Women Lines

Nidhi Mehta is the founder of BollyBeatz in Singapore and is a Professional Dancer/Performer/Teacher & Choreographer with over 10 years experience in the dance industry. Nidhi Mehta is an irresistibly energetic fitness personality and choreographer who has pioneered the introduction of BollyArobix dance to the forefront of fitness with her series of unique and intense workout’s. She has also successfully created dance routines for music videos, cultural festivals, corporate workshops and concerts utilizing her knowledge of Bollywood, Indian classical dance, salsa, hip-hop, and other dance forms.

Nidhi in action!

1. Please share about Bollybeatz?

Nidhi: BollyBeatz is a Bollywood Dance Instruction school. I started it in 2002 in Bay Area, California, USA. There I ran operations in the name of Stepz! Dance was always a passion since school days. But as most of us, I completed my MBA and got a job with McKinsey and started working in a corporate. Its only after I got married, I quit my job and then Dance happened to me. It was not planned or even a remote thought in my mind. It was all by chance and accident! I guess some things are just meant to be!

2.     Please share about your various performances and performances by your students. How many years you have spent in Singapore and how you feel about it? What are the main challenges you faced while opening your school? 

Nidhi: I started the dance school in USA, sold it in 2005 and moved to India. I started BollyBeatz in Chennai , India and it did very well till I moved to Singapore in November 2007. Since then I have been here. I don’t know where my next stop is – but I am looking forward to it! I love Singapore – the people are very health conscious and fitness freaks. They enjoy my style of teaching and are quite dedicated. We have performed at the Ms India-America Pageant in USA, at Stanford University, various competitive shows, shows for non-profits.. in Singapore we have been a part of the Dans Festival at Esplanade.

I have been fortunate that things worked out quite smoothly when I started my company. There have been hiccups like coming across some people you have trusted to be your instructor and who have copied your routines and tried to use it as their own. They put a bad taste in your mouth – but I personally feel – there are enough good people out there.

3.     Do you think you can dance for the sake of movement without any meaning or emotion in it?    

Nidhi: Yes – dance is about music and rhythm. You don’t have to understand the language of the music or its meaning to enjoy and dance to it.

4.     How would your life be if you weren’t a dancer?                                                         

Nidhi: I would be in a corporate – probably a management consultant or in marketing.

5.     If you had to choose one kind of dance, what would it be?

Nidhi: Bollywood coz it blends various forms of dance styles into it. What I do and teach is a fusion is Latin Dance, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Belly dance!

6.    What did you sacrifice to get where you are today? What do you think got you this far?(source of motivation) 

Nidhi: I didn’t sacrifice anything for what I have achieved. Yes, maybe my fulltime job in McKinsey, but I am happy about it! I am happy that I quit my job and recognized this opportunity that came my way and grabbed it. I also feel it was destined for me to do what I am doing today. I believe a lot in Karma, Destiny and Luck!

My work has helped me create the perfect work-personal life balance. I do all my admin work from home so I am around when kids need me.

What has got me so far is my perseverance, my husband’s support and my survival skills – coz I have moved 3 countries in 10 years and replicated the same model with success, franchised it and moved on! I don’t get afraid of change. I embrace it as a new opportunity for me to grow!

7.     How do you feel teaching dancing to students? Do you want to share something about your students or any other incidence related to Bollybeatz? 

Nidhi: I love teaching dance. It’s a very satisfying experience to see people who have very low confidence in their dancing skills come to me to learn and then I see them open up, absorb and their stamina increases, steps and flexibility improves and they become great movers & shakers.

 Someone in the USA had wanted to join my classes and had been in the waitlist for 4 months. Suddenly, one day a spot opened up and I called her to see if she wanted to join and she did! Later when we became good friends she wrote me a note saying that she had got laid off from her job after 10 years of working in that company. That’s the day I called her to join the class and she contemplated if she should join or not coz it was an expense she could avoid at this point. But she nevertheless said yes and signed up for the class and she said to me that it was the best decision she took. It helped her to stay out of depression and from being sad. It helped her find a new circle of friends whom she could connect with and dance made her happy!

8.    How do you dance: with your mind, with your soul, with your body or with your heart?

Nidhi:I dance with my heart, body and soul. There are times I have danced with a muscle pull and once the music comes I get so carried away that I forget the pain and dance and of course after class I am dying in pain! I have never missed a class. Even with 100 fever I have taken a painkiller and done my class coz it’s a commitment!

