The Nourished Nervous System

By Kristen Timchak

An exploration of stress, the nervous system, and resilience through the lenses of Ayurveda, Somatic Practice, Herbs, Neural Plasticity and much more!

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2121 ratings

FAQs about The Nourished Nervous System:

How many episodes does The Nourished Nervous System have?

The podcast currently has 164 episodes available.

The Nourished Nervous System episodes:

September 21, 2023This is Your Brain on Meditation
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Another podcast episode about meditation? Yes! We hear about meditation all the time from so many different sources but we can always use one more because it is just so good for us. If you are looking to make changes in your life, big or small, meditation is a practice that can support those changes. Not only does it help with managing stress, it actually changes the make up of your brain.

In this Episode:
The simplicity and accessibility of meditation
How it changes the brain
A few benefits of meditation
Some thoughts on why people don't meditate
Some preconceived notions about meditation that just aren't true
How meditation has helped me

Related Episodes:

Episode 4 : Nuts and Bolts of the Stress Response Cycle and How to Complete it
Episode 11 : Why What You Think Matters
Episode 13 : Practice Being a Cat: the art of doing nothing
Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
...more
17min
September 14, 2023Practice Being a Cat: the art of doing nothing
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You don't have to like cats to appreciate the unapologetic way they do life. Some things that cats do really well is play, sleep and do nothing. For us humans, doing nothing is something that is becoming increasingly more difficult as time goes on. It is so incredibly easy to fill our idle moments with social media, shows, or games on our phones and computers.

In this episode:

Where my practice of being a cat came from.
How doing nothing can help us be more creative and productive
Deeper reasons for doing nothing : doing nothing to shift culture
Doing nothing as a back road to meditation

Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
...more
14min
September 07, 2023Stress, Hormones, and Herbal Support with Kaya'leya
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We can tend to think of our bodily systems as separate - nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, etc. Although each serves a unique function, they all function together as a whole, so when something affects one system it can ripple out into all of them. This is especially true in the relationship between the nervous and endocrine systems.

In this episode I talk with the incredible Kaya'leya, host of The Herbal Womb Wisdom Podcast. Kaya'leya is a clinical herbalist and integrative health educator with a focus on menstrual, sexual and hormonal health. I can't even begin to describe the wealth of knowledge that Kaya'leya shares. You need to listen for yourself.

We talk about:

What hormones are and how stress affects them.
Some conditions that may be present if hormones are being affected by stress.
Adaptogens have become a buzzword, but what exactly are they and when should you use them?
A look at nervine herbs and some of Kaya's favorites.
Nourishing herbs like Nettles to build resilience.
Herbs that support both nervous and endocrine systems.

Find Kaya'leya at www.herbalwomb.com
or on IG @herbalwombwisdom

Related Episodes:

Episode 4: Nuts and Bolts of the Stress Response Cycle and How to Complete It

Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
...more
47min
August 31, 2023Why What You Think Matters: at the intersection of woo and neuroscience
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Have you ever envisioned something in your life and then it comes to pass? Even something small, like the perfect cashmere sweater in a certain color and then you find it at a thrift store? In some circles you may say you manifested it, in others you may think you were just lucky, or you may call it a cashmeracle, but what if it has to do with your brain and how it processes information?

Regardless of what you call it, the way you think matters for achieving certain outcomes in your life.

It was previously thought that our brains became fixed as we entered adulthood, but we now know that they can continue to change which is referred to as neural plasticity.

In this episode I talk about:
Stories from my life of how changing my thoughts changed my outer circumstances.
Why I sometimes feel uncomfortable with manifestation culture.
Some thoughts I have around privilege and manifestation.
Some basic neuroscience concepts that illustrate how changing your thoughts can change your life
How nervous system regulation relates to neural plasticity and making changes.
Ways to improve neural plasticity

Related Episodes:

Episode 4: Nuts and Bolts of the Stress Response Cycle, and How to Complete It
Episode 6: Needs, Desires and the Habit Loop

Sources:

