Bali

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Although a part of Indonesia, the tiny island of Bali has an identity of its own. Lush green rice terraces, orange fields, rugged coastlines, sandy beaches and barren volcanic hillsides provide a picturesque backdrop to Bali’s colourful, deeply spiritual and unique culture. Expect thrilling water sports, enchanting temple ceremonies, mesmerising dance performances, unlimited shopping, exciting festivals and unforgettable food.

During my journey from the quaint little airport to my hotel, my driver was kind enough to tell me that 75 per cent people in Bali practise Hinduism, something that I had realised too. There were multiple Shiva, Vishnu and Garuda temples all along the way. I won’t forget the pristine white structure of Arjuna on his chariot with Krishna guiding him that stood right in the middle of the road. It was huge and well crafted. I fell in love with Bali’s traditional architecture and old charm right then.

Art—both traditional and modern—is everywhere in Bali and impossible to miss. Ubud is the artistic capital of the island with several museums and informal workshops and retail outlets. Ubud’s museums showcase the works of local and foreign artists, who either have a strong affinity to Bali or who have made the island their permanent home.

You will find a huge range of locally produced paintings, baskets, stone and wood carvings, silver and shell jewellery, ceramics, natural paper gifts and glassware. If you love craft items and have enough time on your hands, head to one of the places where they are made. You will get the satisfaction from buying an article direct from the maker and seeing the craftsman in action.

Bali is relatively small in size—you can drive around the entire coast in a single day. Being a volcanic island, there’s black sand everywhere. However, some beaches in the south of Bali have fine-grained white sand. Needless to say, they are a must visit. So I headed off to explore Kuta, a beach spot where I spent several days.

With an array of restaurants, pubs, shacks and eating joints, Kuta is a food lover’s paradise. Besides the many local shacks [which are a must try] Kuta also has all the international food chains. My suggestion would be to skip these and go straight into one of the old-world, local shacks that serve brilliant Balinese food.

Two things you absolutely mustn’t miss in Bali are Balinese food and Balinese massage—both of which you can find in Kuta. In food, grilled chicken with sliced shallots, chillies and lime, grilled chicken with red chilli and shrimp paste sauce and/or steamed chicken cooked with Balinese herbs and spices are dishes to die for.

As for the massage [available at massage parlours all over Kuta and Ubud], the Balinese Lulur body scrub with herbs and spices—traditionally performed before a wedding ceremony—is particularly popular and makes you feel like a million bucks. The regular Balinese massage is usually done with oil and involves long, Swedish-style relaxing strokes. Compared to the way they leave you feeling, the massages are surprisingly inexpensive, and offer a great value for your money. Don’t forget to include it in your itinerary.

Another thing that I loved about Kuta is its friendly people—the locals are ever ready to help. In fact, it was one of the locals who suggested that I go to Nusa Dua and try the water sports. Nusa Dua here I come…

Nusa Dua has lot of adventure—from parasailing, banana boat ride, flying saucer, snorkelling, scuba diving to glass boat rides. I was a little disappointed that I couldn’t swim. But Nusa Dua had just the right thing for me—deep sea walking! I was taken to the middle of the sea by boat and then down a flight of stairs on to the sea bed.

I was wearing an oxygen mask that my instructor taught me to use. Since it’s not possible to talk underwater, I was taught signs that helped me communicate with the instructor. That done, I was eager to explore underwater world on my feet. Feeling the sea weed with my naked feet, feeding colourful fish with bread and watching colourful vibrant activity was by far the most enriching and powerful experiences of my life.

Bali offers one of the finest varieties of water sports. And not wanting to miss out on the fun, I did it all. The flying saucer was particularly exhilarating. I still remember every detail like it was just yesterday. My boat was attached to a parachute and I had to lie on the boat with my hands and feet tied.

The boat sped through the water and just as I was coming to grips with the feeling, suddenly the boat was airborne and so was I. I also went on a banana boat ride, along with four other people and an instructor. We were given life jackets and were taken by a speeding boat to the middle of the sea [at least that’s what it seemed to me] and thrown into the water. You get the scare and the thrill of your life; not recommended for the weak-hearted. You may also want to try white water rafting, which you can find in Ubud.

To simply witness the fish and marine life without getting wet, go for the glass boat ride. The boat has a glass bottom that serves as a window to the life underwater and it’s a great option if you’re with children or elders.

While in Bali, don’t miss Ramayana performances by the locals, which most hotels organise. My hotel had one too. The Balinese interpretation of Ramayana is the same as the Indian, though the performance is without dialogue and absolutely mind boggling. It takes you to another level.

Bali’s culture and history are mystifying. You cannot fail to see the temples, come across ceremonies and witness daily offerings. Those who take the time and effort to understand what is going on around them, will find their visit rewarding on an entirely different level.

When in Bali I also did a lot of sightseeing—I visited a turtle farm, temples, and a Bartic and silver factory [where they show you how jewellery is made]. I also saw a volcano, a hot spring temple and Shiva temple overlooking a cliff.

With every visit and each experience, I loved Bali more, and more. Although each place was memorable, being a coffee lover, my visit to the coffee plantation holds a special place in my heart. It was a delightful experience to see different kinds of coffee being grown. I even got the opportunity to drink one of the most unique coffees at their café by the hills. This coffee was made from the excreta of an animal that lives eating coffee beans; it was one of the strongest coffees I have had till date.

Bali is a shopper’s paradise. Here you can get everything from simple bangles, beaded necklaces, wooden rings to boutique dresses. Recommended are silver products from the silver factory, crockery items like plates and cups, cloth paintings, wooden frames, and carved statues.

