Experience The Power Of Facebook At The Facebook Developer Garage

This organization was founded by a 23 year old Harvard Sophomore and membership was initially limited to only Harvard students. This online social networking platform has over 120 million users worldwide today and is slowly becoming a replacement for one’s visiting card. This website has also been banned in some countries like Syria and Iran as it was used to criticize government authorities.

If you aren’t reading the above facts for the first time then you’re surely a devoted user of the Social Networking Platform Facebook. Facebook was launched on the 4^th of February, 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg while attending Harvard University as a sophomore. The site was originally called “The FaceBook” and was hosted at thefacebook.com. Mark later on changed it to facebook.com after purchasing the domain name for $200,000.

Membership was initially restricted to students of Harvard College, and within the first month, more than half the undergraduate population at Harvard were registered on the service. In March 2004, Facebook expanded to Stanford, Columbia, and Yale. This expansion continued when it opened to all Ivy League schools and gradually most universities in Canada and the United States. In June 2004, Facebook moved its base of operations to Palo Alto, California. In October 2008, Facebook announced that it was to set up its international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.

Over these past few years and especially in the last year, facebook has triggered a Social Networking revolution given it’s amazing design and the power of it’s platform. If you’re a keen traveler and often meet a number of people at various social events then you would have definitely noticed that all conversations normally end with the line, “It was nice meeting you, Are you On Facebook“. In most cases one ends up getting a friend request within a few days and sometimes even instantly if the person you met had a facebook application on his mobile phone. Zuckerberg, the face behind Facebook who’s made it to the cover of Newsweek some time back and is reportedly worth $3 billion however has not been fazed by the success of his website, he still sits at a desk like the other software engineers, writing computer code. (Check here for more).

Needless to say that the Facebook platform has the ability to create custom facebook applications provides it with a tremendous revenue potential that Facebook is keen on exploiting. The Facebook Developer Garage is one such initiative which provides an opportunity to people to dive deep into the Facebook Platform: it is a forum to share ideas with local developers, look for partners on your latest project, see and participate in Facebook App demonstrations, seek technical support, or just network and socialize with other developers interested in the Facebook Platform.

In general, these garages comprise of ad hoc presentations, brainstorming sessions with other developers, and social interaction time. Some Garages also offer Q&A time with Facebook Platform Engineers, either via video conference or in person. This month the Facebook Developer Garage comes to Delhi on the 29^th of November at Tekriti Software, Gurgaon. Check here for more details on the venue. So whether you’re a Facebook Enthusiast, a Technology Professional or a Socialite attend the Garage and learn the inner secrets and future plans of your favorite social networking site.

When Delhi Rocked To The Sound Of Metal

A DelhiPlanet Exclusive

Thirteen years ago, a festival called The Great Indian Rock began with bands from across the country competing at Delhi’s open-air theater Hamsadhwani at Pragati Maidan. This season too the show is back albeit with a new name called The Fuel Great Indian Rock. The competition has now transformed to a national concert tour, spanning seven cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Shillong— with 21 Indian bands and three international acts. “The festival has always aimed at providing local bands a platform to write and perform good, original music. It is not a competition anymore, it is purely bands in concert” says Amit Saigal, founder of the festival (Source).

Yesterday was the first day of this festival in Delhi and it surely rocked to the sounds of bands like Cyanide, Kryptos and the Norwegian band Sahg. India is said to be the next big thing on the global rock music map with international bands culling heavily from this country. “Indian rock musicians are innovating. Bands in this country are incorporating elements from Indian classical and religious music into hard rock and heavy metal. They sound very good. Asia is where all the action will take place in the future. I just heard Pentagram, a Mumbai-based band, yesterday and I liked their music,” says Mattias Seklunth, guitarist and vocalist of the 16-year-old Swedish rock band Freak Kitchen.

The Great Indian Rock Festival over the years has featured some of the biggest names in home-grown rock like Parikrama, Orange Street and Indian Ocean. It has been a platform for Indian bands to showcase their skills and talent - with several crediting the festival for their journey to the global stage(Source).

If missed out any of the action of this show then you’ve landed at the right spot, checkout some of the action below:

The Inside Life : Delving Into The Work Of A Television News Presenter, Part 2

A DelhiPlanet Exclusive

We’re back with last and final part of the first feature of “The Inside Life“. Checkout the first part here. We would now present the remaining part of our Interview with noted News Presenter for Televisa Monterrey (A Mexican News Channel), Miss Christine Waller.