Arata, A. (2022, June 13). How to Manifest, According to a Neuroscientist. Byrdie. https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-manifest-5089446
Anna Lardone, Marianna Liparoti, Pierpaolo Sorrentino, Rosaria Rucco, Francesca Jacini, Arianna Polverino, Roberta Minino, Matteo Pesoli, Fabio Baselice, Antonietta Sorriso, Giampaolo Ferraioli, Giuseppe Sorrentino, Laura Mandolesi, "Mindfulness Meditation Is Related to Long-Lasting Changes in Hippocampal Functional Topology during Resting State: A Magnetoencephalography Study", Neural Plasticity, vol. 2018, Article ID 5340717, 9 pages, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5340717
Cherry, K., MSEd (2022, November 8). What is Neuroplasticity. Very Well Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-brain-plasticity-2794886
Ferguson, S. (n.d.). Donald Olding Hebb. Canadian Association for Neuroscience. https://can-acn.org/donald-olding-hebb/
Institute of Science and Technology Austria. (2016, May 13). Neuroscientists discover new learning rule for pattern completion. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 5, 2023 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160513111839.htm
Swart, T., MD, Phd (2019). The Source. HarperOne.

Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
...more
21min
August 24, 2023Kapha, the Sweet One
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You know the stereotype, the grounded earth mama (or papa) type of person. Slow, methodical, super big heart. This is our sweet Kapha person. They are steady and strong and give some ground to the wind and fire buzzing around them. In Ayurveda, Kapha is one of the three doshas. It is made up of the elements earth and water. In this episode we will explore:

What Kapha Dosha is and how it expresses in the macrocosm and in our bodies
How the doshas express differently in different climates
The qualities associated with kapha dosha
What Kapha looks like in balance and out of balance
How seeing ourselves through the lens of Ayurveda can help us have a healthier relationship with our body shape and size.
Some thoughts on how the Doshas relate to certain types of stress responses
Ways to balance Kapha Dosha

Resources:
Episode 2 The Lens of Ayurveda
Episode 3 What the Vata?!
Episode 8 Oh Pitta, You're Hot!

Sources:

Lad, V., M.A.Sc (2002). Textbook of Ayurveda, Fundamental Principles (1st ed.). The Ayurvedic Press.
The Cleveland Clinic (n.d.). Anabolism vs. Catabolism: The Role They Play in Your Metabolism. Health Essentials. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/anabolism-vs-catabolism/

Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
...more
19min
August 17, 2023Food as Medicine with Terrel Broussard
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You've probably heard the saying "you are what you eat", in Ayurvedic thought we are literally what we eat. Tissues are made from the food we eat, which is why there is an emphasis on eating high quality foods. But what if you take it a step farther and incorporate your herbal and mushroom medicines into your diet?

In this week's episode Terrel Broussard, an Ayurvedic practitioner and bodyworker with 25 years experience in the field of Therapeutic Massage, Thai Massage, Yoga and Herbal Medicine talks about his philosophy on incorporating medicinal foods into the diet.

Terrel and his wife, Kimberly, own a small Ayurvedic Retreat Center in the Berkshires called Lakshmi's Garden which focuses on Pancha Karma retreats.

In this week's episode, Terrel talks about:
His personal self care practices
His path to Ayurveda
The Ayurvedic practice of listening for "the burp"
Why he incorporates Milk Thistle and Lion's Mane into his daily routine
The idea of structuring your energetic day in a bell curve
His go to herbs and his favorite formulas
The power of observing yourself and your surroundings to live a more balanced life
You can find Terrel's products and information about his retreat center, Lakshmi's Garden here: www.lakshmisgarden.com

Find him on Instagram @lakshmisgarden

If you'd like to read an interview with Terrel in The Artful Mind artzine click here : https://issuu.com/theartfulmindartzine/docs/the_artful_mind_july_issue._issuu_35822c5110fbcf/22

Interested in more Ayurveda? Listen to these episodes:

The Lens of Ayurveda
What the Vata?!
Oh Pitta, You're Hot!

Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
...more
42min
August 10, 2023Oh Pitta, You're Hot!
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Ever feel hangry? That’s Pitta. Acne and spreading rashes? That’s Pitta. Feel irritable and angry in hot weather? Also Pitta.

