Salsa
With V.Gopinath for the wannabe salseros and salseras
@Latin Dance Academy, Anna Nagar
“If you enjoy dancing Salsa, you remain young forever.”
Ever since the certified zumba trainer V.Gopinath launched his dance school, the Latin Dance Academy in Anna Nagar four months ago, he dreamt of doing something new. And in the new year it is happening!
Three pairs of dancing partners are learning the manoeuvres as upbeat Latin tunes echo through the air conditioned walls of the dance school. A logo of a dancing pair in the reception leads you to the world of Salsa . “This form of dance,” says Gopinath, “is an alternative idea to showing your love.”
He is aware that salsa is still new to India. How will the sensual dancing of Latin origin be acceptable in conservative Madurai? “Salsa, like many other dances, is a social dance form using dips, drops and lifts that people are increasingly taking to,” he says. But, he asserts, what makes Salsa stand apart is the feeling for music and creating chemistry between the dance partners.
“It is a craft of quick steps and Columbian style moves with rhythmic lyrics in Spanish,” says Gopinath. But it is the partner-based dance rooted in romantic feeling that people find appealing and working couples who are busy during the day are signing up for the classes set to begin after Pongal.
Of course, Gopinath admits, there have been more enquiries than registrations so far, but he is confident that more people will gear up to the enthusiastic salsa routine. Apart from the swings and crisp moves that bring you closer, daily dose of Salsa dancing also improves your health. “If you can walk gracefully, you can do Salsa without any prior training, he says.
Trained till Silver 2 level in Chennai, Gopinath is planning one hour Salsa classes for couples. He has divided his students into two groups – the pre-teens/teens and adults and classes will be held for each group on alternate days post-Pongal. The fee is Rs.3,000 per month if you register as a pair and Rs.1,800 for single members.
So to be the “lead” or the “follow”, call Gopi master on 9790297193
Terrace Gardening
With Mekala T.S for sowing veggie love
@ eco.organic terrace planters, 37/A-1 Abhirami Apartments, Krishnapuram Colony
“Big or small space, terrace gardening is achievable and has an array of amazing benefits.”
Many of us want to grow our own veggies but do not know how to go about it, which plants to grow, and how to grow them? Do we have our own terrace or a balcony big enough or the kitchen backyard is suitable to take out our garden gloves?
Mekala T.S. clears all such doubts of people. She has developed her business to help people with gardening and composting in spaces irrespective of the size because she realises many people find it challenging to grow their own food where they live.
“It is a growing trend around the world,” she says. And for the last eight years, the 40-year-old self-styled eco-planter has been doing home visits teaching and convincing people how they can grow some of their food in pots, hanging baskets, vertical gardens using compact and easy-to-use composting systems that are designed for busy people.
After knocking on several doors, 80-odd families across the city let her in. It may not be a huge number but Mekala is convinced that it is not so difficult for people to join the revolution. The hit film 36 Vayadhinile did the magic and in the last three years she has seen a spurt in number of homes willing to cut down on unnecessary storage and refrigeration and changing the way they buy and cook. Once they understand the amount of waste they generate and how it can be avoided or reused, people get interested in growing their own veggies.
Mekala sells packages to people depending on the size of space available for their patch of green. Ranging from one-time investment of Rs.5,000 to 15,000, she provides her clients with the base material, that includes minimum 15 bags, seeds, nutritious soil, vermicompost and growth motivators. But what sets her apart is the follow-up visit she makes to every household. She charges Rs.300 per visit and tries to pay fortnightly visit to every home where she has helped to set up the organic terrace garden.
She says most important element in the whole exercise is maintenance and communication. “I constantly keep in touch with my customers enquiring about the yield and if they are taking care of the sown plants by regularly watering and adding the growth promoters.
She feels sad when people spend money in installing the garden and fail to maintain it thereafter. “Some people are over-enthusiastic and follow every instruction of mine and I don’t have to visit them so often. To some homes, I have to return repeatedly to ensure the crop is growing properly. “It gives me immense peace and satisfaction to see people eat healthy and reduce household garbage,” she says.
If you want to become a terrace planter and need some tips, call on 9003736747 / 8870641997.
Baking
With Meenakshi Ramasamy wake up to the new kitchen trend
@ Plot 711, 17th East Cross, Anna Nagar
“Baking is a delightful experience, especially when a cake or bun rise up beautifully and emerge out of the oven perfectly.”
So, if cooking is not your pick, try baking. For, making your own cake is the all new swag. Home baking is trending across major cities and Madurai is not behind either. Thanks to the interest and effort of homemaker, Meenakshi Ramasamy who conducts weekly baking classes and for whom the title home-baker suits better!
