Detox baths (Home Spa)– My healing secrets revealed! – PART 3

SEAWEED BATH – Detoxifying, Anti-cellulite and Anti-ageing

Soak Time: 20- 40min (once a week)

Cost: $1.50 for 100gm pack
My Rating :  ★★★★★

Seaweed bath 

Seaweed bath an excellent way to take in iodine therapy. A hot seaweed bath is like a wet steam sauna only better! The rejuvenating effects of eliminating toxins from the body can refresh us physically and mentally. Seaweed treatments are associated with body toning, slimming and the release of toxins.

I have been using seaweeds since last year when I first discovered that they were edible! I eat them, I bathe in them, I make facial masks with them, I love them! I must have been a mermaid in my last life!!

Seaweed helps in toning up body muscle and speeding up the metabolism. They improve circulation and eject the toxins out of the body. Seaweed therapy also aids in providing relief from skin conditions such as dry skin, itchiness, flaky skin etc.

How it works?

Dried Seaweed

As you soak, the gel from the seaweed will transfer onto your skin. This coating increases perspiration to release toxins from your system and replaces them with minerals. It also helps to rejuvenate your skin, de-stress, stimulate and help weight loss, reduce the appearance of cellulite and relax the whole body and mind.

How to take a seaweed bath

You can buy seaweed at any supermarket. Its cheap and readily available. Run very hot water over the  half a packet(50gm) seaweed in the tub. When the dried seaweed starts absorbing water it fils the tub it to the point that you will be covered with the slimy stuff when you recline. 

The leaves will turn green and the water will turn a rich brown as the plants release their minerals.. I usually like the water to be hot enough to soak in it.  This coating increases perspiration to release toxins from your system and replaces them with minerals. ( You can also throw in the seaweed into a big muslin cloth before putting it in the tub to avoid clogging of the bath tub drain)

Rubbing your skin with the seaweed during the bath stimulates circulation, smoothens the body, and removes wastes coming out on the skin surface. A seaweed bath can help maintain hormone balance for a more youthful body. Also, your skin tone, skin color are almost immediately noticeable from the iodine and potassium absorption.

The bath smells fishy but a shower after the soak will take care of the stench.

Benefits of Seaweed bath:

•                Seaweed baths re-hydrate your skin, restore skin tone, skin elasticity and vitality

•                Seaweed baths detoxify, cleanse and naturally smooth and moisturize

•                Seaweed boosts circulation

•                Seaweed releases excess body fluids, reduces water retention

•                Seaweed baths relieve stress and anxiety

•                Seaweed baths will reduce cellulite

•                Seaweed is naturally anti-ageing

•                Seaweed is rich in minerals and contains Iodine or Iodine-Protein which helps boost and regulate the body’s metabolism – this helps with weight control, fatigue

So if you find yourself returning from a ramble or just simply want to relax, rejuvenate and pamper yourself then a Seaweed Bath could be just what you need!!

Detox baths (Home Spa)– My healing secrets revealed! – PART 2

GINGER BATH – My personal favourite way to detox!

Soak Time: 20-40 min ( Twice a week)

Cost: $2

 My Rating :  ★★★★★

Detox baths are an inexpensive and effective method of cleansing and helping the body rid itself of toxins. If you want a real treat, try the ginger bath. It is just fantastic!

BLISS!

I like to take one before going to bed twice a week. I sleep so incredibly well. The ginger bath cleanses the body (internally as well as externally) and is so relaxing. I wake up feeling like a new person every single time. 

How to take the Ginger bath?

This rhizome not only finds its
uses in culinary purposes but also
in your bathroom!

You can use either fresh grated ginger or ginger powder. Add ½ a cup of freshly grated ginger in hot or warm water and soak for 15-30 minutes. I usually pour the ginger water into a small pouch so that the grated ginger is easy to get rid of after bath and doesn’t clog my bathtub drain. 

