta: One More Love

Series:

Family Guy - Season 9 Grey’s Anatomy - Season 6 Desperate Housewives - Season 6 24 - Season 8 Cougar Town - Season 1 Gossip Girls - Season 3 Lie To Me - Season 2 Ncis - Season 3 Top GEar - Season 10 Heroes - Season 4

Games:

Killzone 3 - Ps3 Call Of Duty: Black Ops - Ps3 Gran Turismo 5 - Ps3 Little Big Planet 2 - Ps3 Move Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare - Ps3 Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate Of Two Worlds - Ps3 Smackdown Vs. Raw 2011 - Ps3 Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit - Ps3 Sports Champions - Ps3 Move Test Drive: Unlimited 2 - Ps3

(Courtesy: Virgin Megastore)

Evans marks Mother’s Day

ROTA volunteers' musical rendezvous

o mark Mother’s Day, Evans (at their Landmark outlet) organised a treat for their customers – a night of fashion, treats, discounts, goody bags and vouchers. The goody bags included a voucher for the first 25 customers to spend QR500 or more. And after the 25 goody bags were done, a 15 percent discount was extended to all customers that evening.

Sheikh mohammed beats own record

n a significant journey to conquer Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas, standing at 6,962 m (22,841 ft.), Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Thani, Co- Founder of Musafir.com, triumphantly beat his own record by reaching 6,700 m (22,000 ft.). Dubai's Masoud Mohammed reached the top in a significant victory for the team and for ROTA. The climb was meant to rally support and raise money for making quality education accessible across Asia.

olunteers from five international and independent secondary schools in Doha set off on a seven-day trip to visit the Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) funded Kampot Traditional Music School for orphaned and disabled children in Cambodia. The trip aims at fostering the spirit of volunteerism in the students and to facilitate cultural exchange of music and theatre.

DFI's

Theatre Clown

n acting class with a difference, conducted by the world renowned acting coach Lee Delong addressed some basic components of clown, the most authentic of all the theatre styles. The week long workshop Theatre Clown organised by The Doha Film Institute, DFI helped empower the participants to develop self-confidence and presence, to take greater risks on stage before a live audience.

QU's cultural gala strikes success

atar University's (QU) Student Activities Department organised the four day long Cultural Village Festival that celebrated the culture, heritage, history, cuisine and traditions of the over 25 nationalities represented at the organization. Booths decorated with national flags exhibited the cultural artefacts and handicrafts, and depicted various family and community settings. The highlights of the event were various competitions, a fashion show, henna displays, traditional dances and an open air musical concert. The festival helped in promoting an environment of shared values and respect for other cultures, also encouraging a spirit of teamwork and volunteerism in the students.

2011 April

town

around

The Pearl-qatar welcomes

Italian ladies

Upon arriving at The Oyster, the ladies were briefed about the multi-billion dollar project and its residential and investment opportunities. Briefing continued during the boat trips to Tower 31 as well.

Around 20 ladies from the Italian Business Council of Qatar (IBCQ) were toured around the magnificent Island as part of the 20th Pearl-Qatar Lifestyle Excursion.

At Tower 31, the ladies were welcomed by UDC’s Rima Karam who spoke to them about the business opportunities at the Island. “As a diversified, multi-interest company, UDC is continuously searching for new ventures based on existing operation opportunities and investments in new businesses. The Pearl-Qatar is a good example of the vision and standard that UDC management strives for on behalf of its shareholders”. This was followed by a beauty presentation by Nina Tucson of Qatar Luxury Co. who distributed gifts from L’Occitane, and a hair removal presentation by Marcelina Elia of Silkor Laser Medical Centre who distributed goody bags and lucky draw prizes to all the ladies.

The Pearl-Qatar has opened its doors of great opportunities for different communities to explore. Also, it is a great avenue for different businesses to present their products or services during every excursion. The Italian ladies were so enthusiastic with the excursion, it boosted our morning,” said Nina.

Successful mission IBCQ Chairman, Palma Libotte said, “Our mission is to strengthen Italian-Qatari businesses and act as a facilitator for new Italian business opportunities in Qatar. The market recognises the need for quality and design, thus increasing the scope for Italian businesses in Qatar.”

Marcelina said, “We had the pleasure to share and talk about our treatments, and our medical and aesthetic services to the IBCQ ladies."

