This Sumptuous Pongal Feast at The Raintree cannot be missed.

January 15, 2016January 23, 2016 / mythoughtlane / Leave a comment

Vanakkam! If you are eating out this Pongal, its got to be at the ‘Colony’ restaurant in The Raintree on St Mary’s Road

In our part of the world in India we are not done with the festivities yet. It is Pongal time. The festival of harvesting is called by different names in different regions of the country, but the spirit is the same.

Most of the harvesting is done and it is time to cook up delicious meals with the fresh produce from the fields. There is a jubilant air in villages and cities alike. It is shopping time and feasting time. Above all else, it is worship time. To send up prayers of gratitude to the Sun God, the primary source of all life on earth. To acknowledge the supremacy of Mother Nature for our very existence. Not to forget the cattle that have ploughed our fields and carried our grains.

‘Harvest Feast’ welcome board

Food prepared during Pongal certainly tastes different, more delicious, from the freshness of it all. So here I was at The Raintree on St Mary’s Road to sample a few of their Pongal dishes. “Colony”, the restaurant that beckons you to its ‘Harvest’ feast delicacies is designed to give you that feel of comfort at home and towards that their arrangement of crockery drew home the point. This is just like we would stack up our plates and dishes in our dining rooms.

crockery display home style at colony, the raintree

Crockery displayed home style

Customised wall decor and bronze tiffin carriers and vessels

This décor on the walls and the shelves is not to be missed either.We sit down to pamper our palettes as the veg clear soup with tofu and noodles is served. It has its share of sliced carrots and baby corn. Yummy it is but can also be a weight watcher’s delight. Chef Umapathy explains each dish as it is brought to the table.

Two kinds of starters arrive next. Vazhaipoo Vadai (batter fried fritters made from the flower of the banana plant) with fresh coconut chutney to die for and a plate of ‘variety Kuzhi Paniyarams’. Regular plain, mint paniyaram and oats paniyaram accompanied by two kinds of chutneys – coconut and tomato types. Mouth-watering is an understatement. There 6 Kuzhi Paniyarams, two of each variety in the platter, but I have to be content with tasting only one of each. There is so much more to eat!

Vazhai poo vadas , variety Paniyaram platter

Life feels good when you sip on water after the delectables.

I ask them to pause a bit before the main course of Ven Pongal, Ezhukari Kootu and Seppankizhangu roast is served.

Ezhukari kootu

The traditional Ven Pongal is made from rice and lentils with yummy seasoning. The Ezhukari Kootu is made from seven types of vegetables freshly harvested – yam, raw banana, chayote, broad beans, green tender bean seeds ,pumpkin and colocasia. Seppankizhangu roast is of course the colocasia roasted, tempered and seasoned with spices.

Now dessert cannot be far behind. Arrives a pot of Sakkarai Pongal replete with ghee and roasted nuts topping the delicious sweet. I remember closing my eyes in an euphoria of appreciation at the very first spoonful! My Pongal lunch is done but the festival lasts for a few days and I know I can look forward to sumptuous feasts in the coming days too. Their menu listed below is exhaustive, but I have chosen to taste only so much

The ‘Harvest’ festival at Colony restaurant in Raintree Hotel is on for the weekend, from 15^th to 17^th January. Lunch timings 12 noon up to 3.30 on all the three days and dinner from 7 pm to 11 pm. All the three days will see different menus, in keeping with Pongal though, alongside their regular menu.

Colony restaurant has these Fusion Fridays where as the name suggests, a fusion of cuisines is served at dinner. Their Pickled Thayir Sadam Veg Sushi that has become the most favoured is just a sample.

Pickled thayir sadam veg sushi, colony, the raintree

Fusion style Sushi, Chef Umapathy’s recipe

This Pongal Friday however, a flavor of Pongal is going to be added to the Friday Fusion fare.

Pongal this year falls over a weekend and so a Sunday Pongal Brunch is inevitable. Their regular fare plus Pongal specialities to be savoured, choose yours.

Priced at Rs 1450 plus taxes, here goes the Pongal menu

COLONY BUFFET PONGAL MENU

Non – Vegetarian

Erachi Biryani

Kozhi Sukka

Manga Meen Kozhambhu

Moroccan beef with mash Potato

Kadai Tangri Murgh

Gosht do pyaz

Kung pao Prawn

Vegetarian

Seppakizhangu peratal

Keerai Masiyal

Ennai Kathrikkai

Mundiri paruppu masala

Ezhukari Kootu

Paneer Tikka Kurchan

Achari Bhindi

Masoor Ki Dal

Ara Nellikai Sadam

Singapore Hakka Noodle

Asian green Vegetables

Ratatouille Baked Pie

Potato Skin with Creamy Corn Filling

Soup & Starters

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Chicken Tom Yam soup

Vazhaipoo Vada

Uppu Urundai

Vada pav

Murgh Mughalai Paratha

Crumb Fried Prawn

Mac N Cheese

At-Site Counter

Paruppu Adai

Variety Pongal / vada

SALADS- 12(VEG/NON VEG)

DESSERTS- 14

3 VARIETY ICE CREAMS

4 VARIETY CUT FRUITS

Reason enough to head to The Raintree on St Mary’s Road to enjoy some authentic cuisines. You will feel pampered by the hospitable team at ‘Colony’.