Within 5 minutes of soaking in the bathtub, it feels like body has turned into a tap! Sweat pours down the face.It's uneasy in the beginning but if you sit with a book or with music playing then you will calm down, relax and enjoy the soak. After 30 minutes, get out of the tub and dry yourself . Then wrap up in a large towel and crawl into your bed under the covers. You will then usually sweat for approximately an hour and feel really hot, but you will fall asleep and have a really solid night’s sleep while your body is ridding itself of impurities through the skin.I never combine any other ingredient with ginger bath as ginger alone works well to break that sweat.

grate ginger

I sleep like a baby everytime, and wake up feeling energetic and cleansed !

How it works:

The ginger infusion works wonderfully in treating common cold and flu symptoms. This bath opens pores and eliminates toxins and also helps to eliminate pain.

This method really helps literally sweat toxins out of your body. Perspiration will even pour out of your scalp. I usually oil my hair and do this detox. My hair soaks in oil and after shower looks shinier, fuller with a bounce! The ginger bath opens pores and eliminates toxins and also helps to eliminate pain. It is common to possibly experience a headache and feel almost a slight “hang-over” sensation. If you are feeling really lousy, it is actually a great sign!

For those of us who dont have access to a sauna or steam bath, the ginger bath is a simple and sure way to sweat all those nasty toxins out of your body!

I use small pouches to fill in the
grated ginger so that the it doesn't
clog the drain in the bath tub

Benefits of a Ginger Bath

Detoxifying. A ginger bath is a great way to help your body to eliminate harmful toxins in your body, as ginger helps to promote sweating.  Thus when sweat is expelled from the body, toxins are expelled along with it.

Control Body Odor. Body odor is caused when toxins in the body are eliminated through sweating. Thus when you take a hot ginger bath, it helps you to sweat out more toxins so that afterwards you can smell fresher.

Reduce Cold Symptoms. A hot ginger bath can reduce the symptoms of a cold, as it can warm the body and help to remove toxins. In addition, the warm vapor going up from the bath water will help to relieve congestion

It is very important to drink lots of water during and for two hours after your bath to help replace lost water as your body will sweat out quite a lot of fluid from the heat and the ginger effect.  Be prepared to sweat and enjoy the relaxing sensation that will be sure to come following your weekly ginger bath!

And the best part of this detox bath is 50gm of ginger will cost you only less than $2!!!

Detox baths (Home Spa)– My healing secrets revealed! – PART 1

I was worn out. Physically and mentally... 

In the past year, I had a lot going on in my life, which resulted in an alarming hair loss and stress. I started bloating and drastically ageing. I had to do something before things got bad to worse...I took matter into my hands and started reading about how toxins can build up in your body over time and cause a myriad of uncomfortable symptoms. For some reason this struck a chord in me…and I decided to give a DETOXIFICATION BATH a try! 

All you need is a bath tub and a bunch of natural products to help you relax in a nice warm bath for 20 minutes and you emerge out of the tub like a diva! Sometimes I like to prolong the bath until the hot water is tepid. I like to read a good book or watch a movie on my laptop while in tub to shoo the boredom away. Relaxing and entertaining!

If you are feeling lethargic, a Detox Bath is a great way to help your body get rid of toxins and ease some of these symptoms. The detox bath is definitely part of my daily rituals. My complexion was clearing up. This can't be, too soon, psychological only, I thought again. But in a week somebody noticed it and said something like 'nice complexion'. Hmm, so my eyes are not fooling me after all. Still I'm not expecting miracles from this but I know I will do it for life. Months later now I feel a renewed vitality, energy and positive mood. I am sleeping much better and my complexion is glowing! Everybody should practice this. It's the simplest and most natural way to stay fit and healthy. Specially if your life is a roller coaster theres’ no better way than this to revive your spirits and feel good about yourself!

Why detox bath?

