The Nourished Nervous System

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nourish Nervous System , I am joined by Karen Canham , board-certified wellness practitioner and founder of Karen Ann Wellness , for a deep and grounded conversation on nervous system regulation, somatic healing, and what it truly means to heal beyond willpower. Karen shares her personal journey — from recovering from anorexia, to climbing the corporate ladd...

Send us Fan Mail In this New Year episode of Nourish the Nervous System , we explore winter not as a time for pushing forward or reinventing ourselves, but as a season of subtlety, listening, and inward refinement. Rather than loud resolutions or high-energy goals, winter invites a quieter kind of awareness — one that whispers instead of shouts. Through the Ayurvedic lens of Vata dosha and the San...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nourished Nervous System , I’m joined by Nima Rahmany , chiropractor, educator, and creator of the Becoming Trigger-Proof methodology, for a deep and illuminating conversation about people pleasing, trauma responses, attachment patterns, and how nervous system healing transforms our relationships — with others and with ourselves. Nima shares his personal jou...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m concluding our three-part series on Ayurveda and perimenopause with a deep dive into ojas — the subtle essence that governs vitality, immunity, resilience, and emotional steadiness. We’re recording in the dark days of winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, and I begin by reflecting on how seasonal rhythms mirror the inner transitions many of us experience dur...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of The Nourished Nervous System , I’m joined by Alyx Coble-Frakes , founder of The Agenda , for a powerful and wide-ranging conversation about menstrual cycles, perimenopause, and what happens when women stop overriding their bodies. This episode lands perfectly in the middle of my three-part series on Ayurveda and perimenopause, expanding the conversation beyon...

Send us Fan Mail In this second episode of my perimenopause series, we explore Agni — your digestive and metabolic fire — and why it plays such a central role in the perimenopause transition.  Ayurveda teaches that perimenopause isn’t just a hormonal shift. It’s a metabolic one.  A deep recalibration in how the body digests food, processes experience, regulates energy, and maintains balance. Today...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with self-compassion teacher, somatic coach, IFS practitioner, and soon-to-be author Soulla Demetriou .   We explore what it really means to come home to yourself, befriend your inner world, and move through life with more ease, compassion, and truth. In this conversation, we talk about: • Soulla’s story How her early experiences with anxiety and panic...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we step into the tender, powerful transition of perimenopause through the Ayurvedic lens—exploring rasa datu , the first and most foundational tissue of the body. I share how Ayurveda views perimenopause not as a decline, but as a sacred portal from the Pitta stage of life into the Vata years—one filled with potential for wisdom, clarity, insight, and deeper no...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Nourished Nervous System, I welcome the insightful Darshana Avila, a trauma-informed somatic educator, practitioner, sexological bodyworker and international speaker.  Darshana takes us through her transformative journey from a corporate career to pioneering work in erotic wholeness, which fuses somatics, sex and intimacy, and trauma healing.  We dive deep i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'The Nourished Nervous System', I welcome Dr. Diane Mueller, a distinguished authority in sexual wellness with dual doctorates in naturopathic medicine and acupuncture and oriental medicine.  Dr. Mueller delves into the importance of understanding sexual health, discussing her personal journey and professional insights into libido and long-term relatio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'The Nourished Nervous System', we delve into the Ayurvedic approach to boosting immunity.  We explore key concepts such as Agni (digestive fire), Ojas (vital immunity), and the seven Dhatus (tissue layers) which play a crucial role in maintaining health and vitality.  The episode also provides practical tips on incorporating Ayurvedic herbs like ginge...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nourished Nervous System, I welcome somatic therapist, educator, and trauma specialist Julie MacAdam.  Together, we dive into the interplay between dreams and the creative process for personal and collective evolution.  Julie shares her journey through yoga, Ayurveda, and various integrative practices that led to her current work.  We discuss the benefits of...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I explore the profound connection between our senses and well-being from both somatic and Ayurvedic perspectives.  I delve into how our senses act as doorways between the inner and outer worlds, influencing our physiological states and overall health.  I discuss the physiological and neurological underpinnings of sensory perception, the importance of mindful senso...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'The Nourished Nervous System,' I welcome special guest Christine Eck, an Ayurvedic health consultant, birth and postpartum doula, and founder of the Center for Sacred Window Studies.  We discuss the importance of postpartum care through the lens of Ayurveda, focusing on Vata dosha, the concept of the sacred postpartum window, and how specific Ayurvedi...