UDC’s Samer Kassas said, “This excursion is part of our promotional programme to invite Ladies Association and Embassies to visit our premises, increase targeted audience traffic and create awareness about the Pearl Lifestyle as well as revealing residential and investment opportunities to participating sponsors. The ladies get a chance to be the marketing voice of their community.”

Excursion Sponsors The Pearl Qatar; CDC -Tower 31; Mango Tree Restaurant; Carluccio Restaurant Qatar Luxury Co. -(L’Occitane); and Silkor Laser Medical Centre.

April 2011

Delicious Italian cuisine from Carluccio restaurant did the rounds while the restaurant’s chief briefed the ladies about Italian cuisine.

speciality health services

self care and well-being

dining

Al BORG MEDICAL LAB

44472224

Aljawhara Chemist

44429924

Alexandre Zouari salon

44535353

Al Emadi Hospital

44666009

Al-Qatar Massage

55968467

Al Raed Dental Center

44509673

Be Bloom

44554422

Annab Lab & Radiology

44373880/1

Bellissima

44438843

Body Glaze

44659092

Bottega Verde City Center

44834535

Cloud 9

44933057

Foot Care Centre The Center

lounge & cafes

Aalishan (Indian)

33315999

Al Bandar (Seafood)

44311818

Al Majiles Al-Arabi Restaurant (Arabic)

44447417 44854444

Bader Chemist

44411888

Al Shaheen (Sheraton)

City Center Chemist

44839200

Almaharah (Arabic)

Doha Chiropractic Centre

44620012

Applebees (American)

Doha Specialized Dental Center

44568585

Asia Live (Marriott)

Dr Fahad Abdullah Center

44688228

Biella (Italian)

44323900

Bismillah Royal Tandoor (Indian) Bukhara (Indian)

44415959

Al Jalsa Café

44256666

al kut lounge

44343333

Atrium Lounge

44854444

Café Batteel (Salwa Road) 44441414 Café Joud

44429944

Cigar Lounge

44288888

Cigar Lounge (Sharq Village)

44256222

44323255

Cioconat Lounge (The Mall)

44666167

44833345

Habanos (The Ritz Carlton) 44848503

44360747/ 44934880 44298499 44677731/44933838

44366275

Dr Hassan Al Abdulla Specialised Dental Clinic

44930394

Dr Jean-Claude Saade (Dental Surgeon)

44507897

Franck Provost Salon

44948801

Dr Mariam S Al Mahmied (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

44582020

Chingari (INDIAN)

44417417

Gloria Hotel Doha

44236666

Dr Mohammed Ameen Febeit

44685444

Chopsticks (CHINESE)

44343333

Manhattan (Ramada)

44281428

44685444

grand gourmet (international buffet) 4434333

Orangery Café’ Trottoir

44288888

Green’s (Vegetarian)

Piano Piano (Movenpick)

44291111

Qube (Ramada)

44281428

Le Cigalon (international buffet) 44288888

Sky View (La Cigale)

44288888

Le Central (Mediterranean cuisine) 44288888

The Admiral’s Club (The Ritz Carlton)

44848000

The Coffee Beanery (Ramada Junction)

44657800

Foot Care Centre city Center

Dr Mohammed Ameen Zebeib (Consultant Physician)

Hongkong Body Care Center

44665816

Jean Louis David

44327990

La Reine Skincare Center

Dr Tamim Malas (General Dentistry)

44669988

Dr Tarek S Abdl El Azim (Oral Medicine)

44671118

Family Medical Clinics

44514557

Layal Beauty Saloon 55521356

44502929/44504848

44135245

Lo Spaghetto (Italian)

44341601

Nandos (MEXICAN)

44442345

Patchi (Chocolates)

44864101

Shanghai Garden (CHINESE)

44933188

Tajine (Moroccon)

44444171

tangia (moroccan cuisine)

44343333

Tanjore (Indian)

44320333

The Great Wall (Chinese)

44312812

44661947

The One (Continental)

44888669

Najat Dental Clinic

44474656

Yen Sushi Bar (Japanese)

44288888

Obstetrics&Gynecology Clinic

44423923

Pediatric Dental Cllinic

44366311

Tamima Medical Complex

44875515

44874771

Moulay Yaaqoup Beauty Center

Future Dental Center

44580800

44553465

GoodLife Chemist - Alsadd

44447943

Salon at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel 44848000

GoodLife Chemist - City Center 44839100 GoodLife Chemist The Pearl 4495 3876 ext. 1171