DelhiPlanet (DP) : So Christine, as we understand it reporting News involves dealing with a gamut of emotions. You could be reporting a war or you could be a reporting a funny incident. What kind of demeanor are you instructed to maintain? Do you get ever let go of your emotions while reporting say something sensitive or tragic ?

Christine Waller (CW) : You know, this is an interesting question. Perhaps under different circumstances, I may be more affected by the tragic details of a difficult story. But since my reports do not require me to immerse myself in the culture or place where the story is happening — all of my research is remotely conducted — this does not tend to be a problem for me. What’s more, my reports are short and deal with the large scale picture… there’s not enough time to get involved emotionally in a period of just 3 minutes. Although, during the research stage for the segment, you come to realize that so many things are happening in the world… the average person may choose to ignore this reality, but as a journalist it all fits into the larger world context you are trying to report on, so it can be difficult in that sense.

DP: Now then, coming to a question that a lot of girls would like to know about and a lot of guys won’t mind knowing about is about the way you maintain your looks and appearance as presentation is very important part of Television. Many young girls and women get influenced by the image and looks of young and attractive women like you who regularly appear on television. Please tell us as to how you maintain your looks and your advice to other women who might be reading this ?

CW: I think broadcast journalism allows for quite a bit of flexibility in this regard. What’s most important is that you tell a good story. From there, the make-up artists can work some real wonders. My advice for young women would be to be healthy, eat well, exercise regularly, love yourself, and go find a great story to tell!.

DP: That’s surely great advice. I bet that men would adore women who can tell good stories, that don’t revolve around gossip ;-). Please tell us something about the shooting process of a News Broadcast. As there can’t be any re-takes or mistakes, how do ensure that you won’t stumble or get tongue tied at some point.

CW: There is quite a bit of production process behind a news broadcast. In my case, a large portion of my report is pre-recorded. The process is as follows: I pick a topic that I’d like to report on that week, usually the most influential international news story going on from Wednesday to Friday. I research about it, and write a script that goes beyond just reporting the facts but include a brief analysis. From there, the news editor will help me make any necessary adjustments with the report regarding my grammar. On Sunday evenings, before delivering my report on live television on Monday morning, I go to the station and record my script. During the night, news producers will match appropriate images to my audio recording. Monday morning, I arrive to the station and interact with the main news anchor on live television, introducing this week’s topic and closing the report with a few comments.

DP: Wow, that surely seems like a lot of work. But then I’m sure that you party just as hard as you work because it’s a general perception that people in the media have really hip and happening lives with really wide friend circles. Is this true in your case and can it be generalized for all ?

CW: Actually, for most local news reporters, having a job in broadcast televsion is just like any other job. It’s true that due to my position at Televisa, I’ve been invited to moderate certain events in the city as a master of ceremonies, or attend other public openings, but nothing extraordinary. In most cases, the networking you conduct as a journalist is more due to your personality and not your position — always looking to meet new people, hear new stories, and make new contacts.

DP: Well said, you seem to be a good proof of the fact that Man is a Social Animal. So tell us something about your popularity, have you ever met someone who was a regular follower of your newscast? Do you expect people to recognize you when you go out somewhere. If not, then do you do wish for the same.

CW: I have a group of close friends who faithfully follow my reports. I also upload my reports to YouTube for my family in the U.S. to watch. I’ve received some interesting comments from viewers through these on-line forums. As to whether people recognize me in public here in Monterrey, not so much… I suppose I’d need more air time for that, maybe someday!

DP: And finally, we would like to know some funny incidents that you’ve been involved in. Viewers love it when people on television make mistakes especially newscasters who always seem perfect.

CW: Oh, I have plenty of these. I still get very nervous just before delivering my report in front of our viewing audience of over 1 million people in metropolitan Monterrey, but at the very start when I was first learning how to participate with the news program, I used to get even more nervous. There was one time when the camera man counted down, 3-2-1, you’re on! He pointed to me to let me know that I was on live television and I completely blanked. I had no idea what to say. It was terrible! Although only 2 or 3 seconds of silence passed, it felt like a lifetime. They actually had to cut directly to my segment before more time passed because the news producers said I looked like a ghost!. It was embarrassing but very funny at the same time because all the news anchors said that is bound to happen at one point or another. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t happen too soon again!

DP: That would have surely been really funny. It was great talking to you Christine, thank you very much for your time and I’m sure our readers would have got some understanding about the Inside Life Of A News Presenter.

