Monday, October 28, 2013

Ab Rollouts: Differences Between Using the Barbell and Wheel

You're going to need a strong set 
of abs to use this wheel

It's likely you've seen an ab wheel in one form or another in the gym or on TV. While it's a fairly known piece of equipment, it's not always a standard item in a gym setting. At times, it can be in use, broken, or missing altogether.

Recently, I purchased the two-handed model through Amazon for the sole purpose of qualifying for free shipping. Aside from that reason, I was somewhat compelled to buy it since I see so many people rave about them. For the price, I figured why not try it.

Prior to this I performed ab rollouts using a barbell in this fashion:

Ross has more great videos you can view here

As ignorant as it may be, I never knew my previous gym had a wheel and its availability was random. Since I first began rollouts, I performed them with a barbell and opted for that method. It was simple to take the already loaded barbell from my workout and start a set.

Now that I've used both implements for the same exercise, it's clear each achieves the same effect, but while still having a few key details that set them apart from one another.

Size
This is the most obvious difference between the wheel and barbell. An Olympic barbell is 7 feet long whereas the wheel measures 8.5 inches wide. If floor space is an issue during this exercise, the wheel will prove more convenient to use over the barbell. I should mention that I have seen some gyms that carry shorter barbells that can be substituted in place of the full length bar. A bonus for the wheel is that its small size makes it easy to pack and take along on travels.

Progressions / Height Adjustments
To improve on rollouts, building up volume shouldn't be the only progression method. A very easy way to modify the intensity is by executing the movement on an incline (easier) or decline (harder). With a wheel, a ramp is necessary to achieve this modification. Ross covers this in another excellent video as well:


With a barbell it won't be the same as a rolling out on a ramp, but height can be changed by switching the plates on each side. Assuming you're using round plates, the 45's provide the easiest variation. The smaller the plates, the harder the exercise will become.

Hand Placement
This luxury isn't available on the wheel. Because the handles are short to begin with, once you grip the handles, there's little room for adjustments. On the other hand, the barbell is unique in that its shaft spans a greater distance. As such, you can place your hands as close together or wide apart on the bar as you find comfortable. In the case of upper body aches and injuries, this is where barbell rollouts offer more flexibility.

Build, Stability, & Sturdiness
The wheel's constructed of two plastic wheels slid on to the center of a hollow metal rod with a plastic grooved handle slipped on to each side. The barbell is a barbell: a long metal shaft with a spinning sleeve on each end plus the weight plates secured by collars. As trivial as the build might appear, it's worth a mention. The wheel's one point of contact is between the two hands. A small tilt towards either side can throw off the balance altogether mid-repetition. Since the plates are located on the ends of the barbell, this solid base of support won't allow for any mistakes due to the equipment. 
Another point I'll make is that while both are sturdy, the barbell is more durable than the wheel. It's made of steel and can take a beating if used by multiple people. The ab wheel has a metal rod in the middle but the actual wheels are plastic. If for some reason the wheel is dropped or incurs any type of damage, it may be rendered useless.

Friction
From my experience with both, I haven't been able to make a clear cut decision on this. Whether it's carpet, rubber flooring, or hardwood flooring, both have shown they provide less friction than the other. The other distinction is that the wheel has tread on it and weight plates have a smooth surface. Does it make a difference? Maybe a small one, but it never became apparent to me. If I had to guess, the wheel's tread most likely works better on carpet.

Extra Weight and Attachments
With a weight vest or loaded backpack, adding additional weight is not a challenge whether using a wheel or barbell. If you plan to attach resistance bands for assistance or increasing intensity, the band's placement varies. 
To increase resistance for a barbell, put the bar through the band or loop the band around the middle of the barbell shaft. Anchor the free end either by looping it around a post or with a carabiner. With the wheel, the band has to to be put on the handles. Loop one end on a handle, pass the band around a post or anchor it via a carabiner, and then take the other end and put it on the remaining handle. Since your hands and the band share the handles, the band might rub on your skin during a set.

