GOQii

Blog

Archives for December 2023

By Leave a Comment

24 things to do in 2024

As the dawn of 2024 approaches, it’s time to embrace a year of transformation with open arms and an open heart. This is not just another lap around the sun but a fresh canvas awaiting our colorful strokes of change. It’s a call to action, a challenge to ourselves to make the most of every moment with 24 enriching activities that promise to enhance our well-being, expand our horizons, and enrich our lives. From the simplicity of saving a few rupees to the grandeur of exploring uncharted territories, each task is a step towards a more fulfilling year. So, let’s embark on this journey of self-improvement and make 2024 a testament to growth, health, and happiness.

  1. Save money – even if it is just Rs. 50 daily but get a piggy bank, start saving from 1st day of 2024.
  2. Try different foods – there are so many varieties – Indian as well as exotic that we haven’t even heard or seen before. Do give them a try!
  3. Leave 1 bad habit – Changing unhygienic habits, Shouting / yelling at anyone or something more challenging.
  4. Plant a seed – Lazy ones should try, as it makes you responsible, you learn something new and are a part of making an ecofriendly surrounding.
  5. Feed any animal – If you can’t pet an animal, try doing this. Get a packet of biscuits every evening to feed the stray dogs outside your colony. Feeding milk to cat or water and grains to the birds also can be done.
  6. Gift your self – treat yourself with something you have been wanting since weeks.
  7. Self-Health Care – we don’t even bother to go for a checkup unless and until we have a problem. This year we are going to make a difference.
  8. 1 hour no phone – this 1 hour is your “me time” in this hour you can revise your whole day / meditate / prepare yourself for the upcoming day / do whatever you like.
  9. Start reading again – And I mean paper back books, not a Kindle.
  10. Some healthy intake – chamomile / green tea / moringa powder / ACV / 1 tsp ghee – trust me you will not regret this decision !
  11. Do what you have not done before – I am going to try aerial yoga this year. You can do anything that you have never done before.
  12. Walk – I don’t have to brief the benefits here, you do it and you will see a change in your overall health !
  13. Weekend activity – I am going to learn driving this year on weekends, why don’t you try swimming, cooking or dancing ??
  14. Go on a vacation – 2024 demands growth, so lets decide to explore a new city or country this year !
  15. Develop 1 spiritual habit – This way you are going to sync your health and energy with the universe.
  16. Family Time – try to have atleast 1 meal with your family daily with talks and no electronics around.
  17. Call that long lost friend or cousin of yours and bond again over a cup of Chai and Charcha!!
  18. Learn a new language/ word daily – send your brain to the gym.
  19. Keep yourself well hydrated – I mean by water, not caffeine or alcohol!
  20. Revise your diet before you enter 2024 – see where you are going wrong and do not repeat that mistake again in 2024. take baby steps to correct your plate and palate
  21. Do nothing for the whole day!
  22. Do not buy this – Check your list of things you’ve bought frequently this year and avoid buying them next year completely.
  23. Get sunlight – Investing 10 mins daily to get a sun bath.
  24. If you are procrastinating something – 2024 is the right time to do it!

As we bid adieu to a year spent well, committing to 24 life-affirming activities, we reflect on the progress we’ve made. Each small change, from the coins clinking in our piggy banks to the new languages that now dance on our tongues, has contributed to a larger metamorphosis. Our endeavors in 2024 have not just been tasks ticked off a list but milestones on a journey of personal evolution.

We stand at the threshold of the future, not as the people we were, but as the sum of our experiences, our learned habits, and our savored moments. Let’s carry forward this spirit of proactive living and make every year better than the last. Here’s to a 2024 well-lived, and to the many more years that will echo the positive changes we’ve embraced!

#BeTheForce

By Leave a Comment

Role of Glutamine in our body

body building

Many of us exercise in the gyms but, most of us are unaware of many things that are associated with workouts and our body. Glutamine is one such thing and many of us are unaware of what is its role in our body.

Glutamine is one of the 20 amino acids that are used to make protein. Glutamine can be found in muscle tissue, plasma, and in nearly every animal product you gulp down. It is found in animal-derived protein sources such as meats, dairy products, and eggs.

Glutamine is critically important to a wide range of bodily processes and our body can produce enough to meet its needs under normal circumstances but, not always. It is more essential for our body if we regularly work out.

