In the world of fashion, where flamboyance and opulence often take center stage, a new trend has quietly emerged, captivating the attention of celebrities, billionaires, and fashion enthusiasts alike. Known as “Quiet Luxury,” this viral and ultra-expensive fashion trend is causing waves in the industry, challenging the conventional notions of wealth display and style.

While many high-end luxury brands are known for their ostentatious and eye-catching designs, ‘Quiet Luxury’ takes a different approach. It revolves around the concept of dressing in understated, label-less clothing that exudes an aura of sophistication and exclusivity, despite its seemingly ordinary appearance. This trend has gained significant traction over the past few months, with influential figures embracing its allure.

So, what exactly is ‘Quiet Luxury’? At its core, it is a form of subtle wealth display, where the wealthiest individuals meticulously curate their attire with understated tones, simple cuts, and an absence of prominent logos. These seemingly unassuming garments, however, come with exorbitant price tags, often costing a small fortune.

One notable incident that brought ‘Quiet Luxury’ into the spotlight was Gwyneth Paltrow’s appearance in court, clad in an impeccably tailored but discreet pantsuit. This choice perfectly exemplified the essence of ‘Quiet Luxury,’ showcasing the ability to convey elegance and affluence without resorting to overt displays of wealth.

The appeal of ‘Quiet Luxury’ lies in its ability to provide billionaires with a paradoxical blend of ordinariness and exclusivity. By adorning themselves in seemingly commonplace clothing, these individuals are able to blend in with the masses while exuding an air of refinement and extravagance. The garments they choose may appear unassuming to the untrained eye, but their true worth is hidden in the finest craftsmanship, luxurious materials, and meticulous attention to detail.

One prime example of this trend can be found in the wardrobe of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, often seen sporting plain white or grey t-shirts that carry a hefty price tag. Such minimalistic pieces become the epitome of ‘Quiet Luxury,’ encapsulating the allure of hidden opulence within simplicity.

While ‘Quiet Luxury’ is not an entirely novel concept, its popularity has surged in recent times. The trend offers a safe and non-risky approach to fashion, favoring monochrome palettes, classic cuts, and timeless styles that are unlikely to fade away. This makes ‘Quiet Luxury’ an attractive option for those who seek to present themselves as both presentable and affluent, while also ensuring their fashion choices remain perpetually relevant.

In an era where ostentatious displays of wealth often dominate the fashion landscape, ‘Quiet Luxury’ stands as a captivating alternative, enticing the ultra-rich with its subtle allure. By embracing this trend, billionaires and celebrities alike have found a way to project their affluence with grace and sophistication, making a powerful statement without uttering a word.

As the influence of ‘Quiet Luxury’ continues to grow, we can only speculate on how this trend will shape the fashion industry in the coming years. Perhaps it will inspire a broader shift towards understated elegance and timeless style, encouraging individuals to redefine what it truly means to be fashionably wealthy.

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1. TIME, ALWAYS.

Wake up and stay motivated.

It’s a fact that most people struggle to cope up with the motivation they had at the start of a process. Here is a tip to tame your droopiness and get started each day afresh: Make a note to yourself that the very next day is a day utilized in its very best. Picture yourself in mind, healthy, happy and stay focused. Go to sleep with this determination and as soon as you wake up, let the perception of a productive day capture you and do its duty.

2. BE PREPARED

You don’t have to spend a perfect morning searching for the right tracksuit or shoes and get exhausted way before the morning walk. Keep everything on track and organized. So that all you need in the morning is to get started. Because your companions are ready ahead of you waiting for you to get started. What else you need for motivation.!

3. MANAGE YOUR SLEEP

Make sure you get enough sleep each night. Sleep is as important as any other health routine. When you have a morning walk planned, sleep accordingly that your sleeping time doesn’t get spared.

Besides, you don’t want to feel all sleepy and grumpy during a pleasant morning walk. It is something that kills motivation.  

4. GET A SNACK

You don’t have to feel starved amidst your morning walk. Get a snack before you start. Make it light and enjoyable. Something like a banana or a protein shake would be a great choice; light and healthy.

Get it prepared by the night and keep it somewhere easily grabbable. don’t waste your very morning searching and preparing the right food.

