Step Aerobics - My abs workout !

Hi !!

I am back again ! Wanted to share this amazing circuit training workout I have started doing at my gym. I am absolutely loving it and now I actually look forward to my abs workout sessions every evening.

All thanks to the wonderful trainer I have got after such a long time. She takes care that I do every step properly.

Its a great fat/calorie burner session and I have already started seeing the results :) ( Touchwood !)

I am making a note of all the steps here.

Basically it consists of the traditional step aerobics  moves interwined with floor/mat exercises without any break which actually makes for a great combo.  

 I wrap it up with Bhujangasana ( 20 counts) and 5 mins Shavasana.

After I complete my daily 30 mins cardio routine which consists of the treadmill, elliptical and the cycle of 10 mins each, the trainer changes the music track of the stereo system and puts on loud, fast, fast toe tapping music and then starts the amazing workout session.

And here how it goes:

1 (a) . Alternating Basic  ( on the step - Do this 20 times for both Left and Right foot.)

- Begin with one foot leading then tap with the opposite foot and step with that foot.

Example: Step with the R foot leading followed by stepping up with the L foot. Step down with the R foot first followed by the L foot tapping and then stepping up.

1(b)  ( On the mat  - 20 times)

Normal Crunches

2 (a)  V- Step ( on the step - Do this 20 times for both Left and Right foot.)

- can be done with the R or L foot leading. Take the feet wide on the step and then close together on the floor.

Example: R foot steps wide, then the L foot steps wide. R steps down on the floor near the middle of the step, then the L steps down.

2(b)   ( On the mat - 20 times)

45 degree crunches

3(a) Knee Lift (on the step - Do this 20 times for both Left and Right foot.)

Step with one foot and lift the opposite knee. (Can be done with the right or left leg leading)
Example: Step with the R foot and lift the L knee.

3(b)  (On the mat - 20 times)

Vertical leg crunches.

4(a) Hamstring curl  (on the step - Do this 20 times for both Left and Right foot.)

Step with one foot and bring the opposite heel toward your rear until there is tension in the hamstring muscle.

Example: Step with the R foot and bring the L heel toward your rear.

4(b) (On the mat - 20 times)

 Fast Bicycling

5(a) Kicks  (on the step - Do this 20 times for both Left and Right foot.)

Step with one foot and kick the opposite leg. (Can be done with the right or left leg leading)

Example: Step with the R foot and kick the L leg.

5(b)  (On the mat - 20 times)

Slow cycling ( make sure the legs are parallel to the floor and keep their level low. This way it exercises the lower abdomen muscles to the fullest)

6(a) Side Lifts  (on the step - Do this 20 times for both Left and Right foot.)

Step with one foot and lift the opposite leg to the side. This move can be done with the right or left leg leading.

Example: Step with the R foot and lift the L leg to the side

6(b) (On the mat - 20 times)

(Side Leg raises - Both straight and at an angle)

7( a)  Back Kick or Superman or Hip Lift or Glute Lift

 Step with one foot and lift the opposite leg back. (This is a small movement that works the glutes. The abdominals should remain tight so the lower back isn't stressed. Once the leg is lifted, try to squeeze the glutes before lowering the leg). This move can be done with the right or left leg leading.

Example: Step with the R foot and lift the L leg back.

7( b)  ( On the mat - 20 times)

Do long arm crunch but bring the arms forward and lift ur body from the floor and touch near your feet, go back and lie down again with arms outstreched as before - I enjoy this one a lot )

At the end of this all, I am huffing and puffing but truly enjoy it nevertheless.

Happy gymming :)

Bye for now, would be back again with another post soon !

Till then , Sayonara !

 

The picturesque Pune University Campus

My earliest memories of going to the University of Pune are the cherished visits to the Gol canteen inside the campus which has that trademark entrance always decorated with  beautiful yellow flowers and pumpkins ! Yes Pumpkins. I was amazed to see this rather unique way of decoration for the first time but then later got used to it. It feels great to see the entrance lit by a huge brass diya ( called samai) the base of which is strewn with flowers and pumpkins. The sweet smell of the burning incense sticks wafts in the air.

Particularly in the monsoons, it feels awsome to eat those oil and potato loaded breadpakoras with a cup of hot milky tea sitting on one of the narrow wooden benches in the cozy sit out area. I had never eaten such authentic tasting bread pakoras anywhere since I left Delhi.

Apart from this what I remember the most are the long walks in the evening inside the campus. Its really an green oasis in the city of pune which fast turning into a concrete jungle just like so many other cities.



I truly cherish the early morning walks in the huge well maintained garden of the main building. I used to walk bare foot on the dew drop covered green grass. I still remember the scene before me when I went to that garden climbing up a flight of wide stone steps for the very first time in early morning on a cold winter day. 

