social news/entertainment

Amazing customs and celebrations from around the world

arun — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 06:43:02 GMT

That customs and celebrations across the world can either be so different from each other or bear a strong similarity to each other are vividly illustrated in this interesting collection of visuals.

Holi in Tomatina style
Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif and Abhay Deol played Holi in Spanish style on the sets of 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' in Spain. Instead of colours, the crew played with tomato puree made from 16 tonnes of tomatoes specially flown from Portugal. Spaniards celebrate a festival called Tomatina twice a year with tomato puree, very similar to Holi.

Keep him attracted

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:04:46 GMT

Do you fear that the guy you are in a relationship with, may lose his interest in you, regardless of how well things are going between the two of you? Relationships require work and sometimes you have to put in a little effort to have big rewards. If you want your relationship to continue, to grow and to flourish, then you need to keep following points in mind to keep a man attracted to you:

•One of the best tips to keep a man attracted in you is to ensure he can't always predict what you'll say or do. This will prevent your relationship from becoming stale. Keep the spark alive by being spontaneous and adventurous and he’ll look forward for everything new you do.

•Another important tip to maintain a man’s attraction is to give him his personal space. If he wants to go out with his friends instead of hanging out with you, don't stop him and also do not call him when he is out, instead, use the time to focus on yourself and to do something fun with your own friends. Lack of personal space can kill a blossoming relationship.

•Men love mysteries. Therefore, a woman who is slightly mysterious seems extremely attractive to men. So, all you women who want to keep his attraction alive, do not reveal everything about yourself too soon. If the man in your life suddenly finds out something new about you that he never knew, he'll find you even more attractive. So, maintain the mystery, to maintain the attraction, lady.

•Always speak your heart out. Men love it when women come up with their opinions regarding an issue even if it’s the exact opposite of what he feels or thinks. This shows him that you are a strong woman and men love strong, spirited, confident women.

Are you a workaholic girlfriend?

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:03:59 GMT

Being a workaholic is not really a salubrious phenomenon. Working too much leaves you feeling guilty of not being able to give in your best to a relationship, just like Harry Potter star Emma Watson who feels that she makes for a "rubbish girlfriend” for she is almost always occupied with work. Also, the young actor concedes that she has no time for relationships because of her frantic work schedule.

"It’s rubbish being my boyfriend. People are constantly coming up to me, I’m always working,” Emma was quoted as saying. "I don’t have a boyfriend at the moment. It feels good, actually. It’s nice to be selfish,” stated the 20-year-old.

Such a burnout symptom is often faced by people in their everyday life, particularly in young professionals. Psychologist Dr Seema Hingoranny explains, "When you achieve success at a young stage you don’t know how to handle it. You tend to further your benchmarks of success, become your own competition and end up overworking.”

A suave relationship is a big motivating factor. "There had been times when I felt I’m ignoring my dear ones because of work; it is a terrible feeling of guilt and anguish which no amount of professional success can compensate for,” says TV actor Rashmi Desai who agrees that at the end, communication is the key for any relationship to thrive.

TV actor Shraddha Nigam agrees. "It’s essential for me to find a balance and wholeheartedly give myself to the thing or person concerned without any feelings of guilt or regret,” says Shraddha. "I believe in prioritising things to a great extent,” she adds.

Ravenously chasing success, being over-ambitious or working beyond your capacity doesn’t always work for your advantage, at least not in personal relationships. "Sit back, heave a sigh of relief, contemplate and set your priorities right,” suggests Dr. Seema.

Why do people swap wives?

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:03:10 GMT

'Wife swapping,' a trend which is catching up these days in India, is at a rise because it lets you have a sexual experience which you have never had before. A lot of couples are looking out for ways through which they can meet new couples and engage in sexual activity with them. If you are wondering why would anyone in his right senses want to swap his wife? What are the "Pros and Cons" of it? Then, read on and get answers to all your queries:

Reasons behind wife swapping:

Thinking, why would anyone opt for this? Then, here are the reasons:

• It gives discontent men a chance to cheat and not feel guilty. They seem to have fun.

• A man who wants a taste of other women but feels guilty about cheating on his wife resorts to play the game with his wife in the form of wife swapping.

• They get to satisfy their sexual appetite with whoever they fancy. Sounds like freedom, doesn't it?

Some Pros:

• It satisfies the quest for such sexual freedom.

• For many people, watching their partner being sexual with another is very arousing and hot.

Some Cons:

• It is not suitable for couples who are in an unstable and unhealthy relationship because this idea is going to spoil your relationship. Wife swapping is something which is done with mutual consent and partners continue to stay in a relationship with each other.

• The couples involved will lose any sense of culture and discipline they previously had and have relations with just anyone.

• It starts with wife swapping. Then you can't control the devil inside you anymore. Every time you see a woman, married or unmarried, ugly or beautiful, the desire takes over and the rest is history.

Spice up your sex life, literally

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:01:09 GMT

Those kitchen spices that have been stocked in the closets for a long time, and used primarily for medicinal purpose or health benefits, have yet another story to tell. From just being a provider of flavour and colour in various cuisines, there are a few spices that can send you into throes of passion making you crave for more. So, here is a list of few spices that act as aphrodisiac boosting your sex life.
Saffron
The most expensive spice that you have seen innumerable times put in various sweet delicacies for flavour and its colour, has another benefit, unknown to many, that its is an aphrodisiac.
The best way to use: This spice can be mixed with warm milk.
Fennel
Fennel seeds that you always had post your meals and thought it to be facilitating your digestion process, has another property that it is an aphrodisiac. Since ages seeds and roots of this plant has been used to increase sex drive for both men and women. The fennel plant is believed to have a female hormone like estrogen which might have shown the result of libido enhancer.
Best way to have it: You can take the fennel seeds after the meals or as a mouth freshener.
Cardamom
This spice tucked in one of the bottles in your kitchen might be used only to add flavour to your recipes. But, the cardamom does not only satiate your taste buds, it also has the benefit of increasing your sex desire. The spice acts as a stimulant in increasing one’s passion.
Best way to use: Add cardamom in your tea or coffee. You can also sprinkle cardamom powder on sweet dishes.
Nutmeg
Long used in Indian medicine to boost libido, the spice has the same effect on mating behavior as Viagra. So, bring that spice out of the kitchen closet and use it in your day to day recipes.
Best way to use: Sprinkle some on your cappuccino.

Secret behind healthy babies

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:00:04 GMT

Pregnancy provokes most women to become hysteric with excitement, enthusiasm and ongoing stress. It is a life changing experience for a woman as she enjoys nurturing a growing fetus in her body. Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) has revealed that in India, as many as 300 women die everyday due to pregnancy and childbirth complications. However, 90% of these deaths are preventable.

Don’t skip your breakfast:

Eating a well balanced diet ensures good health for you and the baby. Your meals should include the five basic food groups. Some women have a tendency towards skipping breakfast which carries over during the pregnancy time as well. By skipping your breakfast, you deprive your baby of his breakfast. Your baby is growing on a steady basis, and a developing baby does best when he is fed a steady supply of nutrients. When you skip breakfast your blood sugar and other nutrient levels drop, depriving your baby of the energy and nutrition it needs for growth. Whole grain products for breakfast such as whole grain breads, waffles, pancakes crackers and Quaker Oats rich in soluble fiber and mineral content are ideal for your and baby’s health.

Fortified Breakfast Cereals:

Pregnant woman need about 30 mg of iron everyday to make hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying component of red blood cells. So it's especially important for pregnant women to get enough iron in their daily diets — for themselves and their growing babies. Iron rich foods include eggs, dry fruits, dark leafy green vegetables, iron fortified breakfast cereals and enriched grains.

Multivitamin Supplementations:

Daily intake of four hundred micrograms of supplemental folic acid is recommended at least 2 months prior to conception. Ideally, a pregnant woman should ingest 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day. Your growing baby’s calcium requirements are high so you need to take an adequate amount to prevent losing it from your own bones.

Keep yourself Hydrated:

Drinking enough water helps prevents problems such as dehydration and constipation. You may also feel a lot more tired as your body works hard to accommodate a new life. Take frequent short breaks at work and delegate tasks at work and home to meet your body’s enhanced needs. Have lots of fluids in the form of juices such as Tropicana - caffeine free 100% fruit juice ideal for various vitamins and minerals. Sleep for seven to nine hours every night for ample relaxation of your body and mind. It is recommended to sleep on the left side to optimize the blood flow to the placenta and the baby. For a comfortable resting position, prop pillows between your legs, behind your back and underneath your belly. It makes your heart's job easier because it prevents the baby's weight from applying pressure to the large blood vessels that carry blood to and from your heart and your feet and legs. Lying on your side also prevents varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and swelling in your legs.

Light exercise:

Do you frequently brood over an aching back? Back pain is a common complaint during pregnancy. This is due to an added weight to your body along with the relaxation effect of the hormones released during pregnancy on the muscles and ligaments. Maintain a good posture by standing straight and tall, tuck your buttocks and abdomen and pull your shoulders back. Sit with your back supported by a pillow and avoid standing for long periods of time. Exercise—such as aerobics, resistance training, and swimming—eases back and other musculoskeletal pain, lowers maternal blood pressure, reduces swelling, and improves post-partum mood.

