Post Natal Care Routine - The Indian Way

Giving birth has got be the most painful experience in the world for a woman especially if you have had a vaginal delivery. No doubt it is for a reason that's worth it and motherhood is such a divine feeling that words can't express, but one has to take good post-natal care of oneself. You cannot be selfless even though the focus is all on the baby, as your wellness determines wellness of the baby. The first 2-3 months after delivering are the key months to future recovery and getting back to a normal state of body and mind.

I am going to take you through a few things that I practiced/am still practicing in my post natal care routine along with the products that I'm using:

Body Massage

In India, a full body massage with oil is given to a new mother in order to stimulate blood circulation, soothe muscles, eradicate toxins and help the body cells and tissues recover faster. The body is massaged for about 20 to 30 minutes with medium to strong pressure. Special strokes are applied on the stomach to push the uterus back and help it contract. A head massage every few days also helps in relaxing the mind. In case one has had a C-Section, then the abdominal massage is avoided for the first month. The massage helps in effective weight loss and toning of the body. I used the following oils for my massage:

• Figaro Olive Oil

Figaro Olive Oil is a mild and non- irritant olive oil that suits all skin types. It is rich in antioxidants and has got no chemicals added to it. I noticed a lovely glow to my skin on using this oil. Since I have dry skin, regular massage with this oil reduced the dryness of my skin to a large extent.

• Jovees Winter Green Anti Cellulite Body Massage Oil

As I am pear shaped, most of my pregnancy weight gain happened on my lower body. Also as I had been advised rest due to which I couldn't exercise much, I developed a decent amount of cellulite on my lower body. To get rid of the cellulite, I bought this oil which is based on an Ayurvedic recipe. I got the winter version as it was the monsoons when I delivered and the temperature in Mumbai was low. The oil is a mix of essential oils such as Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Cord Liver Oil and Sunflower Oil and which help in strengthening nerve fibres. I saw results in a week of using this oil - there was a reduction of cellulite to a large extent along with visible toning of muscles and also reduction of excessive fats.

Hot Bath

A hot bath relaxes the body and muscles after a massage and also lets the pores open up so that the oils can work their way into the body to have a better effect. Very hot water is poured on the lower abdomen and the pelvic area to help in the reduction of the enlarged abdominal section, as it helps to hasten the contraction of the uterus and the pelvic passage. You can also mix some water boiled with Carom seeds(Ajwain) into your bath water to avoid catching a common cold as your body is weak initially and easily prone to catching cold and other infections. For my post natal bath routine I decided to stick to Ayurvedic products too.

• Vedic Line Orange Cleansing Syrup

The best part about this body cleanser other than being Ayurvedic is that it's anti-bacterial. It is gentle on the skin but strong enough to wash the excess oils off my body post the massage. The main ingredient - Orange, acts as a natural bleaching agent and reduces skin pigmentation, blemishes and darkening of the skin. The cleanser removes all odour and leaves the skin feeling fresh. I love the citrus fragrance that lingers for a while post my bath.

Both the oils and the cleanser are available on the following platforms:

www.flipkart.com

www.healthkart.com

www.purplle.com

www.jabong.com

Other than my massage and bath routine, here are a few more things I take care of:

• I tied a postpartum belt on my lower abdomen to help the uterus contract and help my stomach go in

• I follow a good diet leaving out all kinds of junk food and include dry fruits and milk. Lentils for protein and sago for better milk production are also key.

• I eat on time

• I try to get as much sleep as I can. The tip is - Sleep when the baby sleeps :-)

• I take my calcium and iron supplementation without fail

This routine has been quite effective for me making me feel more relaxed and stronger physically and emotionally which also helps me in taking better care of my little one. I will recommend such care for every new mother! :-)

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MAX Women's Day Out - Makeover Magic - 10th September 2014

MAX Women's Day Out may be over for the month at the moment but everyone I know who attended it, is looking forward to the next round. I hope you ladies made the most of it on 10th September after my previous post on it. If you didn't, then you missed out on some really awesome pampering, mainly their 'Makeovers' and the fiesta that it was for the ladies!

For those of you who are reading about this for the first time, check out this video to know what all Max had in store for its ladies!




Women who participated in the activities had the current collection to choose from for their makeovers. The current collection comprises of the Autumn’14 collection, a prelude to the festive season.

• The Folklore range witnesses a fusion of culture and tradition through folkloric prints and patterns.
• Earthy accents in cross stitch embroideries and paisley motifs, create the Boho Autumn look. Printed leggings, border printed tops and placement graphics, merge historical techniques and aesthetics with a modern twist. 
• A key ingredient in the season’s fashion delicacy is Monochromes. Wear luxurious soft, silky polyester crepes and georgettes over printed satin stretch pants for the solid or pattern clash look.
• The ethnic Tavisha range created quite a buzz with its extensive offerings. Right from contemporary sets in bright and light prints enhanced with embroideries to a special red and white collection to brighten up your Durga puja, using blends of block prints and embroideries along with cuts ranging from an Anarkali to A-line, it has the works. You can also see the existence of themes such as baroque sentiments and colour block.

Let's take a look at the amazing outfits that make up this collection:

If you have experienced the Max Women's Day Out, we would love to hear your experience and if you haven't, make sure that the next time I tell you about it, you definitely go!