Saloon Osraa

55708742

Gulf Dental Center

44670701 / 44670702

Sehati Beauty Mall

44683831

Gulf Dental Centre

44670701/44670702

44697840/44580193

shopping and malls Centre Point Mall

44421766

City Center-Doha

44933355

HYATT PLAZA

44694848

Landmark Mall

44875222

ROYAL PLAZA

44130000

The Centre

44440202

The Mall

44678888

Villaggio

44135222

44341700/ 44341200

Le Pain Quotidien

First Dental Center

Slim Line

44417417

44371743

44582319

Sightly Beauty Salon 44567144

Khazana (Indian)

44445335/ 44660663

Le Gourmet (Meditteranean/Arabic)

Marinaa Beauty Saloon

Salon at Intercontinental Hotel 44844444

Chilli’s (American)

International Specialized Dental Center

44507897

Mr Mohad A Elwadia Dental Clinic

security Total Security Solutions

April 2011

44441941

expat groups

Inch Café (City Center)

44633054

Madison Piano Bar (Live international music) 44288888

The Coffee Cottage (Near Chili’s Ramada Junction) 44839042 The Irish Harp (Sheraton) 44854444 The Waterhole (Sheraton) 44854444 Wok Mee (Movenpick Tower)

44966444

pet care Pampered Pets Kennel & Cattery

55884132

Qatar Animal Welfare

American Women’s Association

44128177

British Council & Information Centre

44251888

Chelsea Football Club Supporters 66696524

Society

55396074

Qatar Pet Relocaters

55286335

Qatar Pet Travel

44808458

Qatar Veterinary Centre

44877144

The Veterinary Surgery

44367187

health and fitness

Al Dana Club

hospitals communities and entertainment groups

44960666

Al Khor Riding Center

44323245/66610527

AL Massa Active (ladies)

44444161

Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence

44136208

Badminton

44417417

Contours Express (ladies only)

44980099

Curves

44699955

Cycling

44475522

Diplomatic Club

44839000

Al Ahli Hospital

44898888

Al Amal Hospital

44397830

Al Emadi Hospital

44666009

Al Saad Paediatric Emergency Centre

Doha Hockey Club

44428198

Doha Netball

55855703

Doha Rugby Union

44683771

Doha Sailing Club

44439840

Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sport Hospital

44132000

Gold’s Gym

44666622

Hamad General Hospital

44394444

Gymnastics Federation

44655667

Qatar Medical Centre

44440606

Intercontinental Doha’s Bay Club 44844852

Rumaillah Hospital

44393333

Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex

Womens Hospital

44396666

American Hospital

44392948 44421999

44409666

Korea Taekwondo Center 44659066/55563305 Pepka Yoga

66806768

Qatar Golf Academy

44960755

Qatar Minor Ice Hockey Association

55063526/ 55034649

Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Riding Club

44807413

Regatta Sailing Academy

55507846

spas and wellness Four Seasons Spa

55236579

Sports for Women

44931024

grand regency hotel angsana spa 44343152/44343153

SqubaDiving

55836240

44910666

Nokia repair services

44910666

55336851

Harley Davidson motorcycle group 55323680

The English Kindergarten

44680641

Apple Tree Nursery

44812147

Busy Bees Nursery

44472319

Creative Child

44795916

Elder Tree 44551020/ 44984984/ 44888493 French Nursery

44980639

IAID Instrumental and vocal classes 44320974

Fun First Nursery

Indian Women’s Association

44425937

Little Angels

44602713

Qatar Toastmasters

55547248

Little Cherubs Nursery

44113803

Redotters@Qatar

55209294

Mulbery Bush Nursery

44502545

Rising Stars Kindergarten

44673069

44352598/55870133

Turkish Women’s Association

Sandsport-Blo-karting

Nokia phones and accessories

55574671/ 55315745

German Ladies Coffee Morning

Silver Dhow Association

Royal Yatching Association 6 6749254/55279198

phones and support

Doha Singers

play schools and nurseries

55468309

44110953 44551010/ 44551212

Starfish Lane Kids 44875939/ 44110355 Sunbeam Kindergarten

44440108

Tots Corner Nursery

44688008

local tour operators

home decor

44948888

Life Time Nursery

grand regency hotel perfect figure 44343446 grand regency hotel shape & style beauty salon 44343447

