It may sound unattractive, but a good burp actually leaves you feeling relieved almost instantly. And, why not? Burping is a natural process through which your body releases extra gas. However, some people just can’t bring themselves to burp at times. Imagine all that built-up air stuck down your throat and being unable to push it out! The thought itself is frustrating. Are you also among those struggling to burp? We feel you. Hence, we have come up with some simple tips to help you burp when nothing else seems to work. Read on!

Best Ways To Make You Burp

1. Drink Water Or A Carbonated Beverage

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You must be familiar with the sudden pressure that builds up inside your stomach after drinking a carbonated beverage. Well, that pressure can help you burp.

Surprisingly, drinking plain water can help you do that as well. All you have to do is to drink an entire glass of water in a single breath while pinching your nose (so that no air is released). This also builds pressure inside your stomach, causing you to burp.

2. Change Your Breathing Style

Slouching while breathing can cause your burp to get stuck midway. Instead, sit upright. This not only prevents gastrointestinal symptoms like acid reflux but can also make it easier for you to burp.

3. Swallow Air

Exhale all the air from your lungs and follow it up with a deep breath and inhale a lungful of air. Now, instead of breathing out the inhaled air, just swallow it. You may see yourself burping right after. However, don’t do this too often as it can cause flatulence and make you belch all too often.

4. Do Some Light Exercises

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Light exercises can exert pressure on the air inside your stomach and force it up. A simple jog, a brisk walk, or even jumping up and down can help you burp while also getting rid of excess gas. Simply lying down and getting up on your feet quickly will also do the trick.

5. Eat Gassy Foods

Gassy foods like cabbage, chickpeas, apples, pears, and broccoli don’t just cause gas – they can induce belching due to the pressure that builds inside your stomach due to the produced gas.

6. Suck In And Trap Some Air

Another quick way to burp is to force some air into your throat and trap it. For this, you will first have to suck air into your mouth until your jaw and throat expand. Do this until a bubble forms in the throat. Now, trap the bubble by blocking your mouth with your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Release the bubble slowly by lowering your tongue and parting your lips slightly. This action can induce burping.

7. Take Antacids

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Taking over-the-counter antacids that contain calcium carbonate can also cause one to burp. However, antacids are mainly taken to relieve acidity and should be the last resort to provoke burping. Do not use antacids regularly unless advised by your doctor.

Burping may relieve the tension caused by gas and bloating for a while, but it is not a permanent solution for such issues. Listed below are some long-term tips that you may want to consider to prevent gas and bloating.

How To Prevent Gas And Bloating

• Limit your intake of gas-producing foods like cabbage, broccoli, beans, peas, lentils, dairy products, etc.
• Eat slowly to avoid swallowing too much air.
• Quit smoking,
• Avoid drinking water in between or soon after a meal.
• Avoid chewing too many gums.
• Eat your last meal at least a couple of hours before bedtime.

Give the above tips a shot and see if they help. But, if gas or difficulty in burping has begun interfering with your day-to-day life, avail medical attention to rule out the possibility of other underlying health issues.

Did you ever experience an inability to burp? What do you do in such situations? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below.

Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions

How long do you have to burp a baby?

You will have to burp your baby until he/she is 6 months old. This is because it will be difficult for your little ones to burp themselves at such a young age.

Why can’t some people burp?

Your food pipe or esophagus is surrounded by a muscular valve called the upper esophageal sphincter. This muscle only relaxes while swallowing, and during the other times, it contracts. The esophageal sphincter will have to relax momentarily when you burp to allow the built-up air to escape. When this doesn’t happen, it results in the inability to burp. This is why some people find it difficult to belch.

The post How To Make Yourself Burp appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

We all are aware of the association of glamour with cricket. There’s a whole lot of glamour in terms of after parties, movie stars gracing the stadium (some even dating the cricketers) etc. Why do you think that happens? If you think it’s because of the wealth that one can make from it or the tremendous fan base one can achieve by being a cricketer, we are sorry to inform you that you’re wrong. It’s the deep relationship that cricket shares with Bollywood that makes it so glamorous. And this isn’t a recent phenomenon, this relationship can certainly be traced back to several decades.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that both Bollywood and cricket are professions which are worshipped in India. All Indians want to stay updated about what’s happening in their favorite cricketer’s or actor’s life. The fan base of these two professions will only blow your mind, so intense and hard-earned is their loyalty towards their favorite Bollywood and cricket stars. What happens when both of these come together? It’s like sone pe suhaga! While many cricketers may have been the masters of their game on the cricket field, there are quite a few of them who went weak in their knees upon finding their forever partner in the Tinsel Town. Here’s a list of some incredible love stories of Bollywood and Cricket stars. Let’s have a look.

1. Anushka Sharma And Virat Kohli

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Virat has been known as the one of the most good looking and amazing captains of the Indian cricket team and there’s no doubt about the acting abilities of Anushka. They have been regarded as the most stylish couple of the celeb world. In the beginning, they tried their best to deny their relationship and it was only in 2014 that they made it official to the paparazzi. Virat always came to Anushka’s defense whenever she received flak for his bad performances on the field. After all the struggles, the couple finally tied the knot in a private destination wedding in Italy on December 11th, 2017. Since then, we just can’t stop ourselves from going awww over their occasional PDA pictures that keep coming up on social media.

2. Sagarika Ghatge And Zaheer Khan

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We couldn’t help but notice Sagarika in Chak De! India movie, in fact, the entire nation just fell in love with her. And after that movie, we hardly saw or heard much of her until we saw Sagarika and Zaheer walking hand-in-hand at Yuvraj Singh’s wedding. A lot of dating rumors followed this sighting, which both of them neither denied nor accepted. On April 24, 2017, they announced their engagement officially on social media . The couple had a registered marriage on November 23, 2017 and followed it up with lavish wedding rituals which saw the cream of both the cricket and Tinsel world grace the occasion.

3. Hazel Keech And Yuvraj Singh

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They sure do look like a match made in heaven, don’t they? Yes, of course, we know our boy Yuvi has been linked to many Bollywood divas like Deepika Padukone and Kim Sharma. However, it was Hazel who truly won his heart. They started talking over social media which was followed by a lot of partying together and they made their official appearance together at fellow cricketer Harbhajan Singh’s wedding. After nearly 3 years of being together, Yuvi finally popped the question and they got married on November 30th, 2016. And since then, the couple has been giving us some serious husband-wifey goals.

4. Geeta Basra And Harbhajan Singh

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Both of them claimed to be “just friends” for quite some time and it was on October 29, 2015, that they got married and presented themselves as a couple to the world. Soon there were rumors about cracks in their marriage, but like all couples who are in love, these two too sailed through all the ups and downs and are seen enjoying a blissful marital life now. And on July 27, 2016, our beloved Bhajji and Geeta welcomed their adorable daughter, whom they’ve very lovingly named Hinaya Heer Plaha.

5. Neena Gupta And Vivian Richards

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Neena Gupta has forever been an inspiration to many because of her great acting skills and bold roles. And when it comes to her personal life, it’s no different at all. She turned heads and also set an example for many women out there when she decided to raise her daughter Masaba, the love child from her relationship with Vivian Richards, a cricketing legend. Their relationship did hit a couple of rocks and they never married. However, they are still a happy family with Masaba living with Neena in India and visiting her father, Richards 3–4 times in a year.

6. Sharmila Tagore And Mansoor Ali Khan

shemaroofilmigaane / Instagram

This couple was the most inspiring and the glamorous of the lot here. She was the diva of her time and he was the most successful cricketer, especially when it came to the test series. Not to forget that he was the Nawab of Pataudi too. And this wasn’t just a union of cricket and Bollywood, it was also a union of two religions which was a rare thing to happen back then. The union faced a lot of oppositions, but they still went ahead and got married. Their successful marriage made many realize what true love can actually achieve.

These were some of the more famous love tales from the glam worlds of Bollywood and cricket. As they say, love definitely has no boundaries. And these beautiful love stories of our favorite Bollywood and cricket stars prove just the same. Do you know of any other jodi that can be a part of this list? Let us know in the comment section below.

The post 6 Incredible Love Stories Of Bollywood And Cricket Stars appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

Our eyes do so much of the heavy lifting when it comes to our day-to-day lives, don’t they? Whether it’s catching a glimpse of our beloved, or updating us with the events of the world, or more importantly, working, our eyes are constantly at work. And they do this while being glued on to multiple electronic devices which can take a toll on our precious organs of sight.

This incessant exposure to the visual stimuli makes them tired and puts a strain on them. As a result, we experience symptoms such as unexplained headaches, dark circles, inability to sleep, etc. (1), (2).

Since we cannot ditch this pervasive technology and go back to the analog era, what we can actually do is protect our precious peepers from the adverse effects of the continuous use of technology. To help you do that, we have prepared a small cheat sheet that will give you smart tips to take care of your eyes as you stalk your crush on Instagram (wink wink). To know more, continue reading.

1. Adjust The Lighting

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If you happen to spend your evenings binging on sitcoms on your TV, then you should ensure that the room where you are doing so has soft lighting instead of harsh tube lights. If you are reading something, make sure the light is positioned behind you in such a manner that it is directed onto the book or the document you’re reading. In case you use a table lamp while reading, then make sure there is a lampshade on it so that you don’t have direct light shining on your eyes.

2. Give Your Eyes A Break

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Just as you need a break after an hour or so from intense activity, so do your eyes. Follow the 20-20-20 rule; after spending every 20 minutes on a screen, focus on something that is about 20 feet away from you, for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes some respite from the constant glare of the screen.

3. Use Protection Against The Glare

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This is another tool in your arsenal that you can employ to keep your peepers shining brightly. If you have to use your laptop or phone for longer durations, we suggest you cover their screens with an anti-glare coating. You can also opt to wear anti-glare glasses as a preventive measure. In case, you already use glasses, we would ask you to customize them to include glare protection film.

4. Customize The Settings On Your Devices

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This is for those tech junkies who remain glued to their screens at all times. If you send a majority of the day being hooked to these devices, then we suggest you use bigger fonts while reading stuff of them, and also, increase the brightness of your screen so that it reduces the stress on your eyes.

5. Blink As Often As You Can

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Blinking is an involuntary action that contributes to keeping our eyes in the pink of their health by providing them with moisture. Be that as it may, a lot of people blink quite less when they are looking or concentrating on a screen. So make it a point to blink more often when you are working on a screen.

6. Keep Your Tech At A Safe Distance

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Have you noticed how at the backs of trucks it is written that you should maintain a safe distance from them for your own safety? Well, the same rule applies to your technology as well. Position your desktop or your laptop directly in front of you at an arm’s length so that the screen is just below your eye level. And as far as mobile devices are concerned, keep them about 16–18 inches away from your eyes.

7. Use A Document Stand

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If your job involves you looking at multiple documents or switching between reviewing documents and your screen every few minutes, then switch to using a document stand. A document stand kept next to your monitor would save you from the hassle of looking back and forth at the screen and the printed materials, and prevent you from straining your eyes too much.

8. Use Eye drops To Moisten Your Eyes

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One of the primary causes of discomfort in eyes arises from the loss of moisture in them. As a preventive measure against that, you can use eye drops to lock in the moisture in your eyes. In case, you suffer from allergies, consult a doctor and ask him to prescribe you an eye drop.

Take these tips into account while using technology to ensure that the windows to your soul remain crystal clear (3). It is important that you inculcate these healthy habits because your organs of sight take a heavy beating by being exposed to constant visual stimuli. If you have any other tips to share, drop them in the comments below.

The post 8 Tips To Take Care Of Your Eyes When Using Technology appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

Living in a time where presentation matters the most, it has become very important to look our best, at all the events we attend. It could be anything — family get-togethers, or whacky parties or even black-tie events — but we need to be dressed in a manner suited to the occasion. And in order to compile that look maybe we can borrow a dress or two, or sandals, and even makeup from our best friends or our siblings. But we definitely cannot borrow hairstyles, right?

Most of us aren’t really statues of patience that can sit and style our hair, strand by strand. We’d rather skip attending that function altogether! But in most cases, that cannot really happen, and we know that already. So how does one get out of this conundrum? Simple, by looking for super quick and easy hairstyle hacks. And we’ve done just that for you! Here’s a list of easy-to-do, one-minute hairstyle hacks that will have you ready for that party in no time.

1. The Twisted Tail

 

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🐴An oldie but a goodie – try this super EASY hair tutorial! Add a twist to your everyday ponytail that you can easily do at home in under ONE minute!🐴 #beginnerfriendly #ponytailstyle #videohair #claireashleybeauty ⁣ ⁣ 🐎Leave two medium size sections of hair out in the front ⁣ ⁣ 🐎Secure the rest with an elastic into a low ponytail at the nape of the neck⁣ ⁣ 🐎Take one of the medium sections of hair and cross it over on top of the elastic⁣ ⁣ 🐎Do the same thing to the other side then connect the two sections underneath the first ponytail and secure with an elastic ⁣creating a small ponytail underneath ⁣ 🐎What hairstyle do you want to see next?!

A post shared by Claire Ashley Beauty (@claireashleybeauty) on Feb 15, 2019 at 11:03am PST

Ponytails are definitely oldies, but they are still considered by many as the goodies when it comes to styling hair quickly. It’s the easiest thing to do with your hair, right? Just grab a scrunchy and tie your hair up in a ponytail. But how about twisting the good old ponytail of yours? Do it this way:

• Divide your hair into two medium sections in the front.
• And tie the remaining hair at the back into a low ponytail with the help of an elastic band. The ponytail should begin at the nape of your neck.
• Now, take one of the medium sections of your hair and cross it over the elastic on the top.
• Do the same thing with other section as well.
• Bind these two medium sections right underneath the ponytail with the help of another elastic band. Voila! You’re ready with a new twist on an old classic.

2. Headband Updo Hairstyle

 

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A post shared by Claire Ashley Beauty (@claireashleybeauty) on Mar 7, 2019 at 12:00pm PST

Summer is the time when you want to use your headbands to make sure that your hair doesn’t keep falling on your face and cause any irritation on an already sunny, sweaty day. Summer is also the time when most of us prefer to tie our hair up, right? What if we were to combine these two styles to form a cool one-minute summer hairdo? Here, give it a read and try it now.

• Use your favorite headband. Even a bandana will do.
• Place the headband on the crown of your head.
• Now, at the front, tuck the ends of the hair into the headband (refer to the video given above).
• Now slowly twist the rest of the hair into the headband as shown in the video.
• You can also use hair spray to help it set a little better. This isn’t mandatory though. There you have a fun summery hairdo, that too, in under a minute.

3. Twisted Back Ponytail

 

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A post shared by Claire Ashley Beauty (@claireashleybeauty) on Feb 26, 2019 at 12:00pm PST

If you master this hairstyle, trust us, it will take less than a minute for you to get it done. Here’s how you do a twisted back ponytail:

• Firstly, part your hair at the middle in front to obtain two large sections of hair.
• Now, grab one section of the front partition and again part it into two sections.
• Now twist these two pieces of hair on top of each other. And as you keep twisting downwards, keep picking up hair from below. It’s almost like you’re making a French braid here.
• Repeat the same thing on the other side as well.
• And when you get to the end, combine both of these twisted hair sections into a single low ponytail.

4. Designing Hair With Pins

 

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A post shared by Krystle|Bridal Hair|Beauty (@krystlewaiviohair) on Feb 16, 2019 at 6:47am PST

Do you have a bob haircut? How can one create a hairstyle out of a bob haircut, right? We mean to say that we realize that you cut your hair short only because you wanted a haircut that required little maintenance. But for how long can you keep the bob haircut of yours simple, you need to experiment to look different every now and then. Consider trying this for a change.

• Use a texture spray or put some volumizing powder in your hair to create some grip.
• This is because we will be using hair pins here and if you’re blessed with silky smooth hair, the pins wouldn’t be able to hold it. And yes, it will also help your hairstyle stay on for longer.
• Gather the strands of hair which you wish to pull back in small partitions.
• Gently twist it a little and give it a bump before pinning it down.
• Make sure you insert the pin as shown in the video. Tuck them in a way that they are not visible. Tuck them inwards.

These were our best done-in-a-minute hairstyles which you can try to be ready in a jiffy. You don’t have to copy the hairstyles exactly, go ahead and improvise to your heart’s content. And if you end up with better hairstyles that can be done in a minute, let us know in the comment section below.

The post 4 Cool One-Minute Hairstyle Hacks appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

Do you feel like a bloated balloon that is ready to burst any moment? Flatulence or farting can be quite embarrassing, especially if it happens at work or in a public place. If you have been surfing the internet to find ways to stop farting, you are on the right page. Read on to know more about flatulence and how you can get rid of it.

Why Am I Farting So Much?

Farting or passing gas is a completely normal part of your life and also a sign of a healthy digestive system. Farting is essential for your body to function normally. If the gas is not passed, it can build up within your abdomen and cause discomfort.

Most healthy people pass gas 13-21 times per day (1). While this may sound like a lot, most farts are almost undetectable and odorless. Farting every day is considered normal, but farting all the time is not.

Most of the gas that you pass is due to swallowing air. We swallow air unknowingly while eating or drinking throughout the day. Other gases are produced by the intestines while digesting food. If you swallow a lot of air throughout the day, it will result in excessive farting.

