TICK TOCK, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY'S CLOCK

Sneha Rai

Biological timekeeping is the core of life

Phrases like ‘Early to bed and early to rise’ and ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’ now sound like old-wives tales to many. Today nutrition receives very low priority when we plan our meals. A wholesome meal has been replaced by fast food and natural sources of vitamins by multi-coloured pills. Little attention is paid to how all this impacts our digestive system, blood ph levels and metabolism.

Biological timekeeping is the core of life and if tampered with can affect functioning of the various bodily systems. Body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, the release of hormones, alertness, energy, mood, and weight gain are all affected by our body’s rhythmic clock. The solution to this is very simple; eating on time.

Chronobiotic Nutrition is about eating foods at precise times of day for specific health results. Each human organ has a 'timing' relationship in its function. The connection between the human bio-rhythm and the environment is fascinating but often neglected. Imagine life could be ailment free if we stick to the discipline of our body’s clock and listen to its needs and demands.

For example, the peak period for the lungs is 3:00-5:00 am, which is why most deaths from lung ailments are recorded during this time. Clinical trials on mice have revealed that simply changing the time of the day at which a drug was administered to leukemic mice increased their survival rate three fold. This further confirms the belief that there lies a strong connection between food’s timing and the body’s response to it.

From a slimming perspective, day time has been identified as a catabolic phase when most of our fat and waste elimination takes place and night time as a fat storing phase. For an effective slimming regime, it is therefore best to avoid rich meals in the evening. We need to stimulate fat elimination and detoxification in the daytime and slow down during the nocturnal storage phase.

Without synchronization of all the physiological processes in the body, nutrients are locked up and they need protocols based on the time specific traffic laws of nutrient flow, absorption and assimilation. When this system of eating is followed, it results in optimum digestion, nutritional efficiency and high-level of wellness.

MY TRYST WITH MARTIAL ARTS

Ishita Asija

Having harboured a lifelong
fascination with Jackie Chan
and Bruce Lee, I took this as
my chance to learn some swift moves.

My dread of becoming a couch potato this winter break led me to search for an activity that would keep me productively occupied. I don’t know whether it was a co-incidence or destiny, but I found a brochure of the newly opened Martial Arts classes nearby. 

Having harboured a lifelong fascination with Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, I took this as my chance to learn some swift moves. I had naively assumed that some rudimentary lessons would make me look cool (knocking down people surely brings on this air!) and also serve as self-defence tool. Being a single-girl in Delhi, I felt self-defence will help me feel safe and be more confident.

I opted to learn Karate and in a few short weeks, my perception of this Japanese form changed completely. I was a little depressed when I learnt that I couldn’t kick people around after few days of training. As a beginner, I was not going to kick any ass for a very long time. But as it turned out, even though I could barely hit a punch bag, I felt like Superwoman anyway.

The second myth that took some time to shatter was that ‘Martial Arts’ is all about self-defence. After a month of intensive training, I discovered that Karate was much more than physical defence. Karate is art which helps you discover yourself and find inner peace. It disciplines our lives and helps us develop a positive attitude. Every time, I entered the arena as a warrior; willing to fight till the end and unwilling to give up easily. Karate helped me channel this philosophy in my daily life and deal with everyday stress. Once we start living life the Martial way, we overcome our fear of failure. It’s all about learning, the more we learn the better we get.

One month was too short to learn even the basics of Karate. So I went on a long journey before kicking ass with Chudan Zuk (middle punch) or Haito uke (reverse knife hand block). But when I did kick ass, it was well worth the wait. If you want to experience the exhilarating power and serene peace, my recommendation would be to learn Karate.

FOR THE LOVE OF ASTRONOMY

Abha Nirula

Astronomy! It may sound a little unusual to talk about the stars in the middle of the day, but ask yourself, don’t you just love gazing at the sky on clear summer nights with the stars twinkling down? Or maybe you often wonder at what makes up the endless expanse of the universe. Or maybe all you want to see is a shooting start that will carry your wish to the heavens. Well, that’s the beauty of astronomy; it has most of us hooked at some level or another.

