SEEMA June 2022

JUNE 2022

INSIDE

PLUS

FOR OUR FATHER, WHO ART AT HOME

THE POWER MOMS

FAT TO STEELY MUSCLE

THE QUEER SOUTH ASIAN LIFE

WHERE BIODIVERSITY RULES

ADITI SHAH New Star in the Yoga Firmaments

The Power Moms page 38

The Queer South Asian Life page 58

Family-Friendly Hiking Trails in the US page 76

6

CONTRIBUTORS BEYOND LIMITS

PIONEERS

48

Where Biodiversity Rules

54

Opening the Doors Wider

58

The Queer South Asian Life

8

Fat to Steely Muscle

FITNESS

14

How Ginni Saraswati

64

Summer-Ready Body

Found Her Voice…

And is using it to amplify 18

6 Tips to Get a

that of others

SEEMA RECOMMENDS

Breaking Barriers

68

Our Summer Essentials

FEATURES

TRAVEL

34

72

Changing Office Wear

Splendor of

38

The Power Moms

San Francisco

44

For Our Father, Who Art at Home

81

Forecast with Farzana

ON THE COVER

New Star in the Yoga Firmaments

22

The Rainbow-Hued

for Good 76

HOROSCOPE

Family-Friendly Hiking Trails in the US

PHOTO CREDIT: SHARMEEN CHAUDHARY

5

CONTENTS

WHILE YOU DO THE THINKING, WE BRING THOUGHTS INTO REALITY. A MOVEMENT, A TREND, OR A MAGAZINE SHOOT; WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK. THE VISION ROOM IS KEEN ON MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE. OUR JOB IS TO TRANSFORM YOUR IDEAS INTO MASTERPIECES THROUGH THE LENS OF OUR CAMERAS. AND IT DOESN’T STOP THERE. WE TAKE YOUR IDEA AND CREATE BRAND CAMPAIGNS THAT HAVE THE V I E W E R S I N A W E . W E H O N E I N T O Y O U R B R A N D A N D C R E A T E C ON T E N T THAT IS AUTHENTICALLY YOU. WE PLACE THE BEST TEAM BEHIND ON THE PROJECTS TO GIVE YOUR BRAND A VOICE THAT RESONATES WITH YOUR AUDIENCE ON THE RIGHT FREQUENCIES. LOOKING TO DO A PHOTOSHOOT THAT EXCEEDS YOUR IMAGINATION? THE VISION ROOM IS YOUR BEST BET.

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ABHIJIT MASIH PREETAM KAUSHIK PRATIKA YASHASWI SWARNENDU BISWAS NUPUR BHATNAGAR ANJALI BINDRA PATEL NANCY AMON MELANIE FOURIE ANYSUIYA MEHROTRA FARZANA CONTRACTOR BRAND PARTNERSHIPS, DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY

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SEEMA™ ISSUE 06 | JUNE 2022 EMPOWERING SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN GLOBALLY SEEMA KUMAR, FOUNDER

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ON THE COVER: ADITI SHAH (PAGE 22).

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EDIT | SEEMA

BEYOND LIMITS SEEMA KUMAR, FOUNDER

When Things Warm Up..

S

ummertime.

Hard to believe, but half a year has flown by. Much has changed since the beginning of the year, and the world seems to be in a different place.

January’s Omicron surge, the lockdown and virtual Zoom meetings during two years of pandemic living, all feels like a bad dream. It’s as if we are waking up from a deep slumber, like Rip Van Winkle in Washington Irving’s story, who falls asleep after drinking a strange brew and wakes up 20 years later to a changed

JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 6

world, completely missing the American revolution.

We humans are extremely adaptable. Our collective resilience in coping and bouncing back from two traumatic years is remarkable.

Yes, there are many scars and much suffering, but as a society we have learned to live with the new reality: moving from fear to freedom. The word COVID doesn’t invoke the same panic it once did, and for the vaccinated, testing “COVID-positive” seems to be a ho-hum hazard, an inconvenience, associated with living your normal daily life.

And so as we enter the summer solstice, the celebrations are in full swing. Proms, graduations and weddings, long postponed,

PHOTO CREDIT: SHRAVYA KAG

are filling up the weekends. It’s all coming back to us now — how to safely live life again in a new world.

School’s out, the days are long and the weather, warm. It’s time to shed those pandemic pounds and get ready for June, as we celebrate Father’s Day, Pride Month, beach parties and backyard barbecues. And to get you ready, we bring you a selection of the SEEMA team’s recommendations for summer essentials. We bring you inspiration from body-building pioneers, race-car drivers, mountaineers, and fitness gurus who are breaking barriers and scaling new fitness heights. Plus, we have lots of tips on how to get your body beach ready.

Our cover star is Aditi Shah who has made a name for herself as a Peloton instructor, one of the few South Asian faces in the Peloton community, and who helped launch Peloton yoga and meditation in 2018. For her yoga goes beyond movement and is a practice that can bring freedom and joy to life.

Speaking of joy, check out a SEEMA teen’s take on how she celebrates Father’s Day. Plus we celebrate Pride Month with Anjali Patel’s take on LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace, and a peek into the queer South Asian life, which is replete with challenges but also filled with opportunity.

So enjoy June and our jam-packed issue to get you summer ready!

PIONEER | SEEMA

00 | SEEMA.COM | APRIL 2022

Rupsikha Borah Deori, winner of the Master’s Bikini Class Bodybuilding Championship at the Arnold Classic Amateur Championship held in Columbus, Ohio.

PIONEER | SEEMA

Fat to Steely Muscle

The incredible transformation of Rupsikha Borah Deori

“1

98 lbs was my after-pregnancy weight. That was after my youngest daughter, the little one.

Now my weight is 121 lbs.”

That was Rupsikha Borah Deori, the recent winner of the Master’s Bikini Class Bodybuilding Championship at the Arnold Classic Amateur Championship held in Columbus, Ohio.

Deori said she had always been slim and trim until she got pregnant. After giving birth to two kids, she wanted to reduce her weight, which had shot by almost 70 lbs.

She recalled, “I started with what people normally do, so I cut my [food], and with that I

lost like 22-25 lbs. But after losing that weight, I felt very weak with no energy at all.”

From a state of no energy and a weight of almost 175 lbs, Deori’s body is now a ripped and lean mass of muscle. She has competed in bodybuilding shows around the world, including in Dubai and Russia, and is providing nutrition and fitness lessons to clients around the world.

Deori credits her spouse Bhaben, who she met in high school, for the transformation.

“My husband was into fitness and was involved in bodybuilding shows and competitions from his college days,” she said. “He just pushed me and said, OK, now try another way. [I] changed my diet and started going to the gym.”

JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 9

PHOTO CREDIT: RUPSIKHA BORAH DEORI

ABHIJIT MASIH

Deori with her spouse Bhaben and their daughters Akshita and Ashrita

The high school sweethearts from Assam, India, who married in 2007, can now keep up with their daughters, Akshita, 12, and Ashrita, 7. Due to her husband Bhaben’s transferable job at Schlumberger, they have moved constantly, living in various parts of the world. After stints in Mumbai and Abu Dhabi, they moved to the US last August. They now live in Texas.

The first bodybuilding competition that Deori entered was the Dubai Muscle Show in 2019, just a few years after her second pregnancy.

“During the show I got to know what the bikini criteria needs, which meant I had to stop my functional workout. [It] requires a small waist size and when you do CrossFit functional, your waistline becomes big. So I totally changed my workout, focusing on specific body parts.”

10 | SEEMA.COM | JUNE 2022

She had not expected much from the competition but received encouraging feedback that made her decide to keep at it.

Changes in the workout pattern meant additional time at the gym. In 2016, when she was starting out, she worked out for 45 minutes to an hour each day. In 2022, she spends as much as four hours in the gym.

Deori breaks down the time spent working on her body.

“Two-and-a-half hours of cardio plus an hour and a half of weight training,” she said. “I do one hour of cardio on an empty stomach in the morning. After my meal, I go to the gym then do my workout; in the second half, [I do] one and a half hour of cardio. It’s done whenever I get time, and is its spread throughout the day.” Twice a week she also takes a 45-minute drive to Cypress to work out with a professional bodybuilder on her glutes. The rigorous regime

PIONEER | SEEMA

“MY HUSBAND WAS INTO FITNESS AND WAS INVOLVED IN BODYBUILDING SHOWS AND COMPETITIONS FROM HIS COLLEGE DAYS. HE JUST PUSHED ME AND SAID, OK, NOW TRY ANOTHER WAY. [I] CHANGED MY DIET AND STARTED GOING TO THE GYM” has had impressive results, evident in the videos and pictures she posts on social media.

With two schoolgoing kids, the days are packed for the muscled mom. Deori shares her exhausting daily routine, along with details of her side business.

“Typical day first of all, I wake up at 4:30 in the morning, then I do one hour cardio,” she said. “After that, I wake up my kids and get them ready for school, make their food, and drop them to the school bus. After that, I normally go to the gym. I come back and prepare my meals and my husband’s meals, because we have 5 to 6 meals a day. I also have a baking business. So every week I have a few orders.

So I have to first plan and design a cake and make it ready.

In the afternoon, I pick my kids take them basketball and volleyball classes. In the evening time, I make dinner, [put the kids to] sleep and then I complete my second half of cardio. That is pretty much my day.”

Before moving to the US, Deori lived in Abu Dhabi for four years and while there became a certified specialist in sports and nutrition and a Level 3 internationally certified personnel trainer, qualifying her to train clients from around the world. So, her her busy daily schedule includes sessions with clients.

How does she squeeze out time for that, too?

She explains, “I am doing freelance sessions with my clients, I give them the time according to my schedule, because I have to see to the kids also. I love baking which runs, again, according to my schedule.”

After winning the Master’s Bikini Class Bodybuilding Championship this March, her goal is to earn a Pro Card.

This will enable her to enter professional bodybuilding shows. She is currently training for her next competition, the IFBB Pro League and NPC bodybuilding contest in New Jersey, where for the first time she will be competing Deori and her husband Bhaben -- the bodybuilding couple-together with her husband. The Pro Card will also open the have been together since high school door for Deori to take part in the Olympia, the top level of bodybuilding.

“My goal is to represent India in the Olympia,” she said.

“It’s a long journey. So let’s see, one step at a time. First..., the Pro Card.”

JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 11

Deori training for the competitions ahead

“I DO ONE HOUR OF CARDIO ON AN EMPTY STOMACH IN THE MORNING. AFTER MY MEAL, I GO TO THE GYM THEN DO MY WORKOUT; IN THE SECOND HALF, [I DO] ONE AND A HALF HOUR OF CARDIO. IT’S DONE WHENEVER I GET TIME, AND IS ITS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE DAY” 12 | SEEMA.COM | JUNE 2022

PIONEER | SEEMA

MUSCLE MOM SUGGESTIONS F OR SIMPLE HOME W ORKOUT S UPPER BODY

shoulder blades pinched back. Take 2-3 steps forward

1. Pushups

by slowly lowering one knee down towards the ground

Lie face down on the floor or mat with feet close together and arms shoulder width apart. Slowly draw your abs in, inhale and raise your body

and keeping the other knee bent at a 90-degree angle, maintaining the same upper body position.

off the floor until your arms are straight.