5. PLAN THE ROUTES

Get the routes planned before you set off. The distance, destinations and the sensory factors of a place influence your morning walk. Make a plan on where to start, and what way to go and the distance you are about to walk.

Planning this on the night will be helpful for a relaxed morning.

6. GET A COMPANION

Every human being is different and so is the companion they choose for a walk. Some might like to take music along with them, while some of them find companions on their way; this might be a random bird singing or a stranger they meet on their way. Others might have friends or neighbors they are comfortable with.

Get a companion, and enjoy your walk. The ultimate aim is to not get bored and stay motivated.

7. SEEK HELP

If you find yourself difficult to stay self-motivated, seek help. Join a health club and find friends with the same goals. Let them motivate you and keep them motivated. Make plans together and make things happen.

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Text Credits: Raveena Nair

We have to admit the fact that majority of us are choosing a life where all the activities are done by our finger tips on devices. And this results in more and more laziness in the name of making lives easier. Take a moment to think, when was the last time you played a sport? Virat Kohli and PUMA India are prodding the nation with the same question.

Virat, the Indian cricket team captain and PUMA India commissioned a pan-India study along with market research agency Kantar IMRB, which carried out a study on the current state of physical activity and sports adoption in the country. The study, covering 3,924 respondents between the age of 18 to 40 years including both women and men. The study was spread across 18 cities which were Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Cochin, Ghaziabad, Goa, Gurugram, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Patna, Raipur, and Surat. The results from this study are appalling!

Image Source: thebetterindia.com

According to the research, one-third of the total population has not indulged in any physical activity even once in the last one year.  57 percent respondents said that they have not played any sport during the last one year. The most common excuse given by the respondents were the lack of time. However, the research added that the same respondents also spent around four to five hours on social media, watching TV, personal phone conversations and usage of various messaging platforms on a working day.

Surprisingly, the average number of working hours for those who don’t play, which is around 4.8 hours, found to be lesser than those who play after average working hours of 5.4 hours.

While out of the respondents, between the age of 18 to 21, 70 percent of them had played a sport at least once in the last one year, the figure dropped substantially for the respondents between the age of 36 to 40 years with just 26 percent of them having played a sport in the last year.

Source: forevernews.in

From our school days, we are taught of the importance of playing and how it keeps us both physically and mentally fit. Playing releases the happy hormone endorphin which keeps us happy and helps in reducing stress. That’s not all, a balance of work and play is important to perform well in work space and helps you maintain better interpersonal relationships.  But the results clearly show that we have forgotten the lessons and chosen a slothful lifestyle.

Now a constant effort is seen from several agencies to push the Indian population into following a much more active lifestyle through various challenges. A few weeks back we saw the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore  launch his fitness challenge campaign #HumFitTohIndiaFit to encourage Indians to follow fitter lifestyle. Virat Kohli and PUMA India are also encouraging India to #ComeOutAndPlay. It’s time we use this hashtag in real life and take a step towards leading a healthier lifestyle.

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2018 is going to be a year of unique Fashion and Beauty trends. With a lot of new fashion coming up in 2018, we will be renewing the old fashion too.

Earrings

2018 is going to be the year of oversized earrings and it will be bigger and better.

Oversized hoops and metallic earings are going to be the next big thing in 2018

Embroidered footwear

Shoes embroidered with pearls or beads make it look striking and subtle at the same time.

Old school Denim is back

Say hi to your old loose denim. They are in back in style with much better looks.

Hairstyle

Once you go bob you never go back! Cut that hair short and make it funky by adding some UltraViolet color to it.

Lip color for 2018

Paint those lips tint. Tint color suits any skin color. It brings out the elegance in you.

Large layers

Oversized, large and flowy layers are going to be the new trend for 2018. You can wear them with anything- be it your skinny jeans, shorts or a casual dress.

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Words by: Charlotte Guttenberg    Images: Various sources

When did you get your first tattoo, how old were you? Why did you start getting tattoos?

Chuck Helmke: Got my first tattoos (three in one day) when I was an 18-year-old enlisted in the U.S. Army. I went with some of my buddies and we all got the same tattoos.
Charlotte Guttenberg: I got my first tattoo when I was 57 years old. I always wanted tattoos. When the time was right, it happened.

