Ayurveda Life School Podcast

The 3 Gunas (or qualities)- Sattva, Rajas, Tamas play an important role in personality and mental health. By understanding how the doshas interact with the gunas you will better understand what energy is involved when you feel anxious, angry or depressed. You will also learn how to move up the Ladder of Enlightenment from Tamas to Rajas and finally Sattva-pure clarity and peace. If you want to wor...

We've all experienced it, the struggle to eliminate. But how can you overcome this battle and create daily, regular, easy bowel movements? Does constipation vary by dosha? And why does it even matter? And could constipation be creating a negative mind set? In this episode we cover all of these topics as well as look at remedies and treatments for all 3 types of constipation. You will come away wit...

Is coffee Ayurveda approved? Well, it depends. Like so many Ayurvedic questions, whether or not you should drink coffee are based on many factors including your dosha, imbalances, season, time of day and even how recently you ate. Listen for a simplified way to look at coffee and adjust your drinking habits to match your dosha for more balance. And if you are ready to break free of coffee, I'll sh...

The gift of breath brings us life, energy, vitality, connection and health. At this time when so many of us are wearing masks and so aware of our breath, adopting a healthy breathe practice is so important. In this episode we discuss the pathology of breath from an Ayurvedic perspective, how the doshas are involved, several common disorders that create poor respiration along with herbal and lifest...

Kitchari or Kichadi, is one of the classic Ayurveda dishes. Eaten for comfort, cleansing, nourishment and just because it tastes good, adding this staple to your diet will go a long way to healing your body. In this episode I share the many benefits of Kitchari and tips on how to prepare it for each dosha and imbalances. Tri-doshic Kitchari Recipe: Ingredients: ½ cup white basmati rice 1 cup split...

In Ayurveda we know that health begins with digestion. But disease also begins within the digestive tract. 6 Stages of disease map out the development of illness from Accumulation, Aggravation, Overflow, Relocation, Manifestation and Diversification. By knowing these stages for each dosha, you can better identify where you are on the path of disease and how to heal from the root cause. If you are...

The fire and water are rising. Are you ready? As we begin to transition into summer with the celebration of Summer Solstice yesterday, this is perfect time to begin to shift our rhythms to match the season of heat. In this episode I share signs of excess Pitta along with foods and lifestyle practices, exercise and breath work to begin to incorporate to keep your cool this summer. This is the time...

Gas. Something we often try to hide, and a true disturbance to our life. In Ayurveda we learn that gas isn't just an annoyance, it is a major sign of a health disorder in the making and something to take seriously. There are 3 types of gas and indigestion based on dosha. In this episode we learn all about the different types of gas and indigestion, the causes and symptoms, and most importantly, st...

In Ayurveda we focus so often on doshic imbalances, and might lose sight of where we are actually headed-the goal at the end of this health journey. In this episode we compare the common imbalances of each dosha with the state of balance so you can see what a balanced dosha looks and feels like. I also cover the 7 Indicators of Health that you can examine in your own body and mind as you seek grea...

The use of oil for healing and therapeutic treatments in Ayurveda can often seem mysterious and complicated. In this episode we look at internal and external oil usage, various ways to apply oil, the best oils for each dosha and how to know when you need more or less. Oils by Dosha: Vata- Sesame, Almond Pitta- Sunflower, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil Kapha- Safflower, Mustard Resources for medicated ghee...

Pitta governs summer and in the northern hemisphere it is coming soon so let's start getting ready to govern our own internal heat by learning more about the 5 Pitta Subdoshas. Pachaka Sadhaka Alochaka Bhrajaka Ranjaka These 5 subdoshas govern every aspect of metabolism and digestion, allowing us to use what we need and let go of toxins and waste. In this episode we learn about each subdosha and h...

In Ayurveda we study 10 pairs of opposing qualities. Understanding how the elements and doshas relate to these 20 qualities gives you access to healing yourself. You don't need a book or teacher to tell you how to bring your body into balance. You simply need to learn and understand these qualities or Gunas. In this episode we explore these Gunas and relate them to your dosha so you can see them i...

