Hi DAD,
This is a mail I had been planning to write for a really long time to come..
Today, June 14th 2009 is one of those Big Day's in your life.. the one that you would remember for years to come..
I could'nt have wished more to be there by your side and witness the tremendous nostalgia that you may be feeling at this point in time..
As you look back at 33 years of your professional life in the private sector, you sure do have a lot to be proud of !!!
There have been tremendous amounts of up's and down's, a few which We as a family are all well aware of...
a lot many that you may have kept to yourself or even between You and Mom for all the right reasons..
Whatever was the case, that Trademark Laugh of yours always echoed a sense of happiness and well-being in you and is truly one of the things I personally admire the most..
You have been a gr8 DAD to US inspite of all the wrongs we did, and the small amounts of pain that we have caused you..
Your 60 years are truly the ones worth living by each one of us.. your birth to a farmer DAD, a childhood spent in a typically fulfilling rural setup, your teenage spent away from home and loved ones, then your adulthood spent in Pune - the very place which transformed you to a true HERO - with those polished manners, fluent english, great clothes & a personality that others could only envy having...
Your time spent dating mom, writing to her, playing badminton together, staying put in Akkalkot for a while.. getting married, beginning a life in a 1 room apartment on prabhat road, becoming a DAD, being responsible and accountable enough for the progress of the entire JOINT MAHAJAN family, proving to be the strongest root of the Extended Family Tree and treating everyone's illness with empathy, fulfilling all of our wishes and desires.. you went out of your way to help, protect and nurture all of us very positively...
Today as you retire and tomorrow as you turn 60 you couldn't have wished for more fulfillment and a sense of satisfaction that you feel right now I am sure.
Congratulations DAD and CHEERS to LIFE !! CHEERS to The MILESTONE 60 Years DADDY !! :)
Just as you had dreams for us and we fulfilled most of them, Your Children too have a Dream for you ..
We wish you all the Health, Wealth, Happiness and the longest carefree Years Ahead !!
Moving to your "Biggest Dream Come True Luxurious Bungalow", Being a Grandpa to AVANI, Coming Home to your Daughter on your 1st Trip Abroad, taking time out to Sight See the Beautiful Europe - yours is the kind of Retirement everyone can only Dream of !! But you are actually going to live it to the tee !! :)
We all wished a lot to be there on this important day, and nothing can make up for our presence by your side today. Neverthless, I just wrote in to remind you how PROUD we all feel for everything you have achieved so far and wish you luck for every little thing that you set out to achieve in the years to come..
May GOD shower his Choicest Blessings on You - Today and Forever !!
Lots of Luv,
- Sayla Beta :)
Sunday 14 June 2009
Sunday 15 March 2009
Have You Taken The Smear Test / PAP Test ?
Being in the UK, we still have a privileged access to NDTV 24by7. Amongst all the news that has been doing the rounds namely - Elections / IPL / Pakistans Quest to retain Democracy and news of the 26/11 probe, what caught my attention was the news about Jade Goody Dying! Mere 27 years of age survived by 2 kids, its a reality that hits you hard and has you educating yourself about Cervical Cancer. So here it goes:
What Causes Cervical Cancer ?
We don't know exactly what causes cervical cancer, but certain risk factors are believed to have an effect. Medical history and lifestyle - especially sexual habits - play a role in a woman's chances of developing cervical cancer.
The most significant Risk Factors are:
1: Human papillomavirus (HPV)
2: Sexual history
Various other risk factors have also been identified.
1: Human papillomavirus (HPV)
2: Sexual history
Various other risk factors have also been identified.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can infect:
1: The genital tract
2: The external genitals
3: The area around the anus
HPV has nothing to do with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. There are 46 genetic types of HPV, but not all are dangerous. Only certain types of HPV, which can be transmitted from one person to another during sexual contact, increase the risk of cell dysplasia (abnormal cell growth) and/or progression to cervical cancer.
The HPV types that produce genital warts (lesions that are raised and bumpy, or flat and almost impossible to see) are different from those that cause cervical cancer. However, women who have a history of genital warts have almost twice the risk of an abnormal PAP Smear as other women.
1: The genital tract
2: The external genitals
3: The area around the anus
HPV has nothing to do with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. There are 46 genetic types of HPV, but not all are dangerous. Only certain types of HPV, which can be transmitted from one person to another during sexual contact, increase the risk of cell dysplasia (abnormal cell growth) and/or progression to cervical cancer.
