To stay or not to stay at home

To work or stay home — that's a decision many women need to make when they've had a baby. To ensure that their child is well taken care of, many mothers choose to stay home.

On the contrary, a study by American Psychological Association points out, working mothers may actually be the ones who are better off at raising children when compared to those who stay at home. The study also reported that working mothers enjoyed better health, lesser signs of depression and contributed more to a child's overall learning opportunities. The ladies in Pune voice their opinions on the same.

Not true
Stay-home mums are the ones who have to let go of their ambitions and desires in order to take care of their child, say a few. Actor Manini Mishra says, "The mother who stays home instead of working sacrifices her aspirations and career to ensure that her child is well taken care of. It is not easy to stay home, look after the house and also take care of the child." Manini feels that stay-home mums contribute as much as a working mother does or perhaps even more.

Absolutely right
Women are known to be good at multitasking, point out others. Multi-tasking directly relates more efficiency. Actor Poonam Dhillon explains, "Working women are always more capable and are good at multi-tasking. Working mums put in a lot more effort to ensure they get to spend some quality time with their children too. This contributes to the overall development of the child."

SOS Mummy!
Actor Smita Jaykar feels that stay-home mums make their children dependent on them for everything. She explains, "Stay-home mums tend to spoon-feed their children. This curbs their independence." Smita also says she finds that her children are a lot more independent than most kids their age.

Not applicable
A few others are of the opinion that since these studies are conducted abroad, they have no relevance in India. Actor Renuka Shahane stresses on the health aspect. "This study does not hold good for the women in India. Whether a woman is working or not working, her work pressure remains the same. In the west, once women are back home, they relax and rejuvenate. That is not the case here. A woman has to handle so many more things here, and that could lead to a lot of stress," she explains.

Work is happiness
Personal happiness is always a driving force while taking crucial decisions, feel others. Actor Manjari Phadnis elaborates, "The mothers who stay at home tend to centre their lives around their children. Working mothers, on the other hand, learn to manage home and career and do both well. And managing them both gives them a sense of accomplishment."

Don't worry, be happy
Film-maker Chitra Palekar feels that is 'no such thing as this is better than that'. "If you are able to spend quality time with your child, then nothing like it. Being happy and the providing the space your child needs is the way to go about it." As long as both the mother and child are happy, it is bound to contribute to the growth of the child.

'Yoga can cure every disease'

Yoga therapy can cure every disease and disorder, even cancer, says a Delhi-based yoga therapist but warns against the mass teaching of yoga - including popular pranayams like kapalbhati and anulom vilom - saying they "can cause complications".

"Yoga cannot be universalised...like prescribing a paracetamol tablet," says Subhash Sharma, a yoga therapist who spent 19 years in a gurukul in Rajasthan and is also a post-graduate from the Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.

Sharma said: "People have different physiologies and each person's response to yoga is individualistic. Therefore, there can't be standardisation of yoga for any particular disorder."

Sharma, who describes himself as a pioneering yoga therapist and runs a busy practice in south Delhi, says even a step-by-step book on yoga can be "fatal".

Recounting a particular case, he says one gentleman had come to him with a problem - he had lost the sensation of the nerves to the anus that tell us when to pass faeces.

"He had learnt the steps from a book and started practising 'nauli kriya', or rotating of the intestines. This paralysed the nerves to the anus. He did not know when he was passing stools, he would only make out from the bad smell."

Bhastrika, a popular yogic pranayam that many people do while following an expert on television, can cause asthma, warns Sharma.

"In bhastrika pranayam you pump the lungs. It can hyperventilate the lungs and people can develop asthma."

Another popular pranayam, kapalbhati, is "dangerous, especially for women", he warns.

"If kapalbhati is done without 'bandhas', or shutting the anus and vagina, then the pressure will fall on the visceral organs (internal organs) and they will be pushed downwards. Women can develop uterus prolapse (where the uterus can sag from its normal position)."

Each of Sharma's patients is given yoga therapy keeping in mind their body type and problem. The patient's response is monitored closely and changes are made accordingly.

Anulom vilom, perceived to be a simple pranayam in which you breathe in through one nostril and breathe out though the other, is also not advisable for all, he says.

"When we force in air from one nostril and exhale from the other, it upsets the respiratory centre of the brain which controls breathing," he says, adding, "Lots of precautions should be taken before going in for anulom vilom."

Sharma has crowds of people coming to him with all kinds of problems, ranging from arthritis, asthma and blood pressure to cancer and even cases of muscular dystrophy. Sharma says he has cured many cancer cases, including blood cancer, brain cancer and breast cancer.

He recounted the case of a British woman with brain cancer who had undergone surgery and been given three months to live. "It is four years since she has been cured," he said.

