GOQii

Blog

Search Results for: holi

By 2 Comments

Level Up Holi With This Delicious Homemade Rose Thandai Recipe

homemade rose thandai

We all know that no Holi celebration is complete without a sip of a refreshing glass of Thandai. Honestly, nothing beats the summer heat better than this awesome Homemade Rose Thandai! 

Holi has been celebrated in India since time immemorial and it gives people a chance to let loose and enjoy themselves. What enhances the spirit of Holi is the tradition of drinking Thandai along with other delicacies such as gujiya, mathri, malpua, puranpoli, dahi vadas, etc.

As the name suggests, Thandai is a refreshing milk beverage which helps you cool your system almost instantly and serves as a quick source of energy in this scorching summer heat. So let’s #LevelUp this Holi by preparing some homemade Rose Thandai with natural ingredients!

What You Will Need

  • Skimmed Milk – 1 ½ liter 
  • Blanched Almonds – ¾th cup 
  • Poppy Seeds – 3-4 tbsp 
  • Blanched Pistachios – 3-4 tbsp 
  • Soaked Melon Seeds – 3 tbsp 
  • Cardamoms – 4-5 green 
  • Black Peppercorns – 8-10 
  • Dried Rose Petals – 1-2 tbsp 
  • Cinnamon – 1 inch 
  • Saffron – ½ tsp 
  • Sugar – 1 cup 
  • Chia Seeds (optional) – 1-2 tsp  

For Serving & Garnishing:

  • Kulhads (clay mugs) 
  • Finely Chopped Pistachios 
  • Rose Petals 

How to Prepare 

  1. Pour milk in a pan and bring it to boil. Keep stirring it. 
  2. On the side, add the almonds, pistachios, poppy seeds, melon seeds and 2-3 tbsp of warm milk to the grinder jar and grind it till it turns into a smooth paste. Take that paste out into a bowl.
  3. In the grinder jar, add the green cardamoms, black peppercorns, rose petals and cinnamon. Grind them till it turns into a fine powder.
  4. Add saffron to the milk followed by sugar and stir till the sugar melts. 
  5. Add the smooth paste of nuts and seeds and mix it well. 
  6. Add the dry powder of spices with rose petals and let it boil for 5 minutes. 
  7. Pour it all into a jar or a vessel and add the chia seeds once the milk is at room temperature and not hot.  
  8. Let it cool in the refrigerator.  
  9. Serve it chilled in kulhads and garnish with finely chopped pistachios and rose petals.

Nutritional Benefits of the Homemade Rose Thandai 

Each ingredient added to this recipe has its own importance and all together, this is one of the healthiest drinks out there. 

  • Milk is the best source of calcium and good quality protein. Along with these, it also has Zinc and Phosphorus. Cold milk also acts as an antacid.
  • Almonds, Melon Seeds, Cashews and Pistachios are loaded with healthy fats, Magnesium & acts as a good quality source of protein.
  • The spices used are packed with nutrients such as Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium and Iron. They have antioxidants which helps one stay away from diseases.
  • Poppy seeds are a good source of Iron, Phosphorus and Fiber along with Vitamin B and Linoleic Acid.
  • Saffron provides antioxidants. It is a potent antidepressant, antiseptic and is good for digestion. 
  • Rose Petals are rich in Vitamin C, D, E & K along with malic acid and pectic which helps in building immunity. Most importantly, it strengthens the digestive function and gives a cooling effect to the body.

If you want to make this recipe healthier, you can add fennel seeds instead of rose petals. It would be wise to choose Thandai without Bhang. Do try this nutrient-loaded recipe and let us know what you think about it in the comments below! For hair and skincare tips, how to prepare your own colors and post celebration detox tips, speak to our coaches by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here. 

Wish you all a Happy Holi! 

#BeTheForce 

By 6 Comments

Celebrate a Skin-Friendly Holi With Natural Colors

Protect your skin on holi

Holi is the festival of colours in India that also marks the arrival of spring – a season of joy and hope. The festival is famous for its colours and how people apply them to each other’s face. I remember one horrendous incident a few years ago that left my face scarred due to an allergic reaction and I was on anti-allergens for over a month. The culprit was a toxic paste colour that my skin came in contact with. I, therefore, thought I should share some good ways to enjoy a safe and non-toxic Holi this year.

In the last couple of years, chemical colours are being used to celebrate Holi as they are cheaper than natural colours. Chemical colours can be very harmful to the health and skin of individuals as well as the environment.