The Raintree on St Mary’s Road is located at

#120, St Mary’s Road, Alwarpet, Chennai 600018

Tel : 91 44 4225 2525 / 2430 4050 , Mob : 89390 21083

Why You Can Find Convenience, Art and Elegance In Hand-made Drawstring Bags

January 14, 2016January 22, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

A hand made gift elicits a wider and warmer smile almost always. And the recipient feels special. Rightfully so. Because it immediately translates into a lot of thought and care behind the gifting.

I was at the launch of hand-crafted hand bags at The Sandalwood Room and fell into conversation with the invitees. I love hand made products myself, but talking to the men AND women at the launch, got these responses to “why do you prefer ‘hand made’ over ‘mass-produced’”.

One of a kind

Specially designed

Original art

Eco-friendly

Recycled, so environment friendly

Encourage handicrafts

Support artisans

More to a product. There is love, creativity and uniqueness and it shows.

Speaks of your personality through the choice you have made.

True that. In keeping with it, I have featured a few hand crafted draw string bags from The Sandalwood Room. In India they are called Potli bags. All of them tell a tale of labour, finesse and creativity. I find them handy, convenient and elegant. They have enough room for a woman’s must-haves ; whats more important is that they are kind of hands-free. Just sling them around your forearm and you are good to go.

A stunning evening bag in red woven fabric, embellished with white bead work. The cluster of white pearl-beads adds a touch of drama and the draw strings just as pretty as the bag itself with gold coloured beads in its tassels. The inimitable kundan studs amidst the beadwork lending grandeur.

Ethnic handmade ‘Potli’ or drawstring bags

Brocaded at the top in a deep hued velvet fabric, this bag exudes charm with zardosi embroidery work in shades of gold on its base. Tiny white beads enhancing the embroidery even further. Attention to detail is evident in the gold beads in tassels of the draw strings.

Sea green or teal is a head turner colour. So is this bag for its lovely shade and the beautiful embroidered patchwork in white and silver. Teal drawstrings with pretty tassels. Padded and lined with cotton.

The aesthetically strung beads that adorn the drawstrings. Cant miss the delicately carved green beads. A sample to show how much care has gone into the fine detailing of the drawstrings in every bag.

An evening clutch in dull gold silk, embroidered in gold thread called the zardosi work, padded and lined. Magnetic buttons to snap it close and a small inner pouch.

Benares silk is sought after by every lover of silk. An evening bag in Benares silk with raw-silk borders attached. Embroidered with white silk and silver thread, the drawstrings glisten silver. Raw silk and pearl tassels giving it a touch of class. Padded and lined with cotton for better support. The pretty pink peeping out from the insides at the top makes it so much more attractive.

This bag can be both casual as well as formal. Bands of pink and red silk at the top with Tanchoi silk at the bottom. Silver embroidered flowers adding elegance. The drawstrings made of gold shaded fabric with printed silk and beads as tassels. Padded and lined with cotton and a closer look will reveal gold braid edging. Riot of colours yet very appealing.

This bag is made from two kinds of silk, Benares silk in dull gold at the top and raw silk strips underneath. The violetish blue band is embroidered zardosi style and inlaid with ‘Gota‘ gold fabric. The red silk fabric drawstrings end in tassels with gold beads capped in raw silk fabric. Padded and lined with cotton.

For all those lovers of nude shades. An evening bag in dull gold Benares silk. The hand-embroidery with sequins and pearls making it glamorous. Silver hued drawstrings to compliment the white pearl-beads with gold beads at the tassels. Padded and lined with cotton.

If you have liked any of these products , walk in and if you wish to place an order, The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier it to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Magical Sandalwood Can Calm And Soothe Mind And Body

January 9, 2016January 18, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 4 Comments

The very word ‘sandalwood‘ conjures up a feeling of calm and cool, bringing back with it memories of childhood, when sandalwood paste was applied on our foreheads at an auspicious ceremony. Mothers and grandmothers applied it on certain kinds of minor wounds too after cleaning them thoroughly. And a feeling of wellness pervaded as the fragrance of the sandalwood paste wafted into the air filling our olfactory nerves. As children we thought it was a magical potion from the heaven.

Not just in temples, such sandalwood Ganeshas adorn many a working desk in India and many other countries

But yes, it is a magical potion from a different heaven. The one to whom we owe our very existence, Mother Nature. We knew as children that sandalwood is revered, with its unmistakable presence in temples, during festivals and at ceremonies. Our amazement doubled when we learned during early schooling that this magical potion is derived from a tree, the ‘sandalwood tree’. I remember vividly how an over inquisitive fellow student, or should we say precocious, wanted to know how fragrance was being added to the wood, only to be told that the wood was naturally fragrant.

We were then told of its antiseptic properties and it made sense why the paste had been applied on some of our wounds. Later in life we learnt how much more precious sandalwood is, with its healing properties as an anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, disinfectant, emollient, expectorant, hypotensive, memory booster, sedative and a tonic substance.

This blog post is the result of a question I had posed to The Sandalwood Room team on the choice of their name. In response to that, they showed me the sandalwood tree image specially created for them and a short succinct description.

The sandalwood tree for The Sandalwood Room

Sandalwood is exotic and rare and its products precious and special. The wood of the tree is fragrant, heavy, fine-grained and retains its fragrance for decades. Gifts made of sandalwood show care, thought, style and the unspoken nature of a special relationship.

