When it comes to digestion, this is the heart of the matter.

I've been writing about Āyurvedic nutrition this season because it's one of the pillars of good health.I've shared about  how and when to eat,  about the three digestive types and how to restore balance to your digestive function using spices, gentle herbs and diet.

Today, I'm going to get into the heart of the matter. 

Anything that can’t be digested becomes toxic to our organism. That could be,

• Food

• Life experience

• Emotions

• Sensory Input
  

Well digested food = good quality bodily tissue.

Well digested Life experience = wisdom. 

Well digested emotions = understanding and empathy

Well digested sensory input = clear mind

If there’s  a backlog of undigested material in the body, known as ama in Āyurveda, it clogs the digestive tract first. This might look like,

• Gas, bloating, acidity

• Tension in the gut or a belly ache

• Incomplete elimination or constipation

Over time that toxicity overflows and circulates through the body looking for a place to land. As it circulates through the bloodstream we see these symptoms,

• Skin issues like rashes and eczema

• Seasonal and food allergies

• Overall malaise 

• Muscle and joint  pain

  
  

If we fail to treat the ama at level 2, then it hits your particular physical weak links, whether through genetics or a past illness or injury (kha vaigunyas or 'defective spaces' in Āyurveda) This is where a deeper pathology takes root and manifests a more serious disease. Here’s how it looked for me as a child:

I grew up in a family system that was sick. In my home there was neglect, emotional abuse, alcoholism, drug addiction and attempts at suicide. And though I made it through intact, there were many costs to my health and wellbeing.

• I held in so much as a child, I was hospitalized for what turned out to be severe constipation.

• I had seasonal allergies that were so bad I couldn’t wait for the latest antihistamines to come out each year.

• I had headaches and back pain

• Finally, my mental health began to deteriorate: I was depressed  and was a shell of my former Self. 

By the time I left home, I was completely out of touch with my true needs, and living with a very diminished life force. I knew I didn’t want to live that way so I began my healing journey.

I started practicing yoga. I began receiving  body work. I signed up to see a  counselor.  And, I spent a lot of time crying. I cried after yoga class, I cried on the massage table, and I cried  in the  therapist’s office. That unloading of so much hurt began the healing. With support I was able to digest and metabolizemy early experiences while simultaneously learning to properly nourish my self, my whole Self, through working with an Āyurveda practitioner.

One of the ancient Āyurvedic texts begins by pointing to passion and all the inflammatory emotions as root causes of the disease process. This the the arena of emotional or mental digestion.

I remember my Āyurveda teacher, Dr. Vasant Lad, speaking to the same thing. He referred to the beauty of an unfolding flower within us as we begin to digest our past pains and hurts. I took notes with tears streaming down my face, because  his tenderness was so palpable as he spoke.

We all deserve to feel that tenderness towards ourselves, our own life stories, and everything we’ve overcome to be right where we are now. And everything we continue to show up in all the ways we do.

And there is likely more work for us to do. I don't think it ever ends.

Showing up for yourself and your life is no small thing. In fact, I think it takes more courage to pause and tune in or rest on the couch than it does to keep going.

At the root of failing to sustain a healthy morning or evening routine, getting the sleep we need, or taking time to learn how to properly nourish ourselves can be unresolved issues from childhood, such as,

• Feelings of  unworthiness of our time and attention

• Fear of the rest/space for what it would reveal

• Feeling we have to earn the right to this time/space (and never feeling like we’ve done enough).

• Lack of modeling to what self-love and self-compassion look like

• Lack of modeling of how to take care of oneself fully

  
  

Shifting the patterns of our lives takes time and attention. It’s why I don’t do one-off Āyurveda sessions anymore. It's not enough to take a health history, do a good analysis of it through an  Āyurvedic lens and customize an effective plan for a client to resolve their symptoms and build good health. 

Without support in implementing and fine-tuning that plan, troubleshooting the inevitable set backs, and making space along the way, most folks aren’t successful.

It takes time to unwind this stuff, along with guidance and support. Besides being trained as an Āyurveda practitioner, I’m a certified health coach, and I’ve been walking this path my whole adult life. I’ve helped many women heal and move forward in deeper health and wellbeing on all levels.

Mid-life is a powerful time of initiation for women. It’s an excellent time to get some support in meet some of the disruptions that occur when one stage of life begins to collides with the next one.

I’m offering 1 -1 Āyurveda health coaching for women in peri-post menopause, Find all the details here.

First step is to book a brief 1 - 1 call to see if we’re a good fit. If we are, we can book your initial consult. I would love to talk with you even if we don't decide to work together. 

With love and a wish for your good health on all levels,

Shannon

P.S. I love my simple one pot meals. This is one of my favorite go-to meals for B, L of D. 10 minutes, use what's in the fridge. Delicious and nutritious. Endless variation.