Karo was introduced to Ayurveda in the 1990's in Germany and now living in New York she continues her journey with Ayurveda. She shares this journey of healing and studying Ayurveda and how it has shaped her life. We discuss the following: How Karo discovered Ayurveda. Her healing journey. How Ayurveda reconnected her with nature. The life lessons learned with Ayurveda. Her continuing Ayurvedic studies. * Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, Mount Madonna Institute. Receive a $200 discount ...
Mar 16, 2023•34 min•Ep. 279
Rasa Vaha Srotas are the channels carrying rasa which is the first tissue produced from the elemental juice formed from our digested food. Rasa vaha srotas includes the plasma, the fluid portion of the blood in the cardiovascular system and the lymphatic system. In this episode Colette details the many functions of this plasma carrying channel in the body including; the transport of nutrients and respiratory gases, aiding in the absorption of fat, maintaining water-electrolyte balance, regulatin...
Mar 09, 2023•15 min•Ep. 278
Ayurveda teaches us that we are a part of nature and not separate from it. We are made up of the same 5 elements as nature or the panchamahabhoutas as they’re called in Sanskrit; space, air, fire, water and earth. Our unique dosha ratio of Vata, Pitta and Kapha in our individual constitution determines the energies and qualities in our body. Each season will result in a shift in the 5 panchmahabhoutas depending on the climate and this shift in the elements and qualities of our environment will e...
Mar 02, 2023•27 min•Ep. 277
Colette continues her series on the channels (srotas) of the body. This is the third episode in this series: In episode #272 she did an introduction to the channels of the body and in that episode she focused on the first input channel, anna vaha srotas (the food channel). In episode #274 she focused on the second input channel, prana vaha srotas (the respiratory channel). In this episode, Colette focuses on the important role of udaka vaha srotas (the hydration channel) in the body and mind as ...
Feb 23, 2023•21 min•Ep. 276
Kamalesh Ginger Hooven is interim Provost of Mount Madonna Institute, where she is the Director of the Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy program. Kamalesh returns to the podcast to discuss the energy of prana, our vital life force energy and pranayama, breathing practices. This is a great follow up to the previous podcast episode #274 The Respiratory System (Prana Vaha Srotas) where Colette explains in detail how the prana vaha srotas carries this vital energy through the respiratory system. Colette chats ...
Feb 16, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 275
In episode #272 Colette did an introduction to the srotas or channels of the body and in that episode she focused on the anna vaha srotas, the food carrying channels. She explained the journey from the intake of food at the mouth through to the small intestine, explaining the doshas and subdoshas involved along the way and their role in transforming food into energy. In this episode, Colette focuses on another input channel, prana vaha srotas, the respiratory system. Prana vaha srotas works with...
Feb 09, 2023•22 min•Ep. 274
Divya Alter is a certified nutritional consultant, educator, and chef in the Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda tradition. Divya and her husband Prentiss founded Divya’s Kitchen, a plant-based restaurant in New York City that reimagines classic dishes through an Ayurvedic lens. Divya’s brand has since expanded to include a line of plant-based retail food products, educational videos and two books. She is the author of What to Eat for How You Feel: The New Ayurvedic Kitchen and Joy of Balance: An Ayurvedic G...
Feb 02, 2023•54 min•Ep. 273
The Srotas are channels in the body through which the doshas of Vata, Pitta and Kapha move. There are many types of srotas in the body from the subtle energetic channels called nadis to the largest channel in the body, maha srotas, the gastrointestinal tract. In this episode Colette explains the main channels of the body and she focuses on anna vaha srotas, the food channel. She details what happens when we eat and the journey through the food channel and the subdoshas involved which includes: b...
Jan 26, 2023•18 min•Ep. 272
Colette takes questions from the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast community and she answers the following questions: Ayurvedic view on intermittent fasting or time restricted eating and which dosha would benefit the most/least? My family has been suffering with coughs and congestion since early Autumn, what are some natural Ayurvedic tips to help relieve these symptoms and what could be the root cause? Vata type cough - Make a soothing tea with 1 tsp raw honey, 1/2 tsp of ground turmeric & 1/2 t...
Jan 19, 2023•21 min•Ep. 271
Dr. Sujatha Kekada is the Head Physician and Co-Founder of AmrtaSiddhi Ayurvedic Clinic in Ubud, Bali. She is a certified Ayurvedic Doctor (B.A.M.S) with a degree from Rajiv Gandhi University, Karnataka, India. Dr. Sujatha’s profound understanding of Ayurvedic Medicine and her deep love for plants is the basis for her exceptional ability to diagnose the root causes of diseases and to find effective remedies. In this episode Colette chats with Dr. Sujatha about the Ayurvedic view on osteopenia an...
