Everyday Superstar 4

Stress is one of the top complaints of adults—old and young. We blame prolonged stress for our inability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This is especially true in the hectic lives of us Silicon Valley residents. The one thing that can help us is Yoga. It is known to help alleviate stress related illnesses and bring inner calm in our lives. Yoga can not only be preventative or curative, but also serve as a means to facilitate healing in people of all ages.

Vibhushita is very happy to introduce Mrs. Asha Rao, a practicing yoga therapist in the Bay Area as a part of the ongoing series  “Everyday Superstars”. She will speak to us a little bit about what led her to choosing this career and how she is using this skill to help people in her neighborhood.

Namaste, Asha 

1. Please tell me something about yourself.

I am originally from Bangalore, love Kannada and really enjoy eating Masala dosa & Mysore vada. I completed my Engineering and worked as a Software Developer for a few years. Then life took me on a different journey and I became interested in Health and Healing. This path of learning opened up a new life. I enjoy meeting new people and helping them handle pain. It gives me great satisfaction to inspire people to respect and honor their body and mind. 

2. What motivated you to become a yoga therapist? 

I was working as Software Developer for a few years in Bangalore. I really enjoyed the programming part, but didn't take care of myself. I ended up hurting my lower back and was told that I needed spinal surgery to help me walk again. That was the start of my journey into Yoga Therapy to heal my pain. A wonderful teacher, Johnny Kest in Detroit helped me for a year, before I could walk without pain. On his recommendation, I started the Teacher’s Training in Detroit. I have been teaching since then.                  

3. What role does yoga therapy have in the busy Silicon Valley culture?

I truly believe that regular Yoga practice can help people regulate their stress levels; keep flexibility and mobility in their body. This can help in balancing hormonal fluctuations and release myofascial tension in the neck, shoulders and lower back.

4. According to you, what would be the most important characteristic for a Yoga Therapist to develop?

I feel that being a Yoga Therapist is a journey towards acceptance of pain and suffering. It is of allowing the body to heal in its own time, giving it care and a little space to breathe. In our busy culture, we all want instant results. Yoga therapy takes time and patience. Its harder to teach and harder to practice, but definitely worth the lifelong results.

5. What are you doing to increase awareness in the community?

I talk about the essence of Yoga practice in my classes regularly. It is not just about the number on the scale that defines us. It is our inner awareness, self-understanding, compassion that define a true Yoga Warrior! This practice helps us increase our affinity to other people, not in comparison but by connection. In today’s world, we are surrounded by daily news of destruction and sorrow. I believe we all share a responsibility in decreasing the anger, hatred, and animosity within ourselves and spread the Light into the wider Universe. 

6. Are you involved in any community programs for women’s empowerment?

Your organization ‘Vibhushita’ is one of the programs I’m involved with. In Bangalore, I used to teach Yoga programs at a center for Women with Leprosy. I also teach Cancer survivors through an organization called Gilda’s Club. 

7. Any other thoughts you would like to share

I applaud your efforts in making the concept of Vibhushita so wonderful and caring. I would like to keep it ongoing in my community in San Ramon, so we keep the cycle of sharing continuous. Thanks for including me in your efforts.

Everyday Superstar 3

Vibhishita would like to introduce Kalpana Ramesh, an interior designer, architect, turned water conservation champion driving the ‘Live the Lakes’ a SAHE initiative in Hyderabad.  She is a woman of many talents and we would all benefit to hear her motivating and heart warming story.

As part of “Live the Lakes” program, Kalpana and her team hope to create awareness about the importance of lakes, increase civic responsibility and return the lakes to their former glory. She got involved with spreading awareness of water conservation and rainwater harvesting in schools, residential complexes, and the community at large. Between the months of May 2016 to July 2016 alone, right before the start of the monsoons, she got more than 200 families to revive their defunct bore wells through a simple DIY schematic.

The Save10KBores initiative led by Kalpana helped in realizing the importance of water conservation. Hyderabad is a city that is blessed with lakes, several of which are dying a slow death due to pollution and contamination. While working on the bore wells, Kalpana realized the importance of the water bodies and made up her mind to revive them. She went about speaking, cajoling, educating people and her initiative soon took shape in the form of the 'Live the Lakes' initiative. With the support of NGOs, Government offices, conservationists, architects, students, volunteers, professors and the general public, Kalpana hopes to revive 62 lakes around Serilingampally.  She and her team talk to the community near the lake and urge them to adopt it. Sessions on awareness, long term sustainability and inclusiveness are conducted frequently.

1. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a 47 yr old, Interior and Furniture Designer with an Architectural background. I live and work in Hyderabad. I have always been interested in colors, spaces and nature and designing has been my strength. I am a spontaneous person and don’t plan anything ahead. I rise up to challenges and strive to grow organically. I am known for my sincerity, perseverance and a never give up attitude. I am always positive even in a very dead end situation. I imbibe this from my mother. I am an avid Terrace gardener and organic vegetable grower, Vedanta student, and a hardcore water conservationist.  I am an activist for Live the Lakes. I am constantly on the lookout for learning something new and challenge myself to doing something I have never done before.