Price
For personal home use, the ab wheel's price of $15 can't be beat. You can really minimize the cost by making your own (instructions here). A barbell isn't cheap. To do barbell rollouts, you need the bar and the plates. Buying both new from a sporting goods store can cost around $300. You might be able to find a used set for less on Ebay or Craig's List.

Both the ab wheel or barbell do an excellent job at training the abs. Choosing between the two comes down to the lifter's setting and their personal preference. If your gym doesn't carry the ab wheel, you can always use the barbell for rollouts. If space is an issue in your home gym, the wheel is a good investment. Review your needs and proceed accordingly.

Finally, I couldn't discuss all this and end it here without describing how to do a rollout. As simple as it may seem, if you go in unprepared, you might fall flat on your face. Here are quick instructions to get started for the kneeling version.

How to do a Kneeling Ab Rollout
1) Set up on your hands and knees. Place your hands on the barbell/wheel and your knees on a padded surface.
2) Begin by pushing your knees into the floor with your hands following the barbell/wheel's movement.
3) Continue pushing your knees down into the floor with your hands proceeding ahead of your head.
4) When you've reached the most extended position you can maintain without collapsing to the floor, dig your knees into the floor to pull yourself to the start position.
That's one rep. Have fun.

Related articles,

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Hand Pressure in the Bench Press

When it comes to an exercise, hands tend to take the back seat and are out of mind.  Often an individual focuses more on the muscle tension throughout the set. I've written about gripping before, however it can be more specific than that.

You can give attention to the bar pressure in your hands. In the bench press, I've found it to be in the following areas in red below:


If you've positioned the bar at the bottom of your hands near the wrist, these red areas are more or less where you can get a feel for the bar pressing into your palms. While I titled this post with bench press, this isn't exclusive to that movement. Most horizontal pressing exercises have the same feeling such as the push-up for example.

Test it out, see how it feels, and if necessary, adjust however you see to fit for yourself.

Related articles,

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Client's Review (This Made Me Happy)

I don't train many people. The individuals I do train see positives results but we work together anywhere from one month to four months. It's usually enough time to accomplish small goals and/or teach weightlifting basics.

The most recent person I had the pleasure to work with was my friend. We talk on the regular and during April he would tell me about his current exercise and diet. His progress eventually stalled and he wasn't happy. Rather than let him regress, I offered to help him with his exercise programming. I wrote the programs and demonstrated how to do basic exercises such as rows, deadlifts, squats, and presses.

That's how it went for three months. I'd ask questions about his workouts the day after as well as how he felt. If something didn't feel quite right, I'd explore it with him to troubleshoot it. I never monitored his training sessions outside the one weekly conditioning day in the program.

During mid-July, we decided everything would come to a close at the month's end. I asked if he would write a review for me to which he promptly replied,

"Total ass. That's complete."

With such a lovely response, I didn't think he was serious. Three weeks later, he sent me the following:
Start Date: 4/22/2013                     Starting Weight: 244
End Date: 7/30/2013                       End Weight: 234

Niel’s exercise regimen for our 3 month course was an overall positive experience. Each month had a specific role with the 1st month being introductory, 2nd month for building strength, and 3rd month for building volume. Although, I may have not lost all the “weight” I wanted to do by the end date, I will say that I am currently at the strongest physical state I have ever been in my life. I feel confident enough to say that the amount of weight I lost was mostly body fat. Unfortunately, I did not have a max session when I first started, but my max for bench, deadlifts, and squats are as follows:

Max Bench: 245 – Repped 135 at beginning – Now rep: 185
Max Deadlift: 315 – Repped 135 at beginning – Now rep: 205
Max Squat: 335 – Repped 135 at beginning – Now rep: 225
Max Push-Ups Before: 25 Now: 40 (I didn’t do push-ups while working with Niel)

Initially, I was skeptical of using Niel’s workout plan when I first took a look at the program. I have been working out prior to asking him for advice and just needed some simple guidelines as to what to do on certain days at the gym. So after taking a look at the program, I thought that the program was a bit weak and that the exercises I have been doing were much better than what he had offered me.

This introductory month looked like child’s play. He had lowered all the sets and the number of reps looked like a joke. But little did I know, there was a method to his madness. The first few weeks I did not follow his program as outlined and would do 10 repetitions for each exercise rather than what he had listed.

