Dr. Manas Kshirsagar  is an Ayurvedic doctor who comes from a Rig Vedic Brahman tradition with an extensive Ayurvedic background. He graduated from Aloha Ayurveda Academy and the Maharishi University of Management. He's an acclaimed wellness consultant, Ayurvedic consultant and health educator. He provides a holistic approach to medicine, including nutrition, yoga, meditation, detoxification, and effective stress management.

Today we're diving into a topic that's reshaping how we think about modern health, the profound connection between our gut and our mind. You've probably heard the phrase trust your gut, but do you know what makes your gut so trustworthy? Modern science says it is our second brain: the Enteric Nervous System.

The ENS is a vast network of over a hundred million neurons embedded in the walls of our digestive tract, mostly in the small intestine and colon. That's seven to eight times more neurons than in the spinal cord, which contains around 13.5 million. Our brain contains around 86 billion neurons. Our gut does not just follow orders from the brain.

It processes reacts and even remembers patterns and digestion and emotion. It functions independently of the brain, but also communicates with it locally via the vagus nerve. It communicates with the rest of the body through nerves. It uses neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine and actually produces 90 to 95% of serotonin.

Both the brain and gut play a major role in mood immunity and digestion both have their own reflexes, sensory neurons and motor neurons, and both respond to stress and emotion, like how anxiety can cause diarrhea. Your gut feels emotional shifts even before your brain processes them, which is why you might get a gut feeling like butterflies or stomach upset during stress.

And Ayurveda, this beautifully mirrors the idea that Agni or digestive fire is central to not just physical health, but mental health and emotional resilience. The gut is also a home for Ojas, our vital immunity and vitality. So if our ENS is inflamed or disrupted, our whole system is compromised. In today's episode, we'll explore the enteric nervous system, the complex neural network in your belly that's ultimately connected to your brain.

We'll unpack how digestive orders like IBS, bloating and constipation are not just physical issues, but often reflections of deeper emotional patterns. We'll also look at how chronic stress, anxiety, and depression can disrupt our gut's natural rhythm, and how Ayurveda and modern science together offer tools for healing from the inside out.

Whether you've struggled with digestion, mood, or both, this episode offers insights to help you feel more grounded, nourished, and connected with your own inner intelligence. 

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 Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar is one of the most prominent and academically accomplished Ayurvedic physicians in medical astrologers in the United States, with over 35 years of clinical experience. He is the director of Ayurvedic Healing and Integrative Wellness Clinic in Santa Cruz, California, and the author of The Hot Belly Diet and Change Your Schedule, Change Your Life, which has been translated into 13 languages.

As a leading voice in Ayurvedic medicine, Dr. Suhas is a sought after speaker at Ayurvedic and Wellness Conferences both nationally and internationally. He's the Chief Medical Advisor at Chopra Global and Chopra Foundation, which allows him to share the stage with some of the leading global experts in the field of integrative medicine.

He has traveled around the globe popularizing Ayurveda yoga, meditation, and natural medicine, and has designed curriculums for several Ayurvedic schools, including Sasha’s Alma Mater Kerala Ayurveda Academy. He has also formulated some very successful herbal products generating multimillion dollars in revenue, and has been featured on numerous popular podcast radio and television shows.

Dr. Suhas latest book, Awakened Sleep: An Ayurvedic Approach to Getting Deep Rest and Unlocking Optimal Health integrates cutting edge science with the ancient wisdom tradition of Ayurveda teaching us how to create balanced, restorative sleep that can unlock our full human potential. Between the rush of our daily lives and the ever increasing presence of screens. Restorative sleep is hard to come by.

One in three adults worldwide suffers from insomnia. So many of us are searching for a good night's sleep, but what does that actually mean? And how do we obtain it? Ayurveda offers a holistic solution to this widespread problem. We all have the capacity for awakened sleep, which goes beyond physiological rest and relaxation.

And this natural state holds the keys to the health of our body, mind, and spirit. Through a blend of western and eastern sciences alike, awakened sleep offers a comprehensive framework for understanding your individual sleep. Today, Dr. Suhas and Sasha sit down to explore the most common culprits that interfere with our natural sleep patterns, the emotional and spiritual aspects that help us tap into good sleep, insight into our sleep habits, through assessments, meditations, practices and reflection questions, and a variety of sleep protocols and tips, so we can craft our own morning and evening rituals. It was such a pleasure connecting with Dr. Suhas, and we know you will love hearing him wax poetic on the science and art behind deeper rest. 

