The Elements of Ayurveda Podcast

Episode 403

In this enlightening episode, Colette is joined by Dr. Bruno Renzi, a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and pioneer in the integration of Ayurveda into psychosomatic medicine. Dr. Renzi created and led the first integrated medicine center for psychosomatic disorders at an Italian university, bringing together modern psychiatry and the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda in a groundbreaking clinical setting.

Dr. Renzi has served as a university professor at the State University of Milan and is the author of several publications, including The Mind in Ayurveda and the preface of Ayurveda Scientifico Vol. II. He currently serves as co-director of the Maharishi College for Perfect Health International.

In this conversation, they discuss:

• Dr. Renzi’s personal journey from Western psychiatry to Ayurveda

• The differences in approaching psychosomatic disorders in modern medicine versus Ayurveda

• What inspired him to merge these two worlds in the psychosomatic field

• Th

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Episode 402

Regular guest Vaidya Jayarajan Kodikannath, also known as Dr. J, joins Colette to explore a topic that touches his heart and the hearts of many: how to raise healthy, resilient, and balanced children with the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda.

Kaumarabhritya (Ayurvedic pediatrics) is one of the eight classical branches of Ayurveda. This ancient science offers guidance starting from preconception and sees the child not just as a developing body, but as a whole being, mind, body, and spirit, shaped by early experiences, daily rhythms, nutrition, and love.

They discuss the following:

• What makes Ayurvedic pediatrics unique

• The importance of preconception, prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum care for both mother and child

• How to understand your child’s unique constitution (prakriti) to support balanced growth and development

• Ayurvedic guidelines for the Kapha stage of life, from birth to puberty

• Insights into nutrition, sleep, behavior, and emotional w

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Episode 401

Colette explores how summer, a season of heat, light, and intensity can support sadhana, your conscious spiritual practice. Sadhana refers to any intentional, disciplined effort we make to align with our higher Self, whether that’s through meditation, mantra, prayer, mindful movement, self-inquiry, or acts of devotion.

She explains how we can harness our inner fire (tapas) and creative light (tejas) to align more deeply with purpose. It’s an opportunity to live in alignment with our unique path (dharma).

Colette covers the following:

• Avoiding summer stress and burnout.
• Understanding tapas - the sacred inner fire.
• Summer as a season for sadhana.
• Tejas - the light of creative insight.
• Aligning with Soul purpose.

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 Episode 400

As the weather warms, your skin might become oilier, break out more, or feel dull and irritated. These issues, including redness, inflammation, sun sensitivity, rashes, and heat bumps can indicate an increase in Pitta dosha.

Ayurveda teaches us that skin health reflects internal wellbeing, including digestion, blood, toxins and emotions. Colette explores how to take care of your skin holistically during hot weather using timeless Ayurvedic principles and she covers the following:

• The subdosha of pitta governing the skin.

• The role of rasa dhatu and rakta dhatu in skin health.

• Importance of agni and digestion in skin radiance.

• The liver-skin connection in Ayurveda.

• Root causes of Summer skin imbalances.

• Signs of pitta imbalance showing up in the skin.

• Ayurvedic dietary guidelines for Summer skin health.

• Lifestyle and daily routines for radiant Summer skin.

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Click here to take the Toxin Quiz and see if you have an ama/tox...

Episode 399

Dr. Rainer Picha is an Austrian cardiologist who received his Ayurvedic training at the Maharishi Vedic University in Vlodrop, Netherlands. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the International Maharishi AyurVeda Foundation for Health Professionals and is the Director of the Maharishi College of Perfect Health International. In addition to his leadership roles, Dr. Picha runs a medical practice in Graz, Austria, where he combines Ayurvedic treatments with modern medical approaches to provide holistic care to his patients.

Colette chats with Dr. Picha about the correlation between ama pachana in Ayurveda and autophagy in modern science. They discuss the following;

• Dr. Picha's journey from cardiology to Ayurveda and how he integrates both approaches in his work.
• The concept of ama (toxins) in Ayurveda and how it contributes to the development of chronic disease.
• Understanding autophagy and why is it so essential for maintaining health and preventing disease.
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Episode 398

Summer, with all its brightness and intensity, is a time when Pitta can easily go out of balance, even for those who don’t have a Pitta constitution. And when we don’t know the signs of imbalance or we ignore them, it can lead to everything from digestive issues and skin flare-ups to burnout, irritability and emotional overload.

