Everyday Ayurveda Takeaways

Finding an Authentic Ayurveda Mentor

For the first time in my life, on a sunny April day in 2019, I helped hold space for nurses at a holistic retreat in Woodside, California. The day was beautifully arranged by Cultivating Self, a nonprofit centered around the healing of healers. The space we were at was large, inviting, and had a warm energy surrounding it. Upon entering, the majesticy of the space was illuminated as the fresh rays from the sun reflected inside the home.

It was a day immersed in holistic healing. There was yoga, sound meditation, an Ayurvedic lunch, walk in nature, time for creating art, and lastly a lesson in Ayurveda by Dr. Bhaswati Bhattacharya. Not only did I get to guide a yoga class, I got to receive healing energy in all sorts of forms during the day. Physically, through the walk and lunch. Mentally through the Ayurveda lesson. Emotionally through art. Spiritually through the sound meditation. It was a day of pure, intentional healing — more of what I think is needed in the Western, modern day world.

A highlight from that time was hearing Dr. Bhaswati talk about Ayurveda. She planted the seed of my curiosity of the sister science of Yoga. Over the last year, I have become more curious about Ayurveda, reading Sahara Rose Ketabi’s book on Ayurveda. Recently, upon being in the presence of Dr. Bhaswati for a small farmers conference panel we were on together, I was amazed yet again by her presence, knowledge, and inspiration she instilled in me. The Universe pinged at me that this was an Ayurveda mentor I could really learn from. A dear friend of mine had shared her book, and upon reading mere seconds of a sample — the words aligned with every fiber of my being, so I bought it.

I devoured the first 60 pages. It was an incredible energy transmission — to able to read, absorb, and digest the information. Although I have highlighted and taken notes in my own book, I want to distill the information here to those looking to tap into their sacred daily routines with more discipline and discernment with natural approaches to health and wellness, thanks to the help of Dr. Bhaswati Bhattacharya. I highly recommend to buy her book: Everyday Ayurveda!

Quotes from Dr. Baswati

“Brahma muhurta — rising with the sun — actually helps keep my body strong.” —

“My prescriptions began to include a section for lifestyle counseling specific to the patient. I began to prescribe fewer drugs, surgeries and tests and more herbs, oils, routines and yoga asanas.” -

“If we can return to being connected to the land, we can heal conditions we thought incurable.” -

“To all who are acquainted with Ayurveda, these are the hours of vata, when lightness of being is present, when the soul can most easily be accessed by our heavy, thick, material minds.”

“Brahma, the energy of the creator, as the day is created consciously in the moments just before dawn.”

“Ayurveda teaches that these morning hours have a lightness of being. They should be spent in that space between mind and body, where our spirit attunes us most easily to our life purpose.”

“The morning vata brings lightness, clarity, coolness, and a subtle energy into the body and mind.”

“From 4 to 6 a.m., we should ideally spend time in reflection, peace, nature, meditation, yoga, and similar activities that unite the mind and spirit with the body and the life we have created.”

Morning Routine: Dinacharya (Daily Routine)

Sacred, early morning moments

• Rise early (4 - 6 am)

• While in bed, spend time in silence

  • Unite body and mind

    • Begin deep breathing and imagine a golden light beam directly into your heart space. Notice how the golden light melts all around your body, coating the front, back, and sides of you. The top of your head, your neck, back, legs, heels, soles of the feet, tops of the feet, ankles, shins, knees, thighs, pelvis, low belly, abdomen, chest, obliques, collarbones, neck, cheeks, eyes, ears, forehead, top of the head. All glowing in a golden ray of light. Visualize a stream of compassion and love pouring to you from all of your spiritual teachers and from all realized beings.

    • Rub palms to generate heat and gently massage face. Repeat, deliver energy to all parts of body.

    • Say a prayer or express gratitude.

  • Sit on edge of bed, touch the ground as a sign of respect to Mother Earth.

    • How is your digestion?

  • Wash hands

  • Drink a handful of lukewarm water (tip: boil & store water in a copper container overnight)

• Spend 1-2 hours with yourself

  • Meditation / breathwork

  • Yoga: Grounding exercise for your dosha

  • Wash hands

  • Wash face

  • Scrape tongue

How to balance Vata (focus on)..

• Lungs > Breathing

  • Cooling / Calming Breath

  • Activating Breath

• Vessels > Circulation of blood

  • Movement

• Joints > Physical movement

  • Walking, yoga, hiking

• Colon > Movement of wind in the gut

  • Healthy gut - How you process food.

• Brain and nerves > Nerve impulses

  • How are brain circuits staying active?