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Ep 44 - Using AI for Ayurvedic Recommendations
In this episode I explore using AI sources for ayurvedic recommendations. 
We look at the reasons that cause people to seek ayurvedic solutions and wisdom in the first place.
How do we get this wisdom for ourselves? According to the tradition, there're four ways that will lead us there - I'll explain each one.
I also invite you to explore the concepts of Vidya (knowledge that transcends), Avidya (knowledge that does not contribute to our True understanding of ourselves) and Parampara (lineage), as it applies to ayurveda and AI.
Then we look at the construct of AI through the Vedic lens and what is the extent of its capacity is as far as ayurvedic recommendations are concerned.
If you are, or you considered using AI to guide your ayurvedic journey, this episode is for you!
I'd love to hear what you thought of it - let me know by sending me a message hello@leanonayurveda.com
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Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life.
Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution. 
If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

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Ep 43 - Ayurveda's Deeper Purpose & the Story of Dhanvantari with Kaya Mindlin 
In this special episode I interview one of my beloved teachers, Kaya Mindlin. Kaya has been sharing Vedic wisdom with her students for more than 2 decades and Ayurveda has always been weaved into her teachings. 
In honor of International Ayurveda day this year, we sat down to talk about the deeper purpose of ayurveda -  why do we actually want good health and longevity? 
We also talk about the aims of a human life according to the Vedic tradition and how  having good health and a long life serves us in the pursuit of different goals that we might have.
Kaya also shares with us the very first signs that one might be ready to seek the kind of happiness that doesn't wane - moksha.
We also discuss why our health and our spiritual pursuits cannot be separated and how that is built into this tradition. 
One of the biggest treats of this episode is Kaya sharing the birth story of  Danvantari, the Lord of Ayurveda. She unpacks the hidden meanings in the story that become lessons to carry forward. 
Finally, we talk about the different stages of life of a human being and how depending on where we find ourselves in these stages of life, we might be wanting to direct our energy towards different pursuits.

Learn More & Study with Kaya:
yogawithkaya.com
Enjoy a Discount as a Lean on Ayurveda Podcast listener! Use code LOA10 on all of Kaya's offerings.
Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life.
Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution. 
If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

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Ep. 42 – Working with Sugar, Caffeine and Scrolling Addictions & How Ayurveda Can Help

In this episode, we explore some of the everyday attachments that can quietly become compulsive: sugar, caffeine, scrolling and other forms of digital stimulation.
These behaviours can be so normalised that we barely question them — even when we notice that we're reaching for something we'd actually rather not consume or do.
Drawing on Ayurvedic principles, we look at what might sit underneath these patterns, and how cultivating greater presence and resilience can help us create more freedom in our choices.
In this episode, we explore:
What addiction really means and why it doesn't have to look dramatic
The two beliefs that can keep the cycle of craving going
“Am I enjoying this, or am I escaping?” - a simple question to bring more awareness to our choices
Why scrolling can become a way of escaping silence, boredom and stillness
How Ayurvedic routines can help us become more resourced and present
The connection between sleep, meal timing and our capacity to stay present
How the six tastes in Ayurveda may help us understand cravings for processed sugar
Why what we eat and how we eat matters when we're trying to create greater steadiness
Seasonal Ayurvedic resets as an opportunity to pause, observe our attachments and reconsider our relationship with sugar, caffeine and screens
The yogic practice of non-attachment, and what it might mean to become freer rather than simply more restrictive
At the heart of this conversation is a question:
Can we learn to experience the present moment without needing to add something to it?
It's not that coffee, chocolate, social media or other pleasures are inherently “bad”, but because there is a difference between enjoyment and escape.
When we become more resourced and more comfortable with what is here, we may discover that we have more choice than we thought.
Join the Community Fall Reset 🍁
My seasonal Ayurvedic resets are an opportunity to step out of our habitual patterns, simplify, reconnect with our bodies and experience the power of community.
The Community Fall Reset takes place 18–20 September 2026, with preparation beginning on 14 September.
We'll spend three days following a simplified Ayurvedic mono-diet, while taking a break from processed sugar, caffeine and alcohol, and creating space for a degree of digital detox.
There are also two live community calls and an online space where we can support one another throughout the experience.
👉 JOIN HERE

IN-PERSON WORKSHOP IN BRUSSELS: Restoring Vitality in Motherhood on 3 October 2026
I'm co-hosting an in-person workshop in Brussels:
Restoring Vitality in Motherhood Through Ancient Practices
Together with three wonderful practitioners, we'll explore how yoga, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and qigong can support mothers, particularly during early motherhood, in restoring energy, vitality and a sense of replenishment.
👉 SAVE YOUR SPOT HERE

Stay connected
If you'd like to receive Ayurvedic insights, seasonal guidance, practical teachings and news about upcoming offerings, you can join my newsletter here:
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If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to rate it or leave a review. It genuinely helps more people discover Lean on Ayurveda and lets me know which conversations are resonating with you.
Thank you for listening. ❤️

Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life.
Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution. 
If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

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Ep. 41 - Matrescence: Understanding the Transformation of Motherhood with Emily Gold

