I have been blessed with good health and that is largely with appreciation to my mother. She fed my brothers and I healthy foods from day 1 and I love to tell people that she was talking smack about trans fats back in the 90s before modern medicine had even caught on. This strong nutritional foundation is something I will be eternally grateful for, and having noticed the benefits that have lasted into my adulthood, I believe more than ever that food is medicine. 

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a doctor. I started my undergraduate career in the honors program and full steam ahead in all things pre-med. Later in college when I started shadowing doctors, I noticed that there were some serious gaps in the healthcare industry. This is in no way intended to say that modern medicine is not miraculous and life-saving in so many ways, because it is. What I personally was frustrated by with allopathic medicine was the treatment of the body as individual parts when in fact the human body works as a holistic system. The food we eat, routines we follow, and exercises we do or do not engage with all play a crucial role and should be accounted for in any treatment or lifestyle plan.

While I began to notice these aspects of the healthcare system that I thought could be improved upon, I kept remembering this weekend seminar that my mom took me to in high school. It was an intro to Ayurveda and where I purchased my first Ayurvedic oils and books. It was also when I began to realize that healing options extended well beyond the allopathic health system that is most readily available to us.

Additionally, I was reflecting on my first healing experience with plant medicine. I was privileged with the unique opportunity to go to the middle of the Amazon rainforest and live with a beautiful indigenous tribe, the Huaorani. While there, I personally experienced healing from plant medicine for the first time. You can read more about that experience here.

With all of these memories playing in my mind, I decided to study abroad in India and intentionally selected a program that allowed me to study Ayurveda in its homeland. I am forever grateful to the lessons learned from the faculty and staff of the Ayurveda Department at Manipal University in Karnataka, India. We had both a practical and theory course each week and needless to say I was fascinated. Ayurveda presented such a holistic view of the mind and body and I felt an immediate connection to this healing science. I volunteered to receive all of the therapies that I could and independently scheduled as many therapies as time would allow to experience as much of Ayurveda as I possibly could.

My Aha! moment came the first time I experienced Nasya. During this therapy, the body is prepared with steam and massage, ensuring that all channels are open and ready to receive therapy. I laid on my back, with one practitioner rubbing my feet as another practitioner demonstrated to the class how to administer this medicated oil to each of my nostrils as I was instructed to take slow, deep breaths.

The oil pulls metabolic toxins to an exit (the nostrils) and for sake of not being gross, let me just say I drained for literally 30 minutes. After that process stopped, I felt lighter, more clear mentally, generally brighter, and as though I could breathe deeper. Ayurvedic therapies are often administered in repetitions of 7, so for the following 6 days I returned to the clinic and underwent the same process. Each day, there was less and less mucous and toxins draining from my system. It was one of the most powerful and incredible experiences of my life and in that moment I knew I had found what I wanted to do with my life.

Upon returning to the US and graduating from college, I immediately began researching the best path to study Ayurveda. The National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) was a wonderful guide that lead me to all of the accredited schools, including Kerala Ayurveda Academy. I was drawn to this school because of its deep-rooted connection and commitment to the original, ancient texts of Ayurveda and honestly just got lucky to have picked the most incredible school. Within a few months, I moved to California and began their Ayurvedic Counselor Program and upon completing this, I enrolled in the Ayurvedic Practitioner Program. It was a total of 3 years of school, countless lessons that I understand on a deeper level every day, one internship to India, and a connection to a community that I will be a part of for the rest of my life. Upon graduating as an Ayurvedic Practitioner and passing the National Ayurvedic Medical Association Board Exam, I was asked to be a mentor for the counselor program and absolutely love witnessing the growth of Ayurveda in the US.

Below you can read more about my mission and why I chose to return to Birmingham to open my practice.

• Ayurveda Program | Manipal University, Karnataka, India

• B.S. Psychology and Minor Biology | University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

• Ayurvedic Counselor Program | Kerala Ayurveda Academy, Milpitas, CA

• Ayurvedic Practitioner Program | Kerala Ayurveda Academy, Milpitas, CA

• National Ayurvedic Medical Association Board Certified

• Massage Therapy Program | Body Logic, License No. AL 6258

• Marma Therapist Level 1 | Marma Institute of Ayurvedic Acupressure

While I enjoyed my time in California, I recognized that there is already an abundance of Ayurveda and other forms of holistic medicine thriving in the community there. What I want to do is be a part of this growing movement here in the south. My belief is that following any Ayurvedic guidelines, be it one part of a practice or an entire daily routine, will help an individual to feel connected to their inner self. This is certainly what has happened to me. In the fast-paced, modern world, I think it is easy to lose this connection and not even totally realize it. We are all human, and we are all intimately connected to each other and the earth we share with other living beings. Ayurveda has shown me a path on how to feel this connection again, and I am truly so grateful to be able to share what I have learned with others.

After lots of reflection and questioning what I want my offering to be, I thought about how Ayurveda has benefited my life. And it really is in the simple, daily routines that Ayurveda explains so beautifully. Having the knowledge on when to eat or avoid certain foods. Knowing the best practices to follow during each season. Knowing which spices to cook with when a certain ailment arises… it was all in the knowledge I was fortunate to learn. That is the guiding point for the individualized programs that I design.