Send us Fan Mail As we fully enter into "Vata Season" here in the Northeast, I thought we would revisit the basics this week for anyone new to Ayurveda or needing a refresher on vata dosha.   In Ayurvedic philosophy, Vata refers to a constitution made up of the air and space elements.  In this episode we will go a bit deeper into vata.  We will talk about  The qualities of vata How vata...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I delve into the challenging balance between 'doing' and 'being'.  I discuss our cultural obsession with productivity and how it even extends to our self-care practices, creating a tension between implementing health routines and simply being present.  Sharing some personal anecdotes and reflections, I emphasize the importance of rest and the n...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I welcome Donna Brooks, a respected somatic movement therapist, yoga therapist, and educator with 40 years of experience.  Donna shares her background in yoga and somatic movement, her personal journey with pelvic floor issues, and her unique insights into how somatic movement can aid in pelvic floor health.  We discuss the physical and emotional aspects of pelvic...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Nourish Nervous System podcast, I discuss the importance of rhythm and rituals in maintaining balance, especially as we transition from summer to autumn.  I explore definitions of rhythm from different sources and how it applies to daily life and nature.  I emphasize the significance of rest and how creating small personal rituals can help ground and regulat...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is the exploration of the importance of rhythm and ritual in daily life for mental health.  I'm joined by Jocelyn Pepe, a mental health researcher, coach, and founder of TrU, who shares her journey from burnout to balance, emphasizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.  We discuss the impact of societal pressures, the myth of powering through, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I explore the parallels between the transition from summer to fall and the perimenopausal phase of life. Drawing on Ayurvedic wisdom, the discussion centers on how seasonal changes mirror the shifts in our bodies and minds, and offers practical strategies for finding balance during times of transition. In this episode: The connection between seasonal cycles and lif...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nourished Nervous System, I am so grateful to have writer and teacher Catherine Simone Gray join us to discuss her journey through motherhood, intimate violence, and reclaiming pleasure.  Catherine talks about her memoir 'Proud Flesh,' and how her experiences have shaped her understanding of body wisdom, healing, and sexuality.  We explore her proc...

Send us Fan Mail Vibrancy is a glow, a sparkle and an aura of excitement.  To feel truly vibrant is a robust, grounded and vital feeling.  Do you feel vibrant?  If not, when was the last time you truly felt vibrant?  In Ayurvedic thought the feeling of vibrancy and vitality is connected to ojas, a biological protoplasmic substance that governs immunity and vitality in the body. In this episode: Wh...

Send us Fan Mail How often do you sit with a cup of herbal tea and really feel the effects that it has in your body?  And if you have experienced this, what did you notice?   Traditionally, through many ancient cultures plants have been allies to humans.  Meditating with plants and fostering relationship with plants can be a profound way to potentiate both the plants and the meditation practice. I...

Send us Fan Mail We've all heard the adage, "patience is a virtue",  but I think of patience as an integral aspect of resilience.  In this episode, I share personal reflections on recent challenges involving summer illnesses, rescheduling, and navigating the transitions between Pitta and Vata seasons.  Drawing parallels between my gardening experiences and broader life processes, I...

Send us Fan Mail The health of the pelvic floor is more nuanced than just doing Kegels. In this episode of the Nourished Nervous System podcast, I'm joined by my dear friend Kay'aleya from The Herbal Womb Wisdom Podcast.  We delve into the pelvic floor, exploring its physiology, connection to breath, the belly, and the nervous system.  Kay'a shares her journey as an herbalist and bo...