The (relatively) new field of Lifestyle Medicine (LM) is changing the way doctors and patients approach health and well-being. No more do we believe that symptomatic treatment of chronic diseases is feasible or appropriate. We need interventions that reach the source of the problem and address it.

When the mind is empty, the heart is deeply moved by all mystical and poignantly beautiful things in the world. Recently, I saw a video of a brown little bird called the canary da mata. Perched on a log of wood, this little bird spread out its

As we grow older our body changes and we need to adapt accordingly to lead a healthy life. The changes that come about are mainly hormonal.  Falling estrogen levels in women lead to menopause and testosterone in men leads to andropause. Mood swings, flagging enthusiasm for life,

It was, you’d think, a very serious moment. Two of the most venerated icons in the world — The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, were all set to walk staidly together onstage to give a talk on how compassion, peace, love and empathy would save our

I wish for everyone to have a tremendous amount of resilience because it’s truly a useful and handy quality to tuck into your psyche. It’s the kind of sure-mindedness that makes the wife tell her jittery husband, “We are wealthy, dear. One day, we’ll also have money.”

I have a distinct recollection of the renowned Kathak dancer and choreographer Gopi Krishna visiting our house when I was very young and we watched the film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje which had amazing Kathak dances choreographed and performed by him. A clearer memory of Kathak is

When you start on your fitness journey, or even if you are already immersed in it, you may want to hire a personal trainer to coach and guide you. Many people need that extra motivation they hope their trainer will provide. So how do you go about

A spectacular vision of dance etched forever in my mind is watching a thousand dancers performing Bharatanatyam in the central courtyard of the majestic ­Brahadeeswara temple in Thanjavur to commemorate the Millennium celebrations of the temple. What a resplendent sight it was! Truly an unforgettable  and once

When Saroja had a nervous breakdown, her family rallied around. Demands stopped, negative comments were held back, personal chores were quietly done, her private space was given new respect. Ah yes, it greatly helps to have kind, supportive people around. As Mother Teresa observed, “It is easy