Bhavna Singh is full of gratitude to Sharma. Her mother, who was diagnosed with stage 3B cancer of the uterus two years ago, is "doing perfectly fine now" with the disease in remission. Doctors had given her mother 25-30 percent chances of survival. They did chemotherapy and radiotheraphy sessions simultaneously with Sharma's yoga therapy, which included a diet regimen.

"My mother is doing absolutely fine...I'll give the whole credit to Sharmaji," Bhavna said, adding that her mother did not lose even a strand of hair despite intensive chemotherapy.

"There is a yogic asana for anything and everything - one only has to have faith and patience," says Sharma, who has worked with cancer patients at AIIMS for many years.

Among his many patients is Priya Narayanan, a patient of multiple sclerosis, an auto immune disorder. Priya, a trained Carnatic singer, was doing her PhD in chemistry around 20 years ago when she noticed she was losing the use of her muscles. Many rounds of doctors and hospitals later, and with no hope left, she arrived last year at Sharma's clinic.

"Priya has begun to show some control over her muscles," her mother Veda Narayanan said.

According to Sharma, Priya, who cannot walk without help, will be able to walk on her own in three years.

He says true yoga can be practised only by yogis who live aloof from society. Normal, social human beings running the material race suffer from psychosomatic disorders and diseases - and for them therapeutic yoga is the only answer, he says.

Sharma is keen that the Indian government "amalgamate the study of yoga with the study of human physiology - to develop yoga therapists".

"The government should teach yoga and medicine together, and create yoga doctors," he says.

How to maintain your image at work

Don't want to be seen as arrogant or weak to your subordinates? You can maintain the right balance of humility, writes Lisa Antao

Sometimes, we are in awe of people superior to us, people whom we secretly look up to and want to be like. Maybe because it's the respect that they command and receive, their achievements, their contacts or simply just how smoothly they can get work done. And it's obvious that such people display good if not great leadership qualities, and we often wonder what makes them click? And while most people believe that aggressiveness, being influential and being determined to be successful appear to be the necessary traits, in reality there's much more. We often overlook the humility factor. After all, it is said that respect is earned.

So how does humility play a role in effective leadership? Psychologist Manasi Hassan explains, "Imagine a leader who is unapproachable, uptight, self absorbed and judgmental.

Or a leader who sets such high standards that the group members feel almost inferior in his/her presence. Humility is an important criteria for others to be able to relate to the leader. This makes the leader more approachable and a positive figure for his/her teammates. This helps one influence his/her teammates in a positive way without causing conflicts and frustration." She says that humility in a leader brings about an ease in the teammates for them to open up and communicate with their leader. It's simple just like in school when we liked a teacher who was positive, we automatically did better in that particular subject.

In case you're wondering what if humility is mistaken for weakness? Agrees Hassan saying that sometimes being humble may make others believe that you can be taken for granted. She suggests the following advice to maintain the right balance:

- Say 'no' when you have to
- Don't overdo the humility just for your need to be liked or seek approval from others
- When you see that the situation may get out of hand, pull up your socks and be assertive
- Use humility, don't abuse it. Familiarity breeds contempt, be open with your teammates but not so much that you are unable to maintain your distance with them
- Avoid disclosing too much of your personal life
- Demand your respect, when required
- Don't avoid confrontations in order to avoid conflict

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Milan Balakrishnan says, "Humility in a leader may be misconstrued as a weakness which can be balanced out by adding the right amount of assertiveness and strength. One does not have to sacrifice competence, vision, and effectiveness to get humility in leadership. Humility in the context of leadership is admitting that one does not have all the answers and that one may need help of the team in fulfiling team objectives."

