Ojas Oasisâ„¢ - Ayurvedic Wisdom and Healing

Dr. Jayarajan Kodikannath, B.Sc, B.A.M.S, whom we lovingly call “Dr. J," is a world-renowned Ayurvedic doctor and the former President of NAMA (the National Ayurvedic Medical Association). An esteemed scholar, researcher, and teacher, he represents a lineage of Vaidyas from Kerala, India. As the CEO of Kerala Ayurveda Academy and Wellness Center in Northern California—where Sasha is  currently completing her doctorate—Dr. J has played a pivotal role in advancing Ayurvedic education and clinical research. His work includes leading research on Ayurvedic wellness solutions, with a recently patented herbal composition for managing metabolic syndrome disorders such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and lipid imbalances.Dr. J is also the author of The Parent's Complete Guide to Ayurveda: Principles, Practices, and Recipes for Happy, Healthy Kids, a practical and user-friendly resource offering over 50 Ayurvedic wellness practices for children ages 3–16. With over two decades of clinical experience, he has focused extensively on pediatric health and mental well-being.Above all, Dr. J is a compassionate healer and educator, dedicated to sharing the consciousness-based teachings of Ayurveda across the globe. As Sasha's own teacher, he embodies the Divine Father and Ayurveda itself, guiding his students with wisdom, humility, and love.Today, in part one of our three-part series on Ayurveda for Happy and Healthy Kids, we explore a topic close to both our hearts. We begin with Prana—the primordial life force—its role in childhood development, and its impact on cognitive health. We also discuss:The Ayurvedic perspective on childhood growth and developmentCommon childhood imbalances and their root causesThe role of parents in their children's healthThe impact of stress and environmental factors on kidsThe controversial use of pharmaceuticals for behavioral challengesBreaking cycles of sleep deprivation for parentsBalancing structured activities with free, unstructured playtimeThe healing power of nature and the innate healing capacity within us allIt seems fitting that Dr. J wrote a book on conscious, loving Ayurvedic parenting—because that is exactly what he offers us as his students. He doesn't just teach Ayurveda; he embodies it, sharing from his heart rather than merely his vast knowledge. His wisdom flows effortlessly, granting all of us in his presence the blessing of Darshan—Divine sight.Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

"As we close this transformative season, I find myself in deep gratitude for the journey we've shared. We have had so many incredible guests, and reflecting on it all fills me with appreciation for this work and the community we've built.As I write this, I'm in my birthday week—this episode won't air for another month, but I'm in a deeply reflective state. A solar eclipse is approaching, and Saturn is entering Pisces for the first time in 30 years—a profound cosmic shift and an equally significant moment in my personal Vedic chart.In this episode, Erin and I reunite after a month to explore the theme of community and its role in personal growth. This podcast has become a bridge for meaningful connections, and the joy it brings us is immeasurable. We dive into embracing AI as a tool, my preparations for speaking at the NAMA conference in May, redefining leadership through the lens of the Divine Feminine, and why we dedicated much of this season to the foundations of subtle anatomy—the koshas and the chakras. We also explore intuition in decision-making, practices for mental clarity, and the journey of reparenting our inner child. And of course, we look ahead to the magic that awaits us in Season 7.While we're excited for what the future holds, we're also pausing to stand at this summit, taking in the breathtaking view of how far we've come. We started this season in India. We launched our YouTube channel. We surpassed 10,000 downloads. We turned three. We welcomed two renowned Ayurveda Gurus—Dr. Ramkumar and Dr. J. We collaborated with inspiring experts across Ayurveda, Jyotish, Yoga, Bodywork, Birth work, and Entrepreneurship. Teaching this knowledge week after week, month after month, has been profoundly rewarding. We hear from listeners around the world about how this show is changing their lives, and it fuels us to keep going.This show continues to find those who need it, and our prayer is that it always does. May we keep meeting in this space—growing, learning, and evolving together. Here's to Season 7 and beyond. " - SashaSend us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Smrita Choubey, founder of Veda Warrior, is an Indian-American entrepreneur with a unique blend of expertise in healthcare, corporate strategy, and indigenous healing systems. Smrita's journey has taken her from the world of high finance to the forefront of holistic wellness.A University of Chicago economics alumn and an MBA graduate from Columbia Business School, she