After having multiple “heated” conversations with Niel, I submitted and said that I will follow his every word until the end of workout. I was advised to stop the cardio sessions that I was having to mainly focus on the strength training at hand. I thought he was insane, but like I said he had a method to his madness. I was being stubborn and did not like what I had to do for the initial month because I felt I was taking a step backwards and wasting my time.

It wasn’t until our introductory month was over, that things finally started to pick up. The month of June has to be my most intense month ever in my life in terms of exercising. I was going to the gym 4 days a week and had 1 conditioning day at Niel’s house. So, I was working out 5 days a week which was something I requested for and felt really determined.

Within this month, magic happened. I thought the amount of times going to gym and the workout regimen itself would leave me feeling exhausted, but boy was I wrong. I was feeling amazing and stronger each day. This is the month where I really learned technique and form which greatly helped with increasing my weight every week. After completing the month of June, I was exhilarated. I went into the month of July feeling great.

The month of July was pretty much a breeze compared to last month’s regimen. However, the workout changed to focus on volume and the weight was largely increased with minimal reps. I finished this month feeling the strongest I have ever been in my life. When it came time for my max out sessions, I surpassed what I thought I was capable of and ended up doing more than I imagined.

I previously stated that when I finished my workout regimen with Niel that I am currently in my strongest, physical state that I have ever been. I would like to say that my mental state is also at the strongest it has ever been as well. To know that I could have completed such a workout and keep up with the regimen left me feeling ecstatic. You cannot imagine the amount of times I’ve tried sticking to a workout plan and being consistent with it.

Niel is a great person to work with and will fix a regimen that best suits your needs. If there is a specific exercise you do not like, let him know, and he will do his best to change it. Maybe he has an exercise listed in the program that is very inconvenient for you or you may not have access to at the gym. He definitely will help you find an alternative to the exercise. However, I do suggest giving all of his exercises a chance, even though you may not favor them. In the end, I fell in love with many of the exercise he provided and will now keep it in my regular routines.

Although he may have an “unorthodox” style to his training, it does work! You may be skeptical at first and that is exactly fine! Because if you are skeptical, I believe that truly means you care with what you are doing to your body and just want the best for yourself. Being skeptical will force you to do research and you will be surprised how much stuff out there is fake or a myth. Many people take other people’s words for specific exercises and techniques. This spreads like wildfire and soon becomes “truth” or “fact” for society. But a simple Google search will tell you how they are wrong. If you feel that Niel is steering you in the wrong direction and that he is crazy, I urge you to do some research and you will find that he may NOT be as crazy as he sounds. J
What a nice guy! When I read this the other morning, I was happy to learn he had such a positive experience.

Thank you my friend. Stay strong!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

DOWNLOAD: Training Log Spreadsheet

*Explanation of the spreadsheet follows below but for immediate download, click here.*

After reviewing the training log I made for my friend, I thought it would be useful to share. I edited and made adjustments to the original draft to create a general template for logging workouts. If you understand Excel/spreadsheet basics this should be straightforward enough to modify for your preferences (if need be). Click the image and take a look,

General template has four tabs for following a four day routine.
Copy or delete tabs for the amount of days your program calls for.

Each day allows you to enter in the,

  • Exercises
  • Date
  • RPE (delete this column if you don't use it)
  • Sets
  • Reps
  • Intraset reps & weight for each exercise, and
  • Qualitative comments

All data needs to be filled in manually with the exception of the light yellow cells in the "Date" field. Entering the first one will autofill the others. I opted to leave each cell to be entered manually to make sure individuals track changes throughout their workout if they change weights or reps. Lastly, the spreadsheet goes up to 10 sets but if you usually do less than feel free to delete the extra columns. Do more than 10 sets? Highlight an entire column, copy, then paste it before the notes column. Here's an example of two completed days:

Having the tabs grouped by "Day" allows for easier reference to the previous week.
(BW = bodyweight; 20s = 20 seconds)

The last tab can be used as a guide for warming up to a 1-rep max test (previously outlined here). In the red shaded cell, enter the weight you would like to try for your first attempt. This will automatically calculate the preceding warm-up weights. If you notice, attempts after 100% haven't been prescribed percentages or loads. These should be determined based on the effort of the 100% attempt. An easy single can handle a larger increase in weight than a challenging single where a small jump in weight can be sufficient.