When women become more successful than men

While you may be at the peak of your career, your personal life may be going for a toss. The trick lies in 'not bringing office home' and spending quality time with your man in spite of a busy schedule. Women are becoming more independent and professionally successful than they were a generation or two ago. That's brilliant but it can come with baggage. A recent study revealed that in 39 of the 50 top urban markets, women are making more than their male peers. But as women work their way up that career ladder and begin to out-earn their husbands or partners, cheating is on the rise.
While it feels great to constantly climb the career ladder and earning good money, the reality is that at some point you may encounter a guy who's intimidated by your success. According to new research, when a man is completely financially dependent on his female partner, he is five times more likely to cheat than men who contribute an equal amount to the partnership.
Traditionally, men used to bring home a majority of, if not the entire household income while many women had the option of being housewifes and raising kids. "Men typically played the role of providers and women that of nurturers. We do not see this in our culture today as the traditional gender roles have become blur in relationships and women have become a lot more independent," says relationship expert Dr Rajan Bhonsle.
As female breadwinners take on their role as protector and nurturer, men feel that their gender identity is being threatened. Seeing their partners slogging hard, they may stray. This shift to equalitarian partnerships hits their ego and may further lead to infidelity.
Before you face a relationship failure, here are a few tips that will help you prioritise and strike a balance between the two meaningful aspects of your life - career and love.
Know what you want:
The key to a successful relationship is to be clear about what you want. As a career-oriented woman, it's probably even more important to be clear about the type of guy you would want to spend your life with. Make a list of the top five qualities you're looking for in a potential partner. While doing this activity, ask yourself the following questions: Does equal or greater earning power of the partner power matter to me? Would I be willing to date someone who makes less than me but is beautiful at heart?
Creating unrealistic expectations is a crime:
While you may be capable of buying your car, go on a holiday with your girlfriends and shop from your favourite branded stores, it is silly having unrealistic expectations. Thinking that a guy who owns a smaller house than you won't keep you happy, will leave you being single for long. What's important is who he is as an individual. "If he treats you with love and care and shares similar ambitions in life as you do, he may possibly prove to be a loyal and a lifelong partner," says Bhonsle.
Let him woo you:
Dating a woman who enjoys greater career success is likely to threaten a man's sense of self worth. But it's not as if it's the end. They can quickly find other ways to feel worthy but that is only if you give them a chance to feel the same. For example, until you know his level of emotional maturity, don't take him to expensive restaurants or buy him expensive gifts. Let him plan outings and pay for movie tickets. Appreciate his efforts through minor gestures regardless of how big or small they are.
Make him feel important:
The core lies in the words appreciate and reward. Make sure he maintains a higher self-esteem. "Compliment him when he undertakes non-traditional gender roles and performs them well," advices Hingorrany. Moreover, if he's not the primary breadwinner, entrust him responsibilities like managing finances. Also, indulge in actions that remind him he's all man in bed.

Tummy out helps keep tummy in

Breathing with your stomach can help reduce weight among many other advantages
Breathing with the stomach is the right way to breathe according to the great Sage Patanjali. But most of us have forgotten that. And have taken to breathing from chest.

"Our first experiences with breathing were the most natural. As infants, our breathing is natural, spontaneous, and unlabored. Infants breathe naturally with the belly. If you observe a baby breathing, you'll notice his or her belly enlarges on an inhalation. As children, when we become self-aware and self-conscious, we lose touch with this natural and spontaneous way of breathing. Many of us, having forgotten how to belly breathe as we did when we were infants, become habitual chest breathers, holding the belly in and breathing from our chests." Says Dr Patricia A. Muehsam, writer and physician from New York City.

Thousands of years ago, Sage Patanjali knew how to correct distorted chemistry of humans through short, simple, and yet powerful breathing exercises. These exercises require only 15 minutes every day. He also knew about correct breathing, which maintains the healthy chemistry of our mind and body, which is more necessary with each passing day.

Correct breathing - by inhaling through your belly - helps increase metabolism as well. And increased metabolism means decrease in weight.

Breathing through the stomach also increases immunity and keeps away basic diseases like common cold and sinus.

Knowledge about correct breathing is, therefore, a must for one and all. With correct breathing, climbing uphill becomes effortless. However, this precious knowledge remained a well kept secret until recently.

Build a strong friendship with your daughter

A daughter's relationship with her father is usually her first male-female relationship. Here are a few tips to build a strong friendship.

The first rule is to be a friend: Treat her like your friend by sharing thoughts and asking for her opinion.

Treat your daughter as an equal: Do not hold on to the idea that she knows nothing. Children these days have become more sensible and know what they are doing.

Be a mediator : If your daughter is facing problems with your wife, be present as a mediator between the two females. Male intervention helps resolve the issue and calm both people down.

Learn to communicate: If you are one of those who cannot really communicate or emote well, then maybe you should start by doing small things like helping her with her studies or maybe once in a while give her a treat or take her shopping.

Trust her: When daughters are in their teens, fathers usually tend to get over protective about their little girls. This behaviour more often than not, tends to push the girls away from their fathers. Remember not to be too suspicious about your daughter's whereabouts.

Let her be independent: They are no longer babies. Let her learn from her own mistakes. Having a healthy discussion about such mistakes will make them feel you are interested in their lives and do not want them to do what you want. Avoid preaching.
Love her unconditionally: She is your daughter. Love her unconditionally even if she makes mistakes or she is not the ideal daughter. Your support will lead her toward making the right choices on her own.

Accept her friends: Accepting your daughter's social circle can be a little difficult sometimes. The kind of company she keeps might come as an unpleasant surprise to most fathers.