Use of safe, natural and eco-friendly colours, can help to save our environment and conserve our biodiversity. Natural colours are obtained from skin friendly sources such as turmeric, flower extracts, sandalwood powder, mehndi (Henna), etc and are safe to use. 

Here’s How You Can Create Safe, Non-toxic Colours

  1. Brown color: Brown is one color that is never spotted anywhere in the color markets during Holi. So go ahead and surprise your visitors with this different and amazing color! Acacia catechu (Kattha) – which is commonly consumed with betel leaves (pan) gives a brownish color when mixed with water.
    Other methods: Boil tea or coffee leaves in water. Cool it and use it.
  2. Saffron: Soak a few stalks of Saffron in 2 tablespoons of water. Leave for a few hours and grind them to make a fine paste. Dilute that with water as per the desired color strength.
    Other methods: The Flame of the Forest, commonly known as Tesu, Palash or Dhak, is the source of the wonderful, traditional color for Holi. For fragrant yellowish-orange colored water, the flowers are soaked overnight in water and can also be boiled.
  3. Green: Save a trip to the parlor by using green colored henna powder (Mehendi) this Holi. Either use it separately or mix it with an equal quantity of any suitable flour to get a lovely and natural green shade. Make sure to use pure henna that does not have Amla (Indian Gooseberries) mixed in it, as this would be brown in color. Dry henna will not leave color on your face and can be easily brushed off. When mixed with water, it will leave a slight color, thereby making it a fast color.
    Other methods: Dry and finely powder Gulmohur tree leaves or crush the tender leaves of the Wheat plant to obtain a natural green color for Holi. The color can also be obtained by mixing a fine paste of green leafy vegetables like spinach (Palak), Coriander (Dhaniya) or Mint (Pudina) in water.
  4. Blue: Dry Jacaranda flowers (Neeli Gulmohar/Jungle Badam) in the shade and grind them to obtain a beautiful blue powder.
    Other methods: The Blue Hibiscus, which is found in Kerala, can be dried and powdered just like the red hibiscus, or crush berries of Indigo plant and add water to it as per the desired colour strength.
  5. Yellow: Mix two teaspoons of Turmeric powder with twice the quantity of gram flour (besan). Turmeric and gram flour have magical qualities that are very good for the skin. Ordinary wheat flour (Atta), refined wheat flour (Maida), rice flour, ground nut powder, fuller`s earth (Multani Mitti) and even talcum powder can be used as substitutes for gram flour. Other methods: Flowers like Cassia Fistula (Amaltas), Marigold (Gainda), Yellow Chrysanthemums and Black Babul yield different shades of yellow. Dry the petals of these flowers in the shade and crush them to obtain a fine powder. Mix an appropriate quantity of the powder with gram flour or its substitutes and see your festival come alive without any harmful effects of chemically-loaded colors.
  6. Pink: Slice or grate one beetroot and soak it in 1 liter of water for a wonderful magenta. Boil or leave overnight for a deeper shade and dilute it before use.
    Other methods: Boil the peels of 10-15 pink onions in half a liter of water for a pinkish color. Remove the peels before using them to remove any unneeded smell. You can also soak pink Bauhinia variegate (Kachnar) flowers in water overnight or boil them for a bright pink color.
  7. Red: Red Sandal Wood Powder, which has a beautiful red color, is extremely beneficial for the skin and can be used in place of Red Gulal.
    Other methods: Dry red hibiscus flowers in shade, powder and add any flour to increase the bulk. For a bright orange-red, mix a pinch of lime powder with 2 spoons of turmeric powder and a few drops of water. Use the resulting paste only after diluting it with 10 litres of water. Peels of Red Pomegranate boiled in water, juice of tomatoes and carrots diluted with sufficient quantity of water to remove the stickiness also give a natural yet beautiful red color.
  8. Black: Last but not the least, comes black. Often derived from very dangerous sources like used batteries, this color may cause a lot of trouble later. However, for a safe black color, boil dried fruits of Indian Gooseberry (Amla) in an iron vessel and leave it overnight. Dilute with water and use.
    Other methods: Extract juice of black grapes and dilute with sufficient quantity of water to remove stickiness.