2. How did you get started with your activism?

I have always tried to be mindful of the environment, but the TEDx Hyderabad Salon event on Civic Responsibility in April 2016 was a turning point. The session on water conservation hit a cord and I got involved with the Save10KBores – an initiative to revive defunct bore wells across the city of Hyderabad. Our effort is to not only to conduct clean-up, awareness and plantation drives, but also have engaged a group of planners and architect researchers to come up with a holistic development plan for the lakes, including cheaper and efficient methods of sewage treatment through natural and organic methods and send this treated water to the lake.

3. How much time and effort do you devote?

I devote on an average at least of 2 hrs everyday in the mornings and evenings to various activities related to Live the Lakes. Sometimes we need to prepare for a lake clean up drive and at times I also need to get people together for tree planting drives. As part of this initiative I need to meet a number of people for planning and executing various programs.

4. What are the personal benefits or enrichment you have experienced through the work you do?

I derive immense satisfaction from pure service. I believe, pure service is pure Joy.  I am just evolving more meaningfully, as a person. Instead of leading a selfish life, absorbed in my own world, volunteering and being rooted to a cause makes me feel like I am thinking and working towards larger responsibilities.

5. As a woman what are some of the biggest challenges you have faced?

I never really faced any instances of bias because I am a woman. I am generally very positive, so I don’t focus on gender and discrimination.

6. Is there any advice you would like to give women who would be interested in making a difference to the society around them?

I would say as women we tend to focus on our home and family duties, and do what permits in our spare time, till our kids are grown up. In my case, only after my kids were in college, I got actively involved in Social work. But once you take up any social work, persevere and be true to the cause, don’t give up. Always keep on learning something new and spread your wings, it helps you get out of a fixed mindset. It is good to challenge yourself, you will be surprised by what your true potential is.

Everyday Superstar 2

The finance industry is a notoriously male-dominated field and it takes a lot of hard work and determination for a woman to succeed. It is common for women to be intimidated and ignorant about finances. However, female entrepreneurs’ and finance experts like Aparna Ramachandra have made great strides in this field and helped educate women about finances.

Vibhushita would like to introduce Aparna Ramachandra, the Founder Director of Rectify Credit, and India’s first Credit Repair Company.  She is an Equity research analyst focusing on the US stock market, specializing in consumer durables, industrials and the technical sector. Aparna is a columnist and her articles have often appeared in the Mint and Femina magazines in India. Aparna is also an avid cyclist, marathoner and loves to travel. She will talk to us today about finances, her experiences in the industry and why understanding our finances is so important.

1) Aparna could you tell us a little bit about yourself

I am a certified financial planner and am currently based in Mumbai. I am the founder and Director of Rectify Credit. I have been in this business for the last 10 years. I am a South Indian and can fluently speak and translate nine languages.

2) What motivated you to become a financial planner?

One day as I was browsing the Internet I happened to come across the CFP program and I felt I wanted to pursue further studies in this field. But what really motivated me to become a certified financial planner were my life experiences. After going through a personal crisis, I realized there was a systematic way out of problems. Creating, building and preserving wealth is a fascinating journey. I wanted to work with people to build a healthy working relationship with their money. So, I completed the CFP program and began to make holistic financial plans for individuals. My intention was not just to sell financial products and gain commission, I really wanted to help people. I have been really interested in retirement and tax planning. I have found that these are two very touchy topics that people want to avoid. People always want to believe that no bad can happen to them and that they are immortal!! That’s how I decided to become a CFP in India.

3) Have you faced any bias in this field?

No. Women are inherently perceived as trustworthy and tend to take fewer risks. But I find that women clients need lot of pep talk and cajoling to believe in themselves. The conditioning that women are not good with numbers is sadly a deeply rooted feeling. Men are taught to “be the know-alls”, and resist asking for help.They rarely accept that they don’t know something or they have goofed up the investments!!

4) Do you feel that women need to learn more about their financial situation?

Yes. I would like to put it this way, all of us, men and women need to know their real financial situation. I am a firm believer and I repeat it at every platform, “Finance can never be outsourced”. You have to be involved and aware of what is going on.

5) What are you doing about increasing awareness?

I work with individuals and corporates in creating awareness about finance. I conduct financial literacy programs and do financial counseling.

6) Why should people hire a financial planner?

I don’t think everyone needs a financial planner. If someone is diligent and already knows why they are doing what they are doing and is clear on money matters, then he or she doesn’t need a financial planner. Moreover, someone who wants to risk it all and blow up all their wealth also does not need a financial planner. So, the two extremes on that scale do not need a financial advisor. Having said that a planner sees the situation objectively, analyses and offers professional advice.

7) Are you involved in any community programs for women’s empowerment? Could you give us an example.

I have been associated with NGO’s that work with women self help groups in Mumbai. I would like to share a success story. I had a lady client who was a young, single, pediatrician. Her father and brothers would take care of her investments. In one of my workshops she sought my advice. We figured out that there were lots of impractical and incorrect investments done on her behalf. It took her 6 months to stand up for herself and tell her family that she will manage her own finances. Today I am glad to share that she decides her investments and is an aware spender.

8) Any other thoughts?

I would like to see more financially literate and aware customers. People with fancy degrees and fat pay check come with risky investments gone awry or credit card defaults I feel sorry for them. These days when there is an information overload I don’t see why people choose to be ignorant. To me laziness and ignorance are a fatal combination.

Thank You!