The HPV types that produce genital warts (lesions that are raised and bumpy, or flat and almost impossible to see) are different from those that cause cervical cancer. However, women who have a history of genital warts have almost twice the risk of an abnormal PAP Smear as other women.
Sexual History:
A woman has a higher-than-average risk of developing cervical if she:
1: Has had multiple sexual partners
2: Began having sexual relations before the age of 18
3: Has a partner who has had sexual contact with a woman with cervical cancer
Other Risk Factors:
It is probable that other factors contribute to cervical cancer, such as:
Poverty: Women who are poor may not have access to medical services that detect and treat precancerous cervical conditions. When such women develop cervical cancer, the disease usually remains undiagnosed and untreated until it has spread to other parts of the body. Women who are poor are often undernourished, and poor nutrition can also increase cervical cancer risk.
Pap Test History: Not having regular Pap tests increases the chance of unrecognized cervical cancer. Between 60% and 80% of women with newly diagnosed cervical cancer have not had a Pap test in at least five years.
Tobacco Use: Women who smoke are about twice as likely to develop cervical cancer as women who do not. The more a woman smokes - and the longer she has been smoking - the greater the risk.
Eating Habits: A diet that doesn't include ample amounts of fruits and vegetables can increase a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer.
Weakened Immune System: A woman whose immune system is weakened has a higher-than-average risk of developing cervical lesions that can become cancerous. This includes women who are HIV-positive (infected with the virus that causes AIDS). It also includes women who have received organ transplants and must take drugs to suppress the immune system so that the body won't reject the new organ.
It is probable that other factors contribute to cervical cancer, such as:
Poverty: Women who are poor may not have access to medical services that detect and treat precancerous cervical conditions. When such women develop cervical cancer, the disease usually remains undiagnosed and untreated until it has spread to other parts of the body. Women who are poor are often undernourished, and poor nutrition can also increase cervical cancer risk.
Pap Test History: Not having regular Pap tests increases the chance of unrecognized cervical cancer. Between 60% and 80% of women with newly diagnosed cervical cancer have not had a Pap test in at least five years.
Tobacco Use: Women who smoke are about twice as likely to develop cervical cancer as women who do not. The more a woman smokes - and the longer she has been smoking - the greater the risk.
Eating Habits: A diet that doesn't include ample amounts of fruits and vegetables can increase a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer.
Weakened Immune System: A woman whose immune system is weakened has a higher-than-average risk of developing cervical lesions that can become cancerous. This includes women who are HIV-positive (infected with the virus that causes AIDS). It also includes women who have received organ transplants and must take drugs to suppress the immune system so that the body won't reject the new organ.
Hormonal Medications: Some experts suggest that hormones in oral contraceptives (birth control pills) can make women more susceptible to Human papillomavirus (HPV). At least one study has indicated that taking birth control pills significantly increases a woman's risk of developing HPV-related genital warts. Other research suggests that using oral contraceptives for five years or longer slightly elevates a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer, especially if she began taking the Pill before the age of 25.
Diethylstilberstrol (DES): A rare type of cervical cancer has been diagnosed in a small number of women whose mothers took diethylstilbestrol (DES), a medicine that was once used to prevent miscarriage.
Douching: Because douching may destroy natural antiviral agents normally present in the vagina, women who douche every week are more apt to develop cervical cancer than women who do not. Douching is the rinsing of the vagina by squirting water or other solutions containing vinegar, baking soda or commercial douching solutions into it.Because routine douching changes the delicate chemical balance in the vagina, it can make a woman more susceptible to bacterial infections or introduce new bacteria into the vagina and cervix. It also can spread existing vaginal infections to the fallopian tubes. Women who douche have a 73 percent higher risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.
Chemical Exposure: Women who work on farms or in the manufacturing industry may be exposed to chemicals that can increase their risk of cervical cancer.
Diethylstilberstrol (DES): A rare type of cervical cancer has been diagnosed in a small number of women whose mothers took diethylstilbestrol (DES), a medicine that was once used to prevent miscarriage.
Douching: Because douching may destroy natural antiviral agents normally present in the vagina, women who douche every week are more apt to develop cervical cancer than women who do not. Douching is the rinsing of the vagina by squirting water or other solutions containing vinegar, baking soda or commercial douching solutions into it.Because routine douching changes the delicate chemical balance in the vagina, it can make a woman more susceptible to bacterial infections or introduce new bacteria into the vagina and cervix. It also can spread existing vaginal infections to the fallopian tubes. Women who douche have a 73 percent higher risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.