Hold the position for a count

Slowly lower yourself down to the ground,

then return up to the starting

exhale until your chest almost touches the

position by pushing up

ground and you feel a stretch in your chest

through your heel.

muscles. Hold for a count at the bottom position and then return to the starting position in a slow and controlled manner.

CORE/ABS 1. Bent Knee Situps

2. Triceps Dip

Lie on your back, knees well bent. Place hands behind the

Grab the edge of a bench or a chair and extend your legs

neck. Imagine two points – one in between your chest and

forward by bending at the waist. Lower your body using the elbows until your upper arm is 90

the other one the navel. Inhale and as you start the sit up, visualize

degrees or slightly lower than 90 degrees

to connect these two points.

with the forearm. Perform the exercise in

Squeeze hard but do not arch

a slow and controlled manner. Go down

your back or tuck your chin.

slowly and come up slowly squeezing the

The core should be driving the

triceps at the top of the movement.

sit up. Slowly return to starting position in a controlled manner

LOWER BODY

decompressing the core. Do as many

1. Body Weight Squats

reps and sets as desired.

Stand with feet shoulder width apart, toes slightly turned

2. Lying Leg Raises

outside. Keep feet flat, back slightly arched, head upright and

Lie down on the floor and keep your hands on the side.

chest up. Inhale into the squat position slowly in a controlled

Once in position, keep your feet together and slowly

manner, extending your knees and hips feeling a stretch in your thighs, glutes, and hamstrings.

Push the ground with the heels as you come

raise your legs up towards the ceiling squeezing your abs (visualize the same two points as in the above

up to the starting position. Repeat as many

exercise). Pause and hold

repetitions and sets as desired.

for a count at the top of the

2. Lunges

movement then slowly return

Position your feet shoulder width apart,

to the starting position in a

toes slightly turned outside. Keep your abs

controlled manner.

tightly drawn and your upper body upright with

JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 13

PIONEER | SEEMA

How Ginni Saraswati Found Her Voice... ..And is using it to amplify that of others PREETAM KAUSHIK

G

inni Saraswati likes to go for walks along the East River, and marvel at the Empire State building, not because she’s new to the city but because it’s a reminder of the beautiful unpredictability of life.

The daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants, who grew up in Australia, Ginni never thought she would be living in New York City. Now, as a popular podcaster, founder of Ginni Media and co-founder of two other businesses, she has a lot on her plate but she makes time for these little moments. It’s important for her to keep the gratitude she has for how her life turned out.

Ginni was born in Sri Lanka, but when she was two, her family moved to Australia. Her new home opened

14 | SEEMA.COM | JUNE 2022

up a whole world of opportunities but her mother made sure Ginni never forgot her family’s values – to be kind, thoughtful and grateful for everything that comes your way.

Still, growing up, she was painfully shy, shrinking from the spotlight, wishing she could disappear into the background. But what she did have was a natural entrepreneurial spirit. When she was 6 years old, she put up art shows with her own paintings on the wall and a sign outside that said “Entry for $2.” She laughed when she recalled the reaction: “Nobody came (to the show), but it was my kind of venture of leaning into my entrepreneurial abilities.”

Ginni started her career in radio when she saw an ad

Ginni Saraswati, entrepreneur and podcaster JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 15

PIONEER | SEEMA

“I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A POST-COMINGOUT WORLD WHERE NONE OF US HAVE TO REALLY SIT SOMEONE DOWN AND BE LIKE “YOU KNOW WHAT, I’M GAY,” LIKE HETEROSEXUALS DON’T HAVE TO DO IT. I KNOW COMING OUT IS A PROCESS IN THE STAGE OF PRIDE, BUT I’D LOVE TO SEE A WORLD WHERE WE CAN JUST LOVE AND THAT’S IT”

16 | SEEMA.COM | JUNE 2022

for a trainee scheme at Joy 94.9 FM. She had applied for a behind-the-scenes position but one month later, she was in front of the mic.

“I love talking as a vehicle, because I think it allows us to actually connect, understand and relate to each other more” she explained. “I think every human being on this planet... That’s all we want to do. We want to be seen, we want to be heard, we want to be known to some one degree or another.”

She went on to host two primetime shows on Joy – “The Hump Day Crew” and “Rise Up Radio.”

Working at Joy, an independent Australian LGBTIQA+ media organization, helped Ginni connect with the wider queer community.

“It really helped being in a media organization where I felt seen. I didn’t feel weird for liking Angelina Jolie, whereas, before, I would’ve. I could talk freely without being judged. When we had radio shows, we got to connect with other members of the community, you know, people who had been on prominent TV shows and what really helped with podcasting is it gave me access to a bigger community.

Speaking about her own experience of being a queer person growing up in a South Asian family, she opens up about the struggle between being yourself and who others expect you to be.

“I know my coming out was not easy for my family, but for me the important thing was just being myself,” Ginni said. “I think I felt a sense of pressure when I was coming out in being myself because I felt I had to be better than I would have if I was heterosexual. By then, I felt like I had to represent this whole community and this whole identity, which I was still figuring out.”

Eventually, Ginni found some support from her family.

“Some cousins in my family had my back – because we all grew up in Australia,” she said. “They’re a little bit more liberal. And I think my uncles and aunties are warming up to it in their way. They have stopped asking me when I’m gonna meet my husband. So I think that’s their way of saying it.”

Ginni’s optimistic about the future. In her ideal version, she said, “I would love to see a postcoming-out world where none of us have to really sit someone down and be like “you know what, I’m gay,” like heterosexuals don’t have to do it. I know coming out is a process in the stage of pride, but I’d love to see a world where we can just love and that’s it.”

While Ginni’s professional career was taking off, something exciting was happening in the media

space. Podcasts were suddenly a thing, and Ginni realized that “attention was moving towards podcasting.

It just opened up a whole world of audiences worldwide that you could connect with.” In 2017, she launched The Ginni Show, which went on to win multiple awards. The same year, she also founded Ginni Media, to motivate new, diverse voices in podcasting.

Since then, Ginni Media has spread over 16 countries, with a diverse set of people supporting and fostering different and diverse voices, helping them reach out to a vast audience through podcasts.

“I think it’s really important to foster values like patience, kindness, thoughtfulness – the values my mother instilled in me – and bring those to the organization,” Ginni said. “A lot of entrepreneurs nowadays are trained on hard skills. Like, you’ve gotta have productivity and timelines. Yes, those things are needed but you also need skills like kindness, empathy, gratitude.. Those skills… have changed the trajectory of my business.”

With podcasts becoming more accessible to everyone, her advice for new podcasters is, “Just talk about things that you are passionate about, because that authenticity will always come through. You’ll never run out of things to talk about. So you’ll be consistent and there will be people out there who find that interesting as well. Even

with the Ginny Show, I talk about travel because I love moving and traveling. So I can keep it going.”

With a radio and podcast career spanning almost 15 years, Ginni knows what makes a show or podcast tick.

“I think, with my audiences, what I’ve noticed is that they like three things with the content,” she said. “They like to be informed. They like to be entertained. Or they like to escape into the story.”

Asked if she had any message for her listeners for the upcoming Pride Month, Ginni said, “Pride Month is always exciting because it’s a celebration of culture, of diversity.

There’s so much color and music, but there’s a message I would like to give to my listeners: Just take a moment and listen attentively, which is very hard to do nowadays with our attention spans at 10 seconds. But that’s one of the things that I think we’re really missing out on in this world where we’re pumped with information. We missed that time to pause, to listen, connect and celebrate diversity.

Because time goes by so fast.”

Ginni has not forgotten her roots – whether it be cultural or professional. So, while she calls radio the “grandmother” of podcasting, she will always work towards amplifying voices that deserve to be heard around the world. With a sprinkle of kindness and gratitude, she aims to help others find their voice – just as she did as a little girl.

JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 17

PHOTO CREDIT: MID ATLANTIC VIDEO & PHOTOGRAPHY PRODUCTIONS

Bismah Ahmed, Miss District of Coumbia, with her awards: Miss Fitness Award, Ambassador of District of Columbia Award, and the Miss DC recognition

PIONEER | SEEMA

BREAKING BARRIERS Bismah Ahmed, the new Miss DC, lobbies for real representation – and affordable housing ABHIJIT MASIH

B

ismah Ahmed, a Pakistani American, is the new Miss District of Columbia. She now has a shot at becoming Miss America when the competition is held in August.

Ahmed, the first South Asian Muslim to win the Miss DC for America crown, spoke to SEEMA about her Pakistani

heritage, her road to Miss Washington DC and what that win means to her.

Tell us about your background.

My parents are both from Pakistan. My mom went to college in Turkey and then came here. My dad came here when he was in elementary or middle school, so he was younger. Yeah, so then they

JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 19

PIONEER | SEEMA Miss Capitol Hill in Washington DC

met after college and got married. And they’ve always been in Virginia.

How was it growing up in Virginia when for most South Asian kids it’s really challenging?

It was very challenging. You have to find a balance. You don’t want to disrespect culture in any way. You want to honor that. But then you also want to fit in to this society you’re growing up, especially when you’re born here. It can be confusing. Like with everybody’s journey, you find yourself and what’s true to you and how you want to make that balance.

What causes do you want to amplify during your reign?

One of the big things that I’m advocating for is diversity and representation, diversity and beauty – making sure that people who look like us are out there too, because we’re part of the community.

You have a full-time day job. Tell us about it and your other interests?

I work for the Apartment and Office Building Association. I started working for them seven years ago. I am a lobbyist. I am in politics.

I’m the Vice President of Government Affairs for Virginia. Then I won Miss DC, which is really cool. I’m the first South Asian, Pakistani person to win. I think it’s really great to get the awareness, which I’m excited to do.

MISS DC FOR AMERICA LOVES Favorite show – “Bridgerton” Favorite movie – Superhero movies, Marvel movies. Avenger movies.

Favorite outfit – A suit. “I know that sounds crazy. But having a fun suit is my favorite thing.”

When did you realize you were interested in the glamour world and that you could be part of it?

Actually, I didn’t sign up for Miss DC until two months before the competition. I got the call while I was in my busy session for work.

And I was, like, I guess I’ll do it. I’ve never done anything like this before. So it was very unexpected. It came out of nowhere.

How supportive were your parents in you entering the Miss DC competition, your choice of pursuing a career in beauty and glamour?

There was a lot of misinterpretation on what it actually is, how I’m presenting myself and all of that. But once we had that conversation, there was more understanding. You know, because

“ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I’M ADVOCATING FOR IS DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION, DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY – MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE US ARE OUT THERE TOO, BECAUSE WE’RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.” I’m really going out there representing my culture. I definitely am more covered up than everybody else.

You are the first South Asian Muslim Miss DC? What does that mean to you, especially as a Muslim?

I think it means that our voice is heard nationally.

And I think that there is that representation that you keep talking about, it’s like we’re part of this community, we are here. We should have a voice.

This is an unexpected way to do it. But even in politics, I usually work with older white men. I’m very diverse in my politics, where I’m a minority woman. It was really hard to break into that field and get people to take you seriously when you are so different. But I think that it’s our responsibility to kind of break the mold.