If your fart smells, it is due to the breakdown of food into hydrogen sulfide. This may result in your fart smelling like rotten eggs. Increased intake of certain sulfur-rich foods like cabbage, alcohol, asparagus, coffee, chicken, dairy, and cucumber can also produce smelly farts.

The following are factors that could be contributing to increased production of gas in your intestines.

What Is Causing You To Fart?

As mentioned earlier, swallowing air throughout the day is one of the main causes of excessive farting.

Other causes of gas production are:

• Breakdown of consumed food by the gut bacteria
• Certain medications like aspirin
• Food allergies or intolerance
• Medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, celiac disease, and indigestion

Your diet may also have a role to play if you have been farting excessively.

What Foods To Avoid To Stop Farting?

Certain foods can cause you to produce more gas.

Carbohydrate-rich foods that contain lactose, fructose, starch, and insoluble fiber tend to ferment in the large intestine and release gas.

Foods that are known to cause excessive gas are (2):

• Beans and green leafy veggies like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and broccoli
• Onions and garlic
• Fruit juices and fruits like pears and artichokes
• Soft drinks and carbonated beverages
• Dairy products
• Potatoes, corn, wheat, and other starchy foods

Even though these foods can cause you to fart more, they should not be eliminated from your diet as they are very important for your health and well-being. However, you may choose to limit their intake. You can also eat smaller and frequent meals instead of three large ones to prevent flatulence.

In addition to modifying your diet, here are some tips you can follow to stop farting.

How To Stop Farting Quickly

1. Eat Slowly

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Swallowing air while eating, drinking, and talking can cause gas and farting. This is especially the case when a person eats too quickly. Instead, eat slowly and mindfully to reduce the amount of air you swallow (2).

2. Quit Smoking

Every time you take a puff from a cigarette, you also swallow a lot of air along with it. E-cigarettes are no exception. In general, those who smoke or use any tobacco products are more likely to experience flatulence and farting as compared to those who don’t (3).

3. Exercise Regularly

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Inactivity can lead to the build-up of gas in your stomach. Doing mild to moderate exercises regularly can enhance gas clearance and reduce incidences of farting (4).

4. Treat Constipation

Gas and bloating are symptoms associated with constipation (5). Hence, if your flatulence is a result of constipation, it is advised that you treat the condition to solve the problem.

5. Avoid Chewing Gum

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The key ingredient in many sugar-free gums is hexitol. Ingestion of this ingredient, even in small amounts, has been associated with gas and bloating (6). Therefore, if you are among those who chew too much gum, you may want to cut down on them to stop flatulence.

6. Identify Food Intolerances And Allergies

Certain food allergies and intolerances may also be responsible for excessive gas. However, this may vary from one person to another. Make a note of foods that you are allergic or intolerant to.

You can also determine which food is causing gas in your system. For this, you need to first eliminate all gas-producing foods from your diet. Introduce these foods back in, one at a time, to identify the culprit. You can either avoid or limit your intake of the food that has been causing flatulence.

7. Take Probiotics And Enzyme Supplements

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While probiotics can modify the composition of the gut flora and reduce intestinal gas, digestive enzyme supplements can help in relieving gastrointestinal symptoms by enhancing digestion (7), (8). Hence, you can try any of these to manage flatulence.

Your diet and lifestyle choices are the main triggers of flatulence and farting. Hence, altering these choices should do the trick. In case these tips don’t seem to work, you can consult a doctor to find out the actual cause of your condition and avail treatment accordingly.

Hope you found this post helpful. What do you do to deal with flatulence? Let us know in the comments section below.

Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions

When should you go see a doctor?

Most of the times, excessive gas is not of any concern. However, in some cases, constant farting can be an indication of a serious underlying medical condition. See a doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
• Severe stomach ache
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Constipation and/or diarrhea

Can you burn calories by farting?

There are many rumors going around that farting can burn calories. However, the truth is that farting burns neither calories nor fat.

References

1. “Gas” MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine.
2. “Prevention and Treatment of Flatulence From a Traditional Persian Medicine Perspective” Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, US National Library Of Medicine.
3. “Gas and Bloating” Gastroenterology And Hepatology, US National Library Of Medicine.
4. “Physical activity and intestinal gas clearance in patients with bloating” American Journal of Gastroenterology, US National Library Of Medicine.
5. “Management Strategies for Abdominal Bloating and Distension” Gastroenterology And Hepatology, US National Library Of Medicine.
6. “Hypothesis: hexitols in chewing gum may play a role in reducing postoperative ileus.” Medical Hypotheses, US National Library Of Medicine.
7. “Probiotics and functional abdominal bloating.” Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, US National Library Of Medicine.
8. “Can the supplementation of a digestive enzyme complex offer a solution for common digestive problems?” Archives Of Public Health, US National Library Of Medicine.

The post How To Stop Farting Fast – 7 Effective Tips To Reduce Flatulence appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

I’m always looking for excuses to wear leggings. Actually, I wear them even when I don’t find one.

I own 15 pairs of leggings in all colors and prints, and I have lost count of the number of black leggings I own. I inevitably end up buying new ones and investing a significant percentage of my salary into getting other pieces to style them into exciting outfits.

Leggings are the new jeans. Versatile. Functional. Chic. Comfortable. To back my claim here, I have listed out a few outfit ideas with leggings and tops. So, check out these 17 cute tops that go well with leggings.

17 Shirts That Go Well With Your Leggings

Gone are the days when leggings were only worn with baggy T-shirts. And, gone are the days when leggings were just black and long. Leather, printed, lace, fleece, capris…the list goes on. The part is you can wear them with shirts, crop tops, leather jackets, hoodies, sweaters, and so much more! To help style your outfit, we have put together a list of tops that look incredibly cute over leggings. Take a look!

1. Long Georgette Top With Black Leggings

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If your natural pick for this top is black skinny jeans, hold on and try it with a pair of leggings. Since they don’t bunch around your waist the way denim does, they keep the fit of the top intact and create a flattering silhouette. Add a thick waist belt, pumps, and a crossbody bag to get party-ready!

2. High-Rise Colored Leggings With A Hoodie

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We have learned a thing or two from Kendal Jenner and Gigi Hadid, haven’t we? They practically live in leggings and hoodies, and you can too. Choose colors that pop instead of the usual neutrals.

3. Monochromatic Look With Leggings

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Try the effortless but chic monochrome look with black leggings. Break the narrow silhouette with tan combat boots and get ready for people stealing glances at you.

4. Silk Blouse With Leather Leggings

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Leggings are probably not the first thing you reach for when you walk around your closet with a silk blouse in hand. But a flattering top like this deserves nothing less than these ultra-hot leather leggings. Wear ankle length booties and a black side body bag, put on a pair of hoops, and style your hair in beachy waves.

5. Crop Top And Leggings

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I think we can all agree that the only acceptable bottoms in summer are leggings. I’m talking about the soft and breathable kind that come with a thick waistband, don’t ride up, and can be paired with racerback or tank tops.

6. Bomber Jacket And Fleece Leggings

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Tame the puffiness of a bomber jacket with the svelte silhouette of leggings. Add ankle-length boots to this equation to balance out the contrasting pieces perfectly.

7. Denim Jacket And Black Leggings

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You can deal with a denim jacket in two ways. One is, of course, by throwing it on over a tank top and black leggings. It looks great. The second way is to create layers and raise the oomph with a crop top. Trust me, it makes quite a difference. A white crop top, a cropped denim jacket (sleeveless or otherwise), and white sneakers are the way to go.

8. Checkered Jersey Leggings And Leather Jacket

www.boohoo.com

Checks have made their way into leggings too. This androgynous pattern is an interesting choice to look stylish with almost no effort. Put the jeggings on the scaffold and throw on either a black T-shirt, a tube, or even a bralette. Finish it off with a leather jacket to create an edgy look. Ankle boots will look great with this outfit.

9. Abstract Leggings And Tie Top

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Abstract print leggings are a level above your usual floral printed ones. They are usually pretty mellow and not too over the top. So, stick to the print and keep the top simple. Try a plain black top that ties in the front to amp it up a bit.

10. Sculpted High-Waisted Leggings And Sweater

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Sculpted high-waisted leggings let you show off your calves, butt, curves, and everything else you have worked on, even in winter. Pair them with oversized, embellished, or high low sweaters. Boots of all lengths go well with this outfit.

11. Animal Print Leggings And Crew Neck Top

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Channel your inner fashionista with these animal print leggings and crew neck top. A sleeveless or halter top will also look great with these leggings. Wear sneakers, put your hair up in a bun, throw on a pair of hoops, and put on some brown lipstick to complete this look.

12. Flannel Shirt And Leggings

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Flannel or plaid shirts with leggings are a big trend. It started in the ‘90s, and we have not looked back ever since. You can tie the flannel at your waist or wear it as a layer. It can be worn by itself over leggings as well.

13. Printed Leggings And Graphic T-Shirt

www.asos.com

We have seen abstract prints, animal prints, and some bold colors. These leggings bring them all together. Wear them with a graphic T-shirt, tuck it in, and put on a pair of kitten heels and angular glasses to channel your inner badass.

14. High-Low Top And Leather Leggings

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The fashion police are paranoid about visible panty lines and resist the idea of wearing short tops with leggings. A high-low top is a perfect way to beat that. Also, you don’t have to worry about panty lines with leather, jersey, and fleece leggings. Be wary of the camel toe, though!

15. Long sleeve Shirt And Leggings

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Loosely tuck a long-sleeved linen or cotton shirt into your leggings, put on a pair of ankle-strap sandals, and strut around like you own the world. If you carry this look off confidently, you probably do!

16. Maternity Leggings And Flowy Top

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Hello there, baby mama! We know that, at this point, leggings are all that you live in. Ditch your usual oversized shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and boyfriend T-shirts for flowy tops like these. Flaunt that bump!

17. All-Black Party Wear Leggings And Shirt

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Who said you can’t go to a party in leggings? Take a good look at this outfit to see how wrong they are. This tie-up top and leggings look is especially great for clubbing.

I’ll now excuse you, so you can rush out and buy more leggings and tops to go with them. What is your go-to style when it comes to leggings? Let us know by dropping a message in the comments section below.

The post 17 Shirts That Go Well With Leggings appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

Allergic to milk or soy? Understandable. Allergic to seafood? Sad, but acceptable. Cosmetic and makeup allergy? Wait, what?!

Finding out that you are allergic to your favorite cosmetic product is no less than a heartbreak. But it is true that certain products that are meant to make you look pretty can give you rashes (and sleepless nights)! Cosmetic allergy is a bit tricky to understand because makeup and cosmetic products contain tons of ingredients, making it tough to pinpoint which one is irritating your skin. However, it’s not impossible. This article will help you understand which commonly used cosmetics ingredients cause allergic reactions. Keep scrolling!

What Is Cosmetic Allergy?

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Cosmetic allergy refers to any unwanted reaction caused by a cosmetic product. It can vary from very mild skin reactions to severe symptoms. Sometimes, your skin reacts immediately to a product, while at other times, it might take several years before showing signs of an allergy. From hair care products and makeup to perfumes and skin creams – you can be allergic to anything.

Cosmetic products can directly affect your skin or trigger an allergic response. Some cosmetics may irritate your skin initially, but to understand if you are actually allergic to them, you might need repeated exposure.

People who have sensitive skin can be intolerant to multiple cosmetic products. Even those who have certain skin conditions (such as rosacea) may experience an allergic reaction to specific cosmetic products. So, how can you determine if you are allergic to a cosmetic product? There some are signs and symptoms you may notice, which are listed out in the next section.

Allergic Reaction To Makeup And Cosmetics: Signs And Symptoms

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Certain cosmetics often cause contact dermatitis, a condition in which your skin reacts to a product and turns itchy, red, and shows other symptoms. There are two main types of dermatitis triggered by cosmetic products:

• Irritant contact dermatitis
• Allergic contact dermatitis

Irritant Contact Dermatitis is characterized by skin irritation and sensitivity when it comes in contact with certain substances (in this case, cosmetic products). This type of reaction develops quickly, within just a few minutes or a few hours of exposure. However, sometimes, your skin may take several days or weeks to react.

Often, we confuse this with an allergic reaction, though technically, it is not. This is because it is only your skin reacting to the ingredient, not your immune system. Irritant contact dermatitis is a widespread condition.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis is the true allergic reaction to any ingredient. This type of allergic reaction is intense and severe. It usually takes 12 hours to show the initial signs, and it peaks around 48 hours of exposure.

Compared to other parts of your body, your face is exposed the most to cosmetics, which is why, in most cases, the symptoms appear on the face. Some of the common symptoms of allergic reactions include:

• Hives and rashes
• Itchiness
• Flakiness, roughness, or sandpaper-like skin
• Red pimple-like dots and spots on skin
• Stinging and burning sensation
• Red, swollen, and itchy eyes
• Swollen lips and tongue
• Watery eyes

Contact dermatitis is not as severe as dermatitis. You can even develop mild and chronic dermatitis from skin care products that you have been using for a long time, such as cleansers, soaps, body lotions, or face washes.

You may think that you have been using the product for ages and only recently developed the symptoms. This happens because your skin develops sensitivity to that particular product (or any specific ingredient in that product) over time. There are a few common culprits that can cause such issues. Let’s take a look at them.

Ingredients That Can Trigger A Makeup Allergy

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1. Fragrances

No, we are not talking about just perfumes and colognes! Even skin care creams, serums, shampoos, and other cosmetic products contain fragrance. Check the ingredients list, and you will find it nestled somewhere between all the other ingredients. Fragrances are chemicals that are added to products as masking agents. People who are allergic to fragrance may experience rashes, sneezing, wheezing, or headaches. It can even cause breathing issues. Even the products that are labeled “unscented” often contain some fragrance to create that “no-scent” effect.

If you are allergic to fragrances, switch to products that are fragrance-free.

2. Metals

Metals such as zinc, cobalt, iron, lead, mercury, and aluminum are widely used in cosmetics and personal care products like nail polish, eyeliner, lipstick, and even toothpaste! Cobalt is excessively used in light brown hair dyes and antiperspirants.

The best way out is switching to mineral makeup and natural deodorants. Avoid using cosmetics that contain metallic pigments. Also, before trying any new product, do a patch test to see how your skin reacts it.

3. Sulfates

Sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate – I am sure you are aware of these two ingredients. They are detergents that are used in almost every cleansing product, like body washes, shampoos, and baby soaps. SLS can cause skin irritation, dryness, blemishes, and rashes. If you experience any of the symptoms after switching to a new product that contains SLS, it would be better if you switched back.

Try using organic soaps, shampoos, and body washes instead.

4. Emollients

Emollients are not bad – they are actually great for your skin. The problem is that not all emollients are suitable for all skin types. The most common emollients used in skin care and cosmetic products include cocoa butter, lanolin, isopropyl palmitate, isosterate, coconut butter, and myristyl lactate. These emollients can cause breakouts, especially if you have acne-prone skin.

If you have oily and acne-prone skin, use a water-based and non-comedogenic cream. It will moisturize your skin without causing breakouts.

5. Essential Oils

If you think going natural is the best way, think again. You can even be allergic to natural ingredients. Nowadays, essential oils can be found in creams, serums, face and body washes, scrubs, and almost all skin care products. Essential oils are good for people who can tolerate them. But if you are allergic to them, they can cause rashes, dry patches, breakouts, redness, and other allergic reactions.

Check the ingredients list of any product that is irritating your skin to see if it contains any essential oils.

6. Face Acids

Face acids may cause an initial reaction that is usually not an allergic reaction. Acids can cause skin purging, breakouts, and dryness. Face acids, such as salicylic acid and retinol, promote collagen synthesis, which may break your skin out initially.

It is recommended that you consult a dermatologist before using any face acid. They can help you understand your skin and the way it reacts to products.

This may seem like a long list of ingredients that you need to be wary of. Fortunately, there are ways that you can avoid cosmetic allergy. All you need to do is be cautious about what you are using. Check out the next section to find out what you can do to avoid such reactions.

How To Avoid Cosmetic Allergy

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• Get yourself tested for allergies to find out which ingredients you are allergic to, so you can avoid products containing them.
• Buy products that have the least number of ingredients to avoid any unwanted skin reactions.
• Always do a patch test. Apply a little bit of the product on your forearm and leave it on for 48-72 hours. If you don’t notice any skin reaction, continue using the product.
• Avoid applying perfumes or fragrances directly to your skin. Instead, spritz them on your clothes. This help reduces the risk of allergic reactions. It also prevents the chemicals in the fragrance from interacting with the ingredients of any other skin products you might have used.

Don’t fall prey to the claims of “dermatologically-tested” or “hypoallergenic” products. Always test all products beforehand to avoid any allergic reactions. But let’s say you used a product and your skin reacted to it – what can you do next? Find out in the next section.

How To Treat Allergic Reaction To Makeup

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Stop using the product.

This is the first and most basic thing that you need to do if you suspect that you are allergic to a product. Once you stop using the product, the irritation will go down. Mild reactions usually go down within a few hours and sometimes don’t even need any treatment.

However, if the allergic reaction is severe, consult a dermatologist immediately. They may prescribe topical steroids or ointments that can help resolve the issue. The doctor may even do a patch test to find out the exact cause of the allergic reaction. They might even ask you to stop using all products and then re-introduce your skin to one product at a time to find out which ingredient is the culprit.