Besides that Bali is famous for cut work, so like me, get a great cut work t-shirt or dress. Clothing is a real draw. Popular sportswear brands are available in Kuta and Legian for prices approximately 30 – 50 per cent lower than you would pay at home. If the mass market is not your thing, try the ever-increasing number of chic boutiques in Semiyank and support young local designers. Jalan Laksmana is a good starting point. Dried spices and coffee are popular items to take home. Most supermarkets have specially designed gift packages for tourists, or, if you are visiting Bedugul, buy at the Bukit Mungsu traditional market. Whatever you are buying, make sure you are in your best bargaining mode, as these skills will be required except in the higher-end stores that specifically state that their prices are fixed.

Beware of counterfeit goods unless that is what you’re looking for. Bali is well-known for its knock-offs and you can buy anything from fake Rolexes to fake Raybans at the local markets.

There is a such a huge range of affordable products for you to buy, that shopping can overwhelm your visit if you allow it to!

From Bali, I took home a bag full of things and a heart full of memories.

This was first published in the March 2011 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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What kind of person are you?

I am friendly and love being with people close to me.

But the media thinks you are haughty…

Nobody has ever told me I am haughty, and if anyone thinks that way, it’s a misconception. It’s just that I can’t multi-task or do many things at a time. So when I’m working, which I enjoy doing immensely, I focus on it single-mindedly. At that time, to others, I appear reticent.

Moving on…You had lost a lot of weight? How do you maintain it?

I have been training with Vilayat Hussain, for a while now. He teaches me Callisthenics, a form exercise that comprises a variety of simple movements, which I do 4 – 5 times a week.

Why callisthenics?

Because it is an extremely dynamic workout that takes care of all the elements of exercise from toning and strengthening muscles to cardio—all in one. And since these exercises use my body’s own weight for resistance, I can do them anywhere.

Besides, I need to do a workout that is innovative and different; going to the gym or doing the same workout daily bores me. I have tried it all—hatha yoga, ashtanga yoga—but could never stick to any, as it got repetitive after a while. Callisthenics have kept my interest going.

Are you so particular about your diet as well?

Not really. I eat everything and don’t count each calorie I put in my mouth [laughs], but I am a sensible eater. I eat every two hours, which automatically reduces my portion size. When you start eating this way, your metabolism improves and you can stay in shape.

Is that how you manage to keep the weight away?

I have a dietician—Pooja Makhija—who I consult regularly. Besides that, I make sure to sleep for at least 6 – 8 hours. If you don’t sleep enough, you put on weight as it slows your metabolism. I drink a lot of water and follow some basic rules, such as never to mix rice and roti. I am not much of a rice person anyway. So I eat more roti than rice, which also helps.

But I make sure that I don’t starve myself of any food item, as then you tend to overeat to compensate.

You seem to be very conscious about your health…

Because good health is very important for happiness. Frankly, I don’t know what comes first, good health or happiness? It’s like the chicken or the egg story.

I feel happiness is equally, if not more important for good health. I know many people who are ill but are happy and that’s why they are surviving. You can be happy if you are ill, but you won’t be healthy for long if you are unhappy. As for me, I pray and exercise to be happy as well as healthy.

Just like everything else, you are finicky about cleanliness…

I am a stickler for cleanliness and I think I am a bit extreme in this aspect. I know I can’t go about changing the world, but I make sure my room, my car, my cupboard and my vanity van when I am on a shoot is spick and span. I make sure that things are in order in my life and around me. I get it from my parents—my dad is a perfectionist and my mom, a great home maker.

Speaking of mom and dad, how do you feel about your family?

Family, for me, is the reason for my being. I feel blessed to have the family I have and I think they are the only constant in my life. They are my strength and have helped me achieve all that I have today.

You said you liked order in your life, what if life doesn’t oblige?

By God’s grace I live life on my terms; I have fought my way to make it that way and will continue to do so at any cost. Having said that, I realise that one does not have control of everything, but one can be in control of himself or herself.

I try and manage efficiently what I can control, the rest I leave to God. I have learnt to surrender. If I am brought to a point where I cannot control things or I am not getting what I want, I know it’s for a reason. What has brought me there [in that situation] is what will bring me out of it as well. I have that faith.

Are you always so balanced and sensible?

I snap just like everybody else. Every human has bad days and I have them too. But I am relatively a calm person because I pray a lot.

So you are religious…

I am not religious, I am spiritual. I don’t believe in a particular form of God, but I love going to temples and shrines. I love Ganeshjee—one of the reasons for that is the elephant is my favourite animal [laughs].

What do you mean when you say ‘spiritual’?

Being spiritual for me is just about praying to the extent that after a point God is no more external, but a part of my internal identity. This is a constant endeavour for me and helps me ingrain spirituality in my life.

Were you always spiritual or did something make you this way?

When I was in the fourth standard, my father had a massive heart attack. At that time my mom would tell me to pray that he comes home fine. I would pray hard and he did come back hale and hearty. That was the turn in path for me and that’s when my conversations with God began.

Is that how you stay positive?

Besides praying, my way of dealing with negativity is to chat with family or close friends. I also exercise regularly as it helps release stress. The adrenalin rush while exercising negates moods swings and unreasonable thoughts.

Your advice to Complete Wellbeing readers

Keep faith, if life has brought you to a juncture it’s for a reason. If you find yourself in a mess, remember you will find your self out of it too!

The post Vidya Balan: I have learnt to surrender appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Acceptance is the only cure

Psychologists over the world believe that all diseases stem from a lack of self-approval. Loving and approving yourself is like creating a space of safety, trust, and acceptance within you.

