Ayur- What Now? Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mary Thompson
A look at the traditional Indian health science of Ayurveda in a way that is understandable and applicable to your modern life.
The early episodes are like an Ayurvedic Theory Class and you’ll learn all the principles of Ayurveda. Later episodes will answer questions that arise when we try to navigate the world of Ayurveda in our lives and communities.
This topic started when I took a fall and broke a very tiny bone in my wrist. It's recovered now, but the takeaway is that we all need to take steps to improve bone health as we age and be mindful of how we move through space, so we can avoid falls and the potential harm they bring.
Jerry and I discuss our view of the changes our bodies have gone through and how incorporating both mindfulness and Ayurvedic practices we can keep ourselves in good shape for a long time to come.
It has now been about a month since Jerry received his Ayurvedic recommendations. In this podcast, we're going to check in on how he's doing. What results has he seen? Are his symptoms better or worse?
In the last episode, we did an Ayurvedic intake on Jerry. There were so many questions about his state of physical health and about his diet and lifestyle. It is likely that an Ayurvedic Practitioner visit will take much longer than your typical doctor's visit. We broke the session up into two parts- first to ask the questions and then to explore some answers...
Mary has taken the information from the last podcast and looked at it through the lens of Ayurveda and will give him an explanation today for why she sees things the way she does. she'll also give him some dietary and lifestyle modifications that should help to resolve some of his challenges.
In this podcast we do an Ayurvedic Intake on Jerry.
This episode will give you a good view of what an initial visit with an Ayurvedic Health Counselor may look like. An Ayurvedic Health Counselor or Wellness Coach will ask many (many, many) questions to help identify the doshic imbalance and potential dietary and lifestyle influences on the current state of health.
In this podcast, Jerry will share health information that will allow me to identify the state of his doshas so that he can begin practices to bring them back into balance.
This episode is questions only, answers come next time!
Once you have identified the Dosha that is out of balance, you can take action by addressing the diet and lifestyle to bring that Dosha back into balance.
In the last two podcasts, we've looked at how to identify Kapha dosa imbalance in their physical symptoms and in their mental and emotional expression. If the Kapha has become too slow, heavy, or dull - then it's time to shake things up a bit!
Kapha is balanced when the diet is light and spicy and the lifestyle is active.
Listen to this podcast for some tips on bringing Kapha dosha back in line!
Many people are curious about Ayurveda and are not sure about seeing a practitioner. There are different levels of practitioners... Health Counselors, Ayurvedic Practitioners, and Ayurvedic Doctors (trained either in the US or in India)... it can be very confusing.
In this podcast we break that down for you so you can make a more informed choice if you decide to seek an Ayurvedic Medical approach to your health care.
We also hope that by hearing what happens at an Ayurvedic visit, we'll alleviate any fear that you may feel about that.
Addiction can be defined as the continued use of a substance or activity despite negative consequences. So many of our choices can fall into this description.
Choices become addiction when we feel powerless to discontinue the use of the substance or engage in the activity. There are big ticket addictions that get lots of attention, like drugs and alcohol, and "lesser" addictions that may still pose health consequences, like sugar and caffeine.
In this podcast we look at the Ayurvedic approach to uprooting addictions and filling that void with healthier options.
Stress- it is estimated that more than 75% of chronic diseases that we experience are caused by stress. Our lives seem to be moving faster than we can tolerate and we are pulled in so many different directions...
In this podcast we take a look at stress and our coping mechanisms, both healthy ones and unhealthy ones. We also discuss how to cultivate (and enjoy) those healthy coping mechanisms.
Stress happens! It is our reaction to it that causes our imbalances.
This is such a huge topic! So many people are dissatisfied with their current size and shape - whether one is overweight or underweight, Ayurveda can help.
One first step is to listen to the podcasts on food choices and food habits so that you can avoid creating imbalance with eating.
We all know it's not just that simple. In this podcast, we will explore the Doshic causes behind weight gain and loss and how to pacify the doha so you can achieve the body you want.
It is often considered even more important how you eat than what you eat. Ayurveda is all about bringing mindfulness to every activity and dining is not an exception.