Arteligno Interior Designers 44361580

Intercontinental Doha Spa 44844444

Home Centre

44839400

La Cigale’s Ozone Spa & Gym 44288888

ID design

44678777

Marriott Spa

44298520

Millenium Hotel Doha Spa

44247777

Indoors Decorators (almuftah)

44699920

Ramada Plaza

44281621

Pioneer Interiors

44342150

Ritz Carlton Spa

44848503

Salam Industries Wll

44600692

The One

44888669

Six Senses Spa

44256999

Spa Chakra (Alfardan Towers)

44999250

Habib’s Hair & Beauty Lounge

44130672

Al Mazaya Tourism

44318440

Arabian Adventures

44361461

Black Pearl Toursism

44357333

Gulf Adventures Toursim

44221888

Qatar International Adventures

44553954

Qatar International Tours 44551141

To list your services in the Woman Today Directory, please mail wtoday@omsqatar.com

2011 April

aloud

thinking

The Women of Tahrir Square

idden behind beautiful, overly ornamented Arabesque windows, not being allowed to show their faces or even their fingernails, hareem, back then, would’ve never thought they would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the opposite sex, leading a revolution. It all started on January 25. The protests began. Activists were calling for protestors. Over the following few days, the protests got bigger, the chanting got louder, and the body of protestors was growing exponentially, until the January 28 – referred to as “the Friday of Rage.”

Nouran Khalil recounts her days at Tahrir Square with her compatriots, bringing about a much needed change to the country, and the region.

eating, drinking and even sleeping in Tahrir Square. Just like my sisters at the square, I felt a sense of responsibility for making the square livable. My friends and I would set out in the early morning and buy bags of chips as well as bread, cheese, water bottles, and small juice cartons. We would later go to the square and to the clinic (where those suffering exhaustion or low blood sugar would be taken) and distribute the food. There were Islamic preachers ensuring prayer mats and scarves for women were at the ready, during the call for prayer. We helped clear garbage and maintain hygiene and cleanliness at Tahrir Square.

That day, not only did I pick up remains of rotten food and empty chips bags, but I also picked up remains of live bullets, I picked up rubber bullets, I picked up bloody cotton rags, and I picked up teargas canisters. Us, women, we could’ve spent the day sleeping in our comfortable beds (that most of us missed); we could’ve had a nice soothing foot massage to help ease the pain in our feet; we could’ve started working on gaining those few pounds that we lost in those 18 days, but instead we went out to clean up after ourselves. Maybe it was to prove to ourselves that we’re better than what people might think of us. Maybe

“The Muslim, the Christian, the old, the young, the veiled, the non-veiled, the engineer, the belly dancer, the doctor, and the artist... they all contributed, hand-in-hand.” On the “Friday of Rage”, people from all the strata of society were in Tahrir Square. The police force was ordered to fire against protestors, and they did, killing hundreds of innocent protestors. They killed men, women, children, and seniors. The formergovernment, that day, cut off all internet connection as well as cell phone reception to prevent activists and bloggers from communicating with each other, and desperately tried to control the size of the demonstrations. The following day, every single Egyptian went out to protest. It was uncommon seeing women revolting. I never thought I would go out – amidst firing, rubber bullets, and teargas – to protest. I never thought I would get to be a warrior among the men of my country. During the 18 days of protests, people were living,

April 2011

On February 12, the dawn of a post-Hosni Mubarak era, I woke up with a big smile on my face. I was proud. I was proud I helped overturn a dictator; I helped overturn a corrupt regime that was holding back the development of a country as great as mine. I woke up, called my girlfriends (now that we had the luxury of cell phone reception), and we all headed back to Tahrir Square. Why? The square was filthy and it needed a good scrub. There were hundreds of others there cleaning, repainting the sidewalks, and scrubbing the blood off the streets.

we were trying to prove to the former government that we, women, did what they were not able to do for years. Maybe it’s just innate nurture to step up and pick up after others. Not only did we make a difference to the future of our country, but we also embarked on the process of development that our country is in great need of. The Muslim, the Christian, the old, the young, the veiled, the non-veiled, the engineer, the belly dancer, the doctor, and the artist... they all contributed, hand-in-hand. Twenty years ago, this would’ve been called a man-made revolution. Today, I can confidently and proudly say, this was an Egyptian-made revolution.

The writer is a 20-year-old student of journalism at the American University in Cairo. She is a musician and a member of the National Folklore Troup of Egypt.