DR. VARALAKSHMI YANAMANDRA
“Any change that matters takes time, and incorporating Ayurveda into a modern lifestyle is no different. Primarily, it is about making a conscious connection within our mind and body.”
Dr. Varalakshmi Yanamandra is an Ayurvedic practitioner and a health coach. She is the director of Ayur Wellness and Pain Centre. She teaches Ayurveda at Europe Ayurveda Academy and has been a speaker at global health and wellbeing events. She has practised Ayurveda for the past 9 years and works with gut Health and chronic pain management. With her talks and teachings, she raises awareness about the importance of mindfulness and conscious health choices. She creates recipes and simplifies Ayurvedic cooking for a modern lifestyle.
Follow Dr. Varalakshmi:
Website: www.drvaralakshmi.com
Instagram: @drvaralakshmi
“Focus on food and its amazing qualities like taste, texture, colour and the emotion that it brings out.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Ayurveda is my passion and my work in essence to heal others. Ayurveda is the only concept that has ever made sense to me. It helps me understand some of the complex and intricate aspects of our health.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
As a teenager, I suffered from severe gut health problems. An Ayurveda practitioner near my home was able to help me. When it worked well for me, I spent one summer vacation working with him. That's how I learned about different mind-body types and accessing pulse. After 2 years, I got an opportunity to study Ayurveda. I jumped on board and did my medical degree in Ayurveda. I have been practising it for over 9 years. I am the director of Ayur wellness and Pain Centre, where we offer Ayurveda therapies for chronic pain and gut health conditions. I had the opportunity to teach Ayurveda at Europe Ayurveda Academy and I am also a regular public speaker.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
It was pure destiny that drew me to Ayurveda, as I hadn't heard about it till I met with an amazing Ayurveda practitioner in my home town. It was my childhood dream to study medicine and become a healer who can heal other people, although I never imagined that I would end up being a holistic practitioner. While working with the Ayurveda doctor, I got intrigued by some of the concepts like pulse analysis, tongue analysis and mind-body types, etc. It was fascinating to learn about mind-body connection as described in Ayurveda. Since, then I fell love with studying, teaching and practising Ayurveda.
Has it helped you with anything major?
Yes, When I was a teenager, I used to suffer from IBS and gut health problems. Ayurveda was able to help alleviate my health issues and I never looked back ever since.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Ayurveda is an integral part of my life. My day typically starts and ends with Ayurvedic Daily regimen. Tongue cleansing, oil pulling and Nasya are part of my everyday morning routines. Lunch is my main meal and I only drink warm water during any season.
I incorporate Ayurvedic herbs and spices in to my cooking. Even though my diet is modern, it is still based upon Ayurvedic principles.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
There are many amazing Ayurvedic tips that have worked for me, but I am listing a few to start you off:
1. Favour fresh, warm and seasonal food. Focus on food and its amazing qualities like taste, texture, colour and the emotion that it brings out.
2. Practise Ayurvedic rituals like oil application to the whole body before taking a bath, tongue cleansing and oil pulling at least three times a week.
3. Digestion is the key to our health, so focus on caring for your digestive fire by eating warm, well cooked food and by including healthy spices like cumin, coriander and ginger in your diet.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
Ayurveda has explained in great detail about human life. It provides precise information about food and lifestyle and its effect on health. I am surprised how some of the complex concepts that were explained in Ayurveda 5,000 years ago, including the importance of gut health, have been proven right recently by research.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
Any change that matters takes time, and incorporating Ayurveda into a modern lifestyle is no different. Primarily, it is about making a conscious connection within our mind and body. I started exploring different foods and their impact on my health. I was able to adapt Ayurvedic principles in my food preparation in accordance with seasonal changes.
Do your children/family eat an Ayurvedic diet? And if they do, do they know it’s Ayurveda or do they just think of it as home cooking?
Yes, of course, I educate my family including kids about Ayurveda and its principles. They enjoy Ayurvedic food and follow a seasonal cleanse with me every now and then.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
As per Ayurveda, we are not what we eat, but what we digest! Digestion is considered one of the crucial factors for determining a person's health, so I would like share one of my favourite recipes for Digestive Tea.
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp carom seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
METHOD
Boil 200ml water and add all the above ingredients, then reduce it to half the volume of water. Drink this tea at least 30 minutes before having a meal to help relieve symptoms of IBS.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
Some of the rituals like tongue cleansing, oil pulling and Nasya are part of my everyday routine. I enjoy Abhyanga/oil application and follow a seasonal cleanse whenever possible. I am passionate about my diet: depending on the season, I eat warm, cooked and Tridosha-balancing food.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
I wish people looked for more natural ways when it comes to health and spent more time understanding their mind-body.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Yes, my friends and family love Ayurvedic tips and enjoy learning about mind-body types. They enjoy different Ayurvedic teas and kitchari recipes I share with them.
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?
I would encourage people to be mindful of choices they make when it comes to their health. To opt for a system like Ayurveda which is versatile and adaptable for a long time rather than choosing short-term crash diets.