Mental and Physical health is an important part of overall wellness. For many, especially those who aren’t well acquainted with the process of working from home, the last few days haven’t been easy. It tends to get overwhelming for many, especially those who are used to the process of regular social interactions.

Love,

The Dancebee

Please feel free to share these tips with your loved ones. And remember - avoid spreading rumours! As alert citizens, let's be responsible for the content and messages that we share. Also, it would be great if we can integrate basic hygiene processes in our daily routine more effectively. Things like using a sanitiser or washing hands regularly as basic ways in which we can prevent many more diseases.

Follow World Health Organisation @WHO  on Twitter for official information and updates regarding Covid-19. Alternatively, you can also choose to follow the official handle of your nation's health ministry (For India - you can follow Ministry of Health)

Stay Safe. Be Alert! Lots of love to each and every follower.

Love,

The Dancebee

While the nature of pain, it's level and pain points may be different, what's constant is the discomfort experienced during the cycle. It does get difficult to focus on work and other commitments, especially during the first 2-3 days, when the heavy flow coupled with pain pushes an individual to the edge. While some people prefer popping an OTC medicine, many of us don't like to take any pills. Several women experience excruciating pain, while some simply have muscular pains / cramps on the first day. Period pain differs from person to person, depending upon personal health and lifestyle.  There's a lot to it than what meets the eye, so if anyone suffers from any form of pain that is impossible to handle, one must visit their doctor / gynaecologist and get this discussed. 

I've always used this platform to share my own experiences. So, why not this? Starting today, our new series - "Let's Talk about Periods' will feature posts that focus on personal thoughts, remedies, and anecdotes related to a topic that is something that we all - as women - experience. The idea stemmed from an incident, where I realised how even in 2019, people go red or shut their ears when someone speaks about pads, sanitary hygiene and periods on a public platform. In a country that still considers 'menstruation' as a taboo and something which shouldn't be spoken about on a larger platform. We need more discussions on something as basic as a period cycle, and share our thoughts, which can help other women, especially young girls, with the required knowledge. 

Let's kick off the first post, where I discuss personally tried and tested tips, which help me ease the discomfort during a period cycle

Drink ample of Water

Many of you may find this to be a cliched. But, we don't realise the importance of water and it's miracles enough. Lack of water tends to make the body feel more sluggish and can lead to mental stress. Drinking enough water (at least 2-3 litres), especially during your cycle, will not only keep you hydrated, but also ensure that the toxins are flushed out and eases out bloating. I always carry a bottle of water with me, wherever I go. It helps during long hours spent in traffic, and drinking water in regular intervals also ensures that the body functions perfectly.

Exercise - be it in any form!

A lot of us feel it's too much of an effort to drag ourselves and work out, especially when in pain. But, I've realised that nothing can help me distract from those cramps, quite like exercising does. Over time, I've seen the effect it has on the pain, as the endorphins released from the body does an excellent job at pain management. Plus, it supports proper flow of blood in the body, makes you feel happier from within, and throws out all the stress, tightness, making your body feel more flexible and light. Of course, you may want to give certain forms a miss if it gets too uncomfortable, but I personally love dancing, light running, yoga free hand exercises, and aerobics.

Take a hot water shower or bath

I am more of a bucket bath person, as I don't like wasting water. However, I love opting for hot water baths during the period cycle. Sometimes, I even add essential oils or use a refreshing shower gel to pamper myself. Such little efforts contribute to easing those cramps, and also helps release any form of stress, sluggishness or pain. Application of heat is known to benefit cramps quite well. One can even opt for a hot water bag, if the pain is intense.

Love me some Chamomile & Ginger Tea

During the monthly cycle, I usually prefer to have my regular cup of tea with ginger (and even on other days - as I cannot have plain tea). While I have ginger or masala tea in the morning, evenings are reserved for Chamomile tea. The anti-inflammatory properties in this tea helps ease cramps to a large extent. After a long tiring day at work, a hot cup of chamomile tea takes away all the stress, calms the mind and helps ensure I sleep well. This is has been one of my personal favourite picks, and I highly recommend that you try Chamomile tea as well.

Keep an eye on your Diet

This is crucial! During the period cycle, one tends to feel more inclined towards eating a lot of fried, cheesy or junk fast food items. Plus, midnight cravings push you to explore the dessert section, and hog on chocolates, pastries a little more often. I have a massive sweet tooth, and do have the cravings for sweets during my period cycle. However, I try to limit my chocolate intake, and usually opt for dark chocolate. Also, eating fresh fruits and / or green leafy veggies is a major plus. Your body needs food items that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc and calcium. I don't drink or smoke (and I've firmly stood by that ethic), but for those who do, it is recommended that you avoid indulging in these habits during the menstrual cycle.

