Understanding Sneha – Ayurvedic Love and Nourishment - 418
Release Date: 11/13/2025
Navigating Perimenopause with Ayurveda: My Sister Niamh’s Story - 419
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode of the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast, Colette is joined by her sister, Niamh, an Occupational Therapist who specializes in mental health for children and young adults. Together, they explore Niamh’s honest and vulnerable journey through perimenopause, a time that tested even her professional understanding of the mind and her long-time relationship with Ayurvedic living. Despite her professional knowledge of mental health and years of practicing Ayurvedic principles, Niamh found herself facing out-of-character symptoms and a sense of losing...
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Understanding Sneha – Ayurvedic Love and Nourishment - 418
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
In this episode of the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast, we’re exploring a truly beautiful concept in Ayurvedic wisdom, Sneha, a Sanskrit word that means both oil and love. And that’s no coincidence. Sneha is the essence of softness, warmth, and care that keeps our body, mind, and heart supple. It’s both nourishment and an act of conscious love, a daily reminder that tending to ourselves is not selfish, but sacred. In this episode, Colette shares how Sneha can be practiced both externally through self-oiling rituals like abhyanga, and internally through nourishing fats such as ghee...
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Ayurveda and the Power of Sangha: Healing Through Community - 417
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
In this heart-centered episode, Colette explores the vital role of community in Ayurveda and how sangha, a gathering of like-minded souls, nurtures our healing, balance, and wellbeing. In a world where loneliness has become a quiet epidemic, Ayurveda reminds us that true healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens through connection, in shared rhythm, trust, and support. Join Colette as she reflects on the modern epidemic of disconnection, what Ayurveda teaches about collective balance, and how belonging strengthens our ojas, the subtle essence of vitality, love, and resilience. She also...
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Ayurvedic Gut-Heart-Mind Connection with Dr. Sujatha Kekada - 416
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Ayurveda teaches that the heart (Hridaya) is not just a physical pump for blood, it is central to our physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. Together, we explore how chronic stress, unresolved grief, and emotional trauma can affect both the heart and mind, and how Ayurvedic wisdom can guide us toward healing from the inside out. We also dive deep into the subdoshas, exploring the subtle energies of Prana Vayu, Sadhaka Pitta, and Tarpaka Kapha, that regulate how we “digest life” and how they link the gut, heart, and mind. In this episode, we cover: Dr. Sujatha's...
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Ayurvedic Formula for Sustainable Change: From Intention to Action - 415
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
If you’ve ever set out to make healthy changes but found your willpower fading after a few weeks, this episode is for you. In this final episode of my trilogy on Ayurvedic habits, we explore how to make change sustainable. While episode 412 looked at habits as anchors in uncertain times, and episode 413 explored the big results that come from small rituals, this conversation is all about longevity and how to move from good intentions to lasting transformation. You’ll learn how Ayurveda shifts the focus from discipline to rhythm, helping you align your daily habits with nature’s cycles...
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The Liver and Perimenopause: Tending Your Inner Fire - 414
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
In this episode, Colette explores the liver, not just as an organ, but as your body’s fire keeper, the great transformer of food, hormones, and emotions. Ayurveda teaches that the liver, or Yakrut, is the home of Pitta dosha and plays a vital role in keeping your inner fire balanced. During perimenopause, when hormones fluctuate and emotions rise and fall, the liver’s workload increases making its care essential for digestion, mood, and overall vitality. You’ll learn: How the liver acts as your body’s master transformer, converting nutrients into energy, blood, and hormones The...
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Ayurvedic Habits for Holistic Health: Small Rituals, Big Results - 413
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
We often think that transformation requires big, dramatic changes, but Ayurveda teaches us that it’s the small, steady habits that create the deepest, most sustainable impact. In this episode, I share how small rituals act as anchors for your health, energy, and emotional balance. We’ll explore why habits conserve mental energy, how Ayurveda personalizes them for your unique dosha, and the ripple effects that build resilience and longevity. You’ll learn: Why daily habits matter Foundational Ayurvedic rituals and their impact How habits support different doshas...
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Ayurveda’s Anchor for Uncertain Times - 412
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Life can often feel unpredictable, whether from work pressures, social shifts, or simply the pace of the world. Ayurveda reminds us that stability isn’t found in controlling the external world, but in cultivating steady rhythms and anchor habits within ourselves. In this episode, Colette explores how small, consistent daily habits can serve as anchors for your body, mind, and spirit. You’ll learn why Ayurveda places such importance on daily self-care practices (dinacharya), how different doshas benefit from specific anchors, and how these tiny, steady routines ripple out to support...