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Dr. John Douillard is a globally recognized Ayurvedic expert, author of seven books and founder of lifesspa.com, a leading authority on evidence-based Ayurvedic healthcare. With over 40 years of experience as a practitioner, Dr. Douillard provides a clear pathway to achieve lasting, self-sufficient health, vitality, gut health, detoxification, and longevity.

His journey began in 1986 when he studied Ayurveda in India. He then collaborated with Deepak Chopra to co-direct his US center and train medical doctors in Ayurvedic medicine, Dr. Douillard books such as Body, Mind and Sport, Perfect Health for Kids, The 3-Seasoned Diet and Eat Wheat have reshaped how we utilize ancient wellness practices in the modern era. He has written over 1500 free educational articles and garnered over 11 million YouTube views, empowering a global audience to heal themselves naturally. 

Today we dive into why Ayurveda is the original biohacking with decades of experience reversing unnecessary aging factors through digestive health, circadian medicine, the lymphatic system, the microbiome, and more.

There's no better guide for this topic than Dr. Douillard. As a triathlete, sports medicine chiropractor, and former director of player development for the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, he was the first in the West to apply Ayurvedic principles, nose breathing and diaphragm training to optimize athletic performance.

We explore how the rhythms of nature, seasonal eating and circadian alignment hold the keys to true health long before the words biohack or longevity ever entered our vocabulary. We'll talk about the dangers of eliminating foods like gluten without addressing digestion, how western medicine and Ayurveda differ in their approach to healing, and what it really means to fix your gut from the inside out.

If you're overwhelmed by wellness fads disconnected from your body's wisdom, confused about the meaning of biohacking, we're simply curious about how to live in deeper sync with nature. This conversation is for you. 

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Welcome back to Ojas Oasis! Whether you’ve been walking this journey with us from the start or you’re just joining the circle, we are so grateful you are here. There’s something really beautiful about arriving at this moment—and it feels even more sacred because Erin and Sasha are back together today. 

We’ve missed this! And we’ve missed you, our community. There’s something about sitting down together—two friends, two seekers—exploring the questions that have been asked for thousands of years but still feel so personal, so relevant.

And to kick off this new season, we wanted to open the door wide on something we’re both deeply passionate about: the intersection of Ayurvedic psychology and Western psychology. What shapes the mind? What shapes you?

Today’s episode is a heart-opening exploration of karma, samskaras, and how the pancha maha bhutas—the five great elements—form the foundation of your inner world. From trauma and conditioning to dharma and healing, we’re diving into how both ancient and modern systems explain the development of the personality.

We’ll look at how our past experiences—this lifetime or another—leave grooves, or samskaras, that get etched into the psyche. And how those grooves become thought patterns, beliefs, tendencies, even mental health diagnoses.

And how Ayurveda’s elemental view—earth, water, fire, air, ether—gives us a lens for understanding not just what we do, but why we do it. It’s not about blame or shame—it’s about remembering the deeper story that lives beneath the surface.

So, thank you for listening. Thank you for growing with us. And thank you for continuing to make space in your consciousness for conversations that hold both science and soul.

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In Part 3 of a 3-part series, Dr. J and Sasha conclude their exploration of Ayurveda for Happy and Healthy Kids, this time focusing on Ahara (diet and nutrition) and herbal remedies. They look deeply into the foundational role of Āhāra, or food as medicine - how it shapes a child’s growth, mood, immunity, and overall wellbeing. They also unpack the gentle power of Ayurvedic herbs and formulations — from digestive teas to ojas-building tonics — and how to use them safely and effectively for common childhood concerns.

If you’ve ever wondered what to feed your child to strengthen their agni, how to calm their nervous system without sugar or screen time, or which classical remedies can help with sleep, focus, or seasonal colds — you’re in the right place.

This episode offers nourishing guidance to help the little ones in your life thrive — body, mind, and spirit.

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Welcome to Season 7 of Ojas Oasis! 