How many tattoos do you have?

We both have full-body suits: our whole bodies including our heads, are covered.

Which is your favourite tattoo and why?

Chuck Helmke: My favorite has to be the memorial tattoo to my deceased wife. It includes her name and her two favorite stuffed toys that traveled numerous times to Japan with us, as well as to other places. It has her ashes tattooed into it.
Charlotte Guttenberg: My favorite has to be my first: A colorful butterfly on a peony. It is special to me because it was the start of my tattoo journey.

Do you have any matching tattoos?

We have no matching tattoos.

What do you love so much about body ink?

We both love this ancient art form – both the history and the artistry of it.

Why have you got so many?

Because we can! There is no limit on the amount anyone can have, it is only limited by your own desire—have one or a body full. It is up to the individual. We both have body suits that are Oriental and Spiritual in theme, although they are very different. Our tattoos tell the story we each want to tell. It seems we both have a lot to say!

Where did you first meet and how long have you been together?

We met at the tattoo studio in November of 2006. Chuck, whose wife had died the previous month, came in to say hello to his friends there and at the request of the artist, talked to Charlotte while she was being tattooed. The session was a long one and she was feeling uncomfortable. It was the beginning of their friendship/romance. They have been together since 2007.

Do people look at you?

They do look at us. We enjoy sharing our artwork with others.

What are people’s responses to you, have people ever been mean or rude?

Most of the responses are positive. We realize tattooing is not for everyone. We never attempt to force our ideas onto anyone or even encourage people to be tattooed if they are not interested in it. It is a personal decision to do so. There has been some rudeness and offensive comments made – mostly on social media – but we both consider that says more about that individual than it does us. Many people are religiously and culturally opposed to tattoos, as we said, we don’t try to force our artwork on anyone. If you want to look at it, please do. If not, don’t. For us, no other response is necessary.

How do you feel about both being the most tattooed man and woman in the world and having ended up together? Did you know this before you met?

Our actual titles are: Most Tattooed Senior Citizen, Male and Most Tattooed Senior Citizen, Female. It has been an honor for both of us to have these titles from Guinness World Records. We have enjoyed meeting, in person and on social media, the many people who have contacted us and admired or inquired about our artwork. As we stated above, we love sharing our artwork with others as much as we love talking to people and learning about them. It gives us the opportunity to interact with people that we wouldn’t have otherwise met. One of the things we both have noted is that many young people come up to us in public, and strike up conversations with us. Ordinarily, they probably would not consider talking to people in our age bracket. We think our tattoos make us more approachable – they realize we are just like them despite our ages.

When Charlotte was asked about having any regrets, she said “I don’t regret any of my tattoos, although I have a few cover-ups because the original tattoo didn’t fit into my theme — Japanese mythology, Shintoism that is very similar to Native American religion, and my love of all things winged, flowers and plants. I eagerly awaited the day it would be possible for me to get my first tattoo. Tattooing is such a personal thing, you should be certain you are choosing art you really love, choose an artist you trust, then be bold. Don’t be afraid to go on after you make the decision to do it. I won’t lie to you, there is a certain amount of pain involved but it is bearable.”

Chuck Helmke is originally from San Antonio, Texas, USA, but a longtime resident of Florida, They presently reside in Melbourne, Florida. In a month, Chuck will be 76 years-old. A retired self-defense trainer, he is still active in the training world. Charlotte Guttenberg is a fifth-generation Floridian, who resides in Melbourne, Florida. She is 68 years-old and retired. She now writes full-time, both fiction and non-fiction.

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Words by Ronnie Kuriakose    Photograph from Noah Silliman

Before the faint tinges of discomfort would settle in, before the first words of reassurance, that everything is going to be okay, would ring true, most people, with a point to prove, are often seen packing their bags, if not already reaching for the door. Not walking away, only leaving. The road offers to those who seek it, an adventure in all its dreamy poise. It always has. For one of conservative habits, it offers the freeing of self from labor and through it, a sense of control, and often the prospects of finding a partner of comparable modern tastes. For the inspired, the dilemma of choice and vestiges of power, only to bask in solitude.