In this solo episode, Colette shares some of the most supportive Ayurvedic insights and tools to help you manage Pitta during the summer months. Whether you’re naturally fiery or just feeling the heat of the season, you’ll come away with practical ways to stay cool, calm, and balanced all summer long. Colette discusses the following:

• Understanding the Pitta dosha.
• Why Summer aggravates the Pitta dosha.
• The importance of seasonal awareness.
• Dietary guidelines for Pitta in Summer.
• Lifestyle and daily routine adjustments.
• Adjusting your exercise during the hot weather.

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Thanks to Kerala Ayurveda Academy for sponsoring this episode. ...

 Episode 397

Dr. Sujatha Kekada is the Head Physician and Co-Founder of AmrtaSiddhi Ayurvedic Clinic in Ubud, Bali. She is a certified Ayurvedic Doctor (B.A.M.S) with a degree from Rajiv Gandhi University, India. She talks with Colette about cancer with a particular focus on breast cancer and they discuss the following:

• Ayurveda's understanding of the root causes of breast cancer from an ama (toxins), dosha (vata, pitta and kapha), dhatu (tissue) and emotional perspective.
• The three ways cancer can manifest in the body.
• The importance of cleansing the body to prevent cancer and taking care of your breast tissue.
• Dr. Sujatha's approach to healing the body and mind.
• The role Ayurveda can play alongside allopathic treatment.
• Ayurveda's approach to recovery and healing after breast cancer treatment, including mastectomy or reconstruction.
• Preventive steps women take from an Ayurvedic perspective to maintain breast health.

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Check out Dr. Sujatha's website here.... amrtas...

Episode 396 

In this solo episode Colette explores how Ayurveda can help us transform reactive emotions into self-awareness. Ayurveda views emotions as opportunities for understanding ourselves better. By acknowledging the energies behind our emotions, we can practice emotional alchemy, turning reactivity into wisdom. She discusses the following:

• Emotions through the lens of Ayurveda. 

• The emotional tendencies of the doshas.

• The gunas: the three qualities of the mind.

• Observing versus Identifying with emotions.

• Sattva-promoting lifestyle and practices for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

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Episode 395

Colette chats with her client Wendy who is a fitness coordinator in Bountiful, Utah. Wendy is a passionate community builder and wellness advocate dedicated to helping individuals and families live healthier, more connected lives.

With a background in recreation leadership and a heart for mental health, she leads programs that inspire movement, mindfulness, and meaningful connection. Whether organizing events, collaborating with local organizations, teaching yoga or other fitness classes, she brings energy, empathy, and creativity to everything she does. When she’s not working, she’s wrangling her six kids, coaching softball, or finding new ways to make health and wellness fun for all ages.

Wendy shares her journey with Ayurveda and her experience on the Digestive Reset Cleanse. They discuss the following:

• How Wendy first discovered Ayurveda and what drew her to it.
• Embracing Ayurveda’s “no one-size-fits-all” approach to healing.
• Wendy’s personal experience w
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Episode 394

In this solo episode Colette explores listening to your body's needs and the wisdom of Ayurveda when choosing your exercise and recovery program. She discusses moving with intention and emphasizing regeneration over depletion, especially in our fast-paced culture where over-exercising is common. She covers the following:

• Core Ayurvedic principles to consider when choosing an exercise program:

  •  Strength and stamina (bala)

  • Digestive fire (agni)

  • Vitality (ojas)

  • Season (ritu)

  • Age (jara)

  • Constitution (prakriti)

  • Current state of health (vikriti)

• Best exercises for vata, pitta and kapha. 
• Signs of imbalance in each dosha and how to modify exercise accordingly.
• Recovery requirements for each dosha type.

Download the Golden Turmeric Recipe here (scroll to episode 21).

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