Sandalwood oil extracted from the wood has been highly valued as a fragrance for millennia across religions (for use in rituals and places of worship) and cultures (as medicine, cosmetics and fragrance). The Indian sandalwood is a threatened species indigenous to south India. Apart from its religious and cultural uses, sandalwood products are well-known to have a calming effect and are used during meditation and in aroma therapy.

And that explains how the products at The Sandalwood Room have been curated with so much care and thought, to personal styles and environment. Adding a mark of distinction. Just like the fragrance of the sandalwood that lasts for decades and is most coveted, the products of The Sandalwood Room are also sought after for their longevity and beauty of being handcrafted.

I feel like adding a note on sandalwood here to highlight why the wood is so precious. So, here goes:

The Indian sandalwood is the most highly prized to be followed by the Australian variety.

But sandalwood and its by products are becoming rare and expensive. Here is why : The trees are difficult to propagate and must grow for at least 40-80 years old to become suitable for harvesting. Specialists say 80 years is preferred – the older the tree, better the quality of the wood and its aroma. Nature has made the trees sturdy and resilient and they may live up to a good 100 years.

Oil extracted from such matured trees through steam distillation, is highly valued and used as an additive in fragrances, cosmetics, soaps (back in India, we have the popular Mysore Sandal Soap which comes highly recommended for children and the mild fragrance still lingers in my nostrils), talcum powders, incense sticks and many other life-style enhancing products. Hydro-distillation is another age-old method of distillation and is known to give even more superior quality oil.

The most precious part of the tree is the heartwood and the best heartwood comes from its roots. Older the trees, more the heartwood and better the quality of oil that can be extracted (of course the experience of the distiller and superior distillation process being a given).

The Sandalwood Room prides itself on being the only one of its kind in Singapore. I did a bit of recce around certain shopping areas of Singapore and I discovered that, yes, true to their claims, The Sandalwood Room is a boutique with sublime inspirations of carefully selected fashion wear, jewellery, home décor and designer wear. Mostly handmade. In a lovely conservation shophouse on Tras Street,in the vibrant Tanjong Pagar district of Singapore. A boutique you can step into and linger for a respite; pause, away from the hustle and bustle of the world outside. Escape the ordinary as you step in and forget yourself.

It’s a place for those who love the finer things of life, who look for the detail, someone who goes beyond the ordinary. A place to stop by and suspend reality. Just to envelope yourself in a room full of creative possibilities in the sheer joy of shopping. Their product categories are ‪Fashion and Fashion Accessories, Jewellery, Home Decor and Accessories, Art and Books, Gifts and Collectibles.

If you have liked any of the products from the store, walk in and if you wish to place an order, The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier it to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Of Candles, Lamps And Copper Enhancing ‘Praying’

December 31, 2015January 23, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

As a child I used to wonder every time a lamp was being lit before the commencement of any worship or ritual. But I never asked why. People around me made it appear like lighting the lamp was akin to pleasing God.

Have you tried praying or worshipping sans a lit lamp or a candle? I have and it feels kind of bare and disconnected. I have prayed from the seat of a car, in an elevator, in bed and from the washroom even, but it feels different and certainly more satisfying, when I light a lamp in the room of worship and pray. Of course it goes without saying that one can connect to God from wherever and whenever, but ambience does help!

And then one day as I sat watching my mother light oil lamps at worship time, the surge of positivity and energy that emanated from the warm glow of the lamp illuminated my mind too! The lit lamp had become a tool in helping me calm down, drawing me into a state of serenity and allowing my mind to connect and pray to the Higher Power. A little later in life, I figured out the energy of fire, and lamps and candles have since then become a part of my life.

A small prayer said while lighting a candle that struck me as being truly meaningful.

Hurricane lamp copper base the sandalwood room

Copper based Hurricane Lamp

O Blessed Lord, accept this burning candle as a sign of my faith and love for you.

Like this candle, I am ready to be used in your service, without asking why and to what purpose.

Even as this candle, I wish to stand in your presence to be consumed in the light and warmth of
your love.

Please hear my prayer and, if it be your will, grant my petition.
Above all, make me loyal and faithful to you in all circumstances of my life.
Amen.

flower and candle floaters copper The Sandalwood Room

Copper ‘flower and candle floaters’ in different sizes

Just like we can never have enough clothes, shoes and handbags, so are most of us perennially shopping for lamps and candles. You can buy some from The Sandalwood Room like the ones in the pictures. The flower-and-the-candle-floaters caught my fancy; you may like them too. Flowers, candles and copper make it perfect holistically. If flowers and candles invoke a feeling of well-being, copper only adds to it with its healing and protective properties, being associated as the body metal. Its reddish-orangish-brownish hue only enhancing it further.

The Worship Tray

A friend at the store put together a copper tray and added these little copper boxes with floral patterns on the top and called it the ‘Worship Tray’. She said she would insert round candles into the boxes and give the ensemble out as a gift. Nice idea, I thought.

The Meditation Bowl

The Sandalwood Room calls this a meditation bowl. Sit in a quiet place, float a few flowers and candles, add a few drops of essential oils and let the soothing ambience lead you into a meditative mood.

In Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s own words, “You don’t need to believe in any God. It need not even be dark, the lamp need not be a visual aid, but do you notice it makes some kind of a difference? This is because the moment you light a lamp, not the flame itself but around the flame a certain etheric sphere will naturally happen.