Tips For a Skin-Friendly Holi

  • Cover up: Nothing can beat covering the maximum part of your body with full sleeved clothes and trousers. But the old remedy of using Mustard Oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil or Vaseline over your entire body on the morning of Holi does wonders in removing the colours easily
  • No warm water: Do not use warm water for bathing/removing colours. This can lead to the fastening of colours. Instead, always opt for cold water to wash the colours off. You should also try to remove the dry colour powder with dry hands rather than using water as it spreads even more after water application.
  • Stay Hydrated: Drink lots and lots of water as skin tends to get dehydrated with the use of chemicals. You can try other refreshing water-based drinks too. For instance, a virgin mint mojito, or fresh lime and buttermilk, to beat the heat out of your body!
  • Hair Care: Before you use a shampoo, rinse your hair with water to allow the additional colours to wash off. It is extremely vital to condition your hair to prevent any hair damage. Make a simple hair pack by soaking a few Fenugreek (Methi) seeds in four tablespoons of curd. Apply this pack or egg yolk on your scalp and wash your hair with a good shampoo after 30 minutes. You can also apply a mixture of honey and olive oil for deep conditioning.
  • Face: Do not scrub the colour off with soap. Opt for a mild cleanser and follow it up with lots of moisturizing cream. If you feel any skin irritation during the process of taking off the colours then take 2 tbsps. of calamine powder and mix it with a few drops of honey and rosewater to make a paste. Apply this on your face and once it has dried up, wash it off with water and apply a moisturizer. You can also take off the colour with a mixture of Gram Flour (besan) and Milk. If you are unable to do anything else, simply apply a generous amount of Multani-Mitti on the entire face and body to revive your skin.
  • Natural body scrub: You can use a homemade scrub by mixing the following ingredients: 2 tbsp. Wheat Bran, 1 tbsp. Sandalwood Powder, 1 tbsp. Rice Flour, along with some Poppy Seeds (khus-khus), few drops of Honey and a mashed tomato. Scrub your body with this to clear off the colours and to bounce back to your fair and glowing skin. You can also rub a piece of papaya on coloured areas of the face and body to get rid of the colours. There is another good body scrub you can use to wash off colours. Mix curd, gram flour, orange peel powder along with little turmeric, a few drops of lemon and 1 tbsp. of olive oil. This will help clean your skin.  

Post Holi Skincare Regime

For the next two weeks, apply a Multani Mitti face pack every alternate day to ensure that your skin remains soft and supple. Do not go for any skin treatments like waxing, threading, facials, or apply any other external medication on the skin for 2-3 days after Holi. Your skin is very sensitive after Holi. These treatments may cause an adverse reaction.

Safe, Natural Holi

We hope these tips help you. For more, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

By 4 Comments

Jayanand Wagh’s Holistic Approach Towards Health And Fitness


Being overweight is a common condition and most of us face it at some point. This is the story of a man who overthrew overweight with just focus and determination. If you think getting your health on track is impossible, listen to this story and give it another thought.

Jayanand Wagh, aged 40, started his journey on December 2015 and was overweight for 20 long years of his life. As he got better, he purchased a GOQii Vital to train for his half marathon goal. His goals also included weight loss and to become fit. Despite the nature of his goal, he was quite stubborn about achieving this without the help of a gym, vigorous diets or any shortcuts. It took him 2 long years to reach his goals and the wait was totally worth it!

How Did He Do It?

His approach to fitness was different. Instead of working for an immediate change, Jayanand Wagh focused on inculcating healthy habits into his lifestyle. These changes included eating a healthier diet with less sugar and carbs. He also introduced exercises such as running and walking along with other home workouts.

The result was slow but it changed the man he was and helped him shed 18kgs in 2 years. His motto was, Sculpt yourself into what you want to become, and that’s exactly what he did over time, with patience and hard work. With his fat loss goal being achieved, Jayanand is now focusing on building lean muscle mass. He has his own marathon journey, successfully completing the 21k milestone twice. Currently, he is training for the Mumbai Marathon 2020 with guidance from GOQii Coach Divya Bhat. He is also using the GOQii RunGPS tracker specifically for this.

When we asked him about the changes he inculcated in his daily life, this is what he had to say:

The first change I made was, to my sleeping pattern. I woke up early and went to bed early. Every morning I would go cycling with my 7-year-old daughter Angel. I led a very inactive and sedentary lifestyle with a job profile that didn’t involve much physical activity. In order to gain control over my mind and to stay focused, I sought help from my mind mentor Sandeep Maheshwari Sir.

Decreasing my junk food intake was a crucial step as this allowed me to progress further with my goals. I also reduced my sugar intake, which I totally cut down over a period of time. My fluid intake, mainly water increased considerably to a level that I drank at least 3 litres of water per day. I never used to eat breakfast before, but developed that habit which helped me very much later on. Nuts, fruits and salads were added to my diet to make breakfast more clean and healthy.