Motherhood changes us - not only physically, but emotionally, mentally, relationally and in the way we understand who we are.
In this episode of the Lean on Ayurveda Podcast, I’m joined by Emily Gold, a yoga therapist and motherhood coach, to talk about matrescence: the developmental stage of becoming a mother.
Just as adolescence marks a profound transition from childhood into adulthood, matrescence describes the many changes that happen as we become mothers. Yet unlike adolescence, we rarely have the language or cultural space to understand and honour this transformation.
Emily and I explore what happens when our identity shifts through motherhood, why surrendering control can actually make us more resourceful, and how nervous system regulation can support us when motherhood feels overwhelming.
We also talk about the difficulty many mothers experience around self-care and guilt, and why caring for ourselves isn't an indulgence but an important part of being able to show up for our families.
And finally, Emily introduces us to Jungian archetypal work and the maiden, mother and wise woman archetypes, inviting us to consider how we can hold multiple aspects of our identity as women rather than feeling that we have to leave one behind as we enter another stage of life.
In this episode, we talk about:
What matrescence is and why becoming a mother is a developmental transition
The identity shifts that can happen through motherhood
Why matrescence shouldn't be confused with postpartum depression or anxiety
Giving ourselves grace during the early stages of motherhood
Letting go of the pressure to “get your old self back”
Surrendering control and learning to work with what motherhood brings
How nervous system regulation can help us become more resourceful
Yoga, mindfulness and mind-body practices for mothers
The “rage to guilt” spiral
Why mothers can find it so difficult to prioritise their own care
Taking time for ourselves without guilt
The maiden, mother and wise woman archetypal triad
How archetypal work can help us explore identity and what is asking to be brought to the surface
Motherhood as a kind of hero's journey
How matrescence continues as our children grow and our relationship with them changes
Why presence may be one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves and our children
Join us in Brussels on 3 October
I'm very excited to be joining Emily and two other mothers and practitioners for an in-person half-day workshop in Brussels:
Restoring Vitality in Motherhood Through Ancient Practices
On 3 October, we'll bring together Yoga, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong to explore how we can support ourselves and build vitality throughout matrescence.
We'll be putting the mother and her care at the forefront, creating a space for ancient practices, practical support and community.
Learn more & join the workshop HERE
Early bird places are currently available.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Book mentioned by Emily:
Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself by Lisa Marchiano
Work with Emily:
Emily Gold is a yoga therapist and motherhood coach. She offers one-to-one motherhood coaching, combining nervous system work, identity exploration, practical tools and mind-body practices to support mothers through the challenges and changes of motherhood.
Emily's website: https://www.emilygoldyoga.com/ and https://embodiedmotherhoodspace.com/
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to the Lean on Ayurveda Podcast, leave a review and share it with a mother who might benefit from this conversation.
And if you're in Brussels, I hope to see you on 3 October:)
Thank you for listening,
Vytautė

Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life.
Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution. 
If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

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Supplements are everywhere in the wellness world.
From Ashwagandha and collagen to minerals, probiotics, and herbal formulas, many of us are taking something every day in the hope of feeling better, supporting our health, or preventing future problems.
But how do we know when supplements are truly supporting us — and when they might be creating more burden for our bodies?
In this episode, I explore supplements through the lens of Ayurveda and share why “natural” does not always mean “appropriate for everyone.”
We explore:
🌿 Why Ashwagandha may be supportive for some people but aggravating for others
🌿 Why your digestive fire and liver capacity matter when taking supplements
🌿 Why more supplements do not necessarily equal more nourishment
🌿 Why long-term supplement use may benefit from cycles and breaks
🌿 Why stacking multiple protocols can overwhelm the body
🌿 How to build a deeper relationship with herbs instead of simply consuming them
🌿 The Ayurvedic perspective of looking at the whole “fish tank” rather than focusing only on one isolated factor
Ayurveda does not ask us to fear plants, nor does it encourage us to blindly consume them.
Instead, it invites us into a relationship — one where we learn to listen, adapt, and understand what our unique body needs at this particular moment in time.
Because healing is not something we outsource to a bottle.
It is something we cultivate through our daily rhythms, our relationship with food, our emotions, our environment, and the way we live.
Resources mentioned:
📖 BBC article that inspired this episode
🌿 Interested in personalised Ayurvedic support?
If you would like to explore working together and understand how Ayurveda can support your unique constitution, current imbalances, and lifestyle, you can book a discovery call here.
💌 Stay connected & receive updates about upcoming workshops, seasonal cleanses, and events:
Join my email list here.
🎧 Related episodes:
Episode 31: Tulsi — Building a Relationship with Sacred Plants
Episodes 38 & 39: Ayurvedic approaches to balanced summer living
Episode 22: Hormone Health Through an Ayurvedic Lens
Episode 27: Building Ojas Through Ayurvedic Body Oiling
A note on the BBC article: the conversation around supplements and liver health is an important one, as some research has highlighted that certain herbal and dietary supplements can be associated with liver injury, particularly in cases of high doses, concentrated extracts, or inappropriate use.
As always, this episode is not about fearing supplements or herbs. It is an invitation to approach them with awareness, respect, and a deeper understanding of your own body.
If you enjoyed this episode, I would love for you to share it with someone who is navigating the overwhelming world of supplements.
Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life.
Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution. 
If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!