Why you need to put Yourself first this International Yoga Day

June 21, 2017Leave a comment

So, it’s common to celebrate days in today’s time. “Marketing gimmicks,” labels a friend. Another mutters, “All nonsense, we don’t need such day” To most I would say, yes, a lot of things are quite gimmicky and a turn-off. But, that shouldn’t deter us from understanding the main message.

International Yoga Day or World Yoga Day is celebrated with great excitement by Yoga enthusiasts the world over. Yoga is not just a form of exercise, it is a practice of the way you lead your life, how you form your thoughts, and of course, test your physical strength with all the various asanas.

So often, we find ourselves trapped in the race to rush to work, leaving no time for Yoga, or any other form of exercise for that matter. It’s always, “I’ll surely do this tomorrow,” or “I’ll meditate in the evening,” and “I think I need to speed up my Yoga routine because I gotta reach office on time.” Sounds familiar? Yeah, it sounds so like me. But, Yoga is not about speeding up, it’s about slowing down to watch your breath.

Well, I’ve worked on a full-time job for a good number of years. While some companies insisted on a 9-hour routine, others had a 7-hour policy. Doesn’t matter what you do in those 9-hours, as long as you look busy. Well, for workaholics like me, I would end up being seated with rare breaks only for lunch or the usual loo breaks. Great! But, workaholics like me need to understand the importance of putting yourself first.

Which is why, this International Yoga Day, I want you to take a break, stop what you are doing, and focus on this practice. Don’t get carried away with your work load. Take time out to stretch, meditate, challenge yourself, and enjoy the asanas. After all, you surely don’t want to end up with a nagging pain in your back, right? Take those short breaks, work with complete focus, and you won’t feel tired ever.

This International Yoga Day, let’s work on our goals, by bringing the focus on You. So, are you ready?

I ensure I have the right clothing gear for my routine. Here’s a basic list of things you’ll need to begin a Yoga Routine.

I always need my Yoga mat. You can purchase one online for a reasonable rate. Check this pretty Strauss Yoga Mat design here. It comes with a floral pattern.
I have to have comfortable Tees in my wardrobe. Check this Dryfit Tshirt with Mesh Insert. You’ll find this one quite neat for your Yoga sessions.
A perfect pair of Yoga pants is essential. It can’t be too loose as you certainly don’t want them falling and rolling back when you lift your legs up high! Go for a snug fit. Check this slim elastic pants. I found these good for my routine. The small elastic is comfortable for me.
I also recommend keeping your hair in place with a sturdy band. Also, drop those jewelry items before you practice.Lastly, all you need is to make up your mind to begin Yoga or any other fitness routine of your choice.

Begin with a small step today. Do let me know your routine in the comments section below.

*Some of the products mentioned on my website are affiliate links. If you do plan a purchase, please use the links mentioned on my site. This blog is based on personal experience of the products and is not sponsored by any brand. All reviews are 100% genuine and personal.

Once Upon a Time, it Wasn’t about Numbers

June 18, 2017Leave a comment

Oh, yes! All my favorite stories began in this manner during my childhood days. ‘Once upon a time’, and ended with a ‘happily ever after’. But then, does life bring these ‘sentences to life’ for each one of us? I’m afraid not.

We have our set goals, our dreams, our ambitions. Our quest for love. Yet, as we grow up, everything suddenly changes to numbers. It’s about how much we learn, how we pay our bills, what amount should we set aside for our next road trip, the number of deadlines to be met, and so much more.

Age is also a number. A woman’s happiness (or discomfort) in our society revolves around when she should be getting married, at what age she should bear children, and the age number even dictates what she must adorn, or how she must behave.

Once upon a time, we explored creativity to the fullest. We spun long tales out of a web of words in modest notebooks. Once upon a time, we didn’t even have to count the number of friends despite the non-existence of social media. And definitely, it was once upon a time, when happiness didn’t mean a trip to the mall.

Today, no matter how successful and happy you are, you aren’t truly successful until you have lakhs of followers on social media channels. Your popularity is defined by your followers even if a majority of them seem to represent fake IDs. It’s the age of numbers when quality is left far behind. We are so busy chasing the number of visits, the number of likes, the number of shares, that we forget our sense of purpose. For some, the sole purpose of life is updating a Whatsapp Dp or Facebook profile pic and waiting breathlessly for the pings or comments to flow in.