Pitta Dosha is a combination of the Fire and Water elements. Fire is transformational, it literally changes things. A tree into ash, water into steam. When we are going through a challenging or life changing experience, we sometimes say we are “stepping into the fire”. Without this fire, things would always stay the same and remain stuck. If we didn’t have Pitta Dosha in our bodies, we wouldn’t be able to transform our food into usable components or transform our sensory impressions into thoughts, emotions or sensations.

In this episode:
What is Pitta Dosha
What does Pitta look like in the macrocosm of the world and the microcosm of our bodies
What does healthy and unhealthy Pitta look like
Pitta times of day, time of year and time of life
Qualities of the Pitta predominant person
How to balance Pitta

Other Resources:
Episode 2 - The Lens of Ayurveda
Episode 3 - What the Vata?!

Sources:
Lad, V., M.A.Sc (2002). Textbook of Ayurveda, Fundamental Principles (1st ed.). The Ayurvedic Press.

Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
...more
17min
August 03, 2023Somatics and Ecology with Abigail Rose Clarke
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Our bodies are reflections of the natural world because we are a part of nature. What happens when we take cues from the natural world in the way we are in relationship with life? What happens when we tune into seasons of activity and rest, build connections and become aware of our interdependency with each other and with all of life?

I love this conversation with Abigail Rose Clarke, founder of The Embodied Life Method, creator of The Somatic Tarot and The Body Oracle decks and author of Reimagining the Relationship Between Our Bodies and the World, which will be released by North Atlantic Books in January, 2024.

In this episode we talk about:
Acts of self care as community care
Breaking up with urgency culture
Cycles within us and around us
How being real with our struggle can build connection
How our bodies reflect the world around us
The magic of using sensation language
You can find Abigail and her work at:

www.abigailroseclarke.com

email: [email protected]

IG: www.instagram.com/___abigail.rose
FB: www.facebook.com/AbigailRoseClarke
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-rose-clarke
Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
...more
53min
July 27, 2023 Needs, Desires and the Habit Loop
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Much of what we do is dictated by our needs and desires and most of it is unconscious. In this episode I will discuss some thoughts I've been having about the difference between needs and desires and what it looks like when they are aligned vs. when our desires become cravings and addiction.

We will also do a deep dive into the habit loop and look at the parts of a habit and how to identify them and begin to shift them.
Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

...more
19min
July 20, 2023Transformative Self Care
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We see the words "self care" everywhere, it has become a buzz word. But what is self care and how can we begin to create a sustainable self care practice that can transform our lives? We often have a certain image of what self care means but maybe finding meaningful self care practice may be deeper than that, it may require us to listen to ourselves.

In this episode we will explore:
The definition of self care
Different types of self care
What is Transformative Self Care?
The difference between transformative and transformational experiences
The importance of listening to your body to find self care practices that work for you
My story of finding transformative self care practices in times of my life when I have experienced deep grief.

If you are interested in trying an Abhyangha Self Massage, find it here: https://www.nourishednervoussystem.com/abhyanga-self-massage-instructions

Sources:
(n.d.). Transformative Definition. Your Dictionary. https://www.yourdictionary.com/transformative
(n.d.). Transformative. Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/transformative

(n.d.). Transformative. Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/transformative
Resources:

Free Masterclass: The Alchemy of the Perimenopause Portal
Ayurvedic Dosha Quick Reference Guide
Abhyanga Self Massage Guide
Weekend Nervous System Reset
Nourished For Resilience Workbook

Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.com

and @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram
...more
13min

FAQs about The Nourished Nervous System:

How many episodes does The Nourished Nervous System have?

The podcast currently has 164 episodes available.

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The Nourished Nervous System

FAQs about The Nourished Nervous System:

How many episodes does The Nourished Nervous System have?

The Nourished Nervous System episodes:

FAQs about The Nourished Nervous System:

How many episodes does The Nourished Nervous System have?

More shows like The Nourished Nervous System

Living Myth

We Can Do Hard Things