Evescape

    OPINION Am I allowed in? By Dr. Shalini Yadav I love writing. Over time my writing revolved around being a mother, a daughter, a wife, in my roles of a woman. I’d never imagined that there will come a day when I would be writing from the outside in. As someone who falls in an hitherto unexplored category…a widow. I found that all occasions in the world for celebrating womanhood leave this one category of woman out. Every such celebration brings into startling focus in a widow’s mind the question… Am I allowed in? What am I supposed to do? Where do I fit in with this huge multitude with a significant part of whose life I can no longer identify? Whose ongoing stories of love, companionship, shared responsibilities I can empathise but not identify with anymore. It’s no longer a world I inhabit. No longer the path I walk. Who am I? Where do I belong? Because like it or not, a widow is a pariah, even to the women’s world. Even today. Subtly, but surely. It wasn’t until I was be...

Vaishnavi Hegde Yoga goes online in lockdown EVESCAPE News Features/  GOA :   While yoga is termed as a sustainable practice and a holistic health option that everyone can access, adapt and learn, especially in times of social distancing and ‘work from home’ scenario -- practitioners and instructors of the age old discipline have now shifted to online classes.  In the same spirit, Ponda based yoga teacher Dr. Aruna Bhadauria uses the zoom app to teach yoga. Pranayam Bhastrika, Kapalbharti, Anulom Vilom, Bhramari and Udgeeth are some of the asanas best fit for practicing from home, says the Patanjali Yog  Samithi in charge. "These asanas can be performed easily  at home to improve immunity. It has been suggested by renowned yoga guru Baba Ramdev. Yoga helps improve mental and physical health," say s Bhadauria. Yoga teachers have long wanted to get online, appreciating the power  of the internet to help touch more lives with their teaching, but fear of th...

Women’s health - physical & mental May 28 is observed as International Day of Action for Women's Health since 1987. The main goal of the celebration of this day is to raise awareness on the issues related to women’s health and well being. In keeping with the spirit,  EVESCAPE compiles opinions of a few prominent medical practitioners in Goa to mark the occasion. On this occasion, I urge every single woman to put her needs before others -- health wise. Physical, emotional, spiritual, as well as financial health is of utmost significance. Women need to be strong enough to make their own decisions and work towards being self reliant while supporting others. Anemia and calcium deficiency is common amongst women, both urban and rural. This needs to be addressed at to prevent further issues. Stress and hormonal issues need timely intervention. Menopausal women as well as young menstruating girls need special care and attention. Wishing all of us a saf...

A toilet story With Goa missing ODF deadline twice, it is a worrying situation that a lauded policy like the Swacch Bharat Mission almost never come to fruition on the ground, even in a village like Cola, specifically “adopted” by a parliamentarian.  Ghanne is a ward of the Cola village, in down south Quepem Taluka. The popular Adinath temple is located in this ward. Some 300 people live here. Saraswati Velip, 80 something is the face of the story of this ward. With not a single household toilet, the entire village defecates in the open. In the evening of her life, Saraswati's only wish is to see a toilet in her house. "Iam tired of walking long distance to relieve myself. In my young days, things were better and we never felt bad about defecating in the open. There was lot os vegetation and the population was less. Now things have changed. With education and awareness, there is lot of discomfort doing the routine. The younger women and girls are worst hit by the lack...