The formulas can be copied or deleted for however many exercises you want to test.

For this example I wrote in the powerlifting primary exercises.
If it were the snatch and clean & jerk, you would delete the 3rd exercise group.

Remember, use this as a guideline for how to approach a 1-rep max. Adjust the weight, number of warm-up sets, and rest based on how you feel. I listed 3 attempts so it loosely resembles powerlifting and weightlifting competitions where the individual has 3 tries for the lift.

If you missed the download link at the beginning, here it is again: SPREADSHEET DOWNLOAD.

For those who decide to download and use it, feedback for improvements is greatly welcomed. Enjoy!

Monday, July 8, 2013

Training Program or Philosophy?

"Swapping the Shaolin Temple of China for the streets of London means I have to create my own temple within my mind and surround myself with an environment that can help rather than hinder."

Programs, programs, programs. They're fairly widespread in the exercise world. I can say the same extends to a few popular "rules." Actually, scratch that - there are tons of rules spouted by everyone. You know it's true because everyone gives their own opinion, whether you asked or not, when it comes to diet and exercise.

Every.
Single.
PERSON!

That aside, sometimes there's merit to them. Dismissing a person immediately is silly and with many programs you can find success stories.* Weight Watchers, P90X, and others have transformed people into their desired physiques and made them happy. That's great and I'm not going to take anything away from it. Instead, I am going to explain that a program isn't the trainee's only option. It can be satisfactory but I believe it is limited in scope.

*But also be aware that there are a number of unsuccessful clients that are not disclosed as openly as the successful clients' endeavors.*

Alternatively, a person can develop a philosophy in regards to exercise and their training. That's not to say it's superior to a program but that it has its own set of benefits. It also has its own set of limitations.

I mentioned that programs are popular but that always hasn't been the case. Off the top of my head, I believe Reg Park's 5x5 archetype is one of the earlier systems that was popular, then further promoted by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and later it spawned various derivatives - Starting Strength, Bill Starr, Mad Cow, and similar versions. From my down time reading, weightlifters predating Reg Park advocated methods more than complete plans. For example, one set of 20 breathing squats were popularly prescribed and often recommended to be super set with pullovers. There were programs but they were not as heavily marketed to the extent we see today (the internet is a big game changer).

Personally, I find pre-designed programs can only take a person so far. These types of programs tend to be made for certain populations and address their needs in a broad fashion as opposed to individualized plans. For the person who sits all day, it will focus in on the major glaring problems such as poor posture. P90X gets a person active, requires little equipment, and can be done through the guidance of the instructional videos in the comfort of your own home. When it comes to a person's own unique characteristics, those details aren't taken into consideration. The exception is when the program has been designed specifically for a person.

With that said, let me go over using a training program vs. developing a training philosophy. I'll discuss the benefits and negatives of each and show that they're not black-and-white but exist within a grey area. Neither is correct nor wrong. First, I'll begin with nonspecific programs, where nonspecific means it was not created with one particular person in mind nor did anyone need an evaluation.

PROGRAMS

THE GOOD
  • A program has little mental work on the trainee's part. Everything in the program is prescribed and laid out for the trainee to follow. It's very straightforward and involves no guess work. It's very quick and easy.
  • The plan is self-contained, and therefore there's no hopping around from exercise-to-exercise. With the variables restricted, it's easier to measure progress and the changes expected from the program. Often when there are no boundaries, it's easy to get carried away and attempt to do everything under the sun. A person can be overwhelmed if they take on too much. A program creates a targeted focus and eliminates that problem.
  • The previous point also teaches a new lifter patience. They're forced to put in the time before they see noticeable results. They have to see the program through from start to finish. Typically, programs at the very least require a 4 weeks minimum of dedicated time and effort. Realistically, it takes 3 months of consistent effort and work for changes to become apparent. For example, P90X  spans 90 days, i.e., 3 months.
  • Programs introduce new variables. The exercises, progressions, the arrangement, methods, and more are new. It's all foreign to the trainee. This is especially true when taking into account ideas not thought of before. Doing your own workouts can unknowingly limit your potential. You can learn a lot when taken out of your comfort zone.
  • Well known programs have reviews available. This is valuable because you can read other people's experiences. You can gain insight from their reviews in addition to advice they offer before selecting or starting the program. That information can help you transition into the program smoothly and give you an idea of what to expect. 

