Why We Struggle to Rest – Permission to Slow Down - 445
Release Date: 05/21/2026
Rethinking Protein: An Ayurvedic Perspective on Individual Digestive Capacity with Dr. Varalakshmi - 465
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Protein has become one of the biggest conversations in modern nutrition. We’re constantly being told to eat more protein, prioritise protein at every meal, choose certain protein sources or turn to protein powders to meet our daily needs. But Ayurveda asks us to look at food differently. Rather than focusing only on how much protein we consume, Ayurveda encourages us to consider our individual digestive capacity, our current state of balance, and the qualities of the foods we are eating. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Varalakshmi Yanamandra, BAMS, an Ayurvedic Doctor with 15 years...
info_outline
Preparing Your Body for Change: An Ayurvedic Approach - 464
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Have you ever decided that you need to make a change and then wanted to change everything at once? Maybe you decide you're going to eat better, exercise more, get to bed earlier, drink less alcohol, meditate every day or finally get yourself organised. We can become so focused on the result that we overlook the process of getting there. In Ayurveda, sustainable change isn't about forcing the body into a completely different way of being. It's about understanding where we are, listening to the body and creating the conditions that allow change to happen. In this episode, we explore why...
info_outline
What Happens When You Give Your Digestive System a Break? | An Ayurvedic Insight - 463
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
What happens when you stop asking your digestive system to constantly do more? In Ayurveda, digestion is about far more than what happens in your gut. Agni, often translated as digestive fire, is the force of transformation, the process through which we digest, absorb, process and transform what we take in. And because we are constantly taking in more than just food, Ayurveda views digestion as something that can influence the whole system. In this episode, we explore what can happen when we give digestion a little more space, simplicity and rhythm. Colette covers the following: Why Agni is...
info_outline
Why an Ayurvedic Seasonal Reset Is More Than a Cleanse - 462
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
What if you didn't wait until your body was struggling before you gave it a reset? In our modern world, we often think of a cleanse or reset as something we need to do after we've overindulged, eaten too much sugar, gained weight, or simply "fallen off the wagon." But Ayurveda takes a different, more preventative approach. Because we are part of nature, the changing seasons affect us too, influencing our digestion, energy, routines, appetite, sleep and overall balance. In this episode, Colette explores why the transition between seasons is such an important time to pause, listen to the body,...
info_outline
Why Less Can Sometimes Heal More: The Wisdom of Ayurvedic Simplicity - 461
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Have you ever noticed that when you're not feeling your best, your instinct is to do more? Another supplement, another diet, another wellness routine or maybe another expert to follow. But what if your body doesn't need more from you right now? What if it needs less? In this episode, Colette explores the Ayurvedic wisdom of simplicity and why creating space can sometimes be more supportive than continually adding more. Ayurveda reminds us that the body is constantly processing; not only food, but also information, experiences, emotions, stimulation and the demands of everyday life. When there...
info_outline
When Healthy Habits Stop Working: An Ayurvedic Perspective - 460
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
You eat well, exercise regularly, meditate, manage your stress and genuinely try to take care of yourself, so why don't you feel better? Sometimes, the answer isn't that you need to try harder or add another healthy habit. Through the Ayurvedic lens, there may be another question worth asking: Does your body currently have the capacity to digest, process and assimilate everything you're giving it? In this episode, Colette explores why healthy habits can sometimes stop feeling helpful and how factors such as stress, sensory input, lifestyle, seasonal changes, accumulation and digestive capacity...
info_outline
Why We Keep Ignoring Our Body's Signals: Ayurveda and Self-Awareness - 459
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Have you ever found yourself saying, “I’m fine,” even though you know you’re exhausted? Maybe you’ve been living with bloating, poor sleep, low energy, headaches or digestive discomfort for so long that it has simply become your normal. You know something feels different, but life is busy, there are people depending on you, and there’s always something else that seems more important. In Episode 458, we explored how Ayurveda views symptoms as messages from the body rather than problems to simply suppress. In this episode, we take the conversation a step further and explore why we so...
info_outline
What Is Your Body Trying to Tell You? An Ayurvedic Perspective on Symptoms - 458
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Have you ever wished a symptom would simply disappear? Whether it's bloating, fatigue, headaches, restless sleep or digestive discomfort, our first instinct is often to silence the discomfort and get on with our busy lives. But what if those symptoms aren't the problem? What if they're messages? Colette explores one of Ayurveda's most profound teachings: that symptoms are not random inconveniences to suppress but meaningful signals that the body is communicating an imbalance. Rather than fighting our symptoms, Ayurveda invites us to become curious and ask, "What is my body trying to...
info_outline
Celebrating 9 Years: Why Human Connection Matters - 457
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
As the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast celebrates its ninth anniversary, Colette reflects on the journey of sharing Ayurveda with listeners around the world and explores why, in an age of artificial intelligence and unlimited information, human connection has never been more valuable. With health advice now available at the click of a button, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by conflicting opinions and disconnected from our own inner wisdom. In this thoughtful episode, Colette shares why Ayurveda offers something that technology cannot replace, a personalised, compassionate approach that honours...
info_outline
Rebuilding Self-Trust Through Ayurveda - 456
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast
Have you ever found yourself ignoring your body's signals, overriding your intuition, or constantly looking outside yourself for the "right" answer? In our modern world, we're surrounded by advice on what to eat, how to exercise, and the perfect wellness routine to follow. While information can be incredibly valuable, it can also disconnect us from the most important source of wisdom we have, ourselves. In this episode, Colette explores why self-trust lies at the heart of healing and how Ayurveda gently guides us back to our own inner wisdom. Rather than encouraging dependence on practitioners...
info_outlineWhy 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 disconnection from ourselves.
She covers the following in this episode:
- Why many people struggle to truly rest
- The Ayurvedic understanding of nervous system dysregulation
- How productivity can become connected to identity and self-worth
- Why slowing down can sometimes feel unsafe
- The connection between rhythm, dinacharya and nervous system safety
- Why summer season can become surprisingly depleting
- Gentle Ayurvedic practices to calm Vata and soften excess Pitta
- Reconnecting with enoughness, presence and restoration
This episode is a gentle reminder that rest is not laziness or something we earn only after burnout. From an Ayurvedic perspective, rest is an essential part of healing, restoration and sustainable wellbeing.
Elements of Ayurveda Podcast Community
This new online community was created for those who wish to go deeper into Ayurveda, together. Inside, you’ll find:
- Monthly live Zoom meetups
- Early access to podcast episodes
- Member forums for discussion and Q&A
- Mindfulness and self-care practices
- Seasonal group challenges and reflections
This community is 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 community.
Join the new Elements of Ayurveda Podcast Community
Check out Colette's online services:
- Online Consultations
- Digestive Reset Cleanse
- Online Daily Habits for Holistic Health Program
- Reset-Restore-Renew Program
Have questions on Colette's online services? Book a FREE 15 min Services Enquiry Call here.
Do I have an accumulation of ama/toxins in my body? Take this quiz to find out
Stay connected on the Elements social media:
Thank you for listening!
If this episode supported you, please consider leaving a review and if you think this information would be helpful to family or friends, please share this episode so we can spread this wisdom of Ayurveda.
Stay tuned and stay aligned with the Elements of Ayurveda Podcast.
Thanks for listening!