The Main building garden

Beautiful large cup shaped orange flowers were fallen on the green grass and everything was lit up by the tender morning rays of the sun. I later found out that the tree bearing those beautiful flowers is commonly known as the Fountain Tree, African Tulip Tree or Flame-of-the-forest.

The African tulip I clicked in the main Building garden

We saw another striking variety of a tree which bore large round fruits looking like  'Cannon balls'  !  I later found out that its called the Cannon Ball tree.

These trees are grown extensively in Shiva temples in India. In Hindi it is called Shiv Kamal and also known as "Kailaspati". It is native to the tropical northern South America and to the southern Caribbean.

The Cannon Ball tree

After the walk, we sat on the stone benches admiring the wonderful gothic architecture of the grand building which had been recently renovated. It was fascinating to observe heads of animals carved out in stone near the top of the roof. Upon some research I found out that it was James Trubshawe who made the design for the Gothic structure. It was the residence of Sir Bartle Frere, the then governor of Bombay.

We saw one girl sitting on the bench and engrossed in drawing some exquisite pencil sketches. I couldnt control my curiosity and went up to her and enquired about the sketches. I learnt that she was an Arts student and frequently visited the University campus to capture the architectural beauty of the buildings and the surrounding greens onto her canvas. And I must say, she was very good at her attempt of doing so.

I loved the sunlight beaming through the paper like petals of the Bougainvellia

Another memorable event which I always cherish is the Photography tour to the Univeristy campus. I really enjoyed clicking pictures of a wide variety of flowers and the old colonial structures so painstakenly preserved. We started with the University's nursery and went up all the way to the far end to capture the dark and lustureous greens of the thick forest surrounding the area.

 It was a fun filled and interactive tour and in the end I was truly glad to have participated in it. It was wonderful to explore the picturesque beauty of the University campus through my camera lens !

Tender sun rays in the morning

And then finally as luck would have it, I was selected to be a part of the an integrated Mtech Phd program started by the University of pune. So my visits to the University became far more frequent and I truly enjoyed those.

Once inside the campus, the sense of serenity is overwhelming. I particularly remember reaching my department in the cold winter mornings to attend the 7 am lectures. There used to be quite a nip in the air and I used to like its freshness.

I remember the tall trees opposite our department building swaying gently in the breeze,the morning light getting filtered through the slender yellow brown leaves, the peacefulness of the surroundings, it used to feel so ethereal, so enchanting.

My department is situated at the farthest end of the campus and it used to take me quite a while to reach there, guiding the autorickwallah to the correct destination. I must admit here that the University campus being so huge, it can be quite a task for a person not familiar with the area to reach the desired destination.

After the lectures, it had become a ritual to frequent the 'Adarsh canteen' adjoining the department building. We used to take the short cut through the overgrown bushes and shrubs to reach the canteen. The tea and the piping hot Corn pattices were the hot favourite. The canteen man used to put a generous amount of lemon grass ( gavati chaha) and milk in the tea which used to make its taste similar to the home made version.

I truly like the neat and clean and such green surroundings of the campus.The tranquility which pervades in the campus fills one's  mind with so much peace. Its like entering into another world , so green, so beautiful.

 I sincerely hope that my love affair with the University campus continues forever and more and more such memories get added to my cherished collection!

Amen!

Meenal.

"Aaj jeene ki tamanna hai"

                   

            

     

As I sat switching channels on the TV one Sunday morning, I came across an interesting show on “TIMES NOW” on the great directors of our hindi film industry and the show was dedicated to Vijay anand showcasing the super hit movie 'GUIDE' made in 1965. The song which was being discussed was "aaj jeene ki tamanna hai, aaj marne ka irada hai" sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

I was instantly taken in by the music, the pitch, the words of the song which exudes a veritable sense of pure joy and bliss experienced by the young lady 'Rosie' played by waheeda  rehman who is simply overjoyed on having rediscovered herself through her passion  for dancing, on having found true love for the first time in her life. A love she got from  ‘Raju’ played by the charismatic Dev anand who is shown as a humble guide , guiding tourists to historic sites. 

The song epitomizes liberation.   Its been rightly said that the song symbolizes freedom. Freedom for ‘Rosie’ (Waheeda rehman)  who after having spent years with an oppressive and demeaning archaeologist husband, has finally found freedom and true love. Her joy is boundless and she now doesn’t care for anyone but Raju .  She has found in him a real admirer of her talent of dancing and loves him back equally.

 It’s a delight to watch Waheeda clad in a light blue colour saree lying atop a hay stacked truck throwing straw twigs over her face, mindlessly handing over a 1000 rs note to the camel owner, sitting astride a camel swinging a tree branch in one hand, dancing dangerously on a ledge and singing with carefree abandon.

