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Bring a Smile On Their Face! Support Kids With Cancer

GOQii employees enjoying with the kids at Access Life

Cancer is a cruel and expensive disease. It drains you physically and exhausts you financially. And for the thousands of families who travel to Mumbai for treatment, one of the most challenging hurdles is to find a cheap and safe place to stay while the patient is being treated. Which is why Access Life is like an answer to a prayer.

Access Life, started by two young professionals Ankeet Dave and Girish Nair provides provides a loving and temporary home for the parent or care taker and the child undergoing the treatment for cancer at Tata Memorial Hospital and Wadia hospital in Mumbai. Their mission is to offer a home-like environment for these families and also try to improve the quality of life of these children by providing practical support services, educational resources and recreational programs.

Currently, the shelter in Chembur houses 8 kids who have come from Kolkata, Orissa and Maharashtra. The children are as young as 1 year to 5 years.

The children stay till the time they are undergoing treatment. Access Life provides for accommodation and food at absolutely no cost to the parents, all that is needed is a letter from the doctor treating the patient. It’s not just free accommodation and food, Access Life also organizes events for the kids and calls for volunteers who can just come and spend time with the kids at the home.

GOQii employees as part of the Friday activities coupled with the Karma initiative organized one such event at Access Life’s home where in few employees spent their Friday evening with the kids. There was music, dance and games and a complete fun filled evening.

All that Access Life asks for is to come and spend time with the kids. The stigma attached to Cancer still looms large over those affected by Cancer. Awareness and education about Cancer is very low in India. It is considered a contagious disease that can spread by touching or even speaking to the patient. Access Life strives to break this myth by inviting one and all to come forward and brighten the lives of these little angels by spending time with them. You could just give an hour a week if not every day. Believe me you will not regret it.

If you want to know more and also would like to spend some time with the kids visit www.accesslife.org

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5 basic exercises to shed your excess weight –Part 1

walk-or-run

In today’s hectic life – with packed schedules, calendars have no column for relaxation or time for doing anything good. This also translates into “No Time” for eating healthy food which invariably leads one to have all sorts of JUNK food available on the menu.  and is a ready to eat option. Outcome of overeating junk food is ‘excess weight’.

Excess weight slowly and steadily leads to Obesity and to shed this excess weight and get back on track becomes a huge task. Nevertheless it is not impossible if one puts in the effort, had dedication and patience. Exercise is the key to creating a physically, mentally, and emotionally healthier body. However, at the same time, some of the moves may be too painful or nearly impossible for those who are heavy.

Here are some basic exercise which can be done to avoid unhealthy lifestyle, without any harm:

  1. Walking–This is one of the best and basic workouts that can be done by one and all, anywhere without spending a single penny and is a low-impact aerobic exercise. It may still be difficult to work for those who are morbidly corpulent, which is when baby steps need to be implemented with a walker, walking cane, or assistance. Slow walking burns extra calories for those carrying extra weight because they have to exert more energy than a normal-weight person.Friends Power Walking in Park
  1. Exercise Ball Workouts: people on the heavier side often find it difficult to exercise in front of others. The best solution in this case is Exercise Ball, which is really a great help to do different workouts at home. An exercise ball will help them to do the variety of strengthening, toning, stretching and balancing exercises with support. Exercise balls can be used for abdominal crunches by lying on your back, setting your ankles onto the ball, and lifting upward with your core and both arms behind your head.

You can do:

# “Bouncing On the Ball Workout” targets: core, quads, glutes, and hamstrings

# “Inner-Thigh Squeeze Workout”, targets – Strengthens inner thighs and core

# “Half Squat” with the help of Exercise Ball and wall”, which targets: Strengthens abs, glutes, and hamstrings

Once you get comfortable with the ball, try incorporating it into your everyday activities, such as sitting on it while you are on the computer, eating at the dinner table, or reading a book.

swissball

 

 

 

 

  1. Aqua Aerobics: You can perform your exercise under water because water makes you feel lighter by helping to support your body weight. It also lessens the impact on your joints. You can do swimming if you know.