THE BAD
  • Unless a program incorporates leeway, there's little flexibility available for adjustments. Deviate too far from the prescribed outline and you're no longer doing the program. Even if modifying the program would be beneficial, the knowledge on what to change must be present.
  • After completing a program, you can either (1) repeat it, or (2) find a new program. Rinse and repeat. Repeating the same program multiple times can become stagnant and dull your interest in exercise. Not only that, but some are not meant for long term use. Don't let a program be a crutch for exercise. Program or not, one should still be able to exercise.
  • A program only triggers a certain amount of thought dealing with its design. From my own experience, this makes a person become a parrot. They regurgitate verbatim what they learned from the program. Training should be approached with an open mind with the ability to explain and adapt the variables that come with it. It's a very layered and fluid process and far from linear.
  • You might not enjoy the program! I don't know how obvious this is, but you don't have to follow to a program if you don't look forward to it. Unfortunately, individuals often seek out misery and exercise that absolutely fatigues them. They use this to gauge a program's effectiveness. It creates the incorrect association of displeasure and misery with exercise. Torturous exercise doesn't equate to effective. 

    *With all that said, there are exceptionally talented people who can write one hell of a program, such as Carter Schoffer*

PHILOSOPHY

THE GOOD
  • Developing a training philosophy allows you to become autonomous. The entire process becomes specific to your individual traits and preferences - weaknesses, strengths, likes/dislikes, leverages, schedule, and so on and so forth. You are able to hone in on your personal and unique characteristics. This allows you to create for yourself a dynamic program. It can be altered any way you see fit at any given time.
  • With a philosophy, there's more freedom in the program and less dependency on another person for exercise. Utilizing a trainer or a program can be helpful but it shouldn't be the only option. If for one reason or another you don't have access to either, you have to become self-reliant. Basic exercise and programming literacy can help in a pinch as well as for long-term goals. You won't become "lost" without a plan or trainer.  
  • The learning involved is a revealing experience. It develops a sharp eye towards understanding exercise fundamentals and its accompanying details. Even at a basic level, you can pick apart other programs and question their system before testing. It's no longer random trial-and-error.
  • In the process to develop a philosophy, you become analytical as well. Topics and ideas need to be thought about and understood before their application. As a result, this can lead to being able to teach those concepts, exercises, and various methods to another person. It's a valuable asset to be able to explain and defend your programming along with your structuring choices.
  • As another skill set - briefly mentioned in the previous point - it puts you in a position to help other trainees. Whether it's explaining something, teaching, or assisting them with their program, you become a valuable resource. As you learn, you will be able to extend the knowledge you've acquired to other people.
  • Learning is a mandatory requirement. When it comes to exercise, it's very common for individuals to have a narrow and rigid view about it. Learning will make your approach flexible and expose you to other new ideas to incorporate. 