Creating an organised mind will enable your body weight to normalise leaving you happy and healthy. Thus psychiatrist Ajit Mehta says, “Self-approval and self-acceptance are the main keys to positive changes in every area of our lives”.

Awareness is key

Many of us shy away from the real problem, which most often is not the fact that we don’t love our bodies, but the fact we hold on to a pattern buried deeply within us. This pattern could be anything—a psychological dilemma, a way of living and/or an inferiority complex. To nip this in the bud, you first need be aware of your pattern.

“Many people think going to a psychiatrist will open a Pandora’s box of complexities, thus never try it. Others think they have finally reached a stage where they want to change their body and look different, so why drift from their current goal? They do not realise how unaware of themselves they really are,” says Delhi-based psychiatrist, Shruti Sinha.

“We need to notice that we are much more than our mind. We may think our mind is running the show, but that is only because we have trained our mind to think in this way,” she adds.

The mind is a tool for us to use any way we wish. To activate this tool in the way we wish, we need to do a bit of self-introspection and let go off negative thoughts, restrictive habits and complexes.

“Once we start seeing these aspects, we become aware and that’s when half the battle is won. We accept the fact that we wish to change. You can then move on to the second aspect, which is how you plan on going about this change,” she adds.

Welcome change

We all wish to change something about ourselves—the way we think, the way we talk and more than often the way we look. But how many of us really can go about it? Well, after having many such ‘I want to change moments’ have you still failed? That’s because perhaps you don’t know how to change!

“All theory is useless unless we know how to apply it”, explains Sinha. She says that most often we try to break the pattern we have in mind and face some problem, which deters us from moving ahead.

This is the time we need to work on ourselves, which is to trust the intelligence within us and allow our inner guidance to determine our future. If you gently persist and each day take baby steps towards your goal, in a few days when you look back, things would have changed and you will manage to break the pattern and the deterrent.

Why not think positive?

Renowned writer, Louise Hay in her umpteen books on self-healing talks about how you alone are responsible for your surroundings and the way your body shapes up. She claims the universe totally supports us in every thought we choose to think and believe.

According to her, “Our subconscious mind accepts whatever we choose to believe, which means what you believe about yourself and about your life becomes the evitable truth for you.” Since you have unlimited choices to think about and choose from, then why not think positive?

For example instead of saying, “I am so fat I will never lose weight or I hate my body,” say, “I am losing weight and I will continue to do so or I accept my body as it is and am thankful for it”. Remember that the only thing that we are dealing with is a thought and a thought can be changed.

You are the power

We are all responsible for all our experiences. Every aspect we think, do or create determines our future. We are all packed with infinite healthy and unhealthy patterns, but we all have one thing in common, the power we hold and inherit within us: The power called ‘You’.

Thus, in order to love our body and mind we must be willing and for that we need nothing, but to follow the S4 Rule: self-introspection, self-acceptance, self-approval and last, but not the least self indulgence.

The post Love thy self appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

According to Mumbai-based designer, Prakruti Nanavati, it is better to pick pants that highlight and enhance your look than to blindly follow the latest trends.

She suggests the four basic aspects to consider when buying pants: comfort, right fork length, material and colour [preferably in that order].

“Most people are impulsive shoppers, but when it comes to pants, one should refrain from this kind of shopping,” warns Nanavati. She recommends doing some research and hunting before picking up the right pair.

Body type

Here is a guide on choosing trousers based on your body type:

The petite shape

These people are shorter and have smaller frames. So, they need to wear clothes that are well-fitted. Some tips:

• Opt for straight-legged, neat-cut pants
• Go in for the fitted skinny pants look; it really complements your body shape
• Choose lighter colours like white, beige, creams, pastels.

An hourglass shape

These people have a curvy figure and a proportionate body with slim hips. Here’s what is good for them:

• Flatter your body type with fitted jeans or wide-legged pants
• Avoid wearing pants that taper from below. Cut pants [churidar] are also an absolute no-no for you.
• Opt for looser open-styled pants.

An apple shape

These people are heavier on the upper torso—women have a bigger bust line and larger waists. But, they have slim legs. A few tips for them:

• Prefer pants in a single colour tone
• Wear knee-length pants to look slimmer
• Choose medium-rise pants with a flat front
• Opt for pants that taper below and cut pants [churidars].

A pear shape

These people have a round figure with more weight on the hips. They have narrow shoulders, but heavier thighs. Here’s what they must do:

• Opt for dark-coloured pants
• Go for boot-cut pants
• Try flared, baggy pants in cotton or khaki
• Avoid wearing bulky jeans as they make you look plumper
• Prefer draw-string pants.

A rectangle shape

These people have a slender built and don’t really need to worry about what they wear.

Some tips for them:

• Choose from a variety of colours available in the market. All colours will look great on you.
• Try and sport the athletic look like tight track pants.

Seasonal trends

There are pants for every mood and occasion and you can team them in so many ways to create new looks every time you step out. “With fisherman pants, dhoti-style pants and jodhpuri pants, you can literally be spoilt for choice this season,” says Mumbai-based fashion designer Sabbah Sharma. She tells you what’s hot this season:

Wear palazzos [women’s pants that have wide legs flaring at the ankle] and fisherman pants [lightweight unisex trousers that are wide in the waist; one size fits all] when indoors or in a casual mood. Palazzos, fisherman pants and dhotis look good on almost all body types

Make a style statement with jodhpuris teamed with ganjis or fitted shirts tucked in. Jodhpuri pants make you look super-chic.

Create the boho-look effortlessly with dhoti pants.