While the journey makes a man of the boy, it is the destination that gets to decide if he wears a suit. I took to the road shortly after I realized that where I was, was the edge of the world. Lugging a suitcase twice my weight and pretending to be more threatening than the few Marathi cohorts that shared my train compartment, I travelled north. The journey was anything but unordinary. Soon, I had a job I loved, a sense of control, some vestiges of power, occasional skirmishes with feminists, and most importantly, a sense of belonging I found myself strangely unaccustomed to. It could have been enough; it should have been. Everything was going to be okay, but just okay was to mean that I could no longer love it. To love it still came at the expense of feeling less. The road now forked away from under a growth and emerged into clear light. It lured me and for reasons I am only beginning to understand, I was back on the road again. Considering my then position and what had been designed for me, some would call me ungrateful, some others, delusional for having left. I thought myself to be both, and profoundly spoiled for wanting more. I knew I was not entitled to much or anything at all, but I did feel like I deserved to be in a state of perennial empowerment.

The tumult of emotions in me had neither the audience it dreamed for nor the critic it dreaded. It lived on and I dwelled in it – swaying bellicosely between a desire to stay and a lust to leave. I searched frantically for things to fill my hours in hope that being busy would in time equal being happy – to that extent, I volunteered for obscure causes, took courses online, improved my math and logic skills, built a card game, participated in coffee-brewing lessons and wine-appreciation classes, worked on a film project, started coding digital platforms, reviewed punk-rock music, and walked eight kms every day for a year. I was ferocious, driven by an insatiable thirst hinging madness, howling for progress, for change. Then, there were other days, where, if I made it out of the bed and to work and back, I would call it a victory. They left me in despair and with each passing day, became unable to bear.

The road, the journey, the destination – none of it offered what I really wanted and I was unsure if I was allowed to have what it was that I wanted. I was chasing the ever elusive c-word:Contentment. There is no need for grief. Nobody needs to know. There is no air of crisis. If anything, only furtive glances at strangers – future partners of comparable modern tastes, futile attempts at claiming some more vestiges of power, inward sighs and long walks to nowhere. The crisis, though, is real – you will find hints of it in the trenches of modern civility, in suicide statistics and drug-abuse cases, in social obsolescence, and in the not-giving-a-fucks. My road forked back. I returned home for the same reasons I left it: I have found some things to be true here, but nowhere else. I sit now at the edge of the world, sipping weak tea, under a leaden sky, contemplating surging waves and retreating certainties. I am far from content, but knowing that it won’t rain today will suffice for now. I got my light blue suit on.

Ronnie Kuriakose is a freelance publicist and brand strategist. He can be reached at kxronne@hotmail.com

Digital version : https://goo.gl/HGTOLN

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Words by Varun Kannan   Images by Jinson Abraham

Quality is what everyone strives for; quality in all of our endeavors, quality in our many transactions, quality in our relationships, quality in life itself. More often than not, the boundary between mediocrity and true greatness is marked by a thick line of quality, especially so in the world of consumerism. Iconic brands have all sprung from the bedrock of superior quality, be it product or service.

Well, then the question would be how does one define quality. The answer in all likelihood would be another question: in what context? Let us say, to an automobile owner, what would quality mean?

Would it solely be the best of premium products and accessories to choose from, a trusted bunch of technicians or a great service experience? If you are a seasoned auto-enthusiast, your answer would undoubtedly be- the union of the three; the best of products, shrewd technical competency and exemplary service. A place that can deliver all the three would be your ideal place.

Thinking- Customer

Exactly what Noufal Ahammed, the founder and CEO of Autotree tells me during our conversation. A keen autoenthusiast, Noufal says he was ever on a look out for a place that could give you the confluence of the three. Fortunately for us, he never found one, which is exactly why he set out to build one- Autotree. “ Autotree came from my perspective as a customer. It came as a solution to the problems that I had to face and the services that I sought as a truly passionate automobile person.” Autotree is all that he claims it is and more, and truly fits its branding as India’s first auto lifestyle store.

