Welcome to ‘Success with Payal’ series at Womenlines!

Womenlines takes pleasure to introduce Payal Nanjiani, a US-based globally acclaimed inspirational speaker, leadership and success coach, as an Influencer for ‘Corporate Success Tips’ on Womenlines panel. Payal will be sharing exclusive content with Womenlines which can help women working in the corporate sector to develop leadership skills and success mindset. Payal will look forward to replying to queries from Womenlines readers too! Feel free to drop your questions in the comment section. This month read and listen from her about various strategies which can help women to come out of the lot of self-guilt especially when it comes to leaving their home and child to go to work –

Women face a lot of self-guilt especially when it comes to leaving their home and child to go to work. Most of the times it causes us to either slow down our business/growth or take a break from the career world. In either case, it impacts our work negatively. So how can women move ahead without guilt and be a high-flyer despite the slow down or career break?

One September day in 2014, I received a text message from a friend of mine-named Julia. She was so nervous about an upcoming interview. This interview was coming after her twenty-fifth rejection in a row of interviews. Now let me tell you- the truth is that Julia at one time was heading the media department in a mid-size advertising agency. Her work took her places and she had a great career. But things changed after her first child was born. Torn apart between staying home to care of the newborn and continuing her demanding career, she chose the former. Today after a seven-year break from the adv field, she is desperate to return back to work. But at every interview, she faced rejection and questions on her 7-year gap in the resume. She lost confidence in the market and in herself. And the one thing she kept saying to me and herself was- ‘why do women have to go through this career break..’

There is a common ingredient that guides women’s decision on whether to take that break from their career or not- it’s the ingredient of guilt. A pang of guilt that surprisingly only we women go through. Guilt is the major reason for this dilemma in every woman’s life- And whatever the decision be- guilt meets you in either of the paths that you would choose to walk on.

Let me tell you, friends, it is possible to be a high-flyer after years of being out of the workforce. It is possible to climb that ladder and expand that business even after slowing down for some years. What matters most is what you do during these times. Now the biggest problem that comes along to women when they take that break is lack of confidence. Don’t allow that to beat you. These are the best years of your life. Take it as a privilege that you got to take a break from the fast-paced growth and career world.

I’m sharing with you some ‘on-ramping’ strategies that will help you, just like my clients to be high achievers once again. It will build a strong foundation.

Be a possibility finder: Physically you may be out of the workforce or decided not to go ahead with that next big move in the company. I get it. But the problem is that most women take a break mentally too. They are so involved in the house and kids that they get totally disconnected from the market. Please, don’t take an extended mental break. Do some part-time work or some consulting, so there is not a huge chasm in your resume and experience. Whatever field of work you are in or plan to get into- find opportunities around it. Don’t do it for money- do it to be in the market- that is the key driver here. Consider a more meaningful way of spending your break time -Volunteer to write a piece of article, volunteer at a business association, or to teach and mentor people from your industry. Look around you and you will find opportunities. Be a possibility finder.

Network: Whether you like it not, you have to network. I know it’s easy to slip into a routine and not want to get into those shoes and walk out of the comfort zone. But you must -otherwise, mediocracy will become your second nature. To build a network- You don’t have to join a list of associations. Just a couple of them which you can attend on regular basis. Most associations invite industry speakers from whom you can learn, and connect with.  You will meet people from different industries and you can build a great work relationship with them. When it’s time for you to get back to work- leverage your network connections to get a head start.

Be in touch: Keep your connections on with your boss, your peers and team members. Build on that bridge, write some blogs for your internal company page. Meet them over for coffee or lunch. Just drop by at your office to say a hello. In these times where people are quickly forgotten and replaced, you want to be on the top of their mind.

Friends, you’ve got to push yourself hard today and every day. Life will knock you between the eye, but you’ve got to bounce back. You’ve got to take charge of your success. Don’t let time overpower you. Do what time does best- keep moving ahead.

For a complete list of strategies on how to be a high flier click  PODCAST

Content sponsor:  Edumilestones: Auctus Infometrics Pvt. Ltd. (Edumilestones website) is an India, (Bangalore) based company. They provide a premium career assessment platform and career counselling certification courses named Certified Career Analyst (CCA) and Certified Counselor for International Studies (CCIS) to over 1400+ professionals across 80 locations in India and abroad for over 10 years. They are official members of APCDA and IAAP international organizations. Their team consists of qualified and experienced top experts from psychology, education, design and IT, investing in extensive research and development.

What goes on in the minds of women when they are contemplating restarting career?

Well ladies, grab a cup of coffee as I will be telling you a story. This story starts from our ancestors when divisions of roles were clear – women would take care of the house and babies while men would go hunting. What people forgot was to focus on the fact that division started because it was practical to use the strengths of partners in order to survive.