The dining table inside her sprawling Anna Nagar Bungalow is the blackboard where the mantras of baking are put to practise. Drop in any Monday morning and you will surely find a small group of enthusiastic women rolling and kneading the dough. Says Meenakshi, “My classes are simple, to-the-point and affordable.” In her words baking is interesting and no rocket science but requires a careful procedure.
Meenakshi’s love for baking comes from the foodie in her who loves to gorge on cakes, quiches, tarts and anything that’s baked. “I just keep experimenting with the oven. I have a collection of baking vessels, moulds and products,” says Meenakshi, who has identified few shops in town that sell these. The classes are typically an hour-and a half, during which Meenakshi conducts a demo, gives a printout of the step-wise recipe to the participants who practise with the ingredients supplied by her. They also get to taste and take back a portion of what they baked. “This way they feel happy and also understand that they can actually bake a soft fluffy cake,” observes Meenakshi. “The response to the class has been good. I have new people signing up for the class apart from few regulars.”
The class usually starts with sponge cakes and cupcakes and gradually moves on to tarts, puffs, buns and breads. “Many of the takers for my class are college goers or young married women, with a few middle-aged homemakers thrown in, who seek to experiment baking at home,” says Meenakshi, who also takes cake and snack orders from a small circle of friends. “I refer to books on baking and my periodical trips to the US keeps me updated on the latest trends in baking.”
Meenakshi charges Rs.1,000 per head for a session of baking class. Call on 9940218348 to book a session.
Horse riding
With Sundar Vijay for fitness and as a hobby
@ Melakkal Main Road, Kochadai
“Horse riding has all the health benefits of cardio exercises like jogging and walking”
Horse riding is an enjoyable hobby and also a good fitness option. There is a real sense of exhalation and freedom when you ride. It is a great stress-buster. It develops balance and improves coordination and motor function. Moreover, when you trot on a horse your muscles get toned, reflex action gets accelerated and your internal organs get stimulated aiding to better liver function and digestion.
“The benefits are more and the list endless,” says Sundar Vijay, who along with his friend Bilal Mohammed has given Madurai the first horse riding school.
The three months old Madurai Riding School has of now two thoroughbred horses imported from London. Riding is taught and supervised by a riding instructor-cum-horse trainer and two assistants. Horse riding is suitable for children above eight years and there is no upper age limit. “If you are fit enough you can ride a horse even at the age of 70,” says Sundar Vijay.
So far 30 people have enrolled at the riding school. Horse riding is more fun than anything that you can do at the gym, says Vijay. Research studies show that horse riding for longer durations keeps the brain active and prevents memory loss. Also, the faster you gallop, you burn more calories.
Horse riding is also used as therapy for mentally challenged children. It is called the Equine therapy and children with autism treated with this therapy have shown good results, says Vijay. It has prompted Vijay to tie up with special schools in the city and offer hosrse riding to the students at subsidised rates.
A guest ride costs Rs.300 for 15 minutes while there are plenty of options for monthly packages ranging from Rs.1,500 to Rs.3, 500 depending on the number of rides. If you are interested, call 9677771100.
Learn Japanese
With Vimala Solomon learn a new language
@ Varapradha, Vasudhara, Agrini Enclave in Andalpuram
“Learning Japanese can fetch you job opportunities”
“Irasshai (welcome),” says Vimala Solomon as we enter Surya Nihongo Gakko, her school for Japanese language. “Gakko in Japanese language means school,” says Vimala Solomon, who has completed all levels of proficiency tests conducted by the Government of Japan.
A vacation in her uncle’s house in Japan altered the life of this science graduate. “I wanted to learn Japanese to while away time but got interested in the language and took it seriously. “If you’re good in Tamil then it is easy to learn Japanese also because grammar and syntax are similar,” she says.
Vimala is an experienced teacher who has trained engineers at Tata Consultancy Services in Delhi, Wipro and Sanyo, Bangalore and has also taught at the Japan Cultural and Information Centre (JCIC), the cultural wing of the Embassy of Japan.
Vimala conducts regular classes for various levels in learning Japanese. These are from basic to intermediate over 10 months. She also follows a need-based syllabus for those wanting to pursue short-term course. She is also a regular teacher at Saradha Vidyalayam and also written a book ‘ Vaanga Pesalam Japaniya Mozhiyil ’, to be released soon. “There are lot of Japanese language learning books in English, but, none in Tamil. I want youngsters to read it.” she says.
Most of her students are well placed, says Vimala. One of them has even settled in Japan. As part of her teaching course, Vimala also takes her students from schools and colleges on excursions to Japan.
“Students who clear the language tests get scholarships for higher studies in Japan, she informs. Vimala charges Rs.1,500 per month for the language teaching course. She can be contacted on 9894424750