One of the line in the song goes like this : “Kal ke andhero se nikal ke, dekha hai aankhe malte malte phool hi phool jindagi bahar hai, taya kar liya aaj phir jeene tamanna hai, aaj phir marne ka irada hai” which literally means “ Rubbing my eyes,as I step from the darkness of my past into the present, I can see only flowers, life has suddenly become very beautiful, I have regained the inspiration to live again”. How very beautiful , how very true.

Apart from the amazing direction and excellent music one cannot help but admire the womanly grace of waheeda rehman.

I  came across an interesting comment on the utube which said that Amitabh Bachchan once had said “If I were to be reborn as a woman, I would like to be born as Waheeda rehman . She is full of grace and beauty” I couldn’t agree with this more.

In the song “kahin pe nigahein kahin pe nishana” of the film CID, I think of her earliest films, one gets immensely impressed by her simple but elegant movements and a face that exuded charm, innocence and freshness.

I have put the picture of sunflowers on the top as sunflowers symbolize happiness and joy.

There are so many beautiful gems of songs which the Hindi film industry has given us. Sometimes it really helps to take pause from our hectic schedules, dig into the past and relish their beauty all over again. I rediscovered one such gem on that lazy sunday morning flipping mindlessly through the channels !



Lots of love,

Meenal.

" Aati kya Velvett Country resort ? "

                                        

A beautiful lotus blooming in a pool at the resort !

Ivy covered walls of the cottages,a leisurely walk on long winding pathways, lush green lawns to lie on and stare at the deep blue skies, cool climate, chirping birds, great food by the poolside, a huge terrace surrounded by enchanting  woods where one can stroll and relax and sip tea, absolute calm and tranquility and above all spending some great quality time with your loved one. Sounds too idealistic or too good to be true ?  It may sound like that but in fact one can get it all just 2 hours drive from Pune. And guess where ? In apna very own Khandala , at the Velvett Country resort.

 After doing a lot of research on where should we go, we finally decided on the “Velvett country resort” and thankfully it turned out to be a wise decision. Although it’s a little difficult to reach the resort from the main highway but once you get there, you would get charmed by the surrounding beauty and the tranquility.

We reached late in the night and were given a warm welcome. Having sent our bags to our room, we headed straight towards the poolside to have dinner. Food was great.  We were then led to our room and I instantly fell in love with it as it was large and spacious which had an equally large adjoining terrace having relaxing chairs and a tea table.

We spent one evening exploring the surroundings which led us to the beautifully maintained garden situated at a height. We treaded the steps cut out on a hill which gave it a look of a terrace garden.  On the top there was a large open space covered with lush green grass surrounded by hedges. It felt amazing to stroll on the cool grass bare footed, relax and feel the cool gentle breeze, stare at the sky, look at the clouds, watch the birds fly by, look at the gentle swaying of the large trees and all this without any crowd of people around.

The breakfast used to be very filling. I noticed the thoughtful manner in which the dining area was designed. There were comfortable wooden chairs with an off white nylon mesh at the back. It reminded me of my childhood days when we used to have such chairs. It was a ritual to call the mesh weaving man every year who would weave the mesh into the chairs with long nylon ropes/strings. One doesn’t get to see such chairs nowadays.  The dining area had large windows which made the room airy and filled it with ample sunlight.

I was struck by the dark green ivy which had almost completely covered the entire walls of the cottages. Apart from acting as a thermal shield, ivy is so effective in making the buildings awesomely green! I got  photographs of us clicked from the room service boys as we stood against the green ivy covered walls.

We played table tennis one evening.  I hadn’t played it since a long long time. It was fun. We once hit the ball so far that it landed into the swimming pool at the back. Thankfully our game didn’t stop as we had another ball to play with!

The reception area was decorated with beautiful abstract oil paintings of the Gods Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu. Upon enquiry we learnt that the paintings were made by the resort owner’s son. A large copper vessel filled with water which had marigold flowers floating on the top gave the entrance a serene and soothing effect. The staff was warm and the room service was prompt.

But what got etched into my memory were the lovely moments spent on the huge terrace having the “forest view” (their website mentions about 3 views: mountain view, forest view and garden view. We had the forest view! )sitting on the relaxing chairs sipping hot tea and admiring the various birds perched on the swaying branches of the trees. It was a perfect setting to have some relaxing conversation and to truly unwind myself. It was amazing.

We checked out of the resort after having spent 3 wonderful days.  We carried with us some really lovely and sweet memories of time spent together in such peaceful and lovely surroundings in the lap of nature.  It was truly rejuvenating to go away from the maddening crowd and chaos of the city,the daily grind of life.