 Going a century ahead, we fought for the right to education and eventually we did get it. However, this right came with terms and conditions attached. The condition was to get educated only and only if we could manage the household chores as well. In fact, household chores were supposed to be given the priority irrespective of exams or any competitions.

After a lot of struggle over education, we stepped into the next phase where doing an office job was the privilege. So as we all know about this and many of us have even experienced it firsthand. Families made us feel that we were getting the privilege of working out of the house. So now ladies, notice the trend of terms and conditions, here the terms and conditions were same. You can go to work as long as you can manage household chores. Again, priority would be house and marriage irrespective of deadlines, promotions or office functions and treats. And how did we respond? We took it up as a privilege and continued the struggle. They made us feel that they are doing a favour and we allowed that thought as long as we are getting education and chance to take up jobs.

The crux of the problem is in our belief that adjustment and struggle in everything are mandatory in our lives. It’s so deep in our psyche that we don’t realize that we can say no and take a stand. And you know what makes it worse in this evolution of women- the appreciation factor. No one appreciated us for doing a good job, doing the good work. If one managed both house and work, it was taken for granted. If one managed her studies and house still it was taken for granted.

Do you remember anyone in family telling you this –‘I really admire the way you manage everything, ‘You are very hardworking and sincere’, ‘You have great multitasking skills,’ ‘Is there something I can do to ease your burden?’, ‘You look too tired. From now onwards, I will handle this last set of chores.  ‘You go to sleep as you have a long day tomorrow.’; ‘You have amazing people skills’, ‘You are doing a great job with your kids’. Nah! I don’t think so.

But we have definitely heard these statements – ‘Your presentation was very good today’, ‘You spoke very confidently’, ‘Your performance is amazing’, ‘ How do you manage to be so good with everyone?’, ‘ I will give you this project because you will be able to handle this client’, ‘Due to your consistent performance, we are promoting you.’ And of course, a salary package is cherry on the top. In the workplace, our leaders do appreciate us or at least colleagues do. In family set up, who does it? No one!!! In few occasions maybe husbands or our own sisters or brothers will motivate us with a few good words.

Elders are supposed to be as leaders, right?  I call them bad leaders because the duty of a leader is to nurture and motivate. It is to encourage and help the person grow. To add to the mix, man is brought up from childhood with conditioning. This conditioning is that it’s okay for women working harder than the men and have a higher share of the workload. Same goes for women. They have accepted that they have to work hard at home also as it privileges to even go to the office. And permission to hang out with office friends feels as if the favour is done on them.

This is another crux of the problem when the career break happens. At the workplace, there is constant appreciation and moral support given either by colleagues or boss or clients. Here we knew our worth. It enhanced productivity. When we take a break, we are usually in the house where critique flows easily compared to appreciation or even acknowledgement of hard work of the woman. We don’t even think it is okay to ask your family for help in managing a house. It has sunk into the psyche without anyone realizing.

Think back about each instance where you deserved appreciation. An instance where mother in law should have said that you are very hardworking and managing everything so well. Or an instance where the husband should have said that please go to sleep, I will manage the house chores for tonight. An instance where family acknowledging in front of relatives that we are proud of our daughter in law. Another instance where the mother should have said, ‘please go out and have fun. I will keep your kid for some time. You deserve to be pampered for working so hard’.

The absence of these positive verbal acknowledgements leads to several subtle changes in thought patterns. These can play a role in making us stronger and confident.  Positive statements by our loved ones motivate us when we are vulnerable. It is true that Indian family environment is less conducive for our personal and professional development.  The ‘me’ time factor is lost in the world of chaos and then when it comes time to restart the career, she has to start from square one especially mentally. Ladies, it’s time to say this – ‘I am good at multitasking so I will handle these chores you handle those.’ ‘I am tired as I am having a larger share of the workload.’ ‘I need a break from this routine, I am going out. Please handle the kids.’ ‘I had a tough time handling things today; I will finish this tomorrow’, ‘I have handled the whole situation very nicely, I deserve a treat’. I know that most of us haven’t even thought like that. Well, it’s time now to start getting our perspective in place.

We need to understand that even at home, situations should make you self realize and more confident. If you don’t receive a positive boost by your loved ones then it’s time to start doing it yourselves. This attitude and confidence will be needed when we step forward into the job world.

A career break is taken for various reasons and it’s important to focus on things that we learnt. It can be handling household chores under pressure, constant multitasking, keeping the energy levels up, leadership in case of handling kids and able to deal with elders assertively, negotiation skills, financial planning, prioritizing the chores, discipline, admin tasks, scheduling, planning and what not.

Do you know what’s the best part, ladies? The best part is the ability to adapt and accept and adjust in any new phase that life had thrown at us and being self-motivated and quick learner to deal with it. If you feel this about yourself every day then trust me, women, you will give the best interview of your life and will learn to demand a salary equal to the last drawn.  It won’t be easy to change your way of thinking suddenly but you can try a little every day.