In this podcast, we look at Ayurvedic guidelines to support your digestion of the foods you eat.
The theme of mindfulness arose in our earliest podcasts and has been revisited many, many times. These are some ways in which you can bring that mindfulness to your dining for the benefit of your digestive system and your overall health.
Bon Appetit!
This is my favorite topic when it comes to choosing the best foods for you!
These Eight Factors are introduced in the Charaka Samhita (a traditional text book of Ayurveda) and give you the tools you need to dine anywhere and to make the best choices for your meals.
We discuss these eight factors in this podcast and you can access an infographic about these factors at this link: 8 Factors InfoGraphic
To be really empowered to make the best food choices, we continue the conversation about the Ayurvedic view of foods. Remember those pairs of opposites? These are the qualities that we look at in this podcast.
For example, heavy foods make us heavier, bring in needed nutrition and support the formation of healthy tissues. Lighter foods make us lighter, these are often cleansing foods that help to remove impurities from the system. When you can recognize the quality present in the food, you can make the informed choice as to what to eat!
In this podcast we will talk about foods in relationship to these qualities and support you in making the most healthful choices.
Ayurveda looks at foods through a different kind of lens... They recognize six tastes - Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter, and Astringent. Each Dosha is pacified by three of these tastes and can be imbalanced by the other three tastes.
In this podcast we take a look at the six tastes and what foods have which tastes. This knowledge will empower you to make the most healthful decision for the foods you choose to consume.
Give it a listen!
Ayurveda advises practices that you can do on a daily basis to keep yourself in your best health. In this podcast we look at these routines and discuss how a person could begin to incorporate them in the flow of their day.
Morning routines include how you can get ready to face your day stress free.
Afternoon routines help to balance out the energy you store or spend during the day.
Evening routines set us up to sleep fully, deeply, and wake feeling refreshed.
Now who wouldn't want that?
Ayurveda prides itself on being a "Science of Longevity" and in this podcast we explore how living an Ayurvedic lifestyle supports you in living your best life for as long as possible. When we incorporate health-building practices we set the foundation for a long life, well-lived.
In today's podcast we explore how Ayurvedic recommendations can be used along with your medications to support you in your quest for optimal health. When we incorporate better dietary and lifestyle practices, we create an environment where the body may heal.
We discuss the importance and necessity of informed awareness and caution if utilizing any herbs at the same time you are taking pharmaceuticals.
In this episode we look at how we can understand the impact that our foods have on our state of health- both physically and mentally. We explore our dining habits and how mindful eating can create a calmer mind and healthier body. In the second half of the podcast, we focus on healthy food choices for springtime.
In today's podcast, you'll discover just what role Turmeric played in getting this whole podcast thing started.
There are more doshas than just those that Mary and Jerry present.
In this podcast, we explore the doshas of our nearest and dearest- our spouses. We look at how people who present more typically as Pitta (Mary's husband) and Kapha (Jerry's wife) to get an understanding of these different doshic types.
Hi!
In this episode Jerry and I discuss our own doshas - how do these show up in our physical appearance, common health challenges, and our personalities.
You may even see a bit of yourself here.
We had so much fun in this podcast hearing from Jerry's good friend, Jack Carter.
Jack is a health conscious retiree who was advised by his doctor to attend an Ayurvedic seminar. He did attend and came away with some good information as well as many questions. We discovered that Jack is exactly the type of person that we hope is listening to our podcast- open-minded, curious, and willing to take information that serves them and set aside information that doesn't align with their lives.
In this podcast, Jack Carter, our guest, tells us about his introduction to Ayurveda and what he took away from that.
If you don't have a Kapha friend in your circle, you may not realize how important they can be!
The Kapha personality is friendly and supportive, always ready to listen or lend a hand. There are some downsides to the Kapha nature, as well - we all have positive traits that we love and these are often balanced by our less positive character flaws.
In this episode, we explore all the characteristic of Kapha dosha's mental and emotional tendencies.