So, do we allow these numbers to dictate our lives? Professionally, our lives revolve around it, doesn’t it? Yet, I’m sure there are many out there who beg to differ and prefer the quality of life over anything. So what if we are behind in the rat race. I’m sure not everybody wants to belong to it anyway!

Till then, we can also wait for the ‘happily ever after’. But, then, isn’t ‘happily ever after’ so ‘once upon a time’?

Something to ponder….

New Beginnings, Different City

June 3, 2017June 14, 20172 Comments

I remember the day I first started a blog. It happened at a time when I just exploring blogging for an IT firm I worked for. Out of curiosity, I began my own blog as well. However, time was always a constraint especially when I wanted to spend my weekends for relaxation.

As I soon discovered, blogging is a fantastic way to connect with people across the globe. What’s even better is the number of blogs you explore, get inspired, and there is so much to learn. I never thought I would finally have my own website ever. I know many of you reading this might wonder why you need to. But, trust me, even if you are a beginner just go ahead and get your own domain name, and host your own site.

I started out my Facebook and Twitter channels as a means to connect with other like-minded people on subjects such as fashion, and style. Over the years, however, as my thought process has changed more towards sustainability and our responsibility towards the environment, and as such, my views on fashion have also changed. That said, I am still crazy about fashion and styling, yet, I would like to make conscious decisions when I shop – clothing or cosmetics.

So, in the next couple of months, you will find a bit of a shift in the subjects I deal with on my blog. I also wish to promote women empowerment . There’s always light at the end of the tunnel for women struggling to find their ground. Don’t we all know that? But, it takes help, support from each other to lead us to the light. At this point, I’d like to mention, one of my closest friends had quite diverse views about how married women in India should be or how they need to ‘put up with everything’ that comes their way. I, however, beg to differ. And, I wish to remind every person going through their own turmoils – don’t let anyone dull the sparkle in you. If you wait to please your friends, neighbors, or family, you won’t get anything but self-doubt and grief. Just be yourself and follow your dreams. Make them happen. Don’t worry about people sniggering behind your back. Because they will always do that. The more you taste success, the more you will need to keep your chin up and walk tall.

So, I am in a new city….new, because I will explore it from my viewpoint. As the new girl in Bengaluru city, I hope to discover new things.

Do explore my new website. I would be extremely happy if you subscribe and leave your link below. I’ll get back to you too!

XOXOXOX

Kashmira

In Search of a Work-Life Balance

April 3, 2017Leave a comment

Ok, so this is the term everyone is using. Including me. We all want it. The perfect life. The perfect job. Enough time during the day to pursue our passion. Before we know it, we just realize that we may not be the lucky ones. Thus begins the cribbing about the lack of time for our personal goals.

I am not the best person when it comes to ‘managing my life well’. I used to be, but, not anymore. Sometimes, we take some decisions that hamper us in the long run. They break you down, make you doubt yourself, and even make you stress over the things you once loved doing. Sounds scary? Well, yeah, it is. But, there’s surely a way if you try harder. girl-429380_960_720

Take your Decisions and Own Them

Despite that fact that you may be in self-doubt, remember everything happens for a reason. The wrong decision you took taught you a lesson well learned. It does not mean every other decision will pull you down. Trust your instinct. Even if you can’t see the result. Let’s put an end to what people say. They are anyway going to b***** behind your back. Let them!

Enjoy the Current Season

Yeah, it is damn hot in India. Learn to enjoy every season. Find something that you love doing. For me, the summers are either meant for the beach or lazing at home. The cold season energizes me to step out into the outdoors. Find your comfort zone and you’ll find a kind of a beautiful balance in your life.

Practice Gratitude

No matter what you are going through….your manager may be giving you a hard time, or there’s too much turmoil in your mind. Practice gratitude to keep your mind at ease. There’s no point in stressing over things. Even if you work-from-home, I understand certain stresses will be there. Payments not coming on time or lack of motivation. Just relax! Happens to all of us. Be grateful and all will be well.

Love Yourself

It’s so important as we forget to love ourselves and what we do in this race for success. Do the things that bring you joy. You may not be able to find time on an everyday basis. But, you need not wait for ages to have fun. Let your hair down! Go, have your favorite foods. I’ve found spending time with nature to be the best ways to love myself and my surroundings. It has an amazing feeling.

