6 | July 2012 | woman this month Letters The Female Perspective STAR LETTER Write Here Write Now 46 | June 2012 | woman this month 47 woman this month | June 2012 | dog, but what about the reclining big toe pose?!) do have merit and extensive success rates behind them. Yoga has been proven to benefit a great number of ailments; most commonly, it is known for being a great stress relief exercise and calms both the mind and body to achieve a state of “Zen”. There has been an emergence of studies showing yoga to be a course of treatment for cancer patients, depicting that the motion decreases pain, anxiety and depression. It has also been used as a treatment for schizophrenia, by improving cognitive functions and for heart disease, through reducing blood pressure levels. Overall, there are 10 general benefits which are believed to occur in every person who practices yoga regularly; 1. Stress relief 2. Pain relief 3. Better breathing 4. Flexibility 5. Increased strength 6. Weight management 7. Improved circulation 8. Cardiovascular conditioning 9. Inner peace 10. Improved concentration Trending now Yoga retreats As we edge into summer, many will be preparing their minds and bodies for a yoga retreat holiday. There are stunning locations dotted around the world that promise the ambiance and environment you need to really “find yourself”, whilst getting slim and trim. A favourite for celebs is Bali, but Turkey, Spain, France and Goa are all valuable competitors. Paddleboard yoga This form of the sport is slowly making its way over from America. Forget surfing and instead, test your centre, calm and balance whilst striking a pose in open water…and trying not to fall in! Anti-gravity yoga This is one of the newest fads and is also known as “suspension yoga”. Positioned in a speciallydesigned harness, you will feel the low-impact benefits of inversion therapy combined with yoga’s emphasis on strength and flexibility. Kids’ yoga This year, kids’ yoga has hit Bahrain, with classes cropping up for your little ones to take part in. The sport has been shown to calm children down naturally and promote more coursed energy and less fatigue. Festival yoga For a real hippy vibe, festivals worldwide now incorporate yoga classes into their busy timetables. Last month, celebs and other festival-goers were seen stretching and posing on their mats at hip event Coachella. Laughter yoga This fad has actually just arrived in Bahrain, and you can enroll in classes at Namaste Centre in Budaiya. The idea is that you combine yoga with self-triggered laughter exercises to release endorphins and increase blood flow, subsequently burning calories. Yoga and spinning New York spinning teacher and Yogi Noll Danial formulated this odd fusion. Participants begin spinning on their bikes for half the class and then dismount to use the bike’s handlebars for poses and positions. The Power of Yoga Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore or a quick fix for losing weight. Yoga is a lifestyle form of exercise that goes beyond just making your body healthy — it heals your mind too. By Alison Coldridge When yoga became a top exercise trend, followed by its sidekick Pilates, no one thought these sweat-less forms of fitness class would stick around for long. In an age where we run, jump, punch, squat, kick and spin until soaked in perspiration; it seems inconceivable that a quiet, serene and seemingly easy form of exercise would take off. But it did. This ancient form of relaxation has become more mainstream than running on a treadmill. In the USA alone, a whopping 72.2 per cent of women and 27.8 per cent of men favour it above any other type of exercise. And this summer is seeing even more out-there styles, techniques and yoga recitals emerge, proving its worth as a true exercise trendsetter. An ancient art As a spiritual, mental and physical discipline, yoga originated in ancient India over 5,000 years ago and is related to the meditation processes seen in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. It’s the oldest defined practice of self-development and holds the overall aim of achieving a perfect sense of calm, balance and contentment within one’s self. Originally, yoga techniques were passed down from teacher to student through word of mouth, until they were written down by Indian sage Patarjali, considered to be the father of yoga. In the western world, yoga made its first real breakthrough in the swinging sixties and re-emerged stronger than ever in what’s known as the “yoga boom” in the late eighties. Nowadays, it is known mainly as a form of exercise. You may be familiar with the different types: hatha, ashtanga, bikram, kundalini, lyenga. Hatha is the most common style, which consists of a combination of positions, breathing and meditation. The crux of yoga is this focus on breathing, a sense of self-control that celebrities, such as Madonna and Jennifer Aniston, have found lifealtering and imperative to their figures and stress levels. There are many different positions, each putting emphasis on a different area of the body to fully stretch and flex every muscle. numerous benefits The somewhat comical positions and names (we’re all familiar with the downward-facing Wellbeing Yoga in Bahrain: where to go l World Beat Fitness Centre and Café; call 17 612-576. l Dessange; call 17 713-999. l Lotus Yoga; call 17 810-789. l Bahrain Wellness Resort; call 17 795-961. l Curves; call 17 691-496. l Namste; call 38 855-999. 