10 Things I Don’t Do as a Health Practitioner
We live in the digital age, Ammi right? Having such immediate access to information is cool - but it can also be a little overwhelming and if you are anything like me, the algorithm is sending you all kinds of health advice. While much of it is great and often the best advice is on repeat - I still think my personal approach to health would turn a few practitioner heads!
Ayurveda doesn’t view health and balance through the same lens as modern medicine and we don’t have to because what the Vedic text teaches us has been true and continues to be true thousands of years later; modern science is confirming this ancient wisdom at increasingly amazing rates.
When we show up to our own health journey, there is wisdom and freedom in letting go of our attachment to what is trendy or popular or even what we have believed to be true our entire lives. Staying open and awake to possibility and with a willingness to turn inward and access our inner knowing is essential to finding the best health practices for us in this time and space.
In an effort to break cycles and to help you see that this is not a one-size-fits all approach, I’m sharing some of my own practices….
A few things that I don’t do as an Ayurvedic Practitioner are:
I don’t drink warm lemon water first thing in the morning. Even my Ayurvedic pals might question me here. Lemon is considered a sour taste and so sometimes, it can throw my vata-dominant constitution into overdrive. Lemon water has its place SOME DAYS. But my go-to most mornings is a warm cup of water with 1/2 tsp or 1 tsp of ghee and a little cinnamon. The next thing I drink is psyllium husk and a water/juice combo. And then I drink my favorite thing- coffee! Doshically minded coffee, of course.
I don’t add fruit to my yogurt or oatmeal to increase fiber. If you know, you know - I am a little obsessed with fiber intake. That said, I never eat fruit with yogurt and rarely add it to other grains either. While fruit and grains are both great sources of fiber, fruit digests at a different rate than other foods, particularly dairy, and can cause gas and bloating and eventually leads to increased ama (making gas more stinky) and causing stagnation throughout the systems of the body. This stagnation prohibits proper cleansing, impacts menstruation, causes weight gain, increases digestive disturbance, interferes with hormonal health and so much more. I eat my fruit separate from other foods, most of the time. As a person who takes great care of her digestion, I can handle more fruit combinations than some of my clients but still, I like to know this rule is keeping me safer in the long run. I do drink psyllium husk and eat lots of mung dal to increase fiber.
I don’t buy expensive electrolyte packets, even the high quality brands. Although I do absolutely see the value in proper hydration and including sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc. is highly beneficial in muscle function, fluid balance, nerve function, blood pressure regulation and all the things….I like to drink my trace minerals with high quality water and herbal infusions. When we derive nutrients and minerals OF ANY KIND from their most pure source, we not only digest easier, but the body experiences less strain in the metabolism process. Plants and herbs are easier to digest than supplements. Plus, the pure taste of the herbs satisfies some of the pesky cravings that impact my dietary choices. My daily ghee intake + my herbal infusions keep my tissues soft and help me absorb the nutrients from my infusions and from my food better than any supplement ever could!
I don’t track the number of ounces I drink in a day. I drink plenty of water and some days plenty means upwards of 100 ounces and some days its closer to 36. I sip warm or room temperature water throughout the day and listen to cues from my body if I need more than regular sips. Our bodies are not so robotic that no matter what we put in them or which activities we do with them, they need a certain amount of hydration. Nope! They need what they need and while many people aren’t getting enough water, the reality is that some of y’all are getting way more than necessary and it might be impacting your digestive fire (agni) and making digestion and transformation/metabilsm difficult. Learning to listen to my body’s cues helps me stay hydrated and best of all, guilt free! I LOVE new cups, straws, and carrying my weight in liquid to every meeting I attend. But I don’t regret my decision to stop counting ounces and start listening to my body!
I don’t count my protein intake. The truth is, protein is absolutely important but I’ve found way too often that the focus on numbers can prove futile. What Ayurveda has taught us is that it isn’t what we eat that matters - but our ability to digest it properly. No matter how much protein you eat, if your body isn’t breaking it down and using it properly, it’s likely causing more harm than good. Focus on healthy digestion is primary to ensuring protein is benefiting you and easy to digest proteins are key! Plus, a lot of veggies and fruits can help in the protein department if we are digesting them well.