For more read my Blog “One-Stop Shop Workout – Swimming”:  http://goqii.com/blog/one-stop-shop-workout-swimming/

Water-Aerobics-Exercises-for-Weight-Loss

  1. Seated Stationary Bike: The seated or recumbent stationary bike is different than a normal upright exercise bike. It provides a backrest optimal for heavier or obese people who haven’t developed a strong enough abdominal core to hold them upright long enough. It also places less stress on your lower spine, which is a frequent problem for those who are heavy. Biking also engages different muscles than walking or running do. Alternating exercise days between biking and brisk walking will also give the body a dynamic bonus aerobic workout.

Stationary Bike

  1. Group Exercise Classes:  There are chances that you will get bored and demotivated if you are working out alone. The best way then to motivate yourself is by joining a group exercise class that has people who all have similar goals such as yours. Each of them then motivates the other to achieve the respective goals. Initially, it will be difficult to achieve your goal, but with the continuous motivation and effort, you will achieve your goal.

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Get up set your goal and start working towards it.

Look forward to the second part of my blog where I will take you through some more exercises.

Note: Please consult your Doctor before including the above exercises into your routine, as an individual’s body and medical conditions vary.  

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“I stopped making excuses and took efforts to change my lifestyle… you can do it too” Says Gaurav Shangari

Gaurav working out in the Gym - Copy

I am a 31-year-old  self- employed individual based in New Delhi. I was never very active throughout my life. I largely led a sedentary lifestyle and was not involved in any kind of physical activity. I would drive to work, would keep sitting in the office, and did not follow a proper diet although I was aware that I was not eating right and the importance of good nutrition in staying healthy.

About the time I turned 18, I started eating a lot of junk food. Outings with friends would always mean consuming junk food and sweetened beverages. It was excessive now that I look back and that led to tremendous weight gain even though I had been naturally skinny all my life.

Over the next 12 years of living, such a lifestyle meant that I was heavier by 30 kgs and this excess weight came with other issues such as high cholesterol, breathing difficulties and reduced mobility of the joints.

It had got to a point where I was fed up of seeing doctors and swallowing pills day in day out which provided only temporary relief from the effects of a self-destructive lifestyle. It’s then that I decided to put my foot down and take back control of my health.

In March 2015, on the strong insistence of my wife and my mother’s support, I went to a nutritionist to try and figure what to do. I was on the path to recovery but a major turning point came in May 2015 when I got introduced to GOQii. One of my friends had already tried GOQii and she strongly recommended it to me. So I decided to give it a shot as well and ordered the GOQii band. And I can say with confidence that I’m glad I made that decision.

I strapped the GOQii band to my wrist, got a personal coach in Anushree Ashtekar, and started on my journey to make a permanent shift to a healthier lifestyle. With the guidance of my coach, I started becoming physically more active. Initially, things were tough but my coach helped me in making gradual changes and today I am at the point that I work out at least 4-5 times a week.

My body composition has changed drastically and so many other annoying issues have completely disappeared. It’s been close to 10 months now and I have lost 20 kgs – going down from an unhealthy 90.5 kgs to the current 70 kg which led to my cholesterol levels also reducing significantly. It’s all about making a commitment to yourself.

My goal was to increase my activity levels and improve fitness, and the weight loss came naturally.

GOQii has done a lot of good to me. Personal coaching has been the key factor in my journey. The coach is a great motivator who helps you to make gradual changes for the better with each passing day.

My coach, Anushree, gives me practical advice and answers all the queries promptly, which is critical in being able to make immediate decisions towards better health as you go about your daily life.

