On Wellness Way: Recent Episodes
Kimberly Luyckx
Welcome to “On Wellness Way!” Here we will discover new ways to create a healthier lifestyle, incorporating fitness, essential oils, gardening, nutrition plus the systems of Yoga and Ayurveda so that we can enhance our joy, vibrancy, sustainability and longevity.
In this new season, Kim Luyckx is back to explore more tools and pathways for greater health. In this episode, she describes the challenges of going through her husband’s journey with cancer and how her baseline of wellness supported her on this path. Kim’s book, “YogaPosts: Building a Steady Practice One Week at a Time is referenced. You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Posts-Building-Steady-Practice/dp/1098736176?nodl=1&dplnkId=4e6643d4-cb3a-43e6-953f-55dbcb91b002 Find Elena Brower here: https://elenabrower.com
Today on the last episode of the first season On Wellness Way, Kim would like to give you some tips for living youthfully by presenting the practice of rasayana or rejuvenation per Ayurveda. Through the practice of rasayana, we can assure cognitive and physical strength, immunity, enthusiasm and energetic zest for the remainder of our lives. *****In this episode, Kim refers to products made by Banyan Botanicals. https://www.banyanbotanicals.com
Did you know that yoga has eight limbs? One limb for each aspect of the yogic system. Today Kim will explain the eight limbs of yoga, one by one, so that you can have a more complete understanding of this amazing system. While there is no true order for understanding, the limbs do build upon one another in a progressive way that ultimately leads us to the goal of yoga: peace truthfulness and a deeper understanding of its beauty called oneness.*** Kim is referencing her book in this episode which is “Yoga Posts: Building a Steady Yoga Practice One Week at a Time.” You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Posts-Building-Steady-Practice/dp/1098736176
Did you know that you have an extra ordinary superpower that you may or may not be aware of? Yes, we all do. And, all we need to do to access it is to get more mindful. According to Ayurveda, it is the power of self healing. And for self healing to occur we need to generate awareness. We should understand that in order to heal ourselves we need right information, we need to get the right tools for healing and we need to recognize that our health is dependent on the health of our society.
Why is it important that we keep a healthy weight? And, what exactly is a healthy weight? These are both important considerations for our well-being. Ayurveda has an interesting perspective that doesn’t quite match our popular western standards or beliefs. I’m sure you’ll be surprised when you hear what’s coming in today’s podcast.
Have you ever been in a room or space that felt so comfortable that you wish you could stay there all day? Those are areas that are providing you with ample life force energy. This life force is essential energetic nourishment that moves like breath into, out of and within our physical spaces. When it’s able to transmit fluidly throughout our homes or workplaces, it can align and balance us physically, mentally and spiritually. Today, Kim is excited to share with you the ancient practice of Vastu. Often termed as the “yoga of space,” Vastu is how we harmonize the places where we live and work.
It’s April and spring is in full swing here in Northern Arizona. It’s a great time for an uplift and nothing says uplift more than a spring cleanse. Ayurveda has a wonderful plan for a spring cleanse that purifies and clarifies by removing the heavy buildup of the prior months. Today’s podcast tips will refresh and boost your physical being and your spirit so that you can feel invigorated, more cheerful and inspired as you move into this new spring season.** Follow Kim on her Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/_wellness_way as she moves through her spring cleanse routine.
Do you spice? Most of us just use salt or pepper to spice our food. And while the use of salt can enhance the flavor of foods and pepper has a lot of healing properties, there are so many more spices we can incorporate into our diet. Just think of the old saying, “variety is the spice of life.” In general, adding spice to your food can enhance its flavor. But a pinch of seasoning can balance your digestion, your doshas and improve your mental and physical state. Kim is going to talk about the properties and uses for some specific spices today as described in the ancient texts of Ayurveda.
You would think that the taste of food is purely that, a particular taste that you either like or dislike. But, according to Ayurveda, taste is more than what the tongue perceives. Ayurveda believes that a well-balanced meal should contain six tastes for a healthy body and mind…you’ll learn why in today’s episode.
According to Ayurveda, choosing the right food to eat is personal. Although there are many examples of healthy foods out there, Ayurveda believes that foods should be selected based on their natural qualities, compatibilities, modes of processing, quantities and timing.
Let’s take a deep dive into the quality of foods…
Breathing is an essential aspect of yoga and Ayurveda that takes into account the body as well as the mind and spirit. As we learn to deepen and slow down our breathing habits, our lung capacity extends, oxygen levels increase and all of our systems benefit. Through the breath, we take in what we need and release what no longer serves us. But this nourishment doesn’t just exist on a physical level. The unseen energy of the breath flows into, out of and within the body and is transmitted to every molecule to align and balance us physically, mentally and spiritually. On today’s podcast Kim will be sharing the concept of prana and it’s practice called Pranayama.*To access more information on how yoga poses can expand the body for pranayama practice, visit: https://onwellnessway.com *Kim’s Guided Pranayama Practice: https://onwellnessway.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Guided-Pranayama-Practice.m4a
Ojas is the body’s vital energy. Ayurveda says that we are born with a certain amount of ojas but that we must maintain it to stay healthy. Allowing it to dissolve would mean permitting our life to dissolve. Today, Kim is going to provide you with some habits for honing your radiance or ojas. Once you can establish these important habits then you’ll yearn to keep them because you will discover that you are stronger, more radiant and ultimately feel more fulfilled and contented.
Food is our medicine. And, when it is taken at the right time, in the right quantity and is full of prana or life force, food will provide us with the fuel that can be appropriately digested. Undigested food or Ama can build up in the system causing aggravation that ultimately leads you to a state of disease. In today’s episode, Kim gives tips for staying nourished that can bring you to a healthier state of being.