Be patient: Hormones are running wild and so will tempers. She will always be the first to raise her voice and you need to keep your own temper in check. When she sees that you do not react angrily, she will herself calm down in front of you.

Spend time together: Time is the greatest bonding element. Try doing what they like the most and see the difference. They will love you the way you are, too.

How to deal with a bad boss

Bad bosses are unavoidable. You can bet on your right sock that you'll meet one one day. And here's how you can handle one...

Handling a bad boss is never really easy. Heard of "between the rock and a hard place"? Yeah this situation fits that description to a T. Bosses can be downright rude, arrogant, silly and extremely unreasonable. No, we aren't saying that there aren't good bosses in the world. We're just saying the good ones never come around. Now, dealing with a bad boss is a tricky thing. The situation can vary from the boss giving you a pink slip to you sinking into depression from all that your boss makes you do. Here's 5 ways on how to handle the demon. It's easier said than done we agree. But trying never killed anybody, did it?

1. When your boss makes promises, threats or even unreasonable arguments make sure you get in writing. The easiest way is to do things over mail or chat. That way all your conversations are recorded and in the case of a confrontation, you can always be the dramatic one to scream out "I have proooofff!!!".

2. Identifying the crisis is very important for the both you. Just blindly shooting your mouth off won't give yu any solutions of peace of mind. Write it down first and then talk it out clearly. Come to a negotiation and be smart! Put everything out there and tell her, "Boss, we have a problem!"

3. Don't give the space or an oppurtunity to your boss for pin pointing your flaws. Make sure you do your bit well if you want to win this. Come on time, submit assignments on time and be polite. That way they can't point a finger at you.

4. Ask an ex-employee or a co-employee who has earned the wrath of his boss. Pick the brains of that employee and find out what ticks him, what pleases him, what massages his ego etc. Also, if this previous employee is no longer with the company, you'd know why.

5. There are different types of bosses by the way. Glory grabbers - the ones who take credit for your work. Then theres the weather wane- bosses who changes rules without notice. Then comes the helicopter - the boss who constantly keeps hovering overhead and interrupts all of your work. And sometimes points it out too. And lastly, there's the secret agent- the mysterious person who's missing in action and communicates in quite a lousy way. We have very simple advice for you - Organize what you want to say, present it in a thoughtful manner and don't respond in anger, which only hurts you.

Nights out are a teeny problem

You were best friends and confidantes through school, but now your child is a teenager.

Suddenly, life is filled with the cacophony of slamming doors, incessant whines, turbulent tantrums and accusations of, "But you don't understand!" Curfew negotiations have taken on the scale of international round-table conferences; and you've been reading up on how America and Russia averted nuclear war.

But it does not have to be this way. You can still be friends with your child through the turbulent years, and get him/her to come home on time. Most parents agree that they lay down the rules consistently and years in advance.

The magical element is communication and demonstration. Talking about the dangers of staying out late without chaperones or being out without safe transport helps the child understand the parents' point of view. To figure out how to do this, just take a leaf out of these parents' book.

We don't believe in the word 'curfew'. We think a teenager will rebel to the word itself, even before listening to the rules as it indicates restriction. We have told Anmol that he has a cut-off time and this has been modulated over time. Children like to be guided and if the concepts are introduced to them at the right time, it is easier for them to adhere to the rules and regulations of the house.

As a child, Anmol had to be home by 7 pm as we had dinner at 8 pm and in bed by 9.30 pm. This continued till he turned 15. There were exceptions, but these were made with prior consultations of both parents.

After 15, we let him stay out till 10 pm when he went out occasionally with friends for dinner or parties. Slowly the timing was stretched to 11 pm and then to 12 pm when he went to Class XII.

Now at 19, Anmol is in second year of college and does not have to be told about the cut-off time at all. He knows that he can stay out late but prefers not to.

A safety measure we take is that if he is going out of Navi Mumbai for a late night party, then he messages when he reaches and exits. Also we have told him to stay at a friend's place instead of coming back late at night. We also take the contact numbers of all his friends, which we've never had to use as he makes it a point to calls us at appropriate times.

We've taken him out with us at 2 pm and let him see that the roads are deserted and that unsocial elements are about at that time. So he knows why it is essential to be indoors at appropriate hours.

Sticky situation: When he first asked permission to attend a New Year's Eve party, he hadn't turned 18. So we kept talking casually about how crowded the parties outside would be and how travelling back would be a headache. Then we offered to host the party at home and leave them alone. So Anmol and his friends had the house to themselves and we had a great dinner! It took a little manipulation, but it was for a good cause!