Fertility rates in developed nations are dropping. Overall health of women and connection to their menstrual cycles is declining. Ayurveda has answers to these challenging problems. In this episode we visit with Heather Grzych, board certified Ayurvedic Practitioner who has a message to share with women. "I want to help you improve your overall health and your chances for conception so that you wi...

Anxiety is an emotion that each of us experiences from time to time. But when this Vata based emotion starts to interfere with our daily activities, there are clear steps we can take to soothe vata and decrease anxiety. In this podcast we discuss steps to take in a moment of great anxiety as well as daily tools to keep anxiety from taking over our lives. Herbal remedies also aid in decreasing vata...

In this episode I answer questions that have been submitted by listeners. We cover everything from napping, what fasting looks like for each dosha, Triphala, what your bowel movements should look like, and drinking your water warm. These and more questions are answered here. If you have questions, submit them through social media and I'll answer them on our next Q&A session. Plus, order a FREE...

Namaste is used so often, but do you truly understand how connected this concept is to your peace and connection to yourself and others? And how does compassion fit in? The roots of Ayurveda teach us that the primordial cause of disease is forgetting our true nature of spirit. When we remember who we are-spirit beings-and see others that same way, we are able to experience compassion and practice...

Pivot Habits are habits that shift the entire trajectory of your health. Eating dinner lighter and earlier is a key Pivot Habit that impacts your sleep, digestion, energy, breath, aging process and even your mental state. In this episode we talk about how to structure your day to succeed at the Pivot Habit, how agni and ama factor in, and simple ways to incorporate an earlier dinner. Plus, order a...

Diet, Sleep, Sexual Energy. By balancing and regulating these three vital foundational pillars true joy and strength is possible. In this episode we explore a SOUL diet, getting to bed by 10 pm, and how to manage our sexual energy (Brahmacharya) for a healthy body and mind. Really learn about how to eat, sleep and use sexual activity to create balance. If you are ready to jump fully into Ayurveda,...

Life becomes a richer, deeper, more beautiful experience when we become mindful and present to each moment. Trials are lighter, struggles lose their intensity and our joy can start to rise up when we practice awareness and acceptance. In this podcast we discuss the difference between meditation and mindfulness, learn 5 key aspects of mindfulness to cultivate, and see that simply eating with awaren...

Resiliency is the ability to face the trials and challenges of life, bend, grown and come through even stronger. Ojas is the subtle form of Kapha and our source of internal resiliency, strength, and contentment. Right now is the time to build Ojas, to create the deep reserves we need to face the challenges of life. Together with strengthening Agni, when we develop Ojas we will feel calm, content,...

Santosha-the cultivation of contentment and gratitude ultimately leads us to love and happiness. While we may not be able to change the circumstances of our life, we can choose the lens through which we view reality. In this episode we talk about gratitude, contentment, love and tapping into our deepest truths to uncover our nature beyond the external physical world. Real healing and happiness is...

Anxiety is at an all time high right now, and we are facing so much change and uncertainty. But one area we can become grounded and certain is within our own minds, hearts and bodies. In this episode I talk about Vata based Anxiety/Depression and how the natural intelligence can remain stable and solid even with chaos and change around us. Listen in to learn about the symptoms to watch for, what m...

Today we look at stress and how psychological stress is viewed in Ayurveda. Learn how to take the stress created by the current global situation and create balance in our own minds. The 4 subdoshas we discuss today include: Samana Vayu Udana Vayu Sadhaka Pitta Tarpaka Kapha We CAN find balance and peace in our thoughts to weather the chaos around us. References: Fred Rogers, 'The World According t...

During this time of global crisis and change, coming back to the foundations of who we are, and who will become through this storm is crucial. In this first of 5 episodes about moving through this pandemic and global change together, we will talk about how this impacts our doshic balance, how to find compassion, and why our thoughts are so important to observe and deliberately choose to help us mo...

As we face a global concern for the growing Coronavirus, we can take action and work to bolster our Ojas. Ojas is the immunity and vitality in our bodies and a vital part of health. In this podcast we discuss Ayurvedic protocols to raise our immunity to ward off illness and viruses including herbs and practices that can keep us healthy. Herbs to assist our immune system we discuss include: Guduchi...