Connecting with nature

What is Ayurveda for you?

Ayurveda is the truest form of health and medicine that I have found. I don’t mean this in a way that is dismissive of modern medicine, but I believe that if we live in connection with nature, both what is in and outside of us, we can better maintain health and be self-aware enough to know the practices that will help us when we are sick.

How and when did you find out what Ayurveda is?

I learned of Ayurveda through yoga. I attended a workshop and immediately felt drawn to it. For me, it feeds both my personal desires for a healthy lifestyle and my passion for helping others understand their own body, health conditions, and the things that will help them heal.

Why it has become such an important part of your life?

Ayurveda taught me how to live in the most intentional way, from what I eat to when I exercise to the way I design my live and work spaces. This is something that will always be important to me.

Many people associate Ayurveda with ancient knowledge, not fully understood and very difficult to apply today. Is it really so?

There are absolutely some complex things about Ayurveda. I don’t think that this is because it is ancient necessarily. There is a lot of philosophy and Sanskrit that can be a turn off for some, and it can sometimes feel rigid. Of course, because it was developed in a time very different that our current time, there are some practices that can seem outdated or even just lengthy for the modern person. Yet, I find it is very adaptable.

Another concern I sometimes face is that people associate Ayurveda with diet and that they won't be able to eat or drink various things. How is it really? What about coffee and sweets? :)

One of my teachers said that everything is good and everything is bad, and that nothing is good and nothing is bad. This pretty much sums it up. I hesitate to give food lists to people, as they seem to believe that is all they can eat. That’s not the case. It’s merely a guide to what will be best for you. When you are mindful of how and when you consume things, even coffee and sweets are medicine, too.

Your book, The Ayurvedic Self-Care Handbook is primarily about importance of the rhythm of the day for our well-being. Could it be considered one of the basic Ayurvedic recommendations?

Yes! The way we design our day is one of the biggest ways we can align ourselves with nature. Going against nature is one of three reasons Ayurveda states we become sick. We have an inner rhythm that matches nature and if we listen to it, we will feel our best.

There are many people who assume that any change in their rhythm of the day is impossible and that they simply don’t have enough time for such things. What would you advise them?

For those that find changing their day to be difficult, I suggest keeping it simple. Look for one thing you can do. Can you eat one meal at the same time each day? Can you wake or go to bed at the same time? If it is a priority, and it will be once you see how it makes you feel, you’ll find a way to make it work.

If we don’t know our dosha (or we only guess it) can we safely implement any Ayurvedic recommendations? And does making dosha test available online make sense?

There is so much to glean from Ayurveda that doesn’t have to do with your dosha, such as following seasonal eating, eating your biggest meal at lunch, using a tongue cleaner… the list goes on. Though quizzes online can give you an idea, I recommend you learn about all of the doshas and decide which resonates with you most. It’s also good to consult with a practitioner to be sure you’re on the right track.

What Ayurveda can give us today, in XXI century? And can it help us cope with the challenges of the pandemic?

Ayurveda teaches us to make decisions for how we feel in the moment, and to preserve our prana or energy. This applies no matter the century we are in. With this, there are so many things to learn from Ayurveda regarding a pandemic. For example, there is a concept called ojas that is essentially our vitality, health reserves, or immunity. We can increase this not only through certain food and herbs, but by also being around people we love and engaging in activities that make us happy. This is a big lesson for coping with a pandemic.

Sarah Kucera, DC, CAP, has been championing healthy practices professionally for over a decade, and personally for her whole life. A licensed chiropractor, certified Ayurvedic practitioner, registered yoga teacher and yoga therapist, and entrepreneur, she is the founder of Sage, a healing arts center and herbal apothecary in Kansas City, Missouri, where she combines these methods to help others find well-being.

Photos: Suzanne Corum-Rich