It happens. I saw my friend check out a new foundation shade and hours after testing the shade on her jawline, her face broke out in red bumps. These are the worst surprises anyone can ever get!

When there is no guarantee that even a hypoallergenic product will not cause an allergic reaction, why take the risk? It is better to be cautious, read the list of ingredients, and know what you are putting on your skin. What do you think? Do you have any more questions? Share them in the comments section below.

The post Cosmetic Allergy: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

आप शारीरिक व मानसिक रूप से स्वस्थ हैं, तो यकीन मानिए आप बेहतरीन जीवन जी रहे हैं। हालांकि, जिसे से भी पूछो, तो वो कोई न कोई परेशानी गिना ही देता है। कोई शारीरिक रूप से बीमार है, तो कोई तनाव भरी जिंदगी जी रहा है। इस स्थिति से बचने का एकमात्र उपाय योग है। बेशक, आप में से कुछ के लिए इस बात पर भरोसा करना मुश्किल होगा, लेकिन अब कई वैज्ञानिक शोध से पुष्टि हो चुकी है कि बेहतर स्वास्थ्य के लिए योग अच्छा विकल्प है। यकीन मानिए योग सभी से होगा और हर रोग का इलाज योग से ही होगा। इस लेख में हम एक साथ योग के बारे में वो सभी तमाम जानकारियां देंगे, जिनके बारे में आप जानना चाहते हैं (1) (2)।

आइए, पहले यह जानते हैं कि योग क्या होता है।

विषय सूची

योग क्या है? – What is Yoga in Hindi?

योग क्या है, यह जानने के लिए हमें इसके मूल में जाना होगा। योग शब्द की उत्पत्ति संस्कृत शब्द ‘युज’ से हुई है, जिसका अर्थ जुड़ना है। योग के मूल रूप से दो अर्थ माने गए हैं, पहला- जुड़ना और दूसरा-समाधि। जब तक हम स्वयं से नहीं जुड़ पाते, तब तक समाधि के स्तर को प्राप्त करना मुश्किल होता है। कुछ लोगों का मानना है कि योग का अर्थ शरीर को आड़ा-तिरछा मोड़ना और सांस अंदर-बाहर करना है, लेकिन योग इस सीमा से कई आगे का स्तर है। यह सिर्फ व्यायाम भर नहीं है, बल्कि विज्ञान पर आधारित शारीरिक क्रिया है। इसमें मस्तिष्क, शरीर और आत्मा का एक-दूसरे से मिलन होता है। साथ ही मानव और प्रकृति के बीच एक सामंजस्य कायम होता है। यह जीवन को सही प्रकार से जीने का एक मार्ग है। गीता में भी श्रीकृष्ण ने कहा है कि योग: कर्मसु कौशलम यानी योग से कर्मों में कुशलता आती है।

इसे समझने के लिए हमें विख्यात दार्शनिकों, ज्ञानियों और योगियों के वक्तव्य को जानना होगा। जिन्होंने अपने-अपने हिसाब से योग को परिभाषित किया है।

• योग को धर्म, आस्था और अंधविश्वास के दायरे में बांधना गलत है। योग विज्ञान है, जो जीवन जीने की कला है। साथ ही यह पूर्ण चिकित्सा पद्धति है। जहां धर्म हमें खूंटे से बांधता है, वहीं योग सभी तरह के बंधनों से मुक्ति का मार्ग है। – ओशो

• जब आप पूरे शरीर को ठीक से थामना सीख जाते हैं, तो आप पूरे ब्रह्मांड की ऊर्जा को अपने अंदर महसूस कर सकते हैं। यही योग है। – सद्गुरु जग्गी वासुदेव

• चित्तवृत्तिनिरोध: यानी चित्त की वृत्तियों को चंचल होने से रोकना ही योग है। आसान भाषा में कहें तो मन को भटकने न देना और एक जगह स्थिर रखना ही योग है। – पतंजलि

योग की परिभाषा जानने के बाद आगे जानते हैं कि योग करना क्यों जरूरी है।

योगासन के फायदे – Yoga Benefits in Hindi

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योग तीन स्तरों पर काम करते हुए आपको फायदा पहुंचाता है। इस लिहाज से योग करना सभी के लिए सही है।

• पहले चरण में यह मनुष्य को स्वास्थ्यवर्धक बनाते हुए उसमें ऊर्जा भरने का काम करता है।

• दूसरे चरण में यह मस्तिष्क व विचारों पर असर डालता है। हमारे नकारात्मक विचार ही होते हैं, जो हमें तनाव, चिंता या फिर मानसिक विकार में डाल देते हैं। योग इस चक्र से बाहर निकालने में हमारी मदद करता है।

• योग के तीसरे और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण चरण में पहुंचकर मनुष्य चिंताओं से मुक्त होकर, इस विश्व को चला रही शक्ति का अनुभव करने में सक्षम हो जाता है। योग के इस अंतिम चरण तक पहुंचने के लिए कठिन परिश्रम की जरूरत होती है। इस प्रकार योग के लाभ विभिन्न स्तर पर मिलते हैं।

आइए, अब जानते हैं कि योग किस प्रकार हमें सेहतमंद रखता है।

योगासन के आंतरिक स्वास्थ्य लाभ – Internal Health Benefits of Yoga in Hindi

1. रक्त प्रवाह : जब शरीर में रक्त का संचार बेहतर होता है, तो सभी अंग बेहतर तरीके से काम करते हैं। साथ ही शरीर का तापमान भी नियंत्रित रहता है। रक्त प्रवाह के असंतुलित होते ही शरीर कई तरह की बीमारियों का शिकार होने लगता है, जैसे – ह्रदय संबंधी रोग, खराब लिवर, मस्तिष्क का ठीक से काम न करना आदि। ऐसे में योग करने से रक्त का प्रवाह अच्छी तरह होता है। इससे सभी अंगों को पर्याप्त ऑक्सीजन और पोषक तत्व मिलते हैं।

2. संतुलित रक्तचाप : गलत जीवनशैली के कारण कई लोगों रक्तचाप की समस्या से जूझ रहे हैं। अगर आपको भी रक्तचाप से जुड़ी कोई परेशानी है, तो आज से ही किसी योग प्रशिक्षक की देखरेख में योग करना शुरू कर दें। योग का महत्व इसलिए भी है, क्योंकि प्राणायाम करने से शरीर को पर्याप्त मात्रा में ऊर्जा मिलती है और तंत्रिकाओं की कार्यप्रणाली बेहतर होती है। साथ ही ह्रदय गति सामान्य होती है।

3. बेहतर श्वसन प्रणाली : श्वसन प्रणाली में आया कोई भी विकार हमें बीमार करने के लिए काफी है। ऐसे में योग हमें बताता है कि जीवन में सांस का क्या महत्व है, क्योंकि हर योगासन सांसों पर ही आधारित है। जब आप योग करते हैं, तो फेफड़े पूरी क्षमता के साथ काम करने लगते हैं, जिससे सांस लेना आसान हो जाता है।

4. गैस से छुटकारा : योग के लाभ में गैस से छुटकारा पाना भी है। गैस की समस्या किसी को भी हो सकती है। इसमें बच्चे, बुढ़े, महिला, पुरुष सभी शामिल हैं। यह समस्या मुख्य रूप से पाचन तंत्र के ठीक से काम न करने के कारण होती है। इसे ठीक करने के लिए योग बेहतरीन उपाय है। योग पाचन तंत्र को बेहतर करता है, जिससे कब्ज, गैस और एसिडिटी जैसी समस्याएं जड़ से खत्म हो सकती हैं।

5. दर्द सहने की क्षमता : शरीर में कहीं भी और कभी भी दर्द हो सकता है। खासकर, जोड़ों में दर्द को सहना मुश्किल हो जाता है। वहीं, जब आप योग करते हैं, तो शुरुआत में इस दर्द को सहने की शारीरिक क्षमता बढ़ने लगती है। साथ ही नियमित अभ्यास के बाद यह दर्द कम होने लगता है।

6. प्रतिरोधक क्षमता : बीमारियों से लड़ने के लिए रोग प्रतिरोधक क्षमता का बेहतर होना जरूरी है। प्रतिरोधक प्रणाली के कमजोर होने से शरीर विभिन्न रोग का आसानी से शिकार बन जाता है। आप चाहे स्वस्थ हैं या नहीं हैं, दोनों ही स्थिति में योग करना फायदे का सौदा साबित होगा। योग से प्रतिरोधक प्रणाली बेहतर होती है।

7. नई ऊर्जा : जीवन को सकारात्मक तरीके से जीने और काम करने के लिए शरीर में ऊर्जा का बना रहना जरूरी है। इसमें योग आपकी मदद करता है। योग को करने से थकावट दूर होती है और शरीर नई ऊर्जा से भर जाता है।

8. बेहतर मेटाबॉलिज्म : हमारे शरीर के लिए मेटाबॉलिज्म प्रक्रिया जरूरी है। इस प्रक्रिया से ही शरीर को भोजन के जरिए ऊर्जा मिलती है, जिससे हम अपने दिनभर के काम कर पाते हैं। जब पाचन तंत्र, लिवर और किडनी अच्छी तरह काम करते हैं, तो मेटाबॉलिज्म भी ठीक से काम करता है। इस अवस्था में योग का लाभ इसलिए है, क्योंकि योग के जरिए अपच और कब्ज को ठीक कर मेटाबॉलिज्म को बेहतर किया जा सकता है।

9. नींद : दिनभर काम करने के बाद रात को अच्छी नींद लेना जरूरी है। इससे शरीर को अगले दिन फिर से काम करने के लिए तैयार होने में मदद मिलती है। पर्याप्त नींद न लेने पर दिनभर बेचैनी, सिरदर्द, आंखों में जलन और तनाव रहता है। चेहरे पर भी रोनक नजर नहीं आती। वहीं, अगर आप नियमित योग करते हैं, तो मन शांत होता है और तनाव से छुटकारा मिलता है, जिससे रात को अच्छी नींद सोने में मदद मिलती है।

10. संतुलित कोलेस्ट्रॉल : जैसा कि हमने पहले भी बताया था कि योग करने से शरीर में रक्त का प्रवाह बेहतर होता है। इससे नसों में रक्त का थक्के नहीं बन पाते और अतिरिक्त चर्बी भी साफ हो जाती है। यही कारण है कि कोलेस्ट्रॉल को नियंत्रित किया जा सकता है। योग एचडीएल यानी अच्छे कोलेस्ट्रॉल को बढ़ाता है, जबकि एलडीएल यानी खराब कोलेस्ट्रॉल को खत्म करता है।

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11. नियंत्रित करता है सोडियम : हम कई बार बाहर का तला-भुना या फिर जंक फूड खा लेते हैं। ऐसे खाद्य पदार्थों में सोडियम की मात्रा ज्यादा होती है। शरीर में सोडियम की मात्रा बढ़ने से ह्रदय रोग या फिर गुर्दे की बीमारी हो सकती है। इससे बचने के लिए सबसे पहले तो आप इस तरह का खाना बिल्कुल बंद कर दें। साथ ही नियमित रूप से योग करें। योग में सोडियम की मात्रा को संतुलित करने की क्षमता होती है।

12. ट्राइग्लिसराइड्स में कमी : ट्राइग्लिसराइड्स हमारे रक्त में पाया जाने वाला एक तरह का फैट है, जो ह्रदय रोग व स्ट्रोक का कारण बन सकता है। इसे कम करने के लिए नियमित योग करना जरूरी है। योग करने से ह्रदय की गति थोड़ा बढ़ती है, जिस कारण ट्राइग्लिसराइड्स जैसी स्थिति से बचा जा सकता है।

13. लाल रक्त कोशिकाओं में वृद्धि : हमारे शरीर में लाल रक्त कोशिकाओं का अहम योगदान होता है। ये फेफड़ों से ऑक्सीजन लेकर पूरे प्रत्येक अंग तक पहुंचाती हैं। लाल रक्त कोशिकाओं की कमी से एनीमिया तक हो सकता है। योग बढ़ने से शरीर में इसकी मात्रा बढ़ने लगती है।

14. ह्रदय रोग से बचाव : ह्रदय हमारे शरीर का नाजुक हिस्सा है। गलत खानपान, असंतुलित दिनचर्या और तनाव का सीधा असर आपके ह्रदय पर होता है। आगे चलकर ह्रदय से जुड़ी कई बीमारियां हो जाती हैं। इससे बचने का बेहतरीन तरीका योग है। नियमित योग व स्वस्थ खानपान से ह्रदय मजबूत रहता है। जब आप ह्रदय को स्वस्थ रखने के लिए योग करेंगे, तब आपको योग का महत्व आसानी से समझ आएगा।

15. अस्थमा : अस्थमा होने पर श्वास नली सिकुड़ जाती है, जिससे सांस लेने में परेशानी होती है। जरा-सी धूल-मिट्टी में भी हमारा दम घुटने लगता है। अगर आप इस अवस्था में योग करते हैं, तो आपके फेफड़ों पर जोर पड़ता है और वो अधिक क्षमता के साथ काम करते हैं।

16. अर्थराइटिस : अर्थराइटिस यानी गठिया होने पर जोड़ों में सूजन और दर्द शुरू हो जाती है। इस अवस्था में रोजमर्रा के काम करना मुश्किल हो जाता है। ऐसे में योग करना आपके लिए फायदेमंद हो सकता है। किसी योग्य योग प्रशिक्षक के निरीक्षण में योग करने से जोड़ों में आई सूजन और दर्द कम होने लगता है और धीरे-धीरे काम करने लगते हैं।

17. कैंसर : यह कहना मुश्किल है कि योग करने से कैंसर पूरी तरह से ठीक हो सकता है या नहीं। हां, इतना जरूर कहा जा सकता है कि योग के जरिए कैंसर जैसी बीमारी से उबरने में मदद मिलती है। योग करने से कैंसर के मरीज में मौजूद विषैले जीवाणु खत्म हो सकते हैं। साथ ही मांसपेशियों में आया खिंचाव कम होता है और रक्त का संचार बेहतर होता है और तनाव व थकान भी कम होती है। इसके अलावा, कीमियो थेरेपी के दौरान होने वाली मतली व उल्टी जैसी समस्या से भी निपटा जा सकता है।

18. माइग्रेन : अगर माइग्रेन का मरीज योग करता है, तो उसे सिर में होने वाले दर्द से राहत मिल सकती है। योग मांसपेशियों में आए खिंचाव को कम करता है और सिर तक पर्याप्त में ऑक्सीजन पहुंचती है, जिससे माइग्रेन में राहत मिलती है।

19. ब्रोंकाइटिस : मुंह, नाक और फेफड़ों को बीच हवा मार्ग को श्वास नली कहते हैं। जब इसमें सूजन आ जाती है, तो सांस लेना मुश्किल हो जाता है। चिकित्सीय भाषा में इस अवस्था को ब्रोंकाइटिस कहा जाता है। योग इस सूजन को दूर कर सांस लेने में आपकी मदद करता है। योग के जरिए फेफड़ों से ऑक्सीजन की आपूर्ति पर्याप्त मात्रा में होती है। साथ ही फेफड़ों में नई ऊर्जा का संचार होता है।

20. कब्ज : यह ऐसी बीमारी है, जो अन्य बीमारियों के होने का कारण बनती है। पाचन तंत्र में समस्या आने पर कब्ज होती है। इसे ठीक करने के लिए दवाइयों से बेहतर योग है। योग के जरिए कब्ज जड़ से खत्म हो सकती है। योग सबसे पहले पाचन तंत्र को ठीक करेगा, जिससे कब्ज अपने आप ठीक हो जाएगी और आप तरोताजा महसूस करेंगे।

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21. बांझपन व रजोनिवृत्ति : अगर कोई प्रजनन क्षमता को बेहतर करना चाहता है, तो इसके लिए भी योग के आसन का वर्णन किया गया है। योग के जरिए शुक्राणु कम बनने की समस्या, यौन संबंधी कोई समस्या, फैलोपियन ट्यूब में आई कोई रुकावट या फिर पीसीओडी समस्या को ठीक किया जा सकता है। इसके अलावा, रजोनिवृत्ति से पहले और उस दौरान नजर आने वाले नकारात्मक लक्षणों को भी योग के माध्यम से ठीक किया जा सकता है।

22. साइनस व अन्य एलर्जी : साइनस के कारण नाक के आसपास की मांसपेशियों में सूजन आ जाती है। इससे सांस लेने में परेशानी होती है। इस समस्या के लिए भी योग हर लिहाज से बेहतर है। साइनस में सांस संबंधी योग यानी प्राणायाम करने से नाक व गले की नलियां में आई रुकावट दूर होती है और सांस लेना आसान हो जाता है। इसके अलावा, अन्य प्रकार की एलर्जी को भी योग से ठीक किया जा सकता है।

23. कमर दर्द : आजकल हमारा ज्यादा काम बैठकर होता है। इस वजह से किसी न किसी को कमद दर्द की शिकायत रहती है। अगर आप योग्य प्रशिक्षिक की निगरानी में योग करें, तो रीढ़ की हड्डी में लचक आती है, जिससे किसी भी तरह का दर्द दूर किया जा सकता है।

