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Why is GOQii the best startup to work at?

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Two years ago when I first walked into the 7th-floor office of GOQii to meet Vishal Gondal, the first sight was that of some youngsters playing loud music and doing Zumba. I was told it’s a regular routine at the office. If it’s not Zumba then its Tabata or skipping or indulging in some physical activity while at office. Then I saw some weights, exercise ball, kettle bell lying around. My first thought was it was a small startup, few people so it’s just one way to probably relax at work. But, the best part is this fun atmosphere continues even after 2 years of being in operation and with close to 100 odd employees.

No wonder that it is rated among the top 10 best startups that one should be looking at to work for in 2016 by a leading news website. The website rated it based on the new exciting business in the wearable space that GOQii is operating in. But, GOQii apart from the business that it operates is a cool startup to work at for varied reasons.

GOQii founded by gaming geek Vishal Gondal in 2013 with the basic premise to get people to follow a healthy lifestyle by making small changes in their life. GOQii which operates in the wearable space combines a fitness band with personalized coaching to help people lead a healthy lifestyle. This ideology was not meant only for their ‘Players’(customers) but, also to be practiced within the company. One of the values of the company is ‘Practice what we Preach’.

Being a startup there is pressure to perform and deliver but not at the cost of a bad work life balance. The company provides a work atmosphere that is lively and not monotonous. For all here at GOQii, the two main aspects that have attracted them or have kept them back is because it is a great learning place for one’s career and secondly, you can just be the person you are and do not have to change yourself to prove your abilities. It is one company that does not hire basis your degrees but hires basis your attitude and persona.

Says Gondal, CEO of GOQii “We hire people not for their degrees but for their passion. We want people to be themselves at work and have the same persona as their personal life.”

The coaches who are responsible for motivating and changing people’s lifestyle for the better say that they are motivated within the office and therefore are able to motivate their players. The one thing that strikes a chord with all coaches is the ethical practice followed by the company and that they are not focusing on weight loss but on leading a healthy and holistic lifestyle.

The learning curve at GOQii is fabulous, there are great mentors within the company who are approachable including Vishal who is the CEO. These Mentors may work in a completely different department but, you get unlimited, time with him/her to talk and understand any issue. The work culture is open and there is a lot of freedom for you to work your way while you bear in mind the ethical values of the company.

As one employee from the tech department says: “Two years at GOQii has been enriching for me. I being an IT professional have got an opportunity to learn beyond just technology. I have had the opportunity to work with various departments and in the process learned people management. GOQii has not limited me from doing anything.”

Apart from the work culture and the cool people working for the company, GOQii also takes care of its people. Being in the health industry, the company has been instrumental in getting its employees to lead a healthy lifestyle as well without imposing any rules or regulations on them.

“I had a bad work life balance but, I can vouch and say now that I am a much healthier person now. I eat well and sleep well. I am not stressed at work and I do not wake up thinking ‘Oh shit’ I need to get to work. But more eager to get to work daily,” says one woman employee who works in the HR department.

It’s not only about an open work culture, flexibility or ethical values at work, but also the fun things that happen within office- the regular workout sessions, Zumba session for fitness, work from wherever you want to as no specific desk space is allotted, work sitting on a beanbag or on an exercise ball so long as work is getting done.

I would be doing injustice if I do not talk of the healthy food that is served for lunch. Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays the employees get healthy organic food and Tuesday and Thursday is Vegan organic all free of cost. There are also regular outdoor activities such as runs, walks, hikes or treks conducted across India where players and coaches meet. Last but not the least, the karma culture is a part of GOQii Life where employees along with coaches and players are invited to volunteer with a social organization and do good for the society.

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My Love for ‘Ghee’ and its 14 benefits

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Whenever I close my eyes and recollect my childhood or pregnancy happiness’ I feel that amazing smell of Ghee, the pure, unadulterated, smooth and delicious ghee or better known as Clarified butter largely made out of Cow’s milk.

I still remember my childhood days when my mom used to fry Luchis also called Poories–Indian fried Wheat bread in ghee and I simply relished it the divine smell of ghee. And I equally relish Indian sweets made in pure claified butter. Even our lentils used to be tempered with ghee, rotis with ghee spread on them, ghee with steaming hot rice, ghee to top the veggies, ghee ke laddoos……. the list is never ending.