Note: The Inside Life and all content published as a part of Inside Life is owned by and exclusive to DelhiPlanet. Any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

The Inside Life : Delving Into The Work Of A Television News Presenter, Part 1

A DelhiPlanet Exclusive

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be a Doctor, an Engineer, an Architect or a Teacher. Hmm, not really, because these are some of the most common occupations in the world and most people more or less have an idea of what these people do. However wouldn’t it be exciting to get to know a Professional Dancer, a Musician, a Investigative Journalist, a Travel Writer, an Actor, an Archaeologist, a Disc Jockey, a TV Host etc. There are 100’s of occupations in the world and sometimes it’s just so fascinating to meet someone who’s work is very different from the normal run of the mill stuff, especially so when it involves interaction with the media, appearing on television, attending a lot of parties, traveling etc.

While from the outset it appears that such people have really great jobs and a terrific life, that’s mostly not the situation and it’s just another instance of the “the grass being greener on the other side“. But even the realization of this fact is not enough to satisfy human curiosity and to answer the question “why does this person get to a great job with so much money and fame while my life’s going nowhere“. To answer such questions we at DelhiPlanet decided to introduce a new theme of articles titled “The Inside Life“.

The Inside Life would take an in depth look at the lives of people in occupations that seem very creative and interesting from the outset. Here we would get to know these individuals through personal interviews and would find out more about their life and work in their professions. We start of this series by interviewing a Television News Presenter. A News presenter is someone people see everyday and someone they sub-consciously develop an attachment with. The news presenters bring information about the world to us and take us into the lives of other famous people. Their jobs involve hours of exposure to the television, frequent travel and recognition.

So what’s it like to be one, let’s find out in an exclusive interview with noted News Presenter for Televisa Monterrey (A Mexican News Channel), Miss Christine Waller.

DelhiPlanet (DP) : Hi Christine, A very warm welcome to you from the entire team at DelhiPlanet. Let’s start by getting to know you better, please tell us something about yourself.

Christine Waller( CW) : Hi, my name is Christine Waller and I’m originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the U.S. I have lived in Monterrey, Mexico for the past couple of years working full time for a company called CEMEX as part of their Corporate Communications team. I also work with a local TV station called Televisa, delivering a weekly report on live television about US - Mexico relations.

DP: What kind of News do you present and for how long are you infront of the Camera daily ?

CW: Every Monday morning I deliver my report on live television at 7:30am about a broad range of international topics covering such issues as the 2008 U.S. Primary and Presidential Elections, the 2008 Olympics, U.S. - Mexico Border Politics, etc. My report lasts for about 3 to 4 minutes, but approximately 5 hours of preparation are necessary for this seemingly short period of time.

DP: That’s an interesting fact Ms. Waller (shown below in action while delivering a report ), I’m sure not many people are aware about the preparation that goes in before delivering a report on live television.

DP: So tell us, Did you always love to be in front of the camera from an early age or did you start liking it at a later point of time.

CW: I think that I’ve always loved telling stories from an early age more than being in front of the camera. My mother says that ever since I could talk, I told stories to whoever would listen, and that ever since I could pick up a pencil I was writing stories for whoever would read them. My passion is much more about telling good stories, in my personal and professional life, than being center stage on camera.

In high school, I gained a bit of experience as a student reporter on our internal high school news channel which was broadcast throughout the community . Later in college, I published my stories through a variety of University Creative Writing Journals and other media channels. These expereinces were helpful in making me realize that the world of journalism was something that suited me well, but again, it’s always been more about telling good stories, whether in print or broadcast format, than anything else. .

DP: I see, “the ability to tell stories” that’s seems to be an important quality that should be inherently present in someone looking to be a journalist or a News Reporter. Now tell us something about your work as a TV Presenter, how rigorous are the schedules and how hard is it to be in front of the camera ?

CW: The most rigorous part about being a broadcast journalist is most certainly finding and developing an interesting story. Presenting the story on live television is just icing on the cake. The most difficult part is looking at the world through an angle not seen before, finding out why the story I want to tell is interesting, and what is the best way to tell it. Then it’s a challenge to organize the details of the story in such a way that a broad, general audience clearly understands what you are trying to communicate, how the story fits into their personal life, and why they should care about listening to the report.

Since I participate with the morning news program, it is a challenge to wake up at 5:30am to arrive to the station for them to do my hair and make-up before appearing live at 7:30am. It’s important to have plenty of coffee on hand. Another challenge about actually being in front of the camera is staying on your toes, and to be ready to answer any question they may throw your way.

Catch the rest of the interview here .