What are your thoughts on tokenism in the fashion world? Do you think we, as South Asians, are filling in to complete the color palette?

I think that we are getting there. I think there is a lot of work to be done. For example, there was another Muslim that competed, and she was a hijabi. Her name was Halima. And now, you know, she has made national headlines because she was covered up and she was different. There are people going into the beauty field and breaking those barriers. And they’re being noticed. I think that once more people start going into these fields or getting noticed, it’s gonna become way more normalized.

How’s the preparation coming along for Miss America in August?

It’s been interesting. I think that there’s so much work and I have to work with designers and all of that. It’s really cool. I also have a lot of support from friends and family. So they’re helping me out a lot and helping me make my dresses, and stitch those dresses out for me... just helping me go through all the work. Some of my friends are makeup artists, they’re doing my makeup for all my events… Hairstylists... It takes a whole team. But I’m so proud that I have so much support.

What’s that one thing that you’re really anxious about for the competition?

I don’t know if I’m anxious about it. I’m excited to bring that diverse take that nobody else will bring. But I guess anxious [about] maybe walking in heels.

It’s a great platform. What are the issues you want to address using this platform?

My concern also is affordable housing. I’m a sevenyear lobbyist for the housing industry. I think we need more money, especially in the DMV, for affordable housing. This is something that I advocate for every single day. I talk to politicians about this. We need to make sure our federal and state funding for housing is there. That’s something that I’m very passionate about.

Name an inspirational woman who you consider a role model?

There are so many women that I feel like I need...

It’s hard to come up with one specifically. I think my mom is a role model for me. She’s been through a lot in her life and has overcome a lot. Just seeing that example has helped me become who I am today.

JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 21

COVER STORY | SEEMA

Modern-day guru and cultural icon Aditi Shah takes things to the next level ABHIJIT MASIH

ALL PHOTOS CREDIT: SHARMEEN CHAUDHARY

NEW STAR IN THE YOGA FIRMAMENTS JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 23

COVER STORY | SEEMA

W

oodstock 1969 is synonymous with a weekend in upstate New York with a legendary status in music history. The first-ever mega music festival, it quickly spiraled out of control, with an almost 450,000-strong crowd turning up despite the rain. To calm the crowd, the organizers called in yoga guru Swami Satchidanand, who gave the opening address, setting a tone of peace that lasted through the three days of the festival.

Unlike in the East, and more specifically unlike India, yoga in the US does not go back too long. The credit of bringing this idea to America is attributed to Swami Vivekanand, who gave a famous speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. In just over a century, yoga has become a mainstream path to wellness among everyday Americans and celebrities alike. A practice that was unheard of in the West is now being promoted, practiced and taught by modern day gurus – such as Aditi Shah.

Shah, is a Peloton instructor for whom yoga goes beyond movement and a practice that can bring freedom and joy to life. She has lived and practiced yoga both in India and New York City. She has been named one of New York City’s best instructors and helped launch Peloton yoga and meditation in 2018.

She is an extraordinary young yoga instructor whose popularity stems from her lifelong relationship with yoga.

Calming the Energy With Yoga Shah lacked the calm composure and serenity you associate with a yoga instructor while growing up in New Jersey. She speaks about her bohemian younger self, “I was such a wild child growing up. I was running around outdoors, climbing trees, and didn’t really understand how to slow down.”

Jersey Girl “I grew up in Bridgewater. Now there are some temples in that area and there is a South Asian population, but when I grew up, it was me and, you know, two or three other South Asians. I was lucky enough to visit India at least once a year, I think my first trip to India was when I was, like, six months old. I really, you know, felt so at home in India.”

Return to India After college, she moved to Bengaluru, where her parents had retired to. At an age when many are conflicted about careers, Shah explored interests in the creative fields but always found her way back to yoga.

She recalls, “I didn’t really fall in love with this practice until I got a little older and felt that pull to slow down myself, to explore myself a little bit deeper, or to explore these questions looming in my mind, as I was trying to figure out how to become an adult.”

Finding Herself First Shah majored in mathematics, and did the usual internships that could have led to a career in investment banking. But she could not picture herself in a role that limited her to a predictable box.

“I realized that that’s really not something I didn’t see myself doing and living a happy life,” she said. “It just didn’t feel right for me.” But, like her mother, she was always aware of the creative side of herself, having played the violin ever since she was a kid, and, then, because she had a penchant for the bright lights.

“I’ve always loved being on camera, and I thought I’m gonna go for it,” Shah said. “My mom – my parents – were, honestly, quite supportive. Kudos to them. They were and always have been so supportive and incredible, through my changing life path.”

Single Girl in Mumbai The love for the camera took Shah to tinsel town, to consider a career in modeling or Bollywood. She did a few assignments for international brands such as Garnier and Revlon, but her move to Mumbai was temporary.

“I think I learned so much from moving to a new

JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 25

COVER STORY | SEEMA country in a new city. I have the advantage of feeling somewhat at home with India in general, because I grew up going to India, but it’s very different [being there]. Let me tell you, as a single woman who moved to a city like Mumbai, it’s a completely different culture and way of life in India versus [as against] New Jersey.”

Shah didn’t take to the city as most people usually do. However, she did find a few positives.

“I really enjoyed the adventure,” she said, “I was lucky enough to find some amazing friends and have this really incredible career as a creative person. And I really enjoyed every moment of being on camera.”

duce ts intro n e r a p hah’s Aditi S

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Off to New York City with Half a Suitcase of Clothes Shah carried on for a while and then found her way back to the U.S. “I ended up in New York as I signed with agencies to pursue another different acting course at Stella Adler,” Shah said. While in NYC, Shah decided to work upon an idea that was brewing for a long time within her.

“I had this idea that when I retire, I’m going to open a yoga studio, like that was my retirement plan. So starting in India, I started learning a little bit more and I was practicing there with teachers.

And when I moved back to the US, I thought, ‘Why don’t I get a certification that will count in the U.S.’” Yoga was a standard in the Shah household, whether in New Jersey or in India. Her parents introduced her to the practice and the philosophies that went with it. But she really reconnected and fell in love with yoga when studying in New York. It was there that she decided to make it her vocation.

“Earlier, I wasn’t really sure,” Shah said. “I’d just been studying with teachers one-on-one in India, not in any kind of an organized way.

I came here and did a training session that summer [with] Stella Adler. It just really changed my perspective. So I stayed in New

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COVER STORY | SEEMA

“I HAD THIS IDEA THAT WHEN I RETIRE, I’M GOING TO OPEN A YOGA STUDIO, LIKE THAT WAS MY RETIREMENT PLAN. SO STARTING IN INDIA, I STARTED LEARNING A LITTLE BIT MORE AND I WAS PRACTICING THERE WITH TEACHERS. AND WHEN I MOVED BACK TO THE US, I THOUGHT, ‘WHY DON’T I GET A CERTIFICATION THAT WILL COUNT IN THE U.S.”

Aditi Shah says she was a “w

ild child” growing up

York with half a suitcase of clothes and some savings and yeah, decided to start your yoga world.”

Changing Pathways She did a few gigs on TV in the U.S., but a promising acting career could not keep Shah away for long from yoga, and she finally spurned the arc lights for asanas. She says yoga was a constant in her life even when she was in India.

“When I was in Bangalore with my mom practicing all the time, she would ask me, why don’t you think about opening a yoga school or learning a little bit more about yoga? Yoga, at that point, was something I wanted for myself; I didn’t see it as a career. But I’ve always been really interested in being creative. What I love about it is the opportunities to storytell and to connect on this human level, which is really why I think I also like being a teacher now.”

Her love for yoga was a gradual extension of her love of movement. Even while very young, she was curious to experience how people find wholeness, joy and some sort of meaningful and deep connection through yoga.

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PHOTO CREDIT: PU MA

West. In fact, the first studio opened in the U.S. in 1947, when Indra Devi became the first Westerner to study with Sri Krishnamacharya, considered the grandfather of yoga in America. Since then, the ideas and practices of various kinds of yoga have flown in thick and fast from the East.

Shah explains why things changed so fast: “Yoga offers this deeper way of connecting with ourselves. I feel that meditation and yoga offer us a lens through which we can start to look at the stories we’re telling ourselves, the ways we create the story of our lives, create the stories of our relationships, and in which we perhaps keep ourselves from feeling freedom. You can replace the word “freedom” with a lot of different ones. I think that opportunity is invaluable. So, hopefully, I think those feelings of connecting in a deep way and the opportunity to maybe relate to yourself differently through all these different sorts of yoga and meditation practices… I hope that’s what draws people.”

more and more of a practitioner, the more I felt like I needed to learn some of the philosophy behind it. What are all these different practices? And how do I know what’s the right one for me? What am I supposed to be feeling or doing?”

Storytelling Through Yoga Shah explains the storytelling through yoga that she advocates and practices: “The way in which I think about yoga and meditation and all of these practices is that they are very selfreflective. When we take the opportunity to reflect, whether that’s through asana practice, through meditation, or through any form in which we are choosing to reflect upon ourselves, we start to uncover the ways in which we are storytelling. The ways in which I decide that I’m strong, or I am good enough for this, or that I’m self-doubting. When we start to look inward honestly, we have the space to discover the ways in which we relate to ourselves and others. That’s what I mean by storytelling.”

The Rapid Spread and Acceptance of Yoga in the West As mentioned earlier, yoga is a recent import to the 30 | SEEMA.COM | MAY 2022

Entering the Cool Peloton Community Even though Shah had tasted success and popularity through her television roles, the most significant being the Emmy-winning “Inside Amy Schumer,” meteoric fame came with Peloton.

A combination of the practice and philosophy of yoga saw her being named one of New York City’s best instructors. That helped in the launch of Peloton yoga and meditation in 2018.

Shah described how that came about.

“I was teaching in New York City, running teacher training, and [holding] a meditation pop-up. Peloton reached out to me. They slid into my DMs [direct messages]. That was smart – just asking if I was interested as Peloton was thinking about beginning a yoga vertical. Would I be interested in, perhaps, auditioning?” After an audition and a few rounds of interviews that led to another stint before the camera, she was a star.

Peloton Popularity – Peak and Pitfalls The height of the pandemic saw Peloton enjoying a market cap of $50 billion. The company founded only in 2012 experienced incredible success – and a few setbacks, including a couple of recalls for a bike and treadmill. With a new CEO at the helm, the company seems to be miles ahead of competition that came up

PHOTO CREDIT: PELOTON APPAREL

Aditi Shah’s love for yoga is an extension of her love of movement

with their own low-cost alternatives to Peloton.

Shah explains why she got a cult following.

“I love my students, I am really, genuinely, authentically, interested in sharing these practices in a way that is accessible. I hope that’s a part of why I can relate to a lot of people, and that they relate back to me.

I am lucky to have this awesome community of Peloton. They really show up, and they’re really supportive. I love connecting with them, hearing their stories, and watching their wins. So yes, I think it’s a pretty cool job.”

In-Person Vs On-Camera Sessions Shah does not mind the medium she teaches in.