My 17-year-old daughter Prachi has just entered college and I have taken efforts to develop honesty in her through the years. So far her curfews have been consistent. She has standing instructions that she must have dinner with the family. We are early eaters, so she is usually home before 6.30 pm.

I grew up in a joint family where teenagers weren't allowed outside after dark. The same rule applies to Prachi, but I haven't forced it on her. Even before she started college, we had a conversation about curfew timings and why they are needed. When I read newspaper stories about kidnappings and sexual abuse, I point them out to her to explain why we have these rules.

Parties and stay-overs are a part of growing up, so I encourage her to call her friends home, and usually talk to them. Nothing intimidating; just a two-minute chat so that I can gauge what kind of people they are. For an overnight trip, I also ask her to give me numbers of her friends' parents.

There's also a curfew on till when she can talk on the cell phone. I switch my phone off by 10 pm and expect her to do the same, although I give her an extra half hour.

If she crosses a deadline, I call to ask what the situation is. There are times when I've had to put my foot down and say "If you don't come home on your own, I will have to come and pick you up."

When they enter college life, there is a distinct shift in lifestyle, perception, friend circles, among other things. This is where you can lose control of your life, rebel or fall in place. I haven't thought about how rules will change as she grows, but the skeleton will remain.

Sticky situation: When she shifted into a new college earlier this year, she wanted to go on a trek with her new friends. I realised that if she has to be part of a new friend circle, this trip is important. I asked her to call her friends home, so I get to know them. It's funny, but this was diffiult because my wife was opposed to the idea, but I managed to convince her.

Deven is a teenager, but hasn't tasted college life yet. I still have a few rules to help our relationship once he decides to spread his wings. Communication trumps. For example: My son usually car pools with other friends to school. Once, he skipped the car pool and went to a cyber cafe to game. I have seen kids smoking outside that place, and the crowd that goes there isn't good either. Before entering the cafe, he called me and I asked him to come home immediately. He was really annoyed because he didn't know why I was angry.

When he came home, I first appreciated the fact that he informed me before going into the cafe. And then told him that he can invite his friends over because we have a PS3 and a computer at home. He understood.

He has regular sleepovers with kids within the building. I know all of them and trust that they don't do anything wrong.

I believe Deven should be exposed to all kinds of people, and be allowed to make mistakes. Children are really curious and knowledge has to be given properly. We have even talked about smoking, and have told him to come to us if he wants to smoke. The curfew that I really enforce is his sleeping time - 10.30 pm. I know that if he goes for a sleepover he won't sleep before 4 am, but that's something that can't be helped.

Sticky situation: Deven was invited to a sleepover once. The hosts wanted to party and wanted company for their children. This was just not acceptable, but Deven couldn't understand why I refused to let him go. I had to sit him down and explain that he should not be taken for granted.

Choosing between a job and passion

Making a choice between a regular job and passion is a no man's land many people are caught in. Tejas Suma Shyam highlights both the sides of the coin

Feeling scared to pursue an offbeat career that you're passionate about because your family may not approve of it? Don't worryit's not just you! As the rat race for survival in today's economically turbulent times gets tougher, a substantial number of people are caving in to parental and peer pressure to follow the beaten track and take up jobs that they are not primarily interested in.

All that glitters is gold
While for some it is the lure of a lucrative job that is too good to resist, many take up these jobs due to lack of options. "In the Indian context, stereotypes and gender roles also play a critical role in such career choices," says Prapti Iyengar, a counsellor. "The male is supposed to be a stable earning member in a family and he usually looks at established options that provide a secure job and good pay such as being an engineer or a doctor. In many cases, if the person doesn't have adequate family support, it becomes extremely difficult to break the stereotypes and pursue professions or interests which are not mainstream. Another common problem is that people may not know how to enter the profession of their choice due to lack of vocational guidance or sufficient exposure to test their abilities and gauge their chances of success. Hence, they ultimately land up compromising on their passion." Unsurprisingly, a lot of people who have compromised their passions in choosing such careers have ended up feeling frustrated in the long run.

Balancing act
However, nowadays an increasing number of people, especially the youth, are taking up careers which allow them to balance their passion with work. Be it by doing part-time work on weekends in their fields of interest or by finding time to pursue their passion after office hours, leading a more holistic life suddenly seems to have become the new mantra. Says Aishwarya Harish, a freelance market researcher and a trained Bharatanrityam dancer, "I have always believed that everyone has a capacity to balance various aspects of their lives if they so desire. When I took up my job, I wanted to explore my interests in different fields. But it gradually became difficult to balance my passion for dance with my work. Hence, I decided to freelance for the organisation instead of working full-time."