I grew up having loads of clarified butter, but it’s only when I did my Masters in Food & nutrition that I got a clearer view on ghee or clarified butter and my love for it.

Being a Nutritionist & a mom of two young kids, I have always been posed with the question how is it that I give my kids food with so much ghee? Well the fact is that Ghee is safe to have and that it has several nutritional benefits

Before we come to the benefits let’s look at some facts and what science says

FACTS

Ayurveda says

Among the four kinds of fat namely Gritha (ghee), Taila (oil), Vasa (fat), Majja (bone marrow) Ayurveda considers GHEE as the best among these. According to Ayurveda, ghee made from cow’s milk promotes memory, intellect and digestion. It also promotes healing of wounds, keeps the skin lustrous and maintains immunity.

Science says 

Modern science has discovered that ghee is rich in antioxidants. The fats in ghee aid absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals from other foods, strengthening the immune system. Ghee is also rich in butyric acid, a fatty acid with anti-viral properties, which is believed to prevent cancers and tumours.

Recent research has also detected presence of linoleic acid in ghee. Linoleic acid retards the growth of some cancers and protects us from heart disease. This acid is often lacking in a vegetarian diet.

According to B S Raheja, the ex-director of All India Institute of Diabetes, the present epidemics of diabetes, heart disease and some cancers is due to not including ghee in our diets.

Benefits of Ghee

  • Ghee is a source of beta carotene and vitamins A, D, E, and K. Beta carotene and vitamin E are vital antioxidants. Vitamin A is naturally present in ghee, which is lacking in other edible oils.
  • Ghee has no milk solids, lactose or sugars. These get separated out when the butter is made into ghee, so it’s good for lactose intolerant people too
  • Organic ghee has no additives, preservatives, oxidized cholesterol or trans-fatty acids that clog arteries.
  • Ghee is highly stable and does not go rancid even at room temperature.
  • Clarified butter has a very high smoke point than butter but lesser than oil—it does not burn at high cooking temperatures. So it’s always better to cook in ghee than butter as butter burns very easily
  • Ghee is primarily saturated fat. One tablespoon of ghee provides 14g of saturated fat, 28mg of cholesterol and roughly 120 calories.
  • Ghee is useful for both external and internal use. Because ghee helps to increase immunity, that subtle essence of tissue that is responsible for life, radiant health, vigour, longevity and overall well being.
  • Slows down ageing process by adding a minimum of ghee to your food everyday.
  • It also removes toxins from body & mind.
  • Ghee is beneficial in promoting growth and development in children. It also improves memory and concentration power.
  • Ghee has its healing properties. If used directly on cuts, wounds or burns, it has powerful healing action. It can be used to cure gangerine . ulcers etc.
  • Pure ghee has anti-oxidant properties which promotes healthy metabolism and aids weight loss(when used in a moderation)
  • Intake of Ghee reduces the cholesterol both in the serum & intestine by triggering an increased secretion of biliary lipids.
  • Ghee is good for nerves & brains. It helps control eye pressure and is beneficial to glaucoma patients.

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GOQii Stories of Positivity and Progression

Hemant Kejriwal, participated in an 8 km run in February 2015

Hemant Kejriwal, participated in an 8 km run in February 2015

Beginning this week you will read success stories of GOQii users in this space. These are stories of people who thought it would be impossible for them to give up old habits and embrace new habits for the better. When heard of their success stories we were encouraged to share these stories with a larger community who can get inspired by them to bring positivity in their lives.

Our first story is about Hemant Kejriwal who from leading a sedentary lifestyle is now an energetic and active young man within just 15 months. Let’s find out how he managed

From being highly inactive to running 8 kms a day

Hemant Kejriwal, a 39-year-old Start-up Entrepreneur from Mumbai had tried and failed many times to get energetic and active. “Till the time I was in school and college I was energetic and active. But, slowly as work life took over I started leading a sedentary lifestyle. Though, I had my flirtatious flings with the gyms. I would spend loads on membership but would never go regularly as I would be bored. Finally, I was warned by my wife to stop wasting money on gyms,” says Hemant.  “I knew I wanted to be energetic through the day but, I was unable to do so. I did not know how to get started with this,” he adds.