Where there is an etheric sphere, communication will be better. Did you ever sit around a campfire in your life? If you did, you would have seen that stories told around the campfire always have the maximum impact on people. Have you noticed this? The storytellers of yore understood this – stories told around the campfire are always the most effective stories. Receptivity will be at its best.

Fire in itself is a source of enery and life. It also creates a field of energy around itself, and above all it creates the necessary atmosphere. So when you light a lamp before you start your day, it is because you want to bring the same quality into yourself. It is symbolism; it’s a way of invoking your own inner nature”.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Foundation, is a yogi and profound mystic of our times, a visionary humanitarian and a prominent spiritual leader.

And on the other side of the spectrum, we have candle light dinners ; lamps and candles decorating dinner tables at restaurants and party spaces, the mood at once turning romantic. I have also not failed to notice, just as you would have too, that we all look prettier, handsomer in the soft glow of the yellow light!!

So then what better way than prayers to bid good-bye to 2015 and ring in 2016? And what better way than to light a lamp or a candle to begin that conversation with the Higher Power? These could be some thoughtful gifts for the New Year.

Copper Boxes Fauna

The Sandalwood Room, Hurricane lamp with carton

The Hurricane Lamp

If you loved these products, walk in and if you wish to place an order, The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier it to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.

Nearly everything in The Sandalwood Room is exclusive and hand crafted. In fact, it’s the only one of it’s kind in Singapore.

The Sandalwood Room wishes you a very Happy New Year. We are so glad to be a part of spreading cheer to your near and dear ones.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Boxes And Photo Frames House Treasures Of A Different Kind

December 26, 2015January 22, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

Decorative square box, the sandalwood room

Decorative square box with zardosi work inlaid

Boxes and photo frames make perfect gifts round the year and there is something strikingly common between them. To me, they are both treasure houses of sorts. Boxes, of treasures that are the ‘touch and feel’ sort – some new acquisitions and some others that bring back to mind fond memories. Photo frames, cherishing within them people and places that have left an indelible mark on our minds and hearts.

Photo frames zardosi on silk, The Sandalwood Room

Photo Frames with zardosi and sequins work on raw silk

A stunning wooden box with zardosi work on deep blue raw silk. A closer look will reveal the impressions of archways intricately carved and bejewelled. Wrap your semi-precious daily wear jewelry, tuck them in the box and let it adorn your dressing table.

Decorative wooden square box, the sandalwood room

Decorative wooden square box with zardosi and sequins work inlaid

I found another similarity between boxes and photo frames. Boxes have always had an element of curiosity for most of us, right? Every time I see a box any place, I feel ‘that irresistible urge’ to unclasp it, open in anticipation of exciting, nostalgic and precious little somethings staring at me. And I, for some reason am wont to imagine that those treasures are as happy to see me as I am to set eyes upon them.

Decorative Rectangular box, the sandalwood room

Docorative rectangular box in tones of mustard with zardosi work

And that goes for photo frames too. Pop a question. Just ask ‘a who and a where’ and people and places come alive in fond narrations and discussions. So that brings to my mind another similarity. Boxes and photo frames are conversation builders, because most often they have a story to tell.

A loved one looking at you out of a photo frame is sort of romantic and enhances your mood. Add to it the decorative motifs in zardosi on raw silk and you have a work of art on your table.

Decorative photo frame, the sandalwood room

Decorative photo frames with zardosiwork on blue raw silk

Christmas has just been round the corner and so I thought it an apt time to write about boxes and photo frames. This blog post was supposed to be published before Christmas, but it’s now the after-party kind of stuff! I am sure in most homes, boxes of gifts have been exchanged and opened gleefully, frames have either been gifted or new ones placed on mantelpieces and side tables.

I couldn’t help penning down a few thoughts when I was shown these beautiful boxes and photo frames at The Sandalwood Room. I hear they are great hits in Singapore. I bought two of each, to store my gleaming cutlery and jewelry. And the photo frames as gifts, one to my daughter and the other to a friend from my college days with whom I have reconnected recently. Helping preserve memories. Its fun when you have tons of pictures that can add more life to your living spaces.

More boxes to choose from at The Sandalwood Room

Decorative square box with zardosi embroidery on purple raw silk inlaid

Decorative rectangular box with zardosi on red raw silk

Decorative rectangular box with zardosi motif on green raw silk

Decorative square box with zardosi and sequins work on red raw silk inlaid

Browsing and shopping at The Sandalwood Room is balmy and therapeutic. There is a certain warmth emanating from its decor. It’s probably the colours in the hand crafted goods, brights juxtaposed gently with the subtle, that play on the mind, in a way connect you to nature.

If you loved these products and wish to place an order, The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier it to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.

Nearly everything in The Sandalwood Room is exclusive and hand crafted. In fact, it’s the only one of it’s kind in Singapore.

The Sandalwood Room wishes you all exciting countdown to the New Year. We are so glad to be a part of spreading cheer to your near and dear ones.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Are You Looking For Weight Training Basics To Get a Sculpted Body?