Before popping the pill:

If you get sick with a common cold or suffer from a headache or a backache consult your doctor about medications. After consulting, you can take such as Paracetamol and alternative ways to help you feel better. Avoid smoking as it increases the chance of having a miscarriage, low birth weight baby and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Hard liquor, wine and beer can cause severe birth defects. In case you are addicted to drugs then you are placing your unborn babies at risk for premature birth, poor growth, birth defects, and behavior & learning problems. Saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms should be avoided during pregnancy as excessive heat can be harmful for the baby.

A well balanced healthy diet, regular exercise and healthy lifestyle ensure good health for you and the baby. Thus a combination of things working together help you enjoy the "Joy of Motherhood”.

Inside IPL 4 auction: Glam, gloss, greed takeover

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 07:58:02 GMT

The IPL just got bigger! The glam, gloss and the whiff of money turned crazier. Zinta, Shetty, Mallya- all came out in full swing to heighten the glamour quotient of this season’s IPL.
The auction saw money do the talking, as millions and millions were splurged by the franchisees on buying the best possible cricketing talent for their team. The auction seemed like a market trading humans, the only difference being the fact that here, they were up for grabs solely for their sporting abilities.

With $ 900 million available for expenditure in a matter of two days, the 2011 IPL auction is being touted as one of the biggest gambles the sporting world has witnessed ever.
Saturday saw the who’s who from the world of business and glamour gathering under one roof, spread across the 7000 sq ft of Mysore Hall of ITC Royal Gradenia Hotel in Bangalore. Bollywood’s baton was held high by Preity Zinta - Kings XI Punjab, Shilpa Shetty - Rajasthan Royals and a few representatives of the King Khan- Kolkata Knight Riders. The trio took home a handful of bats and balls in their goodie bags.
PZ and Shilpa Shetty-nee-Kundra couldn’t match up with the nerdy calmness of Nita Ambani of Mumbai Indians as she went on and on raising the auction card without a flutter. Nita’s sobriety in a white tee was far impressive than Shilpa’s caked up look and Preity’s variant layers of foundation. Preity lost her dearest Yuvi, thanks to the not so harmonious relations with her fellow investors. Well, who can forget her avatar at the last bidding, where any name that she mentioned was put in her shopping bag by beau Ness. Things change, don’t they? And, so do shopping lists. Period
But, none could possibly match up the flamboyance of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, not even his sonnie boy Siddharth. Guess, girlfriend Deepika is giving Sid dear a few lessons on how to be in news. Though he’d little to do at the auction, his mere presence made daddy swell with pride, while Sid was still busy replying to Deepika’s messages! Me thinks, Sid would need more of these outings to be the Mallya that he is.
Kumble was seen exhaling, perhaps a sigh of relief, for in all probability he thought he’d put in his papers at the right time or else he would’ve met the same fate as his contemporaries- Saurav Ganguly, Brian Lara n blah blah.
Talking about the franchisees, all of them did pretty well. SRK was conspicuous by his absence. Kochi still seemed cheesed out by the controversies they had to weather in the past, playing pretty much the phone bidders that they’ve been. Still wondering who was sitting on the other side of the phone! On the contrary, the representatives of Pune didn’t blink at a prospect, thanks to the excellent funding that backs them.

Dare to bare beauties

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 07:56:56 GMT

Pooja Bhatt shook the nation in early 90s with her appearance on the cover page of the magazine Movie with her body paint act. Over the years, the trend of Bollywood brigade appearing on the cover page of magazines has only grown. The year gone by was no less, for Bollywood babes graced the glossy pages of several magazines looking pipin’ hot.

Some showed a little, and some flashed more than required. So, here’s what the beauties had to offer:

Deepika Padukone’s appeared on the cover page of FHM looking extremely poised. What a classy shot!

Neha Dhupia oozed oodles of oomph on the cover page of Maxim in a golden tube bikini.

Mandira Bedi continues to create buzz with her never-ending series of makeovers. This time she even shunned her noodle straps, posing topless for Vogue.

Bipasha Basu hots up Maxim with her dare to bare act. Sultry, spicy and oh-so-sizzling!

But, what truly had the nation take notice was Vidya Balan’s appearance on FHM. The lady stole the hearts of many by revealing just the right bit. Smoldering, yet so elegant!

Girl, let's go Indian

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 07:55:08 GMT

Be it your friend’s wedding or a formal occasion, ethnic clothes belong to the must-have part of a women’s wardrobe! Apart from the fact that the sari is almost the symbol of Indian tradition, it also happens to be the one garment that makes a women look extremely gracious and sexy.

A little twist towards style also manages to bring in a dramatic and desirable change.

Vouches Madhumita D E, the 24-year-old model, "I’m always seen sporting short dresses and never imagined that a sari could make me look hot! I loved the makeup, it was subtle and simple. The sari draping too was different and I think everyone must go desi often!”

Wearing an owl, are you?

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 07:52:37 GMT

Of all the trends, the one that spreads like wild fire is the one sparked by a celebrity. The most recent one being that of owl accessories.

Owl pendants by the ooh-la-la brands were being flaunted by the swish set a couple of years back. But they actually got momentum in recent times when actor Sonam Kapoor wore a long chain with a prominent owl hanging on it at a social do.

Actress Shruti Hassan and socialite Pooja Bedi were also spotted flaunting the trend too. More recently, actress Deepika Padukone sported a similar pendant in her movie Break Ke Baad and matched it with a red outfit. What started as a swish-set favourite is now available at almost all fashion outlets for as little as Rs50 onwards!

Says fashion designer Nachiket Barve, "The owl is an international trend! Fashion always has a trickle-down effect — from couture to pret wear, to high street fashion and then exploding into mass markets.” He adds that the owl is a beautiful motif to flaunt and since it is now available in different shapes and sizes, one can go ahead and just indulge.

Another accessory that has caught the aam aadmi’s fancy is that of actor Salman Khan’s bracelet and the multi-gem stone armlet that actor Ajay Devgn and his entire family wore sometime back. A silver inter-locked chain with a turquoise gem at its centre, Khan is rarely seen without his bracelet. Its replicas are selling like hot cakes and have now percolated even beyond the multi-brand outlet slab. Jewellery designer Shaheen Abbas admits that Salman’s charm bracelet is a hit, but only among his fans.

"Personally, I wouldn’t recommend anyone to wear the bracelet because it looks loose and uncomfortable but it is selling and how! And Ajay wears the charm armlet for health reasons,” says Shaheen.

In fact, the craze to accessorise like Sallu is so strong that one can even find belts and neckpieces with the turquoise gem at its centre. Fashion designer Anita Dongre too nods in agreement as she says, "All the three trends have a different audience. The owl is for the fashionista while Salman’s bracelet is most sought among his fans. Ajay’s armlet however is like a male fashion trend. It looks cool on Ajay and I’ve seen fashion-conscious men just get themselves a replica — an armlet with colourful stones on it!” says Anita, who picks the owl as her favourite trend.

Imran-Avantika say 'I do' in style

arun — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 07:51:57 GMT

The chocolate boy of Bollywood Imran Khan inaugurated the 2011 wedding season. Imran-Avantika wedding has the fashion police discussing about the same. Delhi-based designers Kapil and Monika give their take on the latest couple, and not to mention, their closed ones:

The wedding saga began with the Mehendi function. Dressed in a simple salwar-kameez, the petite beauty looked quite at ease. "We love the green color as it is a sign of prosperity and looks beautiful on the Indian skin,” said the designers about the bride-to-be. "The white kurta with denims for Imran gives him a casual yet fun look, which is perfect for him.”

Then there was the Sangeet ceremony to follow, where the bride and groom-to-be appeared in a traditional avatar. "We totally love this look donned by Imran and Avantika! They look perfect as a couple. Avantika is a beautiful looking girl, thus, red is a beautiful colour to be worn on fair skin. Also, it shows an element of confidence in the one who wears it. Imran’s velvet sherwani looks great with subtle embroidery.”

If the bhanja looked dapper, mama Aamir was no less. "Aamir khan looks like a million bucks in his white sherwani,” comment the designer duo.

However, aunt Kiran Rao has not been applauded by many. "Her look is not that up to the mark, she could have surely dressed up appropriately for the occasion. We love the colors in the lehenga, but the cuts and designs chosen could have been better. Also, the glasses chosen could be trendier.”

Love has no religion, really?

