Piercing and Healing: My Acupuncture Experience

Alternative healing, naturopathy, homeopathy and Ayurveda have always been a huge part of my life. Popping pills and taking medication was something we (my family) just didn't do! Having a grandmother who continues to practice yoga at the age of 90, a mother who has studied reiki, an aunt and uncle who are homeopathic doctors, my inclination to explore non-traditional healing methods is TREMENDOUS. As a kid, when contracting colds became a frequent phenomenon, my mom took me and my brother to an ashram, where they taught us jal neti, where you pour water up one nostril and it comes out of the other, to irrigate the sinuses. Many years later, my mother studied acupressure, and eventually acupuncture (even though she cannot practice the latter, as one needs to be a medical doctor for the same).

From http://www.kapuracu.com

So basically I am giving the background as to how I landed up in an acupuncturist's clinic; why I agreed to succumb to needles being put into me, given my phobia of needles. (This does not include piercings as I have 11 of those!) I decided to get acupuncture in India because its more affordable and my mom could accompany me, as I was TERRIFIED. In fact, it was she who suggested I try it. This was because my knees were beginning to hurt, and there was stiffness in my neck and back, due to excessive dancing. And by the time I went to the clinic, I also had a horrible cold and sinus. (shouldn't have stopped that jal neti!)

Doctor Raman and Sunita Kapur's Clinic in GK 1, New Delhi, is well known, but I was still not prepared for the large number of people who flocked there. They do acupuncture for all kinds of ailments, diseases, for quitting smoking as well as for cosmetic reasons. They conduct a test using a specialized instrument which they place on your palms and determine where the "blockages" are. Acupuncture is based on the concept of Qi, the life energy in the body, and needles are inserted to allow it to FLOW and rejuvenate, by removing any BLOCKAGES.

From http://www.silverpointacupuncture.com

My first day and I had 27 needles in me, including 7 on my FACE. But almost immediately, I could feel a relaxing sensation and a flow of energy within me. There were several needles on my knees, and they put herbal pellets called moxa through them, which were burnt to allow the heat to seep into the knees. I know it sounds INTENSE, but it was actually really soothing. 30 minutes later, they came in and removed the needles. The sinus went away in about 3 days and the gradually the deep ache in my knees eased too. 10 days and over a hundred needles later, I felt GREAT!

Now that I am back in the studio, dancing for several hours at a time, I am glad I spent that time taking care of my body. I would highly recommend acupuncture to anyone who has any chronic pains (though my pain wasn't caused by any medical condition like arthritis, it was more due to the high impact of dancing). Doctor Raman Kapur is FANTASTIC; my only criticism is that the clinic tends to be really NOISY. The staff chatter constantly and sometimes are just a bit haphazard. There were few times when my mother had to remind them to put the moxa, or tell them that my session was over. The most annoying was one day when the moxa was too hot, I rang the bell for the staff and no one showed up! My mom just added extra paper, but that is not the point.

Overall it was a good experience, though I wish that the atmosphere was more peaceful. But my pain has VANISHED so I can't really complain!

Thoughts on ZANGOORA: the Bollywood Musical Extravaganza

As I arrived at the Kingdom of Dreams, I was dazzled by the massive SCALE and GRANDEUR of the setting, the sprawling culmination of art, culture and cuisine. Faithful to the resplendent settings, the musical 'Zangoora', showcased in the Nautanki Mahal, is nothing less than magnificent in terms of the production and the scale. The world of the Kingdom of Dreams, located in Gurgaon, Haryana, (just beyond New Delhi) is comparable to the theaters of Las Vegas.

'Zangoora' itself has a fairly traditional plot which would make a weak movie but works for the musical. What was extremely DISAPPOINTING for me, was the choreography. It seemed, since the sets were so sensational, the choreography simply relied on the large number of people, the amazing costumes and the use of props. There didn't seem to be a lot of thought put into it, and having seen Shiamak Davar's shows in the past, it seemed like a recycling of old ideas. There was nothing that was unique or fresh. The dancers performed well and I know that musicals rely on stereotypes but everything that is Bollywood does not need to be so CHEESY (for lack of a better word!)

There were some dances that were stronger than others such as Gauhar Khan (Laatchi's) dance (I have forgotten the song, but it is right after she finds out that Zangoora doesn't love her) which she performed with skill and intensity, and the sculptural choreography worked well. Her body language was very powerful; in fact her emotions and personality were better portrayed by her dancing than her acting.

I was not very moved by Kashmira Irani. She is a graceful dancer but her performance was not riveting. It was beautiful without being touching. Her lyrical movement was somewhat convincing, but she could not do justice to the more typical item songs like 'Mehbooba Mehbooba,' and 'Choli ke Peeche' was particularly disappointing.

The actor who played Zangoora (Hussain did not perform that night!) had a certain ease in his dancing and acting, which made one connect and empathize with him. Even though I didn't think of him as an incredible dancer, he was connected to the movement and was able to communicate the emotions behind each song. His acting and stage presence were memorable.

The entire cast of dancers were exploding with energy and enthusiasm but their performance was sometimes a bit fake. Expressions for a Bollywood dance, especially on stage, do have to be exaggerated, but a lot of dancers seemed to put on a face, rather than really feel the movement and then emote. There was a difference in the level even within the ensemble dancers. Several dancers from the cast did stand out on the basis of their skill and performance.

What I did really like, besides the amazing production of course, was the use of the SPACE. The action was not limited to the stage. Dancers often came into the audience. There were entries happening above the audience, with the use of aerial apparatus. The aerial dancers showered the audience with flower petals. At one point there was a "rainfall" of foam particles which landed on the audience, and we hurriedly covered our drink glasses! There were projection screens on either side of the stage, which were used well to enhance certain scenes.

Overall, the show was SPECTACULAR. I have been fortunate enough to have seen a lot of shows in various countries and cannot help but compare. I think the environment created by 'Zangoora' can compete with any international show and Bollywood has a mass appeal that cannot be ignored. The tickets, priced from Rs 1000 to Rs. 6000, may not be affordable for all, but are definitely worth it. Being a dancer, I cannot help but focus on the intricacies of the choreography but for those who can look beyond it, 'Zangoora' is a VISUAL TREAT. I am really excited that such an amazing facility has been created and I know it will pave the way for other productions that will only continue to evolve.