 In part two of this three part series, Dr. Jayarajan Kodikannath (also known as Dr. J) and Sasha continue our exploration of Ayurveda for happy and healthy kids. In today's conversation, we focus on Vihara, which means lifestyle in terms of conscious or unconscious behavior, tendencies or hobbies, and Dinacharya, the Sanskrit word for ideal daily routines, which includes waking and sleeping times, oral and bodily hygiene, bowel illumination, self oil massage (abhyanga), exercise, meditation, prayer, and eating meals at regular times, all of which follow the circadian and seasonal rhythms. A key differential between Vihara and Dinacharya is that Dinacharya focuses on when and how you do the self-care rituals that optimize and regulate your life, while Vihara focuses on how you live overall: conscious or unconscious habits or hobbies you engage with throughout the day that impact your body and mind. 

Vihara and Dinacharya are both pillars of health in Ayurveda. Balancing both in a child's life supports healthy nervous system development, creative expression, emotional regulation, and physical resilience. In a world of overstimulation and technology continuing to advance at the speed of light, it has never been more important to balance the external environment with an internal environment that feels safe, nurturing, slow, and in sync with nature. These Ayurvedic principles offer a grounded, simple approach toward joyful, thriving childhood.

We also touch on the importance of these principles being applied in parents' lives as parents are the most influential, energetic imprint in a child's life. 

We highly recommend Dr. J's book The Parent's Complete Guide to Ayurveda: Principles, Practices, and Recipes for Happy, Healthy Kids, published by Shambhala in 2022, which you can find in stores and online. 

More about Dr. J here: https://www.keralaayurveda.us/wellnesscenter/our-team/jayarajan-kodikannath/

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Dr. Jayarajan Kodikannath, B.Sc, B.A.M.S, is a world-renowned Ayurvedic doctor and the former President of NAMA (the National Ayurvedic Medical Association). An esteemed scholar, researcher, and teacher, he represents a lineage of Vaidyas from Kerala, India. As the CEO of Kerala Ayurveda Academy and Wellness Center in Northern California—where Sasha is  currently completing her doctorate—Dr. J has played a pivotal role in advancing Ayurvedic education and clinical research. His work includes leading research on Ayurvedic wellness solutions, with a recently patented herbal composition for managing metabolic syndrome disorders such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and lipid imbalances.

Dr. J is also the author of The Parent’s Complete Guide to Ayurveda: Principles, Practices, and Recipes for Happy, Healthy Kids, a practical and user-friendly resource offering over 50 Ayurvedic wellness practices for children ages 3–16. With over two decades of clinical experience, he has focused extensively on pediatric health and mental well-being.

Above all, Dr. J—whom we lovingly call “Dr. J”—is a compassionate healer and educator, dedicated to sharing the consciousness-based teachings of Ayurveda across the globe. As Sasha's own teacher, he embodies the Divine Father and Ayurveda itself, guiding his students with wisdom, humility, and love.

Today, in part one of our three-part series on Ayurveda for Happy and Healthy Kids, we explore a topic close to both our hearts. We begin with Prana—the primordial life force—its role in childhood development, and its impact on cognitive health. We also discuss:

• The Ayurvedic perspective on childhood growth and development
• Common childhood imbalances and their root causes
• The role of parents in their children’s health
• The impact of stress and environmental factors on kids
• The controversial use of pharmaceuticals for behavioral challenges
• Breaking cycles of sleep deprivation for parents
• Balancing structured activities with free, unstructured playtime
• The healing power of nature and the innate healing capacity within us all

It seems fitting that Dr. J wrote a book on conscious, loving Ayurvedic parenting—because that is exactly what he offers us as his students. He doesn’t just teach Ayurveda; he embodies it, sharing from his heart rather than merely his vast knowledge. His wisdom flows effortlessly, granting all of us in his presence the blessing of Darshan—Divine sight.

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"As we close this transformative season, I find myself in deep gratitude for the journey we’ve shared. We have had so many incredible guests, and reflecting on it all fills me with appreciation for this work and the community we’ve built.

As I write this, I’m in my birthday week—this episode won’t air for another month, but I’m in a deeply reflective state. A solar eclipse is approaching, and Saturn is entering Pisces for the first time in 30 years—a profound cosmic shift and an equally significant moment in my personal Vedic chart.