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:53:40 GMT

They say one has to be lucky to be in love and most of us would agree with that, but then, what if that love has a different caste, creed or even religion? Does that change love to any extent? Would you think twice before falling in love with someone who’s from some other religion… yes, most of us would.
It’s tragic to see two people, who’re madly in love with each other, fall apart, for they couldn’t meet a happy end just because of their religious differences. When such a failure happens, some say- "They shouldn’t have gone this far when they knew of the consequence they would eventually meet”. Well, I too agree to the statement to some extent and that extent being the fact that if they chose each other at the first place, why did they care for the world thereafter? Okay, so these two people decide to part ways, for their families disagree and the society would indulge in cheeky brickbat about them. What then? Nothing, they simply go and get married to other individuals respectively and that’s how we get a misery pool or four messed up lives, only because two weak individuals couldn’t keep up with their decisions. Huh!
The simple question that arises here is, "Why fall in love when you can’t abide by it?” I think religious difference is the last thing that should deter a couple in love! Alas, it does and that too big time. For some variety loving people, tragically religion is an excuse to move on to someone else. "I was dumped by my boyfriend of four years on the pretext of religious differences. Things were fine until we discussed marriage and I realised that marriage was never in picture for my beau. I was given the most cliché reply- ‘Would love to marry you sweets but can’t’”, says Nida Singh, a Delhi based lawyer.
The years following 2000 have only seen a surge in many mixed marriages but, then, there are exceptions and that too disappointing ones, the ones that have cowardice as a premise and the supposed love forced into oblivion, completely to entirety. It’s weird how some people advocate inter-religion alliances but, run away from them when they get entangled in a similar scenario. After all, not everyone follows what they preach, do they? Only wish that whoever fell in love had the power to take it forward and make a beautiful ending.
Wonder when would they get to know that the love that lies in our hearts, crosses all barriers- that of cast, creed, cultures, religion and even species.

What's your relationship status this New Years?

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:52:58 GMT

There’s nothing more disheartening for singles than not having a partner to hug and kiss as the New Year sets in. Little wonder that studies across the globe point out that this season is when casual hook-ups, one night stands and friendships with benefits clock the highest amount.

Psychologist B Kapur says, "This is a very natural emotion. People always want to belong and feel wanted. Take the New Year Eve for instance. If someone is hanging out with friends, which include couples, they would automatically feel lonely and depressed. A quick and easy solution to avoid this feeling is finding someone who would last until that evening, without wondering about the consequences. While this can play a temporary comforter, it isn’t right.”

But, singles in the city don’t seem to be bothered at all. Anupama Vijaykumar, a copywriter in a leading ad firm, says, "I hate this part of the year. I am 28, most of my friends are either married or in long term relationships. And they’ve all been hounding me about my New Year plans since early September itself. All their plans revolve around couple-centric activities. I am forced to say yes since they’re my friends. But I also have the pressure of finding a date then.” Usually, she ends up with a casual fling over a friend she meets over the internet sites, who’s looking for the same.

Like Anupama, a lot more of the city’s younger lot are resorting to internet sites for casual dating. "The best thing about some of these sites are the fact that you can be open and lay down the rules even before the word go, since you haven’t really met or interacted with the people. They don’t judge you and they are in the same boat as you are. This makes it all the more comfortable,” says Karthik Kumar, a marketing analyst.

Some of these singles even take off to unfamiliar shores to ease that comfort. "I’ve been single for the past five years since I’ve been so very involved in my work to even find time for a relationship. Since I take off during Christmas and New Year, I go on holidays. Sometimes I hook up with men I meet at parties or at work with no strings attached and travel. And I have also ended up travelling alone twice and ended up with one night stands. Since each vacation has been at a new place and around people who don’t recognise me, it eases any chance of having guilt pangs,” says Rashmi Hegde, corporate communications head in an MNC.

What is it that makes this season such a pressurising one, when it comes to relationships? "It is a new year. There is so much hype around it. Popular culture and media too are guilty of making the night larger than life. It ranks higher than Valentine’s Day on the list of singles, which makes them end up doing some acts of folly, if I could call it so. But, the current generation has also learnt to desensitise itself, which makes casual relationships work,” says Malathi Rao, psychotherapist and behavioural analyst.

According to Malini, the current bunch of teenagers comes with lesser strings and emotional baggage. "They have grown up only on western sitcoms and movies. They know that moving on is part of life even before they get into a relationship. And they have no interest in the idea of unconditional or unrequited love. It can be saddening in one way, but it is also empowering to their own egos,” she points out

Honey, who shrunk my honeymoon?

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:52:14 GMT

It’s the season of holy matrimony. As many say, the wedding day is not really for the couple to enjoy, but for the families, relatives and friends involved. What the couple can look forward to is their honeymoon.
With tight work schedules and, more often than not, both partners working, going for a honeymoon is all about planning calculated holidays, which in many cases, barely extend to two weeks.
In the case of Dipti Shetty, a 27-year-old law professional just two months into her new job, asking for a three-week leave was out of the question.
"I am going to get only 10 days of leave,” she told her fiancé, Rajat Nambiar, who works in the life insurance sector. The two are getting married in December. Rajat had been waging a grim battle with his superiors to get at least a month’s leave sanctioned. The couple had several arguments about the length of their honeymoon. But given Dipti’s office situation, Rajat eventually had to settle for just 10 days off for his wedding.
Source of discord
Rajat and Dipti’s predicament is typical of many other couples forced to sacrifice their honeymoon at the altar of work pressures — either their own or their partner’s. Experts say cutting short or skipping the honeymoon — the best opportunity for a couple to spend time with each other away from the mundane intrusions of daily life and relatives and work-related stress — can lead to marital discord that could otherwise be avoided.
Says Madhuri Singh, consulting psychiatrist and marriage counsellor, "A honeymoon gives the couple space and time to strengthen their sexual and emotional bond. But one week is never enough, because the stress of the wedding takes a toll on the couple.” She adds, "A minimum of three weeks is essential for a couple to develop a working understanding without getting bogged down by day-to-day life.”
Dipti and Rajat will at least get 10 days together. But not everyone is as lucky. Prashant Barucha, 32, who works in an IT firm, and his wife Amruta, a 29-year-old financial management consultant, didn’t even get to go on a honeymoon.
After three years of marriage, they still haven’t gone for one. They weren’t getting a minimum of two weeks leave from their respective organisations, so they abandoned the idea of going for even a ‘quick’ honeymoon.
Prashant regrets the decision. "Amruta was keen that we go for at least four days, but I didn’t like the idea of a short honeymoon. I convinced her we will go some other time. Unfortunately, it did not happen,” says
Prashant. Amruta explains that it could not be helped. "Even if we had gone for four days, we wouldn’t have had enough time and work would have been at the back of our minds throughout. We did have our set of fights over this, and without the luxury of a honeymoon, we’ve really had to make an effort to make our relationship work. We now keep going for frequent weekend trips to nearby places and make it a point to take at least a week off every year and go abroad,” Amruta says.
But the couple agree that things would have been different if they had been able to enjoy two weeks of their own space after the wedding.
Affects intimacy
Singh observes that in the case of couples who’vehad very short honeymoons, there is greater chance of one of the partners getting attracted to someone outside the marriage.
She feels that corporates should be sensitised to the fact that marriage is an important milestone in a person’s life and adequate time must be mandated for it.
She says, "There are norms for maternity leave, but none for marriage leave. An employee’s work suffers if there is emotional stress. If the company wants happy employees, it should make sure they get adequate time off for their personal life,” she says.
In today’s rat race, people put less importance on intimacy and more on success at work, observes wellness expert, Dr Hitesh Shah. He believes that when the honeymoon is short, intimacy does not develop.
A lucky few do get the luxury of a month off from work, but that too comes with its set of arguments and pressures. Kiran Desai, 31, who deals in computer hardware, and his wife Smita, 28, a journalist, had planned their wedding much in advance and decided that no matter what they will go for a 25-day honeymoon.
But Smita’s boss was appalled by the idea of a one month leave for her wedding. "My boss was very tough on me, so much so, that Kiran and I had bitter fights about taking leave. My boss cited examples of other couples who had just taken a week or 10 days off for their marriage.I had to put my foot down. I told him that it’s my wedding and I need that leave.”
Smita had to work 12-14 hours every day for 6 months to get her boss to agree. Kiran understood that his fiancé was under a lot of stress and stood by her. Eventually her leave was granted. But today, neither of them regrets their decision. Says Smita, "My boss gave me the cold shoulder when I got back, but eventually things worked out.”
Shah sums it up, "A couple should give enough time to each other. One rule they should follow is to not discuss mundane matters when on a honeymoon. Just enjoy the intimacy, be romantic. Because you’ll never get this honeymoon time back.”

Nurture the bond of friendship

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:51:32 GMT

A prosperous relationship needs to be nurtured very well for it to remain a harmonious one. Like any other relationship, the bond of friendship, too, needs to be gardened, so that the friends can savour its sweet fruits.

Want to know how simple gestures can help your friendship blossom? Read on…

• Love yourself
Till the time you don’t like, respect and love yourself, you can’t expect others to do it. Therefore, it’s important that you like and accept yourself before expecting the same from others.

• Make your friends feel important
Just as you’d want to be liked and loved, your friends, too, have similar expectations. Little words of appreciation will make them feel important and wanted.

• Treat your friends as you’d like to be treated
It’s seen that a lot of people have so many expectations from others, but they seldom recognize their own efforts to reciprocate their friends’ gestures. Hence, ensure that you treat your friends in a fashion as you’d like to be treated. After all, friendship too, is a give and take affair.

• Take time out for them
Your college or office or household projects would obviously keep you very busy. But, ensure that you take time out from your busy schedule to catch up with your friends. A lot of times you might be totally unaware of the fact that they are in dire need of a ‘friend’, and might silently wait for you to come up to them.