Well, I can help you with few tips apart which can pull you through these tough times.

Below is a list of 6 things can definitely boost your morale –

Prepping for break

1. Remember longer the break, tougher is the comeback. So get your mind ready.

2. Rethink about your career options – Same profile or change of profile

3. Start your networking once you know you will be taking a break.

4. Maintain this networking during the break, it gives an edge.

Social Media is the key

1. Maintain your social media presence – LinkedIn, Facebook, other Associations or groups.

2. Read the articles, comment on posts; follow the companies, network with HR professionals or other leading people of organizations where you aspire to get back into.

Upskilling

1. Start pursuing those skills and course which interests you.

2. Think of taking up a part-time job as per your situation or convenience.

3.  Remember, courses help in exploring yourself, learning your capabilities and has a feel-good factor.

Touch with one’s self

1. Keep in touch with yourself.

2. The transition from successful career woman to homemaker can be difficult and there are chances of losing identity or struggle to adjust to the new role which is quite different from the one you are used to.

3. Key is to focus on the skills and the learnings instead of the work profile.

4. Focus on what you are getting to learn and how are you managing it.

5. Learn to hone your skills in your new profile now. This attitude will make you more flexible, open-minded and confident.

Importance of career counselling

1. Book an appointment with a career counsellor and get your assessment done.

2. Be clear about your expectations and your needs from your career now.

3.  More the filters, more time it will take to find the right company and profile.

4. Career counselling will enable you to explore more.

5. There are various internship programs coming up for women who are planning to restart her career, you can give it a thought.

 Be Realistic

1. The city, culture, your efforts, organizational culture and your expectations need to be realistic and match.

2. Get connected to women who have restarted their careers. It helps to have likeminded people around.

So, in end, trusting yourself and being in touch with your self is going to help you break the ceiling. You have done it before and you can do it again. You will sail through only if you help yourself. Take help if needed, focus on what to want and develop ways to achieve it. There is nothing that you cannot achieve if you put your mind to it. As Amir Khan said, “Focus on excellence, success will have no option but to come behind you”.

We have to thank the strong women entrepreneurs who have struggled hard to help us to come back from a career break. Organizations like Sheroes, Jobsforher have recreated a revolution and spreading the awareness about giving fair chance to women returning from break. Companies have also realized the importance of promoting such awareness and have started various programs for the same. Tata –Tata Second Career, Godrej –Careers 2.0, Dr Reddy’s Comeback Careers for Women, Larsen and Toubro’s – Renew, Axis Bank – Reconnect and many more such companies have started the launch.

It’s just a matter of time when things will get easier for a coming generation till then pat on your back for having the courage to take this step and achieving a milestone for yourself. We have been achieving milestones and we will continue doing it.

Kudos to all the women out there.

Lean in is an organization known for its mission to help women achieve their ambitions and circles created under Lean in are doing amazing work in helping like-minded women gathering together once a month and giving a helping hand to each other to excel in their field!

Conscious women in leadership (CWL) is a Lean in Circle in Singapore which was started by Sunitha Mannatil. Womenlines had an amazing experience attending Feb Meet of CWL where Leadership Coach Puja Talesara conducted a stimulating workshop ‘Unleashing the power within you’. In the workshop, she explained the circle of priority and how we can structure our lives and evaluate how we are doing in each category versus where we intended to be and how to get there. This workshop helped the participants understand themselves better so they can aim to not to settle for an ordinary life when they can create an extraordinary one.

The synergy of the meet was amazing as the discussions were really close to heart that how much necessary it is to get mindful about where we are going in our life. Sharing, interacting, expressing help in opening the circle member’s mindset and when they come to know how others are going through their journey they learn a lot from each other.

After having such an awesome experience it was a must for Womenlines to ask Sunitha to share her journey creating this circle. In her own words here it goes-

How did CWL start :

Last year was the beginning of lots of firsts for me, I had the chance to attend a Lean In event which was hosted in our office and this event gave me an opportunity to connect and network with women and provided a platform to have strong support groups to inspire other women to move into leadership roles and navigate the corporate world and find our own footing.

Conscious women in leadership was born out of my own personal journey of evaluating my life and moving into a space of living consciously and getting really clear about my life purpose and vision. A chance discussion during a walk by the beach with my yoga teacher Priti Sanghavi birthed the idea of starting a circle within LeanIn that was dedicated to raise the consciousness of women and how this can result in women stepping into their own power and influencing the world around them in the most positive and profound way including our corporate roles.

And, as if by serendipity I met Aishwarya Bandla in one of the Lean in events in which I shared my thoughts around the importance of having a strong network of mentors and support group to learn and grow.

3 of us came together to nurture this group and we put in time and effort to crystallize the vision for this group and how we would take this forward and make it something worthwhile, tangible and impactful.

Defining the Why?