Note: The Inside Life and all content published as a part of Inside Life is owned by and exclusive to DelhiPlanet. Any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Uniting The World With Yoga - An Exclusive Interview With Queen Yogini Kristin McGee, Part - 2

We’re back with the last and final part of our exclusive interview with the amazing Kristin Mcgee. If you’re new to yoga and are looking for a place to start then look no further cause with Kristin McGee’s invigorating yoga techniques you’ll find yourself on the road to fitness much earlier than you imagined. You can catch our previous coverage on Kristin and her yoga programs at the following links:

1. Uniting The World With Yoga : An Interview With Kristin McGee, Part -1
2. Introducing Kristin McGee - The Queen Yogini Of The West

And now for the remaining part of our interview.

DelhiPlanet(DP): Kristin, you are an incredibly fit person, do you diet or avoid any particular kind of foods. Also do you suggest any diet to your students so that they can achieve the true benefits of your program. We recently talked to our readers regarding the Paul McKenna theory of “eat whatever you want, whenever you are hungry but in the right amounts“. Do you also believe in this.

Kristin: I really believe in the “everything in moderation” approach. I try not to label foods as bad and good but as how do I feel when I eat this. Sometimes my body craves a good steak. Most often I really love fruits, veggies, yogurts, fish, chicken, whole grains and tofu, oh yeah and a glass of wine and dark chocolate! I think Paul McKenna is right when he says listen to your body and try and go off of internal cues when you are hungry eat and stop when you are full and listen to your body if it tells you it wants something let it have it but also know how much is right for you.

DP: “Everything you could possibly ever want, have or need is right here inside of you“, happens to be one of your favorite quotes which was actually created by you. In today’s world there is so much greed, want and desire and every person is just chasing material benefits. How do you think one can overcome this and actually get to feel the way your quote describes. How does yoga help in achieving Mind Control

Kristin: I think the benefits of yoga are very subtle and it’s not so much about controlling the mind but getting to a mind state where you start to realize that truly all we really need is to take care of our health and our self, be with the people we love, do something we really enjoy in order to have food and shelter and certain treats and other than that there isn’t much more to life. I’ve been realizing after 14 years in NY that I really don’t need all that much. I love teaching yoga, I like staying healthy, I love my boyfriend, my family and my friends and I just keep trying to remind myself every day how lucky I am to be alive and breathing. When you are more conscious of your breath in yoga practice, you become more conscious of each awesome breath you take each day and you don’t feel you need much more to make you happy.

DP: Please Describe what a normal Kristin McGee Working Day is like.

Kristin: I wake up very early and sometimes do stomach churning. Then I have a nice healthy breakfast—my favorite meal of the day—then I’m off to teach. I walk everywhere or take the subway to and from client’s homes and the gyms and studios where I work. I always carry snacks for mid morning and mid afternoon and I usually have a healthy sandwich of tofu or hummus for lunch. I do my own practice sometime during the day and when I get home at night I check my emails and write for Veria where I have a blog. I make a healthy dinner and read some of my yoga magazines or do a crossword puzzle. I’ve been trying to make more space for mediation and if my honey is in town we share a glass of wine and take a walk along the river on the West Side highway. I’m in bed around 10 or 11 most nights.

DP: Yes folks, we forgot to mention that Kristin is a great writer too and has her own blog here. Kristin, please tell us something about your retreat workshops. We know that you recently held a retreat course at Morgan’s rock in Nicaragua and prior to that in Marrakesh, Morrocco. What kind of retreats would you like to do in future ?

Kristin:I met a woman named Erica who leads retreats to exotic locations through her company called Escape To Shape and she hires me as their premier yoga instructor. I loved the trip I did in Sicily and Morocco was very interesting. I’m teaching at Kripalu in September and next June was asked to lead a retreat in Nicaragua. It is such a great way to see a new part of the world and wake up and do yoga every morning and meet wonderful people from all over the world. I would love to do a yoga/wine retreat or a yoga/chocolate retreat. I will look in to organizing that and I’d also love to do something like that out in Sun Valley, Idaho where I’m from and maybe combine it with sking in the winter or hiking in the summer.

DP: That’s sounds great, you surely are Uniting the world with Yoga. Tell us, do you believe that in order to be true yogi it is necessary to shed all materialistic desires and lead a very simple life devoid of any body pleasures. This happens to be a kind of impressions a lot of people have about yogis.

Kristin: Not at all. I think yoga fits in to any lifestyle. It is human nature to want nice things and we should give ourselves the things we like—body pleasures especially. People crave touch. Babies love to be hugged and nurtured. Adults love to connect on a physical level with each other and I think that is the most beautiful forms of union of them all.

DP: How affordable are the yoga classes that you take. Are the meant for only upscale New Yorkers or for the average man as well ?

