The Elements of Ayurveda Podcast

Episode 406 

Colette is joined by Ayurvedic doctor and educator Vaidya Princy Prasad for a deeper exploration of Agni, the inner fire that fuels far more than just digestion. While Agni is often associated with metabolism, its influence extends into immunity, hormonal balance, emotional clarity, and overall vitality.

In this conversation, they discuss the following:

• What Agni really is and why it’s central to vibrant health and ojas

• The different types of Agni and various levels of action

• Signs of optimal (sama) Agni and what happens when it’s imbalanced

• The types of impaired Agni: Vishama, Tikshna and Manda

• How Agni influences key hormones 

• Practical Ayurvedic tips to kindle and sustain a balanced Agni

• Why seasonal cleansing is vital for resetting Agni

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Thanks to Kerala Ayurveda Academy for sponsoring this episode. Explore upcoming trainings at Kerala Ayurveda Academy. Use code ELEMENTS100 to save $100 on your enrollment. Learn more at ...

Episode 405

As we approach the threshold between summer and autumn, it's the perfect time to explore how the doshas of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha can accumulate imbalance during the summer months and how this may affect your digestion, immunity, and emotional wellbeing.

In this solo episode, Colette invites you into an Ayurvedic exploration of seasonal transition, with a special focus on digestive health and immune strength. 

In this episode you’ll discover:

• How seasonal accumulation affects each dosha type

• How to identify early signs of imbalance and toxin (ama) buildup

• The overlooked emotional and psychological residue of summer

• How Ayurveda and modern science align on seasonal health

• Why now is the ideal time to reset your digestive fire (agni)

You’ll also learn how to perform a gentle “ama audit” and how a personalized, holistic cleanse can support your seasonal transition from the inside out.

Links & Resources

Take the Ama Quiz - “Do I have an a...

Episode 404

The Elements of Ayurveda Podcast turns 8 this month and in this special anniversary episode, I’m reflecting on 8 years of sharing Ayurvedic wisdom through this podcast, in my personal practice, and in client work. Over this time, Ayurveda has taught me countless lessons, but there are 8 core insights that continue to shape how I live, heal, and show up in the world. May they inspire your own journey with Ayurveda and remind you of the deep wisdom already within you.

The 8 lessons are:

1. The body is always communicating

2. There is no one-size-fits-all path to health

3. Digestion is the root of It all

4. Rhythm and routine are more powerful than perfection

5. Emotions are energy that need digestion too

6. Healing is seasonal, cyclical, and spiral-like

7. You are nature, not separate from it

8. True health is alignment with purpose

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Visit Colette's website www.elementshealingandwellbeing.com 

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Episode 403

In this enlightening episode, Colette is joined by Dr. Bruno Renzi, a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and pioneer in the integration of Ayurveda into psychosomatic medicine. Dr. Renzi created and led the first integrated medicine center for psychosomatic disorders at an Italian university, bringing together modern psychiatry and the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda in a groundbreaking clinical setting.

Dr. Renzi has served as a university professor at the State University of Milan and is the author of several publications, including The Mind in Ayurveda and the preface of Ayurveda Scientifico Vol. II. He currently serves as co-director of the Maharishi College for Perfect Health International.

In this conversation, they discuss:

• Dr. Renzi’s personal journey from Western psychiatry to Ayurveda

• The differences in approaching psychosomatic disorders in modern medicine versus Ayurveda

• What inspired him to merge these two worlds in the psychosomatic field

• Th

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Episode 402

Regular guest Vaidya Jayarajan Kodikannath, also known as Dr. J, joins Colette to explore a topic that touches his heart and the hearts of many: how to raise healthy, resilient, and balanced children with the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda.

Kaumarabhritya (Ayurvedic pediatrics) is one of the eight classical branches of Ayurveda. This ancient science offers guidance starting from preconception and sees the child not just as a developing body, but as a whole being, mind, body, and spirit, shaped by early experiences, daily rhythms, nutrition, and love.

They discuss the following:

• What makes Ayurvedic pediatrics unique

• The importance of preconception, prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum care for both mother and child

• How to understand your child’s unique constitution (prakriti) to support balanced growth and development

• Ayurvedic guidelines for the Kapha stage of life, from birth to puberty

• Insights into nutrition, sleep, behavior, and emotional w

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Episode 401

Colette explores how summer, a season of heat, light, and intensity can support sadhana, your conscious spiritual practice. Sadhana refers to any intentional, disciplined effort we make to align with our higher Self, whether that’s through meditation, mantra, prayer, mindful movement, self-inquiry, or acts of devotion.