During intense workouts, the need for glutamine is higher than the body’s capability to produce it. Apart from workouts, during conditions of stress such as illness, burns, surgery or fasting, the body’s requirement of Glutamine is so high that it cannot be met by its slow rate of synthesis. Since we use it faster than we produce it, we must supplement it in our diet. It might thus become necessary to consume dietary sources of glutamine when our body is under tremendous pressure

Glutamine increases the amount of circulating plasma growth hormone. An increased amount of the growth hormone will help you stay leaner and stronger. Lack of Glutamine or Glutamine depletion can lead to an extreme drop in IMMUNE SYSTEM function making the body vulnerable to infections.

Glutamine is also helpful for reducing muscle soreness and faster muscle recovery post workouts. Glutamine is a strong ANTI-CATABOLIC, powerfully reducing muscle breakdown caused by workout related muscle stress.

Interestingly, for years high levels of glutamine have been used for patients involved in high trauma accidents to prevent muscle loss. The same theory applies when you exercise if you supplement Glutamine, your body won’t need to break muscle and pull Glutamine out of it

The dosage of glutamine can be 10 grams on your workout days and 5 grams on non-workout days. The best times to use glutamine is directly after exercise (5 gms) and right before bed (5 grams). On rest days, 5gms can be consumed before bed.

Elevate your workout game with the power of glutamine! Whether you’re aiming for faster muscle recovery or a stronger immune system, understanding the role of this essential amino acid is key. For further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

By Leave a Comment

Revolutionizing Global Healthcare: The Role of Rewards and Gamification in Preventive Health

In recent years, healthcare strategies have shifted towards proactive measures to prevent illnesses. Among these innovative approaches, the use of reward mechanisms and gamification has emerged as a powerful tool in motivating individuals to prioritize their health. GOQii, a smart preventive healthcare company, has been instrumental in adopting these strategies, harnessing their potential to empower individuals in managing their well-being.

The fundamental principle behind these methods is the encouragement of healthy behaviour through incentives. Unlike conventional models, this approach focuses on rewarding individuals for adopting preventive measures rather than solely relying on reactive healthcare solutions.

The integration of reward mechanisms and gamification in GOQii’s preventive healthcare ecosystem represents a paradigm shift in engaging with healthcare. By incentivizing preventive measures and empowering individuals with control over their health, these strategies hold the promise of a healthier, more connected, and proactive global healthcare landscape. GOQii’s commitment underscores the importance of preventive health, paving the way for a healthier tomorrow through technology-driven innovation and a focus on individual well-being.

One example of GOQii’s implementation of this strategy is its provision of tangible rewards to users engaging in healthy habits. Through their comprehensive health ecosystem of fitness wearables, personalized coaching, nutritional guidance, and mental wellness programs, GOQii encourages users to earn rewards by actively engaging in healthy habits. These earned rewards serve as tangible incentives for sustained efforts towards wellness.

Furthermore, GOQii’s initiatives extend beyond individual pursuits. By fostering community-driven health challenges, virtual fitness events, and educational campaigns, users contribute to a larger ecosystem promoting collective well-being and preventive health advocacy.

The adoption of these innovative strategies signifies a transformative approach where proactive health management is incentivized, enabling individuals to take control of their health journey. This convergence of technology, preventive healthcare, and incentivization marks a pivotal moment in reshaping the future of global healthcare.

#BeTheForce 

By Leave a Comment

Breathe Easy Through Pregnancy: A Guide to Prenatal Breathing Techniques

As you enter motherhood after conceiving, there are a lot of tips given to pregnant women on what to eat, how to stand, sit, how to sleep and so on.

But, one of the most important things to learn during pregnancy is how to breathe. The correct breathing technique makes a world of a difference because it helps every cell. Hence mother-to-be can master the techniques throughout pregnancy. Breathing is very important during pregnancy as it ensures efficient removal of waste from the body as well as get a plentiful supply of oxygen for both the mother and child. Effective breathing purifies and calms the nervous system and induces a feeling of pleasant well-being.

One can learn the following practices throughout pregnancy so that at the time of labour they become second nature.

Let me list down the types of breathing that can be practised during pregnancy.