Opt for straight-cut and slim-fit trousers for a formal occasion. A good choice of colour in single tone can make them look interesting. They are better when tailored for the perfect fit.

Some more expert tips

Varsha Bhawnani, a wardrobe stylist from Mumbai, gives her advice on buying pants this season:

Denim leggings are the way to go this season. With the killer skinny fit and wide choice of colours to choose from, these can be apt for all occasions and body shapes.

The boyfriend jeans/fit looks good when teamed with a fitted tee-back t-shirt and a great belt.

A formal look with high-waist pants that highlight the thin upper waist adds glamour to your outfit.

This summer, linen is the fabric of choice. It looks particularly good with bright-coloured blouses or shirts.

Straight-fit pants that give a modern and retro look are in style this season.

It’s all about looking glam this season. Style gurus from across the world believe that you should wear pants as per personal style and body structure. We just made it easy for you, by telling you all what’s chic and stylish this season.

The post Trouser trends appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

What kind of person are you?

I am friendly and love being with people close to me.

But the media thinks you are haughty.

Nobody has ever told me I am haughty, and if anyone thinks that way, it’s a misconception. It’s just that I can’t multi-task or do many things at a time. So when I’m working, which I enjoy doing immensely, I focus on it single-mindedly. At that time, to others, I appear reticent.

Moving on.You had lost a lot of weight? How do you maintain it?

I have been training with Vilayat Hussain, for a while now. He teaches me Callisthenics, a form exercise that comprises a variety of simple movements, which I do 4 – 5 times a week.

Why callisthenics?

Because it is an extremely dynamic workout that takes care of all the elements of exercise from toning and strengthening muscles to cardio—all in one. And since these exercises use my body’s own weight for resistance, I can do them anywhere.

Besides, I need to do a workout that is innovative and different; going to the gym or doing the same workout daily bores me. I have tried it all—hatha yoga, ashtanga yoga—but could never stick to any, as it got repetitive after a while. Callisthenics have kept my interest going.

The post “I have learnt to surrender”, says Vidya Balan appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

How is Gul, the person?

I am fun, spirited, fearless and always ready for a challenge.

So where do books fit in? We know that you are an avid reader.

Books are an integral part of my life. There is no end to the influence they’ve had so far and continue to have on me. I think reading truly broadens one’s horizons.

You have a degree in mathematics and you are an actor. Where do they connect?

[Laughs] Not sure if they connect, but I thoroughly enjoy both.

You have changed 14 schools in your schooling. How did it feel?

Fantastic! The experience has made me flexible, understanding, adaptive, tolerant, accommodative and, above all, adventurous. It gave me the chance to meet and interact with people of different cultures, from whom I learnt a lot.

You have won several competitions in your life, the biggest being the coveted Miss India. How important is winning to you? How do you deal with failure?

Competitions are all about wanting to win; else you wouldn’t be in them. Winning gives you great confidence and boosts your self-esteem, while failure is an opportunity to look inwards, introspect and improve.

Then, what is success?

Success is relative. In life, success is more about giving things your best shot than winning. For me, career-wise, the journey from the Miss India pageant to television to films has been about utilising my abilities to the best and acquiring skills along the way. But above all, it has been about putting my best foot forward, always. If you are able to do that, you are successful, irrespective of the outcome.

A Miss India is considered to be the perfect combination of beauty and brains. What is your idea of beauty—is it just skin deep or does it go beyond the physical?

Unfortunately, there are preconceived notions of beauty that govern such things. But, for me, beauty has always been about something that emanates from within.

Since we feel emotions from within, do they affect our skin too?

Not just our skin, but our health and longevity too are totally dependent on how we feel. I have always felt wonderful and attractive when happy and the reverse when low. So, make it a point be positive and happy through everything.

Is that the secret to your beauty? Is that why your skin looks so good?

I think good skin is 80 per cent genetics and 20 per cent how you live. So I follow a healthy lifestyle—don’t do crash diets, eat balanced meals; and exercise five times a week—and it shows on my skin. Also, I don’t use much make-up when I don’t need to, and prefer using natural products. There, now my ‘secret’ is out.

You travel a lot for work and for adventure. How does it affect your skin? What do you do to protect it?

Nothing out of the ordinary. We all have basic instincts that tell us when our skin needs what. In the cold weather, we feel our skin going dry and we naturally go for a richer moisturiser and drink lots of water, because that’s what we need. I just watch out for the signs, and act accordingly.

I also make it a point to plan in advance, when I’m on the go. For instance, I drink lots of water before a flight, which keeps my skin hydrated.

Speaking of travel… it’s not expected of a celebrity to drive a 4by4 all the way to Leh, or shoot or horse ride, or run a full marathon for pleasure…

Well, I am a person, an individual first and a ‘celebrity’ later. Can’t possibly give up all the things that make me what I am just to fit into a stereotype now, can I? I have never done anything just because it’s expected of me, if I don’t want to do it from within.

Absolutely yes! Each time I finish a marathon, I feel like I can do anything and that no mountain is high enough. My self-esteem goes up several notches. I think each time the human spirit goes through something it believes to be tough, it evolves. It could be anything—putting up and working with a tough boss, enduring an illness, heartache or even driving for 18 hours straight.

Since you already do a lot of physical activity for fun, does it leave you time or the inclination to do something special to say fit?

I don’t particularly put in effort to try and stay fit. For me, exercise is as natural as brushing teeth or having bath. It’s the way I have been brought up. Every day our family did an hour of exercise together; it was part of our family togetherness time. So without trying to create a regime, I plan my day to include some amount of physical activity—a long walk, cycling, swimming or a trip to the gym or even yoga.

And how do you unwind?

