From understanding parenting in the new normal, aging gracefully and choosing healthy eating to learning the art of manifestation and yoga in daily life with some of India’s most reputed speakers, Day 1 of SYNTH GlobalSpa Wellfest was a wildly successful beginning to kick off the week’s events.
Quoting from a famous proverb, ‘He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything’, we begin our SYNTH GlobalSpa WELLFEST about everything wellness with experts from the field of health, beauty, nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle. We bring to you a unique festival celebrating the amalgamation of every aspect of wellness with sessions, spread over a week, on the current scenarios accompanied by insights from the leading wellness experts.
Beginning with the first session of SYNTH GlobalSpa WELLFEST, we focused on the effect of the pandemic on parents. While we all are settling in with the new normal, both parents and kids need maximum support. ‘Understanding Parenting in the New Normal’ had brought forth the concepts of parenting in a different way and knowing when to opt for unparenting. The session was moderated by Soumya Maheshwari (Associate Publisher, GlobalSpa Magazine) and the speakers were- Neeraa Srivastav, a Spiritualist and author of ‘150 Brilliant Ideas to keep Young Minds Fit & Fine’, a book addressing the lifestyle of young adults, Harpreet Suri, a mom blogger and a lifestyle, travel, beauty influencer who has a dynamic social media presence where you can often see how engaged and happy her two kids are with her, and Kajal Somaiya Mohile, a yoga exponent and a mom to a toddler. Neeraa described the pandemic as a peculiar situation, “It has not been all dark, but also a blessing, because now there is a great learning for parents while spending time with their kids and sharing the same space, and the children have learnt how to engage more with the family.” On talking about motherhood, Kajal has seen her little one imitate her and can do various yoga poses like a butterfly, “Do what works for your family, as a parent you should know what is best for you and your family.” Harpreet started doing a lot of activities with her kids “As a family, we watched a lot of movies, started cooking, learnt graffiti with my son, and just focused on spending quality time with my daughter.” Ending the session with parenting tips, every speaker agreed that the time spent together has been a blessing, Harpreet advises not to pressure on your kids and focus on helping them learn life lessons, and Neeraa explains that it has been a great opportunity to sensitize kids towards the environment and focusing on life curriculum.
The second session of the day focused on Skincare and the quest for the fountain of youth. ‘Ageing Gracefully’ covered all our basic skin demands and concerns in every quarter of our life. The session was moderated by Parineeta Sethi (Editor-in-Chief, GlobalSpa Magazine) and the speakers were- Dr. Rashmi Shetty, a leading celebrity dermatologist, Uma Gosh, a certified health and wellness coach, and Saachi Bhasin, a well-known fashion and beauty influencer. The world is looking for healthy skin, says Dr. Rashmi, and once you achieve this, you will age gracefully, “Nobody wants to look like a 40 when they are 20, but everyone wants to be beautifully 60 and glowing 50. That is gracefully ageing. Talk to your dermatologist and follow their advice religiously, get yourself a skin regime, eat right, do yoga, and that is at home skin care.” Uma explains that skincare is all about discipline, “Being consistent. Discipline makes us, habit makes us. It is important to have a structure because otherwise you will not be able to see results and you will be back to square one.” When coming to fad diets, Saachi says that the first and the foremost thing is to understand your body, “One should understand why they should apply this on your skin, and why you should eat this specifically, one should have the answers of all the whys. Fad diets are very unreliable and one should approach your health in a holistic manner. ” On men being concerned with skincare Dr. Rashmi says “We no longer want to kiss frogs and turn them into princes. But men are ready to put their effort into healthier hair and skin.” The session concluded with the speaker’s skincare routine and agreeing collectively on ‘Consistency being the key’.
Then we came to understand the power of the Universe that helps you get what you desire, in our third session- ‘Art of Manifesting your Dreams’. The expert for this session was none other than Shradha Salla, a tarot reader and a healing coach, in conversation with Parineeta Sethi (Editor-in-Chief, GlobalSpa Magazine). Manifestation is a part of our lives where we put our thoughts into the universe and ask the universe for what we want. Shradha explains that our mind and our body is always manifesting, “Manifestation is understanding the law of attraction and putting our energy into our universe and making sure it becomes our future. There are 3 things you have to keep in mind before you manifest- Ask, Believe, Receive.” The session continued with Shradha explaining how to manifest, when to manifest, and the power in manifestation. Concluding on a positive note, she says that the universe has #NoConditionsApplied, it will talk to you through signs and symbols.
Shining light on “Healthy Eating vs Intermittent Fasting”, the fourth session simplified “You are what you eat, how you eat, and when you eat” with Dr. Alok Chopra, Consultant Cardiologist & Director at Aashlok Hospital Fortis Associate, and Eisha Chopra, Actor, Writer and Model, and the session was moderated by Shilpi Madan (Contributing Editor, GlobalSpa Magazine). The former cleared the air on myths surrounding intermittent fasting, such as how fasting really echoes our evolutionary past and how it’s helpful in the distribution of our macronutrients (fats, carbs, and proteins) which are quintessential to the body. Intermittent fasting includes high fat, moderate protein and a low carb diet that’s determined on analyzing an individual’s weight, body composition analysis, and fat burn body rate. For those only just beginning their intermittent journey, the most prominent window is 16:8 where one should keep a 2-3 hours window between their last meal and sleep. The actress revealed intermittent fasting brought her awareness to what her body likes and repels – bringing her closer to her most authentic self. She then further talked about her self-devised mantra for clean eating which includes hot water, lemon and turmeric followed by a spoon of ghee to begin her mornings. With healthy eating the most important aspect, Dr. Alok shed light on the current trend of liquid oils at room temperature being healthy which in reality cause slow poisoning, and alternatives like hemp oil, avocado oil, and olive oil are the healthier options. Coconut oil, ghee and white butter, cold pressed extra virgin oil and mustard oil resonate best with the Indian system. The session came to a close with Dr. Alok’s philosophy that our biography eventually becomes our biology and so it is a necessity.
The day ended with a Masterclass- Yoga for Everyday Life, with Nischint Singh, a yoga exponent and author who has succeeded in empowering people through Yoga. She busts a myth that it isn’t true for one to be flexible to perform Yoga. Yoga is about being one with your body and to be able to conquer your ailments by listening to oneself. In this masterclass, she shared a few tips on breathing techniques, asanas, and talked about the various benefits of yoga.
