It's probably the most "daring" thing I've ever done in recent times - to travel during a pandemic and clock in a total of 4 weeks of hotel-based quarantine (in Singapore and Thailand)! These are unusual experiences in unusual times. But half the battle is won when you enter a required quarantine with a positive, can-do approach. A hotel quarantine is not a breeze. But there are things you can do to make your stay as comfortable as possible within a confined space. In this post, I'm going to share all the resources and things you should consider bringing with you so that you are fully prepared for the long stay. 

To set your expectations, the hotel facilities dedicated for quarantine in Singapore comprise of standard rooms. As a family with kids, you can request for two adjoining rooms with a connecting door (email at ICA_SHNhotelneeds@ica.gov.sg) OR you can look into upgrading to a suite which provides more space and even a kitchenette. Our family stayed in two conected standard rooms - these rooms do NOT have a balcony or open windows, there is no laundry service or room cleaning service, and there is a limited set menu from which to order meals. 

With that said, below are some of the items I think are helpful to carry:

• Wet wipes or an all-natural surface cleaner (Ollie Oils has a good one) to clean surfaces in your room/living space/bathroom. It was especially handy becaue the kids would eat on a small table and inevitably drop food on the floor or dirty the table. So wet wipes were really handy! 
• Room deodorizer or spray: With no open windows, there is no fresh air in quarantine. Add to that the fact that you're eating, sleeping, and exercising in the same space for several days at a stretch. A deodorizer really helps to freshen up the air and remove any odors or staleness in the air. 
• The Laundress is a line of non-toxic products which I found very useful for travel: The "Crease Release" is a spray which removes wrinkles from clothing without the need for ironing (available via different websites in Singapore and Amazon). They also have laundry detergent and other cleaning items that you may want to check out! 
• Plastic tupperware/boxes to store food left over from your meals: You'll find that you don't necessarily finish all the food and some food items are good to save for the next day. So some storage containers are helpful to have. 
• Pack enough inner wear (i.e., undergarments) to last the duration of the quarantine if you don't plan to wash your own dirty clothes. Also, to reduce unnecessary laundry build-up, I feel there's no shame in repeating your outfits since you're indoors and sweat-free anyway
• Pack vitamin D supplements: In general, it's good to take vitamins! But more importanlty, since you're not exposed to the sun for a long stretch of time, preempt a vitamin D deficiency by taking your supplements
• Entertainment for grown-ups: Books/Kindle, embroidery kit, adult coloring books, your Apple TV device... whatever you need to keep sane and calm
• Entertainment for kids: Refer to my Instagram post with my recs (this warrants a separate post in itself!)
• A bit of indulgence: If you're with young kids, there may not be much time for relaxation but you can still bring a touch of indulgence into your quarantine. I suggest bringing some essential oils or ordering bubble bars or bath bombs from Lush to be delivered to your hotel

Useful Resources:

• Rental needs: www.happyshn.com is a website which allows you to rent items you might need for your quarantine, such as a microwave, exercise equipment, yoga mat, fans, vaccuums, portable washing machines, etc. It's a brilliant idea and we used it for renting a microwave - easy and fast delivery!
• Online workouts: I highly recommend doing short workouts or getting some movement into your day during quarantine. It really helped to boost our spirits and alleviated that "cooped in" feeling. There are tons of workouts you can do in your hotel room - search for PopSugar Fitness, Brian Syuki for walking-based workouts, and SELF for HIIT/cardio on Youtube (20-30 min workout routines worked great for me personally). In addition, you can pack resistance bands or light weights to support your workouts!
• Good delivery apps (Food Panda, Deliveroo, and Grab Food) and alcohaul.sg for delivery of spirits to lift your spirits! :) They helped to break the monotony of the hotel food and gave us something to look forward to whenever we ordered something. 

I hope you found this list helpful. Good luck to those of you embarking on any travels and get ready to face quarantine like a boss! If you have any questions, just email me at urbanmantra1@gmail.com or DM on Instagram. 

