Hot Piyolet With Roz
Mar 30, 2010 Health, Life Bytes, Social Hour
Event: Hot Piyolet With Roslyn
Venue: Yoga One Studio, Travis, Houston, Texas
Date: March 27, 2010
Houston based Roslyn Bazzelle has taken yoga to a new level. HOT PIYOLET is a workshop with sequences and movements combining PI-Pilates, YO-Yoga and LET-Ballet fused together in an amazing, fun, and invigorating workout for the entire body in a room heated to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
In one workshop you can burn from 700 to over 1,000 calories! Completing the exercises in a “hot” environment enhances detoxification while working all the major muscles of the body to make them strong and supple.
TV Asia/Lifestyle journalist Ruchi M caught up with Roslyn to learn more about it. Watch the video to know more.
Tags: Ballet, Exercise, Fitness, Health, PIYOLET, Roslyn Bazzelle, Yoga
International Stimulation Part I
Oct 1, 2009 Education, Life Bytes, Non-Profit, Outreach, Youth
Watch Part I of the Awards Program held in Osterburken, Germany. To read the full story and view stills click here.
Camera work by Matti Metso.
Tags: Germany, Oserburken, Youth
International Stimulation
Sep 14, 2009 Education, Life Bytes, Non-Profit, Outreach, Youth
With dedicated classroom sessions, expeditions and cultural mixing and mingling the International Award Summer Program 2009 turned out to be the perfect recipe for an all rounded individual. Reports Ruchi Mukherjee from Osterburken, Germany.
In a small town of Germany called Osterburken with a population of less than seven thousand, it was quite amazing to garner so much knowledge in just a matter of a week. Thirty participants from seven different countries arrived in the picturesque little German town, to attend the Fourth International Award Summer School Program from August 24 to August 30, 2009.
The doors for this program were open to all, irrespective of age or race. There were individuals from sixteen to sixty traveling from from Asia to Finland . “It is for young adults planning to become award leaders, as well as experienced leaders wanting to deepen and share their knowledge,” says Klaus Vogel, National Award Coordinator. “One is invited to participate in an Awards’ Leaders course and different workshops are held in the English language,” added Klaus.
Osterburken is a town in the Neckar-Odenwald district, in Baden-Württemberg , Germany . It is situated 90 kilometers east of Heidelberg , The S1 S-Bahn line of the VRN public transport service operates between Homburg (Saarland) and Osterburken, hence the train station here is used frequently to transfer to and from other trains.
Since its very beginnings the German Award has been very closely related to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the United Kingdom .
Now the German Award School is growing bigger after its 2006 50th Year Anniversary in Edinburgh . “It was founded in 1956 in the UK but has its roots in Germany,” informed Klaus. He said that he believes in a school not just for the brain but for all-round enhancement of skills. This is a non-competitive awards program with three separate awards – bronze, silver and gold with the key mission to inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development and to recognize their achievements.
Among the attendees were participants from Israel , Cyprus , Finland , Romania , United Kingdom , Pakistan , Germany , and for the first time India .
Ratuli Chakraborty and Tapti Dasgupta, both teachers by profession, were attending the program from Kolkata, India as they represented their renowned school La Martiniere for Girls, Kolkata.
La Martiniere College was founded by Frenchman Claude Martin of Lyon, France in the 1800’s, it offers an all-round education up to the Higher Secondary level and is one of the finest English speaking schools in India. The school was ranked 2nd “most respected day school” in India in 2008.
Klaus was thrilled with India’s participation and enthusiasm to send exchange students, and was thinking about a future expedition to the Black Forest with students from La Martieniere, India .
While ‘tasting’ some delicious German chocolate cake, I found Klaus expressing his anxiousness to make the program work. “There are so many problems in the world, we want to give these young people a chance to make it better,” he said, “We care, in these programs, for youngsters and it is a part of these meetings to learn from different situations and difficulties,” says Vogel.
Participant Danielle Almog was from Israel , and is a student of Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Faisal Yousuf, a pharmacist representing Pakistan , says “During the event it was fun to see the involvement. I think these kinds of events should continue.”
While Diana Iabrasu, a student of journalism from Romania , learnt the art of henna painting on palms and Indian tongue twisters like ‘Kacha Papita Pakka Papita’, Ratuli Chakraborty from India was thoroughly impressed with the stimulation programs. “As a teacher I can vouch for how confident and well rounded I feel after participating in the International summer program. Alongside brain development, our schools need to also focus on enhancing these kinds of programs that help us learn about different cultures and other countries,” expressed Ratuli.
Jassin Rezai from Finland said that the Program made him a mature individual who was ready to grow. “I feel revolutionary changes in me. There is a big difference in the Jassin of 2001 and today. I can speak fluent Hindi and many other languages. All the credit for this goes to the Awards’ Program,” says Jassin with a grin.
The Program was filled with exciting self-development exercises but was tough at the same time. A typical day at the Awards House in Osterburken started at 7am with breakfast duties from cooking to cleaning followed by some classroom sessions along with physical recreation and expeditions. The Program’s appeal was that it centered on individual growth and challenge, not about reaching specific standards set forth by someone else. “The only person these participants compete against is themselves, by challenging their own beliefs about what they can achieve,” says Klaus.
The Program’s motto “There is more in you than you think!” (Kurt Hahn) rang true as all thirty participants departed the program feeling more learned, tolerant, and confident.
With input from Diana Iabrasu
Festivals of India | Holi
Apr 10, 2009 Life Bytes, Religious, Talking Points
India is a land of varied cultures and traditions and with that comes the celebration of various festivals. Be it Holi, Diwali or Dusherra, festivals play a vital role in India.
