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TREK MAGIC

To trek is to experience Magic!

by Roopa September 6, 2022
written by Roopa

Trekking is a fantastic multiple-day outdoor activity that is simply Magical!!!

I have just gotten back from a beautiful trek !!

The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek.

By definition trekking is a long arduous ‘journey’ amidst nature, usually involving different terrains, including mountains.

My Kashmir Great Lakes Trek was a treat to the senses with absolutely amazing sights !!

The personal discoveries of my strengths – physical, emotional and mental have been immense, delightful and eye-opening.

I got a lot of time with myself, often alone for long distances on the ascents and descents, just being one with nature, the majestic mountains all around, the meadows with their pretty flowers seemingly spread out just for me !

I discovered that I had that inner strength I needed to overcome mild high altitude sickness and could climb and reach those tall peaks. I discovered that I could cover long distances alone, and that I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the physical and mental confidence I built over those 7 days.

The group I trekked with was awesome too, with lovely people!

The one standing is me !!!! 🙂

Read more about my experiences here !

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September 6, 2022 0 comment
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TREK MAGIC

My awesome Kashmir Great Lakes Trek !! – part 1

by Roopa August 9, 2022
written by Roopa

Step by Step and Breath by Breath – that is the way to climb !

My Kashmir Great Lakes Trek was challenging, charming, and stimulating apart from being an awesome one overall !

The thrilling aspects of the trek:

Distance covered – 74 kms in 6 days (in mountainous high-altitude terrain)

Ascent to 14000ft (4200m)

Climb and descent of 3 Himalayan passes – Nichnai, Gadsar and Zaj

Steep ascents and steep descents every day

8 picturesque and beautiful glacier-fed lakes

Blossom-filled verdant meadows stretching as far as the eye can see

Gushing stream-crossings

Steep boulder climbs and extended boulder traverses

The Journey Unfolds !

Day 1 – We reach the base camp at Sonamarg, a very pretty place that means ‘Golden Meadow’. We spend the first night here by a beautiful river, getting to know each other, admiring the beauty all around, clicking our first pics, getting used to the wind, the cold, the tents, getting a feel of the days to come. It’s cold after sunset, I just can’t get warm enough in my sleeping bag, and barely sleep.

Awesome views around Sonamarg base camp

The horses look so good in these backgrounds

Day 2  –   The actual trek begins !! We start off to Nichnai. We have read that it is going to be a long and a tough day as we begin to ascend today. The meadows we climb up to are unbelievably beautiful, the shades of green are totally mesmerizing! The path also leads into a dark and deep-green forest. When we exit it, we have a really long stretch of walking on boulders along a stream for miles and miles before we reach our camp for the night! Yes, we get an idea of what the terrain and scenery is going to be like for the next few days and totally love it!  

Shepherds and their sheep add to the charm of the scenery!
The stream alongside which we walked

Again, I cannot get warm enough and sleep just a couple of hours this night. I also seem to have a headache and slight nausea. Good Lord! These seem like symptoms of Altitude Sickness! I know I am fit enough and any sickness will be mild, but all trek days are long here. I should cope somehow and get over it!

Day 3 – Today we have to climb across Nichnai Pass at 13,000 ft to reach Vishansar Lake where our camp is. We start off at 7.30 am as usual and a bit later to my surprise, I find my heart pounding after I take just a few steps! This is something totally new to me and I am laughing because this feels funny and I wonder what is happening in my body!

A few more steps and I HAVE to stop, rest, catch my breath and walk again. My oxygen saturation is 90 % and I realize I have to take it easy, pace my walk, rest, and just keep walking as best as I can!

My trek mates are ahead and I realize I am lagging behind. But so what?! 😊

As I get used to this unusual ‘pounding of my heart’ I learn how to pace my walk, how to breath in deeply, and tell myself to be patient. I must allow my body to learn to get used to the altitude, and that takes some time.

I send positive thoughts of gratitude to my body and I rest whenever I need to, which is every few steps!!

I walk alone along the flowing stream… it is just me, my thoughts, the sound of flowing water… the wonderful mountains all around me…

I realize I must cover the distance step–by-step, breath–by–breath. That is all there is to it. It feels wonderful.

Yes, I am enjoying my first high-altitude trek!!

I reach the Pass an hour after my group does.