Toxins and chemicals are all around us, from our drinking water, processed food, to our health and beauty products, to the materials used to build and furnish our homes! They are unavoidable. There are of course certain things we can do to cut back on the amount of toxins. Eating organically and using natural cleaning, laundry, health and beauty products, are just a few!

Aside from the fact that I just love baths(am a bath person), detox baths are both beneficial physically and spiritually. Detox baths are supposed to help the body release toxins by sweating them out. (I have a water retention problem, hence the bloating.) Because you sweat, you will lose some water weight, but the main reason to use them is to get those nasty toxins out of your body. Also Detox Baths are wonderfully healing in several ways, and are very easy to do at home!

Most detox bath recipes I found in researching this topic contained different combinations of the same basic ingredients. There are a few baths I like to alternate when I am feeling tense, exhausted or run down. Here are a few detox baths I use on a regular basis. Click on below links for details!

•         FRENCH CELTIC SEA SALT BATH - Rejuvenating, Cleansing, Detoxing

•                THYME + LEMONGRASS BATH - Skin toner, aromatherepeutic, anti-acne

•         CHAMOMILE BATH- Cures anxiety, promotes sleep , aromatherepeutic

•                MINT BATH -  Rejuvenating, invigorating, aromatherepeutic

•               HERBAL BATH 1 -  Rejuvenating, detoxifying, Aromatherepeutic

•               HIMALAYAN ROCK SALT BATH -  Rejuvenating, detoxifying, moisturizing

•               CONFINEMENT BATH -  Soothing, Beautifying, detoxifying

          Daifonai Herbal bath

•               HERBAL BATH 2 - Rejuvenating, Beautifying, detoxifying

•               SEA SALTS BATH -  Rejuvenating, Beautifying, detoxifying

•               EPSOM SALTS & BAKING SODA BATH - detoxifying, gets rid of fluid retention

•               OATMEAL BATH - Moisturizing, natural cleanser

•               TEA BATH - ideal for detoxifying, replenishing, and restoring balance to your skin

•               COFFEE BATH -  Rejuvenating, Beautifying, Anti-cellulite

•               APPLE CIDER VINEGAR BATH -  Restores the PH balance in the body, helpful for acne, softens skin

•               SEAWEED BATH  – Detoxifying, Anti-cellulite and Anti-ageing

•               GINGER BATH  – Anti-bloating, detoxifying, My personal favourite way to detox!

 These detox baths make me sweat like a pig helping me draw out all toxins and maintain(lose) weight too!

 The best part? It’s so cheap, natural and readily available in the market and your spice rack at home!

I am of the ilk that slow and steady changes lead to the most lasting results.  Detoxifying baths every single day can be a small ritual that can add tons of vitality to your life! It has certainly made me a more positive, happier and energetic person ready to face the world head on!

Conquer Your Fear, Conquer Your Mind

Reduce Your Fears To Ashes Under Your Feet…

“Concentrate on where you want to go, not on what you fear.”
– Anthony Robbins, motivational speaker and author of several best-sellers.

Do you ask yourself, who would you like to become? What do you want to have, do, or create? What do you want to earn and contribute?

If you want to achieve something, you must clear the way to it of all the things that are blocking you from making progress. So what stops most people from getting what they want? FEAR! Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown, fear of disappointment – they are all the same! Fear is always at the source of those blockages. Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop. If not addressed, fear eventually eats away your self-confidence, prevents you from feeling empowered.

If you avoid something that makes you afraid, would that take care of the problem? On the contrary, avoidance fuels anxiety. That’s because when you avoid something you fear, you do not give yourself the chance to verify if the fear is justified. When you want self mastery, you need to identify your fears and set about strategies for conquering your fears.

Many people who are in constant fear are unable to explain what they are afraid of. For some, it is just a pressure they cannot identify. Unfortunately, you cannot fight anything you cannot define. If we want to get rid of our fears, we must know what it is first.