• This circle is for women who are stepping into their own power and are on a journey to become more conscious, self-aware and are actively investing time and energy to grow themselves and unleash their true potential.
• Conscious women can bring in trans-formative leadership into organizations and lead teams that are driven by purpose, empowerment and inspiration which will result in collective and sustainable growth.
• Building a community for women who want to make a positive impact at the workplace and society to come together to support and learn from each other and also nurture the next generation leaders in our organisations and homes.

Once we were clear on the why we then started working on topics that are important to address and also created a framework whereby we have tangible tools to help support the learning and growth of the group members.

We kicked off in Oct 2018 with firstly introducing the group, the vision and the purpose and we opened the forum to discuss some of the key challenges we face as a leader at our workplace? Are we investing enough to learn and grow and face the challenges of life as we move into senior leadership roles? Do we as women find it difficult to manage our time and energy navigating the demands of work and home? What is important to become the best version of yourself, Self-awareness, Disciplined approach to personal growth and learning, Rituals and routines to declutter and unwind.

Our next topic was on “Mindful Decluttering’ and how being more mindful of what we allow to co-exist in our physical, emotional and mental environments affects our wellbeing.

We then kicked off the new year with a very interesting topic “ How do we kick start how journey as conscious women” where we discussed the actions we can start executing in our lives that will move us more closer to living a conscious and well-balanced life.

We have had a very committed bunch of women who turn up to all our events and that’s really encouraging and inspiring and it keep us motivated to try and create new content and share with the group.

We see a lot of potential for a group like this to inspire women to step into their power and lead a much more conscious and fulfilling life and as women get more aware and conscious we have the power to influence our communities, our societies and our generations to come and it’s about time women realise this immense power they hold within and unleash this in the most productive and profound manner to push humanity forward in a sustainable way.

Regards

CWL

Priti Sanghavi, Aishwarya Bandla and Sunitha M.K

Click ‘Register‘ to become a member of the CWL group!

Online Tarot Reading for March 2019, for all the zodiac signs

Womenlines brings tarot readings to its readers’ by an experienced online tarot cards reader Ms Madhvi Singh (12 years experience) from India. Ms Madhvi Singh, needing some answers herself, decided to understand the science of Tarot a few years back. At the end of it, she not only got her answers but her perspective to life changed, to encompass empathy with people who she came in touch with. As she exercised her Tarot reading skills for her friends, relatives and herself, word got around and soon she found many people needing support and advice to the immediate questions in their life.

Tarot reading comprises of intuition honed by experience and interpretation of each of the images with the collaborative energy of the person for whom the reading is done. The message for that person is channelled through the Tarot reader, whose skill and intuition helps crystallize the message and pass it on to the other person.

 Contact: +91 9867782674 to get your personal readings from Ms Madhvi!

Aries(Mar 21-Apr 19)

Arians, the start of the month will be good. This month will be good for your career and finances too. You can plan to start new ventures. Your long pending plans may see fruition this month if you have strived for it. Expect some good news. You will also spend good times with your family and friends.

Taurus(Apr 20-May 20)

This month will be good for you Taureans! There could be an addition to the family. Progress is seen on your job/business front. If there is a dependency for achieving something, leave it to higher energies. Give it time. It will turn out fine. Keeping a positive attitude will go a long way.

Gemini(May 21-Jun 20)

This month brings changes on some fronts for you Geminians. Do not get your hopes up so that there is no under delivery of expectations. You may make new acquaintances on the job/business front. Work will progress on its own speed; do not be in a hurry. Take good care of yourself.

Cancer(Jun 21- Jul 22)

Cancerians, time to meet up with old friends! Young ones may be fortunate to meet the love of their life. You need to keep your patience. There will be no issues on the career front. Any issues will be resolved by the end of the month.

Leo(Jul 23-Aug 22)

Expect a slow start to the month, Leos. Work too will be average. You may get some share of the family property. You may desire to start new ventures.

Virgo(Aug 23-Sep 22)

Pack up your bags, Virgos! There may be trips happening this month. Those in need can expect financial assistance coming your way. You will be having a good time on the work front as well. Listen to your mind, and follow what it says. This will hold you in good stead.

Libra(Sep 23-Oct 22)

Librans will have a very good start to this month! Things will be progressing positively on the work front. You may travel to foreign lands. You will get to see new places and meet new people. Indeed you may be standing at the start of a new chapter in your life!

Scorpio(Oct 23-Nov 21)

Scorpios, you may experience some feelings of helplessness this month. You will think dispassionately and decide to start on a new venture. There are good chances of realizing these plans. What is important is to keep working, success will follow.

Sagittarius(Nov 22-Dec 21)

Sagittarians, expect a great feel-good month, with a lot of emotions! Expect a higher spend too. There could be celebrations, maybe in the family. You will be in a good mood. There will be happiness in the family. No issues on the work front. You will have a happy month.