People with Kapha dosha nature tend to have a little more tissue than others- The elements of Earth and Water combine to make them more heavy, dense, and fluidic. This translates into a softer and, somewhat, rounder physical appearance.
In this episode, we discuss what Kapha dosha looks like in people with a lot of this Dosha in their makeup as well as some common physical challenges they may face.
Feeling a little hot under the collar? When Pitta dosha goes out of balance the fires are raging.
In this episode, we discuss how to bring that hot Pitta dosha into balance using dietary and lifestyle modifications.
The great irony of the Doshas is that they crave those things that keep them out of balance. The good news is that once you put those fires out, you'll begin to enjoy the cooling foods and activities even more.
Pitta- sharp and fiery, this personality is a dynamo! Pitta has a clear vision and the will to make things happen. We all know a Pitta nature person and appreciate their bright side (leadership and competence) while being wary of their darker nature (tendency to anger or arrogance). In this episode we talk all about Pitta dosha - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
You may even recognize a little bit of yourself in here!
Pitta Dosha shows up in Fiery ways in People. You might see that physically in their coloring or body temperature.
In this podcast, we take a closer look at how people with a lot of Pitta Dosha present.
In this podcast, we take a look at how Vata shows up when it's out of balance. The symptoms that may indicate a Vata imbalance tend to be symptoms of coldness, dryness, lightness, and mobility.
We'll also discuss how applying the opposite qualities via our diet and lifestyle can help to alleviate those symptoms.
One great way to identify the Dosha is when we look at the personality. This gives us a view into the mental and emotional tendencies of the person.
As you listen to this podcast, you may gain great clarity on the degree of Vata Dosha in your friends, family, and, even, in your self!
The dosas present in different ways in different people. One way we can see the Dosha is by taking a look at how our body looks and acts- The Physical Side of Things.
Over the next three podcasts, we'll be looking at Vata Dosha- Physicality, Personality, and Symptomatically.
As you listen you may catch glimpses of the Vata Dosha in you and in those around you.
Did you know that the climate you live in can impact the Dosha? Some climates are cold and dry, creating more Vata in all the inhabitants! Of course hot and humid climates drive everyone's Pitta Dosha up. For Kapha the cool and moist qualities of climate make them feel especially heavy.
You can offset the impact of climate once you know it is negatively affecting you.
In this episode we talk about climate's effects and how to minimize those so you can stay balanced all year!
By now, you are seeing the Doshas all around you. These energies show up in so many ways that it becomes impossible to miss them!
In this episode, we'll discuss how the Doshas can be seen in the qualities of the Seasons of the Year. With this awareness, we can make choices to stay healthy regardless of the weather!
The Doshas have broad application.
We've talked about how they may be seen in people and our environment, but their energies are also evident in the dynamic movement of time. In this episode we explore the impact of the Dosha and the times of day.
You will recognize the effect of the Dosha on your life and your habits.
Kapha Dosha is the stable, predictable dosha that provides terrific support to everyone and everything it is involved with.
In this episode we continue our conversation about the Three Doshas with an emphasis on Kapha Dosha. Since we now have met all the players, we talk about how they are alike and how they are different as well as how they may show up in our environment.
The fundamental principles of Ayurveda, the Doshas, are too much to contain in a single podcast. In this episode, we take a deeper look at Pitta Dosha- the energy of transformation.
The foundational principle of Dosha builds on the pairs of opposites and the elements to give us another dimension to understand the energies at play around us and within us.
Doshas. This is often the one thing that people know when they learn about Ayurveda. If you've been following along with us up until this point, you will understand how we determine what dosas are present.
In this episode, we introduce the concept of Doshas. In addition, we focus on one of these Doshas, Vata Dosha.
Wrapping up our look at the five elements, in this episode we discuss the elements of Air & Ether.
Ether is a tricky one- it is the most subtle of the elements and, often, the hardest to fully identify.
You may think while listening about people you know who exhibit the qualities of Air or Ether in their personalities.
The five elements are foundational principles of Ayurvedic Theory.
In this episode, we take a closer look at the elements of Water & Fire and how these may show up in your body and mind. What do they look like when we have too much and what are signs of deficiency.
