Everyday Ayurveda with Kate

We are talking about exercise today.

In this episode, I answer some of the many questions I receive about the best kinds of exercise, how much you need, and how to adapt it as you age. We explore the Ayurvedic approach to exercising and the aspects of your unique makeup that are essential to consider before starting a movement routine. I also share very openly about my journey and experiments over the last decades as an active person beginning to notice some signs of aging.

Exercise in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, exercise is about harmonizing the mind and body, promoting joy and purpose in movement while adhering to the principle of moderation. It is vital for maintaining balance in the body, especially as we transition into the Vata stage of life. Weight-bearing exercises strengthen Mamsa (muscle tissue) and support physical stability. Regular exercise helps preserve the Dhatus (tissue layers), enhancing mobility and maintaining bone density. A balanced exercise routine should include strength training and mobility work.

Elemental Body Types

• Vata Types tend to experience lightness, dryness, and coldness. They often do not require extensive exercise and benefit from gentle activities like Tai Chi, as their sensitive nervous systems may become fatigued with excessive exertion.
• Pitta Types possess a fiery element and generally thrive on exercise. They usually prefer colder environments and should be cautious about overheating when exercising. Balanced routines are ideal for them to prevent burnout.
• Kapha Types are heavier and benefit significantly from vigorous exercise, as it rids the body of excess water and increases vitality. Regular movement is crucial for this group to prevent mental and physical stagnation.

Seasonal Considerations for Exercise

• Winter is a time for increased activity to combat the cold, which can constrict bodily functions. Exercising in the cold helps invigorate the body.
• Spring encourages movement to detoxify the body after the winter heaviness, making it a good time for cleansing activities.
• Summer The warm weather decreases the need for structured exercise, as our circulation is already active. Swimming or biking are ideal during this season.
• Fall is a transitional period. We may need to be more mindful of our joints and reduce the intensity of our workouts until we acclimate to the cooler temperatures.

Individualized Fitness Goals

Athletes and those with specific fitness aspirations should tailor their routines to their unique needs and seasonal changes. Balancing vigorous activities with adequate rest and nutrition is essential for avoiding injuries and making sustainable progress toward fitness goals.

Movement with Age

As we age, exercise shifts from a casual activity to a crucial requirement for staying mobile in daily life. Regular movement and weight-bearing exercises are essential for maintaining strength and flexibility as we age since muscle mass naturally decreases after 50.

Recognizing Declines in Strength

Monitoring your strength is vital for spotting potential issues early. Strength training and focusing on upper body strength can help with physical tasks and improve your well-being as you age.

Finding Balance in Exercise

Ayurveda promotes balance in physical activity. Balanced exercise routines should focus on burning calories, building strength and flexibility, and enhancing mobility.

Joy in Movement

Movement can be joyful, especially when it is pain-free. Our mental well-being is crucial, and physical activity can alleviate mental stagnation. Incorporating outdoor activities with yoga and flow-based practices allows for diverse movements to enhance our happiness and health.

The Timing of Exercise

Ayurveda also considers the timing of exercise throughout the day. Morning workouts are optimal for circulation and detoxification. Exercising on an empty stomach can enhance detox benefits, but those with fast metabolisms may need a light snack. Evening exercise can also be beneficial, but we should be mindful of meal timing to ensure proper digestion and recovery.

Embracing Variety and Personalization in Exercise

Consider your age and body type when choosing an exercise routine. As the elements shift over time, we need to recognize that the type and amount of exercise we need may change.

Links and Resources:

Ayurvedic Living Community Membership

Intro to Ayurveda Course

Seasonal Movement Practice Bundle

Lunar Yoga Ritual

I am excited to welcome DhyanaMasla as my guest on the podcast today.

Dhyana is the author of Ayurveda Mama, a book about conception, pregnancy, and postpartum care. She grew up in a community deeply rooted in Yoga and Ayurveda, which you can sense through her spirit-based worldview and how she values parenthood.

In this episode, we dive into her spirit-centered perspective, going beyond diet and recipes to explore how we can nourish ourselves through the transitions we experience in life.

Join us for a truly inspiring, insightful, and captivating conversation with DhyanaMasla.

Ayurvedic Living Community Membership

Website: www.ayurvedahealthretreat.com

Ayurveda Health Retreat

Shout out to Soul Space, our online community focused on yoga, Ayurveda, and joy-filled living.

