60: How to Improve Sleep, Reduce Stress and Transform Your Health Through Ayurveda (with Ananta Ripa Ajmera)

We can transform our health when we follow the holistic approach of Aryurveda, the world's oldest healing system, which focuses on mind, body, spirit and the 5 senses. In this episode Ananta Ripa Ajmera shares that health is our birthright – our true nature – and shares numerous practices from her book The Ayurveda Way: 108 Practices from the World's Oldest Healing System for Better Sleep, Less Stress, Optimal Digestion, and More. Ananta brings home the idea that true health focuses on so much more than just our body and definitely includes elements of “healthy selfishness” and cultivating a relationship with our own higher selves. 

Ananta Ripa Ajmera is committed to making Ayurveda understandable and applicable to a diverse, modern audience. She teaches Ayurveda lifestyle, stress management, and meditation at yoga and business conferences and for clients including ABC News, Stanford University, and the California probation departments. Ajmera studied yoga and Ayurveda with Acharya Shunya and serves as Branding and Yoga Studies Director for Vedika Global, Acharya Shunya’s school. Her writing is popular on MindBodyGreen, Elephant Journal, and The Huffington Post.

Nuggets of Wisdom from Ananta:

“When you sow a thought, you reap an action. When you sow an action, you reap a habit. You sow a habit, you reap a character. And when you sow a character, you reap a destiny.” ~the Upanishads

“We are so often taught to believe that everything worth having in this life is somewhere outside, and it has to be attained by doing something. By affirming that actually everything that I am searching for lies within me, it's just a very empowering way to start the day.”

“Ayurveda is the science of life. It is as old as life itself. Ayurveda looks at four dimensions of the human being: the body, mind, spirit, and the five senses.”

“Ayurveda is defined as that science which teaches us how to distinguish between those actions that bring us joy and those that bring us sorrow. Because joy-filled actions are what give us health, and, you know, they define the joy-giving actions as those that benefit not only ourselves but others, so, compassion and service are actually an inherent part of the practice and lifestyle of Ayurveda.”

“Health is your birthright. Health is your true nature. And I think, for me, being able to connect with that and being able to connect with the idea of freeing my spirit has been the key to developing the willpower and the strength to be able to make diet and lifestyle changes which Ayurveda recommends for being able to bring my body then into balance. For me the suffering that I had really started in my mind. And it started from just being disconnected.”

“We kind of know that certain habits are not helpful for us. We know better, but we don't do better.”

“Go slow. Really go slow and make anything that you choose sustainable.”

Some of Ananta‘s Favorite Things:

Personal habit: “Waking up early by 6 o'clock in the morning.”

Easy meal: “Khichadi. It is an extremely healthy recipe, and it's really delicious, and it is something that is particularly good in detoxing the body, so it's great in the spring season.”

Favorite kitchen gadget: Magic Bullet blender.

Emma's Favorite Books: “Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom: A Complete Prescription to Optimize Your Health, Prevent Disease, and Live with Vitality and Joy”

Best advice received: “Give when feeling full.”

Ananta's Happiness Formula:

“I'm happiest when I listen to my intuition.”

A Challenge from Ananta:

“To really contemplate one thing that you would like to start to incorporate into your life to benefit your health, body, mind, and your spirit. And really think it through before you commit to it. So, don't make it like a New Year's resolution, but really commit to a mindful intention or resolution that you want to do. And then I challenge you to write it down, and then make that your first step to manifesting whatever your intention is, and revisit it, and rewrite it, and really, you know, take that one thing and plant it like a seed in the garden of your mind, and see what kind of beautiful flowers start to grow in your life as a result.”

Resources

The Ayurveda Way: 108 Practices from the World's Oldest Healing System for Better Sleep, Less Stress, Optimal Digestion, and More

Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom: A Complete Prescription to Optimize Your Health, Prevent Disease, and Live with Vitality and Joy

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