THE BAD
  • Learning is a mandatory requirement. This is indeed good and bad because there's a learning curve. The sheer amount of variables, data, and information available in this day-and-age is extraordinary. Information from the past, present, and newly discovered can become overwhelming. This information surplus presents itself as a dilemma. More information is great, but managing all the data and making it applicable can be a difficult process.
  • Consequently, when you learn something new, you must experiment - and with exercise, there's a lot of experimentation to be done. It isn't a simple process either. Most times what you learn won't always be congruent with your personal findings. Then the real trick becomes figuring out where the discrepancy is, why action and information don't match up, and, if it's possible, to troubleshoot it so that the two do match.
  • Developing a philosophy takes times. Lots and lots of time. Results and feedback aren't instantaneous. You'll read something, test it out, and then develop a couple of preliminary thoughts about it. Repeat this a few more times and before you know it, about a month, or longer, has passed for it to fully develop into a more concrete concept that you have a grasp on. Even from there, it will continue to grow and change as you continue to learn and gain experience.
  • Eventually, you have to want to learn. This is especially true if you're not interested in teaching other people. How much you want to learn will depend on how interested you are in your own training and goals. After a certain point you may decide you don't care to research any further. Instead you choose to rely on what you have already learned as being sufficient. But remember, there will always be more to learn in the field. (That goes for any field.)
As I said earlier, neither a philosophy or program is right nor wrong. Clearly each one comes with their own benefits as well as downsides. Additionally, it's not a "pick one or the other" situation. It's perfectly fine to have a philosophy and take part in programs. Develop a philosophy along the way as you test out programs. Programs can teach you something new and can make you think about how you would modify them. If a program piques you, try it. If you'd rather do your own thing, go that route.

Personally, I shy away from programs. I don't dislike programs - in fact, this site features some - but rather any time its followers become dogmatic. Those who adhere to one program and defend it aggressively constrain their thought process and become inflexible. JC Santana describes it perfectly:

"Although our industry has advanced enormously in science and practice, much of the educational material presented as factual “gospel” (i.e., infallible truth) and the technique taught as being the “best” is theoretical and sometimes borders on mythical."

Instead of rigorously defending a viewpoint, engage in healthy open dialogue that leads to a productive discussion and the sharing of ideas. After a certain point, advance and employ methods that are appropriate. Never become too comfortable in one area and settle.

Exercise is a reactive experience and the human body is very strong and resilient. With strength training, the body can become a powerful organic machine - one that adapts to challenges as well as provide feedback. Be attuned to this feedback to make the choices that maximize the most benefit you can get out of your training. Don't get bogged down by the little things. Flow with the changes and feedback and understand there isn't a single solution to follow. That's where strength lies.

A philosophy won't only create a strong body, but a strong mind as well.

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Related articles,

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Visiting India, Part 2

Massive Radha-Krishna in a nearby 
office building lobby

Continuing from last time, this post will be a general overview of my observations from my trip to India.

The easiest way to describe it is that it's a different culture. Plain and simple. I grew up with a basic understanding of the culture and it made me quick to pick up mannerisms and behavior while I was there. On the other hand take a random person raised in the West and plop them in India and they will think it's a mad zoo.
Urbanization

There are a few metropolises (extremely congested), some cities, and a whole lot of villages. Very few areas had the semblance of a town. Good housing structures run 1-to-3 rooms large with a kitchen and a flat toilet. People on the lower end of the SES spectrum have a lot less space.

Depending on where you look you can see the introduction of basic modern housing utilities. The neighboring town-city has introduced gas lines directly to homes in our village - presuming your house meets the provider's requirements. Some people still use gas tanks connected to their dual stove top burners but that will become obsolete because of the new gas lines. Predating the tanks, cooking was done on an open fire.

Place the fueling agents in the crater, ignite, then
rest your cookware on top of the open flame to begin cooking

Another village we visited didn't have gas lines but direct water lines to the homes. In contrast, our village relies on an underground well that has water pumped to the homes during mid-morning. There's progress in the country but it's slow and very dependent on the region. As a result, many of the infrastructures present here and in other developed countries are not as widespread in India. The mix of urban and rural areas don't have connecting utility systems. Take rest stops for example. Because many are situated out in the middle of nowhere on the highway, the facilities are latrine-based due to the fact there is no sewer system. Unfortunately, this is the case with a number of basic services.
10 years ago I noticed people openly littered on the ground. It was a very minor problem then and little trash was noticeable outdoors. 10 years made a huge difference because there is a ton of garbage strewn about everywhere. The increase in non-biodegradeable materials - namely plastic - combined with the lack of garbage processing centers and nonexistent waste disposal practices are major contributors to the pollution. The problem is further magnified due to the large population. The only method of waste disposal I saw was garbage burning. Whatever natural scenery remains in India is in jeopardy of disappearing if these conditions continue or worsen over time.