52 | June 2012 | woman this month 53 woman this month | June 2012 | When Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones announced last month that she was checking into a mental health clinic to get treated for bipolar disorder, she made public a little understood mental condition that’s commonly confused with depression or other mood disorders. Bipolar disorder can be misdiagnosed as anything from schizophrenia to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), given the similar symptoms as other mental ailments. Yet, there are several distinguishing factors that can help you understand this condition, produce the right diagnosis and eventually, manage it for life. What it means Also known as manic depressive illness, bipolar disorder is a brain condition that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day work. It is characterised by periods of extreme emotional highs or “mania”, alternating with severe bouts of depression. While Bipolar I symptoms are severe and can last for weeks, interfering with the sufferer’s day-to-day activities, the Bipolar II condition is less debilitating and people can cope with their daily routine. A third variation, Bipolar III, or Cyclothymia, is a mild form of bipolar disorder where episodes of hypomania shift back and forth with mild depression for at least two years. “Symptoms of mania can include feeling overly happy, extremely agitated and nervy or irritable. In this state, the bipolar sufferer may feel they need little sleep and are more willing to take risks at work, in their relationships and with their assets,” observes Sharon Gorman, cognitive behavioural therapist and co-founder of Crisec Consultants. On the other hand, when depression sets in, the person has feelings of low esteem and emptiness, loss of interest in the usual things, marked lack of concentration and dark thoughts of suicide. The symptoms are acute and can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance and even death through suicide. Studying data collected from 11 countries, including the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and New Zealand, researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in the US found that about 2.4 per cent of the world’ s population has bipolar disorder. Who is at risk While there is no single cause behind this condition, bipolar disorder tends to run in families. “Individuals with a family history of bipolar disorder are 70 per cent more likely to develop this condition compared to others,” notes psychotherapist Thoraiya Kanafani. The condition is found to be more prevalent in women than men, with a ratio of approximately 3:2, as established by the National Co-morbidity Study in the US. Low thyroid function, called hypothyroidism, has been associated with rapid cycling in some people with bipolar disorder, especially women. Of the people studied worldwide who had bipolar symptoms, the NIMH team found that 75 per cent had at least one other disorder, the most common being anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder, followed by behaviour disorders and substance abuse disorders. The triggers Some of the common triggers for episodes of the illness are stress, money worries, relationship problems, difficulties at work, school or college, irregular sleep schedule, use of alcohol, drugs or caffeine, disrupted routine and missing medications. In case of actress Zeta Jones, her condition was said to have been caused by the stress of watching her husband, actor Michael Douglas, battle cancer over the past year. “It’s important to recognise distress or dysfunction in the family of a patient with bipolar disorder, since such ongoing stress may worsen the patient’s illness or interfere with treatment,” says Thoraiya. Managing bipolar disorder While there’s no cure for this chronic and lifelong illness, it’s possible for sufferers to live nearly normal lives with the correct medication, diet and support mechanisms in place. The first step in managing this condition is getting the right diagnosis, which is not easy, given the NIMH findings that only about 25 per cent of people with this condition worldwide were being treated for bipolar disorder. “This is not a straightforward condition, for which reason, there’s widespread misdiagnosis. It’s important that the physician considers the medical history alongside the family background, as the condition has a significant genetic component and often affects several members in the family,” says Sharon. Bipolar disorder has been deemed the most expensive behavioural health care diagnosis, costing more than twice as much as depression for every affected individual, according to US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Treatment will usually include a programme of medication to reduce the manic feelings and ‘mood stabilisers’ to lift the depression of sufferers. Alongside that, therapeutic interventions with a qualified therapist, where sufferers can express their concerns and experiences in a non-judgemental environment, can prevent recurrences. Families are educated in ways to cope with and support the family member with bipolar disorder,” says Thoraiya. People suffering from this condition will benefit in a big way from a disciplined lifestyle, experts opine. “The sufferers should ensure they get regular amounts of sleep, keep physically fit and eat a regular healthy diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids as these can reduce mood swings,” advises Sharon. Knowledge and support is key Finally, bipolar disorder may be a very debilitating illness, but it can be effectively managed by sufferers, their families and loved ones if the sufferer takes ownership of the illness and shares his or her concerns with their family. “A key element is to understand the illness and what triggers it in the sufferer. Sometimes the sufferer will need to speak with his or her physician, other times with a therapist and at others with their loved ones. There are numerous self-help groups that sufferers can join to find out more about their condition, its management and to simply share their experiences with others,” says Sharon. Also, making themselves knowledgeable about their condition can help them feel like they have some control over it instead of it controlling them. The best help for a sufferer of bipolar disorder is the team approach that can help him or her to feel that they’re not on their own and that they can hope for a constructive and happy life. For psychotherapy or counselling sessions, call Sharon at 66 344-470 and Thoraiya at 36 692-377. Living Edge Campaign We’ve all been subject to mood swings at some point in our lives, but when the “highs” start to contrast very sharply with the “lows”; it’s time to suspect something might be very wrong. on the So Much Variety My sister and I have been trying to lose weight and get fit for a few months, but without a lot of success. The thing is that both of us are getting older and our knee and hip joints are not what they used to be. I found Alison’s article about yoga to be very helpful. I did not realise that there so many different types of yoga. After her article I looked into some yoga classes here at the World Beat Fitness centre and I think it will be a great option for me and my sister. It will be easier on our joints, but it will still give us a workout. Thanks Alison! Ruli, by Email WRITE IN AND WIN Send your letter to editor@womanthismonth. com, by fax to 17 813-700 or by post to PO Box 20461, Manama. The star letter will win BD60 worth of delightfully scented products from the amazing Zohoor Al Reef perfumery and cosmetics company. The winner can choose to receive three perfumes, from a selection offered by the company. So, to make sure you feel and smell great next month, be sure to write to us! I thought it was a good idea for you to include an article about bipolar disorder in your “campaign” section. My mother has bipolar disorder and I have struggled with it and with looking after her for my whole life. So many people do not understand that it is a real and common problem and they don’t understand what the symptoms look like. Often you find that people just dismiss it as strange behaviour and then you find that people are not very tolerant. I am glad that there are some people trying to create awareness in Bahrain as there is more awareness in the rest of the world about it. If you have really noticed ups and downs in your behaviour you should always go and see a doctor and don’t stop until you get an answer as in some places it can take a while to be diagnosed properly. Linda, by email. Ups and Downs It was fantastic to read about Joseph Tito’s latest project. I think the storyline to Dana sounds really fascinating and I like that he is taking the time to showcase the viewpoint of Bahraini women. Not just modern day Bahraini women, but Bahraini women through recent history. It seems a shame that it takes someone from another culture to come in and give Bahraini women a voice. But, at the same time, I don’t want to take anything away from what he is doing, because it is great. I look forward to hearing about the process and watching the end result. Shirley, by email. 