Take time out for yourself

Light some aromatherapy candles, listen to good music, watch your favourite show or just gentle massage some of the pain points with a gentle, fragrant massage oil. Take a long walk or read a book. It is important that you take some time out for yourself and indulge in things that you love or like. It can just be spending a few minutes talking calmly with your loved ones. I always ensure that I prioritise myself and my health during the period cycle. Everybody deserves some 'me' time, and you taking time out and switching off for sometime is a must!

I hope some of these personally tried and tested tips help you during the next period cycle. These are small ways in which some part of the discomfort can be eased. Of course, you will always have OTC medicines, balms, stick on pain bandages and heat bags as an aid. But, these little things are important to ensure that your body feels light, fresh and stress-free. Periods should not hold you back from doing what you love! Let it become a part of your routine, and live each day with great positivity.

Do share your tips and recommendations to ease period pain in the comment box below, or join the conversation on 

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Love,

The Dancebee

What's that one health tip that your favourite celebrity, fitness expert, or just a regular enthusiast swears by? As part of our Health Week celebrations (on account of World Health Day), we kickstarted a special campaign on Google+ titled - #HealthFirst This initiative focuses on spreading awareness about good health and busting myths, misconceptions. Here, we focus on overall wellbeing and focus on mental, physical health on the whole. A big thank you to all the amazing, inspiring individuals, who took time out and contributed to this video with their tips and insights! This wouldn't have been possible without you.

Here's to living a happy, beautiful and healthy life!

If you like the video, do hit the 'Thumbs Up' button and hit the 'Subscribe' button. We love to hear from our followers, so do leave your thoughts / feedback in the comment box on the YouTube page. Also, don't forget to share your favourite health tip with the world!

Love,
The Dancebee

Verdict: The Sofy Bodyfit Overnight pad lives up to all the promises very well, at an affordable price. While major points are subject to an individual’s flow (that’s the case with every pad in the market), we think you should give this one a try, especially if you are bored of trying itchy sanitary pads with a plastic layer.

Have you tried the new Sofy Bodyfit Overnight? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below or Join the conversation on Twitter.

Love,
The Dancebee

I reached the venue on time (as per our scheduled appointment) and we were welcomed by the supportive and extremely warm front desk staff. After a quick chat, one of the staff members asked me to fill a form, which required details of my daily lifestyle, area of pain (if any), the kind of massage I am looking for among others. While I continued to fill up the form, I was introduced to my therapist, who then got me a welcome drink - a delicious, strong concoction of honey, mint, ginger and lemon (honestly, it was perfect for the cold that I was then suffering from). After going through all the information, I was asked to take a pick from the Revitalising or Relaxing Aromachologie Massage. The main difference between the two were the oil blends and technique. I opted for the former, as the technique and oil combination sounded like just what my body needs. I switched from my ankle strap heels and wore the pair of Oshos that the therapist got for me, as began walking towards the experiential rooms.

Spa La Vie has multiple rooms dedicated to various treatments, ranging from the Individual Spa Room, VIP Couple Massage Rooms, Facial room and a Hammam room specially dedicated to exclusive wet treatments that are unique to this spa. The Spa room for an individual includes a bath tub (can be an add-on) and shower cubicle with L'Occitane products. It also has a hair dryer, a two-door wardrobe to keep your belongings (with a special box for your valuables) and a small section of the room is reserved for the welcome treatment. After getting a glimpse of all the rooms, the therapist and I proceeded towards the Spa room reserved for me. As soon as you enter the experiential room, the therapist explains the entire treatment in detail, along with introducing the products used for the massage. You are then handed a robe and disposable undergarments for the treatment. Once you've changed, the therapist starts off with a 5 minute welcome treatment, where your legs are nicely cleaned. After that, the therapist kicks off the massage by asking you to take a deep breathe and smell the relaxing oil, which is so good, that it is sure to put you off to sleep. Gentle Swedish effleurages and Balinese movements follow, as we enter a blissful world, free of stress and fatigue for 60 mins, where no mails or phone calls can disturb you. 

Experiential: Revitalising Aromachologie Massage

Technique: Swedish effleurages, deep pressure Lomi Lomi and Balinese movements.  The therapist first starts off by massaging the right side of your body, followed by the left and finally, there is a head massage. The final step of the treatment involved a hot towel that is gently place on your back, hands and legs to release all the fatigue from your body.