Sometimes, I head out of town for a mini-break—it works like magic to help me relax. Other times, I unwind by watching movies or meeting up with friends and family.

Coming to your family, what role does family play in your life and success?

I would be nowhere without my family’s support, advice, encouragement and love. We are a very close-knit and mutually co-dependent family. And no matter where I am, I make it a point to remain in touch with all of them—my parents, brother, cousins, aunts and uncles. My family is my support structure and vice versa.

So does your adventurous spirit and ‘tough and strong core’ come from your family?

I am what I am entirely because of my parents. My parents always taught and led by example and are great role models. I was brought up to face challenges and win over them. When I was growing up, quitting is a word they never used.

I also owe a large part of how I am to my upbringing in the armed forces—being the daughter of an army officer gave me an opportunity to pick up many sports such as tennis, squash, swimming, basketball and horse-riding. It also gave me the chance to learn adventure sports like whitewater rafting, paragliding and rock climbing, which I do even today.

Obviously, you have a busy life. Do you ever feel down?

I do have my lows like everyone else. In times like that, I try and think about how fortunate I am and how kind God has been to me, and soon enough the cloud lifts.

But when things go downhill, who do you turn to—a higher power, yourself or someone else?

My friends and family, and a good run fix almost everything. I introspect, take stock and take charge of things and see how I can turn them to my advantage.

Your advice to Complete Wellbeing readers who, like you, want to develop different facets of their self and live a fulfilling life…

Learn to love yourself, be positive, laugh a lot and exercise regularly. Learning a new skill every now and then does great things for one’s outlook in life. Be content, but not lazy. And remember, no matter what, there will be a tomorrow.

This was first published in the December 2009 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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But even a suit can fail to make the impression, if you don’t know how to choose the right one. Choosing a suit is an art and here we tell you how to master it.

Follow suit

Know the different kinds of suits to choose the best one for you.

• The full dress: These are tails or tailcoat. They are long jackets, often worn for dinners. Another name for tail coat is dinner coat. It looks great on tall men, but is now rarely worn.
• The Mandarin suit: This is the stand-up style coat with no lapels [collars]. Commonly known as the ‘jodhpuri’ coat, you can wear it for weddings or other such occasions.
• The Tuxedo: The most common, straight-fitting coat that can be worn to most occasions by most body types. It is also known as the ‘black tie’.
• Pinstripe: It’s one of the most stylish of the suits. The fabric used for pinstripe suits are of premium quality and are ideal for business meets or at work where you need to have a serious-looking appearance.

Suits can be worn in two styles:

• Single-breasted: Suits of this style have a symmetrical front with buttons at the centre and an option of leaving coat buttoned or unbuttoned, which makes the style a favourite for most men around the world. It is the preferred corporate-world style.
• Double-breasted: They are coats with a cross-over centre to button, which means one side of coat overlaps the centre and buttons across to the other side. This usually gives a fuller look in the chest area and one should wear these coats buttoned at all times while standing. The style looks great on slimmer men.

Suit yourself

London-based Jasweet Singh, who has been in the suit-tailoring business since the last 22 years, gives you some buying tips

• The first to consider is the occasion—is it for a wedding, interview, travel or business?
• For work, go for basic suits. Do not experiment much with cut, style or colour. Dark suits like black, charcoal or dark blue with amplified pinstripes look chic for presentations.
• To wear for a wedding—yours or someone else’s—a white suit makes a lasting impression.
• For travel, get a suit in wrinkle-resistant fabric. Neutral colours [grey, beige or black] are good for the go.
• If you rarely wear a suit, go for the ‘all-purpose-suit’ in grey or black in a straight cut.
• Wool is the first choice of fabric if you are wearing it abroad. For the Indian weather, suits in micro-fibre or linen go well.
• Suit should compliment your skin colour: Wheatish skin, beige and coloured suits; fair complexion, white and grey; dark skin, navy. Black is classic and suits all complexions.
• Go for quality fabric that fits perfectly.
• Tailored suits are better than off-the-shelf ones due to the better fit.
• Corduroy is in and looks chic for formal and casual occasions.
• An affordable, yet good fabric option is a blend wool and polyester.

Accessories

“To make a look more fashionable, it is very important to wear accessories as per the occasion”, says designer Ashley Rebello, who gives you a few tips on stylising your suited-look.

• A dignified-looking briefcase or leather binder adds grace.
• A chic pen adds elan.
• Any jewellery like gold or silver bracelets should be worn light and non-flashy.
• A good formal watch is a must. A sports watch with a suit is forbidden.
• A good pair of cufflinks on a full-suit complete the look.

Suits for women

Delhi-based designer Seema Batra, shares some tips for women

• Season’s trends in women’s suits include skirt suits with fitted and shaped jackets.
• Asymmetrical, non-collared and portrait necks are in vogue.
• Trends in women’s business suits haven’t changed much over the decades. The peplum jackets [long jackets] with pencil skirts are still a rage. This style is best accessorised with skinny belts, jewelled brooches and ladylike gloves [to be worn only for parties].
• Dress up your look with a high-heel pump. Add a silk brightly-coloured scarf and delicate jewellery, preferably pearls and diamonds.
• Classic colours for women’s suits are black, navy, and grey.
• A suit with a pattern should be conservative with no lapels.

The post Suit case: your suit selection manual appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

What do health and fitness mean to you?

Health and fitness are the two most important things in my life. Without feeling physically, emotionally and spiritually the way I do, I may not have been able to live the way I want. At this point in my life, looking back, I think it is so simple and so easy. I just allow my body and my awareness to guide me in everything I need to do to keep fit. The food I eat, the activities I enjoy are all in synch with my body and mind. The human body is designed to maintain an equilibrium of efficiency and all we need to do, is to allow it to do its job without interference. For example, I believe that in the absence of any medical disorder, any diet regimen is unwarranted.