Capricorn(Dec 22-Jan 19)

You need to be careful on all fronts this month. Do not jump into any deals without proper consideration, else you may get undercut. Share information on a need to know basis. You may be stressed out. You have to take care of yourself, else you maybe indisposed.

Aquarius(Jan 20-Feb 18)

Aquarians, this month may bring in changes for you. Some will be great while others may need getting used to. Confusion may prevail in the mind. Work too will be slow. A time to let things run their course and leave everything to higher energies. Take care of yourself. Meditation will help.

Pisces(Feb 19-Mar 20)

Pisceans, time for some hard work! Which will be definitely rewarded! You will be a step closer to whatever you have planned and worked towards. You may get assistance from friends.

Tarot Reader: Ms.Madhvi Singh

Mobile: 91-98677 82674

E-mail: madhvi_s@hotmail.com

 Womenlines takes pleasure to welcome Pamposh Dhar as the guest influencer. Pamposh is a mindfulness coach, Reiki Master and counsellor in Singapore and is having expertise in working with children, offering corporate coaching programs, including mindfulness workshops and guided meditation sessions. Her valuable sharing this month is about how many levels Reiki has and what exactly it means-

Based on questions I get from clients, students and potential students, I feel there is a fair bit of confusion about the Reiki learning journey. This post seeks to remove the confusion and present what’s important to know in order to choose between the many courses on offer.

Over the years, many Reiki Masters have added words to their programmes so that they are now Something-Something Reiki instead of just Reiki. This is fine and they are all good programmes. Just so long as we understand that Reiki refers to energy and a healing modality and neither of these changes with an add-on to the name. The Reiki energy is the universal life-supporting energy of creation, known as ki in Japanese, qi in Chinese and prana in Sanskrit. As a healing modality, Reiki is a system established by Dr Mikao Usui in Japan in the early part of the 20^th century.

Of course, Reiki Masters (teachers) bring their own energy and their own understanding of their teachings; but in the end, Reiki remains Reiki, no matter what specialised name you give it. Most Reiki Masters attune their students to bring their energies into better balance and to open their chakras (energy centres) to more effectively channel the Reiki energy. They teach the Reiki healing modality, the chakra system (which is linked to kundalini energy) and principles for living well that have come down to us from Dr Usui. At the higher levels, they also teach the Reiki symbols – used in different kinds of healing – which also have come down to us from Dr Usui.

The Reiki Journey. First, let us understand that learning Reiki is a journey. It is not something to be squeezed into a single weekend. This is because it is much more than just book learning. It is practice, experience and growth. And it is a journey for you – if you decide to help others with Reiki, it is still part of your journey (as well as theirs). But, before you rush to help others, do heal yourself. In my experience, anyone over the age of 15 definitely needs some healing. So, do start with yourself. After your short Level 1 course, you will be able to heal others too – but please do not neglect yourself!

The Teacher. The first step on your journey is to choose your teacher. This means you need to know who exactly will initiate you into Reiki and teach you how exactly to do it. Choosing the right teacher is more important than choosing the right curriculum because a lot of what you learn will depend on the energy, experience, teaching ability and attitudes of your teacher.

How do you choose the best teacher for yourself? All Reiki Masters are good teachers – they all help us to move forward in life. But who is a really good fit for you? See who you can connect with – look at their face (even in a photo) and see how you react to that. Does it bring a smile to your face, do you see something here you like, do you connect in some way? If not, look a little deeper – read comments from previous students and clients (often available on the Reiki Master’s website) or, if you know any of them, talk to them. Read your potential teacher’s blogs or descriptions on their website to get a sense of their values and attitudes. Drop them an email or other message and see how they respond. Finally, check how much experience and what qualifications they have.

Reiki Levels. Traditionally, there were 3 levels of Reiki learning. Today, most Masters offer an optional level for those who want the self-mastery that comes with the final level but do not want to become Reiki teachers. It is best to take the time to master each step before moving on to the next. I recommend a gap of 3 months or more between levels. Also, be mindful that everyone does not have to be a Reiki Master. Some may usefully stop at Levels 1, 2 or 3.

Level 1 Reiki Level 1, traditionally known as the 1^st degree, introduces you to the concept of Reiki and all that it offers and teaches you how to channel the energy to yourself and others. Most importantly, it includes 4 attunements to bring your own energies into better balance and make you more open to receiving the Reiki energy you are learning to channel. The teacher uses the Reiki energy, channelled through her/his own hands, to attune your chakras. By the end of this short course, you will be able to do Reiki for yourself, other people, plants and animals – just so long as they are within touching distance.

After the course, it is important for you to practice regularly, especially on yourself. I teach this level over 2 or 3 mornings, and then ask my students to do 21 days of self-practice to help them reach a certain level of wellness, and to make Reiki practice an easy habit.