In this episode, Erin and I reunite after a month to explore the theme of community and its role in personal growth. This podcast has become a bridge for meaningful connections, and the joy it brings us is immeasurable. We dive into embracing AI as a tool, my preparations for speaking at the NAMA conference in May, redefining leadership through the lens of the Divine Feminine, and why we dedicated much of this season to the foundations of subtle anatomy—the koshas and the chakras. We also explore intuition in decision-making, practices for mental clarity, and the journey of reparenting our inner child. And of course, we look ahead to the magic that awaits us in Season 7.

While we’re excited for what the future holds, we’re also pausing to stand at this summit, taking in the breathtaking view of how far we’ve come. We started this season in India. We launched our YouTube channel. We surpassed 10,000 downloads. We turned three. We welcomed two renowned Ayurveda Gurus—Dr. Ramkumar and Dr. J. We collaborated with inspiring experts across Ayurveda, Jyotish, Yoga, Bodywork, Birth work, and Entrepreneurship. Teaching this knowledge week after week, month after month, has been profoundly rewarding. We hear from listeners around the world about how this show is changing their lives, and it fuels us to keep going.

This show continues to find those who need it, and our prayer is that it always does. May we keep meeting in this space—growing, learning, and evolving together. Here’s to Season 7 and beyond. " - Sasha

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Smrita Choubey, founder of Veda Warrior, is an Indian-American entrepreneur with a unique blend of expertise in healthcare, corporate strategy, and indigenous healing systems. Smrita’s journey has taken her from the world of high finance to the forefront of holistic wellness.

A University of Chicago economics alumn and an MBA graduate from Columbia Business School, she began her career in healthcare investment banking at J.P. Morgan, where she gained firsthand insight into the challenges and conflicts within the American healthcare system. Determined to create meaningful change, she built Veda Warrior, assembling a world-class team of scientists, researchers, traditional healers, and manufacturing experts. Their mission? To craft plant-based remedies that honor ancient traditions while meeting the demands of modern life.

At the heart of Veda Warrior is a powerful vision: to challenge the profit-driven healthcare model and redefine wellness beyond just the absence of disease. True well-being, as Smrita and her team believe, is about operating at the peak of one’s human potential—where physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual peace align to create a life of purpose, joy, success, and abundance. Rooted in Ayurveda, their approach bridges the gap between time-tested wisdom and modern science, offering individuals personalized tools to take charge of their own health.

In this episode, we explore Smrita’s journey, the role of Cannabis in Ayurveda, the historical and economic forces behind Cannabis prohibition, reclaiming Feminine wisdom, the economic potential for Ayurveda, and her vision for integrative wellness. Smrita is not only the founder of Veda Warrior, she is a Veda Warrior. Championing  and teaching this wisdom science is deep within her DNA, and we are so excited to know each other and work together in this shared Dharma of bringing Ayurveda to modern life in the West. 

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Maria Alfieris is a Physical Therapist, Myofascial Master, & Reiki Virtuoso. She brings her gifts & talents of healing through Fascial Release which she has been teaching for 40 years. She offers a series of courses in Myofascial Mobilization which she incorporates into her work of understanding of emotional causation of disease & dysfunction. Her healing workshops around the world are designed to blend her knowledge & experience of physical therapy, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, energy healing, & her spiritual trainings. Through hands on techniques, she guides you toward freeing your fascia which helps you release patterns of emotional & physical pain that have been holding you back from reaching your full wellness potential. 

Fascia is a continuous web of connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles, bones, organs, and nerves throughout the body. It plays a crucial role in maintaining structural integrity, movement, and communication between different systems in the body. When fascia becomes tight, restricted, or develops adhesions due to injury, stress, poor posture, or inflammation, it can lead to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.

Today, Maria and Sasha sat down to explore her personal journey, and professional experience with integrative and functional bodywork. We don’t shy away from the spiritual aspect of healing the body, and Maria certainly does not shy away from expressing her authentic shakti energy as she shares her wisdom. We are blessed to have a teacher like her, traveling the world, integrating the healing of mind, body and spirit, and offering this knowledge to everyone who seeks freedom from chronic pain and stored trauma. 

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