Kristin: No. Classes range from as little as $15 up to $150 for privates. And many studios offer work exchange programs. I have a sliding scale for my private clients and try to accommodate everyone I can. Privates are definitely expensive but group classes and dvds and home practices are very inexpensive or free!

DP: Please share with us your experience of training the Winter Olympics particpants at Salt Lake City, Utah in 2002. Were any of the participants fitter than you :-).

Kristin: Oh yes! All the Olympic athletes are in incredible shape. I loved working with them and showing them ways to actually not push so hard but to feel good when they practice. The Olympics are all about competing, in yoga there is no competition so it was wonderful for them to drop that armor and just do something good for their bodies and minds.

DP: Do you believe in the concepts of Karma, Past Life and Re-Incarnation. Also would you like to be born again and if so as what and where ?

Kristin: Ooh that is a very tough question and one that I may not be able to answer until I’m in my 80’s! I think karma is real—what you give is what you get. I’m not 100% about the reincarnation. I kind of believe that we regenerate through nature and when my body decomposes it becomes part of the earth which makes beautiful flowers which bring sunshine and happiness to the next generations.

DP: You come from a family that loves music and we know that your father is a great piano player. Please name some of your favorite present day music artists. Do you also listen to Indian music.

Kristin: I love Indian music and often play a lot of Ram Das and Krishna Das in my classes. I know those are more chanting and I’d like to hear other types of Indian music when I come to visit India. I’ve always loved James Taylor and I like John Mayer and Coldplay and anything my boyfriend, Tim, plays. He is the real DJ in our relationship and he introduces me to great music all the time I just don’t remember the names of the bands half the time!

DP: Please tell us something about your hobbies. What else do you like to do in your spare time ?

Kristin: I love to ski and play tennis. I like to be in nature and hike and camp and fish and I’m rafting the Colorado River with my dad in the Grand Canyon for 19 days in July. I love to do crossword puzzles. I like seeing my friends and going to movies. I love going out to dinner and to the theater. I love to dance and I love to sing. I love when I’m home in Idaho with my whole family and we make homemade tacos and play board games. I like to read and I like to learn more about wines and cooking and I love to travel.

DP: Finally, What is the Dream or Mission of Your Life and How would you like to be remembered as ?

Kristin: My dream mission in life is to continually grow in to being a better person. I would hate to stop learning or discovering all that this world has to offer. I want to keep discovering my inner world, as wel, and share the most authentic me that I possibly can. I want to inspire people of all ages to do the same and to be happy and feel connected to their truest self. I want to build my Bendigirl brand and help build young girls and boys self esteem one breath at a time. I want to get married to my boyfriend Tim O’Shea and make little O’Shea babies so I can nurture them and bring them in to this incredible world. I want to be even half as incredible and amazing as my parents have been to me. I want to share what they’ve given me with my children and grandchildren. I want to give back to my parents as much as I can. That goes for my brothers and their wives as well anyone who has helped me continue on my path. I never ever want to take any of these people, Tim, mom, dad, Kraig, Kara, KT, KC, Kristopher, Julia, Daniel for granted.

I’d like to be remembered as a really good person, one who always tried her best and learned from her mistakes and who was truly wonderful and giving from the depths of her heart.

DP: Thank you so much Kristin for sparing some time for us, I am sure lots of people will benefit from your knowledge and you are really doing some wonderful work. I hope that you had a nice time talking to us.

Kristin: I want to thank you so much. The fact that we have already connected makes me feel like I’m on the right path and doing something good in my life. You inspire me to continue on this path. I want to visit you in India and I want to learn. Together you can teach me more and more about your culture and I can show you what I’ve learned so far in my Yogini life in NYC.

Namaste

Oh yeah and “Always always remember that everything you could possibly ever want, have or need is right here inside of you”.

Note: This is a DelhiPlanet Exclusive Presentation. Reproduction of this article in any form in full or in part without prior permission is prohibited. If you wish to spread the word, kindly link to the post.

Uniting The World With Yoga - An Exclusive Interview With Queen Yogini Kristin McGee, Part - 1

It is an ancient science that was crafted by the gods with the purpose of keeping all human beings fit and healthy. This science makes a person “aware” of oneself by uniting the body, mind and soul. It is known around the world as “Yoga“.

In today’s fast paced world, each one of us has so many desires and wishes and the only way one can work towards fulfilling them is to stay away from all kinds of health problems. One of the ways to stay fit, healthy and content is to become aware or as people would like to say become “yogic“. The word yoga has many mis-conceptions associated with it and many people think that “being yogic” means to shed all desires and lead a plain and simple life. Well, it’s time to clear those mis-conceptions and give you an insight into how you can become a Yogi In The 21^st century.