Amongst the biggest challenges for many working moms is making time for exercise. There are always too many reasons and excuses to fall back on, such as a hectic schedule of juggling work and kids that demands so much of your time and energy. And the less time you get for working out, the more guilty you feel. It’s a vicious cycle. Am I right? Yep, I’ve been there and I don’t like it one bit. So I came up with a simple solution that works well for me. Start small. I decided to take a piecemeal approach to exercise. While making time to have an hour long workout may seem daunting, a short “bite-sized" workout (as I like to call it) always seems so much more doable. Ask yourself, can I make time for 20 minutes of exercise in my busy day? The answer is yes! 

Aaptiv is an app that I’ve found super conducive to my “working mom workout” needs! It’s an audio fitness app which offers various types of workout programs. What I like about it is that it includes the voice of well-known, professional trainers directing your workout and motivating you against the backdrop of high-energy beats. So whether it’s a cardio workout, a deep stretch, yoga, marathon training, or strength training that you’re looking for, Aaptiv has it all. I got attracted to it for its prenatal and postnatal workouts led by pregnancy guru and founder of FitBump, Kira Kohrherr. Aaptiv has these stroller workouts which you can do anywhere – your home, outside, or in the gym. They are all about 20-30 minutes long. To ensure that I lose as little time as possible, I quickly change into my gym clothes, roll out my yoga mat, put my baby Arjun on the bouncy chair in front of me, and get started one of the stroller workouts in my own living room. Super easy set-up and no time lost in commuting to the gym. This is how I’ve been getting my bite-sized workouts with the voice of a trainer that keeps me going. I honestly find it so effective and easy to fit into my day. As moms, we all know how you can’t always plan everything out. So whenever I see an opportunity to squeeze in a short workout, I do it. Sometimes it’s in the morning before work, other times in the evening. I aim to do these short workouts 3-4 times a week and while I may not always succeed, I feel glad knowing that I’m incorporating at least some level of fitness activity in my life! Postpartum fitness is a long journey and we all have to start somewhere. 

So what are you waiting for? Give my “bite-sized workout” idea a try and see if it works for you! Start off, start small. If you’re keen to try Aaptiv, download the app on your phone and use code BURPEES for a free 30-day trial (the app already gives new users a 7-day free trial). Good luck, busy mamas!

*We all know that everyone's pregnancy and post-pregnancy conditions are different. So for the maternity workouts, please be sure to consult your doctor first! 

In my pre-baby years, making time for exercise wasn’t the uphill battle that it is now. As a fitness junkie, I loved trying new and challenging exercise routines, such as high-intensity Bollywood dance workouts, military-style bootcamps, running, and yoga (regular and aerial). Fast forward 3 years later… Saying that making time for exercise is a challenge is putting it mildly. In between handling a job which sometimes requires travel, raising an active toddler who needs constant attention, running a household, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, making time for exercise fell off the priority list. Gradually, I noticed my level of energy dropping. Besides the weight creeping back up, I was taking the lazy way out with eating what was convenient and not necessarily what was healthy and right for me.

It was time to take control of the situation. So recently, I have taken measures that were effective for me towards a healthier, fitter lifestyle. Each person may have their own way, but I’d like to share what worked for me. They’re simple tips which can be incorporated into your busy life to make sure you take care of yourself for the long run. Think of it as a change in lifestyle rather than a crash diet.

The “fit lifestyle” tip I’d like to share today: Find the type of exercise you enjoy..and then go do it!

Why do we find excuses to avoid going to the gym to run on the treadmill? Probably because we hate doing it! But perhaps if we picked a workout we actually enjoy, we would feel more motivated and more inclined to stick with it. Case in point: My husband hates the gym and will avoid entering it at all costs. But ask him to play tennis any day of the week, and he’ll jump at the idea.

I implemented this idea in my own life by getting back to what I love, running. Besides finding the workout I enjoy doing, I took some key steps to ensure I stick to it:

1.       Make time for exercise, even if it’s 20 to 30 minutes: I started waking up just 30 minutes earlier in the morning so that I could go running. I’m sure we can manage to squeeze in that amount of time at least a couple times a week. It’s so doable and it’s a start!