began her career in healthcare investment banking at J.P. Morgan, where she gained firsthand insight into the challenges and conflicts within the American healthcare system. Determined to create meaningful change, she built Veda Warrior, assembling a world-class team of scientists, researchers, traditional healers, and manufacturing experts. Their mission? To craft plant-based remedies that honor ancient traditions while meeting the demands of modern life.At the heart of Veda Warrior is a powerful vision: to challenge the profit-driven healthcare model and redefine wellness beyond just the absence of disease. True well-being, as Smrita and her team believe, is about operating at the peak of one's human potential—where physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual peace align to create a life of purpose, joy, success, and abundance. Rooted in Ayurveda, their approach bridges the gap between time-tested wisdom and modern science, offering individuals personalized tools to take charge of their own health.In this episode, we explore Smrita's journey, the role of Cannabis in Ayurveda, the historical and economic forces behind Cannabis prohibition, reclaiming Feminine wisdom, the economic potential for Ayurveda, and her vision for integrative wellness. Smrita is not only the founder of Veda Warrior, she is a Veda Warrior. Championing  and teaching this wisdom science is deep within her DNA, and we are so excited to know each other and work together in this shared Dharma of bringing Ayurveda to modern life in the West. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Maria Alfieris is a Physical Therapist, Myofascial Master, & Reiki Virtuoso. She brings her gifts & talents of healing through Fascial Release which she has been teaching for 40 years. She offers a series of courses in Myofascial Mobilization which she incorporates into her work of understanding of emotional causation of disease & dysfunction. Her healing workshops around the world are designed to blend her knowledge & experience of physical therapy, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, energy healing, & her spiritual trainings. Through hands on techniques, she guides you toward freeing your fascia which helps you release patterns of emotional & physical pain that have been holding you back from reaching your full wellness potential. Fascia is a continuous web of connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles, bones, organs, and nerves throughout the body. It plays a crucial role in maintaining structural integrity, movement, and communication between different systems in the body. When fascia becomes tight, restricted, or develops adhesions due to injury, stress, poor posture, or inflammation, it can lead to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.Today, Maria and Sasha sat down to explore her personal journey, and professional experience with integrative and functional bodywork. We don't shy away from the spiritual aspect of healing the body, and Maria certainly does not shy away from expressing her authentic shakti energy as she shares her wisdom. We are blessed to have a teacher like her, traveling the world, integrating the healing of mind, body and spirit, and offering this knowledge to everyone who seeks freedom from chronic pain and stored trauma. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Kate O'Donnell is the author of four books on Ayurvedic cooking, lifestyle, and women's health, including the bestseller The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook. With 25 years of experience studying the Vedic arts, she is an international presenter, a senior Ashtanga yoga teacher, and the founder of The Ayurvedic Living Institute—an online community space dedicated to Ayurveda education.In today's conversation, we dive into the inspiration behind her first bestseller and its newly revised 10th-anniversary edition. We break down what Ayurvedic cooking truly is, the role of tapas (discipline) in Ayurveda, and the ongoing Vegetarian vs. Non-Vegetarian debate. We also explore how to balance pleasure with discipline, navigate changing desires, and find harmony between rigidity and flexibility in lifestyle choices.This conversation was a full-circle moment for Sasha, reconnecting with Kate after first crossing paths in India five years ago. We know you'll love this discussion as much as we did.Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Addiction, from an Ayurvedic lens, is more than just a physical dependence—it's a deep imbalance in the body, mind, and spirit. It often arises from a disconnect from one's true self (Prakriti) and an accumulation of toxins (Ama), whether physical, emotional, or energetic. Many turn to substances in an attempt to soothe inner suffering, regulate emotions, or fill a void left by trauma or unresolved pain.    •    Vata imbalances can manifest as anxiety, restlessness, and a pervasive sense of emptiness, driving the urge to escape through addiction.    •    Pitta imbalances fuel intense cravings, impulsivity, and self-destructive tendencies.    •    Kapha imbalances create stagnation, attachment, and emotional heaviness, making it harder to break free from addictive cycles.Substance use depletes Ojas (vital essence) and Prana (life force energy), but Ayurveda offers a path to rebuild through nourishment, breathwork, meditation, and detoxification practices like Panchakarma and Rasayana (rejuvenation therapy). By restoring balance through daily routines (Dinacharya) and sattvic living, we cultivate clarity, resilience, and self-awareness—key elements in long-term healing.Today, we're honored to sit down with Rob Loud, a yoga teacher whose journey through drug and alcohol addiction led him to a path of deep transformation. Rob describes his teaching style as embodied vinyasa, drawing wisdom from multiple yogic lineages. His passion for yoga is evident—not just in his classes, which are creative, intelligent, and dynamic—but in the way he lives his practice.In this conversation, Rob opens up about his early struggles with addiction, the trauma that shaped him, and how rewiring his nervous system through yoga became the foundation of his recovery. We discuss how yoga not only supports sobriety but also helps navigate both daily stressors and the deeper emotional wounds that addiction often masks.This is a raw, vulnerable conversation—one that invites us all into a deeper intimacy with ourselves, our inner child, and the universal thread that unites us: compassion for the suffering we all experience as human beings.Rob, thank you for your wisdom, your presence, and the light you bring to your students, on and off the mat. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Over the past seven years, Carson Meyer has had the privilege of supporting hundreds of parents through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. As a doula she meets her clients where they're at on their unique journey and offers resources, education and support for home or hospital birth. She helps parents navigate the many choices they have so they can feel confident, connected and empowered throughout this sacred time.  In addition to her birth work, Carson has a celebrity-favorite clean skincare line, C & The Moon. She believes that the way we approach birth has the potential to change the world.A supported mother who is respected in her autonomy is not only less likely to experience birth trauma or postpartum depression but will feel better equipped to show up as a mother with all that she has to give. The imprinting that takes place for a child on the day they are born and the days and weeks that follow informs their worldview and lifelong physical health more than we may realize. After years of working as a doula she was shocked to learn how rare it was for doctors to talk to clients about good nutrition, emotional wellbeing, and environmental health.The impact of a healthy lifestyle for mom and baby are well studied and she believes should be a central point of prenatal and postpartum care. In 2020 she became certified a nutrition consultant through the Oh Baby Academy so she could support her clients in feeling their best. And in 2022, she became a mother herself. She gave birth to her daughter Lou in her home in North Carolina.Today Sasha and Carson sat down to explore her new book, Growing Together: Doula Wisdom & Holistic Practices for Pregnancy, Birth & Early Motherhood, being released by Chronicle Books on March 25. We chat about Carson's own journey in becoming a doula and educator, understanding the roles of a Doula vs Midwife, the impact of the medicalization of childbirth, the importance of sisterhood and female friendships, and empowering women through knowledge and their own intuition. We also explore the need for slowing down in preparation for motherhood, and how to create a supportive environment for new mothers. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Dylan Smith is a devoted Ayurvedic Practitioner and holistic health educator, rooted in the lush Byron Bay Shire, Australia. As the founder of Vital Veda, he seamlessly blends ancient Vedic wisdom with a grounded, relatable approach, helping people unlock vibrant health through consultations, immersive courses, and his popular Vital Veda Podcast. Trained under the legendary Raju family of South India, Dylan brings authenticity and depth to his practice, making Ayurveda accessible and transformative for a global audience.As the co-founder of One Eleven Health, an Ayurvedic health brand in Australia, Dylan also champions the daily use of rasayanas—powerful herbal longevity elixirs—to elevate nourishment beyond just organic or high-quality food. His work invites us to refine the way we care for ourselves, embracing Ayurveda's most potent formulations for true vitality.In this conversation, Dylan and Sasha explore the Ayurvedic principles of Vyayama (exercise)—why movement is medicine, how to honor the body's signals, and the wisdom of exercising to Ardha Shakti (half of one's capacity). We discuss aligning movement with our Vikruti (current state of imbalance), injury prevention and recovery, sustainable exercise practices, body image and self-perception, the vital role of oil in joint health and aging, and how consciousness plays a role in metabolizing nourishment.May you bask in the light of this insightful, delightful deep dive on all things Ayurvedic exercise. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Today, Erin and Sasha dive into the beauty of the Sahasrapadma Chakra. “Sahasrara” means thousand and “Padma” means lotus. Together, it is referred to as the “thousand-petaled lotus.” Much like the human experience, a lotus begins its life in the depths of muddy, murky waters—our struggles, attachments, desires, and ignorance (Avidya). Just as the lotus remains rooted in the mud, we too are born into the material world, facing suffering, karmic cycles, and obstacles. As the lotus stem rises through the water, it symbolizes the seeker's journey through self-awareness, discipline, and inner purification. The phrase represents the infinite layers of consciousness. And through our efforts in Yoga, Meditation, and Self-Inquiry, overcoming obstacles, refining the mind, and aligning with higher consciousness, we unfold one petal at a time, moving closer to Divine realization. Sahasrapadma Chakra is located at the crown of the head, and is the gateway to pure consciousness. When it is balanced, we experience deep inner peace, clarity, and a profound connection to universal wisdom. Life flows effortlessly, and we feel aligned with our highest purpose. When imbalanced or blocked, it can manifest as mental fog, chronic stress, anxiety, or depression. On a physical level, disharmony in this chakra is often linked to neurological disorders, migraines, hormonal imbalances, sleep disturbances, and even autoimmune conditions. Some may struggle with disconnection from their spiritual path, while others might experience an overwhelming sense of isolation or existential confusion.Through meditation, pranayama, acts of surrender, nourishing ourselves with sattvic foods like coconut, almonds, and ghee, occasional fasting with fresh juices or herbal teas, and using Ayurvedic herbs such as Brahmi, Shankhpushpi, Gotu Kola, and Tulsi, we unlock the potential of this energy center. Yoga asanas like Sirsasana (headstand), Savasana (corpse pose), Vrikshasana (tree pose) and Padmasana (lotus pose) further help stimulate this center of Divine connection. When the lotus reaches the surface, it blossoms in the sunlight, untouched by the water below. This represents the final stage of spiritual awakening, the self-realization (moksha), where one transcends suffering, duality, and illusion (maya). The enlightened being, like a lotus, remainds in the world but is no longer affected by its turbulence. Despite its impure surroundings, the lotus remains pristine and beautiful, symbolizing that true beauty and purity arise from within, regardless of external circumstances. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Trent Navran is a seasoned expert in program, project, and product management, with a diverse background spanning artificial intelligence, digital health, digital marketing, and sustainability. Currently, he supports social media and communications for the Save Soil Movement, a global initiative led by Sadhguru dedicated to restoring and safeguarding agricultural soils. His work has contributed to raising unprecedented awareness for soil health, influencing government policies, and advocating for climate finance to support smallholder farmers.Previously, Trent led health data and device strategy at Wellsmith, a health technology startup focused on empowering individuals to manage chronic diseases through AI-driven insights and lifestyle-based healthcare solutions. His expertise also includes three years in Customer Success at CognitiveScale, where they worked at the forefront of AI-driven business solutions.With a background in Cognitive Science and Neuroscience, Trent has rich and varied experience in social entrepreneurship, management consulting, biomedical and social science research, leadership development, civic service, and musical performance. Passionate about the intersection of AI, healthcare, and entrepreneurship, he is driven to solve complex challenges through systematic and innovative approaches. Today, Sasha and Trent sat down to explore his journey into Vedic wisdom, the transformative power of consistent Ayurvedic and Yogic practices, the challenges of keeping said practices consistent and how to overcome those challenges, navigating the dawning of a new age of automation and AI, the role of AI in enhancing quality of life, and the power of community and collective Dharma. You will certainly feel the joy that Trent and I felt through out our conversation, as we burst with enthusiasm over the potentiality of shared Dharma in opening Ayurvedic centers, as we usher in a modern, Golden Age for wisdom sciences and holistic healing. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

