Ep 3: Ayurveda and The "C" Word

Cleansing from a western fad perspective is pure diet culture BS. But in Ayurveda the "C" word takes on a somewhat different, multifaceted meaning. This can be both problematic and refreshing depending on your perspective. 

In this episode I interview Narayana Commerford, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant, Yoga Teacher, and owner of Evolution Botanicals.

In this episode:

• How Ayurveda didn’t accompany yoga to the west, and the effects of this on contemporary yoga practice
• Different spiritual practices (e.g. Vipassana, Tantra) are not suited to everyone
• Everything can be medicine or harmful, depending on context
• Your constitution informs the medicine you need
• Diet culture vs. the introspective curiosity inherent to Ayurveda
• Ojas, or vitality: is your “cleanse” giving you that?
• Cleanses are effective at short-term weight loss, but not effective at long-term weight loss
• Keeping digestion healthy is key in Ayurveda
• Cleanses and fasting can disrupt agni and metabolism, and aggravate vata
• The Magic Bullet Syndrome: cleanses won’t fix the lifestyle problems causing your health issues in the first place
• Nara’s experience with chronic fatigue, discovering how stressful dieting was on his body, and how he recovered

Post-interview solo:

• Navigating the touchy issue of Ayurvedic “cleansing” amidst the sea of diet culture and accusations of pseudo-science
• The differences between a juice cleanse, and pancha karma or “cleansing” in the traditional Ayurvedic sense
• Where I feel a few days of kitchari might be appropriate, and where it definitely would not be appropriate
• Hardcore cleanses in Ayurveda

Links: 
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Nara’s company Evolution Botanicals
Website: https://evolutionbotanicals.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evolutionbotanicals
Instagram: @evolutionbotanicals
Non-Diet Yogi Patreon

Pre-launch waiting list for interest in Casey’s Non-Diet Ayurveda Course:
https://www.funkyforest.com.au/courses.html
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Casey's articles on Ayurveda, TCM and Intuitive Eating
https://www.funkyforest.com.au/blog/ayurveda-tcm-intuitive-eating-or-dietary-dogma
https://www.funkyforest.com.au/blog/beyond-pitta-kapha-vata-ayurveda-tcm-intuitive-eating

Funky Forest Health & Wellbeing - online non-diet nutrition & naturopathic consulting services and in-person yoga classes

Grab your free e-book The Modern Yogi's BS-Free Guide to Wellbeing

Funky Forest Health & Wellbeing Facebook page

Instagram @nondietyogi  @caseyaconroy  @funkyforesthealth
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