Chemical Exposure: Women who work on farms or in the manufacturing industry may be exposed to chemicals that can increase their risk of cervical cancer.
Women with a weakened immune system due to the virus that causes AIDS are more likely to develop cervical cancer:
Cervical cancer is very common in women who are positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Cervical cancer is sometimes the disease that first suggests a diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV can compound the effects of Human papillomavirus (HPV), causing cervical changes to progress more rapidly into cervical cancer than they otherwise might.
Cervical cancer is very common in women who are positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Cervical cancer is sometimes the disease that first suggests a diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV can compound the effects of Human papillomavirus (HPV), causing cervical changes to progress more rapidly into cervical cancer than they otherwise might.
What are the Symptoms of Cervical Cancer?
Symptoms of cervical cancer don't usually appear until the abnormal cells invade nearby tissue.
Symptoms can include:
1: Abnormal bleeding
2: Heavier, long-lasting periods
3: Unusual vaginal discharge
4: Pelvic pain
Abnormal bleeding may occur:
1: Between menstrual periods
2: After menopause
3: After intercourse
4: After a pelvic examination
These symptoms are not always a sign of cervical cancer. They can be caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or other conditions. Your doctor can determine the cause of these symptoms.
Symptoms of cervical cancer don't usually appear until the abnormal cells invade nearby tissue.
Symptoms can include:
1: Abnormal bleeding
2: Heavier, long-lasting periods
3: Unusual vaginal discharge
4: Pelvic pain
Abnormal bleeding may occur:
1: Between menstrual periods
2: After menopause
3: After intercourse
4: After a pelvic examination
These symptoms are not always a sign of cervical cancer. They can be caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or other conditions. Your doctor can determine the cause of these symptoms.
Can Cervical Cancer be Prevented?
Early-stage cervical cancer and precancerous cervical conditions are almost 100% curable. The most common forms of cervical cancer begin with changes in cervical cells. If these changes are detected early enough, treatment can be started immediately to prevent cervical cancer from developing. The best way to detect early cervical cancer and precancerous conditions of the cervix is to have a Gynecologic Examination and Pap Test.
The American Cancer Society recommends that a woman have her first annual Pap test when she becomes sexually active or reaches the age of 18.
Because cervical cancer usually progresses slowly, some physicians feel that a woman doesn't need to have a Pap test every year if she:
1: Is 65 years of age or older
2: Has had normal Pap tests for three years in a row
Many experts recommend a Pap test every three years for women who have had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) for reasons unrelated to cervical disease.
Women who have cervical cancer risk factors and who don't have regular gynecologic examinations are increasingly likely to:
1: Develop cervical carcinoma in situ between the ages of 30 and 40
2: Develop invasive cervical cancer between the ages of 40 and 50
Hopefully now we will get serious about having a regular Smear Test or PAP Test for Cervical Cancer. Afterall no one wishes to die like Jade Goody...
Saturday 14 March 2009
Surya Namaskars
Surya Namaskaras There are twelve positions in Surya Namaskara. Twenty-five such Namaskaras form one Avriti (frequency). Surya Namaskara must be performed preferably in an open and airy place. Perform Surya Namaskara slowly without exerting too much or panting and puffing. There is one Mantra for each of the twelve Namaskaras- there by you also recite the dwadasa namas of Sun. 1st Position - DakshasanaMantra: Om Mitraya Namah Procedure : In the first position of Surya Namaskara contemplate the virtues of Lord Surya with concentrated mind and feel that you are the friend of everybody and have friendship with every creature on the earth. Immersing yourself with these feelings stand erect stretching your hands, neck and all other parts of your body. Stretching both of your arms, touch your thighs with palms and inflate the chest and point your vision on the tip of the nose. This is a position of attention. Benefits: Disorders of the skin and waists are corrected, the back and the legs become strong. Focusing of the vision on nose helps to control the mind. It is an easy and effective way of attaining good health and development of personality for the students. Meditating with concentrated mind enhances confidence.