Transform your fear into positive energy. When you learn to do this, every other aspect of your life is affected. Difficult situations become easier to handle. You have new energy to make important decisions, take new directions, and to cope with changes and transitions.

Walking on fire is really about walking through fear. Step through your fears and achieve the seemingly impossible!

During Anthony Robbins’ recent LIVE seminar “Unleash the Power Within”, there was a special guest as participant – OPRAH WINFREY!  Oprah Winfrey is an ultimate example of someone who has overcome the most extreme odds to create an extraordinary life of service & contribution!

After sitting through over 12 hours of “Unleash the Power Within” seminar by Tony Robbins, Oprah decided to participate in hot coal walking. Oprah joined several thousand people to experience firsthand one of his “Breakthrough” sessions, where she overcame a major fear of her own – firewalking! This inspiring video shows you how Oprah walked across the glowing coals overcoming her fears.

I just cant wait to meet Anthony Robbins in person! Those of you who have watched Shallow Hal might remember him....

Controversies of the Cults- PART I

The longer that I stayed away from my blog, the easier it was to stay away, if you know what I mean. With hell lot of serious writing happening 8-10 hours a day at work, its was not very hard to stay away from my beloved blog. What can I say? Words just refused to flow. But its time to get back into the groove and pick up where I left. A lots happened in the past few months to write about which I shall try to cover in the days to come. First and foremost is my research and in-depth reading on the cults! There's a whole new weird world out there, I tell you! Crazy, weird yet thought provoking! Makes one wonder how human minds work.. Psychosis - is what I would call it. What makes one desperate enough to turn towards cults that only mess up the already messed-up mind? Surprisingly, many of the followers and disciples being accomplished psychotherapists, VIP's and artists!

Few main cult leaders that caught my attention were Osho, Ma Ananda Sheela, Jim Jones of Jonestown Massacre, U J Krishnamurthy( not a cult but a godsman (???) )Swami Nithyananda (godsman again). I intend to write about all these so called enlightened ones ..

Rajneesh a.k.a OSHO:

"Sex should lead man to his soul. The goal is from lust to light." Rajneesh broke the taboo on sex. The Indian born guru was a controversial figure in the eyes of many without any doubt. He mesmerized thousands with his words and logic.No spiritual person ever spoke about sex so openly as Osho did. But was Rajneesh really enlightened, given his scandals and disastrous public image?

Osho's seen it all. Love, hate, trust, suspicion, fame,allegations.The flow of disciples had become a flood in the early 1970's. 'Sex Guru' in 1980's and his 'sannyasins'  as they were referred to, left for Oregon USA to build their own town of Rajneeshpuram.[ I wasn't even born then! Its hard to believe at those times Rajneesh advocated sex so openly!] In Oregon he set up the commune, Rajneeshpuram in making himself the ultimate dictator of Rajneeshpuram..Maroon-robed men and women, mainly foreigners, streaming in and out of the gates. Osho  got into controversy because of his elite lifestyle

Osho driving by in his Rolls Royce while disciples wait for his glimpse at Oregon

Take a look at the video to see how prosperous the small ranch became in just 3 years after the disciples built it with their own hands, and how Rajneesh led a life of a king with his subjects blindly worshipping him in the land of free sex.

Oregon was a community completely created, and managed by his rich disciples which included a five star hotel, huge recreational centers, and also an aerodrome. Osho had some 99 Rolls Royce, diamond-studded Swiss watches and an aircraft of his own. He also got into controversy by calling Pope a homosexual, Jesus an unfertilized egg.. To add to it, Ma Anada Sheela the mouth piece and  personal secretary of Rajneesh took over and in a power stupor brought on chaos and murder plots into the commune.. Rajneesh used people, spoke out of both sides of his mouth, and betrayed the trust of his own disciples Heres a short video of Ma anada Sheela in an interview.. Judge for yourself! More on Ma Ananda Sheela in the coming days to be posted..

