Episode 97
Nourish your nervous system
with Ayurvedic wisdom
(aka how to tame Vata dosha)
with Kristen Timchak
hosted by clinical herbalist & integrative health educator Kay'aleya Hunnybee
Nourish your nervous system
with Ayurvedic wisdom
(aka how to tame Vata dosha)
with holistic coach + Ayurveda educator Kristen Timchak
Download on Apple | Download on Spotify | Download on Google Podcasts
Stress, depletion, burnout, frazzled nerves, anxiety, lack of focus, spaciness, groundlessness.
What do all of these have in common?
Vata.
If you're familiar with Ayurveda, you'll know there are three primary "doshas," or collections of elemental characteristics that describe qualities of a person.
But they aren't static.
I think sometimes people get stuck in the idea that "doshas" are like a personality test.
And while there are some aspects of that, from an Ayurvedic lens we actually have both our innate constitution AND the current state we're in.
Which are usually NOT the same.
We may be born super hot, active, and physically strong, but we may go out of balance by burning ourselves out after pushing way too hard over the years and end up feeling high levels of anxiety or spaciness.
Because that endless excess stimulation we've subjected ourselves to is constantly eating away at our reserves until we no longer have them and we collapse.
It's a common story, really, especially as people reach their late 30's or 40's.
And it's one (of many) example of how the elements inherent in Vata dosha (air and ether) can have an imbalancing effect on someone whose innate nature is not that.
In other words, most of us tend to go out of balance in Vata at some point in our lives, and often we see the results in our nervous systems.
Kristen Timchak, host of the Nourished Nervous System podcast, shares all about how Ayurveda counteracts the qualities of Vata dosha in the mind.
She includes several simple practices you can start incorporating into your life if/when you feel your Vata going out of balance, and she shares about some indispensable herbal allies for this, too.
Listen in to learn:
- the basics of Ayurveda from a 5 element perspective
- what Vata dosha is and how it relates to our nervous systems
- how Vata shows up in the seasons and times of day
- what Ojas is and it relates to nervous system health
- a few simple, quick practices you can add into your life to balance Vata
- the basic recipe for an Ojas-building drink
- a couple key Ayurvedic herbs that are essential to restoring your nervous system
Resources:
- Episode 3: Ayurveda and hormonal health
- Episode 49: How to create a "sacred window" - Ayurvedic wisdom
- Episode 86: Ashwagandha herbal spotlight
- Get on the Natural Contraception course (Jan 2024) waitlist here!
Connect with Kristen:
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Explore her offerings on her website: Nourished Nervous System
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Grab her free deep rest meditation: Guided deep rest meditation
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Download her free self-oiling massage guide: Abhyangha guide
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Check out her podcast: Nourished Nervous System
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Connect on IG: @nourishednervoussystem
DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal health concerns.
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