• Communicate
Communication is the key for any happy relationship. This does not only mean that you keep talking, listening, too, is as important. It’ always advised to clear the air between friends if something is troubling you. If he/she is your true friend, then he/she will empathize with you and work with you to offer a solution

Her sexual fantasies revealed

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:50:21 GMT

Women no more are just passive participants in love making and do not just comply to the sexual demands of their counterparts, instead women are now taking the lead in the bed and are the new sexual predator on the block. So, here are some of the sexual fantasies that women desire for.
The charming strangers
Meeting up a mystery man and going to some no-name motel with him for a wild night of uninhibited sex is what many women fantasize about. Going out with a complete stranger is the only way to let yourself loose as you won’t be judged by them. As you'll probably never see the stranger again and the idea of spending a night with a stranger is surely inviting and exciting.
The sexy Threesome
The seductive act of threesome is not just desirable among men. Even women secretly hope to indulge in with two men caressing her, nibbling her and making love to her. Some want a gentle erotic scene, while the rare few want porno-like sex. Getting aroused by two men giving her the most exciting sexual pleasure is what a woman desires for. The idea of two male bodies feeling you up only send shivers down the spine and the ecstasy is at peak. So, woman wants to be sexy, naughty and bitchy.
Women on top
Women no more wish to remain demure and coy, and are ready to take the plunge and dominate man in bed like never before. Every woman fantasizes to take over a man and be that ultimate predator, making him beg on his knees for the wild sex. Spanking him with a leash to make him perform sexual acts and making him strip on your command is what woman desire for.

Sex: View When You Do!

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:49:37 GMT

A lot of people find masturbating fun when they do it in front of the mirror. When they see their own chiseled body, it increases the pleasure they derive while feeling it. The act becomes more enjoyable.

With a simple thing like this, if you can have added pleasure while masturbation, then you must take hint of how you can make the regular sexual intercourse more interesting. Here’s how sex in front of the mirror can be so intriguing…

In general, people prefer the usual missionary position to satisfy their sexual needs. The men in this case have a clear view of how things are progressing, while women are deprived of this sexual fantasy. Sex in front of the mirror will provide your lady a clear view of what’s happening down under, and make the moment more exciting for her. To enjoy such a view, all you need to have is a mirror on the ceiling of the bedroom or roof windows with a reflecting glass.

If you do not have the above option, then this tip is surely gonna help you. In case you have a stand up mirror where it’s not possible to see the act, then modify your action a bit. Stand up against the wall opposite to the mirror and glide into her slowly. The viewership is sure to fetch you brownie points.

Once you’ve given her enough pleasure by ‘showing’ her the live action, here’s a little more you can do to take it one step ahead. Place different mirrors at different angles so that the sight is varied from each angle. One action, several spectacles. Now, that’s what we call ecstasy!

The perfect first kiss

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:49:05 GMT

Things are going just right in your newly developed relationship. Hanging out together and spending hours with each other is hinting at a plausible first kiss. Your first kiss in a way determines whether or not you are gonna take the relationship further. So, here are a few sure shot tips to heighten that first kiss experience…

• The foremost thing is to make sure whether she, too, is prepared for it or not. If she is, it’s gonna be double the fun. Plan the kiss in your mind and make use of the available setting. It could be between the rows of a library, a parking lot or the trial room of a showroom.

• Your girl would love it if the kiss is a warm and intense one, intensity reflecting the fact that you want her so bad. A deep and passionate kiss will leave her feeling that she’s special and desired.

• Don’t go on and on like a machine. Pause, look into her eyes and continue. Also, change the rhythm and let her keep guessing. Also, don't focus just on the lips; rather give her an erotic tongue massage.

• Make use of your hands to pep up the kissing experience. You can cup her face with your hands, or play with her hair, or hold her from the waist…take your pick.

• Finally, don’t just restrict your kiss. Move your way down her neck, to collar bone and shoulders. She’ll feel all the more desired.
Wish you a yummylicious first kiss!

Post One night stand!

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:48:12 GMT

Waking up in the morning in a strange looking room and your head is aching from last night’s hang over. You see a man lying next to you and a bottle of wine lying empty in a corner. And, vague memories from the last night come haunting you and the visible love bites make you realize that the flirtation went a bit too far. And, now you feel awkward in that situation, unable to gauge your emotions and the reliability of this encounter.
Don’t lose your cool. Just follow some simple guidelines that will get you through such situations.
Most important, don’t overstay your welcome. Don't wait around in bed, especially after he gets up. If possible, try to leave before he wakes up. It will make you more mysterious. And if he really likes you, he'll attempt to find you. Guys will go to great lengths for a girl they really view as worth the effort.
But, in case he gets up before you, then, try to play it somber. Don’t offer to leave your number or ask him to call you. When men want something, they will get it themselves. If he has any intention of calling you, he will ask that you write down your number before you leave.
If he does invite you for breakfast or to hang out, even if you really want to, thank him but turn down the offer. If he has any real interest in you, he will try to set up a future date with you.
And, in case you don't remember his name, don't ask him what it is. That will look very bad on your part. See if he remembers yours first. That's a true indicator as to how much interest he really has in you.
So, these simple things will get you to know that it was just a night stand or start of a new relationship.

What does your hug say?

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:47:32 GMT

What does it mean when your boyfriend wraps his arms around your shoulder and gives you a tight hug? What is your friend trying to tell you when she greets you with a side hug? From a friendly hug to a passionate squeeze, hugging is the universal language of love, comfort, and friendship. Read through this list of different types of hugs to know what does your hug mean:

• 'I Love You' Hug

A hug that lasts any longer than 5 seconds signifies love. A close cheek-to-cheek hug says "I Love You."

• 'I Miss You' Hug

A hug where a person puts his/her arms over your shoulder and holds you close would be a "I really missed/am going to miss you" hug.

• 'Whats Up' Hug

When he/she puts his/her arms under your arms, then its a friendly hug which says 'whats up dear.'

• 'I Like You' Hug

The firm but not squeezing long hug says 'I like you' and don't really want to part from you.

• 'Wish We Could Enjoy Sex' Hug

When a he/she hugs you from behind then it is a clear sign that they can't wait to be alone with you. Longer and the tighter hug is, more intense are his/her feelings for you. If such a hug is given in public then, it demonstrate commitment too.

Sleeping with your boss? Not your fault

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:46:50 GMT

If you are sexually promiscuous and sleeping with your boss or maid or your friend's wife, it is not your fault.

Blame your bad behaviour on the "cheating gene'' in your genetic make-up, according to a study.

The study by New York-based Binghamton University Justin Garcia has linked promiscuous behaviour to the "cheating gene'' DRD4.

Based on DNA scraped from the cheeks of 181 sexually active young people, Garcia has found a link between a variant of DRD4, a gene that affects dopamine receptors, and infidelity, one-night-stands, drinking and thrill-seeking, according to a Canadian daily.

The DRD4 has also been dubbed the "slut gene.''

"We all have the so-called promiscuity or 'cheating gene,' '' Garcia told the Vancouver Sun in an interview.
"The DRD4 gene, which affects the dopamine receptors in the brain, is important for pleasure and reward.

"It (DRD4) goes off when you jump out of an airplane, engage in sexual behaviour, drink alcohol and gamble,'' the researcher said.

If you carry a certain variant of the DRD4 gene, you might be pre-disposed to repetitive, intense sexual sensation-seeking: one-night-stands and infidelity, he told the paper.

"Whereas some people might jump out of a plane and say, wow, that was great, another person might skydive, land and say hey, I want to go up again!''

Garcia told the paper that there is a strong correlation between pleasure and reward for dopamine addicts and risk-takers: uncommitted sex and one-night-stands fit the high-risk, high-reward structure that results in the pleasurably, addictive dopamine rush.

But he added, "We can have these genes that predispose us to certain kinds of behaviour. (But) we can also modify our behaviour.''

Avoid hitting the sack your first date

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:46:05 GMT

The Gen Y generation is no doubt very upright about their sexual preferences. The openness to concepts like one-night stands and F*** buddies is proof enough of the fact that the generation of today does not lag behind in expressing their sexual desires.
But, is it really okay to have sex in the first encounter itself? Is it not sensible for a sensitive one like you to not indulge in an act which you would later regret?
So, here are a few tips to avoid having sex on your first date…
• In most cases, sex is driven by the mood and ambiance of the venue. When out on your first date, chose a public place. This way you’ll avoid getting cozy with your date and hence avoid hitting the sack in the first meeting.

• Don’t spend too much time together on the first date. Prolonged time together would allow the opposite sex to charm and guide you to bed. Don’t let that happen and keep the meeting short and sweet.

• A very common mistake girls do is that they wear a revealing outfit to create a good impression on a first date. Skin show in the first meeting gives out wrong vibes, so stay clear of donning one. Dress up in comfortable and smart outfit and leave a good impression of your overall personality.

• It’s always good to do your homework well before you go out on your first date. Gather information about his background, so that you can respond to him accordingly. In case if the date is already arranged and later you come to know that he’s the Casanova kinds, make sure you act tough.

• Alcohol often makes you lose it and fall in the danger zone. In any case it’s advisable to stay clear of hard drinks on the first date. But, even if you do, don’t go overboard and limit your drinks till when you think you’re in your senses.

