VERENA BECKER
“Although Ayurvedic cuisine doesn't have to be Indian, I love the traditional Ayurvedic cuisine of India and Sri Lanka. You can make me very happy with a good dal or creamy cashew curry with a chapati.”
Verena is the editor-in-chief of German print magazine Ayurveda Journal and a PhD candidate in Medical Anthropology. She is currently conducting research in Sri Lanka on the effectiveness of Ayurveda in dealing with COVID-19. Her vision is to bridge the gap between Ayurveda and modern science and to ensure that Ayurveda as an integrative medicine gains wider acceptance by the public.
Follow Verena:
Website: Ayurveda Journal
Instagram: @ayurvedajournalgermany
“Ayurveda means to live a life that really suits me, keeps me healthy, and makes me truly happy.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
For me, Ayurveda means to live a life that really suits me, keeps me healthy, and makes me truly happy.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
I grew up with naturopathy, but I only discovered Ayurveda at some point on my yoga path. Suddenly, everything made sense and I started to understand myself more and more — and also the world. Since then, my life has changed. I started to study Ayurveda — in Germany, India and Sri Lanka — to understand it more and more deeply, and to practise it. I will do so until the end of my life, I imagine!
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Listen to your natural needs and follow them.
Eat easy and warm meals with lots of fresh vegetables, grains, healthy fats and legumes.
Live the life that makes you happy. Let go of things that hold you back on your path.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
Ayurveda is the knowledge of life, and I think to really understand and integrate all the knowledge and principles requires a whole life for anyone, at least!
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Although Ayurvedic cuisine doesn't have to be Indian, I love the traditional Ayurvedic cuisine of India and Sri Lanka. You can make me very happy with a good dal or creamy cashew curry with a chapati.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
Ayurveda guides me through my whole life, every day, from morning until night. It starts from the time I go to sleep and get up, from the food I eat and the choices I make every day.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Oh yes, definitely. Ayurveda is quite widespread in Germany, and in Sri Lanka it is part of primary medicine. Because I deal with Ayurveda on a daily basis, my environment has also changed and I have many friends who also work in the field. But in the same way, some of my friends are not interested in Ayurveda at all. And that's OK, we all have free will in life and that's fine.
What’s the one thing you would encourage everyone to try or you think would benefit the majority of people’s health for the better?
Take good care of your digestive system. Eat only when you are hungry and only eat the food that makes you feel good and gives you sustained energy.