First things first, what is Auto lifestyle? The best way to know would be to find out for yourself and pay a visit to Autotree, like I did. The concept of a conventional accessory store in your minds is taken for a toss as one visits Autotree. The sight of the centre piece, a pack of menacing looking machines by Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, steals the thunder. You turn right and you spot that 24 carat gold plated alloy which you have only read about. Inviting your attention is merchandise from the biggest names in the automobile industry, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche. And what’s more, the chaos and haphazardness of your regular accessory store is conspicuous in its absence. Autotree feels more like a museum of modern engineering than an accessory store and you are also treated like connoisseurs, not customers.

Innovation, Not Tradition

“ We have branded merchandise from the biggest brands in auto that includes watches, shades, pen drives and so on; bikes from brands like Porsche and Mercedes Benz; and also scaled models of the mean machines that rule the auto world. The three segments have never been part of a conventional accessory store and we are venturing out into unchartered territory here. ” Noufal tells me. So how have the customers warmed up to the all-new idea of an Auto Lifestyle store? “ The response has been overwhelming” Noufal assures me, “ Consumers are generally unaware of the vast options that are available in the market. So, they are absolutely delighted to find new things and are also thankful to us for enlightening them.”

If you are liking the picture of an auto lifestyle that is unveiling, wait till you here that Autotree also has a fully equipped 13- base garage which can handle all type of car jobs right from wheel alignment to performance enhancement. The biggest perk here being, the messiness of a regular garage is given a miss. You could just cosy up in the customer lounge with a cup of coffee, sit back and watch closely the LED screen which would beam live footage of your car being worked on. The garage is well hidden behind the store and in no way tampers with the aesthetics of it. That’s another conventional picture, of a messy, inhospitable garage tossed out of the window. “Autotree does not respond any tradition” Noufal chimes in. Pretty evident, I think.

Big-Small things

The attention paid to the nuances of the customer experience amazed me. A custom-built software that allows you to see, first -hand how an alloy would look on your car; an audio experience room that you are ushered into to judge the quality of the speakers, before you actually make the purchase. ” Unlike the traditional practice of hoodwinking customers, we want to make it absolutely clear to them what they are going for before they opt for it.” To most of us who are used to being ‘sharked’ into purchases by sales executives, the Autotree experience comes in a most welcome one and even feels like too good- to be- true.

Like the proverbial icing on the cake, Autotree also allows you to pay for most of its products in instalments and is partnered by Bajaj Finserv for hassle free loans. When was the last time you heard about loans for car accessories? Never before. By the time I was told that Autotree also insures all of its products with ICICI Lombard and also give road assistance to its customers all over India, I was ready to believe that Autotree gives stuff for free. No, really. Autotree bears testimony to the fact that when you seek quality in all that you do, not many things can go wrong. Noufal is busy with his plans of expansions for Autotree. Stores in Kottayam and Calicut should open by the end of the year, he tells me. and few more would follow. On the longer haul, around 30-35 showrooms across south India is what he and his partners Thaha Shahir, Ahmed Riyaz and C M Faiz, are looking at. And we don’t see why not!

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Words by Likhitha P. Nair & Atheena Wilson       Photographs from Various Sources

Know thy enemy’ – this has stood true on a battlefield, and often in life. It applies to unexpected and calculated difficulties in certain circumstances; most prevalent in health conditions. For centuries man has had to fare a waging war against diseases. With the accidental advent of medicines, many lives were saved and health enhanced. However, when we finally found cures to several life-threatening ailments, our lifestyle and habits changed towards roads of ruin. From the food to work ,everything started to have adverse affects on our health, eating into our lives in the form of lifestyle diseases.

Sugar doesn’t get you high diabetes

Diabetes is characterised by irregularities in blood sugar level, which is brought about by the body’s incapability to process it. It is generally classified into four – Type 1, Type 2, pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes. In sync with what 78.1% of our target crowd believes, diabetes is most common in adults between 45 and 60 years of age. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1.7 million new diabetes cases, and a majority of the patients belonged to this age group. While environmental factors may expedite onset of Type 1 diabetes, genetic susceptibility plays a major role in triggering Type 2. A 20.5% of the audience believe that stress could be a factor that caused the recent increase in diabetes patients. Mental stress causes a rise in blood sugar for Type 1 diabetes patients, while physical stress – like injury or a wound could have this effect on either kind of diabetes patients, which proves this assessment true. A 60.3% on the other hand believed that modern lifestyle is the reason for an increase in diabetes.