2nd Position: Namaskarasana
Mantra : Om Ravaye NamahProcedure : Fold together both of your hands in such a way that that both the thumbs begin to touch your chest. Expand your chest and pull in the belly as far as possible. Look straight ahead. The head, the neck and the body should remain in a straight line. Closing the mouth inhale the breath and hold it inside as far as possible and then expose the breath.Benefits: Good for the diseases of the throat and voice is enhanced. Both mind and body become healthy. 3rd Position: Parvatasana
Mantra : Om Suryaya NamahProcedure: Raising the arms up, stretch whole of your body backward while gazing at the sky with open eyes. Bend backward as mush as possible, inhale and expand your chest at the same time.
Benefits: Both the shoulders and the food pipe (Esophagus) get exercise and diseases related to them are corrected. Eyesight is also improved. 4th Position: Namaskara HastapadasanaMantra: Om Bhanave NamahProcedure: Inhale deeply, retain the breath and bend forward without folding the knees. Rest both your palms on the ground and touch your knees with your forehead or the nose and exhale the breath with audible sound. In the beginning if you can't rest your palms on the ground, just touch the ground with fingers. Benefits : Disorders of the belly and digestive system are corrected. The chest and hands become stronger and you become well balanced, beautiful and good looking. Diseases of the feet and fingers are also corrected. 5th Position: Ekapada PrasaranasanaMantra : Om Khagaye Namah Procedure: Inhale and pull your right leg backward in such a way that the knee and the fingers of the foot touch the ground. The abdomen and belly must be pressing hard into the left leg. Raise your head as high as possible and look upwards. Push the waist down and hold the breath and stay in the posture as long as you can - comfortably.Benefits : The posture stretches the small intestine and the seminal vesicles. Hence this posture helps in correcting the constipation and diseases of the liver. Thinness of the semen is also corrected. Diseases of the throat are also corrected. 6th Position: Bhudharasana
Mantra : Om Pushne Namah Procedure: Inhale the breath deeply and hold it and pull both of your legs backward, so that the thumbs of the feet, ankles and knees touch each other. Stabilizing the feet and keeping the head, waist, the back and the elbows in a line bend forward and resting both the palms on the ground keep your body like a bow.Benefits : One gets relief from the pains - specially of arms, legs and the knees. Bulging waist is trimmed and it is good for the abdominal disorders. 7th Position: Ashthanga PranipatasanaMantra: Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namah Procedure: Holding the breath, rest both your knees on the ground. Touch the ground with your chest and touch the lower part of the neck with chin. Also touch the ground with the upper part of the forehead and the nose. Please note that the abdomen should not touch the ground. It should be pulled in. Then exhale the breath. Both the hands/palms must be on the side of the chest.Benefits : This posture makes the arms strong. If ladies perform this Asana before getting pregnant, the breast fed babies could be saved from the attacks of many diseases. 8th Position: BhujangasanaMantra : Om Marichye NamahProcedure: Keeping the legs, palms and knees as in Ashtanga prampatasana position above, unfold the arms and rise inhaling the breath, push the chest out and bend the waist in a circle backward. Then rise and bend your head backwards looking up and back as much up as possible and exhale the breath.Benefits : Tones up the body and the back muscles and improves the eyesight. Corrects all kinds of disorders related to the reproductive system, corrects the irregularities in females menstrual cycles. Blood circulation is also improved. 9th Position: Bhudharasana
Mantra : Om Adityaya NamahRepeat the process of Bhudharasana as described in the step six - Inhale the breath deeply and hold it and pull both of your legs backward, so that the thumbs of the feet, ankles and knees touch each other. Stabilizing the feet and keeping the head, waist, the back and the elbows in a line bend forward and resting both the palms on the ground keep your body like a bow.
Benefits : One gets relief from the pains - specially of arms, legs and the knees. Bulging waist is trimmed and it is good for the abdominal disorders.
10th Position: Ekapada PrasaranasanaMantra: Om Savitre NamahProcedure: Repeat the process of the fifth Namaskara as described in the fifth position but just reverse the position of the legs.
11th Position: Namaskara HastapadasanaMantra : Om Arkaya NamahRepeat the process described in the fourth position.
12th Position: Parvatasana Mantra: Om Bhaskaraya Namah Procedure : Same as position 2
Then come back to the 1st position and repeat the full round once more. Our ancients used to do 25 rounds of Surya Namaskaras, called one Avriti. Can you?!
As per the scriptures one who performs the Surya Namaskaras daily does not get poor in a thousand births.