India's cougar couples

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:45:21 GMT

New Delhi: Somebody has very rightly said love knows no age. At a time when the dynamics of marriage are changing rapidly and youngsters are experimenting with their lives, "cougar" relationship is a new phrase catching up among them.

The term cougar refers to a relationship where a woman is romantically involved with a much younger man and it was the theme of the 2009 superhit film "Wake Up Sid". Audiences loved watching Ranbir Kapoor falling in love with the older Konkona Sen Sharma and even thronged the theatres for it.

"This trend is not so uncommon in India. It has been around for some time now. And, yes, Indian sensibilities are not in conflict with such relationships," psychiatrist Sanjay Chugh told reporters.

"The phenomenon, whether people like it or not, is increasingly coming out in the open. In the past too, such relationships existed but were not talked about too much," he added.

Way back in 1967, Hollywood came out with its well-known classic "The Graduate", where Anne Bancroft, an older woman, seduces a much younger man, played by Dustin Hoffman.

And such experiments were not restricted to the celluloid.

Quite a few Hollywood celebrities have had successful "cougar" marriages and the recent example is Demi Moore who has enjoyed marital bliss with 15-year younger actor Ashton Kutcher.

Other such couples are Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins (12-year age gap), Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon (10-year age gap).

Even pop diva Madonna, known for her experimental looks, tried it when she tied the knot with 10-year younger Guy Ritchie. But they separated two years ago.

In India, the most publicised cougar couple was Saif Ali Khan who married Amrita Singh way back in 1991. She was 12 years older to him. Their marriage had raised a lot of eyebrows, with people questioning the compatibility and the big age-gap, but it lasted a good 12 years. In 2004 they got divorced.

Samir Parikh, a consultant psychiatrist at Max Healthcare, says anything unusual is bound to get attention.

"Anything which is slightly different raises eyebrows for a while. This happens more so with celebrities because they are so much in the public glare and the reactions are all the more manifest," Parikh told reporters.

Even master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's wife Anjali Tendulkar is five years older to him whereas Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala has married seven years younger Samrat Dahal and choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan exchanged vows with eight-year younger Shirish Kunder.

According to Chugh, if one looks at the Indian value system closely, it emphasises on making a relationship work and not so much on the peripherals.

The age difference of a year or two doesn't even qualify for the term "cougar", and there are many examples of such couples in the Hindi film industry - Bollywood actors like Aishwarya Rai and Shilpa Shetty have respectively married Abhishek Bachchan and Raj Kundra who are two years younger to them. Even legendary actress Nargis was a year older to her actor husband Sunil Dutt.

Sometimes such marriages are seen by society as an attempt by a woman to have some fun in her life or by someone who wants to tame her partner and can do so by marrying a younger man.

This psyche was beautifully portrayed by director Ajay Sinha in the popular television serial "Astitva - Ek Prem Kahani", about a young photographer marrying a doctor who's 10 years older to him.

Chugh said: "Just as a woman would look for a father figure or fulfil her needs for protection in an older man, a man would look for a mother figure or fulfil his needs for tender care and love in an older woman."

Moreover, a drastic shift in the financial status has made today's women independent and they enjoy the power to pick and choose their partners without worrying about age, money and caste.

"Women today, just like the men, are experimenting and are also sure enough of themselves to take such chances. In this whole discussion, we must not make it a feminist thing as it is as much a woman's choice as a man's. The younger man is also, at the same time, taking the decision to marry an older woman," said Chugh.

A break-up that was bearable

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:44:31 GMT

The lovey-dovey romance between the two of you seems to be fading away. Non-stop cribbing, unnecessary fights and endless quarrels have made you reconsider your decision of moving on with the relationship. So, you finally decide to call-off the relationship. But, wait a minute. Is your partner, too, prepared for the same?

A break-up is always difficult no matter how sour the grapes of love have turned. Despite the fact that the both of you will part ways from now on, you must remember and respect the time you’ve spent together. The break-up is going to hurt, but, keep in mind the following to make it a little bearable for your partner.

Talk it out

For heaven’s sake the person in question deserves to be told in person via verbal communication and not a text message. Shooting an e-mail or dropping in an sms is purely bad manners. If you are not comfortable facing the person, at least talk to them over the phone.

Not a public place

You wouldn’t want your break-up to make National headlines, right? So, better not chose a public place for this extremely personal affair. You can’t be too sure of how your partner is going to react to the ‘breaking news’; so, why take the risk of pacifying a sobbing or screaming soul in public?

No blame-game

Yes, you did have issues with your partner, and that is precisely why you decided to take a call. But, that doesn’t mean that he/she is the only reason for the fallout. The relationship was between the two of you, so, you’d be as much responsible for the break-up. Don’t blame it all on your partner; be a little sensitive (and sensible).

Hear it out

Maybe your partner would be out of words for a couple of moments, but, hear patiently what follows. You’ve said what you had to, so give the other person a chance to talk and hear what they have to say.

Be prepared for the lull

Unless you have another option to fall back on, chances are that you would feel the emptiness and hollowness in your life. Remember, you talked it out and when it didn’t seem to workout, it was only then that you took this decision. You’d be tempted to make a call to know if he/she’s okay, but resist all temptations! If the feeling still troubles you, consult with your friends and decide what’s to be done.

Older men want more sex

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:43:46 GMT

The very oldest men are still interested in sex but illness and a lack of opportunity may be holding them back, Australian researchers reported on Monday.
The "male" hormone testosterone was clearly linked with how often a man over 75 had sex and doctors need to do more studies to see if hormone replacement therapy might benefit older men, the researchers said.
Zoe Hyde of the University of Western Australia and colleagues surveyed more than 2,700 men aged 75 to 95 for their study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. They asked a range of questions about health, relationships and sexual activity.
"The older men were, the less likely they were to be sexually active, but sex remained at least somewhat important to one fifth of men aged 90 to 95 years, refuting the stereotype of the asexual older person," they wrote.
"Of those who were sexually active, more than 40% were dissatisfied with the frequency of sexual activity, preferring sex more frequently."
More than 30% of the men reported some sort of sexual activity in the past year but more than 48% said sex was important, suggesting many wanted to have sex but could not.
Age was a factor but so were testosterone levels, the lack of an interested partner and various diseases from diabetes to prostate cancer.
More than 40% of the men who had not had sex recently said they were not interested.

Confessions of a love-a-holic

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:43:03 GMT

The definition of womanhood has changed from time to time. Gone are the times when women were shy about expressing their love. Today, women are not only upfront about their feelings but also don’t hesitate in professing their love to the special one.

If you, too, belong to the same league of confident women, then here are some reasons why you should not wait for him to make the first move. Read on to see if you are woman enough to break the ice in matters of love…

You’re the woman of substance

On one hand you say you’re the daring and outspoken woman of today who doesn’t believe in following conventions. But when it comes to making the first move, you want to follow the age-old rule. Why not be bold enough to break the norm?

The guy is shy-types

You’ve been friends with him from a long time now and somewhere at the back of your mind you know that he, too, feels for you. He might be passing on those subtle clues also, but is too shy to confront. C’mon girl, he’s doing his bit by throwing hints, right? Now it’s your turn to reciprocate the same, just a bit forthrightly though!

Make him feel special

You’re this stunning, super hot girl and men all around you drool over you. Out of the many men, there’s this guy you seem to like. Since you have this huge fan following, he’s hesitant to come up to you. Girl, understand his hitch and break the ice. Trust me, this would make him feel really special!

Surprise him

So, you know this guy is gonna propose to you in a week. But, you take the plunge and make the first move before him. Wow! This would surely take him by surprise!

So young women, plan a special way of professing your love and bowl him over!

Hide that passionate love bite

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:42:29 GMT

Making passionate love to your spouse can actually make you do a lot of wild things. The animal instinct takes over easily when indulged in a sexy and kinky night. And, the cuddling, nibbling and hugging can easily lead to raunchy and violent kissing and biting. The love bite is definitely a sign of passionate lovemaking, but the same can be awkward when it becomes too visible to be seen by your relatives or colleagues. And, if unwanted attention is making you uncomfortable, then, here are some of the tips that you can follow to get rid (though not completely) of the hickey.
Apply a cold compress immediately. Make sure not to apply ice directly to a hickey. Wrap ice cubes in a towel to make a compress, and remove it if the cold becomes too painful. This will help to lighten the hickey.
Apply concealer in a shade that's lighter than your natural skin color and discreet enough to fend off unwanted attention.
You can even apply a layer of toothpaste to the hickey, and when it stops tingling in a few minutes, remove the toothpaste with a warm washcloth.
Remember that if all else fails, nothing beats a turtleneck sweater - or a scarf in summer.

Is your partner cheating?

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:41:50 GMT

If you happened to see signs of infidelity emerging in your marriage then, its time for some verification regarding devotion and commitment of your mate in your relationship. So, here are top 5 spying tips to check your cheating partner:

• Maintain a Good Distance

When following your spouse maintain a proper distance so that you do not alert him or her on the spot and miss out on important evidences.

• Beware! Do Not Get Caught!