Awareness Levels

Nearly 44 lakh Indians in their most productive years — aged 20 to 79 years — aren’t aware that they are diabetic, a disease that exposes them to heart attack, stroke, amputations, nerve damage, blindness and kidney disease. While only 20% said that they would check diabetes at home using devices, almost 55% opted clinics or hospitals to be the place of diagnosis. Collectively a 22% of our audience believed that diet and exercise is a cure for diabetes, which was negated by experts. Exercise and diet almost always only supplements insulin or non-insulin medication provided for Type 1 and two diabetes, as believed by 74% of our target crowd. Constant monitoring and regulation of blood sugar is important.While only 9% believed that blood sugar needs to be checked daily in diabetes patients, the majority (50%) believed that it only needs to be checked once a month. It’s recommended that a diabetes patient on medication must check his/her blood sugar thrice daily!

Most welcomed treatment by people

74% Medicine intake (tablets/insulin)
15% Exercise
11% Diets

Heart of the Problem – Heart Diseases

The heart is arguably the most functional organ in our bodies. Since it does most of the work, a heart is the first organ to be affected by clumsy lifestyle and food habits, and this could prove to be fatal. Except for few congenital heart diseases, most of the other ailments are related to food intake, lack of exercise, substance abuse and stress. These could include stroke, cardiac arrest, peripheral artery disease and high blood pressure.

Which heart condition often leads to heart diseases?

33% Coronary artery disease
62% Heart block
01% Enlarged heart
04% Other

Which is the most common heart disease?

18.1% Coronary artery diease
55.6% High blood pressure
19.4% Cardiac arrest
6.9% Stroke

The Cause of It

Of our samples, 55.6% believed high blood pressure to the most common type of heart disease, but this may not be true. According to the Californiabased CADI (Coronary Artery Disease among Asian Indians) Research Foundation, India has around 62 million heart patients in 2015, and most of them suffer from congestive heart failure, a condition characterised by the heart’s inability to pump blood to the body. This could happen due to the collection of fluids in the body and the onset is general between 40 to 60 years of age – as rightly pointed out by 82% of our audience. Heart diseases could cripple the body in multiple ways. But the most common symptom pointed out during the poll was chest pain and pressure by a majority of 75%. This condition – referred to as angina, causes a discomfort, heaviness, pressure, aching, burning, fullness, squeezing, or painful feeling in the chest.

Other Factors

There could be multiple causes for heart disease. The most common one, though, is a condition called ‘atherosclerosis’ – caused by the deposit of cholesterol plaque on the walls of the artery. This could lead to insufficient blood flow and hence a heart failure. Of the lot, approximately 15% believed smoking to be the most common reason. Smoking also increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which includes coronary heart disease and stroke.

Dangerous Curves Ahead – Obesity

Perhaps, the most obvious one. But there’s been a major question of perception and whether the technical indicator is known. It’s hard to judge the difference between overweight and obese but 80% were aware that the body mass index for being obese is 30 and above. Looking into the causes we got some insights from Dr Sonia Suresh (MBBS, DNB). “The main problem with urban lifestyle, in general, is the fact that we consume too much food. Four full meals a day was fine when there was enough physical work in the daily routine. But today life is heavily mechanised, which means you don’t really need to take in as much food.”

What are the accepted treatments for obesity?

4.5% Medication
94% Exercise and diet
0% Surgery
1.5% Other

With relation to Body Mass Index (BMI), which of the following considers a person to be obese?

17% BMI < 30
80% BMI > 30
03% Other

Knowing The Cause

The survey did not negate this. When asked about what causes obesity, the majority (47%) looked at the overall cause – inactive lifestyles compared to the narrowed view, improper food habits ( 44.3%), but a minority (5.7%) said that hereditary was also an important factor.