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The Gut-Emotion Connection: Ayurveda’s Reset for Body and Mind - 411
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
In Ayurveda, digestion is never just about food, it’s about how we process life itself. When our digestion is weak, the body feels heavy, the mind becomes clouded, and both physical toxins (ama) and mental toxins (mental ama) begin to accumulate. In this episode, Colette explores how poor digestion affects not only our physical health but also our emotional wellbeing, clarity, and self-confidence. You’ll learn how the gut-mind connection works in Ayurveda, why unprocessed emotions weigh just as heavily as undigested food, and what practices help restore balance. We’ll also look at how an...
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Ayurveda and Hypothyroidism with Vaidya Kamya Pillai - 410
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
The thyroid may be small, but its influence on our energy, metabolism, mood, and overall vitality is profound. Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders today. Ayurveda takes a holistic perspective to uncover root causes and pathways to healing, looking at digestion, doshas, lifestyle, and even emotional health. In this episode, I’m joined by Vaidya Kamya Pillai, a specialist in Ayurveda with over a decade of clinical experience. Together, we explore hypothyroidism through the Ayurvedic lens, including: How Ayurveda understands the thyroid and its role in the body ...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast, we’re exploring a truly beautiful concept in Ayurvedic wisdom, Sneha, a Sanskrit word that means both oil and love. And that’s no coincidence.
Sneha is the essence of softness, warmth, and care that keeps our body, mind, and heart supple. It’s both nourishment and an act of conscious love, a daily reminder that tending to ourselves is not selfish, but sacred.
In this episode, Colette shares how Sneha can be practiced both externally through self-oiling rituals like abhyanga, and internally through nourishing fats such as ghee or medicated oils. You’ll also discover how Sneha softens not only the physical body but also the mind and emotions, helping to cultivate resilience, calm, and compassion in your daily life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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The dual meaning of Sneha in Sanskrit and why oiling is an act of love
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The difference between external Sneha and internal Sneha
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How Sneha supports physical health, from joint mobility and skin nourishment to digestion and immunity
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The emotional and psychological benefits of Sneha for calming Vata, reducing stress, and fostering self-compassion
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How to personalize your Sneha practice for each dosha and season
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Simple, daily Sneha rituals you can try at home, even if you only have a few minutes
Links & Resources
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Sponsor: Kerala Ayurveda Academy – Advance your Ayurvedic education with the Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner (AAP) Program.
Enroll at keralaayurveda.us/aap and use code FreeAAP26 to waive your application fee. -
Digestive Reset Cleanse – Join the next Group Cleanse starting January 23rd, 2026, or book a Private Cleanse anytime that suits your schedule. Learn more at Elements Healing & Wellbeing
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Golden Turmeric Milk Recipe – Elements Healing & Wellbeing - Resources
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Recommended Ayurvedic Oils - The quality and source of your oil matter. Choose organic, cold- or expeller-pressed oils for purity and safety. I recommend the following companies for high quality oils:
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Kerala Ayurveda - enter discount code ELEMENTS15 to receive 15% off your first purchase.**
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Banyan Botanicals - enter discount code ELEMENTSHEALING15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.**
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Divya's - enter discount code ELEMENTSOFAYURVEDA15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase.**
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LifeSpa - Save $10 on a $50 or more one-time purchase with the code elements10.
**Shipping available within the U.S. only.
Exciting News: The New Elements of Ayurveda Podcast Community is Live!
Over the years, this podcast has blossomed into a global community, a gathering of seekers, healers, and lifelong learners. And now, I’m delighted to share that our revitalized community space is officially open!
This new online home was created for those who wish to go deeper into Ayurveda, together. Inside, you’ll find:
- Early access to podcast episodes
- Member forums for discussion and Q&A
- Mindfulness and self-care practices
- Monthly live Zoom meetups
- Seasonal group challenges and reflections
It’s a conscious, supportive space to connect, learn, and grow with others walking the Ayurvedic path.
Come say hello, introduce yourself, and be part of this living, breathing sangha.
Join the new community here: Elements of Ayurveda Podcast Community
I look forward to connecting with you soon!
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