The industry, too, seems to have woken up to the fact that people need their space to pursue their passions. This view is echoed by Aishwarya as well. "Today, bosses are very supportive of your other interests. Teams are willing to adjust. Colleagues support and encourage each other to explore their creative streaks all the time. And while you still need to meet your deadlines and finish your work satisfactorily, many organisations give you the flexibility to manage your time so that you can pursue your passions. Ultimately, it is up to you to manage your time well. This, in turn requires a good deal of discipline and an organised approach."

Living your passion
Today, the career landscape has also undergone a sea change and offbeat careers have gained a much wider acceptance in the society. In fact, many such innovative careers have turned out to be huge successes. Consequently, the youth are no longer averse to exploring their interests as realistic, full-time career paths. Be it as an entrepreneur or in a job, this trend is catching on in a big way, especially among Gen-Next.

"Several opportunities exist - it's all about making the choices," says famous stand-up comedian and CEO of Entertainment Engineers, Nitin Gupta. "Follow your heart in terms of what you want to do and how you want those things done. I stumbled into stand-up comedy by chance and liked it. Hence, I decided to give it a shot. The advent of comedy shows on television created a much needed market for stand-up comedy by the time I graduated. Today, the market is growing and many more people are taking to English stand-up comedy. Personally, I'm really enjoying what I do as it gives me the liberty to do what I want." Ask him whether people should take the plunge to follow their passion and Nitin advises caution. "We tend to use the word 'passion' very loosely. Many people mistake their interest as passion, which can be very dangerous while making such career choices. If you really want to follow your passion, you need to put in that extra bit of hard work and dedication. Also, make sure that you get your priorities absolutely correct before making such choices," he concludes.

Why extreme exercises should be avoided

If you are battling too hard following an extreme exercise routine to get into shape, you need to rethink. While you might shed those extra kilos faster, pushing your body too far will have repurcussions.

Everyone wants to be in shape and many are rigorously into various levels of extreme fitness activities. But these are actually causing more harm than good to you, in your quest to lose weight. Says fitness expert, Jivesh Shetty, "People who want to shed weight soon or are enthusiastic about following an extreme exercise routine to stay fit and in form, should be cautious about the kinds of exercises they are opting for. For example, marathon running is said to cause cardiac problems."

Jumping with weights and dumbbells
In group classes, you are advised to do the plyometrics (a type of exercise designed to produce fast and powerful movements) with light weights. Hopping on step-up benches, lunges and other movements include holding dumbbells or light weights strapped on your ankles. Though jumping is good to burn calories, jumping with weights on might end up in a tissue or muscle rupture or a ligament tear.
"If you are enthusiastic about jumps, you should opt for the kettleball swing," says Althea Shah, fitness expert. Dumbbell and barbell movements can be done in a more specific resistance training programme, where each movement is monitored by an instructor.

Training on an empty stomach
If you believe training on an empty stomach in the morning will help you burn the calories you consumed last night, then you are wrong. Says Shah, "When you wake up in the morning, your glycogen levels are low in the body and though you tend to burn more calories, you don't realise that there is a high probability of your body deriving calories from your muscle tissue." Have a light meal before you start your workouts in the morning.

Stretching before a workout
Stretching is ideally done during or after a workout or as a separate individual exercise routine. Says Shetty, "A warm up is done basically to exercise your muscles before you start with your regular workout routine. This can be done on a treadmill for about 10 minutes and a few warm-up sets for the first few resistance exercises." Stretching a muscle before a workout may lead to ligament tear or painful muscle pull.

Know your limits
It's okay to push yourself when you are working out at the gym to lose weight, but when you tend to go overboard with your exercise routine, it is not good. Especially when you tend to push yourself beyond your limits, you are most likely to injure yourself.
But as fatigue starts to set in while you are pushing yourself more than required, your form starts to falter. Fitness experts are of the opinion that this causes overload to joints and soft-tissues and makes it susceptible to injuries.

Marathon running Running a marathon to shed extra kilos is a definite no-no. Says Shetty, "Marathon running can certainly help you burn more calories but at the cost of losing out on your muscle mass." If you are keen on running, make sure the session is no longer than 60 minutes, with regular water breaks in between. Make sure you have an energy booster before you start with your run. If you stretch longer than 60 minutes, you might end up with a muscle pull or a backache.
Make sure to practice with a trainer for at least 45 minutes every day to help build stamina and capacity before you go for the longer duration run.

Fad diets
"A detox diet is not recommended for weight loss. Losing weight too quickly can be dangerous at times. While fad diets may help you reduce the numbers on the scale, they can cause severe health complications and you might end up putting on more weight than before," says Shah. To lose weight in a healthy manner, plan your diet with your nutritionist so that you lose weight in the right way.

