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tions. And at the hospital, I saw some women who couldn’t move an entire side of their bodies. That made me realise how small my problems were.” That positive attitude helped Raageshwari through the next few months. Though she couldn’t sing, she wasn’t ready to give up. She decided to look at different professions to keep herself busy. “I also started doing yoga with Namita Jain and took cooking lessons from Asha Khatau,” she says. “And then I started doing shows on television to stay in touch with my fans. Shows like Ek Do Teen and Baar Baar Dekho on MTV; Kuch Kehti Hai Yeh Dhun on Sony; Quest for BBC and One on One With Raageshwari on Ten Sports kept me alive in public memory.” Meanwhile, therapy and rehabilitation continued. She went for physiotherapy, electrical stimulation and yoga, and trained in classical music to heal her vocal chords.
AND SHE’S BACK!
It took her nearly six months to get back to some kind of normality. “It
RAGZ’S DAILY DIARY Raageshwari believes in doing things in moderation and never lets her body crave for anything. So, for instance, if she feels like eating chocolate, she allows herself to have it but also makes sure she works out. MORNING: Water and fruits such as apples or bananas, or dry fruits like almonds, walnuts or dates. This is followed by workouts like circuit training or squats and crunches, after which she does yoga and the five Tibetan rites. After that comes riyaaz for 45 minutes to an hour.
BREAKFAST: She loves eggs. So breakfast consists of two eggs (either an omelette, sunny side up or scrambled) with two slices of brown bread and a glass of milk or orange or apple and celery juice. Then she’s off for rehearsals.
took that long before I finally became comfortable enough to go out and meet people,” she says. “Even the closest of my friends in showbiz weren’t aware of my condition, and those who were didn’t know what to say to me. I realised that even if you have people supporting you, it is your fight in the end. I started spending a lot of time with kids, reading to them and even blowing up balloons which was a good way to keep my mouth active.”
MIND BODY SOUL SHIKHA SHARMA
COMING OF AGE
A
geing is a part of life, yet no one wants to age before time. Fortunately, ayurveda has many procedures, nutrition plans and herbs to delay the signs of ageing and keep the body youthful. NUTRITION Foods have different effects on the body. Some can have an inflammatory effect which causes the body to age and develop disorders. The second type of foods gives energy and some degree of regeneration. But it is not very effective, and hence ageing
MID-MORNING SNACK: A glass of nimbu paani, a slice of some fruit or dry fruits and a small portion of jaggery or peanuts. LUNCH: One or two rotis, lots of veggies and dahi.
EVENING SNACK: Between 5 and 6 pm, she either has homemade paneer or a slice of cheese, or a sandwich along with an energy bar, or dry fruits or til ladoos and green tea. DINNER: This is eaten before 8 pm, and generally includes rajma or any other dal and lots of veggies.
While Raageshwari struggled to get the paralysed side of her face under control, her eye was still a problem. It wouldn’t close on its own and she’d have to tie something to it to keep it shut. Eventually, she conquered the paralysis and has been working on several projects since, including an album of Sufi music. “I just completed a wellness DVD on the Five Ancient Tibetan Rites that are mostly practiced by Tibetan monks,” says Raageshwari.
continues. The special third kind of foods (coupled with therapies) slows down ageing. Foods that cause accelerated ageing: Sugar, refined foods like maida, cornflour, sooji, other refined carbohydrates, alcohol, too much salt, dairy products with oxytocin, nonvegetarian foods, fried foods, and packaged foods. Certain lifestyle traits such as sleep deprivation and stress result in ageing. NUTRITION FOR REJUVENATION The foods that aid in slowing down ageing work by replacing old cells with better cells. These include all foods that are highly alkaline in nature after digestion. Some examples of such foods are: Herbal plants: Aloe vera juice, amla juice, seabuck-
“They work on our seven key chakras and the endocrine system, slowing down the ageing process. I have been religiously practicing these rites and the results are for all to see in this inspiring film.” veenus@hindustantimes.com NEXT WEEK: Chef Vikas Khanna once couldn’t walk straight because of misaligned legs
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thorn, rhododendron, barley grass juice, wheat grass juice, harar. Spices and condiments: Ginger, cinnamon, saunf, elachi and cumin seeds. Seeds and nuts: Flaxseed, sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, pinenuts. General foods: Mung and wheat sprouts, fruits, vegetable juices. Foods that are free of preservatives and organically grown. Meal times: Fixed meal times should be followed. Ideally between 7 am and 6 pm. Seasonal foods: Try to avoid non-seasonal foods. Food combinations: Certain food combinations produce toxins and should be avoided, such as dairy and fruits, fruits and cereals, melons and citrus fruits and non-vegetarian food and fruits. (To be continued)