In this episode, you will learn how the eight limbs of yoga give perspective to the state of meditation. Preparation and particular techniques will be presented so that you can truly understand and follow a path to greater awareness. Bringing stillness to the mind allows you to see things more clearly and allows you to view yourself in a more favorable light. You receive more control, more choice and more freedom over your thoughts. ***Kim is providing a link here to a short guided meditation for your reference: https://onwellnessway.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/podcast-meditation.m4a
This podcast introduces the concept of dinacharya or daily routine. According to Ayurveda, we should be following a set of specific daily practices for cleansing, exercising, eating, working and sleeping in order to achieve a life that is optimal and full of vitality. **** Maintaining our health requires constant rebalancing. And, more importantly, it is a practice that varies from person to person. In order to get the best recommendations for balancing your specific body, mind and spirit, it is important that you have individualized guidance. Kim would be happy to work with you one-on-one to determine your particular tendencies & help you discover routines that would best suit you. Head to On Wellness Way’s website to find out more details for establishing your personal guidance plan. https://onwellnessway.com/ayurvedic-counseling/
This episode will introduce the concept of time in Ayurveda and what it means for our routines. The daily and nightly cycles, the seasons and our phases of life are all affected by time or Kala. Our doshas: Vata, Pitta & Kapha are influenced by the hour of day/night, the rhythms in nature (which are the seasons) & the phases of our lives. Therefore, time is a key component for balance in Ayurveda and can be called the cyclic remodeler of our lives. It is important for us to recognize how we are affected by these cycles of time so that we can fine tune ourselves to balance with the flow of nature.
Today’s episode will provide information and tips on how to harmonize the mind through the senses. Our senses are how we acquire our knowledge. There is no way to perceive our environment without our senses. We receive vibrations from objects and analyze them to make decisions. They create our desires and affect our mental state. Therefore, it is essential that we keep our sensory input balanced. **In this episode, Kim has referred to the use of essential oils and how they affect the mind through the sense of smell. If you are interested in receiving information on specific oils or would like to purchase high quality oils for yourself, Kim invites you to connect through her personal Young Living website: https://www.myyl.com/kim-luyckx **In addition, in this episode, Kim has shared her favorite recording of the Gayatri Mantra by Deva Premal: https://open.spotify.com/track/1kYeYUOjvEX9Vg3Tb8VIHR?si=sk_z0obzSZ2mjqXz1-IT3g
Ayurveda states that there are three pillars or supports that we need to build and preserve in our lives to foster our physical, mental and spiritual bodies. They are our inputs (or the things we take in), our impacts (or how we use our senses and actions) and our immersion or sleep. ***This podcast also covers the Five Layers or Koshas that house the 3 foundational pillars. *Here, Kim also touches on the eight limbs of yoga. If you’d like to learn about the system of yoga in its entirety, her book “Yoga Posts: Building a Steady Practice One Week at a Time,” is a great introduction. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Posts-Building-Steady-Practice-ebook/dp/B07YCYV2DB/ref=nodl_
The mind is responsible for our “knowing.” When we acquire information, we are susceptible to desire and aversion. These are the two aspects of the mind that are responsible for most of our suffering. So, mind care is life care. In this episode, Kim gives you tips for maintaining a healthy mind so that you can live life with greater harmony, clarity and compassion.
This weekend we say goodbye to the old and usher in the new year. To discover where your tendencies and energies lie, Kim will introduce you to some fundamental forces to inform whether you’re moving forward in your life, running in place or losing your way. ****If you are new to Ayurveda, please listen to the first few episodes to get a firm foundation for this and future episodes.
It’s the holiday season, a time when excess tends to lead to imbalance and a decline in your overall well-being. This episode will give you tips on maintaining your health over the holidays (or anytime you need a recharge). Kim also introduces the concept of Agni or digestive fire and the signs that your internal flame may be sputtering.
Today, Kim will offer information on the doshas: Vata, Pitta & Kapha also known as the three functional energies of Ayurveda. These three energies make up your tendencies and understanding them helps you maintain physical balance and achieve mental harmony. On this podcast, you’ll discover all of the dosha details so you can get started building your best life. ***To determine your dosha, download the Constitutional Questionnaire on the Wellness Way blog website: https://wellnessway.blog/2021/12/08/what-is-your-original-nature/#more-17568 ****If you would like more information, please contact Kim Luyckx directly at yogabdstudio@gmail.com
Knowing your innate nature is important for maintaining a healthy body-mind balance. It helps you to understand your tendencies and why you are driven toward specific foods, relationships, habits and daily routines. In today’s episode, the 20 qualities that create a person’s constitution will be introduced so that you can begin to understand your own personal makeup. For your reference, you can find the Constitutional Questionnaire on the Wellness Way blog website: https://wellnessway.blog/2021/12/08/what-is-your-original-nature/#more-17568 **If you would like more information, please contact Kim Luyckx directly at yogabdstudio@gmail.com
Our bodies contain the same elemental building blocks that create and support all of nature. In this podcast, we will discover each element: space, air, fire, water and earth and the unique characteristics that make up nature and ourselves. ——————————————————————Yoga Nidra Practice to balance the Fire Element: https://wellnessway.blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/yoga-nidra-practice-1.m4a
In this podcast, Kim will introduce the history of Ayurveda and the unique qualities that make this a true healing system for the body, mind and spirit. Kim is also asking for your input on which topics you’d be most interested in as we begin this path to wellness - please contribute by leaving your suggestions in the comments. 🙏🏼
Welcome to “On Wellness Way!” Here we will discover new ways to create a healthier lifestyle, incorporating fitness, essential oils, gardening, nutrition plus the systems of Yoga and Ayurveda so that we can enhance our joy, vibrancy, sustainability and longevity. Visit Kim’s website onwellnessway.com for lots more information!