As promised earlier we are delighted to bring to you an exclusive two part interview with the world-renowned American Yogini Kristin McGee (read all about her in our introduction article here). We asked Kristin a range of questions about what she thinks about yoga, what it means in today’s world, her role in spreading the knowledge of yoga and her interest in coming to India. Ofcourse, we also peppered it up with some personal questions about herself and her life in one of the most happening cities of the world, NYC.

DelhiPlanet(DP): Namaste Kristin Ji, A very warm welcome to you from the entire team at DelhiPlanet and all the people of India. How do you feel about talking to us and connecting to the people in India ?

Kristin: I am super excited!

DP: Have you or anyone from your family ever visited India ?

Kristin: Unfortunately, no!

DP: So then, what places would you like to visit in India and how well do you understand Hindi ?

Kristin: I would love to visit Mysore since it is the home of Astanga and Patabi Jois. I’d also love to go to Pune where BKS Iyenger has his home. I would love a full tour of the country actually and am open to experience every part of the wonderful history and culture that you have. What are your recommendations for me?

I believe Hindi is the language still spoken by many Indians and it is a direct descent of the Sanskrit language which I use when I teach yoga asanas.

DP: Well, I am sure you would like to go the Taj Mahal in Agra. You should also visit Rajasthan, Kashmir, Kerala and ofcourse our city Delhi :-). Tell us something about your initial interest in acting. How were you drawn to it and what kind of roles did you enjoy doing the most.

Kristin: I wanted to be an actress from the day I was 4. I used to sing Shirley Temple songs like “on the good ship lollipop” to my dolls and perform in my bedroom. I’ve always loved live theater and musical theater and I think I would adore the glamour and beauty and drama of the Bollywood films produced in India. I like taking on any role that challenges me to open up more and find something new about myself. I think acting and yoga are very similar in that respect.

DP: Have You Seen Any Bollywood Movies. If so, please tell us which ones have you seen and which one is your favorite ?

Kristin: One of my all time favorite movies is Monsoon Wedding–I’m not sure if it is considered a Bollywood film or not. I love Mira Nair as a director. I love the colors and the sights and the beauty and the humor. I love how happy the Indian culture is and how they love to make things larger than life. They don’t settle for dull or mediocre. Please introduce me to some more Bollywood films that you recommend.

Recently, I just ordered 4 dvds from Hemalaaya all on Bollywood Dance. I can’t wait to try them!

DP: While still studying Acting at NYU you decided that you also wanted to master Yoga. What caused this sudden transformation ? Was it a desire to stay slim and fit or something else ?

Kristin: We were doing yoga in the morning to open us up and help us connect to our breathing which is very important for actors. I actually realized that staying slim and fit was just an added bonus to the focus and flexibility I was getting from the practice.

DP: Today if I were to take you back in time by 10-12 years and offer you a choice of being “Kristin McGee - The Great Actress” or “Kristin McGee - The Great Yoga Guru”, then which one would you choose.

Kristin: Most definitely Kristin McGee the Great Yoga Guru but I feel unworthy of such a title and feel like I don’t quite deserver the title of Guru how about Kristin McGee the Great Yogini !

DP: The past few years have seen the development and introduction of new yoga techniques in India where more time is devoted to intense breathing exercises than doing asanas. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art Of Living Foundation has made Bhastrika and Ujayi breathing a part of his yoga workouts while Swami Ramdev teaches Kapalbhatti breathing. Do you constantly update and innovate with your Yoga workouts to include such elements or do they stay the same for long periods of time

Kristin: I completely agree with both Swami Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that the breath is the foundation of the practice and it’s important to incorporate pranayama such as kapalabhati and bhastrika in the asana practice. I’ve recently been doing an hour long pranayama class every Wednesday before a two hour asana practice and it is incredible. I love alternate nostril breathing.

DP: Yoga was like Love at First Sight for you. You were able to do the most difficult asanas after only a few classes. For the average person who is slightly above the recommended weight how long would it take to see the benefits of yoga, provided regular practice 3-5 times a week.

Kristin: Yes yoga was love at first sight for me but I definitely couldn’t do the most difficult asanas after just a few classes! I actually was good at the headstands and arm balances but it’s taken me years to get more open in my hamstrings and to develop strength in my core and lower back. I think the beautiful thing about the yoga practice is it is a life long endeavor and there is no end result we need to achieve. If you start doing yoga, you’ll feel so good you’ll want to do it as often as possible. Any time you do any asanas, even if it’s just 5 minutes a day, your body will feel and see the results. 3 to 5 times a week is great as well. Listen to your body and you’ll know when and how often you like to practice.