Roads, Highways, and Everything on Them

I initially thought to exclude this section of the trip. I thought to myself, "Why bother? It's not that important." Then I thought about it again and realized it - yes it is important. Highways look almost identical to the ones we have here and appear very new and modern. Not all portions of it are like that but I'd say close to 90% of them are similar. When you get to the local roads then everything becomes a big mess.

Road systems seem to be reliant on whatever pathways were previously in place. These avenues are shared by everyone and everything. Motorcycles, bikes, cars, rickshaws, pedestrians, water buffalo, goats, you name it. I'd presume these paths were originally made for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles but that's no longer the case. Dense areas have motorcycles and cars attempting to squeeze through crowds of people.

While there are cars available, not everyone can afford one nor do they need it unless traveling long distances. On the other hand, tourists need someone to chauffeur them around because they're unfamiliar with the locale. Consequently, this has given rise and value to the driver profession. It's a lucrative business and career choice if an individual can drive well. It's similar to being a truck driver - drive frequently for extended periods of time except that they're transporting people from point A to point B. However, instead of trucks, 5-9 seat passenger vehicles are popular. Some resemble a minivan, others are more of a mini-hummer in appearance. Often you could spot the Toyota Qualis on the roads:

Typical packed car

Why buy a massive car? The more passengers you can fit the more money you make. Even with less passengers, such as our small party of three, we had quite a bit of luggage leaving and going to the airport. It wouldn't have fit in a regular-sized sedan. Large vehicles make sense but their use in villages and small towns is an issue. The aggressive driving style is dangerous because rules and penalties are not in place and are not enforced by authorities.

People's Living

India has over a billion people. With a population of that size, the SES stratum is diverse. This actually made it difficult to distinguish who was indigent at times. For instance, an individual who earns 100 rupees* a day - roughly equivalent to 2 US dollars - is considered to have a low income. Yet, the same person can live in a one room home without any transportation means, but own a standard definition TV and a cellphone. It's a bit tricky to define "destitute" when odd variables like those are thrown into the mix. In fact, one night a neighbor and I were talking about how everyone in the village is glued to their TV at night which is contrary to a few years earlier. Everyone use to sit outside and talk to one another. A TV in each home has become the norm whereas ten years ago our home was the only one with a TV. As you can tell, that's quite the opposite!

*One dollar is roughly equivalent to 50-55 rupees depending on its current value. 50 is used as a base for easy calculations.

To better put things into perspective, I'll go over a few values and costs of goods I noticed there and discussed with my mother. First she explained that 100 rupees is a lot and is considered the same as $20 here (but remember the true currency conversion is $2). Our family's okay with giving money as a gift to a relative whether it's a birthday, Christmas, or a small occasion. This is usually when a niece or nephew is given about $20 as a nice little gift. Typically, 100 rupees isn't given to someone as a gift. It's more common to give around 10 rupees. Several prices I recall were,
  • 1lb. of chicken = 200-300 rupees
  • 1lb. of goat = 500 rupees 
  • 20oz. of cow's milk everyday for 3 weeks = 700-800 rupees 
  • full tank of diesel or petroleum fuel for a car = over 1,000 rupees
If you think about it on a $20-base scale, that is incredibly expensive! Going by those numbers, a pound of chicken would cost a minimum of $40 here in NJ. That's more than four times higher than its current cost. A gallon of milk? For one week, it's about $40 (231 rupees for 7 days [700/21 days times 7 days in a week]). The cost of living for the citizens of India is much higher than our standards.

Yet despite limited resources and technology, by our living criteria, Indians manage to do pretty damn well. They create efficiency out of inefficiency. The phrase "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" perfectly illustrates this concept.

The dabbawala highlight how efficient and resourceful Indians truly can be. Recall last time I wrote about how women are able to carry heavy bulky items on their head as they walk. No one owns a wheelbarrow to transport stuff around the village. Another example is the use of cow dung. It's shaped into discs and set to dry. Then in conjunction with wood it's used as a burning agent (wood alone in India is not enough to keep a fire lit). That actually doesn't seem efficient at all but my dad told me before detergent was available the ashes from the fire were used to wash clothes. To my surprise he said the laundry came out very clean.