One of my favourite South Indian delicacies

At present, I think I need to shop. It’s been months I have been on this no-shopping diet. (Hee hee…..I am trying to see if this work!)

5 Books that Shaped My Creativity

March 16, 2017Leave a comment

Who am I? Sometimes, the dreamer…looking to touch the sky. Sometimes, a silent spectator lost in her thoughts amidst a crowd of noisy people. At times, a showstopper, whenever I feel like stepping out in my stilettos. Other times, just a thinker who sits by her window side, staring into the horizon in her comfortably old pajamas.

Books have always transported me away from the mundane reality. These are not just a way for me to escape the truth, mind you. It’s more than that. My memory goes back to my little school library in Panjim where reading sessions were compulsory. I awaited this daily schedule with utmost excitement as the smell of the beautiful children’s publications and lovely drawings made me ecstatic. There are many books that I have adored. To list down 5 is quite a task but it must be done. So, here it is.

Simplicity

My earliest connection with the fashion industry was this heavy book with a DSCN0454a simple cover and design layout. If I am not mistaken, I had two. One just got lost over the y
ears but I managed to hold on to this one. Flipping through the fashion pages and going over the numerous designs and patterns excited me. Beautiful skirts, ruffled blouses, and elegant silhouettes were ‘in’. There were no fashion pundits to dictate anything. Fashion was simple, flowing, and beautifully imperfect. It’s interesting to note how some of the fashion ideas have been recycled. This book brought me closer to the world of fashion and turned out to be truly inspiring. After all, in those times when the Internet was not accessible to us kids, this was our only window to the fashion world.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The author’s memoir begins with her battle for her freedom from her current relationship, her constant self-doubt to the moment of finally choosing the path her heart is set upon. This journey is written beautifully by Ms. Gilbert. She embarks upon a life-changing journey establishing her faith in the unknown. With major dents on her personal and financial side, Elizabeth rediscovers herself during her stay in Italy, India, and Bali. Such a beautiful inspiring story indeed that transports readers from eating pizza, to finding our soul through meditation and prayers and finding love.

Tintin and Archie Comics

Really? A comic book? I could have posted something intellectual. To me, this is intellectual. I had a love for cartooning at an early age. Drawing fashion illustrations and making my own comic strips all happened courtesy these lovely comic books. I still love these books and the wit and courage of Reporter Tintin with the comic antics by Thompson and Thomson that continue to entertain me. The fine line drawings of Tintin and the sarcasm in Archie Comics (Of course, Jughead) still tickle my funny bone. I can’t help but ogle at Veronica’s wardrobe and long for a friend like Betty. I haven’t read the latest Archie series but the illustrators of the old editions were superb. One of my earliest dreams was to work for such a firm! I know these books helped me improve my drawing skills and I shall soon resume my love for art.

Picture of Dorian Gray (Books by Oscar Wilde)

Here is an author who touched my heart deeply. Oscar Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Gray and many other stories struck me deeply. It brought out the emotional side of me as an author. Being sensitive to things around you brings out the beauty in one’s writings. Sometimes, it takes a lot of pain to churn out something beautiful. And his writings mesmerized me leaving an indelible mark on my mind.

Books on Photography

I had a beautiful collection of photography books. Unfortunately, many of them got destroyed in the heavy monsoons of Goa. Interestingly, I still remember the images and the compositions of the underwater life. Life beneath the sea mesmerized me in a time when we had no access to channels that offer a complete life story of aquatic beings as viewed today. My most favorites were the black and white photography books from around the world. Today, it is very easy to access such images with the Internet shrinking the world to a much smaller place. But, believe me, sometimes, having too much of everything is indeed a bad thing. You tend to appreciate things better when you don’t have it in surplus. These books shaped my mind to understand composition and principles of design with a focus on how your image should be. This was less about how expensive your camera lens is and more about what you, as a photographer will do to capture an image that is stunning and shows your expertise in this field without relying on external factors.

Another of my favorite author is Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime Fiction. All her books made me think sharply, deeply. And, books by Enid Blyton helped me to give a boost to my creativity, letting my mind wander without the feeling of any guilt. Tromping around the coastline to discover caves….what a relief it brought to a creative, restless mind!

Have you got any favorites books to share? I would love to know.

Kashmira Lad

Founder – Shopping in Stilettos

Category: Musings