It seems I am as fascinated with the stars as Van Gogh was! 

I am not an astronomer and I have never studied physics, but that didn’t stop me from learning more about what lies out there. My introduction to astronomy happened when I joined an amateur club in school. The club had around 30-40 members, ready to venture out and explore the universe with sky maps and planispheres. With each session we would unravel some phenomenon or the other, learn the fables behind the constellations and became ever more eager to gain knowledge. I still remember the awe I felt when I saw the Orion Nebula through a telescope for the first time. I even learnt how to hunt asteroids from my backyard!  (Not literally!)

The best part of the programme was the post-session discussion. We would discuss the perils of global catastrophic events or tally how many planets we had spotted or just mention the breathtaking sight of the Milky Way. My list of such experiences is very long. Though I was part of the club very long time ago,  the memories still remain vivid. Even today, I am hooked to Astronomy, and whenever I see a clear sky (which is rare now because of light pollution) I pull out my sky map and try to see how many constellations I remember.

Astronomy has enriched me with knowledge and made me more aware of our surroundings. For those of you who are fascinated with the universe, it’s never late! Stars are better than TV stars any day!

MY CHOCOLATE FACTORY (MINUS CHARLIE)

Anisha Gulati
The Sweet Life

I was very little when I first saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was not interested in the brats’ adventures, but was utterly fascinated by the Oompa Loompas, those adorable under-appreciated folks who had the best job in the world! I was always jealous of how they were lucky enough to make and eat all the chocolate in the world. While my friends wanted to grow up and become lawyers, doctors and other boring things, I wanted to grow up and become an Oompa Loompa.

After completing school, the first thing I did was to enroll in a chocolate making course, which led me to starting ‘The Sweet Life’. This way, I could pursue my interest and make money! 

When it’s chocolate making time start by playing my favorite music very loudly, oblivious to everyone around me. The sweet essence and luscious brown color make me fall in love with chocolates every single time.

The best part about chocolate making is that I can mould them according to my imagination. Be it Winnie the Pooh for little kids, double hearts for budding lovers, footballs for sports freaks or even a simple square. The colorful wrappers, the love chocolate baskets, the birthday trays, the teddy chairs, each and every material put into chocolate making and wrapping is special and unique.

People say that there comes a time when you get bored of what you are doing. But I disagree. I have been making chocolates for nearly two and a half years and I still love it. After all the hard work, the expression of delight on my customers’ faces is an ecstatic feeling. Those smiles make it all worthwhile and encourage me to delve deeper into the world of chocolates.

GETTING HOMESAFE

Shiven Madan 

Co-Founder, HOMESAFE

Don't ignore the signs!

In today’s environment, ensuring safety and comfort of our family, friends and colleagues is of prime importance. India loses more than 100,000 lives due to traffic accidents every year; the sad part is that the lives of many have become just a statistic. We hear about a road accident almost on a daily basis in India. 

Given that urban planning is apathetic to modes of transport beyond cars, it is not surprising that motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists are the most vulnerable road users. Regulations on speed limits, passenger safety and drunk-driving are ignored, most glaringly by traffic officials responsible for enforcing them. But it isn’t always the treacherous roads or the non-functional street lights that cause accidents, it’s also the DRIVER!

This is why HOMESAFE came up with a Road Safety training programme for individual and company employed chauffeurs. We know that you trust your employee; maybe he’s been like family for years now. But it doesn’t mean that he has the knowledge and training to take on rash and abusive drivers, a common sight in Delhi. The Home Safe programme entails both theoretical and practical implementation of various road safety and defensive driving scenarios. This knowledge reduces driving risks by anticipating situations and enabling chauffeurs to make a safe well-informed decision.

Being a chauffeur doesn’t mean only picking and dropping clients to their venues but catering to them with etiquettes, making their ride stress-free and making driving a better as well as a safe experience. The programme uses a combination of various audio visual aids to increase adoption of the lessons imparted. It focuses on topics like soft skills, safety & first aid training, vehicle handling and language training. Making Delhi hassle free and completely safe is the responsibility of every individual, so drive safe and be safe!

