VASU GANDHI
“I had an early onset of menopause at age 38. I experienced hot flashes, hormonal imbalance, acne, steady weight gain, erratic sleep, emotional outbursts, unbearable acidity, just to name a few. In 3 months, I have with the help of Ayurveda reversed most of it. My sleep is regular and deep. No hot flashes, no acne, no pigmentation. I have regained control over my emotions and the acidity has vanished.”
Vasu Gandhi is a full-time director at Millennium Herbal Care Ltd. A graduate of FIT, New York, she spent the first 15 years of her entrepreneurial career designing bespoke Indian bridal and trousseau wear under her own label. This extensive work with women gave Vasu critical insight into the bare necessities of women to look good, especially for themselves.
This profession also made Vasu spend a lot of time on the road for her trunk shows, leaving her with little time to tend to her and her daughters’ hair and skin needs. She wanted a range of products that would protect and heal and protect hair and skin from harmful chemicals, pollution and damage caused by UV rays. As it was difficult to find many quality products in the Indian or international market that balanced natural ingredients with safe science, she turned to their family’s scientific knowledge and background in Ayurveda and pharmaceuticals to create efficacious and safe hair and skin products for the 21st century Indian woman. The result was SOVA, which has garnered an impressive loyal following over the last 2 years.
SOVA offers luxurious hair and skin care with Ayurveda at its heart. The brand promises to realise the true potential of Ayurveda by enhancing its efficacy through safe, innovative technologies and scientific processes. SOVA delivers beauty which is perceptible, pure, healthy and conscious, representing the needs of the modern Indian woman.
Vasu’s parallel work with Millennium Herbal’s R&D team over 3 years, beyond typical hair and skin care products, led to the development of a natural intimate hygiene foam cleanser, Gynovash. She continues to work closely with the company’s development and marketing teams, giving imperative insights from a woman and mother’s perspective on bringing out the best of natural health care for them.
Vasu is a full-time mother to two daughters, 15 and 10 years old. She is an enthusiastic practitioner of Ayurveda (yoga, Pranayama and meditation) and works closely with certain NGOs.
Follow Vasu:
Instagram: @Sova_care
Instagram: @myayurvedajourney
Website: www.sovacare.in
Website: www.millenniumherbal.com
“Ayurveda to me is a way of life 24/7.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Ayurveda to me is a way of life 24/7. It’s the most tried-and-tested and natural way to eat, sleep and live. It allows you to BE and find your truest self.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
Born and raised in India, I was born into Ayurveda. I have been practising it for 4 years, but the lockdown gave me an opportunity to study it in depth.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
The fact that it’s a more than 5,000-year-old science which still stands true pulled me towards Ayurveda. Marrying into a family that was in the Ayurveda business gave me some incredible insights about this fantastic science. There has been no looking back.
Has it helped you with anything major?
I had an early onset of menopause at age 38. I experienced hot flashes, hormonal imbalance, acne, steady weight gain, erratic sleep, emotional outbursts, unbearable acidity, just to name a few. In 3 months, I have with the help of Ayurveda reversed most of it.
My sleep is regular and deep. No hot flashes, no acne, no pigmentation. I have regained control over my emotions and the acidity has vanished.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Ayurveda has become my life. It is an inherent part of me and I have so much gratitude to have found it.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Pranayama
Jal Neti
Diet according to my Dosha
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
The fact that it was so easy to follow in my daily life, and that it showed results so quickly.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
After meeting with so many endocrinologists and gynaecologists and failing to help my health, I knew in my gut that I had to turn to Ayurveda, and then COVID happened. So I took a course in Ayurveda and started following it in my Dinacharya, diet, yoga, basically everything. I kept in touch with our in-house Ayurvedic doctor, I started following amazing people like Jasmine and learnt so much and still continue to. I am now focusing on doing an online course in beauty in Ayurveda.
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 the entire family is eating according to their Dosha and is aware of Ayurveda. In fact we all took each other’s quizzes to find out our individual Doshas. Pitta clearly rules.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
I am crushing on the digestive tea – cumin, coriander and fennel tea. It has helped me tremendously and I have made my lunch the heaviest meal given I have Pitta energy.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
I wake up very early to start my Neti, pulling, scraping, Pranayama and yoga, so before the house is up I am pretty much done with most of my to-do list. I look forward to my morning routine.
I cook all our meals because of the lockdown so it’s been easy to follow the Pitta diet. The “no tomato” rule has been a tough one though.
We now Pranayama and Neti together as a family .
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
If we could just slow down a little, pause, be, and it to be taught in schools .
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Yes, everybody is aware of it, but they usually take a little from Ayurveda, a little from something else. I feel that if you go all in it works like magic. It has for me.
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?
Pranayama and Jal Neti are crucial for overall health. I would also encourage to not be on gadgets before bed time. It’s harmful to your body. Eating fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits according to your Dosha will help you feel lighter, energetic and happier.