Elements of Ayurveda Podcast

Marlysa Sullivan is a physiotherapist and yoga therapist with over 15 years of experience working with people suffering with chronic pain conditions. She has researched Aristotle's concept of eudaimonic wellbeing and Yoga's spiritual wellbeing as a way to help restore a sense of wellbeing to the individual living with chronic pain.  We discuss the following: How chronic pain affect a persons life....

Generation Z are between the ages of 10-25 years and are in their formative years of school/college/early working years where they're learning about the world, shaping their values and worldview. Amy, a college professor for the past 25 years, shares her concerns about this generation and the effect the current Covid crisis, protests against systemic racism etc. is having on the mental health of t...

The Paleovedic Diet is the name of Dr. Akil's book in which he combines the core principles of Paleo with the science of Ayurveda. Colette discusses the following topics with Dr. Akil: Dr. Akil's personal healing journey with Ayurveda. What is the Paleo diet. Combining Paleo with the individualised approach of Ayurveda. The Paleovedic view on; Simple vs. complex carbs Good fats vs. bad fats Dairy...

Colette chats with Heather Grzych about her new book The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility. They discuss the following: Heather's story and how she came to write a book on fertility. Why there's such a problem with fertility in the West today. The four factors of conception according to Ayurveda - Bija (seed) Ritu (season) Ksetra (region/soil) Ambu (water/nutrition) The importance of the preconception...

Colette chats with Vaidya Jayarajan Kodikannath about the current protests in the US (and worldwide in support) demanding an end to systemic racism and demanding fundamental human rights for all. In this episode they discuss the following: Why it's so important that injustices are acknowledged and recognised before any healing can begin. From an Ayurvedic perspective, what qualities are at play in...

The Yamas & Niyamas are moral codes or right ways of living that originate from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The Yoga Sutras are a guide on how to live in order to lead a conscious, spiritual life. Amy Wheeler teaches us about these moral codes. The 5 Yamas discussed are: Ahimsa - non-violence Satya - truth Asteya - no stealing Brahmacharya - moderation Aparigraha - non-possessiveness The 5 Niyam...

In the West, menopause is often perceived as this dreaded event in a woman's life. A time of uncontrollable symptoms which can result in hormonal imbalances, hot flashes, mood swings, etc. However, Ayurveda has a different perspective and gives guidelines on how to remain in balance and experience an empowering transition into the wisdom stage of life! Colette chats with Dr. Sujatha about this Ayu...

Colette answers questions submitted by the Elements community and the various topics covered are: Tips for Spring allergies. Maintaining immunity and energy when transitioning into Winter. The correct temperature for drinking water. Using oil when you have a cough. Abhyanga oil massage tips. Vertigo. Eating for a Vata/Pitta constitution. Find more details on Colette's Digestive Reset Cleanse here...

The gallbladder is a little pear-shaped pouch which is often overlooked, however, in this episode Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum explains the importance of the gallbladder and how it can be the hidden culprit in many illnesses. Colette and Dr. Teitelbaum discuss the following: The critical role the gallbladder plays in the body. What is gallbladder sludge & its symptoms. What happens when the gallbladder...

Colette chats with Marlysa Sullivan about t he Polyvagal Theory and Marlysa describes the three neural platforms and five global states of the autonomic nervous system according to this theory. They also discuss the relationship of the mental gunas of sattva, rajas and tamas to the neural platforms and how they influence one another. They cover the following topics: What is the autonomic nervous s...

Our mental health has a big impact on our immunity and in this episode Colette chats with Ayurvedic Doctor Victor Briere about the following: Ayurveda's teachings on the interconnection between the body and the mind. The connection between our mind and the sense organs. What is the immune system and how it works. How our mental health effects our immunity. The effect of Rajas and Tamas on the immu...

Dr. Sujatha Kekada of the Amrtasiddhi Ayurvedic Clinic in Ubud, Bali chats with Colette about respiratory health. They discuss the following: What dosha & subdoshas are involved in respiration. The Ayurvedic perspective on asthma. The respiratory problems that can manifest in each dosha. Natural treatments for each dosha imbalance. Self-care practices for respiratory health.  Types of food and coo...

Amy and I discuss the rollercoaster of emotions, reactions and needs during this time of home confinement with Covid-19. We discuss the following: Collective global grieving. The need to work together on a global scale. Disfunction in our foundational structures and institutions. Our connection to Mother Nature. The range of emotions experienced. Taking it day-by-day. Routine to create a stable fo...