Hemant did what a lot of people do and vowed to get healthy and active in 2015. But, again he kept trying on his own. He would as a routine wake up at 4.30 am or 5 am and not step out of the house for a walk or run but sit down with his laptop and work. Then drive to his work place which was less than a kilometer (0.6 mile) from his house. “I knew I was leading an unhealthy life. I had put on a lot of weight, weighed 103 kgs and did not have enough energy to pull along through the day.”

During this time, he got to know from friends about GOQii. He decided to go in for a band that came with a personal coach. In Oct 2014 he signed up with GOQii and got a band and made a commitment. “My Goal was to be energetic through the day. For me feeling energetic was more important than looking good,” says Hemant.

Soon after I started interacting with my coach Hardika, I got on to the right track. I realised that ‘staying active’, above all else, was key. Within 4 months I had lost 9 kgs. The focus however was not so much on losing weight as much as it was getting fit overall – building strength, stamina, flexibility & agility.

And precisely that happened. From a XXL size shirt, Hemant within 4 months could start wearing a XL size shirt. From not walking even a kilometer or (0.6 mile) or (1000 steps) in an entire day, Hemant had soon got down to running 8 kms a day before even getting to work His best he says was being able to swim 2.5 km (50 laps) in one ago within 6 months of getting on to GOQii. “This was a huge milestone achieved by me after almost 20 years,” he asserts.

Talking about the changes he says: “I started by walking 5 km early in the morning (which gradually increased to 8 km) & adding another 3-4 km during the day. Then I focused on increasing my speed. And shifted to swimming in the summers,” Hemant says. Above all, his water consumption which was less than even a liter a day is consistently over 3 liters a day, now.

Being a health food enthusiast, there has been no significant dietary changes. But there were large gaps between meals & not enough protein. He corrected all of this, and his pre-post workout meals thanks to his coach.

For Hemant, the healthy lifestyle has helped his productivity at work and he says he has become a better husband and a better father.

Hemant sums it up by saying in the last 15 months since he got on to the GOQii ecosystem, he has had a more holistic wellbeing thanks to the active lifestyle he has been leading.

What does his Coach Hardika have to say?

Hemant has been a dedicated player over the last 15 months. Prior to getting on to the GOQii ecosystem he was highly inactive. Over a period we have been able to control these issues. I am happy that he could swim 50 laps at one go which was his goal.

Sporty and dedicated, Hemant has always been ready to take up any challenges that I have been giving. He has got very active. Within six months he was able to move from an XXL size to XL size shirt. I have sent him a GOQii Tshirt, a size smaller with a note: “I am happy with your progress and the way you are losing inches. I am sure you will need to change your wardrobe, so this is a contribution from my end which we will fit by end of this year”.  He is motivated to work towards leading a better and healthy lifestyle and we are going to rock it!

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10 New Year workouts for 2016

Are you planning to have some great health-related New Year resolutions? Every Year we set some resolution for ourselves for the New Year and end up with no result because of inconsistency in fulfilling the tasks.

This year let’s set some realistic goals and give a blow to our hidden talents. We always think that we’ll start the New Year with some regular exercising but due to boredom we are   unable to continue. So try new things so as to make your workouts interesting.

The easiest is to start with remembering some of those childhood games and activities that you liked and played the most. Try them out again for a change. If you cannot remember them here are some exercises which will help you to stick to your routine and you will also enjoy achieving your fitness levels.

  1. Roller-skating: Roller-skating as an exercise provides a lot of health benefits. Skating offers an effective cardiovascular workout, endurance training and strength training to build strong muscles in the pelvis and legs. Balance and coordination can also be improved by regular skating.
  1. Hula hooping: Hula hoop is when you rotate your hip round and round. I am sure everyone heir childhood would have attempted this at least once. As an exercise, I can say that hula hoop is a bona fide piece of workout equipment that can tone your thighs, abdominals, gluteals, and arms. You barely feel like you’re working out while doing Hula hoop.
  1. Dancing: Whether you like to jump or jive, tap or tango, shake your belly or your booty, dancing is one of the most enjoyable ways to get some exercise. If you dance 30 min in a day you will enjoy your day and feel very fit without realizing that you have worked out. Also, there is no age limit for the dance, anyone can dance. Regular dancing is great for fitness, maintaining strong bones, improving posture and muscle strength, increasing balance and coordination, and beating stress.