9.    What are your future plans and vision for Bollybeatz?

Nidhi: I plan to start various other forms of dance fitness modules under BollyBeatz and concentrate strongly on the dance fitness element that we provide. We plan to start partnerships and open franchises in various other cities to empower others who love to dance and enjoy teaching take this opportunity to do and create something big with their passion.

10. Message for womenlines readers and other women.

We are blessed that we are women. We have the capability fo multitasking. Some of us do have the luxury of staying home and pursuing our passion and make a career out of it. If that’s an option that you have been given and you are just staying at home . Take a look inside. Look at what you see yourself doing and try and start somewhere. Believe in yourself! I have recently launched a website www.supermompreneurs.com read some of the profiles – they are truly motivating and awe inspiring!

 Visit http://www.bollybeatz.com to know more about Nidhi and Bollybeatz!

Are you having money sense?

Have you ever thought about your spending habits, wealth management awareness, and checked your investment knowledge.

It’s interesting but true, there is a board game called cash flow game which will open your mindset regarding issues of your financial life.

My friends don’t think that I am suggesting this game for your kids in parenting section.

This game is for you all to play with your friends. Many women group like to play games of cards, bingo, crossword and other board games. This game is also just like other board game but it involves money into it. Don’t be afraid as when money comes in between people tend to have fear to loose it. But this money is not your real money. You have to play your instincts with whatever money is provided by the banker of the game.

As wekepaedia describes-“ Cashflow 101 is an educational tool in board game format designed by Robert Kiyosaki(author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad),which aims to teach the players concepts of investing by having their money work for them in a risk free setting (play money) while simultaneously increasing their financial literacy and stressing the imperative nature of accountability.”

The interesting feature of the game is that it is played in two steps. First step is ‘Rat Race’ and second step is ‘Fast Track’. In rat race the player aims to raise his or her passive income level so that it can exceed the character’s expenses. In order to win the game player should get her character to buy their dream or accumulate an additional $50,000 in monthly cashflow, and this happens only in second part of game that is fast track. While playing the game players have to fill the financial statements so that they can see clearly what is happening with their money.It generally shows how assets generate income and demonstrates that liabilities are expenses. There is also a kid’s version of the game called cashflow for kids.

You do not have to be an accountant to play this game, as the calculations are very simple. The idea of the game is to purchase enough cash flow positive assets to exceed your everyday living expenses. You can do this buy purchasing cashflow positive properties, businesses mutual funds and shares. As you work your way around the board, you land on different squares, examples being “paycheck” (where you receive your monthly paycheck depending on your profession) or though you do not have to land on this square to receive your income, just passing it will get you paid.. another example square is “opportunity” where you will be presented with investment opportunities such as businesses, property shares mutual funds etc. Another example square is “doodads” these are unexpected expenses that are often unnecessary and require you to spend your money..for example “Buy Big Screen TV, Pay $4000″  Once you have accumulated enough assets to generate a passive income that exceeds your living expenses you are able to leave the rat race and play on the “Fast Track” the outer circle of the board game. Once you are out of the rat race and on the fast track, your goal is to buy your dream which you select at the start of the game. A few examples of the “dreams” are “golf around the world” , “be a jetsetter” , “dinner with the president” and so on.

Abang Abu, an entrepreneur, founder of Now Asia, is quite known for his trainings and financial courses is Singapore and Malaysia. . He has a deep commitment towards young people’s success in entrepreneurship and financial intelligence.

He loves to arrange for cashflow game, if to be played in a big group. This game can be organized in any network for eg communities, office groups, friends group, schools, colleges and other places.Know more about him by visiting www.abangabu.com and www.nowasia.sg

Enjoy playing this money game!

Its not Life threatening, BUT its definitely “Quality of Life” Threatening Condition!

Most people know endometriosis as a condition that can cause infertility, but the commonest symptom is pain. Pain with periods, pain with sex, pain opening their bowels, or pelvic pain on most days of the month. Many women with endometriosis become pregnant easily.

Endometriosis is common, but because many women don’t talk about their symptoms, we often don’t realise that it affects between 1 in 10 and 1 in 20 women. For many years, endometriosis was thought to be an uncommon condition of women in their 30s and 40s. We now know that it is a common condition of women in their teens and 20s.