अन्य स्वास्थ्य लाभ जानने के लिए पढ़ते रहें यह आर्टिकल।

योगासन के बाहरी स्वास्थ्य लाभ – External Health Benefits of Yoga in Hindi

24. बढ़ती उम्र का असर कम : कुछ लोगों के चेहरे पर समय से पहले ही बढ़ती उम्र का असर नजर आने लगता है। वहीं, अगर आप योग करते हैं, तो समय पूर्व चेहरे पर पड़ने वाली झुर्रियों को कम किया जा सकता है। योग के जरिए शरीर में जमा विषैले पदार्थ व जीवाणु साफ हो जाते हैं और फ्री रेडिकल्स का भी सफाया हो जाता है। तनाव के कारण भी समय से पहले बुढ़ापे का असर नजर आने लगता है, लेकिन योग इस अवस्था से भी बचा सकता है।

25. शारीरिक क्षमता का बढ़ना : गलत तरीके से उठने-बैठने और चलने-फिरने से शरीर की मुद्रा बिगड़ जाती है। इस वजह से शरीर में जगह-जगह दर्द, मांसपेशियों में विकार और हड्डियां कमजोर होने लगती हैं। इन समस्याओं से बचने का सही तरीका योग है। नियमित रूप से योग करने से हड्डियां व मांसपेशियां मजबूत होती हैं, शरीर का आकार बेहतर होता है और शारीरिक क्षमता बेहतर होती है।

26. संतुलित वजन : इन दिनों हर कोई मोटापे का शिकार है। इसका कारण गलत खानपान और दिनचर्या है। सबसे पहले हमारा पेट खराब होता है। पाचन तंत्र बेहतर न होना ही हर बीमारी की जड़ है। इससे निपटने का आसान और बेहतरीन तरीका योग ही है। अगर आप नियमित योग करते हैं, तो कब्ज और एसिडिटी जैसी समस्याएं दूर होती हैं और पाचन तंत्र बेहतर होता है। इससे धीरे-धीरे वजन कम होने लगता है।

27. सुडौल शरीर : योगासन सिर से लेकर पांव तक शरीर को संतुलित बनाता है और मानसिक व आत्मिक रूप से भी आपको मजबूत बनाता है। इन सभी के बेहतर प्रकार से कार्य करने पर ही शरीर सुडौल बनता है।

28. कोर की क्षमता का बढ़ना : कोर का मुख्य रूप से अर्थ शरीर की महत्वपूर्ण मांसपेशियों के समूह को कहा जाता है। शरीर के ठीक प्रकार से काम करने के लिए कोर का मजबूत रहना जरूरी है। शरीर का पूरा भार कोर पर ही टिका होता है। ये आपको चोट लगने से बचाती हैं। योग करने से कोर में मजबूत आती हैं, लचीलापन आता है और स्वास्थ रहती हैं।

29. मांसपेशियों में सुधार : योग करने से मांसपेशियों की गतिविधि में सुधार होता है। यह मजबूत होती हैं और इनमें लचीलापन आता है।

30. सहनशीलता में वृद्धि : जैसा कि इस लेख में कई बार लिखा गया है कि योग सिर्फ शारीरिक ही नहीं, बल्कि मानसिक रूप से भी मजबूत बनाता है। इसकी जरूरत रोजमर्रा के काम में पड़ती है। खासतौर पर खिलाड़ियों के लिए मानसिक तौर पर मजबूत होना जरूरी है। वह जितना सहनशील रहते हैं, उतना ही उनके प्रदर्शन में सुधार नजर आता है। साथ ही हर व्यक्ति विपरीत परिस्थितियों में सही निर्णय लेने में सक्षम हो पाता है।

योगासन के भावनात्मक स्वास्थ्य लाभ – Emotional Health Benefits of Yoga in Hindi

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31. अच्छा मूड : जीवन में आगे बढ़ने और सफलता हासिल करने के लिए आपके स्वभाव का अच्छा और सकारात्मक रहना जरूरी है। इस काम में योग आपकी मदद करता है। यकीन मानिए, जब आप योग करते हैं, तो आप अंदर से पूरी तरह सकारात्मक ऊर्जा से भर जाते हैं। इससे आपका मूड अच्छा होता है और दिनभर काम में मन लगा रहता है।

32. तनाव कम : तनाव हर किसी के लिए नुकसानदायक है। जो व्यक्ति तनाव में होता है, उसके लिए सामान्य जिंदगी जीना मुश्किल हो जाता है। तनाव से बाहर निकलने का एकमात्र रास्ता योग है। जब आप योग करेंगे, तो नई ऊर्जा से भर जाएंगे। इससे तनाव का कम होना स्वाभाविक है।

33. चिंता से छुटकारा : कहा जाता है चिंता चिता की जननी है। जो चिंता में डूबा उसका तनाव में जाना तय है। चिंता के कारण ह्रदय संबंधी बीमारियां तक हो सकती हैं। अगर आप भी ज्यादा चिंता में डूबे रहते हैं, तो आज से ही योग का सहारा लेना शुरू कर दें। योग से न सिर्फ आप मानसिक रूप से तमाम तरह के विकारों व नकारात्मक सोच से उबर पाएंगे, बल्कि जीवन को फिर से जीने और तमाम दुविधाओं का सामना करने की क्षमता पैदा हो जाएगी। विचलित मन शांत होता है और परम आनंद का सुख मिलता है।

34. दबाव का मुकाबला : कई बार ऐसा होता है कि ऑफिस और घर का काम इतना ज्यादा हो जाता है कि दबाव महसूस होने लगता है। ऐसा अक्सर महिलाओं के साथ होता है। इस अवस्था में उनके लिए विभिन्न कामों के बीच संतुलन बनाए रखना मुश्किल हो जाता है। इससे बचने का एकमात्र उत्तम जरिया योग है। योग आपको हर तरह की स्थिति और दबाव से बाहर निकलने की शक्ति देता है। आप अंदर से प्रसन्न महसूस करेंगे।

35. निर्णय लेने की क्षमता : योग आपको मानसिक रूप से इस कदर मजबूत बनाता है कि आप जीवन से जुड़े महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय लेने में सक्षम हो जाते हो। साथ ही विपरीत हालत में स्वयं को कैसे संतुलित बनाए रखना है।

36. एकाग्रता : नियमित रूप से योग करते रहने से आप इतने सक्षम हो जाते हैं कि अपने लक्ष्य को हासिल करने के लिए एकाग्रचित होकर काम करने लगते हो। इस दौरान मार्ग में आने वाली तमाम बाधाओं को भी आसानी से पार किया जा सकता है। वैसे भी कहा जाता है कि सफलता का मूल मंत्र काम के प्रति एकाग्रता है।

37. अच्छी याददाश्त : योग के जरिए मस्तिष्क की कार्यप्रणाली पर भी असर होता है। खासकर, छात्रों के लिए यह बेहद जरूरी है। परीक्षा के दौरान अपने मस्तिष्क को शांत रखना और बेहतर बनाना जरूरी है, ताकि वो जो भी पढ़ रहे हैं, उन्हें अच्छी तरह याद रहे।

38. बारीकियों पर नजर : अक्सर आप स्कूल, कॉलेज या फिर ऑफिस में ऐसे प्रोग्राम में जाते होंगे, जिनमें किसी विषय के बारे में विस्तार से बताया जाता है और यह आपके लिए जरूरी भी होता है। इस तरह के माहौल में अमूमन होता यह है कि आप कुछ समय तो एक्टिव रहते हैं, लेकिन धीरे-धीरे आपका ध्यान किसी और तरफ चला जाता है। इस प्रकार आप जरूरी बातों पर ध्यान नहीं दे पाते, लेकिन योग करने वाला व्यक्ति हर समय एक्टिव रहता है। वह हर बारीक से बारीक चीजों पर भी ध्यान रखता है।

39. जीवन में सकारात्मक विचार : योग करना हमेशा ऊर्जावान रहता है। जीवन को लेकर उसके विचार सकारात्मक होते हैं। वह जीवन को हर दिन नई ऊर्जा व जोश के साथ जीना पसंद करता है। वह जीवनभर ‘खुश रहो और दूसरों को खुश रखो’ इसी सिद्धांत का पालन करता है।

योग के इतने लाभ जानने के बाद अब यह भी जान लेते हैं कि योग कितने प्रकार के होते हैं।

योग के प्रकार – Types of Yoga in Hindi

हालांकि, ठीक-ठीक कहना तो मुश्किल है कि योग के प्रकार कितने हैं, लेकिन हम यहां आमतौर पर चर्चा में आने वाले प्रकारों के बारे में बता रहे हैं :

1. राज योग : योग की सबसे अंतिम अवस्था समाधि को ही राजयोग कहा गया है। इसे सभी योगों का राजा माना गया है, क्योंकि इसमें सभी प्रकार के योगों की कोई न कोई खासियत जरूर है। इसमें रोजमर्रा की जिंदगी से कुछ समय निकालकर आत्म-निरीक्षण किया जाता है। यह ऐसी साधना है, जिसे हर कोई कर सकता है। महर्षि पतंजलि ने इसका नाम अष्टांग योग रखा है और योग सूत्र में इसका विस्तार से उल्लेख किया है। उन्होंने इसके आठ प्रकार बताए हैं, जो इस प्रकार हैं :

• यम (शपथ लेना)
• नियम (आत्म अनुशासन)
• आसन (मुद्रा)
• प्राणायाम (श्वास नियंत्रण)
• प्रत्याहार (इंद्रियों का नियंत्रण)
• धारणा (एकाग्रता)
• ध्यान (मेडिटेशन)
• समाधि (बंधनों से मुक्ति या परमात्मा से मिलन)

2. ज्ञान योग : ज्ञान योग को बुद्धि का मार्ग माना गया है। यह ज्ञान और स्वयं से परिचय करने का जरिया है। इसके जरिए मन के अंधकार यानी अज्ञान को दूर किया जाता है। ऐसा कहा जाता है कि आत्मा की शुद्धि ज्ञान योग से ही होती है। चिंतन करते हुए शुद्ध स्वरूप को प्राप्त कर लेना ही ज्ञान योग कहलाता है। साथ ही योग के ग्रंथों का अध्ययन कर बुद्धि का विकास किया जाता है। ज्ञान योग को सबसे कठिन माना गया है। अंत में इतना ही कहा जा सकता है कि स्वयं में लुप्त अपार संभावनाओं की खोज कर ब्रह्म में लीन हो जाना है ज्ञान योग कहलाता है।

3. कर्म योग : कर्म योग को हम इस श्लोक के माध्यम से समझते हैं। योगा कर्मो किशलयाम यानी कर्म में लीन होना। श्रीकृष्ण ने भी गीता में कहा है ‘योग: कर्मसु कौशलम्’ यानी कुशलतापूर्वक काम करना ही योग है। कर्म योग का सिद्धांत है कि हम वर्तमान में जो कुछ भी अनुभव करते हैं, वो हमारे पूर्व कर्मों पर आधारित होता है। कर्म योग के जरिए मनुष्य किसी मोह-माया में फंसे बिना सांसारिक कार्य करता जाता है और अंत में परमेश्वर में लीन हो जाता है। गृहस्थ लोगों के लिए यह योग सबसे उपयुक्त माना गया है।

4. भक्ति योग : भक्ति का अर्थ दिव्य प्रेम और योग का अर्थ जुड़ना है। ईश्वर, सृष्टि, प्राणियों, पशु-पक्षियों आदि के प्रति प्रेम, समर्पण भाव और निष्ठा को ही भक्ति योग माना गया है। भक्ति योग किसी भी उम्र, धर्म, राष्ट्र, निर्धन व अमीर व्यक्ति कर सकता है। हर कोई किसी न किसी को अपना ईश्वर मानकर उसकी पूजा करता है, बस उसी पूजा को भक्ति योग कहा गया है। यह भक्ति निस्वार्थ भाव से की जाती है, ताकि हम अपने उद्देश्य को सुरक्षित हासिल कर सकें।

5. हठ योग : यह प्राचीन भारतीय साधना पद्धति है। हठ में ह का अर्थ हकार यानी दाई नासिका स्वर, जिसे पिंगला नाड़ी करते हैं। वहीं, ठ का अर्थ ठकार यानी बाईं नासिका स्वर, जिसे इड़ा नाड़ी कहते हैं, जबकि योग दोनों को जोड़ने का काम करता है। हठ योग के जरिए इन दोनों नाड़ियों के बीच संतुलन बनाए रखने का प्रयास किया जाता है। ऐसा माना जाता है कि प्राचीन काल में ऋषि-मुनि हठ योग किया करते थे। इन दिनों हठ योग का प्रचलन काफी बढ़ गया है। इसे करने से आप शारीरिक रूप से स्वस्थ रह सकते हैं और मानसिक रूप से शांति मिलती है।

6. कुंडलिनी/लय योग : योग के अनुसार मानव शरीर में सात चक्र होते हैं। जब ध्यान के माध्यम से कुंडलिनी को जागृत किया जाता है, तो शक्ति जागृत होकर मस्तिष्क की ओर जाती है। इस दौरान वह सभी सातों चक्रों को क्रियाशील करती है। इस प्रक्रिया को ही कुंडलिनी/लय योग कहा जाता है। इसमें मनुष्य बाहर के बंधनों से मुक्त होकर भीतर पैदा होने वाले शब्दों को सुनने का प्रयास करता है, जिसे नाद कहा जाता है। इस प्रकार के अभ्यास से मन की चंचलता खत्म होती है और एकाग्रता बढ़ती है।

योग के प्रकार जानने के बाद अब हम योगासन के समय अपनाए जाने वाले नियमों के बारे में बात करेंगे।

योगासन के नियम – Rules of Yoga in Hindi

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योग करने से पहले और करते समय कुछ नियमों का पालन करना जरूरी है, जिनके बारे में हम नीचे बता रहे हैं :

• नियमानुसार योग को सूर्योदय से पहले और सूर्यास्त के बाद करना चाहिए। अगर आप सुबह जल्दी नहीं उठ सकते हैं, तो प्रयास करें कि सात बजे तक योग आसन कर लें।

• योगासन से पहले हल्का वॉर्मअप करना जरूरी है, ताकि शरीर खुल जाए।

• योग की शुरुआत हमेशा ताड़ासन से ही करनी चाहिए।

• सुबह योगासन खाली पेट करना चाहिए।

• जो लोग पहली बार योगासन कर रहे हैं, उन्हें शुरुआत में हल्के योग के आसन करने चाहिएं और किसी योग प्रशिक्षक की देखरेख में ही करें। फिर जैसे-जैसे इनके अभ्यस्त हो जाएं, तो अपने स्तर को बढ़ाते जाएं।

• अगर आप शाम को योग कर रहे हैं, तो भोजन करने के करीब तीन-चार घंटे बाद ही करें। साथ ही योग करने के आधे घंटे बाद ही कुछ खाएं।

• योगासन करने के तुरंत बाद नहीं नहाना चाहिए, बल्कि कुछ देर इंतजार करना चाहिए।

• हमेशा आरामदायक कपड़े पहनकर ही योग करना चाहिए।

• जहां आप योग कर रहे हैं, वो जगह साफ-सुथरी और शांत होनी चाहिए।

• योग करते समय नकारात्मक विचारों को अपने मन से निकालने का प्रयास करें।

• योग का सबसे जरूरी नियम यह है कि इसे धैर्य से करें और किसी भी आसन में अधिक जोर न लगाएं। अपनी क्षमता के अनुसार ही करें।

• सभी योगासन सांस लेने और छोड़ने पर निर्भर करते हैं, जिसका पूर्ण ज्ञान होना जरूरी है। संभव हो तो पहले इस बारे में सीख लें, उसके बाद ही स्वयं से करें।

• अगर आप बीमार या गर्भवती हैं, तो अपने डॉक्टर से सलाह लेने के बाद ही इसे करें। साथ ही योग्य योग प्रशिक्षक की देखरेख में इसे करें।

• हमेशा योगासन के अंत में शवासन जरूर करें। इससे तन और मन पूरी तरह शांत हो जाता है। शवासन करने पर ही योग का पूरी तरह से लाभ मिलता है।

• योग के दौरान ठंडा पानी न पिएं, क्योंकि योग करते समय शरीर गर्म होता है। इसलिए, ठंडे पानी की जगह साधारण या हल्का गुनगुना पानी ही पिएं।

योग करने का सही समय – Correct Time to Practice Yoga in Hindi

• योग विज्ञान में दिन को चार हिस्सों में बांटा गया है, ब्रह्म मुहूर्त, सूर्योदय, दोपहर व सूर्यास्त। इनमें से ब्रह्म मुहूर्त और सूर्योदय को योग के लिए सबसे बेहतर माना गया है।

• ऐसा माना जाता है कि अगर आप ब्रह्म मुहूर्त में उठकर योग करते हैं, तो सबसे ज्यादा फायदा होता है। उस समय वातावरण शुद्ध होता है और ताजी हवा चल रही होती है। अमूमन आध्यात्म ज्ञान प्राप्त करने वाले ही इस समय योगाभ्यास करते हैं।

• ब्रह्म मुहूर्त का समय सुबह चार बजे का माना गया है। इस समय सभी के उठना संभव नहीं है, इसलिए अगर आप सूर्योदय के समय भी योग करते हैं, तो बेहतर है। इससे शरीर दिनभर ऊर्जावान रहता है।