So what was really going on with Osho and psychedelics? He approved of ingestion of high doses of charas, ecstacy in rituals, nitrous oxide, LSD's ! Speculations are rife that Rajneesh used "hypnosis" to manipulate his disciples.For a man who portrayed himself as the world's smartest and greatest soul,  his drug use had destroyed the quality of his mind. Notoriety continued to surround Rajneesh with sanyasins contracting AIDS, trying to poison residents of Oregon in an attempt to take over and expand Rajneeshpuram. Towards his end Osho even got paranoid and erratic in his behavior.. perhaps the drug abuse took its toll??

Controversy obviously has not died with Osho. The Ashram still has numerous followers seeking what? Free Sex...? I only wonder, can people really be foolish enough to fall into traps of such phony men??

Shaan - Live in Concert!

Date: 4 Nov, 2011

Occasion: Kala Utsavam
Venue: Esplanade, Singapore

Singapore witnessed one of the most renowned, versatile Indipop singer from Bollywood, live in concert in memory of Kishore da.What a night! Filled with melodies that touch your heart and soul!

Shaan came in with" Behti Hawa sa tha woh" (3 Idiots), to merge it soon into Kishore Kumar melodies making the atmosphere very nostalgic.Shaan’s band started things off, an ensemble of rock instruments complemented by a host of Indian instruments. The Guitarist was exceptionally good! Shaans voice seemed invincible – he just refused to get tired through out his performance! My heart went fluttering when he sang the "Main hoon Don" while he imitated Shah rukhs dance stances opening his arms wide open.

I could probably go on about each song. The pure melodic beauty of Kya yahi Pyar hai( Rocky); Shaan’s remarkable vocal agility in “Dil Kya kare"from Julie; the action-packed “Oh humdum suniyo re” , "Hum jo chalne lage hain from Jab We Met.

He was joined by June Bannerji (dont ask me who) for some duets that included a not-so-beautiful Hey Shona and a few more songs (that I dont remember). June also broke into a exceptionally well sung Beedi jalyale and Desi girl.

Few songs that  require any criticism – perhaps “One Love” was nothing like the one I heard from the movie.. Shaan's first Medley climaxed with a song that has brought him a shed-load of awards – “Chand sifarish” (Fanaa). 

He ended the concert with Tanha Dil and Wheres the party tonight. Amazingly, despite the goof ups , Shaa'ns sense of humor saved the day. Of all the concerts I have been to, I feel Shaan speaks more than he sings! :) 

Although, I must confess some of the songs were disappointingly, badly sung, with some mixed-up lyrics and less-than-perfect-for-the-song band.I was also quite disappointed that he did not sing any song from his album Q-funk . 

A lot of good old songs from Kishore da's collections were missing. All in all it was a concert worth every cent spent and am glad I tagged along my BFF Ms Pavin Kaur and her entire clan! Thanks Pavin and family . 

Silence of the tombs...

The agenda of the day was to visit the Kampongs( village with the old wooden houses ) - the last existing ones in Singapore as their days are numbered. And so I hailed a cab, to visit Buangkok Kampongs where few families still live the old fashioned way . 50 years ago Kampongs were a common sight in Singapore - more like slums. With time Singapore has turned into a country with sky-crapers, magnificent edifices which makes Kampongs now a historical monument!


When I saw the Kampongs it didn't  fascinate me much as its quite common in Indian villages. Small shabby houses made of wood, prone to decomposition or just mere uncomfortable living.But for Singaporean new generation it's definitely a sight to see. Before the last few Kampongs cease to exist, I had to see them with my own eyes to sink in what Singapore's past looked like. At the whims and fancies of the government the kampong may just vanish someday as soon as the government finds a good use for these lands..Here's a glimpse:

Mr. Poh Keng Ng( Joseph) , my cabbie showed me around and explained about the Government( better skip that part) and said even the cemeteries are no more safe. The burial lands are being claimed by you-know-who to build malls and Condo's irrespective of the public sentiments. The cemetery we visited is called "Lorong Halwa"near Bukit Timah road.I must say this - it took my breathe away. The cemetery looks like an untended garden neglected for years with wild bushes and shrubs. The graves are splattered all over the place also untended. An eerie feeling creeps in yet, the calmness of the place puts you at ease after a while. Of course not a place I would visit after dark. Singapore's past unravels right in front of your eyes while you walk around the graves and makes you wonder about the lives of the deceased.Discrimination doesn't end after death too. While the rich ones have a grand tomb the commoners tombs go ignored.