We descend now, and what a sight the descent presents!

Vast, green, rock-filled meadows filled with pretty flowers in the prettiest colours imaginable. The rocks all around are a contrast in shape, size and material to the tiny plants, yet they blend together so beautifully.

That evening, from the camp, it’s an exciting ‘hop’ over boulders on a fast flowing river to reach the first lake of our trip – Vishansar Lake! It is so peaceful there, the waters are a beautiful blue-green, the sky is a bright blue, the rays of the Sun striking off the surface on one end makes the scene amazing.

I am feeling a lot better by now. I sleep well this night, finally !

I know the next day is supposed to be the toughest. It is Gadsar Pass Day – ascent to 14,000 feet on narrow mountain-edge trails.  

I believe I am mentally ready for whatever this day has to offer.

Stay with me on the rest of my trek in my next post here!

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August 9, 2022 2 comments
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Top Youthful Living TipsWellness

Strong, Flexible, Energetic and Youthful through Yoga Practice!!

by Roopa June 21, 2022
written by Roopa

Yoga Practice helps one to stay Strong, Fit, Flexible, Energetic and Youthful !! Regular yoga practice keeps us youthful, vibrant, balanced and healthy in mind and body !

The calm, the flow, the absolute grounding and the experience of the present with every session of Yoga practice is something everyone needs to experience and enjoy as often as possible…. a couple of times a week at least !! 🙂

Today is International Yoga Day and Bomma is excited to share her thoughts on Yoga Practice !!

Benefits of doing Yoga :

 Not only do we get a good workout,

  • it improves our full body flexibility,
  • we enhance our ability to concentrate on, and be present in our actions,
  • one learns to really enjoy the deep breathing and breath control,
  • we are amazed at the awareness in our minds and
  • best of all, we want to experience more and come back again for the fantastic feeling after a session of Yoga practice! 🙂

Join online classes, do it with your friends or with a Yoga group or just enjoy the practice by yourself ! Start simple and easy and grow up with your practice !

Shri B K S Iyengar, one of the foremost yoga gurus puts across the connection between mind and body beautifully thus “balance in the body is the foundation for balance in life”. How simple and profound.

Our moods, our wellbeing – both physical and mental depends on how well we take care of ourselves. The practice of Yoga addresses both the physical and mental aspects. We become stronger, fitter and more flexible in both mind and body 🙂

Youthfulness is all about feeling good inside and out, feeling energetic, strong, calm and balanced in mind and body and being joyful as a habit.

Regular yoga practice, combined with other workout routines that we enjoy, is a great way to feel and keep ourselves youthful !

Here are some channels to practise with , no matter whether you are a beginner or a regular practitioner :

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHTisXO8TeozyYOxEZGC8XQ

https://www.youtube.com/c/bohobeautiful

https://www.youtube.com/c/BreatheandFlow

Happy Yoga Day 🙂

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June 21, 2022 10 comments
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Earth ConnectionWellness

Gift Yourself Moments Of Joy Through the Day !!

by Roopa June 16, 2022
written by Roopa

Everyday make sure to gift yourself a few moments with simple and natural things around you that make you smile !! :))

Indulging in Moments of Joy through the day will make it a beautiful and happy day.

Sometimes we think we need to experience something big and awesome to feel happy and high, but in reality, to be in the relaxed space to enjoy those occasional big things, it’s important to find moments of relaxation, smiles and joy in simple things around us on an everyday basis as well.

When we smile at the small things around us, a bird on a tree, a plant in the balcony, some flowers on a table, a puppy playing on the road, or anything in nature, it refreshes our mind and makes us relaxed.

Try it !!!

Find small Moments of Joy everyday!!

You recognise those moments by being watchful and observing what makes you smile 🙂

Anything can make you smile ! 🙂

It could be :

  • a baby in a pram on the road,
  • a hello and a nod exchanged with the guy at the coffee counter,
  • music from a road-side musician,
  • the sight of blue skies above you,
  • a picture or thoughts of beautiful mountains
  • a nicely presented healthy meal,
  • the fragrance of flowers at the florist,
  • the colour of the roses in bloom at the park,
  • children squealing with delight at the swing in the play area,
  • the texture of soft clothes on your body,
  • a brief teasing banter with your spouse,
  • a quick body stretch in the corridor
  • a few minutes of deep mindful breathing ..