• ध्यान रहे कि योगासन हमेशा खाली पेट ही करें।

• आप सूर्यास्त के बाद भी योग कर सकते हैं, लेकिन उससे तीन-चार घंटे पहले तक आपने कुछ न खाया हो।

योग के लिए आवश्यक चीजें – Things Required for Yoga in Hindi

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योगाभ्यास के दौरान इन चीजों की जरूरत सबसे ज्यादा होती है :

• साफ और आरामदायक योग मैट।

• साफ-सुथरे और आरामदायक कपड़े, जिनमें आपको योगासन करते हुए परेशानी न हो।

• जरूर के अनुसार आप तौलिया भी साथ रख सकते हैं, ताकि पसीना आने पर पोंछ सकें।

• पानी की बोतल, जो साफ होनी चाहिए।

• आप महिला हैं या पुरुष, अगर आपके बाल लंबे हैं, तो उन्हें हेयर बैंड या क्लिप से अच्छी तरह बांधकर रखें।

• कुछ लोगों को शुरुआत में योग करते हुए दिक्कत हो सकती है, तो योग ब्लॉक्स व बेल्ट का प्रयोग कर सकते है। आप इसे इस्तेमाल करने से पहले एक बार अपने ट्रेनर से पूछ लें।

• सबसे अहम बात यह है कि आप जिस कमरे में योग करें, वो साफ-सुथरा और शांत होना चाहिए।

योगाभ्यास के दौरान मानसिक स्थिति कैसी होनी चाहिए – Mental State for Yoga in Hindi

योग हमारे शरीर में नई ऊर्जा का संचार करता है। इस ऊर्जा को ग्रहण करने के लिए अपने शरीर को तैयार करना भी जरूरी है। इसलिए, योग करते समय अपने मन से सभी गलत विचारों को निकाल दें। इस बारे में बिल्कुल न सोचें कि योग करने से कोई लाभ होगा या नहीं और होगा तो कितने समय में होगा। योग करते समय अपने मन को पूरी तरह से स्थिर और शांत करने का प्रयास करें। हालांकि, शुरुआत में आपको कुछ परेशानी हो सकती है, लेकिन धीरे-धीरे सब सामान्य हो जाएगा।

योगासन के लिए कुछ और टिप्स – Other Tips for Yoga in Hindi

• आप सोच-समझ कर अच्छे योग टीचर का चुनाव करें। इसमें कोई जल्दबाजी न दिखाएं।

• योग करते समय हमेशा अपने चेहरे पर हल्की मुस्कान रखें।

• जब भी पद्मासन या सुखासन में बैठें, तो कमर को बिल्कुल सीधा रखें।

• सांस को मुंह से छोड़ें और नाक से लें।

• किस अवस्था में कब सांस लेनी है और कब छोड़नी है, उसका पूरा ज्ञान होना चाहिए।

• जितना आपका शरीर साथ दे, उतना ही योगासन करें। नियमित अभ्यास करने से ही आपके शरीर में लचीलापन आएगा।

• कौन, कैसे कर रहा है, उस पर ध्यान दें। हर किसी के शरीर की अपनी सीमा होती है।

• स्वस्थ शरीर के लिए योग के साथ-साथ संतुलित भोजन भी करें।

• अगर आपको कुछ समझ नहीं आ रहा है, तो एक बार अपने योग टीचर से जरूर पूछ लें। कुछ गलत करने से बेहतर है कि आप उस बारे में बात करें। अगर आप कोई योग आसन गलत तरीके से करते हैं, तो आपको फायदे की जगह हानि हो सकती है।

सावधानी : अगर आप पहली बार योग कर रहे हैं, तो प्रशिक्षक की निगरानी में ही करें। वह आपकी उम्र, बीमारी व क्षमता के अनुसार ही उपयुक्त योगासन बताएगा। कई ऐसी बीमारियां हैं, जिनमें कुछ योग आसन वर्जित है, तो बेहतर यही होगा कि आप योग ट्रेनर की देखरेख में ही करें।

इसमें कोई शक नहीं कि योग से सब संभव है, बस जरूरत है इसे करने के लिए संकल्प लेने की। आप आज ही किसी योग्य योग प्रशिक्षक का चुनाव करें और योग करना शुरू कर दें। हां, इस बात का जरूर ध्यान रखें कि योग करने से आपको फर्क तुंरत नजर आएगा, लेकिन पूरी तरह से फायदा होने में समय लग सकता है। इसलिए, संयम के साथ इसे करें और हर आसन का आनंद लें। साथ ही योग करने से आपको स्वयं में किस तरह का अंतर महसूस हुआ, उस बारे में हमें नीचे दिए कमेंट बॉक्स में जरूर बताएं।

योग करें, निरोग रहें।

The post योग क्या है? – योगासन के 39 फायदे, नियम और प्रकार – Everything About Yoga in Hindi appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

They say the sky is the limit, that one can accomplish anything if they really want to. However, in reality, there exists a notorious glass ceiling above specific demographics. This invisible yet discernible barrier prevents women and minorities from rising beyond a certain level of the hierarchy within an organization. To put it plainly, the glass ceiling keeps the top jobs for the boys, owing to a thing called ‘privilege’ (in many countries, it is specifically white male privilege).

In this article, we offer an insight into the concept of the glass ceiling and how this powerful metaphor is an enormous problem for women, minorities, and the entire economy.

What Is The Glass Ceiling?

The phrase ‘glass ceiling’ was initially used to refer to women who could not break through a certain threshold when attempting to advance in their careers. It now also applies to other minorities facing hurdles that prevent them from achieving upper-level positions and leadership roles in the corporate world.

Often, these invisible obstacles occur due to discriminatory promotion practices and workplace prejudices. The marginalized groups, such as women and people of color, have a hard time overcoming inherent sexism and sometimes unintentional prejudices that are either embedded in a specific company’s culture or the entire industry.

This metaphor is used across different occupations and industries. The thing about the glass ceiling is that it is very difficult to spot and, therefore, can essentially be detected only by statistical effects rather than concrete examples. We don’t see as much evidence of blatant discrimination in the workplace today due to strictly defined corporate policies. However, subtle bias is often worse than blatant discrimination as it is harder to identify and assess.

A Brief History Of The Glass Ceiling

About 40 years ago, Marilyn Loden, an American management consultant and diversity advocate, sat on a panel called “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall.” She sat there listening to women blame themselves for their lack of advancement and success at work. When it was her turn to speak, she disagreed with them owing to all the data she had gathered related to why more women were not entering management positions. She said there had to be an invisible barrier to their advancement that people did not recognize. Loden called it the “glass ceiling.”

The term was then used in a 1984 book, The Working Woman Report, by Gay Bryant. Later, it was used in a 1986 Wall Street Journal article on barriers to women in high corporate positions.

In 1991, the U.S. Department of Labour took the concept seriously when it formally addressed the problem in its report The Glass Ceiling Initiative, stating that a glass ceiling is made up of “artificial barriers based on an attitudinal or organizational bias that prevent qualified individuals from advancing upward in their organization into management-level positions.”

The initiative was assembled to make recommendations on how to ensure that women and minorities received equal opportunities for advancement as their white male counterparts. The Commission published its findings in 1995, issuing 12 recommendations in the report A Solid Investment: Making Full Use of the Nation’s Human Capital.

Among the recommendations, the commission advocated that organizations “use affirmative action as a tool,” “select, promote and retain qualified individuals,” and “initiate work/life and family-friendly policies (1).”

What Is The Glass Ceiling Effect?

According to a paper published in Social Forces in 2001, the popular notion of the glass ceiling effect implies that gender (or other) disadvantages are stronger at the top of the hierarchy than at lower levels and that these disadvantages become worse later in a person’s career. This research found the evidence of a glass ceiling for women, but that it does not follow a similar pattern as racial inequalities among men. Thus, we shouldn’t describe all systems of differential work rewards as “glass ceilings.” They appear to be a distinctive gender phenomenon (2).

So, what is the effect of the glass ceiling?

Basically, the cycle of unfulfilled career expectations among women can spread insecurity and even lead to depression. Sheryl Sandberg, in her book Lean In, fittingly explains that “many people, but especially women, feel fraudulent when they are praised for their accomplishments. Instead of feeling worthy of recognition, they feel undeserving and guilty, as if a mistake has been made. Despite being high achievers, even experts in their fields, women can’t seem to shake the sense that it is only a matter of time until they are found out for who they are – impostors with limited skills or abilities.”

Don’t you think this is the outcome of sexism and chauvinism being deeply embedded in the system?

Breaking The Glass Ceiling: What Can Bring About Change?

It is 2019, and the facts are that female leaders/bosses are still in the minority, women are still paid less, and motherhood still carries a risk of complete career derailment. This is the case despite more and more women joining the workplace in the past decade.

As of 2018, the global labor force statistics show the women’s participation rate to be continually rising (it currently stands at 48.5%). Yet, women account for less than a quarter (24%) of senior roles globally (3). So, what is going on? That’s a question that organizations urgently need to address.

Breaking the glass ceiling is a complex affair and requires action on several fronts. The governments, academic institutions, employers ,and women themselves are key players in breaking down the barriers that are holding women back.

Below are a few steps that organizations can take to ensure that women are appropriately represented at top positions:

• Raise awareness about gender disparity.
• Educate the management and employees on gender bias.
• Establish an equal opportunity policy.
• Create a safe and respectful work environment.
• Address preconceptions and stereotypes.
• Treat gender diversity as a business priority.

While glass ceiling barriers remain the same for all women, irrespective of where they are located, it is only the degree to which the barrier is relevant that differs from one country to another. It is important now more than ever that everyone – men, women, and institutions – start to recognize this unconscious bias and presumptions that keep women out of positions of leadership, power, and decision making. If society continues to deny the existence of the glass ceiling, women and minorities are inevitably going to be walloped by it.

References

1. “Glass Ceiling Commission – A Solid Investment: Making Full Use of the Nation’s Human Capital” Cornell University
2. “The Glass Ceiling Effect” Social Forces, Oxford University Press
3. “Quick Take: Women in the Workforce – Global” Catalyst

The post What Is The ‘Glass Ceiling’ And How To Break It appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

क्या आप जानते हैं, पेट के निचले हिस्से में होने वाला दर्द पथरी की समस्या भी हो सकती है। यह गलत खानपान और अनियंत्रित जीवनशैली का नकारात्मक प्रभाव है। इसे किडनी स्टोन के नाम से जाना जाता है। अगर समय रहते इसका इलाज न करवाया जाए, तो यह समस्या आपके लिए गंभीर साबित हो सकती है।

इस लेख में हम आपको किडनी स्टोन संबंधी महत्वपूर्ण जानकारी और इससे छुटकारा पाने के सबसे आसान घरेलू उपायों के बारे में बताने जा रहे हैं। आइए, सबसे पहले जानते हैं कि आखिर किडनी स्टोन है क्या?

विषय सूची

क्या होता है किडनी स्टोन – What is Kidney Stone in Hindi

किडनी स्टोन को पथरी और नेफ्रोलिथियासिस के रूप में भी जाना जाता है। दरअसल, पथरी एक प्रकार का ठोस अपशिष्ट पदार्थ है, जो किडनी में बनना शुरू होता है और क्रिस्टल के रूप में विकसित होता है।

किडनी स्टोन कई प्रकार के होते हैं, जिनमें से 80 प्रतिशत कैल्शियम और ऑक्सालेट के कारण बनते हैं। वहीं, अन्य स्टोन के बनने का कारण स्ट्रवाइट, यूरिक एसिड व सिस्टीन जैसे पदार्थ होते हैं (1)। किडनी स्टोन आकार में छोटे या बड़े हो सकते हैं।

आमतौर पर छोटी पथरी से ज्यादा समस्या नहीं होती, लेकिन अगर इनका आकार बड़ा है, तो मूत्र प्रणाली में रूकावट हो सकती है। कुछ मामलों में किडनी स्टोन से पीड़ित इंसान अहसनीय दर्द, उल्टी और रक्तस्राव (Bleeding) का सामना करता है।

अध्ययन से पता चलता है कि जिसे एक बार स्टोन की समस्या हो जाए, उसके ठीक होने बाद अगले 10 वर्ष में फिर से यह समस्या हो सकती है (2)। नीचे दिए गए बिंदुओं के माध्यम से पथरी के लक्षणों के बारे में जानते हैं –

पथरी के लक्षण – Symptoms of Kidney Stone in Hindi

पथरी के लक्षणों में निम्नलिखित बिंदु शामिल हैं-

• पीठ, बाजू, पेट के निचले हिस्से में तेज दर्द।
• गुलाबी, लाल या भूरे रंग का पेशाब आना।
• लगातार पेशाब लगना।
• पेशाब करते समय दर्द होना।
• पेशाब करने में दिक्कत या कम मात्रा में मूत्र निकलना।
• बदबूदार मूत्र।

इन लक्षणों का मतलब हो सकता है कि आपको किडनी स्टोन की समस्या हो चुकी है। अगर आपका दर्द ज्यादा समय तक रहता है, तो आपको ये परेशानियां हो सकती हैं –

• जी मिचलाना
• उल्टी
• बुखार
• ठंड लगना आदि

पथरी के लक्षण जानने के बाद आगे जानिए किडनी स्टोन के कारणों के बारे में –

पथरी (किडनी स्टोन) के कारण – Causes of Kidney Stone in Hindi

किडनी स्टोन नीचे बताए जा रहे कारणों की वजह से हो सकता है (3) –

• मूत्र में कैल्शियम, ऑक्सालेट व यूरिक एसिड जैसे पदार्थों का स्तर बढ़ जाने से किडनी स्टोन की समस्या हो सकती है।

• किडनी रोग, कैंसर और एचआईवी के इलाज के लिए ली जा रही दवाओं से भी पथरी हो सकती है।

• उन चिकित्सीय स्थितियों के कारण भी पथरी विकसित हो सकती है, जो शरीर में कैल्शियम, ऑक्सालेट व यूरिक एसिड का स्तर बढ़ा देते हैं।

किडनी स्टोन का पता लगते ही इसका सटीक इलाज जरूरी है। डॉक्टरी इलाज के अलावा आप पथरी का घरेलू इलाज भी कर सकते हैं। नीचे जानिए पथरी का इलाज कैसे किया जाए –

1. सेब का सिरका

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सामग्री

• दो बड़े चम्मच सेब का सिरका
• एक गिलास पानी

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• पानी में सिरका मिलाएं और इसे पिएं।

कितनी बार करें

पथरी का देसी इलाज करने के लिए रोजाना भोजन से पहले सेब के सिरके का सेवन करें। भविष्य में पथरी से बचे रहने के लिए सप्ताह में एक या दो बार सेब के सिरके का पानी पी सकते हैं।

कैसे है लाभदायक

सेब के सिरके को किडनी के लिए सुपरफूड कहा जाता है। यह किडनी को साफ करने का काम करता है (4)। सिरके में मौजूद रासायनिक तत्व पथरी को नरम कर बाहर निकालने का काम कर सकते हैं। सेब के सिरके में मौजूद एसिड भविष्य में किडनी स्टोन को विकसित होने से रोक सकता है। पथरी से निजात पाने का यह सबसे सटीक घरेलू उपाय है।

सावधानी : सेब का सिरका दांत की परत को नुकसान पहुंचा सकता है। इसलिए, इसका सेवन करने से पहले पानी में पतला कर लें। रक्तचाप और डायबिटीज की दवा ले रहे मरीज इसका सेवन न करें।

2. नींबू का रस और-जैतून का तेल

सामग्री

• एक बड़ा चम्मच जैतून का तेल
• एक बड़ा चम्मच नींबू का रस
• 60-80 ml पानी

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• पानी में नींबू का रस और जैतून का तेल मिलाएं।
• अब इस मिश्रण को पी लें।

कितनी बार करें

अगर समस्या अधिक है, तो इस मिश्रण को एक दिन में दो से तीन बार ले सकते हैं।

कैसे है लाभदायक

पथरी का इलाज करने के लिए नींबू का उपाय कारगर रहेगा। नींबू के रस में मौजूद सिट्रिक एसिड किडनी स्टोन को बाहर निकालने में मदद कर सकता है। वहीं, जैतून तेल की चिकनाई पथरी को मूत्रमार्ग से निकालने में मदद करेगी (5)।

सावधानी : इस उपाय को तीन दिन तक प्रयोग करें, अगर कुछ फायदा नहीं मिलता है, तो डॉक्टर से संपर्क करें।

3. अनार का जूस

सामग्री

• 1 अनार

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• सबसे पहले अनार के दानों को बाहर निकाल लें।

• अब अनार के दानों को जूसर में डालें। जूस ठीक से बने, इसलिए आप थोड़े पानी का इस्तेमाल कर सकते हैं।

कैसे है लाभदायक

पथरी की दवा के रूप में आप अनार का जूस पी सकते हैं। इसका शक्तिशाली एंटीऑक्सीडेंट प्रभाव शरीर को किडनी को डिटॉक्स करने का काम कर सकता है। यह मूत्र प्रणाली को रेगुलेट करने और पेशाब की जलन को कम करने का काम भी कर सकता है।

किडनी के लिए अनार का जूस फायदेमंद है, क्योंकि यह नेफ्रोटोक्सिटी (किडनी में होने वाली विषाक्तता) से बचाव करता है। अनार का नियमित सेवन किडनी स्टोन को बाहर निकालने में मदद कर सकता है (6)।

