Ep. 27 | Kate Ostheimer: Ayurveda - The Science of Getting to Know Yourself

The Healthy Peaceful Podcast

My guest today is Kate Ostheimer who shares how Ayurveda found her. Originally from Peru, Kate spent many years working in the hospitality industry, primarily for mega-luxury hotel chains. “While they aimed to bring a sense of well-being to their clientele, the essence of wellness was missing.”
Currently, Kate is a student and teacher in the Master’s Ayurveda & Integrative Medicine program at Maharishi International University (MIU). What she has discovered is that studying Ayurveda is not just about gaining knowledge, but learning how to apply it in your own life. “If you want to have good digestion, you have to eat well every day. If you want to reduce your stress level, you have to practice stress-reduction techniques like Transcendental Meditation (TM) every day. Ayurveda allows you to integrate the knowledge on your own terms. Unlike many wellness protocols, it is not an all or nothing proposition. Ayurveda is a lifestyle that supports both your physiology and psychology.”
Through Ayurveda, Kate has shifted her lifestyle from one of high stress, burnout – feeling so tired at the end of each workday that the only thing she could do in the evening was get under the covers of her bed as soon as she arrived home. After two years of practicing Ayurveda, she reports having boundless energy.
As a student and teacher of Ayurveda, Kate has discovered the body’s power of self-healing. She quickly became aware that everything we consume (not just food) has to be digested by the body-mind – some will lead to sattva (feeling peaceful and balanced) and some to rajas (overstimulated) or tamas (dull, lethargic). A regular practice of meditation has enabled her to enjoy the moment, whatever it may bring, instead of striving to meet goals or live up to someone else’s expectations. This has brought great freedom into her days.
Most of all, Kate views Ayurveda as “the science of getting to know yourself.” “As your self-awareness grows, you no longer struggle to make healthy choices. Healthy choices become easy.”
And the question: “Ayurveda is an ancient system of self-healing. In what way is it relevant to your modern life?” “In every way. That’s the magic of Ayurveda. It improves every aspect of your life.”
And the question: “Your favorite Ayurvedic product?” I like the Vata and Pitta teas sold by Maharishi Products International (mapi.com). The Pitta tea cools me down and the Vata tea relaxes and grounds me. I also like the herbalized massage oils sold by MAPI – I use them for my daily self-massage -abhyanga – which is the ultimate act of self-care.”

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With sincere gratitude,
Noreen