When my husband and I started our wellness journey, we started with food. The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) was our first stop. I hate the word diet, it's not really a "diet" in the traditional sense but rather an eating plan designed primarily to lower blood pressure and promote heart health.
The DASH Diet was developed in the 1990s by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to help lower blood pressure without medication. It emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy, while limiting sodium, added sugars, and saturated fats. Over the years, research has shown that this style of eating not only supports heart health but also promotes overall wellness and balanced nutrition.
My husband had just gotten his high blood pressure diagnosis and we both have a family history of heart disease, so this seemed like the best plan for us to start making changes.
That first change in our eating habits, led me to look for other ways to switch it up without us "dieting." My love for yoga brought me to Ayurveda. And it was Ayurveda that completely changed how I think about health and led me on my true wellness journey that I am on today.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine from India, dating back over 5,000 years, making it the oldest healthcare system in the world. Its name comes from Sanskrit: “Ayur” meaning life and “Veda” meaning knowledge, literally, “the knowledge of life.”
At its core, Ayurveda focuses on balance, which was the main reason I quickly fell in love with it. It emphasizes harmony between your body, mind, spirit, and the environment. Instead of treating symptoms alone, Ayurveda looks at why imbalances happen and how lifestyle, diet, and daily habits can restore wellness. The early practioners of Ayurveda were looking at root cause, a foundation now of functional and integrative medicine.
Ayurveda in Our Modern Western World
Even in our modern, fast-paced lives, the principles of Ayurveda are surprisingly relevant:
Personalized health: Ayurveda recognizes that we are all different, and that our diet, exercise, and daily routines are not one-size-fits-all.
Preventive care: By understanding your natural constitution, you can prevent imbalances before they cause sickness or disease. Wait.. what's your constitution? Your constitution refers to your physical traits, energy levels, digestion, and even emotions. In Ayurveda we refer to these combinations as your dosha; Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Knowing and understanding your dosha helps you choose foods and practices that support your natural balance.
Mind-body connection: Ayurveda teaches that emotional, mental, and physical health are deeply connected. You see this all the time now in wellness teachings, on Instagram reels, everyone is talking about our mind-body balance, but this is not a new concept. People knew how important this was 5,000 years ago!
Back to the Basics: Doshas
Ayurveda categorizes people into three primary doshas, or mind-body types:
Vata: Air + Space: creative, energetic, often sensitive to cold and dryness.
Pitta: Fire + Water: ambitious, strong-willed, can be prone to irritability or inflammation.
Kapha: Earth + Water: steady, calm, nurturing, sometimes sluggish or resistant to change.
Most people have a combination of doshas, with one being more dominant. Knowing your dosha helps guide diet, daily habits, and choices.
Easy Ways to Incorporate Ayurveda into Everyday Life
The beauty of Ayurveda is that it doesn’t have to require complicated rituals. Here are simple ways to get started:
Mindful Eating
Favor warm, cooked meals over cold, processed foods.
Listen to hunger and fullness cues.
Choose foods that support your dosha: for example, Vata types benefit from grounding, warm meals, while Pitta types thrive on cooling, less spicy foods.
Daily Rhythm (Dinacharya)
Try consistent sleep and wake times.
Begin the day with water or herbal tea.
Include a short stretch, yoga, or breathing practice.
Self-Care Made Simple
Mini-massage: If you enjoy it, gently rub a bit of oil or lotion on hands, feet, or temples. Even a minute or two can help you feel grounded.
Spend a few quiet minutes each day connecting with your breath or nature.
Seasonal Awareness
Adapt your routine to the seasons: eat lighter in summer, heavier in winter; stay hydrated in heat; rest more during colder months.
Getting Started Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Pick one small habit at a time. For example, start with a few minutes of mindful breathing and a 5-minute stretch.
Notice what works for you. Ayurveda is the original bio-individual practice; what feels balancing for one person may not for another.
Take it slow. You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight.
How I Got Started with Ayurveda
When I was first getting started, I found inspiration in a couple of women who have already made this ancient wisdom accessible and practical for everyday life. Learning from them taught me that Ayurveda doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming.
Founded by Myra Lewin, Hale Pule offers a holistic approach to Ayurveda, emphasizing the integration of yoga and Ayurveda for self-healing. Their programs and resources focus on personal transformation and community support. I was drawn to Myra Lewin initially, because like me, she was originally a corporate executive. She took a second look at her own lifestyle after a health diagnosis, and that led her to embrace yoga and Ayurveda and eventually to found Hale Pule.
Simple Ayurveda by Angela Perger
Angela Perger's Simple Ayurveda provides a modern take on Ayurvedic practices, making the ancient practice more realistic for busy individuals. Her podcast and blog offer practical tips on incorporating Ayurvedic principles into daily routines. Angela is a great starting point for moms who want to build holistic wellness into their lifestyle. She has also had her own struggles with illness and has used Ayurveda in her own healing.
Kate O'Donnell – Author and Educator
Kate O'Donnell is a renowned Ayurvedic practitioner and author, known for her approachable and practical approach to Ayurveda. Her books and courses focus on integrating Ayurvedic cooking and self-care into daily life. Kate O'Donnell's book, Everyday Ayurveda Cooking for a Calm, Clear Mind, was the first Ayurveda cookbook that I bought and was my introduction to this style of cooking and meal prep.
Ready to start your own wellness journey? At Zen210 Wellness, I help women bring balance, strength into everyday life, and if you're interested in it, we can incorporate simple Ayurvedic practices into our plans too. Email me now and let's get started on those small, practical steps that make a big difference.
