Yoga, Meditation and Mental Health with Dr. Ishan Shivanand - 424
Release Date: 12/25/2025
The Gap Between Knowing and Living Ayurveda - 453
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
If you've been studying Ayurveda for a while, chances are you already know a lot. Yet knowing what supports your wellbeing and consistently living it are often two very different things. In this episode, Colette explores the gap between knowing and living Ayurveda. She discusses why information alone doesn't create transformation, how the nervous system influences our ability to change, why we often resist the very habits that would support us, and how self-compassion and consistency can help us bridge the gap between understanding Ayurveda and truly embodying it in everyday life. In This...
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Living an Authentic Life with Ayurveda - 452
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
The word authenticity can sometimes feel overused, misunderstood, or even a little cliché. Yet beneath the buzzword lies a profound question: Who are you underneath all the layers of conditioning, expectations, habits, and beliefs you've accumulated throughout your life? In this episode, Colette explores how Ayurveda offers a unique framework for uncovering your authentic self. Rather than becoming someone new, Ayurveda encourages us to peel back the layers that obscure our true nature and reconnect with who we've always been. She discusses the importance of understanding your unique...
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An Ayurvedic Guide to Vata, Pitta and Kapha Skin Types - 451
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Have you ever wondered if your skin is trying to tell you something? In this episode, Colette continues the conversation on Ayurvedic skin health following her interview with Vaidya Kamya Pillai on the gut-skin connection in episode 447. While many of us are taught to focus on skincare products to address dryness, breakouts, redness, or sensitivity, Ayurveda encourages us to look beneath the surface and explore what these symptoms may be communicating about our overall health. Colette explores how imbalances in the doshas of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha can manifest in the skin and how understanding...
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The Feminine Fire Within: Ayurveda, Intuition and the Return to Balance - 450
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Have you been feeling less drawn to hustle culture, constant productivity and striving, and more drawn to simplicity, connection and a slower rhythm of life? In this episode, Colette explores the concept of the feminine fire through an Ayurvedic lens. Inspired by reflections on the balance between feminine and masculine energies within us all, she examines how modern life, excess rajas and nervous system overstimulation can disconnect us from our intuition, creativity and natural rhythms. Drawing on personal experiences and Ayurvedic wisdom, Colette discusses the qualities of a rajasic mind,...
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Letting Go of Optimization: Returning to Body Wisdom - 449
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Are you living by your body's wisdom or by your data? In today's wellness culture, we're encouraged to track, measure, monitor, and optimize almost every aspect of our lives. Sleep scores, step counts, fasting windows, heart rate variability, recovery metrics, calorie burn, protein intake, the list seems endless. While technology can offer valuable insights, many people are finding themselves increasingly disconnected from the very thing that matters most, their relationship with their own body. In this episode, Colette explores the growing culture of self-optimization through the lens of...
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From Survival to Thriving: Athina’s Ayurvedic Healing Journey with Crohn’s - 448
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Ten years ago, Athina was severely ill with Crohn’s disease, exhausted, unable to eat properly, rapidly losing weight, and unsure if she would survive. In this deeply inspiring conversation, she shares how discovering Ayurveda became a turning point in her healing journey. Together, Colette and Athina reflect on the physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation that unfolded through simple daily practices, nourishment, self-awareness, and long-term lifestyle change. This episode is a powerful reminder of the body’s incredible capacity to heal when given the right support. In this...
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Beyond Skin Care: Ayurveda and the Gut-Skin Connection with Vaidya Kamya - 447
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Could your skin be reflecting what's happening in your digestive system? Colette explores the Ayurvedic understanding of the gut-skin connection and why true radiance begins from within with Vaidya Kamya Pillai. While modern research continues to uncover the relationship between the microbiome, inflammation, and skin health, Ayurveda has long taught that healthy digestion, balanced doshas, and proper nourishment are essential for clear, vibrant skin. You'll learn how Agni (digestive fire), Ama (toxic accumulation), Rasa Dhatu (the body's primary nourishing tissue) and Ojas (our vital essence),...