“Whether you are teaching in person or through a camera, I think so much of being a teacher is about being a human, sharing a practice through your experience, and being willing to be vulnerable so you can connect with other people,” Shah said.

Balance Is Not Achievable When people talk about balance, I think it is not always achievable,” Shah says. “It’s not always a reasonable expectation, depending on what our

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COVER STORY | SEEMA

SHAH’S LIFE MANTRAS • Yoga, meditation and other such practices are very self-reflective. When we start to look inward honestly and we have the space for us to discover the ways in which we’re relating to ourselves and others.

• Feelings of connecting in a deep way and the opportunity to relate to yourself differently, through all these different sorts of yoga and meditation practices, is the drawing factor to yoga.

• So much of being a teacher is about being a human and sharing a practice through your experience and being willing enough to be vulnerable that you can connect with other people.

• Balance is not always achievable. It’s not always a reasonable expectation, depending on what our goals are. But it is a reasonable expectation to have priorities.

• Meditation is a deep and meaningful practice. There’s a lot of bang for your buck because if you spend five or 10 minutes on it daily, it really can change a lot for you.

• It’s helpful to think about getting into meditation as habit stacking. You brush your teeth every day. The same way, just add meditation to that.

• There is space for everyone. We all can support one another and still rise together.

• Failure is just pointing you in a different direction. It’s not anything wrong or bad.

It’s an opportunity – like data.

“I FEEL THAT MEDITATION IS SUCH A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL PRACTICE, THERE’S A LOT OF BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. YOU SPEND 5 OR 10 MINUTES ON A DAILY BASIS, AND IT REALLY CAN CHANGE A LOT FOR YOU” goals are. But I do think it is a reasonable expectation for us to have priorities.” She believes the individual needs to decide what should take precedence.

Shah also has advice on what could help one ascertain your priorities – meditation.

“I feel that meditation is such a deep and meaningful practice, there’s a lot of bang for your buck,” she says.

“You spend 5 or 10 minutes on a daily basis, and it really can change a lot for you.”

Finding Time to Discipline the Mind From my own experience, there were two main impediments for me when I attempt to meditate – finding time and keeping my mind from wandering off.

Shah offers wisdom to overcome both challenges, “I think that’s such a relatable experience,” she says.

“I think that everybody’s felt that way, including me. It’s helpful to think about getting into meditation as habitstacking. You brush your teeth every day. The same way, just add meditation to that. So every time you brush your teeth in the morning, you meditate every morning.”

She even discusses how to rid the mind of the clutter of thoughts.

“Concentration on any object can be a meditation practice,” she says. “I really liked Boston meditation, which is a little different from the yoga philosophy…

But I love it. It gives me the space to not completely clear my brain. It gives me the space to relate to myself in a different way, where I can be the observer of what’s happening, as opposed to trying to get rid of everything that’s happening. So that, to me, is a game-changer.

It’s like finding a practice or a teacher that helps you to be able to meditate in whatever way that you want to meditate. Kudos to you if you can find that space – while gardening, walking or running.”

Is Yoga Alone Sufficient for a Toned Body?

No, is her honest answer. While regularly practicing yoga can help increase flexibility and muscle strength, it may have to be supplemented with some other exercises.

“Asanas can be challenging. It is a movement practice. All these other parts of yoga generally encourage healthier lifestyles,” Shah said. “Everybody’s

body is different. So it’s hard to know what anything looks like on anybody else. I like to mix it up. I love to practice yoga, but I also like to weight-train, and I love Pilates. I run, I’m just interested in being active. And so I do a lot of other things, too.”

Overcoming Anxiety Through Yoga Shah addresses the way she dealt with anxiety – and how that method can help others.

“One of the things that really helped me when I began teaching was to think about the fact that when I walk into a classroom, it’s not about me,” she said. “It’s about what I have to share. It’s about that information. It’s not about me personally. The thing that has helped me the most is remembering that I’m human, and I’m talking to other humans, and it’s okay to do that. If you’ve ever taken my class, I fall over all the time. I’m not a perfect person, I think being comfortable with being vulnerable has been hugely helpful to me.”

Failure, a Stepping Stone to Fulfillment Shah’s life has had many inflection points, which took her from Bridgewater to Bangalore to Mumbai and finally to New York City. Her career took many turns as well – from modeling and acting to finally her true calling as a yoga instructor. Having lived alone in Mumbai and New York City, Shah has good advice for young women to survive and thrive on their own.

She advises in the same homiletic manner: “A place like New York City is really competitive. I truly believe that there is space for everyone. We all can support one another and still rise together. The other thing I really strongly believe is that failure is just; it’s just pointing you in a different direction. It’s not anything wrong or bad.

It’s an opportunity. It’s like data, basically telling me how I can problem-solve creatively. Those are two things that have really helped me personally.”

Shah’s popularity as a yoga instructor evidently is not just due to physical practice and teaching, but also due to her deep understanding of the psychology behind the practice. Shah may not be a swami addressing a crowd of rock and roll fans, but with her knowledge of practice and philosophy, she surely is a rock star in the yoga world.

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FEATURES | SEEMA

CHANGING OFFICE WEAR FOR GOOD Ministry of Supply’s clothing lines bring together style, tech and

PREETAM KAUSHIK

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PHOTO CREDIT: MINISTRY OF SUPPLY

amazing comfort

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O

ften innovations are a result of dissatisfaction. Some people are perplexed by issues that others don’t give a second thought; they can’t believe no one else has come up with a better way to do things.

Aman Advani is one of those people. Born in the state of Georgia to immigrant parents, Aman started with a consulting job that required him to fly multiple times every week. He found the formal clothes he wore bafflingly restrictive and uncomfortable but there were no alternatives. To make things better, he literally sewed the soles of Nike socks into his dress socks.

When he joined MIT as a postgraduate student in 2012, he met Gihan Amarasiriwardena. Both engineers, they discovered that they shared a common passion: hacking their clothes. Turns out that while Advani was working on his frankensocks, Amarasiriwardena had been adding the backs of running shirts to his dress shirts. It was a match made in corporate heaven.

“That’s really where the idea was really born,” Advani said “From a deep desire to be comfortable in these wild, extreme travel environments, where you’re working 12-hour workdays and getting on two or three flights every week. Couldn’t our clothes be more comfortable and less demanding of us?”

Thus was Ministry of Supply born. Co-founded by Advani and Amarasiriwardena, with Kit Hickey, and Kevin Rustagi in Boston in 2012, the clothing brand aims to bring comfort and joy to customers even in that most inflexible of settings – the workplace.

It relies on radically engineered, high-performance business wear that solves common problems, resulting in clothing that is well-ventilated, stretchable, does not need to be ironed or dry cleaned, and is also extremely moisture absorbing.

TECH FOR FASHION Tech is embedded in the DNA of the brand. The name itself comes from the cover agency of Q – the famous gadget master from the James Bond series. Just like Q, the founders of Ministry of Supply want to provide cutting-edge solutions to the demands of the job.

The website provides a full sense of the technology they employ in their clothing. It lacks the usual vague messaging that mentions that the clothes are made from sustainable cotton, but lets customers dive

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deep into every aspect of the clothing’s creation – from the dye they use to the factories they outsource production to.

Their first product was the Apollo dress short, made from materials that adapt to the wearer’s environment and body temperature. It won them NASA’s Innovation Excellence Award.

Besides using technology to create comfortable clothing, they also used it to create inclusive clothing, such as their Kinetic Adaptiveº collection, which features clothes designed for people who use wheelchairs.

CREATING A BUZZ In Advani’s words, their “color palette is quite muted.”

He attributes this to the kind of household he grew up in. He said there wasn’t “a lot of wild colored dress patterns, ideas, [only a way to let] the person shine rather than the clothes.” Which is why Ministry of Supply clothes lack large logos or patterns;they fit in well at the workplace, but only those in the know realize their true potential.

Despite being muted, these clothes have faced no difficulty creating buzz. In 2016, Amarasiriwardena ran a half-marathon while wearing their justlaunched Aviator II suit. The story got picked up by publications such as Fast Company and Esquire. It wasn’t just a PR stunt; it was also an extreme test of durability and comfort. It showed that their clothes look good enough to wear to work but had the breathability of sportswear.

THE PANDEMIC PIVOT Initially, Advani realized that, to be convinced, customers needed to experience this marrying of tech and clothing. So the team started doing pop-ups and finally opened stores around the country. When the coronavirus hit, though, they had to rethink their technique.

“When the pandemic came along, our strategy had to change,” he said. “We had to get better at conveying [the touch and feel of the clothing]. Fortunately, while our strategy changed, our customers, rather than being skeptical of technology-driven, comfortable clothing, embraced it, because they had been wearing sweatpants for two years at home.”

In a world where workwear is literally a pair of pajamas, when going back to the office, brands like Ministry of Supply are ensuring we don’t give up the comfort of clothes designed to make our lives easier.

THE POWER MOMS FEATURES | SEEMA

Age has not withered, nor custom staled, the infinite variety of these champions SWARNENDU BISWAS

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PHOTO MISHRA CREDIT: BANI Y AND ARIN A DAM DAV, MIHIR

FEATURES | SEEMA

Bani Ya dav at th eM Rally wit h naviga aruti Suzuki D a tor Sukh bans Ma kshin Dare nn

E

ven now a majority of women in India lead repressed life and lifestyles, a result of feudalistic norms and ethos. But in this by and large depressing sociocultural climate, one learns of some inspiring true stories.

Here are three exemplary women who have excelled in physically intensive sports that are traditionally deemed male preserves, despite the pressures of marriage and motherhood. They have not only challenged the established norms of society, but have broken them gloriously. They have paved new roads in the process, ones many more women can take.

r, testing tyres e champion race bu Dhabi Bani Yadav , th Marina track, A s Ya at lin he ic PS4S for M

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RACING AHEAD Bani Yadav, a pioneer in women’s car racing in India.

Yadav, 50, began professional car racing in 2013, at the age of 42, when most other racers have retired. She was a mother of two sons for many years by then.

Bani says it is never easy for a woman in India to break into the male-dominated extreme sport like car racing and rallying.

“Being married into an orthodox family it became an uphill task for me to actually get permission and acceptance to enter motor sports,” she said. “Money has been a constant constraint and I have emptied my family savings to be a part of motor sports. Yet, I am

PHOTO CREDIT: PREMLATA AGRAWAL

“BEING MARRIED INTO AN ORTHODOX FAMILY IT BECAME AN UPHILL TASK FOR ME TO ACTUALLY GET PERMISSION AND ACCEPTANCE TO ENTER MOTOR SPORTS”

Bani Yadav, Woman Car Racer

way behind in terms of car modifications compared to my competitors.”

Her husband was her source of encouragement and support. He helped nurture her adolescent dream of becoming a car rally driver into adult reality.

“It is next to impossible for women in India to find sponsorship or funds to take part in this sport which is also very expensive and requires constant funding,” the champion racer said. She is the only Indian to have won the most major cross-country rally titles in India in the woman’s category.

Bani, who got interested in car racing while admiring his father’s deft driving skills as a child, is also the National Autocross Champion for 2019 and 2018, in the Ladies’ section. She is also the first woman to come an overall second in the IRC – Rally De North – 2016.