Level 2 Reiki Traditionally known as the 2^nd degree, this level truly expands – and deepens – your practice. It also adds much greater flexibility to your practice. In addition to doing hands-on healing for yourself and others, you will now also be able to heal people (or animals) half-way across the world! That is the power of distance Reiki. You will be able to heal relationships, cleanse crystals and clear spaces (such as a room or a house). You will be able to send positive, healing energy to several people at once, and energy to strengthen your own goals.

You receive 3 attunements at Level 2 and learn 3 of the 4 Reiki symbols to empower you with accelerated self-growth and greater flexibility in your healing abilities. Please understand, though, that there is a difference between “healing” and “cure.” For one thing, Reiki practitioners believe a person must heal themselves, with support from their “healers” no doubt but not without their own willingness to heal. For another, Reiki heals not just the physical symptoms of an ailment, but also the underlying root causes.

Level 3 Reiki This is a level that has been added by many Reiki Masters in recent times. It gives you all the benefits of the final, Reiki Masters level, without qualifying you to teach Reiki. This is usually a longer course than Levels 1 and 2. There are fresh attunements and you learn the remaining fourth symbol of Reiki, the most powerful of all. The attunements come at the end of a process of deeper understanding and greater growth when you are truly ready for the energy of the attunements.

I teach this course over 6 sessions, ideally spread out over 6-8 weeks. But teaching methodologies vary and the Reiki Master will bring a lot of their own understanding of life to their teaching of this level.

Reiki Masters This is level is meant for those who want to teach Reiki. You do not need to do this if you simply want to practise Reiki to heal yourself and others. If you have already done your Level 3, this can be taught over 2 or 3 sessions. It is simply a matter of learning how to attune and teach others.

A Controversial Term In addition to these internationally accepted levels of Reiki ability, some people also call themselves Reiki Grandmasters. Internationally, however, this title is reserved for the founder of the Reiki healing modality, Dr Mikao Usui, and the two healers and teachers who immediately followed him, Dr Hayashi and Mrs Takata.

Clearer Understanding So, now with this clearer understanding of Reiki, you are ready to embark on your own journey of healing and growth for yourself and others.

If you still have questions, feel free to email me (terataii@gmail.com)

Happy healing!

Pamposh Dhar is a mindfulness coach, Reiki Master and counsellor. She works with children and adults individually or in small groups. She also offers corporate coaching programs, including mindfulness workshops and guided meditation sessions. Read more: https://terataii.com.sg

Ever felt that you are capable of more in your career?  Well, your inkling is right, there is something inside of you, that when discovered, sees you truly thrive in your career. And the best thing is that it is never too late to find it.  It’s your potential!

Intrigued? Then check out this FREE “Supercharge Your Success – Accelerate Your Career” event. Registration is open and there is a spot waiting just for you!

The workshop is on-

March 16th, 10 am – Singapore, Holiday Inn Orchard City Centre

and

[Click- Register]

You can choose as per your convenience!

Maybe you want to get to the next level or even switch careers but don’t know what to do…

Come and find out how to eliminate the roadblocks to your success and be a natural genius every day at work! The workshop is conducted by S.E. Asia’s Leading Self-Mastery & Performance Coach, Speaker and Trainer  Anji Hallewell. Over the last 15+ years, Anji has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands in a variety of talent focused roles – teaching professionals the necessary tools to create levels of career success that was previously unattainable.  Having personally experienced some of the high-pressure challenges facing today’s aspiring leaders, Anji’s passion is to empower professionals to rise to their highest heights.  Anji’s talent for understanding behaviour and mindset has seen her emerge as one of the leading coaches in self-mastery and performance

• The top dis-empowering habits that are blocking your performance
• The key reasons why you feel “drained: or “overwhelmed” all too often
• The Natural Genius Formula
• Powerful and scientifically proven mindset hacks
• The secret behind real gravitas

Sound good? Then secure your seat now and change the trajectory of your professional success. Click  ‘Register’ 

and block your seat now FOC!

 It is pleasure to welcome Senior Physiotherapist Shubhangi Gaikwad from the United Arab Emirates as an  Influencer for health and fitness at Womenlines panel. A Dedicated PT offering 7 years of acute-chronic care experience; a history of “exemplary” ratings on performance reviews; solid credentials that include, BLS/Dry needling/Manual Therapy certifications /certified FMT and a master’s degree in physical therapy in Neurology. Background includes work with pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. In this month sharing, Shubhangi is sharing about key points related to our posture to be mindful of while doing our daily chores-

Women are the base of family, she needs to be stronger and healthier enough to keep her family fit and fine. As it has been said “when you educate a woman you educate a family”  I would like to add into it as “A Healthier Women creates a healthier world around her”.

 Most of the women ignore their own health issues while looking after the family.T hey don’t give enough time for their own wellbeing, and keep chasing household chores, kids, husbands etc. etc. endlessly.