It is very important that you do not get caught by your husband or wife while spying him / her before your investigation is complete. It may lead to a very awkard and dangerous situation too. If your spouse turns out to be right on his part then this act of yours will not only hurt his or her emotions but will also ruin a beautiful married life. This situation may turn out to be dangerous as your spouse may threaten you for the evidences you collected. So, beware and be careful!

• Ensure Your Personal Safety

Cheating spouses tend to meet their lovers in unsafe parts of the city or town because they believe that those are places in which nobody would recognize them. So, if you feel that the place you have followed your spouse seems dangerous, leave immediately. Do not take the chance as personal safety should be your top most priority.

• Keep Trustworthy Person Informed

Is is always advisable that you keep someone informed about what you are doing. This will not only ensure your safety but will also help, if you get into any kind of trouble while spying your spouse.

• Don't Forget to Document Your Evidences

Do not forget to properly document every piece of evidence that you manage to gather about your spouse's infidelity. All these proof will help you decide whether you want to file a divorce case or not. Apart from that, if you decide to file a case then all these evidences will be required in court to prove your spouse's infidelity.

Sadie Frost's beauty secret

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:39:00 GMT

London: Sadie Frost says the secret to her fantastic figure is a "green juice" made from pineapple and avocados.

The 45-year-old actress-turned-designer credits her specially-made morning drink as one of the reasons why she manages to stay so slim and healthy, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"I have a green juice every morning which contains avocados, pineapple, omega oils and protein powder," she said.

Sadie, the ex-wife of actor Jude Law, also leads an active lifestyle and takes part in regular exercise and relaxation sessions.

"I do yoga, a power plate session, a pilates class and a training session every week,' she said.

Hyperactive immune system can kill you!

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:37:40 GMT

A study suggests that people are made critically ill, or even killed, by their own immune response during H1N1 flu pandemic.

Fernando Polack, associate professor of paediatrics at the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, and colleagues in Argentina and Nashville provide a possible explanation for this alarming phenomenon of pandemic flu, according to a Vanderbilt statement.

"Every time there is an influenza pandemic, there is a large proportion of younger, or middle-aged adults who die. We have always explained these deaths, based on presumed virulence of virus, or getting bacterial infection at the same time," Polack said.

During the flu pandemic, Polack and his team went to work looking for evidence of a biomarker he had used before.

A biomarker is a protein that can be measured in blood or tissue whose concentration reflects the severity or presence of some disease state.

Polack found high levels of C4d in lung tissues that suggest a massive, potentially fatal activation of the immune system.

Todd Rice, assistant professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt, has seen people getting killed by the "exuberant" and uncontrolled response of the immune system in other diseases - like sepsis.

Baby born with teeth

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:37:01 GMT

It is a milestone that many babies take a year to reach. Yet when Faye Armstrong was born, she already had her two front teeth - astonishing her parents and midwives.

Now, a fortnight on, two molars are beginning to appear. Her mother Patricia Caulfield, 25, told of her amazement at her daughter's dental development.

"When she was born, I noticed two white slits on her bottom gum. The next morning, when I was feeding her, I felt a sharp pain and saw they had come through fully," the Daily Mail quoted Caulfield as saying.

A baby's teeth begin to develop before they are born. However, they don't usually come through until they are aged between six months and one year.

One in 2,000 babies is born with a tooth or two like Faye. The first to come through are usually the incisors - which are the four front teeth at the top and bottom of the jaw used for cutting and chopping food.

Most children have a full set of 20 milk teeth by the time they're three years old. These teeth will start to fall out around the five years, making way for larger adult teeth.

"My midwife told me this is really rare. Children are sometimes born with buds but hardly ever full teeth," Caulfield said.

Faye was born three weeks early at Ormskirk Hospital in Lancashire, Britain.

Magnetic pulse can burn cancer cells

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:36:25 GMT

Cancer can be 'burned up' with a new technique that uses magnetic pulses to heat tumour cells until they die. Scientists have found they can surround cancer cells with tiny particles of iron-oxide that vibrate when in a magnetic field, causing the cells to heat up.

Tests on mice have shown this can raise the temperature of the tumour cells by six degrees above body temperature, around the point when cancer cells start to die, reports the Telegraph.

The researchers hope the new technique, known as hyperthermia therapy, will allow them to target cancer cells in the body and kill them without harming the surrounding or causing the side effects of chemotherapy drugs and radiotherapy.

"By putting iron nanoparticles within the stem cells, we can deliver them to the cancer. Vibrating the iron particles causes them to heat up and we can hopefully kill the cells we deliver along with the cancer surrounding it," Sam Janes, clinical cancer scientist at University College London, said.

Janes has been working with Quentin Pankhurst, director of research at the Royal Institution, to develop the technique.

Pankhurst has developed a device that is capable of delivering focused, high frequency magnetic pulses that cause the iron-oxide particle to vibrate extremely fast.

The research was presented at the British Thoracic Society's winter meeting Friday.

Female malaria mosquitoes targets mostly men!

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:35:47 GMT

The deadly disease kills over a million worldwide. The mosquito-borne disease has been rampant across the country this monsoon. On an average, 5 lakhs people are affected and over 1,000 die of malaria in India.

Now, a study has revealed a deadly truth about the fatal disease Malaria. It says, out of the 35 malaria deaths reported in Mumbai during the months of June and July this monsoon, there were seven female deaths and 28 male deaths. The death ratio of males and females proves the theory floated by two eminent doctors in the city, that men are more prone to the disease than women.

Dr Nilima Kshirsagar from KEM Hospital and Dr Shobhona Sharma, Prof of Biology and expert of malaria from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), had conducted a two-year study and presented a scientific paper pointing that men between 15-40 years of age were more prone to malaria and seek medical intervention.

The study suggested a correlation between sex hormones and susceptibility or protection in males and females. "We are continuously collecting data from hospitals as there is high mortality due to malaria during monsoons. This data will help a great deal in analyzing why does this happen,” said Dr Kshirsagar.

"Understanding the epidemiology of malaria-attributed illness and identifying the population segment most at risk is vital to the effective targeting of public health resources. This epidemiological study of clinical malaria in hypoendemic populations, therefore, has critical relevance to the formulation and implementation of successful global anti-malarial public health strategies and educational campaigns,” she added.

According to experts, early diagnosis and prompt treatment are the basic elements of malaria control. Early and effective treatment of malaria disease will shorten its duration and prevent the development of complications and the great majority of deaths from malaria. Avoid taking Aspirin, Dispirin and Brufen tablets to the patient as it is known to increase the bleeding tendency and also it increases the stomach pain. According to World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Paracetamol is the first-line treatment for fever and pain in children”. For kids go for paracetamol based Crocin drops & suspension, due to its safety record of more than 3 decades of use in India for mild to moderate fever and pain. Please get a blood slide made and take treatment from a doctor. Drink lots of fluids.

The illness resolves with time. Paracetamol based Crocin Pain Reliever are prescribed to ease the pains associated with fever. Doctors however seek caution while administering NSAIDS in such cases as various international findings have shown that it is extremely essential to gently reduce symptoms of pain and fever. Opines Dr. Tarun Sahni, Sr. Consultant, General Medicine, "Unlike NSAIDs, Paracetamol does not lead to drastic fever reduction (hypothermia). NSAIDs have shortcomings and in no way can be totally relied on to provide a safe relief from symptoms of fever and pain.”

Though the BMC’s epidemiology department does not have a definite answer to the problem, they are pinning their hopes on the study.

Smoking can disfigure your heart

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:34:58 GMT

Exposure to prolonged puffing can perk up levels of a stress hormone in the heart that can potentially reshape the left ventricle, according to new research.

In a Chicago University (Illinois) [CUI] study using rats as animal model, a five-week exposure to cigarette smoke was associated with the activation of enzymes called mitogen-activated protein kinases that govern cell growth and survival in heart muscle.

Activation of these enzymes may be a key event in cigarette smoke-induced heart injury, said Mariann Piano, professor of bio-behavioural health science in the CUI College of Nursing, who led the study.

"Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, one of which is nicotine," Piano said. "However, the effect of nicotine on the initiation and progression of cigarette smoke-mediated cardiovascular events remains controversial."

To date, small clinical trials of nicotine replacement therapies have not shown increased cardiovascular risk, even in patients with cardiovascular disease, Piano said. This suggested the need to study cigarette smoke as a whole, according to a Chicago release.

In the new study, rats were exposed either to cigarette smoke or to normal room air. After five weeks, the animals were examined by echocardiography. Heart tissue was examined under the microscope and by Western blot analysis, used to detect specific proteins in tissue samples.

The results showed exposure to cigarette smoke was associated with significant changes in the shape of the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber, and an increase in the levels of the activated forms of the enzymes in the heart muscle.

Researchers also found increased levels of norepinephrine, a hormone released when a stressful event causes any of a host of physiological changes, in urine samples taken from the animals.

The study was published in the November issue of the European Journal of Heart Failure.

Love your body

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:34:28 GMT

Designer Michelle Salins tells us all about her side of the fitness saga.

How it began
Fitness happened to be a part of my life without really intending to be so. I had chosen to dance with and for Shaimak Davar’s company when I was in Mumbai. I loved dancing and that kept me completely fit. After that, I continued my fitness routine before work took over. There was suddenly too much of travel to do, so fitness took a back seat for a while. However, I got back to fitness when I joined a gym. I restarted my fitness regime recently with a commitment, not to stop and also do a bit of swimming and dance which I love.