2.       Find someone to work out with: I knew that I would stick to my running goals much more once I had a running partner. A workout partner keeps you motivated and accountable. Personally, I hate being the one to bail on others so once running plans are set, I make sure I adhere to them

3.       Find ways to keep your workout interesting: In my case, my husband and I signed up for races in different countries and in unique settings to keep us constantly challenged and excited. So far, we have done a run through the Singapore Zoo, a green heritage trail in Singapore, and the Angkor Wat run in Cambodia. Currently we are training for a 10K in Vietnam in the mountainous Sapa Valley!

4.       Adjust your fitness routine to your current lifestyle: In the past, I could have managed more time and more days a week for my exercise. But now with a busy mommy-and-work life, I’ve decided not to set unrealistic standards and timelines on my fitness goals. If I can manage three workouts in a week along with healthy-to-decent eating habits, I consider myself very successful. There will be weeks when I’m really good and weeks when I’m not. I don’t stress about it because I’m in this for the long run.

So explore different workouts and find the one you love. Is it yoga, a dance workout, table tennis, or

brisk walks? Whatever it is, find a way to incorporate some of it into your life. 

Thirty days of putting my body through a squat and plank challenge came to an end just a few days ago. On the last day of the challenge, as I completed the last of the 250 squats I was supposed to do, I couldn't help but let out a loud victory whoop!

In an earlier post, I had talked about taking on a 30-day squat and plank challenge as a way to get back in shape post-pregnancy (see post here). I saw it as a time-effective way for busy people to stay active and fit. The challenge was particularly appealing to me as a mother of a 5-month old who often struggles to make time for exercise. A workout that targets multiple muscle groups, such as quads, hamstrings, abs, and butt, in one shot? Count me in, I said! I can do this while the baby naps!

Did I make it through the month? Was the challenge worth doing? Yes to both. In terms of the level of difficulty, the workout challenge wasn't that tough. It simply required consistency and dedication in sticking with it. It would have been very easy to give up half way through, but I hate quitting. I was determined to complete the full 30 days and complete I did!

Were there any days I skipped or got lazy? Truth be told, there was one day I let myself down. On the third last day when I was supposed to do 230 squats, I only got to 120. Shhh, don't tell anyone :)

The deets? Most days, I incorporated the squats and planks into a larger workout of about 30-40 minutes that included running, weight-lifting, and ab exercises (e.g., crunches). Other days, I would only do the squats and hold the plank pose (but I would try to go for long walks with my baby in a stroller! Sometimes I did up to 2 hours of walking over the course of the day and it seriously helped as a fat-burning exercise). In both scenarios, the challenge worked to raise my heart rate and tone my legs. While there are no visible differences in how my legs look, I can honestly say that my legs feel firmer and stronger. An added bonus? I lost about 1.5 kilos (about 3-4 lbs) this past month with all the combined exercises. It may not sound like much but hey, every bit counts. :)

It’s no secret that this has been a long and intensely cold winter. I’ve never been a fan of the cold, but this winter has been especially tortuous. And while I usually appreciate a snow day off, I felt that this past Monday was the umpteenth time I was stuck in my little studio apartment in DC, suffering from cabin fever and frantically trying to get work emails out on a slow server.

With hot summer days a forgotten memory and the hope of spring showing no signs of being realized soon, what can you do to beat the winter blues? Here are a few tips that might work:

1. Plan a vacation or staycation (ideally somewhere warm): It goes without saying but getting away, preferably to a warm, beachy clime, can do wonders. But if you’re like me and need to save your vacation days for later or can’t afford to take time off now, planning a trip can also provide great respite. Studies show that the mere process of planning a trip increases happiness. And that makes sense – how times have you felt your mood brighten when you daydream about lying on the beach or read up on places you should visit during your next Europe trip? Right now, I’m excited about a trip I have planned for Tampa in April and Miami in July. Woohoo! Another idea is to do a staycation - book a room at a fancy hotel for a night or two in your own city and enjoy the room service and other amenities to make you feel like a king!

Krabi beach, Thailand (which Richa visited earlier this year)

2. Exercise: Whether it is running, dancing, biking, kickboxing, or any other means of working out, staying fit boosts your dopamine levels and definitely helps beat the blues. I also think it’s a great way to pass the time when there’s nothing else interesting going on outdoors anyways. I’m a big believer that summer bodies get made in the winter…put in the time now (rather than in May) to make sure you have that bangin’ beach body for that trip you’ve been planning!