For further details on such exciting happenings at MAX, follow them on:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/maxfashions

Twitter - https://twitter.com/maxfashionindia

  If you like what you see on Ri(t)ch Styles and want to stay updated regularly, follow Ri(t)ch Styles on 

    

You can also email me on ritchstyles@gmail.com :)

MAX Women's Day Out - Increasing the glamour quotient - 3rd September 2014

MAX, India’s leading fashion value brand, has always strived to deliver the latest international styles at pocket friendly prices with a feel good and a look good factor. Along with that, it's constant endeavour to create in-store experiences that keep the crowd engaged and coming back for more, is a winning point that sets them apart.

While the world celebrates Womens Day only on 8th March every year, MAX has decided to pamper us women through the year. As a perfect reward to women, recognizing their important role in the society, aptly named Max Women’s Day Out, the latest offering from the brand brings together an exclusive day for women to unwind, relax and shop. For September they have planned it on the first 2 Wednesdays of the month- 3rd and 10th.

Packed with special offers, workshops and pampering sessions only on Wednesdays, Max Women’s Day Out is all set to increase the glamour quotient among the country's fashionistas. Ladies can indulge in exciting activities like nail art, mehendi, foot spas, fun sessions on styling and health tips, cooking, parenting and much more. The offers are available across key markets like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Pune, Mangalore, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar.

Mr. Vasanth Kumar, Executive Director, Max spells it out for us - “Women are our primary target audience and this latest initiative recognizes the importance a woman plays in the society. It is our way of thanking them and giving them what they deserve the most – a mid-week-break for a little bit of indulgence. With Max Women’s Day Out, we aim to provide a memorable experience in a fun filled environment.”

3rd September saw a host of fun activities across the stores countrywide including the Max Women's Day Slogan Contest and the 5 minute Style Challenge. Let's check out the fun at some of their stores!

So much pampering isn't it? :-) Well this is not it! MAX has a lot planned this week too which you will see in the next part of this series, so stay tuned!!

For further details on such exciting happenings at MAX, follow them on:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/maxfashions

Twitter - https://twitter.com/maxfashionindia

 If you like what you see on Ri(t)ch Styles and want to stay updated regularly, follow Ri(t)ch Styles on 

    

You can also email me on ritchstyles@gmail.com :)

Queen For A Day at the Taj Salon

"You don't need a Tiara to be a Princess, you were born a Queen." 

- Kawthar ALHasan

When an invite from the Taj Salon which started with these words was delivered to my doorstep, that too to be pampered like a Queen for a Day, I knew that there was no looking back and I had to say YES. Royalty and Taj go hand in hand - everyone knows that since forever! And when you have also had a crazy Saturday, such events on a Sunday make the pampering much called for.

The warm reception started the minute I set foot inside the Taj Salon at Taj Lands End, Bandra. Lovely smiles, a wonderful team and other bloggers were gonna be my partners in royalty for the next few hours while I relaxed and got treated like a Queen :)

The Taj salon 1st opened its doors in 1940 as one of the only 2 salons in the country and was run by Madame Jacques (a French national) for 42 years. In 1981, the Taj Group took over and renovated and re-launched under the brand ‘Taj Salon’. Some of their earliest employees who joined them back in the 1970s and used to work with Madame Jacques continue to work with them till today. Impressive!

I got a number of services done, so let me take you through my wonderful afternoon :)

Manicure & Pedicure

This was the first set of services I went for and I can't tell you how satisfied I was. The sea view from the mani-pedi station was so calming that I sat for there for nearly two hours with no hurry or worry about getting anything else done. Pure Luxury! If I had my way, I would have probably gotten all my services done sitting right there ;) (that actually became the joke of the afternoon). The therapist was incredibly good. The techniques he used, I haven't ever seen till date in any other salon and believe me or not, the polish lasted for 2 full weeks without chipping or touch up. So a totally recommended service from me. A regular manicure costs INR 900 while a pedicure costs INR 1000 which is the name of luxury is a total steal!

Hair Spa & Hair Cut

The hair stylist checked the texture of my hair and recommended the Moroccan Oil Hair Spa to deepen the colour in my hair and increase moisture and it sounded really luxurious so I was all for it. Mid way through the hair spa I also realised I was due for a hair cut and so that too got added to the list. The hair spa left my hair super silky and shiny and the hair cut added a bounce with some bangs. The result was a complete change in looks :) The Moroccan Oil Hair Spa costs INR 3,500 but is worth it coz the moisture locks into your hair for a good amount of time. Haircuts cost about INR 750 for men and INR 1,500 for women. Again I must say a steal deal!

Finally I was done, but my hospitable hosts would not give up on me and wouldn't let me stop ;) So I went ahead and got a quick shoulder massage done, some eye make-up and a cute pouf hairstyle for the retro themed look before the Tiara was placed on my head for the finale, which made me totally feel like a queen! Royalty I tell you - super easy to get used to ;-)

Did you just think it got over here? Hell no! :)

The evening continued to get better with some mocktails, hors d'ouvres and chit chat before we finally bade each other good bye but not before they surprised me with this cute gift basket of goodies.

I must say the Taj Salon embodies everything its name stands for – beauty, luxury, class and above all – service!

If you like what you see on Ri(t)ch Styles and want to stay updated regularly, follow Ri(t)ch Styles on Facebook, Bloglovin and Twitter. You can also email me on ritchstyles@gmail.com :)