While the dried cakes are not good for the atmosphere,
this must eliminate a great deal of animal waste

Anyone who knows how driving is in India would exclaim it's erratic and absolutely crazy. To a certain extent it's true. A whole lot of honking and one car over taking another doesn't make sense. On the contrary there is a rudimentary style of how one should drive: use your horns and high beams liberally to inform the nearby vehicle of your presence or to move aside so that traffic can flow smoothly. And slow down or stop if something is in front of you. I didn't claim it was a great way of driving but it works for them.

Patriarchy

While there are very efficient processes present in the country, the huge glaring obstacle I saw was the lack of women's presence. India is a patriarchal nation. The women are tough as nails and religious scriptures highlight their value but their role in society is minimal. From what I know, women in the state of Gujarat are treated better than women in the other states (Rajasthan being the other exception). However, I'm not talking about oppression or abuse. Outside of being a stay-at-home mom, only a fraction of women are visible in the workplace. Hell, we didn't even see one driving a car in the entire 3 weeks. But the status of women became glaringly obvious when we were out shopping for women's saree. These huge fashion stores had men as their sales associates. That's not to say men can't sell women's clothing or be in the fashion industry....but not a single woman was a sales associate? That's funky. Only one store had women employed and they were in charge of administrative tasks (tracking customer orders, noting tailor requests, payments, phones, miscellaneous duties).

Outside of that, most jobs appear to be dominated by men. I won't say all jobs because I did hear neighbors mention a few women go to work in newly built factories because of the good pay. We even came across one 22 year old who runs a coconut business with her mom. And while we didn't see women driving cars, 10 years ago only men were riding around on motorcycles and scooters but now it's more common to see women dipping and diving through traffic. Like I said earlier, there's progress in the country but it's slow and dependent on the region.

People as People

Being visitors, we met quite a few people during our stay. We also visited others who weren't able to come to our neck of the woods. Let me just say that when you visit another person's home that their hospitality is unbelievable. They are EXTREMELY kind and welcoming to their guests. They want to treat them well and give them the most pleasant experience possible. At times it can be overwhelming. One memorable instance was when I stopped off at an extended relative's home after spending the afternoon out in the city. They were being so over-the-top kind to me that at one point I was beginning to feel awkward. They told me,

"Come! Come! You've been out all day. You must be tired."
Yes! Here lie down. Put your feet up.
Let me get you fresh coconut water."

You know, things of that nature.

Strangely though, there are no set formal manners, if any. No please, excuse me, your welcome, bless you, or any phrase of that sort. If you burp, you burp. No one cares that you did it because it happens and no one minds it. "Thank you" does exist in Hindi as "dhanyavaad" but no one uses the expression. They definitely need "excuse me" because people have no words to say if they want someone to step aside. I saw one guy simply waiting for another person to move. Aside from that, it did make me think if we're sometimes overly polite here.

But unfortunately, just because those individuals are kind to their guests doesn't mean they're kind to everyone. Sadly, attitudes towards a person are based on their background. If you don't come from a certain status/background or position of "power" (for a lack of a better term) then you will be treated poorly. What makes it worse is that it's tolerated and expected to an extent. I wouldn't call it discrimination but maybe it is and I'm blind to the truth. Either way it's not good for the people.
I've written a lot detailing my trip. However, words on a screen cannot convey the true experience of visiting India. I left out an incredible amount of information and what I did share only scratched the surface of the adventure. Trust me when I say a lot happened.

But it was amazing. When I got back, the trip felt like a fleeting memory that didn't even happen.

It dawned upon me that I was in India one early morning. My dad asked me if I wanted to visit our family's farm lots. We hiked through the tall grass and thickets then began to walk on a narrow dirt path. About a quarter mile in, I looked behind and in front of me. Not a soul could be seen. There was only my dad treading ahead of me pointing out and explaining the various fruit trees and how it was when he grew up, feeling the red sun warming the cool air, and listening to the peacocks' high pitch calls.

That was India.

Related content,
Creative Commons License
Niel Patel's Blog by Niel K. Patel is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.