School is IN... Ayurveda mini-course announcement!

I have been reminiscing a lot lately about my first yoga teacher training some 16 years ago. It was a humble teacher training at a local yoga studio in Colorado. I was “taking a break” (HA!) from law school after a tough break up and decided to set aside the time to do something I had always been curious about. If not then, then when, I wondered? So I signed up. People who sign up for such deep experiences are usually in somewhat the same boat — different details of course, but similarly looking for that “something more” than what they are currently doing.

Teacher training (and the many that followed) changed my life. Over time, I slowly changed my diet, my friend group, my priorities, and most importantly my mindset and worldview. It was one of the best decisions of my life. I am a calmer, more confident, stronger, more balanced and happier version of myself. More than I would have thought possible :) Considering I know now that I have everything within me to be the person I want to be, why did these outer circumstances initiate the change?

The top 2 reasons I could come up with are : being in a like-minded community AND deciding to set aside the time to study this thing at that point in time. Sure I could have read yoga, meditation, eastern philosophy, health, etc books in the comfort of my own home, but I had done that before and didn’t always have the best results.

The community of like-minded people made me feel safe, supported and inspired to do the tricky work ahead. And deciding that the time was now meant that I was making my own happiness and personal development a main priority for that moment in time at least. Priorities shift, and rightly so, and we have to make decisions about what matters to us most at any given point in time.

I love teaching, and consider it my path or dharma. Whether it is seeing a new yoga students’ eyes light up when they make it through their first class or finally get a new posture or an Ayurveda student whose eyes light up when they finally have answers for things they have been observing within their own bodies. I love facilitating the process of students getting that they have all they need within them, they just need a bit of a guide and some direction in the beginning to get them on their way. It is with this in mind that I decided to experiment with offering Ayurveda “school” courses - where you can learn the essentials of Ayurveda. Anyone who knows me from classes, retreats or workshops knows that I am borderline obsessed with making teachings as relevant and relatable as possible. To make theory, even hard theory, very accessible so we can apply what we learn to what we actually do every day. I also only create things that I would sign up for myself.. and I would sign up for this. And so, I announce:

Essential Ayurveda. An Ayurveda mini-course, or deep-dive into the world of Ayurveda, that I will offer both as a 6 week online course and in a retreat format. Exciting news! Read on…

Who is it for: Anyone with an interest in health, Ayurveda and/or yoga. Yoga teachers and practitioners may be particularly suited to this course, but it is really meant for anyone. It is an entry-level course and does not require a background in Ayurveda.

When: Essential Ayurveda 6 week course begins April 6. Essential Ayurveda Retreat is September 19 to 26 in Kythnos, Greece. You choose :)

Content - What are we talking about here.. ?

Lecture 1: Energies, Elements + the Outer Environment : How Ayurveda views the macro-environment which it later applies this to our own micro-environment. Introduction to the Energies (called Doshas which in this case are “forces” observeable in our outer world), the 5 Element Theory, the 20 Gunas (pairs of opposites/descriptors).

Lecture 2: Describing and Understanding Yourself: How the 5 element/Doshic theory applies to us as humans. Doshas explained in terms of their mind/body constitution - Vata, Pitta and Kapha explained physically, mentally and emotionally using Kosha theory. 20 Gunas in action in our mind/body. What is our constitution? What is a balanced constitution (prakruti) and what is an imbalance (vikruti).

Lecture 3: What are the Pillars of Health according to Ayurveda. What are Agni, Ama and Ojas. How does Ayurveda define "wellness” and “dis-ease”. Vata, Pitta and Kapha imbalances and their common sicknesses.

Lecture 4: Energies (doshas) within our daily, seasonally and time-of-life cycles. Introduction to the Doshic Clock - the lens through which Ayurveda views our 24 hour daily clock and how to align our daily tasks with the dominant energies. How Ayurveda views the seasons (called Ritucharya) - which energies dominate fall, winter, summer and spring and what this means for humans generally and our constitutions specifically. Which energies dominate during early, mid and late life and how to thrive in each.

Lecture 5 - Diet and digestion according to Ayurveda. How does Ayurveda view breakfast, lunch, dinner and meal spacing. What foods are recommended generally and specifically to a Vata, Pitta, or Kapha dominant person. The 6 Tastes as they relate to the 3 Doshas. All foods have energies and can be described. You will apply what you learn in 5 element and 20 guna theory to looking at your own diet.

Lecture 6: Daily Routine according to Ayurveda. Using the Ayurvedic clock as our lens, what time is best to sleep, wake up, eat our biggest meal, exercise and meditate. How this may differ based on mental and physical dosha type, and time of life.

Cost: The Beta version 6 week course is 375e - price will go up after Beta. :) Retreat details are here

What is included: 6 live (recorded) lectures you attend, Food, spice and seasonal guides by Dosha, supplemental videos, Recipe books with Dosha-specific recipes, weekly self-guided growthwork, entry into closed Facebook group to connect and commune with your fellow Ayurveda deep-divers.

Is everything online? Yes all lectures are online using Zoom - a video conferencing system with “live” slides, video and audio feed. BUT I will have a live interactive “meet and greet” for my Munich students

Interested? Call me if you want any clarification or send me an email.

Namaste lovelies