Be aware of the times when you are feeling a bit stressed at work or at home and actively look out for what makes you smile and feel relaxed.

Grab these small moments throughout the day! They will add up and make you feel great!

Savour the small joys, smile, share and enjoy them with others as well! 🙂

What are your moments of Joy through the day?

Do share in the comments below!

June 16, 2022 3 comments
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Top Youthful Living TipsWellness

Deep Breathing to be calm & smiling!

by Roopa May 12, 2022
written by Roopa
Focus on the breath, be in the present !!

Deep Mindful Breathing keeps us calm, cool & smiling because an effective way to be in the present is to bring our focus to our breath.

If we sit for a few minutes a day quietly, allowing our thoughts to just pass on like clouds, while we do some deep, mindful breathing, staying aware of the breath, the inhale and the exhale, it can be a greatly relaxing, calming activity.

Our days demand a lot of thinking, decision-making, juggling between various essential activities, and things to do. We hardly give attention to the way we breathe. A few minutes of bringing our focus to our breath, enjoying the movement of air into and out of our lungs can bring instant calm and stillness in our minds.

It’s fine to do this activity as many times as we want to through the day.

Some of us may want to do this for a few minutes while some may want to stay with the breath for a bit longer. The result is a clearer, calmer mind that is in the present. Even a short while of breath awareness feels so good !!

When we stay in the present, we see things around us more clearly. We are able to think better, decide better in a calm way.

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May 12, 2022 0 comment
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Top Youthful Living TipsWellness

Simple Top Youthful Living Secret Just For You!!

by Roopa April 28, 2022
written by Roopa

If we want to be young and strong, we cannot afford to eat wrong !

There is a simple secret to looking young, feeling energetic and staying healthy ! Eat Right !!

Eating food only for its taste

May not be good for our waists !

Eat fresh, local & natural,

Always with delight & restraint,

Food that is nutrition-based!

To our looks and health,

A lot of difference this is sure to make! 🙂

– Bomma.

Choose from Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts, Grains, Lentils, Millets and Natural Oils at every meal!!

When we eat right, it shows, + we feel good inside.

We need not get into calorie counting and fuss about all that we must or mustn’t eat!

Simply and Consistently choose fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, lentils and millets – based foods cooked in small amounts of natural oils! It’s that simple.

Enjoy what you eat, give yourself a treat once in a while!

What we eat is how our body will be. Eat to look and feel youthful and be energetic !

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April 28, 2022 0 comment
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Top Youthful Living TipsWellness

Youthful in an instant !!!

by Roopa April 25, 2022
written by Roopa

“As you grow older…

To avoid saying ‘Ouch, ouch ☹’

Remember – Don’t Slouch!!”

– Bomma.

Sit tall, and stand tall (even if you aren’t tall really!)

Neck long, spine straight, shoulder relaxed, chest up, core together.

Feel energetic and confident instantly.

Slouching makes one look older, it’s not youthful. Nor healthful.

Posture is important for the proper mechanics of your body, so be aware of it.

Correct your posture frequently.  

Exercise and stretch – chest, back and core muscles.

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April 25, 2022 0 comment
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Introduction - What this Blog is About !

Being youthful and energetic is a choice !!

by Roopa April 4, 2022
written by Roopa

To be youthful, energetic, and to enjoy life in the ways we like best ! Yes, to be this way is a choice we can make! It’s what we ALL want !!

We want to be able to feel alive, enjoy the wonder that is life, look good, feel good, feel strong, feel loved, be able to travel, read, write, dance and jump when we feel like !

Longevity is desirable but maintaining vitality, having energy to do the things you want to do through the years that you live is something that can be achieved through the choices we make !

As we get older, we have to accept certain changes in our bodies and minds. But the basic principles of happiness and wellbeing remain pretty much the same!

Through my blog, I wish to explore the different aspects of wellbeing and health that will empower anyone to look good, be energetic and feel young!

Hi there !! Come with me !! 🙂

Bomma, my doll, will speak to you !!

Do fill out this very simple form to receive a mail notification from me whenever I publish a fresh post !!

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April 4, 2022 4 comments
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THE ROAD WELL TAKEN
  • Home
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    • Wellness
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    • Introduction – What this Blog is About !
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