My regime
I usually workout for an hour at the gym post work. As much as I love it, I cannot spend more time there as it’s a hectic season at work. I am a complete foodie, so I have to constantly work on my abs if I have to get into my slim fit dresses. I include a bit of exercise even at work as I insist of climbing the stairs, and end up doing so at least 20 times a day. I look at that as a blessing.

My space
I workout at Zela. They have a nice ambience. The swimming pool is the most exciting part of the gym. It’s also close to my studio and that helps.

My diet
Breakfast is the most important meal of my day. I usually have south Indian dishes such as idli or roasted dosa. Cereal or toast with freshly made jams, eggs and a fruit yogurt also figure occasionally. Lunch is quick, with two rotis and vegetables and maybe a bit of brown rice and dal. Dinner takes place early and mostly rice, dal, vegetables and yogurt and occasionally non-veg and sometimes just a soup. I don’t snack regularly, but Sundays are different. I don’t avoid snacking intentionally, it’s just that I have no time to do so. Instead, I end up drinking a tall glass of milk. I love milk and can have it at anytime of the day!

Fitness means
Treating yourself to a good life during the years you live.

Fitness philosophy
Work hard, play hard! Whether it is the treadmill or on the dance floor, just enjoy it.

Tea, passport to a healthy heart

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:33:42 GMT

Have you ever considered that your tea jar quietly sitting in your kitchen cabinet could also be your passport to a healthy heart? It could, in the long run, help save you from going under the cardiac surgeon’s knife, says Dr Gautam Banerjee, PhD, principal scientist, Hindustan Unilever Research Centre, Bangalore. And of course from those dozen tests and scans that spot the tiniest clogged artery. Well… almost. Put the kettle to boil as you read on.
Tea, in adequate servings, is known to keep your heart fit and healthy. The secret to health lies in the flavonoids in tea, which offer myriad health benefits, making your daily cup a treasure trove of health. From improving blood circulation to helping to keep your arteries unclogged, tea is not just tasty option for the palate but good for the heart as well.
So, what exactly are these flavonoids and how do they benefit us? Flavonoids are found naturally in apples, onions, cocoa, tea etc.
They are not nutrients, yet they are thought to support health due to properties which enable them to reduce inflammation, inhibit cancer cells, maintain vascular function and slow oxidation of LDL cholesterol. And tea is the richest source of flavonoids. For example Red Label tea contains about 140-160mg of flavonoids per cup of tea.
Studies done in various populations point to a positive relationship between tea consumption and heart health. In fact, tea consumption has been associated with improved blood circulation. A healthy circulation ensures the optimal delivery of nutrients to and from cells as per the needs of target tissues. This is important from the context of maintaining optimal health.This, in turn,results in lowered risk of heart diseases.
Flavonoids are present in all tea leaves, but the quantity and quality varies depending on the region it is grown in and the kind of tea. It is here that careful selection and blending of tea plays an important role.
Experts indicate a daily intake of 415 mg of flavonoids could be good for your heart. An average cup of tea (made with 2g of tea in 100ml water) contains 150-190 mg of flavonoids. So, if you are sipping your daily three to four cups of chai, you help keep your heart healthy.
So, the next time you stop for an extra breath while running up the stairs, head home and brew a steaming cup of tea. Why not sip away when good health is a cup away!

Keep Alzheimer's at bay with purple fruit

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:32:56 GMT

Eating blueberries and other purple fruit and vegetables can keep Alzheimer's at bay because they are a rich source of chelators, scientists say.
Chelators bind the loosely configured iron molecules in the body and prevent them from producing dangerous toxins, called hydroxyl radicals, which trigger degenerative illnesses like Alzheimer's.
Prof. Douglas Kell, a bioanalytical scientist at the University of Manchester, led the ground-breaking research, reports the journal Archives of Toxicology.
Kell argues that the means by which poorly-liganded (banded) iron accelerates the onset of debilitating diseases shows up areas in which the traditional thinking is flawed.
For instance, Vitamin C is thought to be of great benefit to the body's ability to defend itself against toxins and diseases.
However, Kell indicates that excess vitamin C can in fact have the opposite effect if unliganded iron is present. Only when iron is suitably and safely bound ("chelated") will vitamin C work.
Kell said: "Much of modern biology has been concerned with the role of different genes in human disease.
"The importance of iron may have been missed because there is no gene for iron as such. What I have highlighted in this work is therefore a crucial area for further investigation, as many simple predictions follow from my analysis," he said.

Boys hitting puberty a year earlier

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:32:14 GMT

Boys are hitting puberty an average year earlier than their fathers' generation, a study says.

A study in Bulgaria found boys today start to develop when they reach 12 years of age, while those in the 1970s began maturing when they were 13.

The findings suggest that trend towards earlier puberty isn't limited to girls, who are developing sexually at increasingly younger ages, reports the journal Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Researchers from Cedars Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles in the US compared 6,200 healthy boys with a similar 1970s study, reports the Daily Mail.

They measured height, weight, testicular volume, penis length and circumference of the subjects.

Study leader Fnu Deepinder from Sinai Centre said: "Studies done several decades ago in the same population reported that a leap forward in sexual development occurs at ages 13 through 16. However, our study indicated that this spurt takes place between 12 and 15 years."

The team found that boys' testicles did not grow substantially until the beginning of puberty, around 11 years.

However, penises appeared to grow gradually from birth to sexual maturity, starting at around two inches and reaching an average length of nearly four inches by 19 years.

However, both penises and testicles grew most rapidly between ages 12 to 16, while boys added the most inches in height and gained the most weight between 12 and 14 years of age.

The study found that boys of the same age in the 1970s study had relatively smaller genitalia. However, these size differences disappeared between the two generations by the age of 17.

Custom Made Facials for You

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:31:28 GMT

Facials are the best way to nourish and pamper your damaged skin. All the steps involved in the facial procedure have a specific role to play.

Facials, in general, have a lot of benefits, but, one must make sure that the facial must be done in accordance with your skin type. Below listed are a few…

Benefits of Facials:

• A good facial treatment detoxifies and nourishes the skin.
• It scrubs off dead skin and cleanses the skin thoroughly.
• It improves blood circulation, giving it a healthy glow.
• Facial tightens and tones the skin, keeping wrinkles at bay and helps in the prevention of premature ageing.

However, it must be noted that your skin requires a facial massage only after a particular age. Till mid twenties, the skin is sensitive, young and fresh and doesn’t require artificial products for the above. Therefore, one must get a facial treatment done only when the skin ‘needs’ an artificial method of pumping life into it.

As mentioned earlier, a facial must be taken in accordance with one’s skin type. Take your pick from the following…

Who is the most stylish celebrity couple

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:29:08 GMT

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have been named the most stylish celebrity couple by fashion magazine `InStyle`.

The young pair, who play onscreen lovers in the vampire franchise and are said to be dating in real life too, topped the poll due to Pattinson`s `public-school boy style` and Stewart`s `laidback American approach to fashion`, Contactmusic reported.

The pair paved its way ahead of fashionable `Sex And The City` star Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick, while `Pirates Of the Carribean` star Johnny Depp with wife Vanessa Paradis clinched the third slot.

Other celebrity couples who made it to the top 10 included actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, pop star Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony and `High School Musical` stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.

However, Hollywood`s `it` couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, popularly called `Brangelina`, scrambled into the top 25, landing at number 23.

Time to make it a no-fuss wear

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:28:07 GMT

Designer Sharbari Dutta has been a part of the fashion fraternity for almost two decades now and not for once has she wanted to deviate from designing for men. Hence, it comes as no surprise that dhotis — an integral part of menswear — is also a part of her many collections. With a celebrity clientele consisting of the Who’s Who of the country, the designer talks to After Hrs on what gets men to slip on her dhotis without much fuss.

You have stuck to designing for men ever since you started off. Why so?
Designing for men gives me a sense of contentment and now, my name is synonymous with men’s fashion. It’s quite a challenge to get men into Indian clothes nowadays and even more so, when it’s a very traditional dhoti. They just seem to be so wary of it. But that’s exactly the mindset I wanted to break into.

Dhotis have been regular wear for Indian men from time immemorial but over the years, men snub the idea of being seen in a dhoti. As a designer, was this a hurdle for you?
When I started designing dhotis, I never faced any hurdle because I knew that my designs would lure them to it. Of course, all this took time but I knew that somewhere down the line, you can’t really take away the fascination or awe that any Indian man would have for Indian wear. That led me on. Moreover, women too would occasionally like to see their men in traditional Indian clothes. If the man doesn’t buy a dhoti for himself, a woman will buy it for her man. Either way, the dhoti makes way to his wardrobe.

Have you kept this in mind while designing dhotis, as most of them are very ornate?
When I design a dhoti, the one thing I know for sure is that this is not something a man will wear every day and automatically, that makes a dhoti an occasional wear — occasions that are really very special. So, keeping the designs ornate doesn’t make much of a difference when you’re probably wearing it once or twice a year.