Joseph after seeing how pleased I was by the visit offered to show me another cemetery , a Japanese one! According to Joseph this cemetery is long forgotten. We headed towards the cemetery and this one was even better. The cemetery is located in Chuan Hoe Avenue, \Off Yio Chu Kang road. The graves of the Japanese prostitutes - poor Japanese girls who were sold off by their families for money to the British colonies a century ago looked serene and at peace.The Japanese soldiers killed during 1942 Japanese invasions are also buried here.Makes one wonder what torments those poor souls must have gone through while they were alive.Joseph says that every year during March, the descendents of the deceased fly from Japan to pay respects to the grave. 

Mr. Joseph Ng

There's more to Singapore than just sky touching buildings , it has a history every resident must know and relish. This visit to the cemetery inspired me to do one more thing- collect pictures of all the helpful taxi drivers and make a hall of fame right here in my blog!

Must watch Sitcoms of all times!

What's the best way to de-stress? Well, watch a comedy show! Nothing like a funny sitcom to crack me up after a long day's work!These are my picks from the mighty ocean of "Funny Sitcoms".

Bewitched- This 60's sitcom has been my all time favourite. The plot of this fantasy themed sitcom is set around Samantha the witch married to a human trying to live a " normal" life .Absolutely Magical! The first season was actually in Black and white! Another confession- Elizabeth Montgomery is the only actress I have truly admired . ( Its always the male actors who attract my attention ahem!)

Friends - The list is incomplete without mentioning this one! Who hasn't watched this sitcom?  Even after the sitcom ended the reruns never ceased to broadcast. Even after watching it a zillion times( you bet! ) and memorizing the punch lines this sitcom still puts a smile on my face.



Seinfeld- This show is practically about nothing. Just 4 friends with their weird idiosyncracies. Kramer being my favourite!

7th Heaven - A family drama. Not belonging to the comedy genre this one has a special place in my heart. Watched this one a couple of years ago while in Singapore ( unemployed days) .Young  Jessica Beal looked so angelic( unlike herself) and the whole cast has a certain unexplainable charm. A complete family must watch! All the little ones grew up to be married and have kids in the sitcom!


Everybody loves Raymond : This one kept me in stitches..For obvious reasons...

The Big Bang Theory - A nerdy comedy show, yet hilarious and entertaining.

Wonder years - A classic comedy drama. You have to see it for yourself!

Frasier - Once again a sitcom with witty one liners.I must confess as a teenager I quite didn't understand the humor, but now find it amusing. A great cast, great performances. Most importantly love the dog!

How I met your mother - A brilliant comedy show which needs no mention yet again! Barnie, I so love you!

My wife and kids - The Kyle family and their outstanding comedy! Wayans stole my heart!

My name is Earl - The Karma themed sitcom is just so hilarious!

The Nanny - A girly show! Story revolves around the widower and his 3 kids and ofcourse the Nanny!

I Dream of jeannie - My personal favourite. Another classic magic- themed sitcom. Captain Nelson- droooool!






Now that the television focus has shifted more towards reality shows it's time to watch the sitcoms from the past!

In my to watch-list:
The Addams Family
That 70's show
Hot in Cleaveland
King of Queens
Outsourced
Hope & Faith and more...

 Escape from the serious crap called 'life'! Watch a Sitcom and smile away your miseries!