For me now ,if anyone makes a mention of khandala, my mind would instantly think of Velvett country resort instead of the superhit amir khan song  “Aati kya Khandala?” !!!

lots of love ,

Meenal

My first 'Kahani'

Hi diary,

I needed a strong reason to start my blog based on my day today random thoughts. I found one today after watching  the movie “kahani” starring Vidya Balan.

The story is amazing. It is real and riveting. I was struck by its underlying  theme. The theme which is the  motivation on the basis of which the whole story unfolds. The theme is not at all uncommon but the way it strikes the viewer is touching. And that theme is ‘love’. 

It is shown in distinct two shades.  The first shade of love is the love of a woman for her husband. It is for the sake of her husband and also for the sake of her unborn child that that she takes up a challenge knowing fully well that it would certainly put her life in danger. 

And the second shade of love shown in the movie is that of the love of the police inspector for Vidya. Well, “love” is not the right word here to describe his feelings for her. I would say they are tender feelings, mixed with sympathy, respect and also somewhere a sense of awe for her. Looking at her helpless state, it is not difficult to feel an intense feeling of sympathy and the urge to help Vidya. I think any unemotional man’s heart would melt looking at a heavily pregnant woman lugging at her luggage, lost in an unknown city, nowhere to go, no one to help, having no clue where to look for her lost husband. Yes, the script is mind blowing, as it has been rightly said in the reviews, it is a plot within a plot and the fast paced story keeps everyone on tenterhooks.

Another thing which was truly impressing is the way the city of Calcutta is portrayed. I would like to quote one review in a newspaper which said, “Kahaani has only one main lead which is Vidya Balan and she is accompanied by the City Of Calcutta casted as her supporting actor” yes its true, Calcutta is shown in its true colour and spirit. And needless to say, the true spirit of a city comes out during its festivals as in this case it is the Durga Puja which is shown in the backdrop. 

It is refreshingly different to watch the goddess Kali Ma’s procession and the festivities and the celebrations surrounding it as compared to the Ganesh chaturthi and Visarjan  very often shown in Hindi movies. Well nothing against it, but it is simply good to see something different.

The cinematography is awesome, the last shot which shows the  beautiful face of the Goddess slowly getting submerged in water with the flowers floating on the silent water, white saree with deep red border clad ladies taking part in the procession , the dance, the chanting, the commotion, the milling crowd, the rigour and the intense  feelings of devotion are so beautifully captured. 

The hand pulled rickshaws, the stalls selling hot puris and tea, the everyday life of so many homeless people, the dingy and seedy by lanes, the trams, the rush hour commute in the metro trains, the scenes of the painters and sculptors in the process of making the statues, their skill at painting some mind blowing pieces of art, small children working as minions, helpers, the sweet and innocent expressions of joy on their faces, the scene where the small boy who works for the ‘0-star’ hotel runs up the staircase, fetching an aluminum kettle full of hot water for vidya, the sweet camaraderie which develops between Vidya and that little boy and many more such things.  I would say it’s the work of a real gifted director to have screened such beautiful shots letting us peep into and also look at the lives of these people because of whom the heart of the city actually throbs, who actually infuse life into the city. 

As for Vidya, well any number of words of praise is not enough for her. She has delivered a sterling performance. She is capable of expressing a myriad of emotions through her intensely expressive face in particular, her eyes.  She portrays sheer grit and determinism and a sense of vulnerability with an equal ease. Clad in a sari as shown in the last part of the movie, she epitomizes the grace and beauty of a woman.  With a red bindi on her forehead and her cheeks smeared with vermillion as is a tradition observed by the married Bengali ladies on the last day of the puja (I think it is called shendur khela, I am not sure) she looks strikingly beautiful and vibrant, looking every inch a perfect Indian lady, a parineeta, in a true sense.

I read in one of her interviews in which she said she loves to wear saris as wearing them gives her an opportunity to celebrate her womanhood. How true.

I would also like to make a mention of “Rana” the police inspector here. He has beautifully acted so as to show his feelings for Vidya in a subtle way. I loved the scene when he presents her with a sari with red border for her on the last day of the puja and asks her to wear it as that was the day they both hoped that they would find her husband. He says to her “please wear it as the day you finally find your husband will be an auspicious day for you”. He also brings the receipt of the sari for her to keep and tells to ask her husband to pay him back so that it would be like Arnab (vidya’s husband) has gifted the sari to her. Such a thoughtful and touching gesture shown on his part.

His expressions, his body language, his soft spoken Bengali accented words all convey his feelings for her very well. I found him a very endearing character full of empathy.  

So in all, it’s a delight watch such a movie which comes in a long time. It apart from its paisa vasool factor haunts you for its powerful and engaging storyline, hard hitting performances and breathtaking direction and cinematography.  It’s a must watch, yes definitely.  So don’t think twice, just grab the tickets and go to watch the brilliant movie “Kahaani”.

Bye bye, see u soon..  

Meenal