Do you find staying healthy difficult?

If you want to be fit and healthy, there are simple rules to follow and your body will do the rest. An active lifestyle with regular physical challenges, regular meals, eating just till you are full and having nutritionally-balanced, simple home-cooked food… is all it takes. Your body will attain and maintain its weight, composition and function, so as to accomplish the level of physical activity it is expected to do, with the maximum efficiency. To me, fitness does not mean a life of restriction in any sense, but rather a life of balance and freedom. You should be fit so that you can live your life to its fullest; otherwise what’s the point of the exercise?

How do you stay fit?

Fitness is not just physical, but has an emotional and spiritual aspect as well. I have always sensed that there must be a strong connection between my physical, mental and spiritual energies. Healthy energies are maintained when I nurture my relationships with people who care about me, when I work on projects that I find stimulating and satisfying, and when I realise my place and my contribution in the larger scheme of the universe.

I find that a strong connection between all three energies is most easily developed when I push myself beyond my perceived physical and mental limits. This is the space where I feel no fatigue, where I feel I am flying—the space athletes call, ‘being in the zone’. Getting here is not as difficult as you might imagine. You just need to choose your sport and go for it, that’s it!

What’s your favourite sport?

My favourite sport is athletics and my favourite event is the marathon, for which I train regularly. If you love a particular sport, it could be a great way to stay healthy as the whole point is to make your workouts as much fun as possible. It can be fun to play the sport yourself and also follow your favourite teams/athletes and feel a greater involvement with your workout routine. Different sports have different fitness workouts, so even if you don’t play yourself, you can exercise with your sport-specific workout.

How do you workout?

During my growing years, as a national-level swimmer, working out 40 hours per week, I gradually realised that it was relatively easy to maintain a good level of fitness by exercising with activities I enjoyed. And that I could exercise anywhere in the absence of special space, or equipment.

There are many exercise routines to choose from, depending on where you are and what you find around you. Every part of your body can be effectively and efficiently worked out using your own body weight and increasing the degree of difficulty with various simple techniques.

I follow no set regimen, but try to make my workouts as enjoyable and challenging as possible. I make sure that I am reasonably physically active all day and just push myself with some form of strenuous physical activity for as much time as I can spare. If I have 20 minutes in the day or one hour, I make it count.

What has been your most trying health/fitness challenge?

It is normal to think of climbing Mount Everest or running a full marathon or even competing in an Iron Man as a real fitness challenge. But frankly, in the times that we live in, the kind of stress we are subjected to every day in our working lives, the pollution, our unhealthy eating habits and the ever-decreasing time we get to nurture our relationships and our selves, achieving and maintaining any level of health and fitness is the greatest challenge of all.

In the pursuit of a fitter, more productive life, the key is to truly dedicate a few minutes each day to yourself, to engage in an activity of your choice, that exercises your mind and your body together.

Go on…

People often tell me that it’s easier for me to maintain my health and fitness levels because it is part of my profession and therefore my lifestyle. In truth, I have a 12 – 14 hour working day and it is as difficult for me to find the time for myself as it is for anyone else.

So how do you manage?

I have found that running or swimming or doing free hand exercises for 7 – 8 hours per week is enough to maintain the fitness levels that I am accustomed to.

In the interest of spending even less time in the pursuit of fitness and good health, we, at our gym, Breathe Fitness in Delhi, are now in the process of developing really effective 15 – 20 minute daily workouts that can be done by anyone, anywhere.

Does age pose a challenge in keeping fit?

Staying healthy and being fit is most definitely more difficult as you grow older. Your body simply does not function as it used to when you were younger, especially if you have not been kind to yourself all your life. There is a slowing down and a deterioration in the body’s ability to deal with abuse.

It’s much better if you have been active all your life. Even if you haven’t, it is certainly never too late to start. From the moment you begin to develop a healthier, more active lifestyle, your body will begin to heal itself and you will be on the road to a fitter life.

How important is good health for happiness?

Happiness is a transient emotion. Personally, having lived the kind of active lifestyle that I have, I cannot imagine being happy if I were physically unable to do certain things that I wanted to.

On the other hand, human beings are supremely adaptable and I am sure I could find happiness eventually, in any situation. However, more than a pursuit of happiness, in a situation of emotional or physical illness, I think it would be more valuable to develop a positive attitude and take each day as it comes. I have met and been tremendously inspired by many people, some of them wheelchair-bound, like Rajiv Virat in Delhi, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis several years ago. Rajiv now finds great happiness and strength in helping others who are suffering.

Are you a calorie-conscious eater or does taste rule your choices?

My food choices depend completely on nutrition and taste and not at all on calories. I love my cheesecake and my tiramisu, my aloo paratha and aloo chaat. Having made fitness a lifestyle choice, I can eat what I want, go where I want and do what I want. However, it is very important to develop an awareness of our body’s nutritional needs. We all have our craving for comfort foods in times of stress, which could even be unhealthy food like colas and chips. So, it is necessary to understand whether the food craving we feel is physical or emotional. If the craving is emotional, just a taste will suffice and I don’t have to finish the whole tub of ice cream. If physical, my body will indicate what food to eat and how much it needs. I only need to listen.

What is your favourite cuisine?

My favourite food is chocolate, preferably Belgian, and I eat a lot of it! Of course, I love my mother’s cooking, which is a delicious mix of Maharashtrian and Goan [cuisines], but my all-time and forever favourite cuisine for taste and sheer variety is food from East Bengal. I also love to experiment with food from all over the world, especially in street markets, which are sometimes the most authentic.