I don’t count macros and micros. Same concept, different vocabulary. Ayurveda doesn’t speak in terms of micros and macros - we speak in terms of taste. A balanced diet consists of all 6 tastes with the assumption that food that tastes pleasing is easier to digest than food that is less pleasing. Plus, our agni (digestive fire) changes with the seasons, the times of our lives, the times of day and even with the spices included in the meal. Counting macros can feel like force feeding and, alternatively, can feel like deprivation. A balance of all 6 tastes with emphasis on balancing the qualities that are lacking in the body is truly satisfying and balancing.
I don’t meal prep. Even though I am the kind of person who can find a food she likes and stick with it day after day, I don’t bother with meal prep. Eating 5 day old chicken on top of raw lettuce just isn’t my jam. I believe in eating pranic rich foods and that means throwing leftovers out after 2 days and prepping my meals as fresh as possible. I utilize one pot meals often in order to prioritize warm, moist and well spiced meals that haven’t been sitting for days on days. Pre-prepped meals, while convenient at times, can make food lose their luster and nourishment. I find that meals that I can smell and touch just before I eat them serve me best. The thought of having to eat something I chose 5 days ago just isnt appealing and since I think food is a form of love, I’m not interested in something that isn’t bringing the love. Meal prepping has proven financially irresponsible for me and so I choose eating out over planning that far ahead.
I don’t exercise every day. Now, I think I should and this tea might be the hardest for me to spill. But, its my truth and rather than feel guilt about it, I choose to prioritize what I think my body needs most some days. Some days, its exercise and I bounce out of bed and act like a woman half my age in the pilates studio - full of vigor and pride. And other days, slow mornings with focus on heart-centered activities serve me best. My dinacharya is my highest priority and so when I have to choose between a sweaty workout and cleansing my eyes and chanting my mantra, dinacharya almost always takes priority. Qi Gong, Yoga, Stretching and Free Weights are always available to me and I utilize them often. But not always. I do, however, walk daily. And honestly, it’s less about the exercise and more about the connection to nature, the contact with the sun, time with my partner or friends and my puppies and the fresh air that get me out there.
I don’t cook every day. I LOVE LOVE LOVE eating out. I know that eating out isn’t financially viable for everyone (me either, TBH) but I also know that we shame and blame about our eating out far too often. The trick to feeling good about eating out is, well, feeling good about eating out. I always think home cooked meals made with organic, whole foods and high quality spices are best (and honestly, most satisfying). But, I’m a mom, a wife, a business owner and I am committed to many of my daily practices and sometimes, that doesn’t leave as much space for the ideal meal and so I choose the next best thing; guilt free eating. I find gratitude and joy in everything I put in my body. For joy and love are the most healing ingredients of all. I choose locally owned restaurants with loving staff who know and appreciate me and I can feel confident my food is prepared with love. I choose warm, moist, unctuous meals and ones that are made with seasonal vegetables whenever possible. And when I don’t feel the choices are quite what suits me best, I shower my meal with love and gratitude and give immense thanks for the company by my side.
I don’t sit in silent meditation. I mean, never on purpose. Silent meditation is hard for my vata-dominant constitution and so I find it more difficult and frustrating than helpful. I know, I know…keep practicing. But rather than beating my head against a wall, I have found my peace and stillness comes from daily mantra/chanting, pranayama, abhyanga, oil pulling, nasya and speaking clearly and openly with my guides, my ancestors, my guardian angels, my teachers, my healers, my messengers and my Divine Source. Once I stopped trying to still my mind and started inviting it to focus on what was out there looking to guide and benefit me, I learned peace. I learned stillness. I learned to focus on the positive. I learned to ask for help. I learned to be excited about this part of my day. I learned that I am not alone in this journey of self-discovery.
Just because I don’t do what your favorite influencer or health coach says to do doesn’t mean it isn’t right for you. The most important aspects of Ayurveda are that it calls to your own inner wisdom and that it recognizes that we are all unique and, therefore, our needs are unique. I love to hear what is working for other people and I choose to share what works for me because most of the people who find their way into my office have been disappointed by recognizing that what seems to work for so many, isn’t working for them.
Wishing you love and shanti on your journey.
*This information is never meant to replace advice from your medical practitioner. It is for educational purposes.
