Wandering for wellness with Jia Singh

Travel, fitness and food blogger, Jia tells us that fitness isn’t about six pack abs or fitting into that old jeans in your closet! It’s about feeling healthy from within!

I am in my late 30s and suffer from depression and anxiety attacks. How can yoga help? Will changing my food habits help in anyway?

Asked by Chiranjiv Rajoura – Pune

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A daily yoga and meditation therapy will definitely help elevate your mood and ease you into daily life. Speak to an Ayurveda consultant about herbs like Ashwagandha and Brahmi that have a positive effect on mood, particularly helpful with anxiety and depression. These herbs have no side effects and can also promote restful sleep. As far as food habits go, avoid eating anything processed and with too much sugar to avoid blood sugar fluctuation. Eat meals at regular intervals and don’t keep long gaps between your meals. Try and consume something in every three hours or so. Snack mindfully like almonds, pomegranate, fox nut (makhana), walnuts and roasted chickpeas. Joining a gym or participating in a group sports activity will really help improve your mood and release endorphins (feel happy chemicals).

I have been obese since childhood and am now in my early 20s. Can you recommend a suitable daily workout/diet regimen? I’m 5ft 6 and weigh 113kg.

Asked by Rahul Bose – Delhi

Hi, Rahul. To start with, you should try and engage in some form of physical activity 4-5 times a week for 30-40 minutes a day. You could swim or enrol yourself into a gym and hire a trainer. I would recommend that your daily diet must consist of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats like nuts, seeds and less starchy veggies and carbs.

Sample diet that you may follow:

Breakfast - Oatmeal with flaxseed and one cup of coffee.

Lunch - It can be brown rice and veggies, or grilled chicken breast with vegetables. Or quinoa salad with chicken.

Dinner – It should be the lightest meal of our day. A 4 egg white-stuffed omelette with spinach or sprout salad. Or grilled chicken with a salad.

Recently I had a motorcycle accident that left me bed-ridden for three months. I have been working with a physiotherapist but what advice would you give for strengthening my hips and upper legs?

Asked by Sachin Gehlot – Rohtak

You should definitely work with a physiotherapist and chiropractor, but yoga and swimming, done under supervision, will really help strengthen and tone your body. Swimming is a non-weight bearing exercise and is very gentle on joints and the body post injury or trauma.

Every time the weather changes, the skin on my hands starts peeling. Is this natural? How can I avoid this?

Asked by Akshaye Khanna – Gwalior

Yes, it’s natural, but if it is accompanied by discolouration or itching and bleeding, you should see a dermatologist to check for fungal infections or psoriasis. I highly recommend cold pressed coconut oil. Rub some on your hands and dry areas before you go to bed at night and in the morning, post your shower. In a few weeks, the peeling and scaling should reduce and your skin will start to heal.

From the June 2016 issue of FHM India.