DP: The Girls and Women of today, around the world are highly influenced by Media and Television and choose unhealthy eating habits inorder to appear like the models and actressses that they see. What message do you have for such girls and women. Can one achieve the perfect model figure by healthy eating and yoga.

Kristin: I think there really is no such thing as “perfect” by other people’s standards. I try and tell everyone to just realize they are already perfect just as they are. The yoga practice helps us get more connected to our self and eventually we do what makes us happy as opposed to trying to fit some unreal image that they plaster in Hollywood magazines. I really hate to see what it does to people and I myself have struggled with eating disorders in the past and when I discovered yoga, I found that I need to love my body from the inside out first and foremost. The rest will start to take care of itself—I promise !

DP: You yourself are an extremely attractive and fit person, so do you ever worry about putting on weight or ageing ?

Kristin: I am a woman so of course I worry about all those things! But I look at the yoginis in their 50’s, 60’s and even 70’s and they’ve aged so gracefully and beautifully. I think laugh lines are gorgeous and I think even a little tummy filled with love is attractive. I’m trying to embrace more of myself everyday and do what feels good as opposed to worrying about the external fears and pressures.

DP: Many people in India and around the world believe that in order to enjoy the true benefits of yoga or anything spiritual one must completely abstain from all forms of non-vegetarian food and alcohol. Please share with us your thoughts on this.

Kristin: I try not to be too dogmatic in my approach and believe spirituality and diet and lifestyle are all very personal things. I don’t like to preach to my students and I think ultimately it’s best to do what makes you feel good. If you prefer to abstain from alcohol and red meat I think that is fine and if you like to eat hamburgers and drink a beer I think that is fine too!

Well, that’s all for Part - 1 of this series. Stay Tuned for Part - 2 and find answers to the kind of diet you should take while doing yoga, the effect of yoga on calming the mind, Kristin’s yoga retreats and much more (Catch Kristin in yoga action with young kids in the picture below ).

Note: This is a DelhiPlanet Exclusive Presentation. Reproduction of this article in any form in full or in part without prior permission is prohibited. If you wish to spread the word, kindly link to the post.

Hot Wheels Come To Town At The Auto Expo 2008

The 10th Auto Expo 2008

Begins: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 at 3:00 PM

Ends: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 at 7:00 PM

Location:

Pragati Maidan

New Delhi, Delhi(NCR)

India

Link: The AutoExpo Official Site

Delhi Planet Exclusive Coverage Of The Auto Expo 2008

Women And Cars, together at one place continuously for 7 days right here in Delhi. You surely don’t want to miss it, so make sure to catch all the action at the 9^th Auto Expo, 2008.

Well, it wasn’t really put up like this but it would have surely been a different way to attract the crowds to India’s largest Auto Exhibition fair. This year promised to be much bigger and better than it’s previous editions and so far it has surely proved to be a big hit. So while the major draw at the 8^th Auto Expo in 2006 was the ultra luxurious Rs 5 Crore( In excess of $1mn) Mercedes Maybach, this time it was the ulta compact Rs 1 Lakh($2500 ) Tata Nano. The Nano has been the talking point ever since it was launched on 10^th January not only in India but all over the world. This year’s show attracted unprecedented interest from foreign media houses which was evident from the large number of international journalists who were present at the event on 10^th.

The Tata Nano (see above) has been termed as a “miracle” and no matter what the critics might say the fact is that it is surely a great achievement and could have been achieved only in a country like India. The Car has the power to empower the citizens of the country and is targetted at the common middle class families which form a large portion of the Indian urban population. There is already talk of replacing the 3 wheeled auto rickshaws with the Nano as the rickshaw suprisingly costs much more. If Tata can launch CNG variants of the Tata Nano, it would certainly become a very common mode of public transport. The Nano has proved that India will very soon become a top manufacturer of cars and a hot market for small sized cars.

Some of the major auto manufacturers who displayed their cars this time included Maruti Suzuki( Splash, A-Star and Kizashi being the must watch models ), BMW, Tata, Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz, Honda( The FCX Concept and Jazz Concept being the major attractions), Skoda, Mitsubishi, Mahindra-Renault and Fiat(which boasts of the best model in the show, catch her next to the Linea ). Cars addressing the concern of climate change and global warming were a rare sight this time with only Honda planning to launch a hybrid variant of the Civic. It is however expected that future shows would showcase quite a few eco-friendly cars that people would actually be able to purchase. After the 1 lakh car the next target should be to develop a cost-effective clean fuel car.