Colette chats with Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary about her new book Sound Medicine: How to use the ancient science of sound to heal the body and mind. In this book Dr. Chaudhary introduces us to Siddha medicine which is over 8,000 years old and how the Siddha's deep connection to nature resulted in vibrational medicine, using mantras to heal the body and mind.  Colette and Dr. Chaudhary discuss the follow...

Ayurveda offers some wonderful tips on natural pain relievers made with ingredients that you may already have in your home! Colette reached out to the Elements of Ayurveda podcast Facebook group to see what type of pain they wanted natural relief for and here are the topics covered: Headaches and menstrual pain Migraines Sciatic nerve pain Joint pain Rheumatoid arthritis Back pain Trigeminal neura...

Colette and Amy discuss the current upheaval that this virus has caused in our lives and the world. They discuss the following: The importance of accepting the emotions that arise. Taking time daily to connect with a practice that provides a solid foundation for you. Self-care practices to help maintain balance. Finding a sense of purpose. How routine and structure provide a sense of calm. Looking...

In this episode Colette talks with Dr. Sujatha of the Amrtasiddhi Ayurvedic Clinic in Bali about autoimmune disorders. A condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body and wrongfully identifies healthy cells/tissues as a foreign invader. We discuss the following: What is an autoimmune disorder. Ama - the bedrock of dis-ease in the body and mind. The influence of ama on the doshas. H...

Fear is an emotional response due to a real or perceived threat.  Our brain is hardwired for fear and it's part of normal brain function. It kept our ancestors alive when they had to hunt for their food. However, many people today are in a regular state of fear and this is affecting their nervous system, digestion, immunity, mental health and there are many other health impacts. In this episode Am...

Ayurveda teaches us the importance of seasonal regimes to assist us in maintaining balance and preventing dis-ease during the change of the seasons, when the changes in weather can have a huge impact on us physically and mentally. With these suggested Ritucharya or seasonal guidelines, we can: Maintain balance of the doshas of Vata, Pitta & Kapha Maintain balance of the mental gunas of Sattva, Raj...

Colette answers the following questions from members of the Elements community: Dreams - "I am working very hard on balancing Vata. In my dreams, however, I am overly active, bombarded by lots of stimulation (in a busy market place, or behind on my homework or I'm lost somewhere etc.) and wake up feeling like I've been through the wringer. Do dreams also affect the doshas?" Tongue Diagnosis - "Can...

Acharya Shunya is an internationally recognised lineage-based spiritual teacher who awakens health and consciousness with Vedic spiritual teachings and Ayurveda lifestyle. Colette asks Acharya Shunya about her recent talk titled: "Thus Spoke the Sages: Ayurvedic Medicine on Environmental Issues and Dharma". They discuss the following: How the ancient Ayurvedic texts warn us about our current envir...

Vaidya Jayarajan is the Academy Director of Kerala Ayurveda USA. Dr. J comes from a lineage of Ayurvedic Practitioners and he is also someone who is as the forefront of bringing Ayurveda into the mainstream. Therefore, I wanted to take advantage of all this knowledge and experience and ask Dr. J the following questions: What is the current status of Ayurveda in the US? Are you concerned about losi...

Non-acceptance of situations/emotions can hold us hostage in healing and moving forward with our lives. In this episode, Amy and I discuss the following: The importance of acceptance. Our responsibility in acceptance. How resistance can affect our health. Being curious about your triggers and reactions. Colette's acceptance story. Typical reactions to conflict by Vata, Pitta and Kapha Join Colette...

The Vata dosha is responsible for all movement, creativity and inspiration. Vata is considered the leader of the doshas as it's the only dosha that can move, therefore it's responsible for moving Pitta and Vata around the body. The Vata dosha brings everything to life! Colette and Ayurvedic Doctor Victor Briere delve deep into the Vata dosha in this episode and they cover the following topics: Vat...

How do we maintain balance physically and mentally in order to have a stable foundation which will prevent dis-ease in the body and mind? We focus a lot on our food and it's very important of course as food can be medicine or it can create an aggravation of the doshas and result in dis-ease. However, we also need to look at  our daily habits, our environment and behaviour as all of these influence...