17 woman this month | June 2012 | Interview Other Side From the Perceptions of women in the Arab world vary from place to place. Arguably, though, there is a propensity for negative stereotyping. Natasha Bird talks to writer, director and movie-maker Joseph Tito about his upcoming project — a film seeking to bring the strength and character of Bahraini women to light. The idea that the women in the region are weak and inferior or designated as second-class citizens by their male counterparts is something that this magazine has been fighting against since its inception. Luckily for us, there are others out there on the same mission. Joseph Tito, a young film-maker from Italy, currently based in Bahrain, is one such person. Joseph might still be a relatively young buck in the film industry, but that isn’t to say he doesn’t already have some big achievements under his belt. His work has had showings at a variety of prestigious international film festivals, including those in Toronto, Washington, Madrid and Sydney and some have gone on to be distributed by the likes of the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Society and Indican Pictures. His latest project is a film called Dana, which chronicles the lives of three generations of Bahraini women within the same family as they fight for the right to be educated, to travel, to be independent and to follow the religion of their choosing. “I came on holiday to Bahrain to see a friend and I met a lot of Bahraini women — from different age groups, classes and religious denominations. And it completely changed my impression of Arab women. I realised that I had this view of them as covered, silent, weak and even beaten. This isn’t the case,” Joseph explains. “Too many films and too much of the literature that comes out about the Middle East focuses on the negative. Osama, by Siddiq Barmak, A Separation, by Asghar Farhadi or The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, for example,” he continues; “The media and then the films and books are what form our opinion and they display women as seemingly having no power.” A need to overturn these sorts of stereotypes is what fuels Joseph’s enthusiasm for his current undertaking. “For me,” he says, “it is important that my films make people think. I enjoy watching films that, when the credits roll up, you are thinking or arguing with someone about it. As a film-maker, I see it as my chance to tell a different story, or a different viewpoint. I don’t want to tell people what to think, but I want to leave them with several accounts and then leave them to think about which they agree with and which they don’t.” It has been important to Joseph, of course, to make sure that some of the strong Bahraini women that he admires so much are a part of the project: “I have this amazing Bahraini writer. I won’t give away her identity just yet, but she was recommended to me by the lovely Shaikha Mai. It is women like Shaikha Mai that make me want to do this film. She is powerful and strong and shows a real determination and love for the project.” The film will demonstrate the changing role of women over the course of three generations. Dana, the main character, is outspoken and determined. She travels abroad to go to university and she joins the political student union whilst there, but her mother Hessa and her daughter Layla’s stories are very different. Hessa, although one of the first women to drive in Bahrain, was married at 12 and didn’t go to university. Layla, on the other hand, has a much greater degree of freedom, but establishes a strong religious identity and chooses to wear the burqa. Joseph is certain of the topicality of his project. “The women in this film are going to be real people”, says Joseph, “Yes, this is an Arabic story, but it is also universal. My own grandmother was married at the age of 12 in the south of Italy. Women’s roles have evolved everywhere.” When I ask him about his motivation for concentrating on women, his answer is more than a little heart warming: “All my films are womenbased. I love my mother. She is strong and open and goes on and fights. I think that if women ruled the world we would be living in a much happier and safer place. Women are mothers and when you are a mother and you give birth to something, you are just kinder and more compassionate.” There are a large number of parts to be played and Joseph is determined to cast as many local Bahraini actresses as possible. If you are interested in taking part in the film, you still have a chance to audition. Bahrain’s first wave of castings will take place on May 17, 18 and 19. Details of further auditions and a breakdown of each character can be found on the JEO Productions website. For more information visit www.jeoproductions.com or call Leila on 34 394-517. Loredana Mantello Joseph Tito The Arab world has been experiencing a particularly high level of global exposure in the last few years. The Arab Spring in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and beyond has attracted our attention and journalists and self-appointed commentators alike have flooded the internet with accounts of brutality, tyranny and revolution. Whether consciously or not, most of the news-aware population has begun to form opinions about this part of the world — relating to politics, history and even the traditions and cultures. Although a lot of the focus has been on government organisations, other components of the Arab world have come under scrutiny. The women of the Middle East have seen the spotlight turn firmly in their direction. Unfortunately, though, this hasn’t been an overwhelmingly positive experience. From condemning the hijab to lamenting the idea that women aren’t allowed to drive in certain countries, there has been an alarming level of criticism. | June 2012 | woman this month 16
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