The Elements of Ayurveda Podcast

Episode 416 

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 perspective of the Hridya (heart) beyond its mechanical function

• How the gut–heart–mind connection operates through the subtle doshas and channels (srotas)

• The impact of chronic stress, grief, and trauma on Prana Vayu, Sadhaka Pitta, and Tarpaka Kapha

• Early signs that your heart–mind connection is under strain

• Dr. Sujatha’s favourite Ayurvedic approaches for healing the h

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Episode 415

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 and your unique constitution. Discover why willpower fades, but rhythm sustains; and how awareness, compassion, and alignment turn short-lived motivation into embodied wisdom.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why willpower alone isn’t enough to sustain healthy habits
• The Ayurvedic Formula for Sustainable Change is Intention → Awareness → Rhythm → Integration
• How aligning with your
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Episode 414

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 deep connection between liver health and perimenopausal symptoms such as irritability, hot flushes, and fatigue
• Why the liver is linked to fiery emotions and how awareness, forgiveness, and cooling habits can help soothe them
• Simple Ayurvedic strategies to support your liver through food, daily rhythm, and emotional balance
• The truth about alcohol in perimenopause and how even small am
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Episode 413

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 of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha

• Practical simple rituals you can start today to shift digestion, sleep, and mood

• How to personalize your rituals so they truly feel nourishing (not like chores!)

• A step-by-step approach you can start using today

By the end, you’ll see that even the smallest habits can ripple out through the body and mind to create big results when practiced daily.

Resourc...

Episode 412

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 digestion, sleep, energy, emotional balance, and longevity.

Whether you’re new to Ayurveda or looking to deepen your self-care practices, this episode will inspire you to choose just one simple anchor habit to bring more calm, clarity, and resilience into your life.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why uncertainty often triggers “all-or-nothing” thinking and how anchor habits prov

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Episode 411

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 Ayurvedic reset, including diet, awareness, and daily routine can help clear both physical and emotional heaviness, bringing you back to lightness, calm, and clarity.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Ayurveda explains the gut-mind connection through the mano vaha srotas (the channel of the mind).

• The role of the subdoshas, Sadhaka Pitta, Prana Vayu, and Tarpaka Kaph

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Episode 410 

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

• The symptoms and root causes of hypothyroidism 

• The doshas and dhatus involved in thyroid imbalance

• The role of ojas, stress, emotional health and energetic balance 

• How dinacharya (daily routine), ritucharya (seasonal routine), and regular cleansing can support thyroid health

• Ayurvedic dietary guidelines for those with hypothyroidism

• A case study from Vai

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Episode 409

As the seasons shift, your skin tells a story. Autumn’s dry, cool winds can bring flakiness, sensitivity, or dullness, while lingering summer heat may still trigger redness or irritation. Ayurveda teaches us that these changes aren’t random, they’re reflections of dosha balance, digestion, and even our emotions.

In this episode, we explore how to keep your skin radiant and resilient during autumn by understanding the connection between seasonal shifts, inner health, and emotional wellbeing. You’ll learn how Vata and Pitta influence the skin at this time of year, why seasonal cleansing is key for preventing imbalance, and simple Ayurvedic rituals that nourish both inside and out.

You'll discover:

• Why autumn is a sensitive time for the skin

• Dosha-specific tendencies and skin challenges in Vata, Pitta, and Kapha types

• The role of digestion and seasonal cleansing in radiant skin

• Emotional imbalances that can show up on the skin

• Ayurvedic rituals

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Episode 408 

Have you ever noticed cravings sneak up when you’re stressed, tired, or at the change of a season? Ayurveda teaches us that cravings aren’t about willpower, they’re messages from the body, pointing to imbalance. Whether it’s toxins (ama), weak digestion (Agni), or long-held emotional patterns, cravings are signposts that something deeper is asking for attention.

In this episode, Colette explores:

• The Ayurvedic view of cravings through the six tastes (rasa)
• How doshic imbalances (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) shape what we crave
• The difference between true nourishment and false cravings
• Why ultra-processed foods disrupt our natural signals
• How an Ayurvedic cleanse rekindles Agni and resets your palate
• The emotional side of cravings - samskaras, habits, and food as comfort
• Practical tips to integrate into everyday life with mindful eating, seasonal foods, and gratitude

✨ Special Invitation ✨
If you’d like to experience this reset for yourself, join my upcoming Group ...

Episode  407

When most of us think about improving digestion, we focus on food choices, what to eat and what to avoid. But Ayurveda teaches us that how and when we eat, along with our daily lifestyle habits, are just as important for keeping agni (digestive fire) strong and preventing ama (toxins).

In this episode, Colette explores five often-overlooked habits that quietly weaken digestion over time and shares simple Ayurvedic fixes to reset them. These shifts may seem small, but they can have a profound effect on energy, immunity, and overall wellbeing.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why agni thrives on rhythm and how irregular eating times throw digestion off track

• How emotional stress diverts energy away from healthy digestion

• The hidden impact of late-night screen use on your body’s natural repair cycles

• Why even “healthy” foods can cause ama when combined improperly

• How eating out of sync with the seasons creates imbalance and what to do

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