With a closer look at the elements, we can have develop a more proactive approach to creating health and balance.
Ayurveda identifies five basic building blocks of all matter. They are referred to as the five elements and they are earth, water, fire, air, and ether.
In this episode, we discuss the elements in general and focus on the Earth element in particular.
Continuing the discussion from the previous podcast, we take a closer look at these qualities in context. The context of you~ Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally!
We explore how to identify the qualities in yourself and how to bring these to balance through your dietary and lifestyle choices.
Some people say there are two kinds of people in the world... those who say there are two kinds of people in the world and those who don't. Well I am one of those categorizing people and Ayurveda seems to agree with me.
A fundamental principle of Ayurvedic understanding of the world is often referred to as "pairs of opposites," though rather than being either/or it is more attuned to a spectrum from one extreme to the other. Ayurveda identifies 10 potentials for matter and recognizes that matter in its natural state expresses these potentials. It also recognizes that when we are in a balanced state, we can identify these qualities in ourselves.
For example, all matter has a temperature that may range from cold to hot. It has a weight range from heavy to light, a moisture content from wet to dry, and a mobile aspect from stable/static to unstable/freely mobile.
In this episode we explore four of these ten pairs of opposites in detail to gain an understanding of how the world can be better understood.
Self-sabotage. We all do it. Ayurveda sees this as a Crime against the Wisdom you gained when exploring your world.
The times we do those things that we know we shouldn't (or don't do those things we know we should) we go further down that path towards lifestyle-driven disease.
In this episode, we talk about this cause of disease - how to identify it and how to make changes to invite greater health into your life.
Stop making yourself sick -- You have the power to make choices that will help you to feel your best!
Why is it we don't always make those empowering choices? Ayurveda sees a relationship between our choices and our state of health. The biggest challenges we face in our health are often based on our dietary and lifestyle choices.
In this episode Mary and Jerry discuss Ayurveda's view of the causes of disease and focus on the first and broadest cause... misusing our senses. This may be in doing too much, doing too little, or doing the wrong things.
Ayurveda sees everyone as unique and your path to health is unique to you.
Wouldn't it be great to always have the energy you needed to do all the things you want to?
In this podcast we look at this crucial pillar of health: Energy- how we build it, spend it, and replenish it.
In each of the Pillars podcasts, the term mindfulness has come up. Mindfulness is the awareness of yourself that supports you with each of these pillars: Food, Sleep, and Energy. By considering your physical needs you can better take care of this body you've got.
Using Ayurveda to determine the right amount of sleep for you!
Ayurveda regards three behaviors to be foundational to our state of well-being. These "pillars of health" are our behaviors around food, sleep, and how we spend our energy. In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of sleep- why we need it and how to really benefit from it.
Is your relationship with food healing you or harming you?
One way that Ayurveda is unique is that it recognizes that there is no "one size fits all" approach when it comes to maintaining health. Ayurveda looks at what we eat and how we eat as fundamental to building optimal health, but what will deeply nourish you may be different than what will sustain someone else.
In this podcast, we explore this vital Pillar of Health: Food and how you can maximize the positive benefits you get from food and all forms of sensory input.
In this episode, Mary and Jerry begin their conversation about Ayurveda - discussing what it is and introducing some of its fundamental principles.
You may have heard people talking about Ayurveda and referring to their Doshas and wondered if you had one and what you should do with it. You'll be happy to find out that everyone and everything around you has a dosha and that this can be revealed in their physical, mental, and emotional states.
If you want to hear more about how Mary Thompson and her brother, Jerry Thompson, came to be interested in Ayurveda, nursing, education, and podcasting, then this is the episode for you!
The launching of the Ayur...What now? Podcast.
Join Mary Thompson as she takes her brother, Jerry Thompson, on an educational journey into the science of Ayurveda.
Have you ever wanted to know more about Ayurveda, but weren't sure how to even begin? This podcast will discuss Ayurvedic principles in ways that are easy to understand.
In this episode, you'll learn just what is this "Ayurveda" thing anyway?