From a 30-year career in television across the globe to facing profound personal challenges—including a cancer diagnosis and major career pivot—Geoff Rupp's path led to the timeless wisdom of Vedic Meditation. This practice, rooted in a tradition spanning over 5,000 years, became a cornerstone of his healing and self-discovery. Fueled by an insatiable curiosity, he delved deeper into Vedic knowledge, Sattva Yoga (Himalayan Breathwork), and Jyotish (Vedic Astrology), uncovering the interconnectedness of body, mind, and cosmic influences. Now, as a teacher, guide, and lifelong student, he helps others unlock their highest potential, offering tools like meditation, breathwork, and astrology to navigate life with clarity, purpose, and transformation. Today, Geoff and Sasha explore how one lives in accordance with their astrology chart, the influence of planetary periods, the role of spiritual teachers or guides, practical remedies for astrological challenges, and how one can work with planetary influences, or transits, to plan important life decisions. Geoff and Sasha share a joyous exploration of this vast knowledge, and trust that it will serve you well. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Sasha and Erin continue the Chakra series with Agnya, meaning “Divine Permission.” This is the sixth chakra, which is considered the master chakra. It is located at the third eye, the space between the eyebrows, where the pineal and pituitary glands are, which is also where the Ida and Pingala nadis originate. The pineal and pituitary glands play crucial roles in regulating hormones, consciousness, and perception. The Pineal Gland is considered “the seat of the Soul.” It regulates circadian rhythms by producing melatonin which helps regulate sleep cycles, dreams, and altered states of consciousness. Associated with inner vision, intuition, and spiritual awakening, the pineal gland responds to light and darkness, mirroring the duality of perception (Maya vs. Truth). Considered the “Eye of Shiva” in yogic traditions, Agnya Chakra is linked to higher wisdom and deep meditation. Practices like Kriya Yoga, Trataka (candle gazing), and deep meditation activate the pineal gland, enhancing spiritual perception.The Pituitary Gland is considered “The Master Gland.” It regulates hormonal balance by controlling the thyroid, adrenal glands, reproductive organs, and metabolism. It produces growth hormone, oxytocin (the love hormone), and stress hormones. It governs physical and emotional equilibrium. It also works as the bridge between the body and higher consciousness.So when you think Pineal Gland, think Inner Vision, Allowing higher perception, deep meditation, and spiritual connection. When you think Pituitary Gland, think Master Regulator, ensuring hormonal and mental balance, helping integrate spiritual experiences into daily life.Activating the Agnya Chakra (through Ayurvedic herbs, diet and lifestyle, breathwork, meditation, and chanting mantra such as “Om Namah Shivaya”) influences pituitary function, leading to enhanced mental clarity, intuition, and self-mastery. The Rudra Granthi (or knot of Shiva) gets untied here, allowing access to the inner guru (intuition, a deeper knowing, natural intelligence, a state of clarity). Rudra Granthi is the final energetic blockage that must be untied for spiritual awakening. This knot represents ego, attachment to identity, and intellectual limitations. When untied or dissolved, Shiva-consciousness, or pure awareness, arises. There is no thought here, because we transcend thought. And we can have phenomenal impact on the field, as it gives rise to genius mind and more kundalini shakti moving up. Agnya brings Prana to the nervous system. So when we are balanced here, we go beyond habit and the causal plane. We have access to deep self-healing and a quantum mind. We receive the energy and knowledge of the timeless dimension, a state of dynamic stillness. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

"Before you speak, ask yourself: “Is it honest? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it the right time? Does it improve the silence?” - Sathya Sai BabaToday, Erin and Sasha explore the 5th Chakra of speech, poetically named Vishuddha, meaning “purification of poison.” Vishuddha Chakra represents the Ether element, and the ability to turn poison into nectar - the process of purification. It is located in the throat, and is the seat of the power of the word. It brings Prana to the respiratory system. “The more silence behind your word, the greater the impact.” You may find, upon personal practice, that the simple elegance of Silence can be prescribed to most internal challenges. This chakra represents the quality of honest communication, turning ignorance into awareness, transmutation, choice, alchemy, infinity, receptivity, sensitivity, self-expression, “finding one's voice,” the ability to speak