The lining of the uterus is called endometrium. This is the tissue that grows each month and bleeds away during a period. When tissue like endometrium is found outside the uterus it is called endometriosis.

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

The only reliable way to diagnose endometriosis is by laparoscopy. This is an operation where a telescope is inserted through the umbilicus (belly button) to view the organs inside the pelvis. Endometriosis lesions can be clear, pink, red, brown or black.

An ultrasound examination is usually normal unless there are large cysts of endometriosis in the ovaries. These are called endometriomas or chocolate cysts. So, even if an ultrasound is normal, endometriosis can still be present.

What sort of problems can endometriosis cause?

Endometriosis presents in many ways. Common presentations include:

1. Women with no pain, who are found to have endometriosis during investigation for infertility.
2. Women who have severe period pain, often from their teenage years, but are well at other times of the month. Pain with periods is called dysmenorrhoea.
3. Women who have a mix of pain symptoms on most days of the month. This is called chronic pelvic pain. They may have a variety of symptoms including sharp or stabbing pains, changes in bladder function or changes in bowel function.

How is endometriosis managed?

Each woman with endometriosis is different, so the best treatment for each woman will depend on what type of problems she has.

In couples who are unable to become pregnant:

• It is important to get a full picture of all the possible contributing factors. This includes testing her husbands’ semen. Endometriosis may be only one of the fertility problems present.
• A laparoscopy to remove the endometriosis may be enough to improve her fertility
• If pregnancy does not occur after this, then invitro fertilisation (IVF) may be necessary

In women with painful periods, but who are otherwise well the pain may be from the uterus, from endometriosis lesions in the pelvis or from both these areas:

• It is best to first try medications such as anti-inflammatories (e.g. ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac), because not all women with painful periods have endometriosis. The medications should be taken early in the period and continued regularly until the pain resolves.
• If no better, then the oral contraceptive pill or acupuncture may be helpful
• If no better, then a laparoscopy with excision (cutting out) of any endometriosis should be considered.
• Sometimes a device called a mirena iucd is used. This is a way of putting progestogen medication inside the uterus and is often very helpful at making periods light and less painful

In women with chronic pelvic pain, treatment is more complicated. Often there are many different symptoms, so no single treatment will fix all her problems. It is often helpful to write down each symptom and plan treatment for each one:

• Period pain over several days (rather than just 1-2 days), pain opening bowels with periods, and endometriomas are best managed with high quality laparoscopic surgery. This can be very difficult surgery and it is important that the surgeon involved has extensive experience with laparoscopic surgical excision. Other alternatives include norethisterone tablets taken daily to avoid periods or a mirena iucd.
• Sharp, stabbing pains, increased sensitivity in the abdomen, soreness near the opening of the vagina, sharp pains that wake her at night, and some types of pain with intercourse are often due to a change in the way nerves in the pelvis function. This is called neuropathic pain. It responds best to medications such as amitriptyline or gabapentin in very low dose. It will also be worse if she is overtired or overstressed.
• Bladder symptoms of frequency (going to toilet more often), nocturia (getting up at night), urgency (needing to rush to the toilet) and some types of pain with intercourse may be due to a condition called interstitial cystitis. It is common in women with endometriosis and needs a special type of test called a cystoscopy and hydrodistension to diagnose. Useful information can be found at www.ic-network.com
• Bowel changes such as constipation, diarrhoea and pelvic discomfort sometimes improve with surgery, but are often due to food intolerances or an irritable bowel.
• Pelvic pain which is worse in different positions or with different activities and some types of pain with intercourse is often due to spasm of the pelvic floor muscles. The muscles just inside the vagina are tight and pressure on them causes pain. Treatment options include pelvic floor physiotherapy, botox injections in the pelvic floor muscles to relieve the spasm, and sometimes low doses of amitriptyline.

Many women with chronic pelvic pain also suffer tiredness and may feel generally unwell. Even when their symptoms improve, they require a lot of emotional support from their family and friends to return to an active and healthy life.

Written by; -Dr Susan Evans is a Pelvic & Laproscopic Surgeon & author of ‘Endometriosis and other pelvic pain’ written for women with endometriosis. It is available from her website: http://www.drsusanevans.com

She is also the co-founder of the Asia Pacific Endometriosis Alliance & co-founder of Australian Endometriosis Centre, Adelaide Branch.