Oil Blends: Lavender, mint, pine and rosemary essential oils

Time: 60 minutes

Price: Rs 3250/-

Overall Experience: The therapists at Spa La Vie are well trained and very prompt. They take the efforts to understand your lifestyle and ensure that you get the best results from the treatment offered. Plus, what I really liked about my therapist was the fact that she didn't rush through the whole thing or tried to finish explaining the treatment in haste. Every minute detail was taken into consideration and discussed, before starting off the treatment. Since I had a bad cold, the therapist was sweet enough to stop and quickly get me a bottle of water, tissues whenever I sneezed. The techniques used in this treatment were perfect for anyone who has a stiff neck or shoulders, tired legs or hands that have suffered enough with all the typing and tweeting throughout the week. After the amazing massage, I opted to take a bath (since I had a meeting scheduled that evening). Spa La Vie also gets brownie points for stocking up on L'OCCITANE products everywhere. I swear by their shower gels and it was a delight to also sample their hair care products. They also have a counter right next to the foot reflexology area, where you can buy some of their popular products. They have bath, face and hair towels in multiple sizes to suit your needs. All the spa rooms are well maintained. Hygiene is of utmost importance at a spa and the folks at Spa La Vie leave no room for doubt in this department. A quick hot shower later, I dried my hair and changed, only to feel ten times more lighter and calmer than I was earlier in the day. While changing from the Oshos to my heels again, the super sweet therapist got me one more cup of the herbal tea, as a remedy to cure my cold and sore throat. Full marks to Spa La Vie for their courteous, prompt and hard working staff as well as amazing hospitality.

Verdict: ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ 

Highly recommended for the variety of treatments, excellent ambience, great hospitality and of course, a blissful overall experience!

Know more about the Spa La Vie by L'OCCITANE here.

Love,

The Dancebee

In part one of this feature, we discussed 6 important changes in our lifestyle, that can help beat the unnecessary stress and tension in our lives. In this part, holistic health guru Mickey Mehta discusses 6 exercises and workout routines, that will help beat stress and leave you feeling energetic, calm and cool.

• Cardio Workout: They help to improve blood circulation and oxygenation. Exercises like spot jogging, jumping jacks and activities like skipping, swimming, brisk walks among others can benefit an individual a lot. You can begin with some of these as a warm up  exercise and gradually, increase the time devoted to each activity. It helps in breaking your otherwise mundane routine, and leaves you feeling refreshed.

• Strength Exercises: These are extremely beneficial for those feel tired and lethargic very often. Exercises like biceps curls, triceps extensions, push ups, squats and lunges helps strengthen your bones, ligaments and muscles. Regular routines will promote stamina and endurance. Say goodbye to Monday blues and unnecessary stress.

• Stretches: Perform suryanamaskar, tadasana, side stretch, neck rotation, arm rotation, shoulder shrugs among others on a regular basis. This will allow your body to get flexible and will relax your muscles, making you more agile. It will also help to alleviate neck pain, lower back pain, wrist aches, and other problems, that are often faced by those who sit in front of the computer for long hours in office.

• Yoga for Core Strength: Yogasanas like bhujangasana, naukasana, pawanmukhthasana, paschimotasana, sethubandhasana, plank pose among others are excellent for overall core strength and stability. Yoga builds your immune system and protects you against not just stress, coronary heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. 

• Deep Breathing Exercises: Pranayam helps in keeping your mind, body and soul calm. It helps in inner balance and revitalizes the body, clears clutter and confusion; thus bringing clarity to the mind. When stress builds up, it is important to allow your mind and body to relax. 

• Have Realistic Goals and Targets: Being healthy is extremely important and that includes having the right balance of strength, stamina, tone and energy, with special emphasis on keeping your-self stress and disease free. A mix of yoga, right breathing techniques, sensible eating plan, meditation, simple exercises, adequate rest and relaxation is the perfect mix for a healthy, stress-free life!

By Mickey Mehta 

for Diary of a Dancebee

Got a query or topic that you would like Holistic Health Guru and our celebrity columnist - Mickey Mehta - to answer or discuss? Send in your suggestions / questions on Twitter at @priyaadivarekar

There are days when you lose all hope and just don't want to give anything a chance. In your mind, you know that a little bit of effort may just do the trick, but instead, you prefer to hang your boots and distance yourself from all kinds of conversations. Then, there are times when you are so confused and puzzled, that all you need is that one ray of hope, that can change your perspective towards life and things around you for good. You may not always find a source of sunshine around you and that is when you need to build a strong and positive state of mind. It's important, because positivity not only reflect on your mental state, but also on your face, health and overall well being. Read on to know more about the ten simple things that you need to do and tell yourself everyday.