So you don’t diet?

My only personal dietary regulations are eating extremely light after 7 pm and not eating non-vegetarian food for dinner, as it does not allow me restful sleep. In fact, for anyone, the only reason to modify your diet is if you don’t sleep well and wake up tired or have problems with digestion.

Tell us about your first failure and first success.

I do not define or evaluate my life by perceptions of success or failure in any particular business or activity. Both these perceptions are negative and create an obstacle to progress. A perception of success could make you complacent, while a feeling of failure is demoralising and discouraging. Thus, I prefer to view everything I do as something that teaches me more—about life, about people, and about myself. For me, the pursuit of a full life and becoming a better person is never-ending, and I will never give it up.

What keeps you going through tough times?

The way I live my life and the kind of person I am today is due, in large part, to my background and training as a sports person from the age of 10.

To explore all potential, all opportunity, the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to push myself beyond my limit in all I do, is almost a habit. Every day was a challenge to better myself, in all respects… sometimes I did better and sometimes not so, but I learnt that the most satisfying endeavour is to always be the best you can be—no more, and no less.

Where do you get the zeal from?

I would go back to the priceless contribution that sports made to my life. My sense of wellbeing, the belief in myself, the enjoyment of challenge, my optimism that hard work and dedication will always pay, and my addiction to feeling fantastic—all come from a life of seeking to do something positive every day, through good times and bad.

Do you practise any form of meditation?

If meditation means to focus, to contemplate, or to think deeply about, then there is a measure of meditation in everything I do. To allow your thoughts to follow a simple path, without confusion, in perfect freedom, with no expectation…it gets easier as you practise and that is what I do when I am running, swimming, preparing for a shoot or just spending a routine day at office.

What do you need in life?

My personal needs are so few that, left to myself, I would have probably been happy to live in my father’s house forever or working my way around the world as a backpacker.

Which relationships mean the most to you?

Every relationship in my life has been special. Each has really influenced the decisions and course of action I have taken in my life in a big way. While some have opened new worlds and ideas to me, others have made me work harder and explore more opportunities that would have otherwise remained untapped.

But family is different…

I was lucky that my parents always let me choose my own path; it was not an easy decision for them to allow me to concentrate on sports. As we all know there is very little in terms of career prospect for sportspersons in India. But my parents did their best to encourage a balanced lifestyle for me; I will be forever grateful to them for that.

It is only recently that people have begun to understand the value of balancing a child’s academic life with a routine of fitness training. Encouraging a habit of fitness in one’s child is one of the best gifts a child can receive from a parent.

What role have family and friends played in your life?

The unconditional love I have received from my family and my friends has supported my emotional health and wellbeing all my life. It has caused me to reciprocate in ways that always changed the course of my life. And always for the better, whether it was building a house outside Bombay for my mother and sisters, or the space I am in today professionally, which is completely due to meeting someone a few years ago, who made me feel like settling down.

Who are you closest to?

My most important relationship has been with my mother, from whom I learnt very early on in life, to be non-judgmental and to always seek to understand the other person’s point of view. Even today, at the age of 70, she inspires me and everyone she meets with her indefatigable spirit and sense of fun and adventure.

One principle or life philosophy?

When I was 16, I complained to my swimming coach Sandeep Divgikar that my performance was suffering because I was bored with the routines and life at the training camp. He said that if I was bored, it was my choice. This is one of the most important lessons I have learnt: I have a choice in everything. To be happy or not, to help or not, to be productive or not, are all choices that we must make. And to make the right choice for ourselves is in our hands.

Boredom is the most common disease that afflicts all people. It is the root of a lot of mental, emotional and physical disorder. So I learned: to be bored or not, is a choice.

The simple truth is that if you open your mind and take a good look inside of yourself, the world is too big, life is too intense and there are too many things to see and explore to ever be bored.

The post I can find happiness in any situation—Milind Soman appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Tell us something about Lara, the person.

For starters, I love being me. I take good care of myself because I think it is a big part of being yourself. Also, I think the older one gets the more one needs to care for oneself.

I don’t smoke or drink [I never have]. I am a pure vegetarian and believe in a holistic approach to good health. I avoid taking allopathic drugs unless I absolutely have to. I propagate and practise homoeopathy and ayurveda. I lead a healthy life and enjoy my work.

How do you manage to keep the real Lara separate from the character you are playing? Has your role ever required going against what you really are?

It is very important to have your very own identity irrespective of the profession you are in. As an actor, I have played many characters through which I have learnt new qualities from each of them. I don’t believe in bringing my work home but at times we play characters which require us to acquire skills or qualities that we don’t have. These new qualities then end up becoming a part of you and you tend to adapt to them.

For instance, my role in my next film Blue required me to dive and I was hydrophobic! But this role had caught my pulse and I wanted to be a part of this film. I just wanted to overcome my fear and hence took up this challenge. First, I learnt swimming, then scuba diving. Now, here I am loving water so much that I have become a certified diver! Today, diving means experiencing a whole breathtaking and unimaginable new world many meters below.

What is the difference between the Lara before becoming Miss Universe 2000 and Lara of today?

I don’t think I have changed much; intrinsically I am the same as I have had a very rooted upbringing. Yes, I was naïve and simple, but I still feel naïve even now sometimes [laughs]. My world view has changed for sure just because I have seen many things, met more people and gathered more experience compared to them. So in a way, I could say I have become wiser with age. But I will ensure that I won’t get cynical as I get older.

What is the one thing you want in life?

