A divine storm

Have you ever been tossed around by one?

What we become accustomed to in life is what we deem as being the baseline. Most humans don’t realize stress and constant fight or flight is a precursor for many mental and physical imbalances in life. This eventually leads to disease. Toxic patterns and thoughts often times create stuck emotions in the body and energy becomes stagnant. After years of low energy I lost a lot of weight and had some health issues. Not only that but I was constantly exhausted trying to figure out my symptoms and how to cure them. It was an ongoing battle. The more I delved deeper, the more frustrated I became day by day.

The trip that changed my life

I was struggling to figure out what was causing me to feel so tired. My digestion had become sluggish and I had numerous allergies I had to deal with.

I decided to go to India for three months to rest and recharge. During this trip, I was introduced to the ancient healing system of Ayurveda and knew this was life altering. I came back home to study Ayurveda and become a practitioner.

Through studying my dosha, Vata-Pitta, I began to understand the root of my health complaints. I realized being a perfectionist and always having a need to DO more contributed to greater problems. I sacrificed sleep when I needed rest and delayed meals when I needed food. I wasn’t responding when my body was asking for more love. I pushed and deprived myself when nourishment was vital. In many ways this describes the Western way of life.

Naturally, my body was going to not going to thrive. I grew up thinking accomplishing more and pushing forward was how I would succeed in my journey. I finally understood that slowing down wasn’t a sign of weakness but rather a form of self care.

The path becomes clear

I immersed myself into the 5,000 year old Ayurvedic teachings, which changed my life. I discovered Ayurveda was a path to thrive without the reliance on synthetic drugs, living instead attuned to our inner nature, honoring our cycles, and eating and living according to our doshas. I also learned how focusing on my prana (breath) allowed me to truly connect with Source energy and allowed me to quiet my mind. A few years later, after many more courses, certifications, and therapies, I headed to India again, this time to renew my spiritual self. For two months, I did “seva” (community service) at the Golden Temple. It was the most gratifying, humbling, spiritually awakening, and illuminating experience of my life. I realized how much I had always loved my connection to the Divine, but never had the opportunity to fully cultivate it. I left knowing I would devote my life to growing that connection–mind, body, and soul–to the Creator in everything I do.

Radiant soul is born

I realized Ayurveda was not only the healing modality for me, but I was meant to help and guide others as well. It’s like plugging yourself to an energy source and recharging and that’s what I felt like in India.

All of the struggles, the health issues, and the low points have made me the person I am today. Most of us want to forget the unpleasant moments in life, but in reality, those are the conditions that allow each of us to evolve into the magnificent beings we are today. We experience growth, perspective, wisdom, and compassion for ourselves which we can then extend to others. I no longer see suffering as something negative. Growth does not always look beautiful on the outside, but the process itself is meaningful, so we can shine brighter and stronger.

I hope my story stirred something inside of you to push forward and pursue your passion and purpose in life. It’s time to overcome the fears that hold you and your dreams back. Let’s work together to bring out your radiant self–to rely on your inner wisdom and shine your outer beauty in all areas of your life.