You Are What You Eat

There is much speculation on what has catapulted such drastic obesity over time. Dr Sonia explains, “ The traditional Indian diet is rich in starch. That is why limiting the quantity of intake is crucial.” In the study, 69.1% believed that fat is the major cause of obesity, while approximately 14% believed that complex carbohydrates are a cause and 13.2% believed that refined sugars are the major culprits. According to clinical trial, low–fat diets are high in carbohydrates that accelerate weight gain. And as per fat calories, they make you feel full sooner and you don’t have to eat more. But with carbohydrates, you eat more, which leads to fat storage. However, despite the cause being so confusing, the solution is quite simple – 94% agree that exercise and diet are the only ways to tackle obesity while a slim 4.5% agreed that medication is the best possible option.

The Wrong Move – Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most misunderstood diseases. Dr Alex Jacob, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, says: “Arthritis is associated with old age. There are various types of arthritis and can be divided into two main types – osteoarthritis, which is age-based and happens due to degeneration (occurs due to a birth defect or misalignment) and rheumatoid arthritis that can affect at any age.” In the survey, our samples show that women are the most affected (54.3%) which slightly mismatched with the concept that workers engaged in heavy duty are most prone to being affected (52. 9%). Though, 52.5% of the sample were convinced that rheumatoid arthritis was the most common type, only 14.5% believed that arthritis was hereditary. It was also evident that many believed arthritis is age-bound as no one believed arthritis could affect children. When asked what’s the most commonly affected joint, an overpowering majority (80%), mentioned that the knees. In tandem to such an assumption, a few factors tied in, such as climbing stairs and kneeling being the most difficult activity for those suffering arthritis.

Most common arthritis type

52% Rheumatoid arthritis
44% Osteoarthritis
04% Other

Being Active

When looked into the prevention and root cause, the survey sample had a very clear idea. As Dr Alex explains, “ Obesity and unhealthy habits can possibly lead to arthritis as well. Hence, I cannot stress enough the importance of being active.” A great percentage of the survey (35.3%) agreed that the most targeted people are office-goers. The survey showed 54.3% people saying workplace affected those suffering from arthritis and there was a fair share of reasoning that lifestyle activities contributed to it: Inactivity (48%) and inappropriate food habits (37%).When it comes to the factor of remedy, Dr Alex commented. “Keep your joint supple and moving. There is a misconception that arthritis is something that will have you house bound. But with the right medication, you can be active. Similarly, 47.7% of the sample agreed exercise is the best, while 34.3% would opt for allopathic medication and a slim 1.5% would resort to surgery.

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As a music lover, and an avid traveller, I try to experience the musical aspects of the places I visit. Recently, I took a trip to the north and north-east parts of India, aiming to explore and engage in that region’s local melodies.

Monasteries of Ladakh

Have you heard of a singing bowl? I first heard them in the beautiful landscapes of Ladakh, where the winds whisper chilled secrets and the Zanskar river flows mellifluously through the Trans-Himalayas. Nature here is soft, incessant and capable of moving anyone to tears with their sweet symphonies. When in Ladakh, walk into any one of the Gompas or a Buddhist temple, to be mesmerised by the soft, stirring hum of the ‘Singing Bowl.’ The sound resonates across a dimly-lit room and will invoke a zen-like state of mind, with the mind merging with the resonance.

The monks, deep in meditation, is levitated by the resonance that the humming creates. The music was originating from the direction of two monks, who were sitting cross-legged, with their singing bowls – softly stirring a short rod around its rim, to make it sing. Getting a singing bowl to sing is an art. You require the knack to tap it just right on the rim, and then stir the originating sound rhythmically. The reverberations ensuing from the bowl mesmerises those who hear it, nudging them into a gentle meditative state with its hum. In high contrast to the singing bowls, is the Tibetan Horn, which is used by Gompa residents as a cry for prayer to gather the monk community. The horn’s powerful sounds reverberates across the vast silence of the mountainside.

The Wangala Festival of Meghalaya

As I made my way downstairs and across the fertile plains of India and crossed the north-eastern neck to Meghalaya, I was greeted with another distinct style of music – that of reed instruments and percussion drums dolling out rhythm in waves. I was in time to witness the Wangala Festival. It is a post-harvest winter festival, denoting the end of the farming season, celebrated by the Garo tribe, also a platform where Meghalaya’s music gets a boost. This annual gathering of tribes is hosted in Asananggre, near Tura. It awakens and energises the entire region, which also imparted much of that positivity into me. The days are filled with dance, music, and traditional games in which the locals wholeheartedly take part.