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN In 2011, Premlata Agrawal became the oldest Indian woman to scale Mt. Everest, the tallest peak in the world (29,032 ft). She was a young 48. The record is now held by Sangeeta Sindhi Bahl, who became the oldest Indian woman to climb Mt. Everest, at the age of 53. That was on May 19, 2018.

Premlata is also the first Indian woman to clamber such heights.

“My major accomplishment has been the scaling of all the highest peaks of the seven continents of the world, known as the ‘Seven Summits,’” she said. “I also have the record of being the first Indian woman to have climbed Mount Denali, the highest peak of North America, and Mount Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia.” Premlata Agarwal

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“LOOKING AT MY FITNESS AND PASSION FOR MOUNTAINEERING, TATA STEEL CAME FORWARD AND SPONSORED ALL MY MAJOR EXPEDITIONS” Premlata Agarwal

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Premlata began mountaineering at 36, when she was already a mother of two for more than a decade.

It was Bachendri Pal, the first woman from India to climb Mt. Everest (in 1984), who sparked in Premlata the inspiration to take to mountaineering.

“I went to her to enroll my daughters in adventure sports course but she encouraged me to join in the course myself along with my daughters,” Premlata reminisced with a smile. “As I slowly acquired the skills of mountaineering and grasped the heights, my journeys to the mountains turned to a passion and I fell quickly in love with mountaineering.”

Premlata acknowledges her family’s backing in her effort.

“Initially it was a little difficult for me to carry on my duties as a homemaker and pursue my dreams,” she admitted. “But with time management, I could do justice on both fronts and gradually with my every accomplishment, my family members became very involved in my vision, and they lend me great support.”

She did not have struggle for finances, though.

“Looking at my fitness and passion for mountaineering, Tata Steel came forward and sponsored all my major expeditions. I have been very fortunate in this regard,” said Premlata, who won the Padma Shri award in 2013.

PASSION FOR FITNESS Fitness athlete and bodybuilder Sonali Swami entered her physically intensive sport at a stage

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PHOTO CREDIT: SANJAY SWAMI

nali Swami

d body builder So

Fitness athlete an

when many bodybuilders think of retiring. She discovered her passion when she was 37, when she hit the gym for the first time in her life.

“I began my journey of being an athlete after marriage and kids,” she said. “My motto is that age is just a number and that a woman’s life doesn’t end with marriage and motherhood.

My husband has been my pillar of strength throughout the journey. When my family saw my passion for bodybuilding, they genuinely supported and pushed me to do better. My family has never been bothered with society’s opinions and that helped me a lot in my journey.”

Her wins began with Fit Factor at Bodypower India in 2014, and with Musclemania India 2014. She won the bronze medal at the Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships (Model Physique Category) in 2016, and represented India at the Asian & World Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

FUTURE PLANS These ladies plan have no plans to rest on their laurels.

“I look forward to participate in the upcoming Indian National Rally Championship, Asia Pacific Rally Cup, and Indian National Autocross Championship,” Bani said.

Premlata organizes treks for student leadership courses.

According to her, “Outdoor adventure allows students to develop leadership skills, and it can be an integral part of students’ development. I also encourage parents to join the adventure course along with their wards, and was successful in bringing along some parents to the camp with their children.”

“I think my mountaineering journey is not complete; I have a long way to go. There are many more peaks to scale.”

Sonali also plans to get back in the game.

“After a gap, I plan to step on the stage and compete again in 2022,” she said. “I am preparing for that goal and also focusing on my own training. In addition, I also personally coach people and help them achieve their health and fitness goals. My goal is to motivate every woman – especially married women – to prioritize their health and work towards it.”

“MY MOTTO IS THAT AGE IS JUST A NUMBER AND THAT A WOMAN’S LIFE DOESN’T END WITH MARRIAGE AND MOTHERHOOD”

Sonali Swami

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FEATURES | SEEMA

For Our Father, Who Art at Home A SEEMA teen describes how and why she celebrates a day devoted to dad ANUSUIYA MEHROTRA

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M

y father is an inspiration.

To express my gratitude to him for all the sacrifices he has made is not something I will pass. For all the times he did not go to sleep so he could console me when I cried, the times he woke up early in the morning to get me ready for school despite working late nights, being always ready with a scrumptious cake and loving wishes on my birthdays… For every other thing he did for me and my family.

For me, Father’s Day is aside to express my gratitude to my dad in the fullest manner. It is the time for me to put my feelings for him at the forefront of my mind and heart.

To my father, that is a day filled with the feeling of accomplishment and happiness. It is a day he is reminded of all he has done for his family. His children are his pride and joy, and getting a day to embrace the feeling of being a father thrills him.

He relishes his role every day of his life, but this is the day all of those feelings are nudged and brought back to consciousness.

Efforts to make the day special begins a week earlier.

My siblings and I kick off the production by collecting the past year’s memories – videos and photographs of our father and us, compiling them into an endearing video. Then we prepare a bunch of cards with colorful sheets and decoration, writing within them tender and warm messages for him. The next step is arranging balloons in pretty colors and a freshly baked cake in his favorite flavor (chocolate and mango) with ‘We Love You Dad’ written on top. All of this is a sincere

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attempt of conveying our true feelings.

The decoration is just not limited to the cake.

We spend time decorating the living room with some printed photographs and cards hanging on warm yellow string lights and balloons strategically positioned. A projector is set up before a white wall that acts as a screen for the video. Watching the compilation never failed to bring a tear to my eye. The entire family seats itself comfortably on the couch, enjoying snacks and the celebration the children put up. Reading out our cards to father would always reduce my father and mother to tears. That bit gets very emotional.

Another major tradition in our celebration involves visiting the local orphanage. We feel that just because other people, too, should be able to celebrate this day despite the absence of a father or a father figure in their lives. So we visit the orphanage, distribute gifts to children there, and have a small celebration with them as well.

For me, Father’s Day is very important. No one in the family is left out of the celebration. It is one of the days of the year I eagerly await. It is when I pay tribute to a man who has always been there for me through thick and thin, through joy and misery.

Father’s Day is just like Mother’s Day – a day we express our gratitude and love for a parent, saluting them for their hard work and the sacrifices they made for their children. According to me, there is hardly any difference between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Both parents deserve equal credit for their child’s development. Both have their children’s best interests at heart. Both roles are equally vital. And so I feel the two days should be celebrated with the same energy and excitement.

PIONEER | SEEMA

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FEATURES | SEEMA

WHERE BIODIVERSITY RULES South Asia is home to some of the most complex

and rich ecosystems in the world. Here are some of the hotspots PRATIKA YASHASWI

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uman life has always depended on ecosystems. The earliest civilizations of the world formed around natural resources: rivers and other water bodies and fertile lands — here, a fragile network of microorganisms and endemic animals, plants, reptiles, underwater creatures, and amphibians maintained fresh (drinkable) water, ensured soil fertility and stability, pollinated food crops and provided folk medicine. The most advanced cities still rely on the same resources for people to survive. Resources that are continually coming under strain as the little organisms working round the clock to maintain them, vanish. Over half the world’s GDP is derived from biological resources— so the very creatures most city-dwellers will likely never see in their lives are quite crucial to our survival.

In the fight against climate change, South Asia and island communities seem to be getting the worst end of the stick. Data shows that our children and future generations are going to brave the deadliest of its long-term consequences. Our coastal lands and mountainous areas are under great threat from rising sea levels and soaring temperatures.

However South Asia, home to 15.5 and 12 percent of the world’s flora and fauna respectively, is also blessed with abundant gifts by way of biodiversity. This is not merely something to be protected with our lives, not just because it is so very beautiful, but also because it could turn into our most powerful weapon against the deadly effects of climate change.

According to conservation.org, reversing nature, and therefore biodiversity loss could account for 30 percent of global action needed to stabilize our climate.

In spite of the crucial importance of biodiversity and natural habitats to human survival and combating climate change, the facts and figures of the situation are bone-chilling. One million species face extinction. The current biodiversity extinction rate exceeds the natural extinction rate by 1,000-fold.

The geography and climate varies tremendously across this region, from the temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas, to the monsoon forests of Sri Lanka.

There are ecologically rich deltas, arid salt flats, and wide valleys. The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Center, where over half of India’s evergreen forests are found, is home to approximately 63% of India’s woody evergreen species, which are found nowhere else.

PAKISTAN’S FORESTS Pakistan is geographically diverse and home to some of the world’s rarest animals and plants. From desolate deserts to forested valleys, it houses rich biological diversity. The undulating Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindu Kush are also found here. The endangered snow leopard and the endangered Indus dolphin are rare and belong to its alpine slopes and its rivers. In the drier western Himalayas, montane forests stretch up to 4,500 feet consisting of various species of pine, fir, spruce and deodar cedar, juniper and rhododendron.

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SRI LANKA’S WET-ZONE RAINFORESTS Declared one of 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world by Conservation International, Sri Lanka has the highest biodiversity per unit area of land among Asian countries. For example, it is home to 23% of flowering plants and 16% of mammals, as well as many other plant and animal species only found on the island. Sri Lanka’s agricultural crops are very genetically diverse, with a whopping 3,000 varieties of rice recorded. The number of unique species is so large that their extinction would represent an irreplaceable loss: and they are already under threat. It’s extremely important not just for the country but also the region and possibly the world to protect Sri Lanka’s biodiversity.

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THE SUNDARBANS The Sundarbans, home to the world’s largest delta and mangrove forests, are formed by the confluence of three rivers in the Bay of Bengal: the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.

It was declared as reserved more than a hundred years ago, under the Forest Act, 1865 (Act VIII of 1865). There are an estimated 78 species of mangroves in these forests, which are also home to the royal Bengal tiger and the endangered batagur baska, a species of river turtle. Worryingly, the mangrove cover is shrinking.

According to the India State of Forest Report of 2021, the Sundarbans had shrunk to 384 square miles from 418 square miles in 2011.

WESTERN GHATS Along with Sri Lanka, the Western Ghats traversing the states of Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu in India have been declared a biodiversity hotspot. It is also a world heritage site. Also known as the Sahyadri Mountain range, it covers 62,000 squares miles in a stretch of 990 miles.

It is estimated that as many as 10,000 elephants and 10% of the world’s tigers can be found in the Nilgiri Hills, in the southwestern part of the Western Ghats.

Approximately 245 million people live in the peninsular Indian states that receive most of their water supply from rivers originating in the Western Ghats, making it key to survival.

FEATURES | SEEMA

SUNDALAND Dominated by the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, Sundaland is one of the richest of the planet’s biological hotspots. India’s Nicobar islands also fall in the Sundaland Hotspot. What makes it more fascinating is that Sundaland’s life also extends to the tectonic plates under the Indian Ocean. Sundaland houses iconic species like orangutans, pig-tailed langurs, Javan and Sumatran rhinos, and proboscis monkeys, which are found only in Borneo. Sundaland also is home to the world’s largest flower, the critically endangered, carnivorous and ginormous Rafflesia arnoldii, which measure more than three feet across across and can stink up a bomb.