Jan 12, 2023•51 min•Ep. 270
Jean shares her Ayurvedic healing journey which has resulted in life-changing decisions as she moves from a life of busyness and ambition to a simpler, more fulfilling life. Colette discusses the following with Jean: Jean's "radical sabbatical" and discovery of Yoga and Ayurveda. Her Digestive Reset Cleanse experience. Gaining clarity on her next stage of life. The urge to purge body and environment. Jean's life-changing experience. * Thank you to the sponsor of this episode, Mount Madonna Insti...
Jan 05, 2023•30 min•Ep. 269
Ayurveda teaches us that it is our disconnection from nature and the Circadian rhythm which can lead to imbalances in the body and mind. In studying Ayurveda, we understand that we are a part of nature and we are dependent on nature and therefore, planetary health is a natural and necessary extension of our holistic health. In this solo episode Colette shares ideas on how we can set eco-friendly intentions for 2023 by making some small changes in our daily lives with the goal to connect with nat...
Dec 29, 2022•33 min•Ep. 268
Terra Rafael has worked in women's health since 1981, first as a home birth midwife, then as an Ayurveda Practitioner. She shares her years of experience with us in this episode and Colette chats with Terra about the following topics: What is infertility. Preparing the body for conception. What foods, herbs, oils, therapies are best to nourish the reproductive tissues. How physical blockages and depletion can affect fertility. Necessities for healthy conception. * Thanks to the sponsor of this e...
Dec 22, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 267
Vaidya Jayarajan Kodikannath or Dr. J as he's known is a regular guest on the podcast. He is a classically trained Ayurveda doctor and an accomplished teacher representing a lineage of Ayurveda Practitioners from Kerala, India. Dr. J is CEO of Kerala Ayurveda (USA) and is President of NAMA the National Ayurveda Medical Association in the U.S. In this episode we talk about his new book 'The Parent’s Complete Guide to Ayurveda’ which won the 2022 National Parenting Product Award by NAPPA (National...
Dec 15, 2022•54 min•Ep. 266
Kate Siraj and Joanna Webber are both Ayurvedic practitioners and are the co-founders of The Ayurveda Academy. In this episode we discuss the importance of tuning into the subtle signals of imbalance from our body and mind. Understanding these early stages of aggravation of the doshas can help us to prevent dis-ease. By implementing small dietary and lifestyle adjustments we can pacify the doshas and bring the body and mind back into balance. We discuss the following: The subtle physical and men...
Dec 08, 2022•43 min•Ep. 265
Kaela has a passion for health and fitness and enjoyed working as a personal trainer, however, once she discovered Ayurveda it has led her on a journey which has impacted her whole life. In this episode, Kaela shares her continuing Ayurvedic journey: Kaela's introduction to holistic health via a skin condition. Her different experiences on the Digestive Reset Cleanse. Learning to tune in and listen to her body. The impact of changing her morning and evening routines. Studying Ayurveda and bringi...
Dec 01, 2022•35 min•Ep. 264
Colette continues her discussion on the Ayurvedic view of the menstrual cycle from episode #256 where she talked about the menstrual cycle, the doshas involved at different stages of the cycle and the gunas or qualities that you may experience throughout your cycle. In that episode she also discussed how PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome is a sign of aggravation in the doshas and gunas along with how to use the principle of opposites to pacify any imbalances. In this episode Colette covers other men...
Nov 24, 2022•25 min•Ep. 263
Katie first contacted Colette in October 2021 to participate in the group cleanse. She had endured a lot of stress in recent months with her job and a serious car accident. In this episode Katie shares her healing and educational journey with Ayurveda. Colette and Katie discusses the following: Katie's introduction to Ayurveda. How stress was affecting her health and wellbeing. Katie's experience on her first Digestive Reset Cleanse. Learning to accept nurturing and prioritising self-care. How K...
Nov 17, 2022•34 min•Ep. 262
Ayurvedic educator Mary Thompson returns to the podcast to discuss tips on how to manage our mental health during the stressful holiday season. Stress can manifest in many ways over the holidays, be it family dynamics, economical, travel, social stress, loneliness etc. In this episode Colette chats with Mary about the following: Building resilience to buffer against stress. Navigating uncomfortable conversations/situations. How each dosha reacts to stress. Recognising the mental imbalances of ra...
Nov 10, 2022•55 min•Ep. 261
Vaidya Kamya Pillai is a specialist in Ayurveda, with more than a decade of clinical experience. Coming from a family of teachers and healers, it has always been a calling as well as a privilege for her to choose this noble profession and serve the community. She believes in helping her clients through creative practical tools using the principles of Ayurveda and Yoga. Colette chats with Vaidya Kamya about the common endocrine disorder, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). They discuss the follow...