Festival of Native Instruments

The Garo tribals flock towards the locality, bringing along their ching rings, serenades, buffalo horns and flutes. The festivities are a treat to watch. The village chief, called as the Nokma, performs the day’s rituals with freshly-brewed beer, cooked rice and vegetables that are offered as an appeasement to the gods. The highlight of the festival is, of course, the music. The drums and flutes can put any orchestra to shame with their precision and melody, and they kick up a fabulous mood that even the spectators pick up on. The dancers, young and old, with their colourful attire, headgear (called do’me) and effortless moves sways to the beat of the instruments.

Charm of Buffallo Horns

What particularly stands out from among the festive music is the melody of the buffalo horns. The use of these instruments date back to ancient times, and their notes is enthralling putting listeners into a musical reverie. After the serenade of the horns, a contingent of 30 dancers with 10 drums performs a mesmerising routine, earning the festival a reputation as the ‘100 Drums Festival’. It is performed on the last day, with the tribals dressed in their traditional attire. Hornbill Festival of Nagaland .The north-east is a favoured destination of mine, especially during the winter months when the states are busy with cultural festivals that pay tribute to the land. Stepping out of the Wangala Festival reminds me of the famous Hornbill Festival of Nagaland.

Tribute To The Hornbill

The annual extravaganza happens in the first week of December in Kohima, Nagaland, and I make it a point to reach there a day in advance to catch the fever of festival eve. As is evident from the name, the festival pays tribute to the hornbill, a bird that enjoys spotlight in many of the tribal folklores in Nagaland. I make it a point to never miss the arrival of the Naga tribes, announcing it with war cries and warrior drums. I can feel the pulsating drum beats in my chest, with their rhythmic movements.

Unique in Variety

Each tribe has their own unique attire, distinguished by headgears, multicoloured and ceremonial dressing – which is fascinating! They each speak of their own stories and heroic lore that have been handed down through the generations. The vibrant colours, headgear and ivory armlets all lend a sense of mysticism to the festival that cannot be found anywhere else. Ancient Naga songs pervade over the whole atmosphere, blending the past with the present, enriching the onlookers with information passed on through mouth, from one generation to another.

Faraway Melodies

The mountains and the faraway regions like Meghalaya and Nagaland have their very own music emanating from nature. These soul-stirring melodies are to be experienced firsthand, to learn and absorb, rather than having to read about it. My search for the unknown has led me to these places, gifting me with music born from centuries of culture, music that I can cherish even in the farthest corners of the world.

Words by Satish V       Photographs from Various Sources

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Bangalore, October 20, 2015: SoulTree, India’s leading and only range of Certified Natural & Organic beauty products opened a kiosk in the popular Inorbit Mall, Whitefield.  Located on the Ground Floor near the Main Entrance, the kiosk was inaugurated on October 2^nd, 2015.

This objective of this retail format is to provide shoppers with an interactive brand experience that will let them get a hands-on feel with ayurvedic beauty products that are safe & certified on one hand and also get tips on how to use them for best results. With specialists to offer expert advice, the SoulTree kiosk will educate shoppers about its products across all categories, additionally, demonstrate differentiators and how they can benefit shopper’s varied interests.

The fresh line of products featuring kin care, hair care, bath care and beauty products are available at the kiosk. Among these, the range of colour rich lipsticks is the latest launch of natural goodness. The kiosk is also gearing up to play hosts to a variety of unique attractions which are sure to blow the customers’ minds away!

Mr. Vishal Bhandhari, Founder- SoulTree, shares, “Our Kiosk is a key part of our retail strategy.  Designed to deliver a brand experience, the kiosk will focus on educating consumers about the benefits of using organically manufactured range of products and how it can enhance their daily lives.” He further added “By providing an accessible and engaging environment in a high-traffic location, we expect shoppers to become more educated about our unique lifestyle beauty & personal care products.”

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