Thanks to Anushree my eating habits have improved. It’s no more junk food for me but a diet full of nutritious food. Fruits and salads have become a part of my lifestyle these were missing earlier. I have gotten rid of my long standing issue of frequent muscle soreness. Digestive issues too are no longer a concern and the bottom line is that my energy levels have gone up considerably.

Currently, I am well on my way to becoming a physically active person. What I love most about GOQii is that it holds me accountable on a daily basis and my coach keeps me on my toes. When I glance at it and see that I’m short on steps today, for example, I know I have to take a few extra flights of stairs or go for a jog or a walk before the day is over. The last thing I want to do is go to bed without having reached my daily targets.

What does Anushree Ashtekar have to say about her Player?

Before coming on the GOQii program, Gaurav had quite a history of health issues. Sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, vitamin B12 and vitamin D3 deficiencies, fatty liver etc.. His wife forced him towards Naturopathy and that was a turning point in his life. He got many of his health issues in control and then wished to try out the GOQii coaching program for further guidance from a personal coach. We clicked instantly, as a coach, I understood his needs and started working towards them. We started working on reducing his muscle soreness, building a healthy physique and immunity and bought many of these issues in control.Today, I can say, he has come a very long way. The health issues that he had to suffer have made him very self-driven now regarding his health. And what made our association successful on the GOQii program was his own dedication, determination, open-mindedness and trust in me as his coach.

He has changed for good and he will be getting only better!

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We Can I Can

WCD-messages

“We can I Can” is the theme for this year’s World Cancer Day and this theme will continue through 2018. The idea of ‘We Can I Can’ is to explore how everyone –together and individually- can do their part to reduce the global burden of Cancer.

Today is World Cancer Day and experts say that one of the best ways to reduce the risk of Cancer is by adopting a healthy lifestyle. It is said that you can reduce the risk of many common cancers such as bowel, breast, uterine, ovarian, Oesophagus, kidney and liver by maintaining a healthy weight, eating right and making physical activity part of your daily routine.

As individuals ‘I Can’:

  • Make healthy lifestyle choices that include avoiding tobacco, getting plenty of physical activity, eating a healthy diet
  • Learn to detect signs and symptoms of cancer it only makes it easier to treat
  • Support Cancer patients and survivors with physical and emotional impacts of cancer after treatment
  • Share stories of own cancer experiences, communicate with decision makers and join support groups to help make positive changes for all people affected by cancer
  • When possible return to work after cancer treatment to restore normality, routine, stability, social contact and income.

As community ‘We can’:

  • Educate people about the link between lifestyle behaviors – including smoking, poor diet, and lack of physical activity – and cancer risk.
  • Dispel myths that lead to stigma and discrimination against people with cancer in some communities.
  • Encourage schools and workplaces to implement nutrition and physical activity policies that can help people to adopt healthy habits for life.
  • Improve access to affordable cancer health care for all populations.

(source cancer.org)

We all can do our bit. I remember there is an organization in Mumbai called Ugam, a voluntary support group formed by Childhood Cancer survivors. UGAM means “To Rise” underscoring their determination to rise above all obstacles in life & be VICTORS. UGAM, based in Mumbai is the youngest unit of the oldest & most prominent NGO, The Indian Cancer Society( ICS) under its survivorship programme.

Ugam’s vision is to ensure that every childhood cancer survivor finds his/ her way to celebrate life after winning the battle with cancer. Ugam helps in self-empowerment of the survivors. It helps in fulfilling their dreams that were put on hold while they were battling this tormenting disease and the hardships of the treatments. Helping in overcoming social fears and hindrances, overcoming their physical and mental disabilities and moving ahead despite them, Educational and career related assistance and guidance.

Ugam provides a platform for them to talk about their experience and problems and help in building their confidence and self-esteem. Ugam tries and gives them a reason to lead a social and personal life in the future.

We at GOQii are advocates of a healthy lifestyle and doing Karma. So let make a beginning…..

Here is another interesting read….

http://goqii.com/blog/foods-for-breast-cancer-prevention/

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]