2nd Position: Namaskarasana
Mantra : Om Ravaye NamahProcedure : Fold together both of your hands in such a way that that both the thumbs begin to touch your chest. Expand your chest and pull in the belly as far as possible. Look straight ahead. The head, the neck and the body should remain in a straight line. Closing the mouth inhale the breath and hold it inside as far as possible and then expose the breath.Benefits: Good for the diseases of the throat and voice is enhanced. Both mind and body become healthy. 3rd Position: Parvatasana
Mantra : Om Suryaya NamahProcedure: Raising the arms up, stretch whole of your body backward while gazing at the sky with open eyes. Bend backward as mush as possible, inhale and expand your chest at the same time.
Benefits: Both the shoulders and the food pipe (Esophagus) get exercise and diseases related to them are corrected. Eyesight is also improved. 4th Position: Namaskara HastapadasanaMantra: Om Bhanave NamahProcedure: Inhale deeply, retain the breath and bend forward without folding the knees. Rest both your palms on the ground and touch your knees with your forehead or the nose and exhale the breath with audible sound. In the beginning if you can't rest your palms on the ground, just touch the ground with fingers. Benefits : Disorders of the belly and digestive system are corrected. The chest and hands become stronger and you become well balanced, beautiful and good looking. Diseases of the feet and fingers are also corrected. 5th Position: Ekapada PrasaranasanaMantra : Om Khagaye Namah Procedure: Inhale and pull your right leg backward in such a way that the knee and the fingers of the foot touch the ground. The abdomen and belly must be pressing hard into the left leg. Raise your head as high as possible and look upwards. Push the waist down and hold the breath and stay in the posture as long as you can - comfortably.Benefits : The posture stretches the small intestine and the seminal vesicles. Hence this posture helps in correcting the constipation and diseases of the liver. Thinness of the semen is also corrected. Diseases of the throat are also corrected. 6th Position: Bhudharasana
Mantra : Om Pushne Namah Procedure: Inhale the breath deeply and hold it and pull both of your legs backward, so that the thumbs of the feet, ankles and knees touch each other. Stabilizing the feet and keeping the head, waist, the back and the elbows in a line bend forward and resting both the palms on the ground keep your body like a bow.Benefits : One gets relief from the pains - specially of arms, legs and the knees. Bulging waist is trimmed and it is good for the abdominal disorders. 7th Position: Ashthanga PranipatasanaMantra: Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namah Procedure: Holding the breath, rest both your knees on the ground. Touch the ground with your chest and touch the lower part of the neck with chin. Also touch the ground with the upper part of the forehead and the nose. Please note that the abdomen should not touch the ground. It should be pulled in. Then exhale the breath. Both the hands/palms must be on the side of the chest.Benefits : This posture makes the arms strong. If ladies perform this Asana before getting pregnant, the breast fed babies could be saved from the attacks of many diseases. 8th Position: BhujangasanaMantra : Om Marichye NamahProcedure: Keeping the legs, palms and knees as in Ashtanga prampatasana position above, unfold the arms and rise inhaling the breath, push the chest out and bend the waist in a circle backward. Then rise and bend your head backwards looking up and back as much up as possible and exhale the breath.Benefits : Tones up the body and the back muscles and improves the eyesight. Corrects all kinds of disorders related to the reproductive system, corrects the irregularities in females menstrual cycles. Blood circulation is also improved. 9th Position: Bhudharasana
Mantra : Om Adityaya NamahRepeat the process of Bhudharasana as described in the step six - Inhale the breath deeply and hold it and pull both of your legs backward, so that the thumbs of the feet, ankles and knees touch each other. Stabilizing the feet and keeping the head, waist, the back and the elbows in a line bend forward and resting both the palms on the ground keep your body like a bow.
Benefits : One gets relief from the pains - specially of arms, legs and the knees. Bulging waist is trimmed and it is good for the abdominal disorders.
10th Position: Ekapada PrasaranasanaMantra: Om Savitre NamahProcedure: Repeat the process of the fifth Namaskara as described in the fifth position but just reverse the position of the legs.
11th Position: Namaskara HastapadasanaMantra : Om Arkaya NamahRepeat the process described in the fourth position.
12th Position: Parvatasana Mantra: Om Bhaskaraya Namah Procedure : Same as position 2
Then come back to the 1st position and repeat the full round once more. Our ancients used to do 25 rounds of Surya Namaskaras, called one Avriti. Can you?!
As per the scriptures one who performs the Surya Namaskaras daily does not get poor in a thousand births.
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