It takes someone as feisty and fearless as Mallika Sarabhai to do all this and more. In this frank portrayal of her extraordinary life, Mallika doesn't hold back in talking about her 'thirty-year obsession with being thin; her addictions like smoking and how she 'hypnotised' her way out of it; her fascination with alternate therapies like Pranik healing, Ayurveda and colour therapy, and the beauty treatments she uses for 'future-proofing' her body.
She speaks with equal candour about her battles with grief and depression-when she lost her beloved father, the space scientist Vikram Sarabhai, in 1971; a painful break-up with a man she loved; and her ups and downs with her children. The loss of her mother, dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai, in 2016, left her bereft; yoga, dance, transcendental meditation and NVC Non-violent Communication-were some of the ways that she coped.
Laced with humour and an earthy wisdom, In Free Fall is all about coming to terms with yourself and your body and finding the lifestyle that works for you. And how to make mistakes, pick yourself up and carry on. Never preachy, this 'self-help' memoir delivers an immensely useful message for anyone who wants good health-and happiness.
Mallika Sarabhai is a dancer, actor and activist. As one of India's leading choreographers and dancers, she has been co-director of the Darpana Academy for Performing Arts for nearly forty years. She is also a columnist and co-founder of Mapin Publishing.
She first came to international notice as an actress when she played the role of Draupadi in Peter Brook's The Mahabharata for five years, first in French and then English, performing in France, Germany and the United States amongst other countries.
An activist for education, human rights and women's empowerment, she has created numerous stage, television and online productions which have raised awareness, highlighted crucial issues and advocated change, developing her own contemporary dance vocabulary to create short and full-length works that have been presented throughout India and in over fifty countries across the world.
Over the three decades that I have known Mallika, initially as a client, and then as a friend whose friendship I value, I have always been struck by her zest for life, her clear thinking mind and her capacity to adapt herself to changing situations. Her ability to take charge of the various challenges life throws at her, and turn things around so she can emerge smiling, has always amazed me.
And anyone who knows this spirited woman knows that she has played all the roles in her life, from daughter and mother, to dancer, actress, philanthropist and seeker, with aplomb, using grit and determination to fulfil each role to the best of her ability.
This book brings all her varied selves together, and knits the story of her life through her constant seeking for wellness and good health, not only for herself, but for her family and the extended commuity that forms her dance-based organisation, Darpana.
With no bashfulness or coy sidestepping, Mallika talks about her mistakes, her misadventures with diets as an adolescent, her adventures into Ayurveda, naturopathy, homeopathy and even hypnotism. She shares the benefits that each brought to her life.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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