Her books will be available in Singapore in the World Women Health 2009, November 28^th 2-6pm. Suntec City – Rooms303-306.

Registration details at

http://www.worldwomenhealth2009.com.html

Indian women spread their charm everywhere they are, why not in Singapore!

INDIAN WOMENFOLK

Indian women association of Singapore organised a shopping fare, IWA Bazaar, on 11 September, at Holiday Inn Singapore with much fun fare. It was a lovely experience participating in shopping fair and meeting such enterprising ladies.This  fair gave a platform to all those entrepreneur ladies who are trying to create niche for themselves by using their creativity or doing some business. There were various stalls put up by different vendors in the bazaar showcasing jewellery, clothing’s, painting’s and many more such items.

The Indian Women’s Association (IWA) of Singapore is a non-profit organization under the patronage of the High Commission of India. Founded in 1998 IWA comprises of a large exclusive member body representative of both the expatriate as well as local Indian Community. IWA is managed by a volunteer executive committee elected annually.IWA endeavours to bring the Indian community together by giving them a platform to connect, support, and network with each other whilst living Singapore.  Through IWA members participate in social, cultural, educational and philanthropic activities. IWA’s mission is not only to present a cultural platform, but also to provide a networking  interface to its working members.Membership  is open to all women of Indian origin or married to men of Indian origin residing in Singapore.

The organising committee led by Ms Ranjeeta  and Ms Monisha had put lots of hard work in organising such event at such a bigger scale. The show was glamorized by the ramp walk by lovely ladies displaying their brands of clothes and jewellery.Their were some unique stalls which displayed the creativity of our womenfolk. Gifts stall by Ms Shraddha Agarwal was unique in itself. She displayed her creativity through her baby diaper gift cakes which is an innovative idea in itself. Ms Georgie displayed her own designed jewellery in  a very creative manner. She designs jewellery with gems and stones.

Events like IWA Bazaar are really helpful in promoting entrepreneurship spirit of our womenfolk. Womenlines hats off to all those lovely ladies who took the initiative to organise this event.

Kudos  to members of  Women Executive Committee (WEC)  Sengkang, Singapore for organizing a   fun filled Tea party for Immigrants in the neighbourhood area of Sengkang!

WE ARE ONE!

Tea party for Immigrants was a fantastic event to attend as it gave an opportunity to mingle with people from other countries.Mr  Charles Chong, MP Pungool GRC Singapore, was the chief guest for the party. Immigrants got a chance to interact with him openly. He was very well mingling with the crowd and was asking about experiences of immigrants in Singapore. This  event was  to create a one-community mindset that can help Immigrants assimilate with Singaporeans in a more effective way. All who attended this event got a chance to meet fellow immigrants from different countries, now sharing Singapore as their home. Party was well planned with games, inter-cultural dance performances, delicious snacks and other activities.Children participated very actively in games and were thrilled with the performances. Programme was very well anchored by Ms Azeeza Jalaludeen, Co-Founder of SHINE- A Social Enterprise .

Immigrants meet in Sengkang is an example of the liberal mindset of Singaporeans. Women Executive Community headed by Madam Samantha Wong is quite aggressive in organizing such events. Regular get-together for immigrants can really help in diminishing the line of difference between Singaporeans (existing & immigrants) so that they can mutually benefit each other by exchanging knowledge and outreaching to help the local society together.

Immigrants take time to settle in any new country. Singapore is a very immigrant friendly country. I never really felt as an immigrant in Singapore until I was addressed as while attending some community affair. Strange, but true. Singapore embraces every immigrant in her bosom like her own child. Singapore government has created such a wonderful arrangement for all immigrants’ settlement, which helps them to settle down easily in this new country. There are so many bad experience stories from immigrants in other countries. Immigrants in Singapore always have wonderful stories to share with the world. Whenever immigrant arrives in any new country he is insecure, suffers from cultural shock, is lonely, is looking for avenues to socialize and above all he wants to relate himself to the society around. Initially, it is difficult in any country, but Singapore government has done a wonderful job keeping in mind all these points and making proper channels for the immigrants to solve their problems. Singaporeans are very open-hearted and friendly by nature.

Tea party for immigrants is a really a brilliant concept which should be replicated throughout Singapore. It should become  regular affair to give all immigrants a chance to open up to society and be a part of it.