Lights Camera Action (LCA) host Ruchi M takes a tour with Deepak Kotecha, author of Hindus Awake!, to learn more about the festivals of India. While living abroad far from India, celebrating these festivals and keeping the culture and traditions alive might be challenging but LCA hopes this series of ‘Festivals of India’ will help our viewers understand better.
In our first episode we start with the spring favorite, festival of colors -- ‘Holi’.
Book Signing By Dr. Kotecha
Feb 5, 2009 Life Bytes
Event: Book Signing Event
Date: Friday January 24, 2009
Venue: Barnes and Nobles
A book signing and discussion event was hosted by the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in First Colony Sugarland, TX for Dr. Deepak Kotecha, author of the recently released book “hindus Awake!” on January 24, 2009 from 4-6 pm was a great success!
Friends and family gathered to support him.
Tags: Deepak Kotecha, Hindus Awake
A Day with Anita Jaisinghani
Jan 31, 2009 Life Bytes
With glowing reviews from the likes of the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Zagat Survey, Anita has made a name for herself with her fine and exclusive cooking style which is cool and elegant at Indika restaurant in Houston. Life Bytes host Ruchi M caught up with the co-owner of the restaurant at her residence while she cooked some lunch.
The casual tête-à-tête about motherhood, divorce, and bollywood provides a glimpse of the lady behind the fine dining.
Tags: Anita Jaisinghani, Food, Indika
In Conversation with Najma Heptulla
Jan 27, 2009 Life Bytes
On Sunday January 11, 2009 Life Bytes host Ruchi M caught up with Dr. Najma Heptulla, Indian politician and the grand-niece of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a prominent Indian freedom fighter.
In her conversation at the reception hosted by All Indian Qaumi Ekta Committee in Houston, topics included the recent bombings in Mumbai, her close encounter with terrorism, Bollywood and her nephew Amir Khan’s performance in Ghajini.
Tags: Mumbai, Najma Heptulla, Politics
Bollywood’s Size Zero Craze!
Dec 23, 2008 Life Bytes
With Bollywood films like Tashan, Race and now Fashion! The question arises are Indians embracing the skinny look, trying to be healthy, or are just crazy for size zero.
Life Bytes host Ruchi M went around Houston town to find the answers.
Former model, socialite Yuki Rogers expressed her shock that Indian actresses are trying to look super skinny.
Gone are the days of Meena Kumari, Hema Malini, Rekha, and Madhuri Dixit, Bollywood seems to be embracing the starved hungry look. The extreme is always a bad idea. With Bollywood’s changing trend, one thing is certain, Indians have surely become more health conscious and fashion conscious.
To get more answers and find out what Houston thinks the next stop was at Rahui & I in Hilcroft where Bapu the owner thought the new skinny trend started in movies like Dhoom 2 and now in Tashan by Kareena Kapoor, but of course he admires Hema Malini and Madhuri. According to Bapu it’s just a new craze and will soon fade and will also lose its sustainability. We even stopped visitors at the store and asked them questions. Farida Hasanali and Ajay Sarpeshkar, both members of NetIP, hoped the skinny look craze did not bring with it insecurity and diseases like bulimia and anorexia amongst teens in India. Also interviewed were Shyam Anandampillai and Srikanth.
Last but not the least was Chloe Dao, a Project Runway winner, who shared what she looks for in a model.
Indians Celebrate Thanksgiving In Houston
Dec 8, 2008 Life Bytes
Feasting and celebrating has no borders. The world is getting smaller and so whether it is Diwali or Thanksgiving Indian Americans in Houston are all about having fun.
On Thanksgiving Day, Life Bytes host Ruchi M went around town looking for that perfect Thanksgiving lunch and to catch up on the festivities in Houston. While most of the restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving, Kiran’s Restaurant on Westheimer served their guests with not only the traditional turkey buffet but also catered them with all kinds of Indian favorites like chicken tikka masala and gajar ka halwa.
NetIP Vice President Farida Hasanali informed Ruchi M about their philanthropic activities on the occasion of Thanksgiving. “For Indians festivals are all about having fun and giving back to the community,” she added.
Last but not the least were the countdown to lighting the Christmas Trees on Post Oak Boulevard and the Uptown fireworks.
Tags: Houston, Thanksgiving
Mumbai Terror: Houston Reacts
Dec 2, 2008 Life Bytes
Report: Ruchi M
Mumbai was in terror for the past three days since its horrendous attack on November 26, 2008. Now its time to pick up the pieces of shattered lives. This has stirred anger, grief, and helplessness not just in India but across the world.
On Sunday November 30, 2008 The Indo American Community of Greater Houston along with other organizations gathered at the India House for a solidarity and prayer meeting for victims of the terrorist attack on Mumbai, India.
About 300 people gathered at the India House site to pray for those who lost their lives and for their families, to help give hope in such times of despair. Prayers from all religious groups were conducted.
Present at the occasion was Hon. Ed Emmett, Harris County Judge, Hon. Sanjiv Arora, Consul General of India, and many other state and local elected officials.
Along side nostalgic memories for Mumbai there was also anger and resentment over government policies in India.
Interviewed include HPD officer Muzaffar Siddiqi, Sanjeev Jaiswal, Ash Shah, and Congressman Al Green.
A Day With Atul Vardhacharya
Dec 1, 2008 Life Bytes
Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston President Atul Vardhacharya met Life Bytes host Ruchi M at his office and later shared some fun time with his wife and children at his home.
Watch the video to learn about the entrepreneur.
Tags: Atul Vardhacharya
A Day with Atul Vir
Nov 11, 2008 Life Bytes
Life Bytes host Ruchi M talks to Atul Vir taking a tour of his Houston residence and a Lobster dinner!
Atul Vir celebrates his 50th birthday with friends and family at his Shangri La Art Gallery in Houston, Texas on November 10, 2008.
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