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FEATURES | SEEMA

OPENING THE How to ensure LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace ANJALI BINDRA PATEL

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DOORS WIDER

FEATURES | SEEMA

“S

hould I walk in the room and leave the gay out of the room, or leave the black out of the room? For most of my career, I’ve had some variation of this question. I think the way to talk about being black and gay is to talk about being whole, being a whole being” [1] ~ Robert O’Hara In their book “Conscious Capitalism,” John Mackey and Raj Sisodia talk about doing what is right because it’s right. Conscious businesses, they say, have a simple but powerful belief: the right actions undertaken for the right reasons generally lead to good outcomes over time.

They treat their stakeholders well because it is the right, humane, and sensible thing to do and because humanity 56 | SEEMA.COM | JUNE 2022

is also smart business practice.

The authors take this analysis a step further by asking, “How would I feel if what I’m doing right now is written up on the front page of The New York Times or the Wall Street Journal?”[2] It’s a solid question to ask. For example, during Pride Month, organizations customarily post about their commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community, which is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.

But what happens once Pride Month ends? How can organizations support the community year-round?

The work begins long before an employee steps into their first day on the job. Employers give strong signals about whether a workplace will be inclusive

through their cultural “artifacts”: the wording of a job description, the visuals on a website, and the gender denominations on the application form are just some signals employers give off even before an employee starts at a company.

How can we aim to build a more inclusive workplace for the LGBTQIA+ community? Below are some best practices employers can consider: • Use personal pronouns. Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect them and create an inclusive environment, just as using a person’s name can be a way to respect them. (she/ her/hers, zi/hir, they/them/theirs, etc). Learn more about personal pronouns here: Why Pronouns Are Important (lakeforest.edu) • Recruit inclusively. To attract a diverse slate of candidates, start with sharing your organization’s inclusive practices through your website and genuine relationship building at career fairs and community forums. When you share job postings, ensure the postings use gender-neutral language and advertise your same-sex benefits for health and family leave.

• Update Your Policies. Employers should ensure that all anti-harassment, bullying, and nondiscrimination policies include LGBTQIA+ individuals. Review other policies, including the dress code expectations and family leave policies, to ensure they are equitable for all employees.

• Invest in Learning and Development for Diversity and Inclusion. Diversity and inclusion training can be an essential step for existing employees and new hires to enhance efforts to build an inclusive environment at work. Some topics to incorporate include using gender-neutral language, recognizing and disrupting implicit bias, effective allyship, and formulating inclusive policies at work.

• Share real stories. See if employees are willing to share their perspectives on how they have experienced inclusion and belonging at work. Maybe an employee came to your organization because of its inclusive leave and benefit policies, or perhaps they have a story about allyship on their teams. Highlight your wins. Nothing speaks louder than an authentic human voice.

• Be an ally. Share stories about how you have worked

to build inclusive practices at work. What challenges did you face? How did you overcome them? What steps have you taken to help LGBTQIA+ employees thrive?

• Promote Sponsorship. There’s a saying that says a mentor is someone who talks to you, while a sponsor is someone who talks about you and advocates for you when you are not in the room. The impact of effective sponsorship can’t be understated. Sponsors can help their LGBTQIA+ employees by advising them and creating opportunities to get involved in high-profile and high-visibility projects. These opportunities are crucial to employee retention, promotion, and belonging and show a visible commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community.

• Recognize and Reward Progress. It can be tempting to announce ambitious, multi-year diversity and inclusion goals, but it’s equally important to celebrate small wins that have shown clear progress. Did your company roll out diversity and inclusion training for employees? Rework job descriptions to use gender-neutral language? Start an LGBTQIA+ affinity group? Celebrate those wins!

Our journeys towards building more inclusive environments should be ongoing. Diversity and inclusion efforts aren’t about finding a quick fix and moving on. Instead, think of diversity and inclusion as something we work to incorporate into our everyday lives as a matter of habit. Sometimes, the work will be challenging, but if we remain resilient and move forward in solidarity, we can create the change we want to see in our workplaces and in ourselves.

Anjali Bindra Patel is a lawyer, certified diversity executive, and author of Humanity at Work [1] O’Hara, Robert, “Artist Interview with Robert O’Hara.” Interview by Tim Sanford, Playwrights Horizons, accessed November 10, 2014, https://www. playwrightshorizons.org/shows/trailers/artist-interviewrobert-ohara/.

[2] John Mackey and Rajendra Sisodia, “Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business” (Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2013), 209.

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THE QUEER SOUTH ASIAN LIFE

FEATURES | SEEMA

It’s replete with challenges but has its great moments, too NUPUR BHATNAGAR AND PRATIKA YASHASWI

C

reating awareness around gender, sexuality and coming out issues among the South Asian community is not easy. But Alex Sangha and Jag Nagra have done just that, despite the oft conservative nature of South Asian families, particularly around LGBTQ+ rights.

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the gay South Asian community, whether you are Sikh, Hindu, or Muslim, to get married and have children,” says Alex Sangha, a registered clinical social worker in Vancouver, Canada. “Living in intergenerational families with our parents and grandparents, we must fit into the family structure.

How is a gay man going to bring a boyfriend home and have him

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Producer Alex Sangha

PHOTO CREDIT: AVI DHILLON

“MANY GAY BROWN MEN ARE CLOSETED AND LIVING DOUBLE LIVES. THEY ARE FORCED INTO ARRANGED MARRIAGES AND HAVING CASUAL SEXUAL AFFAIRS WITH MEN ON THE SIDE. THIS PUTS THEIR WIVES AT RISK OF HIV AND OTHER STDS.” Alex Sangha, clinical social worker

PHOTO CREDIT: SHER VANCOUVER

Jaspal in a still from Sher Vancouver

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accepted by the family?”

As Sangha describes it, “Many gay brown men are closeted and living double lives. They are forced into arranged marriages and having casual sexual affairs with men on the side.

This puts their wives at risk of HIV and other STDs. Homophobia and discrimination and remaining in the closet is, therefore, more than a social and cultural issue; it is also a health care issue. It is healthier and safer emotionally and psychologically and better for our community members to be who they are and live their life as God has created them.”

Sangha, who found himself “isolated, alienated, lonely and depressed and suicidal” before he came out, founded Sher Vancouver in April 2008 and has worked relentlessly since against bullying, racism, homophobia, and transphobia with coming out stories from a South Asian perspective. His Out and Proud project profiled amazing queer South Asians from around the world, including Canada, US, UK, and India.

“It was not easy for me to come out,” he said.

“I had internalized homophobia, which means

PHOTO CREDIT: SHER VANCOUVER

FEATURES | SEEMA

Kayden in a still from Sher Vancouver

I did not like myself for being gay. I also had some internalized racism, which meant I did not like myself for being brown. This is because, growing up, I was bullied and called Hindu, Paki, and Punjab and later labeled gay, faggot, and queer by my high school peers.

I started to hate myself and my identity. It’s really a horrible feeling to feel this way.”

In 2017, Sangha led the Sher Vancouver contingent in the Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade, creating history as the first LGBTQ South Asian organization to ever march in the parade.

Visual artist Jag Nagra, thought she was facing his own battles alone – until something happened.

“I came across an article about Alex Sangha in 2008.

It was the first time I had even heard about any other queer South Asians,” Nagra said. “I had been struggling internally for quite some time, I was closeted from my close friends and family. That article in the newspaper couldn’t have come at a more fitting time. I threw myself into every event, every gathering that Sher put on. I immersed myself into the group because for the first time in my life, I felt seen and validated.”

Communing with other queer South Asians shattered many barriers for Nagra.

“Meeting other queer South Asians was incredibly helpful in me accepting myself and allowing me to come out to my family,” she said. “I could show them that there were others out there like me who were JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 61

FEATURES | SEEMA

Visual artist Jag Nagra

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“MY MAIN GOAL THROUGH MY QUEER ACTIVISM IS JUST TO BE A LIVING EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO IS ‘OUT’ AND BEING A VOICE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK UP. REPRESENTATION IS SO IMPORTANT, AND I MAKE ART THAT OFTEN SHOWS INTERSECTIONS OF IDENTITY. I WANT TO CHALLENGE WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT GENDER ROLES” Jag Nagra, visual artist

thriving. It made things easier and made me feel less alone. To see the community growing, to see the younger generation coming out in ways that we didn’t feel comfortable doing so is incredible. We still have a long way to go, but together, we’re going there.”

Nagra, who lives with her wife and two children, believes normalizing being queer is the best way forward, and visibility is key to that change of perception.

“As blessed as I feel to be living openly, I know many queer South Asians can’t do so yet,” she said. “Societal and family pressures still very much have a huge bearing on whether people feel safe or not to come out of the closet.

Our society still largely thinks in binary terms.

Marriage between men and women is still very much ‘the goal’ for many parents when they think of their children.”

“My main goal through my queer activism is just to be a living example of someone who is ‘out’ and being a voice for those who cannot speak up,” Nagra said. “Representation is so important, and I make art that often shows intersections of identity. I want to challenge what people think about gender roles.”

Sangha and Nagra were recently featured in the award-winning feature documentary “Emergence- Out of The Shadows”, the story of three South Asians revealing their sexuality to their conservative parents.

Sangha, who also produced “Emergence,” shared that the impetus to tell this story came from Kayden, an international student studying in Vancouver whose family cut off all ties and left him with no food, shelter or money when they found out about his sexuality.

“I wanted to produce this film because I did not want any other kids to be disowned because of their sexuality.” Sangha said. “I wanted to educate and create awareness around gender, sexuality, and coming out issues and send a message that we must all love one another and keep our community safe.”

He adds: “My mother struggled to come to terms with my sexuality as well but she never once judged me or rejected me. She turned to her Sikh faith for guidance and support, and she found her answer. She believed being gay is part of God’s creation and part of God’s plan for me and my life journey.”

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FITNESS | SEEMA

6 TIPS TO GET A SUMMERREADY BODY With summer heading in, a fit physique is all the rage. Here are some ways to get it NANCY AMON

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Summer is around the corner, and we all dream of a sassy summer-ready body. This article will provide you with some insights into getting your body ready for the warm season. It will also give you some tips on what to do to get that beach-ready body this season.

Key focus points for achieving that summer body include: • Working on an exercise regimen (cardio, weights, stretches) • Planning your healthy meals • Track what you eat (aim for eating clean and less processed foods) • Enjoy the sun and spend time outside • Don’t obsess about weighing yourself – forget about 66 | SEEMA.COM | JUNE 2022

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the scale • Practicing mindfulness and lowering stress levels (meditation, yoga, mindful living) • Not all bodies are the same Tip #1 Plan Your Workouts Plan your workouts ahead of time. The gym can be super-expensive, and you don’t know what excellent classes they might have, so be sure to look up more info on gyms near you. Also, decide on a few good weightlifting and cardio exercises. A fitness plan is the first step to getting in shape. The New Year is when people make resolutions and commit to a healthier lifestyle. But many of those resolutions are abandoned by

different apps on the market that can help you with this.

Some are free, while others have a monthly or annual fee.

The best thing to do is find an app that suits your needs and lifestyle to tailor it to your needs.