4. राजमा (किडनी बीन्स)

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सामग्री

• एक कप किडनी बीन्स

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• फली से बीन्स निकाल लें और फली के छोटे-छोटे स्लाइस कर लें।

• लगभग 60 ग्राम कटी हुई फली को 4 लीटर पानी में चार घंटे तक उबालें। उबालते समय आंच को धीमा रखें।

• अब पानी को मलमल के साफ कपड़े से छान लें और लगभग 8 घंटे के लिए ठंडा होने के लिए रख दें।

• अब मरीज को एक गिलास बीन्स की फली का पानी एक दिन के लिए हर दो घंटे के अंतराल में दें। इसके बाद फली का पानी हफ्ते में तीन-चार बार लिया जा सकता है।

नोट : एक बार फली का पानी उबालने के बाद इसका सेवन 24 घंटे के अंदर कर लें।

कैसे है लाभदायक

पथरी का उपचार करने के लिए राजमा का सेवन एक कारगर विकल्प हो सकता है। राजमा जिसे किडनी बीन्स के नाम से भी जाना जाता है, वह स्टोन को निकालने का काम कर सकती है (7)।

5. तुलसी

सामग्री

• पांच-छह तुलसी के पत्ते
• एक कप गर्म पानी
• शहद स्वादानुसार

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• पत्तियों को 10 मिनट के लिए गर्म पानी में डूबा रहने दें।
• स्वादानुसार शहद मिलाएं।
• अब आराम से तुलसी की चाय का आनंद लें।

कितनी बार करें

आप एक दिन में दो-तीन कप तुलसी की चाय पी सकते हैं।

कैसे है लाभदायक

पथरी का आयुर्वेदिक उपचार करने के लिए आप तुलसी का सहारा ले सकते हैं। तुलसी को भारतीय जड़ी-बूटियों में विशेष स्थान प्राप्त है। किडनी स्टोन के लिए भी आप इसका सेवन कर सकते हैं। यह एक प्राकृतिक उपाय है, जो आपको पथरी की समस्या से निजात दिलाने का काम करेगा (8)।

6. तरबूज

किडनी स्टोन से निजात पाने के लिए आप तरबूज का सेवन कर सकते हैं। तरबूज एक खास फल है, जिसमें पानी की मात्रा अधिक होती है। तरबूज साइट्रिक एसिड और पोटैशियम तत्व से समृद्ध होता है, जो पथरी को बाहर निकालने का काम कर सकता है। पथरी से पीड़ित मरीज रोजाना तरबूज खा सकते हैं या इसका जूस पी सकते हैं (9), (10)।

7. अंगूर

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गुर्दे की पथरी को ठीक करने के लिए अंगूर का सेवन एक कारगर विकल्प हो सकता है। अंगूर भी साइट्रिक गुणों से समृद्ध होता है और इसमें पानी की मात्रा अधिक होती है (10)। अंगूर को अपने डिटॉक्सीफाइंग गुणों के लिए भी जाना जाता है। किडनी स्टोन से पीड़ित मरीज रोजाना अंगूर का सेवन कर सकते हैं (11)।

8. सिंहपर्णी

सामग्री

• एक चम्मच सिंहपर्णी जड़
• एक कप गर्म पानी

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• सिंहपर्णी की जड़ को गर्म पानी में डालें और इसे लगभग 10 मिनट तक पानी में रहने दें।

• अब पानी को छान लें और चाय की तरह धीरे-धीरे पिएं।

कितनी बार करें

एक दिन में दो-तीन कप।

कैसे है लाभदायक

पथरी का इलाज करने के लिए सिंहपर्णी की जड़ कारगर रहेगी। सिंहपर्णी की जड़ एंटीइंफ्लेमेटरी गुणों से समृद्ध होती है, जो दर्द-सूजन से राहत दिला सकती है। साथ ही इसमें मौजूद पोटैशियम किडनी स्टोन की स्थिति में आपकी सहायता कर सकता है। सिंहपर्णी मूत्र को बढ़ाने का काम भी करती है (12)।

सावधानी : मधुमेह, उच्च रक्तचाप और गॉल ब्लैडर संबंधी रोग की स्थिति में सिंहपर्णी का यह उपाय न करें।

9. सेलेरी

सामग्री

• कच्ची सेलेरी (इतना कि एक कप रस निकल सके)

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• ब्लेंडर की मदद से सेलेरी का जूस निकालें।
• जूस का सेवन सुबह खाली पेट करें।

कितनी बार करें

हफ्ते में तीन बार ले सकते हैं।

कैसे है लाभदायक

सेलेरी का जूस मूत्रवर्धक के रूप में काम करता है, जिससे किडनी स्टोन को बाहर निकालने में मदद मिलेगी। इसमें एंटीबैक्टीरियल गुण भी होता, जो आपको संक्रमण से दूर रखता है (13)।

10. बिच्छू पत्ती

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सामग्री

• दो बड़े चम्मच सूखी बिच्छू पत्तियां
• एक कप गर्म पानी

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• सूखी बिच्छू पत्तियों को गर्म पानी में डालें और लगभग 10 मिनट तक पानी में रहने दें।

• अब चाय की तरह इसे आराम से पिएं।

कितनी बार करें

• एक दिन में 2-3 कप पिएं।

कैसे है लाभदायक

किडनी स्टोन के लिए आप बिच्छू की पत्तियों का उपाय कर सकते हैं। बिच्छू की पत्तियां मूत्रवर्धक का काम करती हैं। साथ ही शरीर के भीतर इलेक्ट्रोलाइट को संतुलित बनाए रखने में मदद करती हैं। मूत्र की मात्रा बढ़ने से पथरी आसानी से बाहर निकल जाती है (14)।

11. नारियल का पानी

किडनी स्टोन के लिए आप नारियल पानी का रोजाना सेवन कर सकते हैं। समस्या के दिनों में दिन में तीन-चार बार नारियल का पानी पिएं। इससे शरीर में मूत्र की मात्रा बढ़ेगी, जिससे पथरी आसानी से बाहर निकल सकती है (15)।

12. बेकिंग सोडा

सामग्री

• आधा चम्मच बेकिंग सोडा
• एक गिलास गुनगुना पानी

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• पानी में बेकिंग सोडा मिलाएं और इसे तुरंत पी लें।

कितनी बार करें

दिन में दो से तीन बार पिएं।

कैसे है लाभदायक

बेकिंग सोडे (Sodium Bicarbonate) की क्षारीयता (Alkaline) मूत्र में मौजूद अम्लीय सामग्री (Acidic Content) को कम करने का काम करती है। इस प्रकार पथरी आसानी से पेशाब के रास्ते निकल सकती है (16), (17)। इस अम्लीय सामग्री के कारण ही किडनी स्टोन का निर्माण होता है।

13. शतावरी

किडनी स्टोन के लिए शतावरी एक कारगर विकल्प हो सकता है। आप समस्या के दिनों में शतावरी को अपने दैनिक आहार में स्थान दें। आप शतावरी की सब्जी बनाकर या वेजिटेबल सलाद में डालकर खा सकते हैं। शतावरी में ऐस्पेराजीन नामक तत्व होता है, जो किडनी स्टोन को तोड़ने का काम करता है और पेशाब का उत्पादन बढ़ाता है, जिससे पथरी आसानी से मूत्र के रास्ते निकल जाती है (18)।

14. मूली का जूस

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सामग्री

• एक सफेद मूली

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• मूली के डंठल को हटाकर छोटा-छोटा काट लें।
• अब जूसर की मदद से मूली का जूस निकाल लें।
• सुबह खाली पेट लगभग 100ml मूली का जूस पिएं।

कितनी बार करें

समस्या के दिनों में रोजाना मूली के जूस का सेवन करें।

कैसे है लाभदायक

मूली एक खास सब्जी है, जो शरीर को डिटॉक्स करने का काम करती है। किडनी स्टोन को बाहर निकालने के लिए इसका रस आपकी मदद कर सकता है। मूली विटामिन-ए, बी, सी, पोटैशियम और डाइजेस्टिव एंजाइम्स से समृद्ध होती है, जो पेशाब व पाचन क्रिया में सुधार करने का काम करती है (19)।

15. हॉर्सटेल

सामग्री

• दो-चीन चम्मच हॉर्सटेल
• एक कप गर्म पानी

कैसे करें इस्तेमाल

• एक कप गर्म पानी में हॉर्सटेल हर्ब को आठ से दस मिनट तक डुबो कर रखें।
• अब धीरे-धीरे इसका सेवन करे।

कितनी बार करें

दिन में दो-तीन बार पिएं।

कैसे है लाभदायक

किडनी स्टोन का इलाज करने के लिए आप हॉर्सटेल का सहारा ले सकते हैं। हॉर्सटेल एक प्रभावी जड़ी-बूटी है, जो एंटीऑक्सीडेंट और एंटीइंफ्लेमेटरी गुणों से समृद्ध होती है। इसे यूरिनरी ट्रैक्ट इंफेक्शन के साथ-साथ किडनी और ब्लाडर स्टोन के लिए भी इस्तेमाल किया जाता है। हॉर्सटेल में मौजूद रसायन इसे एक कारगर मूत्रवर्धक बनाने का काम करते हैं। मूत्र की मात्रा बढ़ने से पथरी आसानी से बाहर निकल सकती है (20)।

पथरी (किडनी स्टोन) से बचाव – Prevention Tips for Kidney Stone in Hindi

भविष्य में किडनी स्टोन से बचे रहने के लिए आप निम्नलिखित टिप्स को जरूर अपनाएं –

• हाइड्रेट रहें, पानी पीने की प्रक्रिया दिन भर जानी रखें।

• अत्यधिक नमक का सेवन न करें।

• ऑक्सालेट एक केमिकल कंपाउंड है, जो बहुत से खाद्य पदार्थों में पाया जाता है। ऑक्सालेट की अत्यधिक मात्रा किडनी स्टोन के निर्माण कर सकती है। इसलिए, जितना हो सके अधिक ऑक्सालेट युक्त खाद्य सामग्री का सेवन न करें। पालक, चॉकलेट, कॉफी, स्वीट पोटैटो व मूंगफली आदि में अधिक ऑक्सालेट पाया जाता है (21)।

• एनिमल प्रोटीन जैसे बीफ, पोर्क, फिश व चिकन आदि का सेवन कम करें।

किडनी स्टोन की समस्या उम्र के किसी भी पड़ाव में आपको परेशान कर सकती है। पथरी का होना ज्यादातर भोजन पर निर्भर करता है। भोजन में नमक, एसिड व ऑक्सालेट की मात्रा बढ़ने से पथरी की आशंका बढ़ जाती है। अगर आप भी किडनी स्टोन से पीड़ित हैं, तो लेख में बताए गए किसी भी प्राकृतिक उपाय का चुनाव कर सकते हैं। ध्यान रहे कि आप अपने शरीर के प्रति जितना जागरूक रहेंगे बीमारियां आप से उतना दूर रहेंगी। किडनी स्टोन पर लिखा हमारा यह लेख आपको कैसा लगा, हमें कमेंट बॉक्स में बताना न भूलें।

The post पथरी (किडनी स्टोन) के कारण, लक्षण और घरेलू इलाज – Kidney Stone Symptoms and Home Remedies in Hindi appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

Let me guess your monthly salon regime. You go to the salon and get a mani-pedi along with a heavy-duty depilating session to get your skin smooth and baby-soft, and to top it off, you get your eyebrows shaped.

This sounds about right, doesn’t it? But what if we were to tell you that this routine of yours isn’t as fool-proof as you would like it to be, and that there is room for improvement.

We are talking about the last bit of this routine, the one that involves getting your eyebrows shaped. It’s time you pay more attention to those two bushy caterpillars sitting above your pretty eyes. Why? Because it’s your brows which give your face its unique structure and ground your features, though you often care for them as an afterthought. To help you maximize the beauty benefits of your brows, these are a couple of things you should be mindful of. Trust us, if you do so, Cara Delevingne would have nothing on you!

1. When Filling In The Brows, Use Flicking Motions To Create An Impression Of Naturally Thick Brows

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The trick to using any product to fill out the brows to give them more body is to use less of it. What we mean to say is don’t fill them in with a single sweep of the product. Instead, use short, flicking motions in the direction in which the hair is growing to create a realistic look. This will give it a more natural look, instead of a made-up one.

2. Cover The Sparse Spots

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Some of us are blessed with naturally thick brows, such as Frida Kahlo, Cara Delevingne, while some of us have sparse shadowy brows in our fate. If you fall into the latter category, we have an important tip for you. Fill in those sparse spots with powder or brow pencil, and then top it off with a brow mascara. This will give your brows a fuller, more wholesome look.

3. While Shaping Your Brows, Pay Attention To Its Tail

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Your God-given brows have a symmetry to them which lifts your face. So, if you are trying to shape your brows to make them look denser or if you are thinking of playing with their shape, don’t mess with its original shape, especially when it comes to the tail of the brow. If you extend the tail, it will give your face a droopy look.

To find the natural endpoint of the tail, hold the eyebrow pencil across your nose diagonally and line it up next to your eyes. The point where it touches your brow bone is where your brow’s tail should end naturally.

4. Create A Realistic Arch

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Keep in mind that arches that are too sharp or pointed can have the effect of making you look angry or surprised. To highlight your arch or make it more pronounced, first find its natural location. To do that hold the eyebrow pencil against your nostril, in a diagonal fashion, crossing the center of your eye. Where the pencil touches your brow bone, that is where your arch should be.

Next, use a spoolie brush to brush the hair of the brow downwards, and then using a brow pencil (or any other product of your choice) create a slight arch at that location, and then brush the hair back up, to make it look natural.

5. Rub Off Any Stark Lines

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The most common technique used to shape the eyebrow is drawing a rough outline of it and then filling it in. While it’s a very handy technique, it can make your brows look very artificial. Instead of this, opt to create tiny hairs by using the product of your choice to give your brows a definite shape and finish it off by blending stark lines, if there are any.

6. Ditch The Highlighter And Use Concealer Above And Below Brows

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While using a little dab of highlighter over and right below the brow is a great way to highlight them, it can also make them stand out. To avoid doing this, swap the highlighter for a concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin tone. It will get your brows just the right amount of attention.

7. Accentuate Your Arch With The Right Brow Color

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Though till now we have been giving you tips to give your brows the perfect shape, there is also the matter of its color. If you choose a product of a darker color to do your brows, it can make it appear very artificial and made up. Therefore, take care to choose the right color. If you have trouble finding your shade, you can choose two colors to get a hybrid that works for you.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you sit down to groom your brows, and we can assure you that your brows will look like a million dollars.

So try them out and tell us how they worked out for you, and if you have any queries or suggestions, share them with us in the comments section.

The post 7 Easy Tricks To Getting Your Best Brows Ever appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

Hair has always been one of the most precious assets for a woman. Primarily because beautiful lustrous hair has always been a symbol of eternal beauty! And when it comes to managing hair, nothing beats stylish and simple hairdos. We are always on a lookout for hairstyles which make us look great, keep our hair intact in one place, and require minimum effort.

But now imagine for a minute that you spent hours on styling your hair but forgot to put on a hair spray afterward. You think your hair would be held up in that hairdo for long?

Whether it’s to hold neatly coiled hair in place or to create some beachy waves, hair sprays are indispensable for achieving the desired hairdo. Yes, there is an umpteen number of commercial hair sprays available in the markets which are great for adding volume and texture, but at the same time, they are definitely hazardous for your hair and you.

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These off-the-shelf hair sprays are loaded with synthetic fragrances, polymers, aerosols, and many such harmful substances which can affect your health in a bad way. When we use such hair sprays, the toxic fumes coming out of them remain suspended in the air. they can enter your bodies and lead to allergies.

Why should you risk your health so much when you can make your own healthy, DIY hair sprays at home, right? All you’ll need are 3–4 ingredients and your hair problems are sorted. Here’s a list of some of the top DIY hair sprays which will only boost your hair health.

1. Overnight Spray For Hair Growth

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Now, who doesn’t wish to flaunt thick, lustrous hair? Everybody does! And what if we say that a hair spray can make it happen? Yep! No kidding here. If you’ve been suffering from hair damage or hair fall for quite some time, then, this essential oil DIY hair spray is for you.

What You’ll Need:

• A Glass bottle
• 1 cup of aloe vera juice
• 5-8 drops of lavender, rosemary, and peppermint oils
• 1 teaspoon of argan oil

Directions:

• Take a glass bottle which can be attached with a spray lid.
• Add the three essential oils in it, one by one
• Next, add argan oil and follow it up by adding the aloe juice.
• Shake well and spray it on your head and lightly massage it in.
• You can both spray it just before you hit the bed or you can spray it on towel-dried hair and then style your hair.

Benefits:

• Aloe Vera Juice: Repairs damaged hair, helps stimulate hair growth and prevents hair fall (1).
• Essential Oils: Rosemary helps in better stimulation of blood flow to the hair follicles (2). Lavender nourishes and relaxes the follicles whereas peppermint boosts scalp circulation (3).
• Argan Oil: Considered to be a hair miracle elixir that makes hair thick, long, and lustrous.