Pills and powders
"Pills and powders for weight loss are highly hazardous," says Shah. Diet pills are said to cause nutrient deficits, organ damage and increase cholesterol.
Dietary supplements in the form of pills and powders do not help rev up your metabolism. Eating a healthy breakfast increases your metabolic rate in the day and keeps your energy levels high. It helps you lose weight faster during the course of the day.

Daylight can prevent, treat heart attacks

CU medical school researchers have revealed that intense light could be used to treat heart attacks.

There are already lots of ways to treat a heart attack - CPR, aspirin, clot-busters and more.

"The study suggests that strong light, or even just daylight, might ease the risk of having a heart attack or suffering damage from one," said Tobias Eckle, MD, PhD, an associate professor of anesthesiology, cardiology, and cell and developmental biology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

"For patients, this could mean that daylight exposure inside of the hospital could reduce the damage that is caused by a heart attack," Eckle stated.

What's the connection between light and a myocardial infarction, known commonly as a heart attack?

The answer lies, perhaps surprisingly, in the circadian rhythm, the body's clock that is linked to light and dark.

Proteins in the brain regulate the circadian clock. But the proteins are in other organs as well, including the heart.

Eckle and Holger Eltzschig, MD, a CU professor of anesthesiology, found that one of those proteins, called Period 2, plays a crucial role in fending off damage from a heart attack.

During a heart attack, little or no oxygen reaches the heart. Without oxygen, the heart has to switch from its usual fuel - fat - to glucose. Without that change in heart metabolism, cells die and the heart is damaged

And here's where the circadian rhythm comes in.

The study showed that the Period 2 protein is vital for that change in fuel, from fat to glucose, and therefore could make heart metabolism more efficient. In fact, Strong daylight activated Period 2 in animals and minimized damage from a heart attack.

Future studies will try to understand how light is able to change heart metabolism in humans and how this could be used to treat heart attacks in patients

The findings were recently published in the journal Nature Medicine.

Why some women fear falling in love

 Simi Kuriakose delves into issues of women who come with a statutory warning 'Not Made for Love'

More often than not, we come across different categories of men: one who don't want to love, one who love to be twitterpated by a woman, and others who love, hurt and vow never to love again. Women generally try to be a living proof to the age-old myth that they're all about fairytales and candybars, so the kinds you'd find are those who're craving to catch the eye of a man and willing to trade any happiness just to be in love. Then there's the other sector of the pie chart illustrating women who love their singledom and don't want to be with a man (for reasons more than you can count). Here's introducing the woman who pushes a man away, not just any man, but a man who loves her to the core (yes that happens), despite having feelings for him.

So what's with women who walk about in the world with invisible placards that read 'not made for love'? Is commitment phobia the only reason or are these women pro-feminism - attracted to men but think they're better off without them? What are such women threatened by that they can't get enough nerve up to either be in love or respond to it?

Why does this happen?
If you're the woman we're talking about, we probably know what's on with you. Here are some reasons you may relate to:

Commitment phobia
This is a common problem for most relationship issues. But here, a commitment phobic woman may be a man repellent despite having feelings for him. She'll track down the negative ideas of being in a relationship and sort it out in the 'See-I'm-better-off-without-commitment' division of her brain.

Fear of being heartbroken
Women who have the ''I aint love material' issue are not just love phobic but hyper-petrified. Susan Mark (name changed on request), who is aware of her push-the-man-away skills says, "I know I always shun the idea of love from a man who's attracted to me, not because I'm not smitten by him. I just can't deal with heartbreak. I can't go through the whole high expectations, not-meeting-expectations, sobbing, crying and more phases. I rather be emotionally numb than be emotionally active for someone till he sedates me off it but yet I feel the pain."

Chase me till I'm unavailable:
It is true, men love the chase, it gives them a kick. And women are conscious about this feature in men. So, since they know being unavailable gets them all the attention, why not extend the chase by keeping him at safe distance. Saying no may be a backup plan. Some women love standby's. Other women just feel, if they fall for the drill of the chase, it might get different later. So they rather stay away.

Seen it, don't want to do it:
Clinical psychologist Mansi Hassan says, "Women who have seen bad relationships in life in their past or among family or friends tend to keep men at bay despite having feelings for them. They never realise that their relationship may be different than the bad ones they've seen but also end up never trusting anyone enough to be in love."

What to do
1. Hassan explains, "It is best to go with the flow, giving up on the extremist attitude in love."

2. Have courage, it's okay to face the devil of love than worrying about it going wrong. You never know, maybe your courage will help you get the best of life.

