FAQs

Ayurveda is considered the first known medical system in the world. It originates from ancient India, and is a holistic approach to health and wellness. Some call it the sister science of yoga, which is how many are being introduced to this great wealth of knowledge. By definition Ayurveda is the science of life <<Ayur=life, Veda=science/knowledge>>. It provides a container for understanding yourself not just physically and mentally, but emotionally and spiritually as well. It’s a belief system based on the elements <<earth, fire, water, air, and ether>> and is dependent on a deep awareness and connection with yourself and nature.

Is there guidance around nutrition? Of course. Exercise? Yup. But what drew me into Ayurveda the most was it's awareness around what I consider that which can't be seen but can be felt- the emotional world, the nervous system, and the spiritual realm. It takes into consideration data far beyond the physical realm- yes what you eat is important, but also- how are you eating? Are you enjoying the food, and can you sense when you're full? This deep connection to the elements goes beyond just how you consume it, but how else are you taking in the elements in your life? A fast paced, high stress work life? A more sedentary, TV and snacks approach? Or what about lots of travel and change? All of this impacts who you are and your health. And Ayurveda takes all of it into consideration.

Why do we step onto our yoga mats? We are seeking something beyond the physical. And this is the world that I am drawn to the most. How are you feeling? What are the different things that are impacting how good you feel- work, family, the weather, saying yes when you really mean no? How much freedom and agency do you have to make small but impactful changes to shift your life to become more aligned?

Ayurveda is based on the idea that each one of us was born with a specific distribution of the elements, known as our constitution or prakruti. The more fiery intense folks like myself, we’re known as having more of the dosha pitta <fire and earth>. The more earthy, grounded folks are known as kapha <think earth and water>, and the more airy, whimsical friends are considered more vata <think air and ether>. Now, we each have all of the five elements but in different amounts. And as we live our lives this distribution can change. Factors such as where you live, what stage of life you are in, what kind of diet you have, and the quality of your relationships all can impact your dosha, and often times leave you out of balance from your true nature. Ayurveda is a calling back to your true self. It is all about remembering who you are, and giving you the path to get back.

I personally discovered my passion for Ayurveda during my yoga teacher training back in 2016. Of course I was drawn to the personality type tests of the doshas as any child of the 90's would be. But what really drew me in was how this ancient practice to approaching life was so easily applicable to the modern day. It goes beyond the wellness world’s green juices and cleanses, and puts more of an emphasis on nourishment. How are you caring for yourself and why? We know that wellness is not a one size fits all model, and it’s not even as simple as which dosha is predominant in your life. But what emotions are most prevalent, how do you go out of balance- do you get anxious, angry or depressed? And how do you soothe yourself when these feelings arise?

Ayurveda examines all aspects of your life, and gives you simple tools, rituals and strategies to bring you back into alignment with your original nature. When we know ourselves well, and meet our needs we can create a life with more health, more joy and more ease.

I was specifically drawn to the Tantric lineage of Ayurveda. This specific lineage came as a response to intensely dark and hard times (sound familiar..?) and the response was to continue to do the spiritual work of diving into your blocks or shadows, but to balance this heaviness out with remembering and staying firmly established in that which is beautiful and good in life. Tantra, may call up images in your mind of the Karma Sutras, a pleasure based practice! And that’s what I want to make sure we keep in mind. It’s important to do the work on ourselves, but to not forget the good that is all around us. To be deeply rooted and connected to the ease and simplicity of the first warm spring day, the smile that comes across your face when a dear friend is calling, or even the pleasure in sharing a meal with a loved one. These things happen every day, but are we truly appreciating them, or is our mind and heart focused on the external world that we cannot control?

In feminine form Ayurveda, the mission is to rebalance the masculine and feminine energies within us. The yin and yang, the doing and the resting, the movement and the stillness. It’s a practice of knowing our nervous system, what makes us feel guarded and tense, and what also allows us to soften and feel at ease. It’s knowing that there is power in calling in these more calming, grounding energies.

My Ayurvedic approach is for the homemaker- the person with outer responsibilities like a job, a family, bills to pay and mouths to feed. My hope is that these teachings and guidance allow you to become a modern day tantrica- one that is able to digest the challenges and truly enjoy the pleasurable moments. This can’t be done without awareness of the nervous system, the internal system designed to keep you safe. I will teach you how to become attuned to the body’s physical, mental and emotional response to stress and triggers, and how to use the information provided by these activations to inform your day to day decisions, as well as guide you in how to allow these moments of sympathetic response to pass, so we don’t get caught in a prolonged activated state.

While these teachings I will share with you won’t prevent the universe from testing you by throwing hardships your way, it will give you the skills and awareness you need to ride the wave with empathy and self compassion. It will allow you to have the strength and self awareness to endure the storm, and come out not only stronger but with an integration of the lessons life is actually just trying to teach you

While each session is individually curated per your protocol, there are a few things you will definitely experience. I like to start with some form of meditation or nervous system check to transition us into the work together. I will share with you a plethora of ways to meditate and work with your nervous system until we find something you enjoy and could see yourself doing independently.

While I will have specifics planned based on our initial consult, I like to leave space for whatever has come up for you, and as a former educator I will make sure to meet you where you are.

During each session we will work to unpack one specific aspect and together create a plan that you will actually be able to- maybe even want to- do. I believe understanding your capacity is the key to making this process digestable and sustainable. We will end each session with specific objectives for you to work to incorporate which will be emailed to you after our session.