Common health issues of women are:

• Back pain

• Knee pain

• Stiff Neck

• Heel pain

• Elbow and wrist pain

• Poor posture

• General fatigue

 The root cause of most of the issues is lack of rest, poor flexibility and low strength & endurance level.

 In urge of completing of tasks one after other most of the females are always under stress while doing any piece of work, they stand long in the kitchen, cleaning, running after kids, lifting heavy groceries /shopping bag, baking, etc. list is endless ….!!

 During counselling, most of the female patients usually say ‘I am on my toes all the time, I bend, I run all day at home, that’s a kind of exercise only .. how come  I can have less flexibility and low strength … why I need to do extra exercises???

 Hold on ladies … the chore you  are finishing is your task … you are doing it under certain stress level, this will never add up into your overall health because Health is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, so as long as you are working under stress that will not contribute to your wellbeing.

 What goes wrong when you indulge in work:

• You unintentionally shrug your shoulder while performing the daily activity as while cutting, chopping vegetables, while working on computer etc.

• Unnecessarily bending forward while cooking, cleaning etc.

• Long time standing without proper rest.

• Slouching while sitting.

What’s the solution?

• Stand in forward stance n keep transferring your weight from one leg to other.

• Keep your shoulder relax, consciously watch yourself and correct your posture.

• Stand straight without bending forward.

• Take care of wrist movement while kneading and rinsing.

• Avoid slouching while sitting, use cushion behind your back.

• While lifting heavy utensil or grocery bags try to balance weights equally on both hand, take care of wrist while holding heavy stuff.

• Do proper time management for your work for the whole day to avoid stress.

These are some quick faults we usually do while working followed by self-correction which can be applied to avoid any postural abnormalities and to stay away from pain. Next article we will discuss various stretches and exercises which can be included in daily routine to stay fit, flexible and stronger.

 If you have any questions or feedback regarding any fitness issues, do write to me.

 Shubhangi Gaikwad, Shubhangigaikwad06@gmail.com,

Instagram- sgfitnessguide

Colette is a 2018 biographical drama film directed by Wash Westmoreland, from a screenplay by Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer, based upon the life of the French novelist Colette. It stars Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Denise Gough. Colette is a  movie based on a true story of the 20th century showing how men have taken credit for women’s work. Actress Kiera Knightley has done incredible acting as the joyful and the restless woman (Colette) who lived the life the way she wanted to. It is a story of a woman who founded her true self while finding her voice. Womenlines is sharing 3 takeaways for modern woman from Colette –

The movie story is about how talented young author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, who initially submits in 1893 to marriage and commercial exploitation by her husband, a publisher Henri Gauthier-Villars, pen-named “Willy”. He brings out her wildly popular Claudine novels (racy autobiographical adventures of girlish yearning) under his own name, and never gave any credit to his wife. The movie moves on showing Colette’s struggle over creative ownership for her own work and how she revolutionized the literature world through her writings in that era.

Take note of her achievements–  Colette wrote 50 volumes of novels, short stories, newspaper articles and drama reviews. Her novel Gigi became the basis of the Academy Award-winning movie and stage production of the same name. In 1948, she was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1953, she was awarded the French Legion of Honour.

Colette’s warning statement to her husband “the hand that holds the pen writes history” reflects her confidant and determined character. If Colette can stand for herself in those challenging times then the modern woman can do a lot in present times to stand by herself-

1. Stand by yourself– Colette’s success in getting claims for her work strengthens the belief that only you can stand by yourself. Just be daring and have a voice of your own. Never be hesitant speaking the truth and fighting for it.
2. Take action– The last quote by Colette shows she realized “In her old age, Colette remarked, “What a wonderful life I’ve had. I only wish I’d realized it sooner.” This shows that she regretted that she took the time to stand for herself. It is better to take action to stand by your choice rather than regretting wasting time and realizing about it in future.
3. Never underestimate yourself– Self- belief only helped Colette to pursue various careers and create a name for herself in her life. Her faith in herself helped her to write so many novels and stories. If she would have doubted herself nobody would have known who was ‘Colette’.

Charu Mehrotra

Founder- Womenlines

#globalgoodwillambassador #linkedinwonderwoman

It is a pleasure to welcome Senior Physiotherapist Shubhangi Gaikwad from the United Arab Emirates as an  Influencer for health and fitness at Womenlines panel. A Dedicated PT offering 7 years of acute-chronic care experience; a history of “exemplary” ratings on performance reviews; solid credentials that include, BLS/Dry needling/Manual Therapy certifications /certified FMT and a master’s degree in physical therapy in Neurology. Background includes work with pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. Do look out for her monthly sharing at Womenlines which can help you to improve fitness level:)-

Shubhangi Gaikwad 

Professional qualification :

Masters in Physiotherapy ( Neurology) from India

Having vast experience of more than 8 years dealing with fitness industry, musculoskeletal, neurological and lifestyle disorders.

