Blog
Dinacharya: Daily Routines
When we were learning to treat patients in my early years of Ayurveda school, we first learned dinacharya (daily routines). I remember thinking, "But when can I get to making all the magical herbal concoctions?!" (Because: herb! đ đ±) Years later, after having...
Couch Medicine
One of my teachers, Dr. Claudia Welch, talks about âcouch medicineâ and how so many women run on stress hormones. We mistake this wired state for true energy. The more adrenaline and cortisol we have coursing through our system, the less it takes to trigger us into a...
How to Stay Healthy When The Season Shifts: Ritu Sandhi
https://vimeo.com/605719388 Ritu Sandhi is the juncture between seasons - the period of about 7-10 days before and after the change of season. Our physiology is more sensitive and less stable during this time. Vata dosha is the force of movement,...
The Medicine of Subtraction: Thriving More By Doing Less
When you try to do too much, your nervous system goes into a stress response. Since the body believes it's dealing with threat - aka your to-do list - you live in survival mode. In survival mode, your nervous system's telling you to deal with the immediate threat. In...
The Power of Good Company [Essential Living Starts Aug 15th]
I went to Acadia National Park a few weeks ago. My grandpa grew up near there. He was a practical man who wanted me to go to Wharton Business School. Instead he found me cooking medicinal herbs and doing yoga...and he was TOTALLY delighted by it. Even though he was...
Hacks to Make Healthy Eating Easier
Do you want to eat better but have trouble being consistent? Some weeks you eat well and others it's pizza and takeout? What I've learned from practicing the habits for over 15 years is that... Healthy eating is essential for a healthy body, sound mind and a life of...
Spring Nutrition + Habit Tips
In Ayurveda, spring is the time of kapha â earth and water elements. Spring is heavy, stable, cool, oily and has a downward-moving energy, so we balance with the opposite qualities in our diet and lifestyle â light, dry, mobile and warming. The lymph and blood get...
How to Read Your Body Like a Book
About 25 years ago an acupuncturist told me PMS was not normal...itâs a sign of imbalance. My mind was blown! Finding out it wasnât just âhow things are supposed to beâ was both shocking and empowering. Symptoms of dis-ease are not who you are. Theyâre a signal that...
What Do You Still Need to Digest…in Your Body, Mind + Emotions?
In Ayurveda, the fire element rules digestion. Fire breaks down and transforms food into what can be used and not used by the body.  But digestion happens beyond just what we put into our mouths. We have to digest everything that we take into our senses. We also have...
We Talk Mental Health, Ayurveda + The Doshas on the Yogahealer Podcast
I was super honored to have this dynamic conversation with two of my fellow health coaches and my mentor Cate Stillman on her Yogahealer Podcast. If your mental health has been affected by the massive changes of 2020, learn how your habits can impact not only...
Ayurveda + Your Immune System: Stress + The Habits [Video 9]
https://vimeo.com/469832146 STRESS + THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Your body has an innate healing intelligence. Your biorhythms that support this healing intelligence are the same as the rhythms of the nature. Modern lifestyle has us out of rhythm with the simple habits...
Ayurveda + Your Immune System: Sleep + Early to Bed [Video 8]
https://vimeo.com/469832026 HABIT TIP #6: EARLY TO BED How: Lights out by 10pm Why: Bed by 10pm significantly increases the body's ability to experience deep, restorative sleep, which calms the nervous system and supports immune function.
Ayurveda + Your Immune System: Digestion + Plant-Based Diet [Video 7]
https://vimeo.com/469831807 HABIT TIP #5: Plant-Based Diet How: Focus on a plants as the foundation of our diet, even if you still eat meat and dairy. Why: Plant-based diet is about connection, abundance and gratitude. Nature is ALWAYS trying to nourish you....
Ayurveda + Your Immune System: Digestion + Mindful Eating [Video 6]
https://vimeo.com/469831640 HABIT TIP #4: Eat Mindfully How: Take time to sit with your meals without distraction from phone, TV, work, eating on the run. Why: When you're stimulating your senses with other input, such as your phone, TV, work, eating while...
Ayurveda + Your Immune System: Digestion + Snacking [Video 5]
https://vimeo.com/469831452 HABIT TIP #3: Avoid Snacking How: Allow at least 3 hours between meals (ideally 4-6 hours). Avoid snacking between meals. Why: In order for your digestive fire (agni) to be strong and able to fully digest the food you take in, you...
Ayurveda + Your Immune System: Digestion + Mealtimes [Video 4]
https://vimeo.com/469831321 HABIT TIP #2: Regulate mealtimes How: Eat breakfast within 2 hours of waking, lunch (your largest meal) between 11am-1pm, dinner before 7pm. If you're kapha predominant constitution (water/earth element) you may do fine with 2 or...
Ayurveda + Your Immune System: Digestion + Habit 1 [Video 3]
https://vimeo.com/469828151 HABIT TIP #1: EARLIER, LIGHTER DINNER How: Eat a smaller, plant-based dinner by 7pm. Have lunch as your largest meal of the day. Why: Your body isn't designed to digest fats, proteins and a large meal late at night. Doing so (and...
Ayurveda + Your Immune System: Digestion + Agni [Video 2]
https://vimeo.com/469828046 AGNI! In Ayurveda this word means "digestive fire." The fire element governs your ability to metabolize what you take in to your body. The strength of your digestion has a direct impact on the strength of your immune system. Watch...
Intro: Ayurveda + Immune System Series [Video 1]
Ayurveda + Your Immune System: Intro [Video 1] from Courtney LaCava on Vimeo. You have so much power to build a strong immune system with your habits. The main focus of Ayurveda is building what we call "OJAS". Ojas is akin to your immune system. It's what...
What Deep Healing Looks Like
When I was in the throws of raising two kids under 3, I read something from a spiritual teacher that changed my life. It went something like this: âWhether youâre meditating in an ashram or youâre raising your family, itâs the same work. Thatâs your yoga.â...