Nov 03, 2022•55 min•Ep. 260
Dr. Paul Dugliss is a pioneer in the American medical system being one of the first physicians to integrate the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda into modern healthcare. In this episode Dr. Dugliss chats with Colette about emotional digestion and they discuss the following: What is emotional digestion. How do we know if we have old emotional baggage. What inhibits the digestion of emotions. What happens to unprocessed emotions in the body. How being heart-centered can help us have awareness, receive th...
Oct 27, 2022•49 min•Ep. 259
In this solo episode Colette shares the experience of her recent trip to India, where she spent three weeks continuing her Ayurveda studies. She discusses the following: Her 10 day internship at an Ayuredic Health Village in Kerala which included: Visits to local Ayurvedic clinics In-house practicums Visit to the herbal gardens Ayurvedic medicine factory visit. Outreach day in the local community. Cooking classes, temple visits and more! Five days as a rogi at an Ayurvedic resort in Bangalore. *...
Oct 20, 2022•24 min•Ep. 258
Kamalesh Ginger Hooven is interim Provost of Mount Madonna Institute, a regionally accredited college located on the central coast of California where she is the Director of the Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy program. In this episode Colette chats with Kamalesh about the mind and in particular, balancing the gunas/qualities of the mind during Vata season. They discuss the following: How the mind is affected during Vata season. The three gunas/qualities of the mind. The four minds: Chitta Buddhi Manas Ah...
Oct 13, 2022•55 min•Ep. 257
In this episode Colette discusses the role the doshas of Vata, Pitta and Kapha play in our menstrual cycle. What doshas are dominant at the different stages of the cycle, how dosha aggravations can manifest in our cycle and how to pacify these aggravations. She discusses the following: The Vata phase of the menstrual cycle. The Kapha phase of the menstrual cycle. The Pitta phase of the menstrual cycle. How aggravations of the doshas can affect the gunas/qualities and how they may manifest in the...
Oct 06, 2022•30 min•Ep. 256
Dr. Sujatha Kekada from Amrtasiddhi Ayurvedic Clinic in Bali is my guest today. In this episode I chat with Dr. Sujatha about the Ayurvedic approach to weight loss and we discuss the following: Understanding our unique constitution and accepting our natural body shape. The four main causes for weight gain and the doshas involved. Weight gain during perimenopause and its role. Important diet and lifestyle guidelines for each dosha. Dr. Sujatha's approach to managing a weight loss treatment progra...
Sep 29, 2022•51 min•Ep. 255
Colette takes questions from the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast Community and answers the following questions: Betty: I’m enjoying learning about Ayurveda from your podcast and in particular, I’m learning a lot about how to manage my Vata dosha. I understand that routine is very important for Vata and I have great intentions, however, I find it to figure out what type of routines to focus on. Any tips would be very helpful. Thank you! Carla: I’m doing a daily abhyanga oil massage and really like i...
Sep 22, 2022•25 min•Ep. 254
Ritucharya is the Ayurvedic practice of changing our diet and lifestyle routines with the seasons in order to maintain balance and prevent dis-ease in the body or mind. "Ritu" means season and "charya" means regimen or discipline. In this episode Colette chats with Jen Rand of the Mount Madonna Institute about the seasonal guidelines for the coming seasons of Autumn in the Northern hemisphere and Spring in the Southern hemisphere. They discuss the following: The five elements and our connection ...
Sep 15, 2022•44 min•Ep. 253
Divya Alter is a certified nutritional consultant, educator, and chef. In this episode she discusses snacking with Colette and in particular, Ayurveda's view on snacking. They discuss the following: The general principles of good snacking. Having awareness around the impulse behind your snack i.e. hunger, thirst, emotions etc. The importance of routine in eating, good food combinations and nutritious foods. The problem with ultra-processed snacks. Good snack options Snacking with the seasons. Ho...
Sep 08, 2022•59 min•Ep. 252
Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh, is an Ayurveda Wellness Expert on a mission to show how Ayurveda is a health catalyst to achieve optimal wellness in modern life. In this episode, Colette chats with Dr. Avanti about hormonal health and how Ayurveda can help to prevent and heal hormone dysregulation. They discuss the following: Dr. Avanti's personal journey with Western medicine and Ayurveda. Zooming in on the HPA Axis (hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis). HPA Axis dysregulation. Implementing Ayurvedic p...
Sep 01, 2022•50 min•Ep. 251
Monica is a busy single mother with her own prenatal massage and yoga business. She had been practicing yoga for many years and when she discovered Ayurveda it deeply resonated with her. Monica connected with Colette in 2021 to help her tailor the Ayurvedic wisdom to her needs and help her implement the practices into her life. She then went forward to do the Ayurvedic Digestive Reset Cleanse in July 2022. In this episode they discuss the following: Discovering Ayurveda in her Yoga practice. Bal...
Aug 25, 2022•37 min•Ep. 250