Source

3. Get started on your resolutions/learn something new: With less of the social distractions that come with spring and summer, winter is a great time to start something new or to get moving on those New Year resolutions - read that book you’ve been wanting to, take a course of meditation, get back into painting, start exercising, or catch up on all the Oscar-nominated movies. I’ve been trying to redecorate my apartment in small ways and have used this time to scope out new rugs and paintings for my place.

4. Treat yourself: Use this time to pamper yourself with spa treatments, chocolate, shopping or whatever it takes to make you feel rejuvenated. Winter sucks, and self-indulgence is the way to get yourself through it! Personally, I’ve been indulging in one too many glasses of wine with my friends (and balancing that with working out - ha!). So go ahead, treat yo’self!

5. Plan a game night: Misery loves company so why not get all your friends together under one roof and turn it into a party? I love a good game night where friends get all competitive and riled up in a good way! Taboo, Cards Against Humanity, Apples to Apples, Scattegories - I love them all!

6. Movie marathon: What? You haven't seen the Ironman movies? Well, with the days shorter and the nights longer, a movie marathon with friends might just do the trick in helping you forget about the frigid temperatures outside. Order in some pizza, cozy up in your snuggie, and get your Netflix movie selections ready. And if you're watching Bollywood movies, prepare for an even longer night!

7. Be a snow bunny: Keeping warm in the winter is a given but it doesn't mean you have to look frumpy. Looking good is a superficial, albeit effective, way to feel good about the season. Be it a bright pink coat, sexy boots, or smart leather gloves, invest in some stylish winter gear so that you at least feel motivated to dress up and step out. It sounds crazy but it works! Just look at Carrie Bradshaw!

Source

8. Embrace the cold: Lastly, if you can't beat it, join it. No use fighting the cold when you know it's going to be around for a few months. So why not embrace it? Winter sports and activities, like skiing, ice skating, and snowboarding can be a lot of fun.

These are just a few things that make winter more tolerable for me. What have you found helpful in beating the winter blues?

Source

Image Source

In the past several months, I’ve had to replace lifting weights with lifting a baby, cleaning spit ups instead of clearing sit-ups, pushing a stroller instead of doing push-ups. As a fitness junkie, I was eager to get back to working out as soon as the doctor said it was okay to do so. But as a new mom, I soon discovered the challenge of fitting exercise into my daily routine. True, I have had the good fortune of spending my maternity leave back home in Asia, surrounded by family who can help me look after Baby K. Yet I still struggle sometimes to find time in the day for fitness. The problem is, I never really get a good chunk of time to do anything at length. I always heard about how babies need constant attention. I’m now experiencing that firsthand for myself. It’s always a spare 20 to 30 minutes here or there. Maybe if I’m lucky, I get a couple hours to myself when the baby is napping during the day.

But where there's a will, there's a way! I recently started setting aside 30 minutes in the morning for exercise and have managed to stick with reasonable success. On days when I’m feeling lazy or plans go astray, I still try to do some yoga stretches or go for a walk with the baby. Currently, I’m doing the 30 day squat and plank challenge, a great way to firm up the quads, hamstrings, abs, and butt and strengthen the back! The combination workout targets multiple muscle groups so it's a great postnatal workout for new moms who want to tone up. And the best part? It can be done anywhere - in the nursery while the baby naps, in your office cubicle, in the park, or in the bathroom if you so choose! I’m hoping I’ll see results by the end of the 30 days (I'm only on day 6 so far). Watch out for a post-challenge report on the blog!

Check out the 30 day squat and plank challenge schedule I put together below. 

A few additional tips:

• Please be sure to follow correct form and technique for these exercises (Youtube videos for squats and planks)
• Try to follow up this short exercise with lower body stretches so that you aren’t sore the next day. (Some yoga stretches that I found helpful were pigeon pose, lizard pose, and the kneeling hamstring stretch)
• Remember to breathe while doing squats and planks! For squats, breath in as you bend low, breathe out as you stand up
• For more intensive squats, sink low and try to get your thighs parallel to the floor
• You can do the squats and planks in whatever order you want - it's up to you!
• If the number of squats is getting too much for you, you can break them up throughout the day or build them into a longer workout. For example,  on the day you have to do 100 squats, you could do 25 squats at four different times in the day. Or you could do 25 squats after every 10-15 minutes of running on the treadmill
• Partner up with a friend for this fitness challenge - it’s more fun that way and you’re more likely to stick through the whole month!