2. Hair Mist For Frizzy Hair

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Rose water conditions and moisturizes the scalp and hair as it’s rich in vitamins A, B3, C, D, and E as well as flavonoids (4). It can be used as a hair spray to treat dry hair and make it frizz free.

What You’ll Need:

• A Spray bottle
• 4 tablespoons of rose water
• 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice
• Few drops of orange oil (2-3)

Directions:

• Take a bowl and add rose water and aloe juice to it and mix them well.
• Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle and add orange oil to it.
• You can spray it directly on washed hair.
• It will make your mane manageable and also help in controlling frizz.

Benefits:

• Aloe Juice: It acts as a natural conditioner for your hair (5).
• Rose Water: It deeply conditions your hair and gives it a very healthy shine.
• Orange Oil: It moisturizes both, the hair strands as well as the scalp.

3. Hair Spray For Shiny, Smooth, And Quicker Hair Growth

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Due to unhealthy lifestyles, pollution, excessive use of hair styling tools, and negligent hair care, dull hair has become a primary hair concern for many. Fenugreek is the answer to this problem. Even the world of Ayurveda has been swearing by fenugreek’s benefits since times immemorial. Let’s learn how to make a fenugreek hair spray.

What You’ll Need:

• A Spray bottle
• 1 cup of Fenugreek seeds

Directions:

• Soak the seeds in water (2 cups) overnight.
• In the morning, add half a cup of water to them and transfer all of it in a pan. Bring it to a boil.
• Strain and keep the seeds aside (you can grind them later and use them in a face mask) and take the water.
• Pour it into the spray bottle.
• Spray it on your hair strands and also spray some of it on your scalp.
• Tie your hair up in a bun. Leave it that way for at least 4 hours and then rinse.

Benefits:

• These seeds are said to be rich in hormones which boost hair growth (6).
• They also have an abundance of proteins and nicotinic acid in them which helps in strengthening the hair shafts and prevents breakage (7).

Hair sprays which are natural and homemade benefit our hair in more than one way. They help to keep our mane sane and also improve its health. Do you know of any other DIY hair spray recipe? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Top DIY Hair Spray Recipes For Healthy Hair appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

For a happy relationship, expressing love is very crucial. And what better way to let your partner feel your love than through a kiss, right? Kisses can be considered as the universally accepted gesture of showing love or affection to your romantic partner. A kiss can be slow and tender, in a loving way, or it can also a passionate one, with a hint of roughness.

Whatever the pace, it’s a magical gesture. Its magic has the power to overwhelm all your senses and take control over them. Such is its spell! And yes, there are different kinds of kisses that don’t limit you to the lips and cheeks alone.

Now, speaking about the emotional side of a kiss; kisses help in expressing a connection between two people. They also determine whether the romance element is alive in the relationship or not. Also, a kiss can be performed in a number of ways and each of them signifies something different. Here are 5 such types of kisses that can spice up a relationship:

1. Earlobe Kiss

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This kiss holds the reputation for being the most erogenous and romantic kiss between partners. How is it done? Well, it’s all about how you initiate it. You can slightly bite your partner’s earlobe and wait for his reaction. Or you can start off a passionate makeout sesh by letting your tongue linger sensuously around your partner’s earlobe. This makes your partner feel a little ticklish and can even turn them on.

It’s actually one of the best ways to tempt your partner to get a little naughty with you. And it’s for the very same reason that we don’t recommend initiating it in public, because surely this kiss will lead to actions which will certainly not be deemed appropriate in the public eye.

2. French Kiss

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This kiss is considered to be the most erotic and passionate of all the kisses. It’s exciting and it’s arousing. This type of kiss involves a lot of tongue play with your partner. For this kiss to take place their tongues come in contact. There’s a healthy fact about this kiss – it helps you burn calories (1)!

For most couples, a French kiss is the harbinger of a feeling which simply feels out of this world. If you’re doing it for the first time, you might feel a little awkward. However, with time, your partner and you will surely master this French kiss which is regarded as an art by many.

3. Single-lip Kiss

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This kiss too is considered to be an intimate one but of a subtle kind. It’s perfect if you are a couple who loves taking things slow. To do this kiss, one needs to suck the lips of their partner in a way that their partner’s lips are sandwiched between their own. While doing this kiss, one person takes the lead and the other person cooperates by responding subtly. It’s a favorite among newly-minted couples!

4. Angel Kiss

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It isn’t like you always need an extremely intimate moment to feel each other’s love, right? Small love gestures speak volumes after all. Imagine sitting with your partner on the beach, enjoying the sunset. Both of you might just want to live the moment and not get involved in something very racy. At such times, you might end up holding your partner’s face in your hands and planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. A kiss like that is known as an angel kiss. It brings in a sense of love, trust, respect, and affection between the couple. It is a kiss which is generally given by a mother to her child and a husband to his wife!

5. Eskimo Kiss

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It has nothing to do with an actual Eskimo though. This kiss got its name when the Arctic explorers began doing this as an expression of affection while on their exploring journey. An Eskimo kiss is a kiss where the partners kissing end up rubbing their noses against each other. It’s like a nose-to-nose, side-to-side rubbing action. Oftentimes, this kiss leads to very meaningful lip kiss that lingers on for quite some time.

We also think that it can be called a cuddle kiss because that is exactly how a couple doing it would feel like they are enveloping each other in a warm, loving cuddle. There is nothing sultry about this kiss. You only feel loved and cared for. The next time you are in a mood to cuddle with your partner, try doing an Eskimo kiss and see for yourself the warmth it will generate between the two of you.

Whenever you kiss, pick a kissing style that you, as a couple, are comfortable with. At the same time, the moment decides the nature of the kiss, so, go with the flow. Never plan or time your kiss.

So, are you kiss ready now after all the heads up we’ve provided you with? Let us know which is your favorite one in the comments section below.

The post 5 Types Of Kisses For A Happy Relationship appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

Messy bun or a high ponytail? Straighten it or curl it? Dry shampoo or a hair wash? Well, these are the questions we keep asking ourselves every day because taking care of our crowning glory isn’t an easy task. More often than not, 24 hours aren’t enough for us to go about our daily errands; and to squeeze extra time to take care of our tresses seems almost impossible. Be it the way we tie our ponytail or the way we wash it, we could always use some unusual tricks to save time and help ourselves manage our hair better. Here they are-

7. Ditch The Hair Dryer, Pick A T-Shirt

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As soon as you walk out of the shower, looking as fresh as daisies with drippy hair, you reach out to that fluffy towel to soak up the water in your hair. You try to wrap it around your hair, rub your strands with it, flip your hair to the sides and try all kinds of acrobatic feats with in an attempt to dry it. But your hair still seems wet and drippy. Now, you decide to finally reach out to the hair dryer. We say, abort the mission. Instead of using heat to dry your hair, just get your hands on an old t-shirt of yours and wrap your hair in it. You will see that your tee is more water absorbent than the towel. Also, rubbing your hair with the towel will damage the cuticle of your hair and make it frizzy. Instead, use a soft tee to pat dry.

6. Condition Your Hair To Stay Safe From Chlorine

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Condition, condition, and condition! That’s the golden rule you should follow to keep your hair healthy and smooth. But, did you know that this slimy, soft substance could actually protect your hair from the clasp of the harmful chlorine? All you have to do is to wet your hair and apply a generous amount of conditioner into your hair. Leave it wet. When you jump into the pool, your hair will soak up the conditioner instead of the chlorine water and prevent your hair from fading and drying.

5. Straighten Up The Smart Way

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At what temperature do you straighten your hair? Do you always keep it on low so that you don’t damage your tresses? Although you set the temperature at an all-time low, you go over your hair a couple of times just to press it flat and straight. That itself causes enough damage to your hair. To reduce damage, instead of setting the temperature at low, set it at a medium-high level and straighten your hair quickly. Don’t forget to use acai oil before you use the flat iron.

4. No Time To Wash Your Hair? Try A Cocoa-Based Dry Shampoo

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Although our hair feels oily and dirty because of the pollution and heat, we can’t jump into the shower every day for a hair wash, can we? So what do we do then? Dry shampoo is all we need to add freshness to our hair.For light colored hair, we can use cornstarch, and for darker shades of hair we can mix cornstarch and cocoa powder in equal portions with a dash of cinnamon and rub it through the scalp. Upon combing, one can notice how refreshed the locks feel.

3. Silky Pillowcase For Silky Smooth Hair

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Have you noticed strands of hair on your pillowcase or bedspread? That happens due to breakage and damage that occurs due to tossing and turning around in bed. Added to that, the texture of cotton and other fabrics create friction and cause the hair to break. It would be a good alternative to use silk pillowcases and silk sheets for the bed to avoid hair breakage and tangles. The bonus is the luxurious look it adds to your bedroom.

2. Tame The Baby Hair With A Toothbrush

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Cowlicks and baby hairs are extremely irksome. You can’t tie them, you can’t brush them, they don’t stick even when you use a serum on them. What do you do? You use a toothbrush! No kidding, take an old toothbrush and spray some hair spray on it. Brush your hair with this and you’ll notice that the baby hairs stay put in their designated place.

1. Fake A Voluminous Pony

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Amp up your pony with a hair clip trick. Pull your hair back in a ponytail at the back of your crown. Secure it with a thin hair tie. Now split the pony into two sections. On the lower section of the hair, use a small-medium sized claw clip. Add the other section of hair over this and hide the clip, place it well with dry shampoo. This adds an illusion of a voluminous pony.

Bonus: Easy And Natural Highlights With Lemon

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Want to get easy highlights for the summer but running low on money? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Squeeze an entire lemon into a bowl. Remove the seeds. Take a clean toothbrush and dip it into the juice. With the help of this brush, comb through sections of your hair. Once you have applied lemon juice thoroughly, go sit in the sun for about 45-60 mins. Repeat this once or twice in 2 weeks. You’ll see natural highlights.

Did you know of these tricks before? As unusual as these tricks are, they are definitely easy on the pocket, time-savers, and are totally worth trying. What do you think of them? Let us know in the comments below.

The post 7 Weird Hair Tricks That Really Work appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

In every wedding, a lot of attention is paid to details like the décor, the type of venue, the clothes to be worn by the bride and the groom, and of course, the food. And while all aspects of the ceremony are updated in keeping with the times, there is one which remains ignored, and quite unjustly, too.

You see, though weddings across the world are celebrated in many different styles as per the rituals and traditions of different religions, they more or less have a similar template. And an intrinsic feature of that template is the promises or the vows that the bride and groom make, detailing how they are going to take care of the other.

And just like the other parts of the wedding, these vows too, need to be updated in keeping with the changing times. Because we are no longer living in a time when men earned the livelihood and women stayed behind to take care of the household and the children.

So in keeping with the spirit of change, we have come up with these new, updated vows that every couple getting married now needs to include in their wedding. These are the promises you should be making to your spouse:

1. To Be Ready To Share The Load Of Responsibilities

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This one is probably the most important. We are no longer living in times where the sole responsibility of the man was to ensure that his family had enough to eat, while the tasks of keeping a well-maintained household and ensuring proper upbringing of the children fell to the woman.

These days it’s all about sharing the load. Whether it’s financial, or even emotional. Parenting too is considered to be a shared area. So a great marriage would be one, where the couple acknowledged and agreed to give each other a hand with them.

2. To Treat Each Other With Compassion Over Fairness

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We are living in times where every second of our existence is accounted for. And in meeting the social and work-related obligations, it is quite possible that one of you might slide back on the domestic responsibilities. And it’s alright, it’s the reality of life. But in those circumstances, you should treat the erring partner with compassion, rather than track and trade those responsibilities in the name of “fairness”.

A good marriage is all about teamwork, and in order to make it work, one should be a team player. Therefore, such a community-oriented vow can ensure a happy future for your marriage.

3. To Nurture And Celebrate Each Other’s Triumphs

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In keeping with the tone of teamwork, this vow would expound the role that your spouse should have in your professional and ideal life. A good partner is not just the one with whom you have a lot of fun or who is romance personified, rather, it is someone with whom you can share your deepest desires and ambitions. As guardians and lifelong companions, it’s your duty to push each other to do better and achieve your potential. You should also be there to celebrate each other’s victories and also support each other in the event of a failure.

This vow actually asks for spiritual support more than materialistic one. It asks spouses to be each other’s guarding spirits.

4. To Support And Protect Each Other’s Freedom To Make Choices

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Gone are the days when it was expected that a couple, after getting married, should get converted into a homogenous glob having no freedom to make their individual choices. It’s 2019, and your choice matters. This vow recognizes the need and desire of the couple to see themselves as individuals.

In taking this vow, you are assuring your spouse of your support to them whenever they have to make tough choices. You are not suffocating them in the bond of matrimony, rather you are allowing them to blossom as individuals. And nothing strengthens a marriage like some space coupled with unconditional support.

5. To Try And Infuse Their Relationship With As Much Passion And Energy As They Can And Not Let It Fall By The Wayside

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This vow is dedicated to the couple’s inner life. In making this vow, you recognize that marriage, like everything good in life, comes with its own unique set of pressures and demands. And in meeting those demands, it’s quite possible that you forget what brought you together as a couple in the first place.

But, as long as you can, you will make the effort to keep the marriage alive and infuse it with love and life. And that you would try to never let life come in the way of that.

These vows outline the hallmarks of a truly great marriage and recognize the hard work it takes to make a marriage work. So if you are looking to tie the knot anytime soon, they should be the ones that must figure on your wedding list.

If you have any other suggestions to add to this list, share them with us in the comments section.

The post 5 Modern Wedding Vows That Every 2019 Couple Needs appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

A couple of years back, in 2016, the color oxblood was seen sweeping the fashion shows and ramps everywhere. It was a rich, dark shade that gave off a royal vibe and suddenly, everyone was seen flaunting it. I don’t know if you have noticed how darker and more pigmented shades have come in vogue, and this trend has been on the rise especially in the makeup department, more specifically in lip colors.

Fashion is cyclical in nature (what goes around comes around) and maybe this trend can be read as a flashback to the emo 90s. Though one thing is certain, the trend of dark lip colors is here to stay for a while. And if you are not a brave soul who can flaunt these bold babies like a boss, for the fear of appearing like a vamp, don’t worry there’s a way out for you too.

To help you make the most of this deep-hued trend, we have created this short how-to list which can help you flaunt dark chocolate or purple lip color, like a boss. Here it is:

1. First, You Need To Prep Your Lips

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It wouldn’t matter if your lipstick is from a top-notch brand or has the perfect finish if your lips are not in a condition to display it. So for that, you need to keep them in tip-top condition and you can do that by exfoliating them at least once a week and moisturizing them daily.

In order to exfoliate your lips, you can take your toothbrush and very gently, rub it over your lips. You can also use overnight lip masks to moisturize your lips.

2. Use This Three-Step Process

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Firstly, you should apply some concealer or foundation to your lips, so that when you do apply the lip color over it, it should stay true to the bullet.

Second, line your lips with a liner, doing so will stop your lip color from feathering. You don’t have to completely line your lips, just the bow, the edges and below your lower lip.

And finally, apply the lipstick and blot it with a tissue paper. While the tissue is placed on your lip, dust off some translucent powder over it, and then remove the tissue and apply the final layer of lipstick.

3. This Color Tip Is Perfect For The Amateurs

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Though one should keep in mind their complexion while going for darker colors, people who have only begun to dabble in them should go for softer variations of the shades. As you practice and perfect your application, you can go for more pigmented shades.

Also, go for shades which won’t make your teeth look yellow. Lip shades, especially the red ones which have a bit of blue in them would be perfect for that. They will make your teeth look whiter and brighter.

4. Choose The Right Texture For Your Lip Shade

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Darker lip shades make your lips look smaller and thinner, and it can be a problem if you have thin lips. To avoid that, go for a lip color which has a glossier or a creamier finish as they make your lips appear full and plump.
If you are blessed with pillowy lips, then you can go for any finish.

5. Choose A Lip Color Which Is Complementary To Your Skin Tone

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As we stated above, when it comes to choosing the perfect shade for you, it’s all about your skin complexion. If you have a warm complexion, that is if you have warm undertones then go for berry-toned or terracotta colors.

If you have peaches and cream complexion, then you can easily carry off berry colors with blue undertones. And if you have an olive complexion, then we suggest you go for brown-based shades, that have golden undertones.

6. Go For The Right Makeup To Pull Off Dark Lips

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Pulling off a dark lip color is as much about choosing the right shade as it is about choosing the right makeup. Dark colors can make your face look dull, so you have to choose your makeup such that it lifts up your whole look, while still being muted enough so that it doesn’t clash with your lip color. So, a neutral eyeshadow or a rose-hued one coupled with a very light blush and black eyeliner would be a great fit.

7. Style Your Outfit In A Monochromatic Palette

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Lastly, you need to pair your lips with the perfect outfit, otherwise, it can all clash together. And for this, you need a monochromatic outfit which complements your lip color. Neutral colors like black, white, and beige work best with dark lip colors and if you want, you can add a pop of color in the form of some accessories, such as a bright clutch.

This is all you need to know to pull off your favorite dark shade perfectly. All you need to do now is raid those makeup kiosks at the mall to find your perfect shade. Try on these tips and tell us how your experience was with them in the comments.

The post Makeup Tips: How To Flaunt A Dark Lipstick appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

If you’re “nappy” and you know it, clap your hands!