A food journal app is a great way to keep track of what you eat in one place. It will allow you to see how many calories and nutrients each food item has, which can help you make more informed decisions about your diet.

A calorie tracker app will also allow for this, but it may provide other information, such as the number of hours since you last ate.

February, and people find themselves back at square one.

People make many mistakes when they set up their fitness plan, which can lead to failure before they even start.

Avoid the pitfalls and get your resolutions right with a fitness plan: • Be realistic about the fitness goals you have jotted in your plan.

• Don’t be irrational and create a new year’s resolution for fitness on new years eve. Instead, be strategic and work on it ahead of the new year.

• Are there pros and cons to your fitness plan? Write them down.

• Reward yourself for a job well done.

Tip #2: Plan Your Meals in Advance Planning your meals ahead of time is a crucial step in losing weight. It can help you save money, eat healthily, and stay on track with your diet.

It’s important to know that there are two types of planning: short-term and long-term.

• Short-term meal planning is deciding what to make for dinner over the next few days daily.

• Long-term meal planning is more strategic and includes setting specific goals for yourself and making sure you have the proper foods available to meet those goals as part of an ongoing meal plan journey.

Tip#3: Keep Track of What You Eat! Keeping track of what you eat is a good way to stay in control of your diet and health. There are plenty of

Tip #4 Get Some Sunshine!

Are you aware of the health benefits of sunlight exposure? If not, sunlight is a natural source of energy, and it helps.

• It is known to improve mood • The sun can help regulate sleep patterns by helping the body produce melatonin • Vitamin D production occurs naturally in the body with enough sun exposure • Thanks to vitamin D production, the sun can help boost your immune system Tip #5 Ignore the Scale! Just Focus on Losing Weight and Getting Healthy!

Ignore the scale. It is important because it’s the most difficult. After all, we constantly feel tempted to see physical results based on the scale’s numbers. Still, there are also non-scale victories like sleeping better, feeling healthier, having more energy, and more. Those are all things to celebrate. Dropping the weight comes gradually.

Tip #6 Not all bodies are the same Knowing that all bodies are different is important to realize long before you get started. While one person may have a faster metabolism and can maintain their slim physique most of the year, others may not have the same experience. Being bigger built doesn’t mean that your body is less capable or less beautiful. Work with your body and how it functions for the ultimate tailored summer-body experience.

Conclusion To Getting A Summer-Ready Body If you are trying to lose weight, there will be days when you feel like you have no progress and that you are never going to get there. You might feel like all your hard work is for nothing. But it’s not. Every day matters and every little step counts. Focus on the big picture, and don’t let a bad day or week derail your progress.

Keep pushing ahead and be kind to yourself.

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RECOMMENDS | SEEMA

OUR SUMMER ESSENTIALS The SEEMA team’s curated wishlist for

a happy, healthy and outdoorsy summer

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Supergoop! Mineral Mattescreen SPF 40 Summer fun = lots of sun! The more time we spend outdoors in summer, the more I need to take care of my skin! Sunscreen is absolutely essential whenever I step out, and I carry it everywhere in my tote. I’m digging mineral sunscreens over chemical sunscreens these days since I have sensitive skin. https://www.ulta.com/p/mineralmattescreen-spf-40-pimprod2029941

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Cotton Dresses from Chidiyaa Bright dresses with bird motifs, block prints and halter necks are just what you need when you step out to enjoy the weather. https://world.chidiyaa.com/ collections/dresses

Cooper Cooler Rapid Beverage & Wine Chiller Need a cold beer ASAP? Guests coming over, but forgot to chill the wine? This quick beverage chiller is just what I need this summer. It cools wine bottles in six minutes, and a can in just a minute, so a chilled soda or white wine is always within reach. https://www.amazon.com/Cooper-CoolerBeverage-Chiller-Silver/dp/B0000U3CIW

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Chamois Butt’r Her’ Her Anti-Chafe Let’s face it, a summer is meant to be spent in the outdoors, but hiking, biking and running play havoc with our most sensitive areas. This anti-chafing product is just what the doctor ordered. Free from parabens and artificial fragrances, this power-packed product gives instant relief and doesn’t leave a residue. https://www.chamoisbuttr.com/ collections/all-products/products/heranti-chafe JUNE 2022 | SEEMA.COM | 69

RECOMMENDS | SEEMA

5 Summer Eyewear From Eyebobs If you wear prescription glasses, add a transient lens to summer eyewear so that it matches your clothing. Get a funky look with these. https://www.eyebobs.com/collections/shop-womens-sunglasses/products/3352-soothsayer

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Solar Wind Chime Not just for the day, these magical wind chimes will keep you in a good mood at night, shining in various wonderful colors – red, yellow, green, orange, purple, red and blue. It is the perfect complement for the twinkling stars in the open sky. https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/11121294-DFA34A17-A0A2-F4ADE01F966E/

7 Hydrating Moisturizer While summer is the best time for SPF and sunscreen, it’s also a time your skin can get deceptively dry. The best solution is a hydrating moisturizer, preferably one that acts as more of a hydrating gel so it doesn’t make oily skin… well, oilier. Neutrogena has some pretty stand-out options for this. It’s the best solution for ensuring that your skin doesn’t take as much of a beating from the heat as your will power does. https://www.amazon.com/dp/ B017W3J8TQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_ dt_b_product_details

Monocular Telescope This is a must-have for both the young and the old. The Monocular Scope is compact, portable, waterproof and has a convenient hand strap for adults and kids. This is required gear for the outdoors during the summer, where you indulge in birdwatching, hunting, camping, hiking, traveling, or just taking in the scenery. https://www.amazon.com/MonocularTelescope-Monoculars-WaterproofShockproof/dp/B075WNJGCQ/ ref=sr_1_21

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Laptop Lap Desk While we all prefer to spend hot summer days cooling off indoors, our technology doesn’t react to heat the same way.

My laptop has always suffered in the warm weather, working overtime on the fan as it rests on my lap due to a lack of uniform ventilation. A lap desk is the best solution, not only to help provide your machine with a more stable cooling surface, but also to make days at home feel slightly more organized. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W3QTYCR/ref=ppx_ yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?th=1

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TRAVEL | SEEMA

THE RAINBOW-HUED SPLENDOR OF SAN FRANCISCO

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It boasts rich diversity, culture, color and weather.

There’s no place quite like the Golden City ABHIJIT MASIH

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ne of the most prominent figures to make San Francisco home was Harvey Milk, the city’s mayor who was assassinated on November 27, 1978.

Milk, remembered as one of the first political activists for the LGBTQ+ community, made the pride flag a potent symbol for the community. As the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, Milk convinced those that came after him of his vision for a more inclusive future.

A lot has changed in the 44 years since his death. There as many as 1,000 LGBTQ+ officials in the US, according to The New York Times. So much so that President Biden appointed as White House press secretary Karine

Jean-Pierre, the first Black person, and one who is openly LGBTQ+.

The city famous for the Golden Gate Bridge attracts all kinds of visitors, from business travelers heading to Silicon Valley to domestic and international tourists.

This year, the SF Gay Pride Parade & Celebration is planned for June 15 and 26. It is considered to be one of the largest LGBTQ+ gatherings in the world, with the current year’s theme being “Love Will Keep Us Together.”

Supporters of the cause can show solidarity by visiting The Castro, a neighborhood made famous by Milk.

The beautiful four blocks is one of the prominent symbols for LGBTQ+ community. Though not the main attraction of San Francisco – which would probably be the Fisherman’s Wharf – The Castro most definitely demands a full day of your itinerary. The neighborhood has a lot to offer — a vibrant LGBTQ+ community with its rich history, incredible eating joints and shopping outlets, and a fascinating night-life.

You can also take in a movie at The Castro Theatre, one of the classic single-screen old world cinemas. The theater that opened in 1922 is officially designated as a historic landmark of San Francisco. The premier of the Sean Penn starrer, “Milk,” based on the life of the pathbreaking leader, was held at the theater in 2008, a stone’s throw away from Milk’s house.

There are many LGBTQ+ landmarks in The Castro, such as the Pink Triangle Park, the rainbow striped crosswalks, and the Rainbow Walk. Yes, they are two different attractions. Besides these there are numerous street murals that are just perfect as your Instagram reels background.

You really cannot have a complete American holiday experience if you have not visited San Francisco, even though the other city in California is more popular because it is home to Hollywood.

June may be the best time to visit the city though the weather in San Francisco can shock most first-time visitors. It is probably best and aptly described by Mark Twain: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” While most parts of the country enjoy the summer, it is normal to have the San Francisco temperature linger in the pleasant 50s. So think twice before packing in those shorts and flip-flops for the summer break. Bring a pullover instead, unless you want to be roaming around in a San Francisco-branded hoodie for the rest of your stay – a dead giveaway that you are an unsuspecting tourist who did not prep for the weather.

The city offers accommodations for every budget, but the best area to stay would definitely be in and around

TRAVEL | SEEMA

Fisherman’s Wharf. The place buzzes with tourists and has more attractions and family-friendly activities than any other part of San Francisco. These include the various piers, restaurants, shops, Madame Tussauds, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Aquarium of the Bay, etc.

Pier 39, besides its many attractions also provides unobstructed views of the Golden Gate and The Rock, more famously known as the Alcataraz Penitentiary, the temporary home of Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.

You could tour The Rock if you have booked early, for the Alcatraz tour is almost always overbooked. The other option is to take a Bay cruise on one of the ferries that gives a guided tour of the area, also taking you around

The Rock. You can witness amazing views of the city from the bay and of the most iconic symbol of the city, the Golden Gate Bridge.

If you feel you haven’t yet ticked all the boxes even after you make it across the 1.7 mile bridge, then you could rent a bicycle for the mesmerizing ride. However, be wary of gusty headwinds and the steep inclines of the road.

The other option – probably less strenuous – is the city tour bus, which crosses the bridge along and offers a few other sights and stops on the way to Sausalito Island across the bay.

The island is a distinctly elite neighborhood with beautiful marinas and restaurants. The island was also home to the late actor and comedian Robin Williams.

Returning from Sausalito, you can see the Pacific Ocean on the right side of the bridge but at a fair distance. A visit to the West Coast can’t be complete without dipping your feet in the Pacific Ocean. Take a bus ride to the Ocean Beach and experience the waves of the biggest ocean on the planet. Witness massive container ships making their way towards the San Francisco harbor through the strait over which the Golden Gate Bridge is suspended.

While in San Francisco make use of public transportation. The best option would be to purchase a three-day pass, the Visitor Passport, and enjoy unlimited rides on mass transport vehicles: Muni, Muni Metro, historic streetcars, and cable cars. The city is not very large and can be easily covered entirely using public transport, which is cheap and not frightfully crowded. In most cases tourists choose the popular routes. A three-day pass will cost $36, a steal compared to the taxi fares.

Do take in the charms of the street cars, which have been in service from the early 1900s.

The final box to be ticked is the iconic cable car system that form the integral part of the history of San Francisco. The wait in the line could be long and the ride from Fisherman’s Wharf to Union Square is an unsatisfactory 15 minutes. That may sound a bummer; but you just can’t leave San Francisco without taking it.