The toughest challenge was to quit smoking and my alcohol intake completely. I quit them both eventually. I developed the habit of carrying a lunchbox from home to work so I can avoid outside food as much as possible. Meditation became an everyday routine along with bodyweight workouts at home by following my health mentor Guru Mann

To have a better understanding of my body, I made it a habit to do an annual full body checkup on my birthday and know where it stands health-wise. I do oil pulling for 20 minutes every morning with virgin coconut oil became a habit. With guidance from wellness mentor and GOQii Master Coach Luke Coutinho, I began Intermittent Fasting and then moved to Dry Fasting. I would fast every Tuesdays and Saturdays for 16 hours, consuming my meals before 7 pm to reset my biological clock. Following these minute changes, I was able to transform my health. Determination and focus are what it took for me to be what I am today and I’m really proud of myself.

Was it really that difficult?

Yes! To stay focused throughout and be motivated is a challenge but would you rather lead an unhealthy life or have more focus & energy? The choice is yours! With simple changes to your everyday life, you can achieve similar goals as Jayanand Wagh and all it requires is relentless dedication. This story is an example to people who believe that it’s too difficult to bring about such changes in your health. Try this holistic approach towards health today and feel the change yourself.

By 1 Comment

Start Living, Stop Dieting

drink-more-waterDiets don’t work. They just don’t. You lose weight, and a few months later, it’s all back—sometimes with a little extra.

The ‘diet game’ leads to frustration, guilt, starvation, and social isolation. It begins to dominate conversations at every gathering—someone’s always talking about their weight, their new diet, or envying someone else’s transformation. And slowly, insecurity creeps in. Self-worth becomes tied to a number on the scale.

But here’s the truth: your weight doesn’t define your worth.

The Illusion of Quick Fixes

Now take a moment and really think—if it took you a year or more to gain the extra weight, is it realistic to expect a miracle fix in 3 or 6 months? The human body doesn’t work like that.

If you’re struggling with weight, the first thing to do is reflect. Think about the habits and behaviours that have crept in over the months or years:

  • Extra coffees or sugary drinks
  • Skipping workouts
  • Bigger portions
  • Frequent takeaways or dinners out
  • Mindless snacking
  • Long work hours or disrupted sleep
  • Holiday indulgences

Write it all down. Your solution is in that list. Reduce. Cut back. Add. Shift. You don’t need a specialist to tell you what’s right. Your lifestyle already holds the answers.

One Change Can Spark a Transformation

The most powerful insight from recent research is this:
Even one positive lifestyle change a month, if sustained consistently, can create a ripple effect in your overall health.

You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Pick one habit, build it into your routine, and let it settle before moving on to the next.

Some examples:

  • Drink more water
  • Reduce portion sizes
  • Eat fewer processed foods
  • Move your body more often
  • Sleep 7+ hours
  • Cut back on sugar or alcohol
  • Add more fruits and vegetables
  • Practise daily gratitude or breathwork
  • Keep dinner light
  • Stretch before bed

It’s not about extremes. It’s about sustainable, small shifts—ones that make you feel good, not deprived.

Ditch the Fads, Choose What Feels Right

Burning fat and building health is multi-factorial. A diet alone won’t get you there. And if you’re following something you don’t understand or believe in, you’re less likely to stick with it.

Instead, choose what resonates with you. Know your ‘why’. What truly motivates you to feel better, move more, or change the way you eat? Then build from that place—one step, one habit, one victory at a time.

Lasting health doesn’t come from quick fixes or fads—it comes from consistency, patience, and belief in yourself. Stop obsessing over the diet. Start reconnecting with your body, your choices, and your values.

You deserve to feel good in your skin, at your own pace. So start small, stay kind to yourself, and remember:

Real change comes from living—not dieting.

#BeTheForce

Mayur Sutar’s Journey to a Healthier Life

At 26, Mayur Sutar was deeply entrenched in the corporate whirlwind. His days were a blur of quick, unsatisfying meals, fitful sleep, and relentless deadlines. This vicious cycle was draining him, fueling a constant state of fatigue and frustration. Health had become a forgotten chapter in the book of his life. In every story, however, […]

Transforming Health and Life: Dhiren Matani’s Inspirational Journey to Wellness

In the face of persistent health challenges, Dhiren Matani, (43), an entrepreneur from Mumbai, embarked on a journey of resilience and transformation. Battling weight issues and a heart condition for some years, he refused to succumb to the daunting odds. Through sheer determination, he took control of his health at the right time by adopting […]

What’s Your Excuse?

In a world filled with excuses, Shubham’s story stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and an unwavering commitment to one’s dreams. His journey is a reminder that circumstances may create hurdles, but they can never define the limits of one’s potential. In the bustling suburbs of Mumbai, amidst the challenges of […]