December 21, 2015January 23, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 3 Comments

Form + Weight Training = Body Sculpting

Being a fitness enthusiast for God knows how many years, I get worked up when people do not employ proper form in their exercises. This article is an attempt to highlight technique. Each muscle needs to be focused on and targeted to sculpt it. I have divided this article in two parts. This one will focus on the nuances of FORM, starting with the right standing posture to weight training. Also included are :

Human Anatomy
Types of Muscle Contractions
Joint Movements
Muscle Groups
Basic Rules in Weight Training

The next one will detail the proper engagement of the right muscles for each type of weight training exercise. If they are combined, I doubt anyone will have the patience to absorb so much information. This is particularly useful for beginners, who may not be well-educated on the dos and don’ts of weight training. I have spoken to fitness professionals in detail to get the facts right.

Reading, absorbing and implementing what we all read on fitness are three different things. I firmly believe that in order to stay fit and in shape, we have to understand fitness and not merely follow a trainers’s instructions. Towards that, I would encourage readers that need this information, to make out a chart for themselves. Haven’t we heard that writing makes it perfect? So here, when you make your own chart, the chances of the information getting registered and recollected at a later time for implementation are much higher.

There is more to weight loss and body sculpting than merely lifting weights. There is FORM, which means employing the right technique and posture during weight training. If you have been relentlessly lifting weights for your upper body and yet there is a gap between the physique you want and your mirror image, then you better review the way you are doing weight training.

Image courtesy : Pinterest

Before we go on to exercise specific muscle…….

Good posture is the body’s alignment with respect to gravity that we can never do away with. So posture is a given at every moment of our life, whether we are sitting, standing, moving or lying down. Our joints, ligaments and muscles are forever in conversation with gravity. Best not to interrupt them if you want to look good and feel good.

Try this posture test: When viewed from the side, an imaginary vertical line should pass through your earlobe, the tip of your shoulder, midway through your trunk, over the bony part of your thigh, and then through both your knee and ankle. If there is any deviation from this alignment, like if your ears are in front of your shoulders or your shoulders roll toward your chest, you are set for potential injury.

Did you know just sitting and standing in correct posture can burn a few calories? When you maintain proper posture, your muscles are being worked to maintain the alignment of the body, thereby adding to your calorie burn. Resistance exercises or weight training when carried out in proper posture are more effective in toning the body and avoiding injuries. Most injuries in the gym are caused by improper posture and bad form.

Ramona Braganza, the celebrity trainer has this to say – “Lift (weights) slower with control, connecting your mind to the move”. In fact, proper form and technique matters, in whatever you lift, at the gym, home or on your shopping sprees. Till you are sure of the form, do not increase the weight or the number of repetitions during your workouts. Breathe correctly, don’t hold your breath lifting weights. Exhale as you lift weights and inhale as you lower them.

Technique

A few things we should all know:

Learn Some Anatomy :

When you know the basic structure of bones and muscles in your body, you are able to connect each exercise move with the targeted muscles. You can then engage those muscles appropriately, thereby reaping better results.

Full body muscles human anatomy mythoughtlane

Image courtesy : Internet

Types of Muscle Contractions:

Image courtesy : Internet

Isometric contractions: when the muscle does not lengthen.

An example of this is, pushing against a wall.

Isotonic Contractions : when the muscle length changes. The shortening phase is called Concentric contraction while the lengthening is termed Eccentric contraction.

Image courtesy : Internet

Joint Movements : Muscle contractions and joint movements go in tandem. There are four important joint movements – flexion, extension, abduction and adduction (not addiction!!!!)

Flexion – when the angle at the joint is decreased, as in when you raise a dumbbell upwards.

Extension – when the angle at the joint increases, as you lower the dumbbell.

Image : teachmeanatomy

Abduction – when you move a body part away from the middle of the body towards a side or above. Eg; when you raise leg outwards.

Adduction – when you bring the raised leg back again.

Image : teachmeanatomy

A peek into the muscle groups :

Deltoids (shoulder) – anterior / mid / posterior
Trapezius
Pectorals (chest)
Latissimus (back)
Biceps
Triceps

Rule #1: No muscle ever works in isolation. While one muscle is targeted for workout, corresponding surround muscles also get the benefit. For instance, shoulder muscles are put to work in every upper body exercise.

Rule #2: At any given point while weight training, the neck has to be neutral, not protruding, not pulled backwards. Chin to be tucked in.

Rule #3: The ideal ratio of lifting to lowering is 2:1:2:1 for beginners. Intermediate and advanced can use the 2:0:2:0.

Rule #4: Beginners should start with lighter weights till they get the form right. It is very likely for form to be compromised when beginners try to lift heavy weights.

Rule #5: Breathing is as important as proper form. Exhale when you exert (lift weights ) and inhale when you lower weights.

Rule #6: The rep math to keep in mind is to start with 10-12 repetitions per set.

My next post will contain instructions on engaging the right muscles for the targeted exercise of the upper body. Till then (which could be tomorrow), happy gymming. Season to eat and make merry of course, but if you have shopped for new clothes for Christmas and New Year’s Eve and want them to fit you well, you know what to do !!!!

Ciao!

Looking For Unique Christmas Gifting Ideas? Go The Hancrafted, Creative Way

December 19, 2015January 23, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 3 Comments

This Christmas, pick up simple and sweet handcrafted gifts. Lend Singapore a hand in making it eco-friendly.

Christmas is round the corner and here are some great shopping and gifting ideas. The smile that a gift brings to face of the gifted is worth a million dollars! And if you wish to make your gifts special, then go for the handmade range. Let your folks know that a lot of thought has gone into choosing some exclusive stuff that may not be seen around too often.