When I think about myself today, I feel my ‘core’ has regressed in a way. Life has been so fast-paced and stressed in the past few years that today when I have achieved so much, I want my younger days back with all those moments that I missed out during this rapid journey.

How important is health to you? How do you remain fit?

Being healthy is essential for every human being. I think I am blessed with good genes, and have never followed a crash diet in my life; I never will. But I also make an effort take care of my metabolism by eating right, though I do binge on chaat and namkeen occasionally, because I am a foodie. I don’t really have a sweet tooth, and am an extremely careful eater. I do weight training and practise yoga [I have been doing it for nine years now] to stay fit.

How do you manage your psychological wellbeing?

I think my ambitious trait drives me to be the way I am. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to multi-task. I like expansion—it’s a very fulfilling process for me, that’s why I learn, observe and keep my mind in control. I break my comfort zone readily for new avenues and embrace all experiences good, happy, ugly fulfilling—may be that is why I stay happy and a happy mind is all you need for psychological wellbeing.

What is your idea of pampering yourself?

Spending a day at a good spa, pampering myself with exotic fragrance oils, taking a massage to relax both my body and mind. There is nothing more soothing than this

If clothes are who we are, does chasing trends reflect inconsistency?

I never follow current trends and buy what I like. I go for comfortable clothes that fit me right. I also take care of whatever I buy.

Besides, most of my time is spent working. When I’m working, I wear what the designers give me. Another major part of my time goes in working out, and many times, I go to the shoot straight from the gym, which means I am usually in gym wear. So I invest in good looking work-out clothes. To wear at events and at occasions, I invest in good pieces.

What is love to you? How important is it for you to love yourself?

Love starts with loving yourself and knowing yourself better than anyone else. It’s all about discovering yourself, so you are more confident in facing the world. Knowing yourself also equips you to judge people more smartly.

How do you handle success?

I think my upbringing has to do a lot with this aspect. I come from a totally non-filmy background and I think the non-involvement of family in my work keeps me grounded. I don’t get carried away easily by success or failure. I hang on to my values, enjoy myself and take each experience seriously.

I also think successful actors—or stars—are perceived as arrogant, but their attitude is not arrogance, it is maturity and acquired responsibility of being a public figure and handling oneself.

This brings us to your line of work. Is it a very male-dominated field? Do women have it more difficult in it than men?

I feel the industry has its cycles—trends come, go and come again. For example in the ’60s we had some great women-oriented films like Aandhi and Mother India. Then came the ’70s which saw the ‘angry young man and the distressed woman’ phase. The woman’s age returned in the ’80s with Paativrata. The ’90s portrayed women in a different light—women got candid about their sexuality. Today, cinema is changing the way it portrays women again. There are more women-centric characters and powerful woman roles and I am glad to be working in this time and age.

Having said all that, one has to learn to live with the fact that ours is a male-dominated industry. There will be stereotyping, instead of fighting it, I think one should learn to embrace—ingrain it in one’s mind and system.

What did your work involve when you were the UNFPA Goodwill ambassador?

I am still the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and that too the youngest one they have ever had on their panel till date. In my role, we deal with problems of adoloscents at grass root level. The two campaigns that I have been actively part of are the HIV/AIDS campaign and female foeticide in India. Another important aspect of being a UNFPA Goodwill ambassador is to ensure that funds are risen for the cause we deal with and also that these funds are put to correct use.

What role does family play in your life?

For me, my family is the biggest extension of myself. My father was in the defence forces and my mother has been a home maker. Together they raised three girls and have helped each of their girl achieve what she wanted. My family is my backbone and my biggest support system. I am a homely person and whenever I get any free time, I spend it with my parents, my sisters and my nieces.

Men are from Mars Women from Venus. Do you agree?

Totally! And, that’s the reason we survive.

How do you handle it when life throws a curveball at you?

In terms of career, I had it relatively smooth. Things just came in place for me from being a model to an actress. Even my family life has been normal. Personally, I don’t regret any decisions I made.

Do you believe in God? How spiritual are you?

Yes, I do believe in God. I was raised in a very cosmopolitan manner: my mom is catholic and father, a Hindu. So I have experienced the best of both worlds. To me religion is manmade, but spirituality is what we really believe in or have faith in. I meditate a lot and have been doing so for eight years. I think without meditating and pranayama I would be a lesser person. That’s my way of being spiritual. To be religious is not to be ritualistic, but a good human with a good heart.

What does happiness mean to you? We have coined a term, Happiness Freak for someone who makes conscious efforts to be happy, stay happy and spread happiness? Would you call yourself a Happiness Freak?

I am a very happy person by nature, but not a happiness freak for sure. To me, feeling grief, pain, stress or sorrow is also a way to reach happiness. I believe that the chemicals in the body make us happy or unhappy. So everything in life, all emotions culminate finally to become one and that is happiness. Too much of good is not good so being unhappy is good for you too, as opposites are complimentary.

What is your health, happiness and wellbeing advice to Complete Wellbeing readers, especially the women?

I think women are an incredible force to reckon with and they really need to start looking after themselves. Taking regular health check-ups and having calcium are two things I propagate to all women of all ages. I urge homemakers to start taking their looks seriously. Women should begin with feeling good and looking good. They should break away from all the rubbish stereotypical projection of them and accept that they are ‘powerhouses’ of energy, beauty and grit. I think most women bite more than they can chew in all fields. They need to stop being so harsh on themselves and realise that they are the best multi-taskers in the world. So women, give yourself credit and keep your soul intact to be happy and healthy.

This was first published in the April 2009 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

The post I love being me – Lara Dutta appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.