As early as the 1940s, San Francisco was reputed to be a city of tolerance and inclusiveness. This was possibly why many members of the LGTBQ+ community moved to the city – and specifically to The Castro. Also, the reason why Harvey Milk moved from New York City to the Golden City and called it home.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY TRAVEL | SEEMA

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Hiking Trails in the US These beginner-friendly trails showcase some amazing scenery MELANIE FOURIE

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iking is a fun way to spend quality time with your clan, since it appeals to people of all ages. Whether you’re an amateur hiker or just getting started with young children or a swarm of adolescent siblings, there’s an appropriate hiking trail in the U.S. for everyone. Hiking is so much more than just a practical workout; it’s also a way to improve your mental well-being while simultaneously interacting with nature.

Perhaps hiking has been on your wish list for a while; but you simply couldn’t decide on an appropriate trail. If so, we’ve selected seven great summertime trails for families in the United States based on scenic beauty, ease of walking, and proximity to main cities. To that end, happy exploring.

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POTOMAC OVERLOOK TRAIL, VIRGINIA

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SMOKEY MOUNTAINS’ KEPHART PRONG TRAIL

The Kephart Prong Trail in the gorgeous Smoky Mountains of Tennessee is a terrific choice for families that want to avoid congestion and visit some of the area’s historical landmarks. The 4.2-mile round-trip journey concludes at the Kephart Shelter after crossing the Oconaluftee River several times on wooden pedestrian bridges.

On your way in, you’ll encounter the ruins of the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp, as well as an abandoned WPA fish factory and a smokestack. Some of the nearest cities to stay in are Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Cherokee.

At Caledon State Park in Virginia, you can hike to this lookout point over the Potomac River. This underused hiking destination is a biodiverse landmark known for its tulips and antiquated trees. From the trail entrance at the old plantation residence, take the Boyds Hole Trail, and then the Potomac Overlook Trail to a hillside with a view of the majestic river.

Use the Hampstead Road Trail to get back, and enjoy the woodlands, mangroves, and flowering plants along the way.

The nearest town to the trail here is Berthaville, so book yourself into a hotel there if you don’t live nearby.

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SAN DIEGO’S LOS PENASQUITO’S CANYON TRAIL

Despite its seven-mile length, the Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail is level, simple, and kid friendly. Native American history extends back 7,000 years to the Los Penasquitos Canyon

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Preserve located approximately a halfhour drive from San Diego.

Tourists may witness a historic earthen home as well as a waterfall in the region. The trail is also traversed by horseback riders, which can be visual feast for kids fascinated with animals.

NEW YORK’S BEAR MOUNTAIN LOOP TRAIL

The Bear Mountain Loop Trail offers a break from New York City’s frenetic pace. This 3.8-mile easy trek is located only 90 minutes from New York City and is kid-friendly.

This pathway offers panoramic vistas and a few rock scrambles, making it a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle of NYC. If you’re not from the city, you’ll be spoiled for choice with the vast array of hotels there too.

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SANTA ELENA CANYON TRAIL IN TEXAS

This track takes you through sandy pathways to the Rio Grande’s riverbanks, one of Big Bend National Park’s most spectacular views. A visit to Big Bend National Park is an essential part of any trip for those wanting to experience the Texan desert.

The park covers 1,100 square miles, with wilderness and riverine and montane ecosystems all represented in the facility’s 800,000-acres. It also overlooks the vastest stretches of the Chihuahua Desert. You can do this 1.7-mile trip at your own pace, since it’s suitable for all levels of experience.

The park has sweltering temperatures throughout the summer.

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COASTAL TRAIL HIKE, CUTLER, MAINE

If you’re new to hiking, this has to be the simplest and most accessible hike on Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land. Hiking this 2.8-mile route will take you around two hours, and you’ll be rewarded for your endeavors with lots of scenery. Some things to see on this distinctive Maine Coast trip are pine marshes, seaside sprucefir groves, deep gorges, and breathtaking ocean vistas.

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ARCHES NATIONAL PARK TRAILS, UTAH

The natural rock sculptures in Utah’s Arches National Park are great, especially families with young children. Delicate Arch, Skyline Arch, and Sand Dune Arch are some of the best kidfriendly trails in the park.

The Colorado River rafting experience, a juvenile ranger adventure, taking in magnificent sights like the petroglyphs, and seeing fossils at Utah Giants are just some of the activities available to youngsters. Arches National Park is five miles north of Moab, Utah, in southeast Utah. The park’s entry lies just north of Moab, Utah, on U.S. 191.

So that’s it, then. Remember that summer heat may be harsh, so remain hydrated and wear suitable gear when hiking. It’s just as vital to plan and study your route ahead of time too, so you don’t lose your way.

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FORECAST WITH FARZANA Mar 21 - Apr 19

It’s time to walk away from any situation, person or way of being that has been weighing you down after careful consideration.

Although you are stepping away from all that was comfortable, there is no fear, only the resolve to see things through. You are finally ready to embrace some new habits in the area of your relationships, attitude towards health and money. While it is natural to feel some regret; be ready to put in the work. Focus on budgeting and steer clear of any over ambitious investment plans. Follow your intuition and stay grounded. A great time to seek a mentor and evolve into the person you are meant to be.

Apr 20 - May 20

This is a month that prompts you to be more outgoing and experimental or take rapid action. Extricate yourself from any limiting beliefs, people and things that block your personal and professional growth. Your confidence, passion, hard work, and enthusiasm place you in the limelight. Be bold in your plans and move forward with courage. If you are vying for a leadership role, now, is the time

to initiate meaningful conversations. A financial windfall, or a new project or a job opportunity, is likely. Take the lead in the area of love and remember, relationships grow through communication. Keep a check on your anger and focus on what lights you up.

May 21 - Jun 20

Your plans may not go exactly as you had hoped, but you have a lot of tenacity to fight for what you want. Question your inner desires and see how everything will fall into place. In case, you are having difficulties in your current relationship, it might be a sign that you need to be objective and make peace or perhaps accept that it is time to move on. From a career perspective, there may be some disappointment however the step back may be exactly what is needed to move forward. Being tactful and focusing on your priorities are good skills to adopt in order to be victorious. A new way of life is around the corner, stay resolute.

Jun 21 - Jul 22

Trust is the high point of this month.

It is the time to look beyond the surface. In case, you find yourself in a situation where you feel outplayed, assess, research and then plan your action, for knowledge is power. Take

note of where you’ve been rationalizing to keep yourself “safe.” If you’re hiring, involved in a relationship or considering a business collaboration, go beyond the usual reference check. Watch your words, finances, reputation and your back. Step up your game and place your trust in the process of your personal growth. In the love area, you may find love beyond the usual places. As a couple you may desire to spend time alone in your own company.

Jul 23 - Aug 22

You may throw caution to the wind to embrace new beginnings, experiences with a newfound spontaneity and optimism. This energy of living in the moment and taking a chance may reflect in your choices at work or in a relationship.

Your ideas may be ahead of time and have you seeking a new position – or even go off on your own, to start your own business.

Unleash your creativity to tap into your fullest potential. Don’t let any negativity hamster wheel you into believing in things you should not listen to. Money may seem scarce, however you have enough to get you by. Go, with your inner voice and trust that the universe has your back.

Aug 23 - Sept 22 The phases of life are like the seasons. Every season with its highs and the lows, preps you to navigate through change; giving birth to something

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new. Seize the opportunity of a new project or act upon any new venture. If you feel a tad bereft, indulge in some selfcare.

Though you may want to be careful of the extra helping at dinner that may rest on your hips, later. Learn to trust your instincts with respect to money. Wear your hope and dreams as though it were a new sun dress. Positive changes are expected in your relationship; a new one, if you are solo and a deeper commitment, in the current one.

Sept 23 - Oct 22

There’s nothing you don’t have access to right now. With the amazing talent and skills, you possess; begin implementing your plans and goals with optimism. If there was a time to manifest and create magic, it is now. Embrace new beginnings, coming your way at work through new roles, ventures, assignments or a move. Be open for new opportunities to make money. A new perspective in an existing relationship, would help you to grow in every way and learn a lot from each other. If you are looking for love, don’t allow the grass to grow under your feet. Your creativity can yield positive outcomes. Visualize, your victory. Avoid the temptation to manipulate or be bossy.

Oct 23 - Nov 21

It’s not the time to jump into action but to stay still and wait. No matter how hard you try, most things are out of your control.

Learn to roll with the punches. Try surrendering to the universe and allow fate to step and make its own adjustments. Have a little faith that everything will work out the way 82 | SEEMA.COM | JUNE 2022

it is meant to. You’re on a journey inward and positive change is imminent. Sever ties with anyone who causes stress or anxiety.

Reevaluate your work situation. Clear your head, stay focused and be flexible in matters of the heart and money. There’s no need to push or overthink. Allow what’s meant for you to walk to you.

Nov 22 - Dec 21

It feels like you’re being pulled in one too many directions all at once or where nothing seems to be getting done because no one can agree on what to do. If conflict is inevitable, realize that you may need to be somewhat assertive to bring things back into order. You may need to set boundaries and speak your truth. Your tribe will stand by your side. Accept changes at work; in fact, use it as a stepping stone to initiate the changes you may like to see in your career. In the love area, less ego and more conversations, would go a long way. In money matters, hold on to the purse strings and invest, wisely.

Dec 22 - Jan 19

Whatever is holding you back is self-imposed.

If you’ve made yourself the victim of your own limited fears, assumptions, and mindsets, it is important to change your outlook. Everything you think is a problem, is an opportunity waiting to bloom. Step out of your head and into reality. Whatever the challenges you may encounter at work or home, are likely to be short-lived.

Overthinking and allowing your imagination to run riot may cost you the peace of your relationship. Summon your faith and strength and do not let the tough stuff drag you down.

Break free, take a deep breath and pull back.

Live one moment at a time and focus on solutions.

Jan 20 – Feb 20

You are given the chance to put your past behind so tap into your heart and let your emotions lead the way.

Appreciate who you’re becoming even if it doesn’t make sense yet, it will. Love is blossoming in the air, and there’s no holding you back from crushing on someone new. In an existing partnership, spice up the romance. View things through the lens of the future and allow your dreams to manifest.

It is time to love and care for yourself, unconditionally. Pursue a hobby or be around those who make you feel alive. Money-wise, things are likely to be stable. Less screen time, more green time will heal your soul.

Feb 21 – Mar 20

Life is full of tough choices, and this month isn’t any different.

You may find yourself being pulled in different directions, juggling finances, tasks or relationships and forced to make choices.

Whatever is going on for you now, adapt and let unexpected eventualities roll off your back.

Look for that sweet spot where you know you can juggle your responsibilities with balance. Figure out your capacity. ‘Put something down’ but don’t stress yourself out. Avoid falling into the trap of taking from Jill to pay Jane. In the love area, you may need to spend quality time to breathe life into the relationship. Focus on the bigger more important goals by prioritizing your needs and dreams.

Farzana Suri is a Victory Coach who coaches people through their life’s challenges to take the leap to victory, using the science of numerology.

For a personalised forecast, you may contact Farzana at surifarzana@gmail.com or visit her website www.farzanasuri.com

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