Stroll into The Sandalwood Room‘s lovely and cozy ambience for your shopping. You will find something for everyone. Every item on their shelves is well curated to pamper to global tastes, each one telling you the tale of an art and its artisan from that corner of the world you so want to visit. Earthy, unique and global.

Begin with writing out a card for your loved one.

Hand stitched notebooks from Anokhi. Jot down shopping lists and to-do notes. Will fit snugly into the smallest of handbags.

Colourful palmyra leaf baskets, trays and boxes that will brighten up your living spaces

This ceramic jar could be ideal for packing Christmas cookies, home-made chocolates and cakes.

Tuck in your trinkets and baubles. Even a set of plain white paper napkins will look jazzed up inside these wooden boxes topped with a metal mesh lid painted to add elegance.

Chinese lanterns just right to light up homes at Christmas time. You will love the play of light as they add a dimension to the space

Trays and coasters with zardosi work on silk and encased within glass. Bright!

Trays and boxes embroidered on silk with zari, encased within glass.

Hand-knotted thread jewelry embellished with metal strands and danglers. This is an exclusive line of jewelry from Mayabazar. Traditional artisans create exquisite jewellery by hand-knotting silk and cotton yarn with metal, wooden, hand-blown glass beads and semi-precious stones using a charak or a wooden spindle.

These are hand-embroidered silk and cotton sling bags. Look ethnic or boho as you team them with western or Indian wear.

It’s now time to dress up the little angels at home. Kids-wear is as adorable as the tiny tots are. Pamper them with these pretty block-printed frocks , pick-me-up booties and bibs, all in comfortable cotton.

Give them soft stuffed toys to cuddle with, while you are busy getting your cakes and bakes ready.

And finally ethnic gift bags that add a touch of class to your gifting.

If you loved these products and wish to place an order, TSR will be happy to courier it to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.

Everything in The Sandalwood Room is exclusive and hand crafted. In fact, it’s the only one of it’s kind in Singapore.

The Sandalwood Room wishes you all a very Happy & Merry Christmas. We are so glad to be a part of spreading cheer to your near and dear ones.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 62212654 / +65 97865896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Five Boho-chic Looks, Mix & Match To Get Your Own Style

December 16, 2015January 23, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 4 Comments

Is the Boho look in? When was it ever out? It is one style that will last as long as fashion does. Which means forever. The graph of this style is never steady though. It can wane and wax, but will still be the favourite of many a free-spirited, fashion-loving breed.

The Boho-look is one of my favourite styles. I could be wearing metal buttons all over or walking around in rugged boots, but feeling feminine, I will still. To me Bohemian Fashion Style is more of a state of mind, not just a look. It lets you

a)express yourself

b)connect with nature and the richest flavours of different cultures

c)lets you combine funky with the exotic.

So its casual, hip, ethnic and vintage in one shot. And its sexy! Explains why this look is close to so many hearts.

Add Chic to the Boho look and what you get is style and elegance. Fashion icons and Hollywood celebs Sienna Miller, Nicole Richie, Kate Moss and Vanessa Hudgens have given a certain freshness to the bohemian style with their glam and glitter. Indian actor Deepika Padukone flaunts the boho-chic like none other in her industry.

So I am now shopping couture in The Sandalwood Room, spoilt for choice. These four looks caught my fancy and I quickly saw that I could mix and match to my heart’s content. That is what is unique about the Anokhi, Kilol and Soma range , the staff of The Sandalwood Room tells me. I chuckled as I saw how beautifully these lines of apparel fit into my boho-style!

Comfort : The Boho style is as much about comfort as self-expression. Keep the clothing light and breezy. So wear what makes you feel good.

boho look - red culotte pants denim shirt handmade jewellery

Red culotte pants teamed with a knotted denim shirt

Don’t look too hard for the same jewelry as in the pic. The Sandalwood Room encourages you to stay unique just as they are. But I found some exciting silver jewelry that was similar.

Graceful: There is a sense of freedom in this flowy skirt and the crop top in keeping with the bohemian spirit.

A flatteringly cut cotton skirt with indigo zig zag and slit crop top

Green complimenting the indigo in the skirt. Stunning.

Cut : Boho-chic for me is not always about bright colors and graphic prints. Check out this simpler bohemian look in one-tone, it’s rather the fabric and the cut that is giving the feel.

boho look - Organic khadi dress shibori scarf jacket the sandalwood room

Organic khadi dress with Shibori scarf and jacket in indigo

Hand woven organic khadi dress with indigo blue Shibori scarf and a jacket being flaunted casually. The jewelry is tribal art inspired in silver. A note about Shibori is in place here I think. Shibori is a Japanese tie-dying technique, using a variety of techniques in different shapes to make different patterns. The technique typically depends not only on the desired pattern, but the characteristics of the cloth being dyed.

Fabric : The single most important element of Bohemian clothing. Natural materials such as cotton, gauze, wool and leather mark the look.

boho look Crushed cotton skirt red quilted jacket the sandalwood room

Crushed cotton skirt and red quilted jacket

Pale green crushed cotton skirt with bright red quilted jacket and white cropped t-blouse. The little handmade cotton buttons on the jacket add a touch of drama.

Minimalistic is the mantra in this I guess.