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover Practices and Perspectives to Reduce Your Stress!

Join us to explore effective techniques and insights for managing stress and finding balance in your daily life. Take the first step towards a more relaxed and centered you!

Women and Stress Workshop

We are talking about seasonal cleansing today.

In Ayurveda, practicing seasonal cleansing is essential for maintaining balance within the body throughout the year. In this episode, we break down what the cleanse entails, how it works, how to do it, and when to avoid it. You will also learn to make kitchari, the go-to dish for Ayurvedic cleanses.

Ayurvedic Living Community Membership

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover Practices and Perspectives to Reduce Your Stress!

Join us to explore effective techniques and insights for managing stress and finding balance in your daily life. Take the first step towards a more relaxed and centered you!

Women and Stress Workshop

I am delighted to have Dr. Claudia Welch joining me as my guest on the podcast today.

Shifting Focus on Women's Health

The conversation on women's health initially focused on external factors. However, there is currently more awareness of the importance of internal nourishment and rest. Rest and nourishment are crucial for maintaining balance with all the external distractions that draw our attention outward. Nurturing inner stability creates ripples of positivity, much like the various cycles of nature.

Inner Attention Versus External Focus

We need to focus on our internal motivations rather than our external actions. While actions like cooking or caregiving may seem nourishing, the internal mindset driving those actions is what truly matters. In Ayurveda, nurturing our inner world is essential as it helps reduce the impact of fears and external seductions, allowing for more balanced and grounded lives.

Shifting Interests in Health

Over time, there has been a shift from focusing on the biological details of health, like hormones, to a broader view of how people live their lives. According to Eastern philosophy, health imbalances stem from internal belief systems, fears, and seductions. That is why we need to address the root causes of those imbalances rather than focusing on biological symptoms for lasting health.

Hormone Management: HRT vs. Bioidentical Hormones

Claudia emphasizes the benefits of bioidentical hormones over traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT), explaining that while lifestyle, diet, and herbal remedies can help with menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia, they may not offer immediate relief for those with a history of poor health habits. Even though those symptoms are not life-threatening, the stress they cause can have long-term health impacts. If bioidentical hormones are inaccessible, HRT might be an acceptable alternative despite the associated risks.

The Uncertainty of Medical Science

Claudia is skeptical about overly confident medical opinions and encourages everyone to be cautious and self-aware when using hormone therapy. In the decades she spent studying hormones, she learned that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Stress and Hormonal Imbalance in Midlife

Stress, especially during midlife, significantly impacts our hormonal balance. The emotional challenges many women face in their late 40s and 50s, like the fear of aging and death, can amplify stress. The demands of caring for children and aging parents often worsen these hormonal imbalances.

Confronting the Fear of Death

Reflecting on a personal experience in India, Claudia once believed she did not fear death. However, she felt afraid when she faced the possibility of dying from hepatitis. She feels it is essential for us to intentionally engage with the concept of death as a natural part of life.

The Practice of Dying Daily

Claudia has come to embrace the idea of dying daily, a practice from various spiritual traditions. That means we need to let go of our professional, personal, or emotional attachments if we want to learn about the impermanence of life. By surrendering to that process, we can reduce our fear of death while supporting our hormonal health.

Embracing Loss and Personal Transformation

Letting go means accepting that we cannot control everything. As we age, we must make peace with the inevitable losses we will face. Even though the void our losses leave can feel overwhelming, it ultimately leads to transformation and growth.

Menopause Support and Facing Mortality

Claudia created the Menopause Chronicles, a community to support one another and share experiences for women navigating menopause. She is also excited to offer a course on death and dying this October to help people approach mortality with peace and acceptance.

Links and Resources:

Ayurvedic Living Community Membership

Dr. Welch’s Website

Book: Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life

Course: Part I: Hormonal Balance & Stagnation

Menopause Chronicles 

Satsangam's Vedic Threads 

Death & Dying Course (Coming October 19) 

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover Practices and Perspectives to Reduce Your Stress!

Join us to explore effective techniques and insights for managing stress and finding balance in your daily life. Take the first step towards a more relaxed and centered you!

Women and Stress Workshop

I am delighted to have Julia Geer joining me on the podcast today.

Julia is my AI teacher. We met when she was a student at one of the Ayurveda schools where I teach, and now she offers a program to help solopreneurs like me, especially those in the wellness space, automate their businesses using AI.