She explains how we can harness our inner fire (tapas) and creative light (tejas) to align more deeply with purpose. It’s an opportunity to live in alignment with our unique path (dharma).

Colette covers the following:

• Avoiding summer stress and burnout.
• Understanding tapas - the sacred inner fire.
• Summer as a season for sadhana.
• Tejas - the light of creative insight.
• Aligning with Soul purpose.

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CELEBRATING 8 YEARS OF PODCASTING!!! To express my heartfelt appreciation for your support, I’m offering 10% off ALL of my Online Services until August 6th, 2025. Just use the code ELEMENTS8 at checkout. Choose from the following online services:

 Episode 400

As the weather warms, your skin might become oilier, break out more, or feel dull and irritated. These issues, including redness, inflammation, sun sensitivity, rashes, and heat bumps can indicate an increase in Pitta dosha.

Ayurveda teaches us that skin health reflects internal wellbeing, including digestion, blood, toxins and emotions. Colette explores how to take care of your skin holistically during hot weather using timeless Ayurvedic principles and she covers the following:

• The subdosha of pitta governing the skin.

• The role of rasa dhatu and rakta dhatu in skin health.

• Importance of agni and digestion in skin radiance.

• The liver-skin connection in Ayurveda.

• Root causes of Summer skin imbalances.

• Signs of pitta imbalance showing up in the skin.

• Ayurvedic dietary guidelines for Summer skin health.

• Lifestyle and daily routines for radiant Summer skin.

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Click here to take the Toxin Quiz and see if you have an ama/tox...

Episode 399

Dr. Rainer Picha is an Austrian cardiologist who received his Ayurvedic training at the Maharishi Vedic University in Vlodrop, Netherlands. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the International Maharishi AyurVeda Foundation for Health Professionals and is the Director of the Maharishi College of Perfect Health International. In addition to his leadership roles, Dr. Picha runs a medical practice in Graz, Austria, where he combines Ayurvedic treatments with modern medical approaches to provide holistic care to his patients.

Colette chats with Dr. Picha about the correlation between ama pachana in Ayurveda and autophagy in modern science. They discuss the following;

• Dr. Picha's journey from cardiology to Ayurveda and how he integrates both approaches in his work.
• The concept of ama (toxins) in Ayurveda and how it contributes to the development of chronic disease.
• Understanding autophagy and why is it so essential for maintaining health and preventing disease.
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Episode 398

Summer, with all its brightness and intensity, is a time when Pitta can easily go out of balance, even for those who don’t have a Pitta constitution. And when we don’t know the signs of imbalance or we ignore them, it can lead to everything from digestive issues and skin flare-ups to burnout, irritability and emotional overload.

In this solo episode, Colette shares some of the most supportive Ayurvedic insights and tools to help you manage Pitta during the summer months. Whether you’re naturally fiery or just feeling the heat of the season, you’ll come away with practical ways to stay cool, calm, and balanced all summer long. Colette discusses the following:

• Understanding the Pitta dosha.
• Why Summer aggravates the Pitta dosha.
• The importance of seasonal awareness.
• Dietary guidelines for Pitta in Summer.
• Lifestyle and daily routine adjustments.
• Adjusting your exercise during the hot weather.

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Thanks to Kerala Ayurveda Academy for sponsoring this episode. ...

 Episode 397

Dr. Sujatha Kekada is the Head Physician and Co-Founder of AmrtaSiddhi Ayurvedic Clinic in Ubud, Bali. She is a certified Ayurvedic Doctor (B.A.M.S) with a degree from Rajiv Gandhi University, India. She talks with Colette about cancer with a particular focus on breast cancer and they discuss the following:

• Ayurveda's understanding of the root causes of breast cancer from an ama (toxins), dosha (vata, pitta and kapha), dhatu (tissue) and emotional perspective.
• The three ways cancer can manifest in the body.
• The importance of cleansing the body to prevent cancer and taking care of your breast tissue.
• Dr. Sujatha's approach to healing the body and mind.
• The role Ayurveda can play alongside allopathic treatment.
• Ayurveda's approach to recovery and healing after breast cancer treatment, including mastectomy or reconstruction.
• Preventive steps women take from an Ayurvedic perspective to maintain breast health.

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Check out Dr. Sujatha's website here.... amrtas...