Know more about HOMESAFE and sign up for the Road Training on SkillHippo.

WHY I BECAME A SKILLHIPPO TEACHER

Nitin George 

"The most surprising thing about my
interaction with SkillHippo was that
I found myself equally interested in
the site as a student!"

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve come to SkillHippo eager to learn or, like me, to teach your craft. Either way, I think you’re in for an interesting experience.

I am a guitar player and music producer and I’ve been teaching the instrument for  5 years. I write music for my band, The Whoevers, and play in a few bands around Delhi. Apart from this, I work full time at a studio, producing music for commercials, jingles and independent artists.

A SkillHippo representative (no, he wasn’t a real hippo) reached out a few months ago to help me sign up as a teacher. Once I heard the concept behind it, the first thing that came to my mind was, “Why didn’t I think of this?!” but the second, and more important thought that hit me was, “I’ll be able to teach people on my own time!”

As a music producer, I work odd hours which is not the best circumstance for scheduling classes. With SkillHippo’s customisable timetable, I can reach out to an entire class at once instead of individually coordinating with students. I can also track everyone’s progress more closely, which is another bonus, because different students are most often at different skill levels.

From a teacher’s point of view, the ability to reach out to a captive community interested in precisely what I want to teach was a massive draw for me. This way, if I don’t want to teach a beginners’ class for 2 months, I just don’t teach a beginners’ class for 2 months. Also, with the student feedback on the site, I can make blueprints for my future classes to keep things interesting and informative.

The most surprising thing about my interaction with SkillHippo was that I found myself equally interested in the site as a student! With courses beyond music and with the ability to attend classes that best suited my schedule and location, I found myself signing up for different classes. As someone who works full-time SkillHippo saves me the trouble of finding and screening teachers and gives me a clear idea of what I’m in for.

So, if you’re working full-time and want to spend your free time cultivating a hobby or teaching, SkillHippo is definitely the place to check out, and most definitely the place to contact excellent guitar teachers!

WHAT TO DO ON BORING DELHI AFTERNOONS

Astha Kapoor

It was 4PM on a lovely September afternoon. My classes were over and I was bored of the coffee-with-friends routine. My friends and I have often lamented about how there is precious little to do in Delhi. “If I don’t want to go out and wine and dine with friends, then what do I do with my time?”, we’ve repeatedly exclaimed. Films are expensive and often boring, parks have been overtaken by love-struck couples and even Appu Ghar is shut!

On that September afternoon, out of sheer boredom, I started drawing up a list of things I could do.

1) Read

Out of question! It’s 28 degrees outside and I just cannot bring myself to sit indoors amidst musty smelling books.

2) Take dog to vet

Whining dog is worse than musty books.

3) Bar hop

Depressing if done while the sun is still shining and the bartender is still setting up.

4) Gym

Haha!

5) Museum tour.

I heard that NGMA has an interesting new exhibit. It also shuts at 5pm. 

6) Practice headstand

A.K.A cure for the bummed out brain

The list only annoys me further. How can there not be anything interesting to do in one of the oldest cities in India? Somewhere along the way, I digressed to an old habit, Facebook. I started searching for classes I could take. Maybe learn Spanish or Urdu? Or Jive or Salsa?

I was a little skeptical going down this path. I had taken a salsa class once, but it was mediocre and I took it only because it was nearby. I’ve also called off 2 attempts to learn a new language because I could not find the right person to teach me. My guard up, I started exploring for teachers on Facebook. There were so many options that it was difficult to tell the good from the bad. In the absence of peer reviews and full information, I had almost given up my search when I landed on SkillHippo’s page.

Skillhippo was the one-stop shop I was looking for. It helped me explore the different skills I could pick up. All the information I needed was in one place and the peer reviews made it easier for me to figure out what to do.

Thanks to SkillHippo, I’m now spending my free afternoons learning new skills instead of bumming around.