As the founder of The Gear Shift, Julia blends cutting-edge AI with ancient wellness practices shaped by her 20 years of experience in healthcare, where she helped commercialize the first FDA-approved AI technology for clinical use. She is also a certified yoga therapist, Ayurvedic health counselor, and mindfulness meditation teacher.

With her holistic approach to business and personal growth, Julia makes the journey into AI surprisingly relevant to everyday tasks like cooking. In this episode, she explains how to use tools like ChatGPT and other AI engines to simplify meal planning. She even teaches us how to Ayurveda-size meals and tailor recipes to fit the season or your body type. While we also touch on AI ethics, we focus on practical and hands-on tips.

This episode is full of surprises, and I know you will love it! 

Ayurvedic Living Community Membership

Amplify with AI

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover Practices and Perspectives to Reduce Your Stress!

Join us to explore effective techniques and insights for managing stress and finding balance in your daily life. Take the first step towards a more relaxed and centered you!

Women and Stress Workshop

Conversations about the mind can sometimes feel oppressive or daunting, especially as we begin exploring what goes on there.

The mind is a system mostly comprised of space, filled with various elements, some good and others not. Creating positive space around you in simple and enjoyable ways will also uplift your internal spaces.

So, today, in the second part of our series on Ayurveda and the mind, we focus on ways to cultivate good space. Stay tuned for practical ideas to enhance your surroundings and inner world.

Ayurvedic Living Community Membership

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover Practices and Perspectives to Reduce Your Stress!

Join us to explore effective techniques and insights for managing stress and finding balance in your daily life. Take the first step towards a more relaxed and centered you!

Women and Stress Workshop

Today, I address your questions about anxiety and depression.

I am excited to explore this important and extensive topic, as Ayurveda offers a nuanced and refined perspective on mental wellness.

In this discussion, I share practical and helpful strategies to guide you in considering and managing the mental landscape. You will definitely not want to miss it, so stay tuned for more!

Ayurvedic Living Community Membership

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover Practices and Perspectives to Reduce Your Stress!

Join us to explore effective techniques and insights for managing stress and finding balance in your daily life. Take the first step towards a more relaxed and centered you!

Women and Stress Workshop

Today, I am delighted to have Rich Ray, my partner of 11 years, joining me as a guest on the podcast.

Rich and I had our first proper conversation at a yoga party, even though we had known each other for several years through the yoga community. Rich shared that he had spent four years living in a monastery about a decade earlier. That piqued my interest and made me want to know him better.

Stay tuned to hear his fascinating story and learn about the benefits of yoga and meditation.

Links and Resources:

Ayurvedic Living Community Membership

Connect with Rich Ray:

On his website

On Instagram

The RayBeam Podcast

Rich's teacher is Cheri Huber at Living Compassion

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover Practices and Perspectives to Reduce Your Stress!

Join us to explore effective techniques and insights for managing stress and finding balance in your daily life. Take the first step towards a more relaxed and centered you!

Women and Stress Workshop

Today, we are diving into circadian rhythms.

Did you know that establishing a consistent daily rhythm can enhance your mood, sleep, digestion, and almost every aspect of your well-being?

Striving for a healthy daily rhythm is not just a scientific endeavor. It is also a magical and mysterious experience governed by the celestial movements of cosmic entities like the sun and moon.

Stay tuned to learn how aligning your daily rhythms with the cosmos can transform your life.

Mentioned in this episode:

Beat the Heat with the Summer Self-Care Workshop!

Get my recommendations on the top food choices, herbs, and daily practices to balance summer heat and inflammation. 

Summer Self Care Workshop

In this episode, Ayurvedic practitioner Kate O'Donnell dives into the pivotal role of digestion in overall health. She explains how, according to Ayurveda, all diseases originate in the gut due to toxins, or "ama," formed from poorly digested food. Kate highlights the importance of a strong digestive fire, or "agni," to prevent toxin buildup and ensure proper nourishment. She offers practical tips on avoiding cold foods, overeating, and snacking between meals. Additionally, she touches on the impact of stress and emotional eating on digestion. Kate encourages mindful eating habits and meal spacing to support optimal digestive health.

Mentioned in this episode:

Beat the Heat with the Summer Self-Care Workshop!

Get my recommendations on the top food choices, herbs, and daily practices to balance summer heat and inflammation. 

Summer Self Care Workshop