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People Pleasing and the Nervous System: An Ayurvedic Path Back to Yourself - 446
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
People pleasing is often misunderstood as simply being “too nice,” but for many people it’s much deeper than that. It can become a nervous system survival strategy shaped by childhood conditioning, fear of rejection, emotional hypervigilance, and the longing to feel safe, accepted, loved, and connected. In this episode, Colette explores people pleasing through the lens of Ayurveda, nervous system healing, and emotional awareness. She shares how these patterns can disconnect us from our true nature and why healing involves much more than simply “setting boundaries” or “learning to...
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Why We Struggle to Rest – Permission to Slow Down - 445
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Why is it so difficult to truly rest, even when we’re exhausted? In this episode, Colette explores the deeper Ayurvedic understanding of rest, nervous system regulation, productivity culture, and the relationship between Vata and Pitta imbalance. Many people today are living in a constant state of overstimulation and “doing,” leaving the nervous system unable to fully soften and restore. Colette looks at how modern culture often praises dysregulation when it looks productive, why rest can feel emotionally difficult, and how busyness can become a way of avoiding deeper feelings and...
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Sadvritta: Ayurveda’s Guide to a Compassionate and Conscious Life - 444
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Colette explores the Ayurvedic concept of Sadvritta, often translated as right living or ethical conduct, and how these timeless teachings can help us navigate modern life with more awareness, compassion, and harmony. While Ayurveda is often associated with food, herbs, and daily routines, the classical teachings remind us that true health goes far beyond the physical body. Our thoughts, beliefs, speech, and interactions with others all influence our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. In today’s fast-paced and highly stimulated world, where disconnection, reactivity, and social...
info_outlineColette is joined by Dr. Ishan Shivanand, mental health researcher, professor, bestselling author, and founder of Yoga of Immortals (YOI). Raised in Indian monasteries within a 21-generation yogic lineage, Dr. Shivanand brings a rare integration of ancient wisdom and modern science. His groundbreaking double-blind RCTs show up to 82% improvement in insomnia, anxiety, depression, and overall quality of life in as little as 4–8 weeks.
Together, they explore how meditation, breathwork, Yoga and Ayurveda can transform mental health and how these ancient sciences understood the mind long before modern neuroscience. This conversation offers both profound insight and practical inspiration for anyone seeking holistic wellbeing and preventative health practices.
In this episode, they discuss:
- How a 21-generation monastic lineage shaped Dr. Shivanand’s understanding of the mind
- What ancient Yogic and Ayurvedic teachings reveal about consciousness and brain function
- Dr. Shivanand's perspective of today's scientific understanding of mental health
- The surprising results of the 12 month clinical studies on the impact of meditation on short and long term health
- How Yoga, meditation and breath unlock expanded states of consciousness and why they are essential for human evolution
Links & Resources
Practice of Immortality Book by Dr. Ishan Shivanand - https://ishanshivanand.com/about-the-book/
Group Digestive Reset Cleanse – Join the next Group Cleanse starting January 23rd, 2026 https://www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com/group-cleanse
Private DIgestive Reset Cleanse - choose dates that work for your schedule. Learn more at https://www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com/digestive-reset-cleanse
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 Elements of Ayurveda Podcast Community here:
https://www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com/community
I look forward to connecting with you soon!
Check out Colette's online services:
- Online Consultations https://www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com/consultations
- At-home Digestive Reset Cleanse https://www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com/digestive-reset-cleanse
- Online Daily Habits for Holistic Health Program https://www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com/daily-habits
- Reset-Restore-Renew Program https://www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com/reset-restore-renew
Have questions on Colette's online services? Book a FREE 15 min Services Enquiry Call here. https://www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com/consultations
Do I have an accumulation of ama/toxins in my body? Take this quiz to find out https://www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com/resources
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