which was wonderful to learn more about how the body works. This time, it was about the endocrine system, hormones, and things related to kidneys, so it was really relevant to me.
It was quite intensive, with the schedule running from 3 p.m. to midnight. I always spend the last hour in bed, hoping I’m not missing too much while I’m nodding off. I could just sleep, which would be much better from an Ayurvedic point of view, but my pitta is stubborn and doesn’t want to miss anything.
During the training, I realised how life-changing Ayurveda has been for me. I never emphasized it much, but suddenly I felt it very clearly.
The health and peace I now experience, despite having chronic kidney disease, would never have been possible without everything I have learned over the past four years.
I shared this with the group and later someone asked me: what was that one thing in your routine that changed everything?
And that’s the question, because it’s almost never just one thing, one action or change that makes everything better. That wasn’t the case for me, nor for most of the people I work with.
What it is, is that you start with one thing. You do one thing differently than usual and as a result you notice a change in your body, in your symptoms or your pain.
Not the action itself, but its effect on your awareness.
You notice the impact of that change, you feel it, and because you start to feel it, you begin to notice what other habits do with you too.
Oh look, when I eat salads, I feel bloated. When I go to bed earlier, I feel more rested. When I move in a way that allows me to breathe easily, my pain lessens.
For me, it started with a strict diet from my doctor that improved my kidney values but created malnutrition, so we made adjustments. Then I started with Ayurveda, small things like cooked meals, tongue scraping, boiled water and routines. That made me less bloated, easier to poo and feel better within my body.
And so, slowly, with ups and downs, I started making more and more choices that support my health instead of exhausting it.
No, it’s not always easy or simple, and it’s certainly not quick, but it does become more enjoyable when you understand how it works. Even when you fall flat on your face again, you look back, scratch your head and carry on.
So that’s the one thing: you start to feel.
Feel what what you do, does to you. How your body reacts to your habits, to your new experiments and advice from people and teachers who help you along the way.
And maybe you too will dare to start with that one thing, to start feeling.
On 29 March, I will be giving a free masterclass on the Ayurvedic Digestion Reset, specifically for people with chronic complaints who want to learn how nutrition and lifestyle support their health. You can register here.
And if you want to get started with movement, you can find me on Insight Timer for weekly classes where we work with awareness, breath and small movements that help your body feel what is possible.
much love,