Simple : Boho does not mean overdoing it. Keep it simple, this way.

boho look White shirt dress white lace jacket paper jewelry the sandalwood room

White shirt dress with white lace jacket

Boho is also about layering. Slip on a long body hugging inner top, layer it with a subtle white shirt-dress and top it with a delicate lace jacket and you have a style of your own. The bright two toned paper jewelry enhancing the look.

I couldn’t help but notice that most of the apparel on the shelves of The Sandalwood Room were adorned with hand block printing. Juxtaposing traditional with the contemporary, just right for the boho-chic look. I am tempted to include a small note on hand block printing, I find the prints so alluring. But more on that in my next.

Wash & Care instructions for this cotton clothing:

Indigo tends to run. Vegetable dyes are likely to bleed, but will not catch on to other clothes. Like in Singapore, if your country uses treated water, dry-cleaning for the first wash is recommended.

If you loved these looks and wish to place an order, TSR will be happy to courier it to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.

Everything in The Sandalwood Room is exclusive and hand crafted. In fact, its the only one of it’s kind in Singapore.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 62212655 / +65 97865896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Filter Coffee – Gift of India to the Coffee World

November 30, 2015November 30, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 6 Comments

A lot happens over coffee. True. Specially for coffee addicts like me. Addicted to filter coffee, not because it is from my country India, but it is like none other.

If there is heaven on earth, then it must be in the kitchen where Indian filter coffee is brewing. Particularly so in South Indian homes. And the aroma of the heavenly beverage wafting from the kitchen gets your taste buds tingling, even before you take that blissful first sip. You think I am exaggerating? Walk into an Indian home in the wee hours of the morning, or early evening and you will know what I am talking about. Wait, just pause before you ring the doorbell ; an aroma is filling your nostrils, right? Walk in and you will get a cuppa, rich in taste and true to its aroma.

So you loved it and you wish to ask for another cup, even as you are halfway through. But wait, you may not want another for sometime. A cup of South Indian filter coffee is so satiating, you are probably crooning, ‘I am on the top of the world…..’!!

If South Indian filter coffee is to be traditionally made and has to be as exotic as I am making it sound here, you will need a special metal device, looking like this. You can buy it at The Sandalwood Room. Head to Tras Street, pop in at this lifestyle boutique, pick up your Indian filter coffee set, that comes with an instruction manual and coffee suggestions. This coffee sounds divine, but is very simple to whip up. You may want to try it out ASAP !! The Sandalwood Room will help you with where to buy the coffee powder.

The South Indian filter coffee set at The Sandalwood Room

Make your filter coffee :

Prep time : 5 mins

Brewing time : 10 mins

Serves : 2

Coffee powder : 3 tbsps

Water : 3/4 cup

Fresh milk and sugar : as required

The device has four components – two cylindrical cups, a pierced pressing disc with a handle and the lid. The upper cup is perforated and is to be fitted into the lower cup. Now load the perforated cup with the required amount of coffee powder and gently spread it out evenly. Place the pressing disc on top of the coffee powder. Pour the required quantity of boiling water after the steam has settled down over the disc, close the lid and allow the coffee to drip into the lower cup. Voila ! It is magic in the making ! I hear a similar device is used to make Vietnamese coffee too.

The resulting brew so gradually got from the device is generally stronger than the western drip/filter coffee, or even the espresso. Add boiled milk and sugar per requirement.

Now for some more specifics. Traditionally, the South Indian filter coffee is drunk out of a stainless steel tumbler. Trust me, it enhances the taste. Not the same if you sip it out of a china cup.

This is how it is served. Frothing hot coffee in the tumbler with the wide steel cup, the ‘dabarah’. South Indians love filling the coffee tumblers to the brim and they want it steaming hot. Now you get it ? Yes, the wide cup serves a few purposes. Mixing the sugar and the added milk thoroughly; cooling the beverage down to a sipping temperature and getting a frothing. Watch the south Indians pour the coffee back and forth expertly between the dabarah and the tumbler and take their first sip, you will know it is satisfying!

Trivia about South Indian filter coffee:

It is a kind of cultural icon in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra, the four southern states of India.
Coffee was introduced to South India by Baba Budan in the 17^th century. Until the middle of the 20^th century, traditional households used only jaggery and honey to sweeten coffee. I guess we can take a tip from that for health reasons, but the taste will certainly vary.
Most commonly used coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta, medium roasted and finely ground.
Best made with fresh buffalo milk. Back in our childhood days, the milkman would get the buffalo to our doorstep, milk the animal and give us jars of fresh frothy milk. Coffee beans were roasted and ground afresh every morning. But, gone are those days!

It is winter now in India and a season of music particularly in the southern region. The Indian diaspora from all over the world travel to this region, to attend music festivals and eat mouth-watering traditional food during their stay. Cups and cups of the filter coffee are devoured at all times of the day. Like they say, ‘anytime is coffee time’!

Saravana Bhavan is an Indian chain of restaurants found in most cities of the world. If you haven’t tasted South Indian filter coffee yet, that’s the place to go to. Some cities like Singapore and Kaula Lumpur have Murugan Idli Shop, another such eatery that has traditional vegetarian fare on their menu. Ask your friends travelling to India to get you the South Indian filter coffee device and coffee powder. Here are some brands : Narasu’s, Leo, Cotha’s, Udhayam, Bru, Coorg and Kaapi. Singapore, Cotha’s and Coorg are easily available in the city. Lavazza will do as well. Or shop online. .