3. Remember, hurt means heal. If you ever get hurt, time heals it. So don't be afraid to be in love.

Reactions that such women have when in love:
1. Since you have a high expectation in love, Hassan says, you may end up being extremely clingy.
2. Mood swings might be common for such women.
3. Such women may also end up being co-dependent, says Hassan.

Begin your day with oats

Everybody needs to be health conscious today, because most of us face health risks due to various reasons like bad food habits, lack of exercise, stress, obesity, drinking alcohol , smoking, etc.

Being healthy begins by eating healthy. Most of us begin our day by having breakfast that is high in fat and calories, for eg. butter jam toast, cheese sandwiches, omelettes, sheera, vadas, dosas, etc. which is bad for the heart. You need to begin your day with a non-oily nutritious breakfast, for example, having oats. It's quick and easy to prepare, so you can't complain about not having the time to prepare breakfast. Here are some of the benefits of oats:

- Oats contain soluble fibre called beta glucan, which is known to help in reducing cholesterol by the blocking of re-absorption of cholesterol when it passes through the digestive system. Regularly having oats lowers the cholesterol levels in the body.

- Oats contains low levels of sodium. This reduces the risk of contracting high blood pressure and hypertension.

- The soluble fibre present in oats tends to slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, thereby reducing the spikes in the blood sugar levels, which in turn do not lead to unwanted urges to eat.

- Eating oats leaves one much fuller, therefore you tend to eat less. This is especially good for those trying to lose weight.

- Oats contains very less amount of fat and lesser calories. This makes it good for overall health.

- Being a good source of natural dietary fibre, oats are beneficial in curbing the problem of constipation.

- Oats are also known to contain compounds called phytochemicals that can reduce one's risk of cancer.

How to stay healthy in summer

Summer means fun and frolic but people sometimes forget that the scorching summer sun is not as kind on their skin as the winter rays are. The intense summer heat not only affects our body, but the skin too. These problems are further compounded by dehydration, leading to electrolyte imbalance due to excessive sweating. This also 'tells' on your skin harshly.

In such a scenario, no family would like to have holidays blighted by summer scorchers such as sunburn, sunstroke, dehydration or a slew of fungal infections that make hay while the sun shines. It's imperative to be aware of the dos and don'ts to sidestep all these problems. The best way to avoid dehydration is by drinking plenty of water and other liquids, such as tender coconut water and lassi (buttermilk).

Dr Mukesh Batra says, "The other problem endemic in India's hot and humid climate is excessive sweating. This often leads to prickly heat, which is marked by tiny blisters - especially in the folds of the skin and in areas of tight clothing. In such cases, homeopathic remedies can be particularly helpful, since they don't add to the body heat and are a non-toxic way of healing the body. To relieve prickly heat rash, take 4-5 pellets of Natrum Sulphuricum 6X, twice daily. To tackle fungal infections, so commonplace in summer, take the homeopathic Chrysarobic Acid 6C, 4-5 pills, twice daily."

The other tips he says we need to remember are:

Avoid fried food: Eating excessive fat or fried food leads to lethargy, as it slows down the digestive process. It also affects the skin, making it look unhealthy.

Reduce tea and coffee intake: Being a diuretic, too much tea and coffee can cause increased urination; this leads to water loss and dryness of skin.

Don't overeat: Eat light to feel light and healthy.

Avoid cigarettes and alcohol: Smoking and drinking, including consumption of carbonated or fizzy drinks, desiccate, or parch, your skin. Avoid.

Skip tight-fitting clothes: Tight, skin-fit clothes hamper circulation, increase sweating and cause discomfort. Loose-fitting, light-coloured clothes will keep you cool all day.

Maintain good hygiene: Bathe twice daily during summers to get rid of sweat and body odour. Use prickly heat talc.

Avoid sun exposure: Between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, it's best to stay out of the sun, since its ultraviolet rays are at their peak. Use a sunscreen lotion with SPF (sun protection factor) of 15-30 on exposed skin, half-an-hour before you step out; reapply every 4-6 hours.

"For people particularly prone to heat rash, it's best to take preventive measures during summer. Alter your lifestyle during summers and avoid tanning your skin. Those whose work duties entail travelling long distances may not be able to avoid the sun, heat, humidity and pollution. Heat rash or boils could then plague their bodies. This can be brought under control by using a home-made paste of one tsp sandalwood powder, along with a little camphor and some buttermilk. A few minutes before bath, apply this preparation, preferably using cold water. The heat rash will disappear quickly," says Dr Batra.

He adds, "Alternately, use another time-tested recipe. To some nutmeg and rosewater, add equal parts of pea flower, sandalwood and coriander powders. Dab this paste on the affected areas, or the entire body, if required. After sometime, simply rinse with cold water. Your body will now feel fresh and refreshed."