Equal Breathing: While standing, sitting or lying down, breathe in fully, slowly and rhythmically, without jerks, using the whole respiratory system of the abdomen, chest, pharynx and nose. Breathe out an equal number of counts. Concentrate on breathing in = life-giving air and breathing out. A feeling of peacefulness or quietness floods in. This technique has a great advantage to relax during labour. This gentle breathing helps to relax the uterine muscles and diverts the mind.

Diaphragmatic Breathing: While lying down on the back, flex the knees and keep the feet flat on the ground or bed. Keep one hand on the abdomen and keep one beside you. Slowly concentrate on the abdomen rising rhythmically with each inhalation and relaxation during exhalation. Thus, feel the abdomen rising and falling with breathing. Count up to ten seconds. Do not use force or jerks while inhaling. It helps to deal with stress for the Mother-to-be. The diaphragm muscle is supposed to rhythmically massage the organs of the body. The massage gently encourages blood flow, lymph flow, nutrient delivery, and waste removal in the organs and all tissues of the body, including tissues in the womb.  It also helps one deal with Shortness of Breath.

Chest Level Breathing: Place your hands on your chest, below your collarbone. In addition, you can have your partner place one hand at the same level on your back. Now breathe in and out through your mouth up to your hands, a shallow, slow and gentle breath. The rib cage and thoracic cavity expand to the sides, front and back for each inhalation and exhalation.  Do about 10-12 breaths in 30 seconds. If you exceed 12 breaths, then slow down.

Jaw Level Breathing – “OUT”: The jaw level breathing entails simply saying the word OUT with stress on T. Do not worry about your breathing; it will take care of itself as you say the word. Count about 20-25 breaths in 30 seconds.

Rechaka Pranayam or Expulsion Breathing: Breathing out and maximizing exhalation is a secret of relaxation while in labour. Breathe in for a count of four seconds or as convenient and slowly breath out for double the count. Again, take one breath in and breathe out for double the count. This can be done whenever a contraction is felt in the first stage of labour, while the opening of the cervix is dilating. An alternative to the same is to breathe in air and while exhaling, hum Aum or any pleasing sound. Singing works on the same principle of exhalation. Mental relaxation and peace are felt.

Blowing: At times breathing in from the nose, blowing out through the mouth and repeating the whole procedure, helps a great deal. Retaining breath and thrashing around with anxiety and clutching onto things can cause tension, exhaustion and discomfort. The secret is to LET GO! You are in a partnership with your baby to help them to emerge gracefully.

The Second Stage of Labour: When the mouth of the uterus is dilated completely, is the time of actual active pushing, not before that. When the contractions come, the breathing technique at that time would be to take a breath, hold it in and push down hard as if one is expelling a hard bowel movement. While the contraction lasts, again take in a deep breath, hold it in and push as long as possible. Do these two or three times during a contraction. Between contraction, the mother should relax in abdominal breathing. Continue till the baby is out. Soon you will hear the cry of your baby.

During the Third Stage of Labour: This stage of delivery is of the placenta. Breathe normally. It usually separates and comes within five or fifteen minutes. Slight uterine contractions may be felt during this period as the placenta slips out. This is the time to relax well. There should be relaxed joyful feeling throughout.

Benefits of Breathing Exercise:

  1. Calm deep breathing can help you deal with morning sickness in early pregnancy
  2. Deep breathing can help you fall in deep and rejuvenating sleep. Deep breathing with active visualization of images of your muscle groups relaxing can put your body in a state of relaxation. After this, one can imagine the healthy growth of both the mother and the child to help you fall into a happy sleep.
  3. Regular and proper breathing can help you deal with labour pain easily.
  4. Breathing can help transport nutrients and oxygen well to the baby and result in healthy baby growth
  5. Breathing can help you deal with, stress, depression, feeling low and unwanted advice from others during pregnancy as well.

NOTE: If you every feels dizzy during breathing practices, cover your nose and mouth with your palms and blow out once. Then breath normally. This will re-establish the proper balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body and relieve dizziness if it is experienced.

If this article helped you, let us know your thoughts in the comments below. You can find more articles on women’s care here. To keep a track of your pregnancy, you can also download the GOQii App here and access the Women’s Care Feature.

For more tips on how to manage your health during pregnancy, reach out to your GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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 […]