While the Tata Nano grabbed all the headlines, other innovative concepts like the eye-catching Maruti Suzuki A-Star which is the first car to be completely developed in India and would sell between Rs. 3-4 Lakh and the ultra-fuel efficient Honda Jazz got sidelined. These 2 models are expected to hit the Indian Roads by early next year and are highly recommended buys as they are both stylish and fuel efficient.

Well, you must have surely read a lot about the Auto Expo by now, so we won’t bore you too much with words. Instead we present our exclusive coverage of the show in pictures below.

FitPlaza - European Wellness Comes To Town

A DelhiPlanet Exclusive

The Hospitality industry has found a new offshoot. In today’s age where feeling and staying healthy is a basic pre-requisite to enjoying life, the wellness industry is coming to the fore. Personalized healthcare, fitness regimes and diet plans are the order of the day. So in tune with this new trend which is slowly starting to manifest itself, comes a premium health and fitness center, which has already been very well accepted in Holland.

FitPlaza a premium health and wellness center, situated in the heart of Gurgaon (Center Plaza), opened with much fanfare and grandeur on the 12th of April. Model and Bollywood hottie Yana Gupta was there to ring the opening bell and inaugurate the facility (Check out some exclusive pictures below). FitPlaza is a one of its kind Fitness center and Spa, which brings the European wellness concept to India. While the gymnasium facilities are quite adequate with the latest and the best machines from Life Fitness and well trained instructors. I was most impressed with the instructors knowledge about how should a person go about stretching their limbs for cooling down after some strenuous exercise. However what really leaves you awestruck are the very tastefully and elegantly done spa.

The architecture of the Spa would remind you of the old Roman Empire, with pebbled flooring (for the acupressure effect), massage facilities, steam and sauna, jacuzzi, you name it. The masseurs have been trained by experienced people from Holland and specialize in a host of massages as per your body needs such as Balinese Massage, Swedish massage and Hot Stone Massage. If you are the kind who does not enjoy the extremities of sitting in a 55 degree centigrade steam room or sauna , well there is a new concept (A Turkish one), called Hamam. A Hamam is similar to a steam or a sauna, only the temperature is more hospitable and you can sit and relax there for longer hours. The body is allowed to perspire and release its fat and oils. The pores of the skin are then closed by taking a cold shower.

Well if all that exercising and spa treatment made you hungry, then FitPlaza also houses Harriez which is a first ever revolving multi-cuisine restaurant in Gurgaon. Harriez has a elegant architecture which resembles a club. There are two concentric circles with the inner circle making up for the bar and the outer circle as the sitting area. It’s the floor of the outer circle which revolves, and gives you a good view of the Aravalli hills.

FitPlaza is currently in their promotional period and they are offering their exclusive membership for Rs 75, 000. So if you are looking for a place to relax and unwind, join FitPlaza, it’s elegant, it’s trendy and I am sure you will enjoy the experience. Checkout this temple of fitness in all it’s amazing splendour below:

If you may have any Questions or Queries regarding FitPlaza then you are most welcome to contact Mr.Thakur @ 9910694311.

Art Lives In Their Genes - Anjolie Ela Menon & Family

Delhi Planet Exclusive Coverage

Menongitis-Three Generations Of Art

Begins:Saturday,24 Feb 2007, 7 p.m

Ends:Thursday,8 March 2007, 9 p.m

Location:Dhoomimal Gallery, 8-A, Connanught Place,New Delhi-110001

A female artist, A female painter. What is it that first strikes your mind when your hear these three words put together ? Unless you are an art scholar, there is only one name that you would think of, Anjolie Ela Menon one of the greatest Indian contemporary artists.For the past few decades she has captivated art lovers from across the world with her fine and exquisite pieces of art and it seems like her magic is gradually spreading. The great William Wordsworth once said “The child is the father of man”.Well in today’s world of gender equality it would be a sin not to have a female version of the same quote and so Anjolie now has competition from her very own grand daughters.

Delhi Planet was there to capture it all at the inaugration of Anjolie’s latest Art Exhibition Menongitis which is a celebration of 3 generations of art within the Menon Family, namely Anjolie, her son RajaRaja and granddaughters Indeera and Madhavi.

For all you art lovers out there Menongitis is a must see and for the rest, there’s a whole new world that awaits you, so head out and catch the great works of the menon family.

Links:Menongitis@Dhoomimal art Gallery