The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
303: Ayurveda for Better Digestion with Mona Warner
Description:
Ayurveda is considered yoga’s sister science but it is still not widely understood in the yoga community. Why is there such a strong focus on digestion in Ayurveda and how does it tie in with yoga? Mona Warner shares her expertise on Ayurveda and digestion.
Mona is a warm and joyful educator who leads by example. Her depth of knowledge, passion, and dedication to the practices of Āyurveda and Yoga are evident in her classes. Mona offers deliberate and mindful practices, details on why certain things are done in certain ways, and a grounded sense of humor. She shares approaches to well-being for anyone who needs to learn. Mona has also authored several books, including her latest, Ayurveda's Three Pillars of Health.
Mona breaks down what Ayurveda is and how it intersects with yoga in a holistic sense. She explains why there is such a strong focus on digestion and Agni in Ayurveda and why routines and schedules are so important to digestion, and more. Mona also shares tips around improving digestion, about prana, and finding balance in our lives,
This is a rich conversation for anyone who’s keen to learn more about Ayurveda.
Key Takeaways:
[3:01] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Mona Warner.
[6:21] How did Mona get into working with Ayurveda?
[9:56] What is Ayurveda?
[12:40] Mona explains some things we need to understand about digestion and elimination from the perspective of Ayurveda.
[19:16] How does the body's Agni (and Ayurveda, from a broader perspective) tie in with yoga?
[26:42] Mona explains more about how Ayurveda and yoga both encourage people to move towards a balanced mind - and how this can help achieve health.
[30:16] Shannon shares an experience she recently had attending an online workshop.
[34:04] What are some routines and practices that can help improve digestion?
[36:50] Should everyone have the same routines or does it differ for each person?
[38:55] What are some things we need to be mindful of in terms of how we are pooping and what our bowel movements look like?
[42:36] What is something about digestion that Mona wishes everyone knew?
[44:08] What else are we digesting apart from food?
[51:08] How does Mona work with people now through the pandemic and how are they doing?
[54:27] Connect with Mona and learn more from her via her book and website.
[56:58] Shannon shares her key takeaways from this conversation with Mona.
Links:
Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.
Quotes from this episode:
"Ayurveda is this system that has created a whole bunch of different maps that lets us navigate the terrain of life."
"Ayurveda has the maps, the tools, and the ability to help us live a fruitful and a health-filled life."
"Our Agni, our digestive fire, is the sun of our individual solar system or incarnation."
"For yoga, the traditional goal is enlightenment. For Ayurveda, the traditional goal is health."
"Ayurveda uses this idea of working with the mind through yoga techniques of mantra, meditation, etc. all the time because so many causative factors of disease actually start in the mind."
"Whether you like schedules or not, your biology does and your Agni does."
"It's important to recognize there's a difference between what you like and what is health-promoting and good for you."