Tips for brewing a perfect filter coffee

Fresh coffee powder, fresh decoction and fresh milk make a difference. Left over decoction, a no-no.
Equal quantities of freshly roasted and ground Peaberry and Plantation A coffee beans are mixed for super tasting coffee. Just keep this in mind. Those staying away from India may not have access to these, but its good to know.
If the perforated metal coffee filter is blocked, hold it over direct flame for 2-3 seconds, or clean out the holes with a pin and then use it.
Dry the filter well before adding coffee powder.
Coffee filters come in various sizes. If using less coffee powder, use a small coffee filter.

Even as write this, it feels good to know from an U.S study, that coffee drinkers may live longer. Google for more information.

Everything in The Sandalwood Room is hand-made, hand crafted. In keeping with that, filter coffee hand-made and not machine dripped.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 62212655 / +65 97865896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesandalwoodroom/?fref=ts

Looking For Fine Dinnerware That Lasts, Singapore ?

November 25, 2015November 25, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 2 Comments

The Sandalwood Room from Singapore brings Nishita Fine Dinnerware, resistant to chipping and scratching. With handcrafted embellishments for their discerning customers.

Representative dinner set The Sandalwood Room

Components representative of their dinner sets

Do you remember how fiercely your mother and grandmother guarded their fine china, from the clumsy men and the careless brats of the house? And from the hands of the maids, who thought the dinnerware was merely plates and bowls to eat from?

You are likely to do the same. When you become the proud owners of Nishita Fine Dinnerware. I can already picture some of you running your hands fondly over your dinner plates, as you unpack your purchase. Anything so fine deserves a celebration and I can’t think of a better way than having people over. Conversations, aperitif wine, canapés, your favourite music and a lot of laughter. Sounds like perfect accompaniment to a dining table, so well laid.

So what first draws us all while shopping are the looks. With Nishita Fine Dinnerware, the elegant and unique designs arrest your eyes. I cannot but notice the exquisite artistry and workmanship, that gives a touch of class to their porcelain. Attention to detail is so evident and a closer look tells me the motifs are handcrafted. Making them timeless. Little wonder then I thought, that The Sandalwood Room displays them so proudly.

Fine detailing in crimson and gold

There is another buyer by my side now, one of those that leaves nothing to chance. I listen, as this smart staff of The Sandalwood Room explains how the use of Japanese technology gives the dinnerware a smooth, flawless glaze and refined translucency. The Japanese are masters at giving porcelain ware strength, hardness and toughness, which also explains for the dinnerware being resistant to chipping and scratching.

I hear the girl quoting Nishita Thakurdas, “An uncompromising attention to detail, quality and craftsmanship is the cornerstone of my dinnerware,”. Nishita Thakurdas is the founder of Nishita Fine Dinnerware. “Every individual piece has been handcrafted creating a harmony of elegance, artistry and impeccable quality”.

I accompany the buyer and we are both mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the Nishita Collection. ‘The Lotus at Fatehpur’ and ‘Jodhpur Evenings’.

The Lotus At Fatehpur

The Sandalwood Room Nishita Lotus at Fatehpur

Lotus At Fatehpur complete dinner set laid out

I am sure your guests will spend time admiring this splendid collection, before they help themselves to your delicacies. Reflecting the grandeur and richness of the Moghul era of ancient India, the collection seems like an homage to the majestic abode of emperor Akbar, in Fatehpur Sikri. Your guests may want to ask you more about the glory of Akbar – you can send them this link.

Each piece of the dinner set is handcrafted and embellished with 24k gold and luxurious crimson against pristine white porcelain, telling the tale of the Mughuls’ love for everything resplendent. The city of Fatehpur Sikri has most of its buildings in red stone and so is the symbolic use of red in this collection.

The complete dinner set comprises of 27 pieces – 6 dinner plates, 6 side plates, 6 bowls, 6 napkin rings, 2 serving bowls, and 1 platter

Jodhpur Evenings

Jodhpur Evenings laid out

The regal power of royal blue is timeless across all regions of the world. A romantic dinner for two, or a gala soiree, food certainly may taste better when eaten out of such a stylized collection. Intricate platinum edges crowning deep blue fit for royalty. Undertones of pure platinum making it perfect.

Watch your guests delight in the deep blue, the delicate arcs, the hidden hearts and the sweetly whispering birds. The Jodhpur Evenings series brings together strength and softness. Just like the Blue City , Jodhpur in Rajasthan, after which the collection has been named.

The complete dinner set comprises of 27 pieces – 6 dinner plates, 6 side plates, 6 bowls, 6 napkin rings, 2 serving bowls, and 1 platter.

We are surprised to hear that Nishita Fine Dinnerware is long-lasting. But then, so much care and detailing has gone into turning out such irresistible pieces, why would they not make them sturdy?

We are then told by The Sandalwood Room that this fine dinnerware, like all things fine, needs tender care. Sturdy it is, yet cannot be microwaved and dishwashed due to the gold and platinum ornamentation in it. We thought we should tell you this. After all, you are going cherish Nishita Fine Dinnerware. Click here for complete care instructions.

The Sandalwood Room, popular in Singapore for all that is handcrafted yet global, has now moved to Tras Street. A new location, but the same beautiful ambience. For Couture, Jewelry, Art, Home-décor, Gifts & Collectibles.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 62212655 / +65 97865896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesandalwoodroom/?fref=ts