‘Nappy’ is a portmanteau of the words ‘natural’ and ‘happy,’ and it is all about naturally textured hair. The natural hair movement started in the early 2000s to encourage black women to accept and flaunt their naturally kinky locks, instead of relaxing them to fit into Euro-centric standards of beauty. If you want to embrace your God-given natural locks and style them in trendy updos, check out our top picks below!

20 Best Updos for Natural Hair

1. Mohawked Updo

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Mohawk is every bit a traditional black hairstyle as braids and twists. Nowadays, almost all natural updos incorporate a mohawk into them in some way. You can either tease your hair and pin it in a mohawked bun or braid it before doing so.

2. The Big Bun

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African hair is all about volume. To achieve this gorgeous look, simply gather all your hair at the top of your head. Pass an elastic band once over your hair and twist it. Pass the elastic band over again, but this time, leave the ends of your hair out. Tuck the ends within the bun with some bobby pins. Pancake the bun to make it bigger. If you want your bun to have even more volume, just tease your hair after you tie it in a ponytail. Then, use another elastic band to make the bun.

3. Sleek Braided Bun

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Apply gel to your hair and comb it back. This will pull it back and give you that slicked back look. Gather all your hair at the crown and tie it in a high ponytail. Weave the ponytail in a braid and secure it with another elastic band. Wrap the braid around to form the top knot.

4. Boho Braided Bun

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Most black women love flaunting their hair in traditional African braided hairstyles like cornrows and feed-in braids. These are protective hairstyles that can be kept for as long as two months. Add some style to these braids by tying them in a loose bun.

5. Pineapple Bun

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The pineapple bun is a quick and easy natural hairstyle. Flip your hair down and gather all of it at the crown. Tie your hair with an elastic band. Wrap this hairstyle in a silk scarf at night to keep frizz at bay.

6. Full Head Wrap

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The full head wrap has been around for ages, and it is gaining even more prominence now with celebs like Alicia Keys sporting this look. It is an amazing way to look great while protecting your natural locks.

7. Crown Braided Updo

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This hairstyle is perfect for formal events like weddings and proms. Part your hair the way you normally do at the front. Divide your hair vertically into two sections. Weave both sections in individual French twists. Pin up the braids on opposite sides to create the crown.

8. Bantu Knots

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Bantu knots are best described as traditional African mini buns. They can be two or more in number. They’re easy to achieve, though a bit time consuming, and very stylish. Bantu knots are also a protective hairstyle.

9. Sleek Low Bun

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Part your hair down the middle. Comb your hair down with mousse to flatten it. Gather all your hair and wrap it around in a low bun. You can also try a low side bun. This is a great hairstyle for days when you don’t wash your hair and are running late.

10. Crochet Braids Bun

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Crochets braids are taking the world by storm right now. After all, they look extremely cool. However, they can feel a bit bothersome on hot summer days. On such days, simply wrap your braids in a bun at the top of your head. Easy and quick!

11. Simple Head Wrap Updo

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This hairdo is very versatile. It is great for those laid-back days when you want to keep your feet up. But, you can also sport it with some hair accessories and a gown to a formal event!

12. Low Bun For Short Hair

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If you have short hair, tying it in a bun is the easiest way that you can style it. Don’t forget to let your bangs hang loose in the front. This is probably the best natural hair updo out there for working women.

13. The Fancy Head Wrap

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One way to add your personality to this look is to pick a scarf that really speaks to you. If you want to add an ethnic look, opt for a traditional African print scarf. Go for solid colors or stripes in neutral tones for a more understated and formal look.

14. The Curled Pineapple

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Apply curl defining cream to your washed hair. Scrunch it up and tie it in a pineapple bun. Wrap it in a thin cotton shirt and sleep over it. The next day, remove the scarf and pick out your curls to add some gorgeous volume to them.

15. Queen Bun

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Now, this is a hairstyle that looks like it could be reserved for royalty. It is the perfect updo for anyone whose hair is done up in protective braids. Just wrap them in a big bun at the top of your head and get ready to sweep everyone off their feet.

16. Intricate Updo

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African women love using hair extensions because they protect their natural hair. Also, they give them volume and length, two things you need for intricate updos like these. These hairstyles are perfect for red carpet events or for when you simply want to feel royal.

17. Classic Top Bun

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Though this bun is pretty simple, it looks extremely stylish and is perfect for everyday work. All you need to do is wrap your hair in a bun and secure it with a hair tie. You can add some simple beads to jazz up this look.

18. Low Bun

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If you have short hair, this hairstyle is for you. Gather all your hair at the back and wrap it in a low, loose bun. With your fingers, gently pull up the hair at the top of your head to create a pouf effect. It is simple, yet elegant!

19. Marley Twists Bun

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Marley twists, undoubtedly, look gorgeous. But, I’m sure you have those days when you don’t want them falling all over your face. The solution? Pull them back and tie them in a chic bun.

20. Braided Top Knot

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The top knot has taken the world by storm! Add your own twist to it with traditional braids. You can either opt for a simple top knot or go for something a bit more intricate by accessorizing your braids with beads and thread before tying them up.

As you can see, there are some gorgeous ways that you can style your natural hair in an updo.

Which one of these are you ready to try out? Comment below and let me know!

The post 20 Fantastic Updos For Natural Hair appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

It’s true that a woman’s body is no less than a piece of art with its incredible capacity to bear physical pain, and the emotional depth to handle anything and everything around her. Stomach cramps, breast tenderness, headaches, heavy bleeding, back pain, body pain, vomiting — this list can go on and on and yes, these are only a few of the problems that women face when they’re on their period

But what do you think is the most common problem faced by women when Aunt Flo visits them? If you’re thinking it’s sleepless nights, then you’re absolutely right. A survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation showed how nearly 30 percent of women have reported getting disturbed sleep while on their menstruation (1). A fluctuation in the hormone level during the periods makes it impossible for women to sleep peacefully. This insufficient sleep then causes mood imbalance, anxiety, nausea, and painful cramps.

It’s pretty evident after this discussion, that if there’s any time that a woman’s body needs maximum rest and sleep the most, it is during her period. While we definitely can’t guess the type of your body, dear women, to understand your unique menstrual cycle problems, we’ve put together this do-able list of things which can help you sleep better during your next Aunt Flo visit.

1. Deal With Cramps

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We know its easier said than done. But if cramps are the primary symptom of the PMS (premenstrual syndrome) that you experience and they are keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep, then focus on soothing them or lessening their intensity. Whatever time you feel the cramp, just go and grab a hot water bag or make yourself a cup of peppermint tea. These will definitely provide you some relief. And if your cramp gives surprises by visiting without any warning in the night, consider carrying a hot water bag along with you to bed. The trick here is to relax the tensed muscles and prevent them from spasming and giving you cramps.

2. Opt Breathable, Soft, Period Care

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We’d like to tell you that it’s always a good idea to switch to pads at night before you retire to your bed to sleep. And even if tampons are your loyal picks, make sure you opt for the ones which are 100 percent government certified and are organic.

We know that most of us out there opt for the slightly perfumed sanitary pads, but hey, don’t forget that they are made up of non-organic synthetic materials. Such pads can irritate our sensitive area, down there which can cause irritation and itching, leaving you sleepless and uncomfortable in the night. Therefore, always opt for organic cotton pads only, as they are soft and breathable, and they’ll help you get a good night’s sleep.

3. Set A “Bedtime Routine”

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By “bedtime routine,” we mean to say that prepare your body for some sleep. Do things that act as signals to your body, telling it that it’s time to rest now. Wear cozy sleepwear and try doing activities that will soothe your body and mind. Doing all of these will help you unwind and relax after a busy day. Also, your body too will get into a relaxed mode which will help you fall asleep peacefully.

4. Put Your Mobile Devices To Sleep Before Yourself

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Aren’t we all guilty of using our phones in bed, with the lights off when it’s actually time for us to doze off to a deep sleep? Please make it a habit to shut your phones off at least an hour prior to your bedtime. You need to fight those online shopping demons in you and not to forget, the social media demon too. All the chat and post notifications can wait till morning. Say goodnight to your phone demons and tell them “we’ll talk tomorrow.” There’s a reason why we should be doing this — the blue light which phones and other electronic devices emit can take a toll on your circadian rhythm (2).

5. Practice Calm Breathing

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All of the imbalance in the level of your hormones can leave you with mood swings and anxious about everything and nothing. You definitely cannot go to sleep with anxious thoughts, right? The best way to naturally overcome such feelings is to practice breathing in a calm manner. Take deep breaths which will slow down your heart rate and help you feel at peace (3). Doing this will relax your body and mind which will help you fall asleep sooner.

Try these out for better sleep while you’re chumming. And in case you haven’t managed to take control of the problems you face while you’re on your periods, we highly recommend you to consult a doctor. Have you been practicing any of the above-mentioned tips already? Did it work for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post 5 Quick Tips For Better Sleep On Your Period Days appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

I am obsessed with DIY scrubs. Why? They are the cheapest and safest way to rub your skin problems away! Just wander around your kitchen, and you will find all the ingredients you need to take care of your skin. The two most common ingredients that you will find lying in your kitchen cabinet are coconut oil and sugar. When combined, coconut oil and sugar can moisturize and exfoliate your skin and keep it baby soft. How? Scroll down to find out!

Benefits of Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub

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Coconut oil and sugar are good for exfoliating not only your face but also the rest of your body. However, if you have oily and acne-prone skin, avoid using coconut oil on your face. It can block your skin pores and aggravate your acne or cause breakouts.

Now, let’s focus on why you should consider this simple and amazing scrub for your skin care needs.

1. It Keeps Your Skin Hydrated

Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer. It is an excellent emollient and extremely beneficial in preventing dry, flaky skin and conditions such as atopic dermatitis (1). Sugar, on the other hand, is a humectant that draws moisture from the environment and keeps your skin hydrated.

2. Coconut Oil Can Kill Harmful Bacteria

Coconut oil has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can prevent many skin issues caused by bacteria (1).

3. It Is An Effective Exfoliant

Coconut oil and sugar scrub can gently get rid of dead skin cells. Compared to salt, sugar granules are less abrasive. Therefore, they clear out the dirt, stimulate skin cell growth, and remove all traces of makeup from your skin.

4. Coconut Oil Has Antioxidant Properties

Virgin coconut oil contains antioxidants (2). These antioxidants protect your skin from environmental damage and free radicals. They also prevent oxidative stress, which, in turn, prevents cellular breakdown. This reduces the chances of premature aging and keeps your skin youthful and healthy.

5. Sugar Prevents Ingrown Hair

As mentioned earlier, the coconut oil and sugar scrub can be used on any area of your body. This can be your secret weapon to prevent razor bumps and ingrown hair. Using the scrub on the affected area (where you get the most ingrown hairs) at least thrice a week can prevent the hair from curling up inside your skin.

Who knew that two simple ingredients like coconut and sugar could have these many benefits, right? Let’s check how you can make a simple DIY coconut oil and sugar scrub at home.

DIY Coconut Oil And Sugar Scrub

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You Will Need

• ½ cup virgin coconut oil

• 1 cup sugar (white or brown, preferably organic and granulated)

Optional ingredients

• 10 drops lemon essential oil (you may use lavender, vanilla, sweet orange, tea tree, or any other essential oil of your choice)

• 1 tablespoon lemon (you can also use any other citrus fruit zest, such as orange or grapefruit)

Method

1. Put the solidified coconut oil in a microwave-proof glass bowl.

2. Microwave it for 45 seconds or until the oil has completely melted.

3. Transfer the oil to another glass bowl, add sugar, and mix.

4. Now, add the essential oil(s) and citrus zest (optional). Combine all the ingredients.

5. Transfer the mixture to a glass or half pint jar.

Remember, this scrub is preservative-free, so it will not stay fresh for long. Make it in small batches that you can use up within a week or two. Store it in the fridge to keep it fresh. You can use this scrub to massage your face, hands, and other body parts. Here is how you can do that.

How To Use Coconut Oil And Sugar Scrub

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On Your Face

Note: Don’t add citrus essential oil if you are using the scrub on your face. Citrus essential oil does not suit everyone and may cause a reaction on your skin. Reduce its quantity if you still want to use it.

• Take a small quantity of the scrub in your hands.

• Apply it all over your face, except the delicate area around your eyes.

• Massage for 30-60 seconds in a circular motion.

• Rinse your face with cold water and pat dry.

On Your Hands

• Take a bit of the scrub in your hands.

• Rub it between your palms and spread it all over your hands.

• Massage your hands and fingernails for a minute.

• Rinse your hands and pat them dry.

On Your Legs And Feet

• Soak your legs and feet for a few minutes in warm water to soften the skin.

• Sit in a comfortable position on the edge of your bathtub or on a small stool.

• Take some scrub in your hands.

• Massage it all over your legs. Focus on the areas between your toes and the dry patches. Don’t use it on the soles of your feet. If you do it apply it to your soles, wash them thoroughly with a mild cleanser before standing up to avoid slipping.

• Rinse your legs and pat them dry.

Note: Be careful while using it on your legs in the bath to avoid any accidents.

You can notice immediate results after using this amazing scrub, so you can wash it off within a minute. The best thing about this DIY scrub is that you can add ingredients such as vitamin E oil, cinnamon powder, and oatmeal to customize it for your specific skin needs. So, don’t waste time and pamper your skin with this super simple scrub. Tell us about your experience with it in the comments section below!

References

1. “In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin..” ScienceDirect
2. “Antioxidant capacity..” Taylor & Francis Online

The post DIY Coconut Oil And Sugar Scrub appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

Have you ever stopped for a moment and been grateful for the body that you have been blessed with? Have you ever paused just to celebrate the chance to see a new day? If you are an average Jane like me, who leads a pretty normal life, then I am sure your answer to the aforementioned questions is going to be no.

We humans seldom contemplate the fickle nature of life and remain oblivious to the imperative nature of death until we have a reason to believe that our days on this planet are numbered. And once that does happen, we rush to imbue our life with meaning, almost as a compulsion. Which is why I found myself pleasantly surprised when I heard the former actress Sonali Bendre Behl, talk about her brush with cancer in such a disarming way at a conclave held recently.

Choosing to open up about her experience with a tinge of self-doubt, Sonali explained that when she was invited to speak at a conclave, she thought to herself why or rather what would she talk about, since her brush with cancer was by no means a unique event, it had happened to hundreds of others. Neither was she a doctor or a psychiatrist, who could offer a unique perspective on the disease.

It was this refreshing honesty of hers, that won me over.

So what did she talk about? As it happened, she chose the moment to have a very honest conversation about the disease, parenthood, and overcoming fears.

How Life Threw Her A Curveball

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Actress, model, wife, mother, bibliophile — on 4th July 2018, another epithet, that of a cancer victim, got added to these when Sonali declared that she was diagnosed with high-grade cancer which had metastasized and that she was undergoing treatment for it at a facility in New York.

For someone, whose life has been blessed with the riches of adulation, love, and wealth, such an experience can be a rude awakening, and it was no different for Sonali.

Talking about her thought process post her diagnoses, Sonali explained how she spiralled into a bout of self-pity and despair. The brand of healthy and holistic living, of which she had been an enthusiastic endorser, seemed to have been a big lie. Questions of “Why me?” or “How can it be me?” bogged down the actress so much so that she sought the help of a psychiatrist to come to terms with her disease. But they say there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that tunnel came to an end soon enough for her.

Taking Strength From Her Friends And Family

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If you battle with a life-altering disease, you can’t fight that battle alone, you need reinforcements and that too in plenty. For Sonali, those reinforcements came in the form of her friends and her family, who gave her the strength and fortitude to undergo painful treatments without losing her spirit.

Be it her friends, erstwhile actress Gauri Oberoi, and interior designer, Suzzane Khan, or her husband, producer Goldie Behl, Sonali was surrounded with love on all sides.

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Recognizing that this change affected her family as much as her, Sonali chose to involve her son, Ranveer in her journey by being truthful and honest with him. Talking about her approach to parenthood, Sonali said that the conversation regarding her disease with her son was very organic, and she made it a point to start her treatment in his presence so that he too could see it for what it was, just a disease.

A great parenting approach, certainly.

Owning Her Narrative And Overcoming Her Fears

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While outwardly, her journey had been about coming to terms with her disease and dealing with it, inwardly it has been one of self-realization and self-actualization. Not the one to sit in a corner, Sonali took a chance to make her disease an opportunity to become more fearless and pursue life with the wild abandon of a nomad.

It also taught her to be more accepting of her body and revel in its evolving beauty. Being in an industry where one’s looks are their bread and butter, losing your signature luxuriant locks had to be soul-crushing, and it certainly was for her. But it also taught her to come to terms with it, and be a little kinder to her body and appreciate it for the miracles it performs.

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Rocking her short hair and posing for pictures, armed with replenishing hashtags such as #Onedayatatime and #Switchonthesunshine, Sonali has certainly owned her narrative, as is evident on her social media.

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While hers has been a transformative journey, it has life lessons for all of us. Maybe we all should take a page out of her book, and take our life one day at a time, and remember to switch on the sunshine when it all seems too overwhelming.

The post Sonali Bendre Behl On Her Cancer Scar: “I Don’t Find It Ugly Anymore” appeared first on STYLECRAZE.