But is convenience something you keep in mind too?
Of course, considering that it’s really going to be impossible for a man to wear the dhoti as it was worn previously and keep the pleats intact too. We have modernised it in as many possible ways to make one feel more comfortable in it.

Yoga helps get rid of restless mind

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:25:57 GMT

Human brain never takes rest, it keeps on working all the time even when the body is put to rest. The work load creates pressure on our mind which finally results in agitation, aggressiveness and restlessness.
Yoga is a solution to a restless mind. Follow the procedure mentioned here, beneficial in maintaining the calm:
-Spread a mat on a clean, calm and airy place and sit in Padmasana.
-Now set your fingers in Gyan Mudra.
-Keep your back-bone erect.
-Now loose your neck and move it up, down, right and left.
-Repeat the movement at-least five times and then gradually extend its duration.
Its regular practice removes mental stress and strain and the practitioner enjoys a cool, calm and serene state of mind.

Bhramari Pranayama: More Beneficial at Mid-Night

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:25:14 GMT

Pranayam is the best way to tranquilise one’s mind. Its regular practice increases concentration. Experts suggest performing ‘Bhramari Pranayama’ after mid-night to avail the maximum benefits incorporated by the serene atmosphere – Firt sit in a comfortable posture keeping the head, back and spine erect. Then cover both the ears by pressing the thumbs of both your hands. Inhale slowly and deeply through both nostrils.Retain the breath for a while then exhale touching the lungs, throat area and larynx.While inhaling and exhaling, concentrate the conscious mind on the throat and produce a humming sound like the buzzing of a bee. One should start by doing it 10-12 times a day which can be gradually increase to 25-30 times. Its regular practice reduces flickering of mind and results in concentration. Bhramari Pranayam is suggested for those who are suffering from insomnia and is useful for hypertension and depression.

Down and out? Try yoga to turn your life around

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:24:31 GMT

If you are stressed out or too much under pressure then Paschimottanasana is the answer to your problems. This posture calms the brain and relieves stress, depression and restlessness which are bound to engulf you if you are laid down by excessive stress and strain.

Procedure :

1. Sit erect on a mat and stretch out both the legs in front; toes pointing upwards.
2. Inhale, stretch both the arms up, lengthen your spine and look forward.
3. Exhale and start to bend the trunk and head forward.
4. Bend forward until your hands reach your calves, ankles or feet and try to rest your forehead on the knees, keeping them straight. Allow your elbows to hang loose so that they can touch the floor. Release tension in your neck and shoulder.
5. Try to stay in the posture for 1 minute and keep your upper back, neck and head all in one line as much as you can.
6. Return to the original position by stretching your arms forward and raising your upper body while exhaling.
7. Repeat the process 3 to 4 times.

Benefits:
1. This asana is excellent for stretching the spine, shoulders and hamstrings.
2. Reduce fat in the abdomen and makes the loins lean.
3. Soothes anxiety and restlessness.
4. Makes spine, lumber nerves, and abdominal muscles healthy and keep them in sound condition.
5. Regular practice expands the lungs more.
6. Stimulates liver, kidneys, ovaries and uterus.
7. Improves digestion and relives constipation, flatulence, belching etc.
8. Cures piles and diabetes also.
9. Checks insomnia and skin diseases.

Precaution:
The asana is not recommended in case of asthma, slipped disc, hernia, diarrhea, and back injury and post abdominal surgery disorders.

Massage can also give Yogic-Benefits

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:23:39 GMT

Giving a place to massage in our daily routine brings lots of benefits. Thai massage also speaks a lot about the benefits one can gain from it.
Thai massage is a complete YOGA. It’s a type of massage given in Thai style that includes yoga like stretching and rhythmic pressing of the entire body by giving deep massage.
If you follow a well tailored fitness program which includes exercise, nutrition, meditations, and rest, then add massage to your schedule as well.
But do not take massage as some therapeutic method which can cure or treat any physical/mental disorder.
It is simply a method which can decrease stress, rebuild and rejuvenates energy, repair wasted tissues and enhances mobility of body organs. Besides this, massage helps you to remain beautiful and youthful by slowing down your ageing process.
Damaged skin is taken good care by massage as it rejuvenates the skin to look better. With age blood circulation becomes bad to worse but when blood circulation is improved through massage, it brings healthy glow back by boosting blood circulation.
Our body consists of number of tiny pores which play a vital role in gaseous exchange. If daily cleanliness through bathing and massaging is not maintained, these poses get clogged and the skin as well the whole body becomes susceptible to various diseases. One must observe a systematic routine of massage to ensure continuation of good health along with agile, active and delighted mind.

Remember some tips while practicing 'Asanas'

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:22:53 GMT

The clear practices of yoga ensures a beautiful and healthy way of life. Therefore it is not advisable to practice them in disorganised and unsystematic form.
Let us know what is the right and most appropriate time to practice asanas. Before starting the exercise, make sure that your bladder and bowels are completely evacuated. Also clean your nose and throat before practicing asanas.
Always drink a glass of lukewarm water, 15 minutes before the practice session. During morning hours, the life force is at its peak and the movements can be done with some freshness that too with a cool and calm state of mind.
Like other calls, try to practice asanas as daily hygienic duty. If due to inevitable obligations, you are unable to spend time in the morning time then the best time to do those asanas is in the evening before dinner, provided you are not tired.
The most important thing that one needs to keep in mind is that regularity and relaxation plays an important role and should be given top priority.

Health benefits of ‘Garudasana’

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:22:10 GMT

Yoga proposes a number of poses involving simple body twists. Garudasana or Eagle pose is an excellent asana to flexion the joints.
Method:
1. Stand erect and lift one leg and twine it around the other leg.
2. Lock the ankle of the other leg with the toes of twisted leg.
3. When leg twisting is well secured, try the arm and hand twist by twining one arm around the other.
4. Join the palms against each other
5. Maintain the pose for some time and than return to the normal position.
Benefits:
The posture helps to loosen the joints by flexing and stretching the muscles of the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and ankles. The asana ensures complete freedom of movements for various joints.

Yoga can help you grow taller

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:21:28 GMT

If you are not satisfied with your height, then Tadasana or Mountain pose is the best asana to improve your height. Yoga practitioners consider it as a pose that promotes internal organs to work more efficiently and helps a lot in increasing height.
Procedure :
First stand erect; bring legs together, hands by the side of the thighs, look straight in the front. Then bring your body weight evenly on to all four corners of the feet. Later interlace fingers of both the hands and lift your hands slowly upwards, with the palms facing up. Also keep your head and chest firm and straight.
Now slowly raise your heels up and stand on toes while inhaling. Stay for a few seconds and then exhale slowly by bringing down the heels and hands to the normal position.
Benefits:
Tadasana is used to improve the posture of the body. It is good for those who want to increase their height, strengthens their thighs, knees, ankles, chest, abdomen and buttocks. The exercise also helps in making the spine become flexible. It also removes pain in the back bone.
Caution:
Tadasana should not be performed by those who have complaints of reeling sensation and those who are suffering from low blood pressure.

Enhance your charm by Sheetkari Pranayam

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:20:42 GMT

To have an eye catching, pleasing personality, one has to be blessed with glowing complexion and radiant face which mirrors every beautiful trait embossed on one’s face. Sheetkari Pranayam, if practiced daily, can enhance the glow and charm of your face.
To follow it first sit upright in a comfortable posture keeping head, neck and spine straight and erect. Open the lips and keep the teeth together. Press the tip of the tongue lightly against the lower front teeth. Roll the tongue a little from left and right giving it a circular shape.
Then inhale through the mouth over the tongue with a kind of hissing sound – like producing the sound-si… si… After filling your lung completely, close the mouth, and then exhale through both the nostrils without retention.
Benefits :
Sheetkari Pranayam clears complexion and helps in increasing the glow on the face. It checks untimely occurrence of wrinkles-crinkles and blemishes. It also helps in restricting the aging process. It keeps you in high spirits, charged and agile through out the day. And it also cools the body down and improves disposition and eases out the problems of hunger and thirst

Hastpadasana – A Way to Weight-Reduction programme

arun — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:19:55 GMT

Many people who suffer from obesity and are loaded with extra weight find it a cumbersome task to shed off that extra ounce from their body which is causing a whole lot of difficulties in performing daily chores. Youngsters too are taking health-issues for granted and are least bothered about paying sincere attention to this issue.
They have developed ill-habits of eating food which eventually leads to hazardous results and to become obese is one of them. If they become little considerate about health issues then Yoga has got such ‘asanas’ which can help them in getting rid of excess fat. Hastpadasana is one such asana which can help in cutting extra fat from the body.

How to do?
First stand straight in mountain pose then inhale and raise your hands above the head. After some time exhale and bend forward till your hands touch your feet. Slowly bend further and grasp your toes. Retain the pose for few seconds and then inhale and return to the starting position.
Precautions:
Initially you will not be able to bend till your abdomen touches your upper legs, so keep on trying and after two to three weeks you will be in a position to touch your forehead with knees. Never bend your knees while bending forward and don't continue the posture for more than five to 10 seconds initially. Also forward bending should not be performed by push and jerks.
Benefits:
The task helps check obesity and makes the spine flexible. It also helps in removing back pain. It also prevents constipation and other stomach ailments.