Source

Ladies and gentlemen, I can now say that one of the most challenging things I have done is climb the Empire State Building, all 86 floors, in 20 minutes. Pretty cool, right?

Source

"Just breathe through it, breathe through it”, I tell myself over and over again as I walk up the seemingly endless flights of stairs. It seems to work, or at least it’s getting easier each time I do it. I just have a little over a week to go before my Empire State Building challenge takes places on February 6 (read about it here)! I’m pumped! So far, I’ve done a few “test runs” where I have taken the stairs up to 54, 64, and 76 floors on three separate occasions. I’ve managed to do these test runs by myself and/or with one particularly supportive friend (thank you, Sasha!). Usually, by the end of it, I’m panting like a manic race horse but I know that keeping a steady pace and working through the pain will be key factors to finishing this climb. In addition to the test runs, I’m happy to report that I’ve managed to stick to the workout routine I had laid out for myself (mentioned here). No matter how busy things get, I try very hard to make time for exercise 5 to 6 days a week. I definitely feel that my workouts have improved my level of stamina and strength. Next Wednesday, do keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I embark on the stairway to heaven…or more like hell…through the 86 flights of stairs of the Empire State Building!

On a somewhat related note, if you’re looking for durable and affordable workout gear, check out Joe Fresh. I love this store for the basic wardrobe essentials you can get as well as the bright pops of color in all the clothing. A few months ago, I also discovered their sportswear collection. I happened to purchase some active wear from the store (don't worry, it was before the shopping ban), including sports bras, running shorts, and a tank. Besides the fact that everything I bought was bright and neon (yay for looking like sunshine while exercising!), I was also impressed by the quality and comfort of Joe Fresh sportswear. Be sure to check them out!

Despite living in two separate cities, the Urban Mantra sisters do a lot of things in common. Among the activities we both enjoy is dance…particularly Bollywood dance. Once a week or more, we walk into a dance studio in our respective cities and let our inner Madhuri loose (for those of you who don’t know Madhuri, she is a famous Bollywood actress and perhaps the most iconic Bollywood dancer). As the music plays, we enter a world where hip-rolling, shoulder shimmying, body twists and turns, and foot-thumping is not only allowed but encouraged. What is this class, you ask? It is dhoonyaFIT.

What it is: dhoonyaFIT is a dance fitness class filled with 60 minutes of nonstop cardio, aerobic, and strength training performed to upbeat, fast-paced Bollywood music. The class is offered by dhoonyaDANCE, a Bollywood dance company that holds classes in DC, Virginia, Maryland, and NYC. With classes offered most days of the week, students have ample opportunities to get a full-body workout and leave feeling sweaty but smiling!

What I Love: What we enjoy about the dhoonyaFIT workout is that it is fun, energetic, and a great way to get some exercise after work. Seriously, it’s almost like a trip to the dance clubs except you don’t have to wait until Saturday night to go! :) When some of our favorite songs come on, we almost have to hold back from breaking out into crazy moves!

The other aspect we appreciate about dhoonyaFIT is that you don’t have to be a dance expert to join the class. It is appealing and applicable to beginners as well as experts because of its focus on working out, rather than on traditional dance techniques, which some people may struggle with (for those who are interested, dhoonyaDANCE offers techniques classes too).

The other new and exciting development in the world of dhoonyaDANCE is that there are now dhoonyaFIT instructor training classes being offered. This way, one can become a certified dhoonyaFIT instructor and teach it anywhere – even abroad!

What I Don’t Love: Honestly, there isn't much to dislike about dhoonyaFIT given how fun and effective a workout it is. The only complaint we had until recently was that there weren’t enough dhoonyaFIT classes being offered. But after taking a survey of its members earlier this year, Dhoonya decided to open its doors to more FIT classes and at more locations around the city.

So next time y’all are in the mood to bust out some moves to your favorite bhangra song or can’t bear to work out at your gym, consider taking a dhoonyaFIT class for a different workout experience. You will come out Bolly-fied!