Expertise in various technique with various international certification.

• certified orthopaedic manual therapy.(India)
• dry needling (South Africa)
• Functional movement therapy ( UAE)
• Advance tapping technique (UAE)
• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (India)

Speaker in international conferences.

Based in Dubai, working as Senior physiotherapist.

Contact detail:

Shubhangigaikwad06@gmail.com

Linkedin: shubhangi Gaikwad

http://linkedin.com/in/shubhangi-gaikwad-79127751

Instagram : sgfitnessguide

( shubhangi gaikwad)

Womenlines is delighted to welcome Anjalika, an IITTI (CANADA) certified professional Image Branding & Lifestyle Consultant, as an Influencer for Image Branding at Womenlines. Yes Womenfolk, gear up to learn the tips and tricks to carry yourself with excellence and make excellence your brand. In her sharing for this month, Anjalika is sharing incredible tips about ‘PartyEtiquettes’ to win over friends-

What is there not to love about parties? Whenever I am asked what is favorite thing to do on days I rest and relax? My answer has always been; hosting or throwing parties!

The very idea and anticipation of mingling, socializing, meeting new people, dressing-up – these are all my idea of fun prelude to a wonderful evening. Some time ago, I was invited to a party; the one I nicknamed, The Perfect Mingle.   It was thrown by one of my favourite friends who threw the party just because; for no absolute reason but simply to have those near and dear together under one roof. What can I say, that party was the type that was seamless from start to end. Everyone was having fun; chatting, drinking, eating. The guests were happy and hosts, over the moon. It is never easy to be hosting a party where everything runs perfectly. There are bound to be hitches and glitches along the way.

Having said that, there are a couple of pointers – social or party etiquette, if you will, that can help ensure it’s a day of merriment rather than not.

The very first thing is to never ever ignore an invite. RSVP is there for a reason. RSVP is a French word, translated to English, it means ‘please reply’.   It is important to RSVP as soon as possible. This gives the host ample time to plan and put together his or her party. Also, it will be indicated in the invite if they want you to bring a date. Otherwise, get dressed and be ready for the solo mingle.

My favourite kind of guests are the ones who arrive on time. It reflects the level of respect they have for themselves and for the hosts.   If for any reason you have to run a little late in arriving at the party ground, keep it to not more than 15 minutes. Anything later might possess a little situation, especially if the host is arranging a sit-down-dinner.   Do not arrive earlier than the official party time. The host might be attending to last minutes preparations and you hanging around is the last thing he or she would like to deal with.

It is always nice to show little appreciation when invited to a party. As much as the host will not be expecting anything, it is always lovely to bring along a little gift. Flower bouquets, wine and chocolates are the most popular gifts. Whatever it is that you bring as a gift of choice, the thought is what matters. So nothing extravagant; just a little something to say, “Thank you for including me in your party.”

It’s normal to feel a little intimidated at parties, especially when you do not know anyone there. Make an effort to mingle with other guests. If seats are assigned, an attentive host will always ensure a good mix-up of quieter guests together with the more sociable ones.

Good guests are the type that offers help to the host. Most likely, the host will say no but the thought is always appreciated. Good hosts are the ones that plan the party very much well ahead. Hosts, keep menu simple and within your ability. It is always nice to be able to relax and enjoy your own party; not stuck in the kitchen the whole time, hyperventilating over that roasted lamb.

It is very often that you see people get lost on their mobile phones at parties. With the social media updates hot on our heels these days, it is hard to put our phone to rest. Please don’t succumb to this. Mobile phones should not even be on the dinner table. Should you need to be available to take an important call, put it on vibration and excuse yourself when the call comes.

Before digging in, wait until all guests have been served. Then slowly lift your glass and offer a ‘cheers!’; It is customary. Make sure you have eye contact with all you are toasting to. It is not important to touch glasses; just lift it, a smile and nod will suffice.

Those party canapes and appetisers can be so good that we often overindulge. Keep food and drinks especially alcohol within reason. You do not want to be one of those annoying guests who had overhelped himself to that bottle of Sauvignon Blanc!

When it is time to leave, it is very important to say thank you and bye to the host. A little thank you note or call the next day is always lovely and reflect yourself as a gracious guest.

There you go; simple little pointers that will ensure yet another invite for the next party.

Zu Anjalika Kamis Gunnulfsen is the Editor (Singapore) for Marketing In Asia and certified Image Branding & Lifestyle Consultant. She was also crowned Mrs Singapore Globe 2017. Born in Singapore and blessed to have lived in a couple of other amazing cities in the world, Anjalika is currently expatriating in Kuala Lumpur. Follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram and blog

www.zuanjalika.com,   

LinkedIn –https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuanjalika/

https://www.instagram.com/anjalika_mrssingaporeglobe2017/