To get more information about Dancing you can check another blog written by my colleague Shimpli Patil. Let’s dance… for a better health and a better you!!

http://goqii.com/blog/lets-dance-for-a-better-health-and-a-better-you/

  1. Trampolining: Everyone likes to jump. So we can relate this exercise to the above mentioned dancing exercise. If you know how to jump, you know dancing. Jumping itself is a great exercise but if you are jumping on a hard floor, you might hurt your legs, knees, so the best option is to use Trampoline. Jump workouts on Trampoline are not only a quick way to tighten, tone and build core strength, you can also shred calories and boost cardio as effectively as going for a run — without the stress on your joints.
  2. Water exercise: As a kid most of us enjoyed playing in the water, be it in bath tub at home or in the pool. Believe me that the water exercises is a great way to stay fit without hurting your body. Water workout burns tons of calories but feels like an easy play. To know more you can read from the following link:

One-Stop Shop Workout – Swimming:

http://goqii.com/blog/one-stop-shop-workout-swimming/

  1. Cycling: I still remember that my school was approximately 8 kms away from my home and I use to travel by cycle to school every day. It was fun and the same time kept me healthy. Cycling is indeed one of the best ways to be fit. My favourite weekend activity has always been cycling and every time I would pick a new route and end up exploring the place. Cycling is the easiest way of exercise because you can ride a bicycle almost anywhere, at any time of the year, and without spending a fortune. Cycling builds strength, muscle tone, builds stamina, improves your cardiovascular fitness, improves heart health and reduces stress. This also improves the mental health.

Cycling is good for your coordination: Moving both feet around in circles while steering with both your hands and your body’s own weight is good practice for your coordination skills.

  1. Skipping: How many of us remember our childhood, when we used to skip and even had challenges among ourselves to find out who could skip the fastest. Those memories of my childhood bring back a smile on my face. I used to enjoy those skipping moments. There were several games we could play with the skipping rope and it was one of the cheapest games that one could purchase. The best part of a skipping rope was that people of all ages could use it.

You can read more on skipping in my blog – Did you know how useful a ‘SKIPPING’ rope can be?

http://goqii.com/blog/did-you-know-how-useful-a-skipping-rope-can-be/

  1. Running: As a child all of us have ran so much while playing but as we grow older all these activities somehow comes to a halt thereby forcing many to lead an unhealthy life. Nowadays running is becoming a very popular sport and a craze among many. This in turn has also led to the number of marathons being organized in a year. According to me one of your New Year resolutions could be to take up running seriously and become a runner.

Here is another blog written by my colleague Mitali on how to prepare for a marathon- Are you running the Marathon? Here is your guide to training:

http://goqii.com/blog/are-you-running-the-marathon-here-is-your-guide-to-training/

  1. Outdoor Games:It’s always best to play outdoor games. If you remember most of us from our generation would remember their times of playing in the parks but sadly nowadays kids are seldom found playing outside and are found more busy with their X-Box, video games, Ipad etc, which lead them to the unhealthy lifestyle. I would suggest you start going to park or nearest ground to play outdoor games like cricket or Foot Ball, which will then encourage your kids also to play outside. For more information about Cricket and Foot Ball, you can read my following Blog – CRICKET and FOOT BALL—Your healthy path to fitness!:

http://goqii.com/blog/cricket-and-foot-ball-your-healthy-path-to-fitness/

  1. Hiking: Hiking especially with friends: If you like to explore new places, try to go Hiking, it will help you not only to explore new places but, also increase your strength and stamina, because you have to walk on the mountain which really needs balancing. Also, while doing Hiking, you are increasing your physical and mental health, because it will give you stress relieve from your whole week work burden.

Once you have decided the resolution for your new year, try to check on it in every interval of 15 days and ask yourself one question – are you following your Resolution? If No – get back on track and then enjoy your healthy lifestyle.

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