from the heart, and the ability to listen from the heart. Used properly, Vishuddha makes our words nectar, not poison. All poison becomes nectar when Vishuddha is strong and stable, developed and activated. Our words create reality, and since they originate from thought, our thoughts create our reality. Therefore, words are not only descriptive, but creative. When Vishuddha is activated, everywhere you go, becomes better as a result of you being there. If too much noise is there, too much talking or too much thinking, Vishuddha cannot be stabilized, because the element it represents is Ether (spaciousness, emptiness). The bija mantra for Vishuddha is “Hum,” which means “I am.” Because on a micro-level, we are God: the creator, preserver, and destroyer. Which brings me to the story of Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean. Once upon a time, the devas (gods) and asuras (demons) were on a quest to retrieve Amrita, the sacred nectar of immortality. In doing so, they had to churn the ocean using Mount Mandara as the churning rod, and Vasuki (the serpent King) as their rope. As they churned in what appears to be the original tug of war, Divine gifts emerged, like Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and the celestial cow Kamadhenu. However, before the Amrita appeared, a deadly poison called Halahala surfaced, threatening to destroy all of existence. Terrified, the devas and asuras turned to Lord Shiva for help, and in an act of supreme selflessness, he took the poison to his mouth to prevent it from harming creation. But instead of swallowing it or spitting it out, he held it in his throat, where it turned his skin blue, earning him the name of Neelkantha (the Blue throated one). This moment of holding and transforming toxicity without allowing it to spread, is the symbolic origin of the Vishuddha Chakra. Just as Lord Shiva purified the deadly poison without letting it harm him, Vishuddha governs the purification of thought, word, and energy. Shiva's restraint symbolizes conscious speech, wisdom, and the power of truth. The throat chakra teaches that life contains both poison (negativity, challenges) and nectar (divine wisdom). It is our ability to process, hold, and transmute energy that determines our spiritual growth. This chakra represents self-mastery, communication, and purification. Like Shiva, we must learn to hold challenges with grace, not letting toxicity consume us but instead transforming it into wisdom. When our Vishuddha Chakra is balanced, we speak with clarity, authenticity, and purpose, just as Shiva's act saved creation. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Today, Erin and Sasha continue our Chakra series with Anahata, meaning “eternal unstruck sound.” Anahata is the fourth chakra, located at the heart, which is the seat of love and compassion. It is also the location of Vishnu Granthi (the knot of Vishnu). Its element is air, color is green, planet is Venus, and Ishta Devata is Lakshmi. Having neurons and brain cells, the heart holds the highest level of electromagnetic energy, inspiration, devotion, timelessness, and joy without reason. When Anahata is in a knot, there is attachment, neediness, longing, co-dependency, and a “me and mine” mentality. Vishnu Granthi converts once Anahata is developed and stable, and then there is an energy of immense clairvoyance, deep compassion, transcendence of fear, greater kundalini rising, experience of pleasure, and authentic connection. Lakshmi lives here, the goddess of Abundance and Prosperity. Abundance is a state, and in this state, all lack disappears. Anahata's base value of Peace (Shanti) converts to Bliss (Ananda) and then into Compassion, which is really just pain held in love. The feeling of Grace, or knowing you are held in Love, only arises when Anahata is open and online. It is not only about having an abundance mindset of gratitude, but an abundant heart, and with the help of a strong spine; an open, ever softening heart. So even when we experience personal pain, grief, sorrow, and despair, it makes us better people. When we go into deeper states within our heart, pain is not our enemy. It becomes maturity and compassion. Sensitivity is not weakness, it is our superpower. We must train it, not suppress it. Let the tears come, let them flow, and be grateful for them. This allows the heart to stay safe as it expands. And remember, where there is gratitude, there is Lakshmi, abundance and prosperity. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Namaste from Boulder, Colorado! Today Erin and Sasha continue the exploration of the chakras with Manipura - the third of the seven chakras - which translates  as “the shining sacred jewel.” It is associated with the Fire element, the planet Mars, the color Yellow, and the “Ishta Devata” Hanuman. It is located just above the navel and below the sternum, at our solar plexus — also called the celiac plexus — which is a complex system of radiating nerves and ganglia. It is found in the pit of the stomach in front of the aorta. It is part of the sympathetic nervous system and plays an important role in the functioning of the stomach, kidneys, liver, and adrenal glands. This chakra brings Prana to the digestive system, also known as our second brain. From a Western perspective, this is known and expressed as the gut-brain axis (or GBA) - the network of nerves and biochemical signals that connect the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It's a two-way communication system that helps maintain homeostasis. The vagus nerve is one of the main nerves that connects the brain and gut, sending signals in both directions. From a clinical perspective, the GBA can impact disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), mood disorders, anxiety, depression, and memory loss. The GBA can also be linked to conditions like autism, obesity, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The Manipura chakra is directly linked to our sense of self, self-esteem, sense of purpose, the seat of clear decisive action, vision, dynamic action, assertiveness, discipline, determination, passion, deepest willingness to go beyond, strong will power, courage, resilience, and vitality. When balanced, there is energy and insight, will power and and follow-through, self-reliance, vitality and health. It can only be as balanced as the first 2 chakras. When imbalanced, there is a state of self-doubt, fear, insecurity, wanting, anger, blame, victimhood, depression, and lethargy. Positive affirmations, yoga postures that engage the core such as bow pose, cobra pose, or revolved triangle pose, and kapalabhati pranayama (or breath of fire) help strengthen Manipura when it is weak. We also get into ways of balancing an overactive Manipura, as Pitta-type individuals are prone to over exercising, overworking, and burnout. We hope today's conversation illuminates the ways in which we can reclaim and maintain our personal power, and that it is not as much a process of creating it, as it is discovering that which has always been there and removing what blocks us from experiencing it. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Live from New York, it's Ojas Oasis. Today, Sasha and Erin got to chat in-person to deep dive into the second chakra, Svadhistana, located at the sacrum above the Muladhara, which abides in the tail bone or coccyx. The sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine that connects to the pelvis and is made up of five fused vertebrae, numbered S-1 to S-5. Now that we know where it lives, lets talk about what it means. Svadhistana translates as “the seat of taste/desire.” “Swa means taste, and “Stana” means abode or seat. It represents the Water element, relates to the physical reproductive organs and brings Prana to the reproductive system. This is where our desire comes from - for enjoyment, pleasure, sexuality, creativity and flow. Desire is a fascinating thing. And an important thing at that, as far our basic evolution and survival go. But craving and aversion, become a relentless assault on the present moment if we fail to understand and master the nature of it. Aversion is essentially Anxiety, Resentment, Regret, All Addiction, Self-Hatred, all sense of Lack, the gap between who you are and who you want to be, what you have and what you want to have.Desire is not the actual problem. Because we aren't actually looking for a “thing.” We are looking for “the experience of the thing, the feeling of the thing.” That is the first level of balancing this chakra, or subtle energy center: Distinguishing what it is we ultimately truly Desire. In Ayurveda, it is important to not suppress Desire. In Yoga, it is important to refine the experiencer, or the one experiencing Desire, so that the Desire becomes refined. As our Ayurvedic habits and Yoga practice deepens, toxic habits fall away, including toxic desires. And this is because as our human system becomes balanced, the tendencies of imbalance heal into harmonious tendencies. This is a whole nother level of healing.When our Svadhistana is balanced, there is an energy of abundance, and understanding of timing. When imbalanced, there is guilt, self-hatred, a state of wanting or lack, self-harming, drama, holding of childhood issues, traumas, and sexual scarring, and a tamasic level of desire to relate but an inability to relate to anyone. Since our present relationships are all informed by our past, we must free ourselves from incorrect, unrefined information in our system. We must clean this chakra by learning how to activate it. Otherwise, Fear will show up to sabotage what it is we truly want. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Today, we spend more time on the fourth kosha, Vigyanamaya Kosha. The word “Vigyana” means “knowing.” This layer is true intellect, intuition, wisdom, and higher awareness. Within this layer, one experiences union of Spirit, realizing they are a spiritual being having a human experience. We also delve into the fifth layer, the Anandamaya Kosha. “Ananda” means “bliss,” so this is our Bliss Body. Love, peace, joy, connection, and bliss are all a constant experience here, without any reason, and it's beyond just an emotion. Bliss is the experience we gain from connecting to the Atman (true self) without masks, opinions, ideas, or identities. We begin exploring another part of the subtle anatomy, known as Chakras. Chakras are energy vortexes in the subtle/energetic body, located along the sushumna nadi, starting from the base of the spine, or tail bone, all the way up through the crown of the head. The first is Muladhara, which we felt required its own episode, as the strength of the rest of the chakras rest upon this foundation.Muladhara translates as the root, whose energy flows to the rest of the chakras and sets the tone for our sense of self. Herein lies infinite potential but also fear, since all Fear is essentially about the Unknown, and the Unknown is also the Infinite Potential. A lot of our limitations are self-imposed, acquired through conditioning, so the muladhara represents the possibility of liberation when we realize we have the choice to change and evolve. Daily practices and routines, often the simple ones we mention in today's conversation, help strengthen our inner stability. Disciplines, like yoga asana, anchor us so that experiences don't lead us off path and away from our true self. A huge part of our inner work is with this chakra. Cultivating a base experience of Trust over Fear. This chakra represents the Earth element, and we hope you feel its grounding energy through this teaching. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

One of the most important aspects of walking the spiritual path - which is really just a path of freedom through inner refinement - is finding a good teacher. A good teacher enables us to stay connected to our intention by reminding us, again and again, should we forget that intention…whilst getting lost in the wild jungle of the untrained monkey mind. We are all together in this grand classroom, for our soul to play out the karmas that it needs to play out, to learn what it needs to learn on its way home, to the place beyond form, and beyond time. On the heels of yet another holiday season, we close out 2024, and interestingly, this year we are doing it on a New Moon. What better time to take stock of our lives, as we enter this new moon and new year. What better time to realize the abundant nature of the Universe, the many gifts we have been given, and how many of those gifts are immaterial, and actually, in the form of teachers, healers, and friends. People we have learned from, people who have been our guiding light in times of darkness. Today's guest, is one such beloved teacher, healer, and friend to many. We could introduce Ramkumar as a Vaidya, a Vedic Scholar, and one of the founding doctors of Vaidyagrama, an Ayurvedic Healing Village in Coimbatore, India that has helped thousands of people heal from around the world through the ancient practice of Panchakarma. We could make a list of his keynote speeches at various international conferences, share personal testimonies of how his satsangs and teachings have impacted me and fellow students, patients, colleagues, and friends of his. But, none of these descriptions seem to encapsulate him. Because this would be describing someone who identifies with their ego, and Ramkumar simply does not. What he is, or who he is, is an actual embodiment of Ayurveda; a living, breathing, flowing, channel of the Vedas, and we are so thankful that today, we get to share him with all of you. May you sit with this conversation, particularly his words, with an open mind and soft heart, and may the doors of curiosity continue to open you to places within yourself that have the answers that you are looking for. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Welcome back to Season 6 of Ojas Oasis! We are so happy to be back in our soul home of Mama India, held by the angelic peaks and valleys of her Himalayan Mountains. We took a long pause to honor a deeply transformative process, which we are happy to share a bit about as we continue to integrate. And the fact that we get to share our experience of Vedic and Yogic Knowledge and Wisdom straight from the source, is crazy grace. Today, we also begin peeling back the 5 Koshas. The Sanskrit word “kosha” means covering, layer, or sheath. Starting from the outermost layer and moving inward to the core of the true self, each kosha comprises increasingly more subtle energy. From the physical body to the breath body, mental body, wisdom body, and finally, to our very core: the bliss body. In Ayurveda, we focus on strengthening, balancing, and preparing the physical body via Ahara/Vihara (diet and lifestyle) so we can build higher levels of energy and expanded awareness. We must carefully consider what we consume, because what we consume, ultimately consumes us. We are not just this physical body, but we need this body. It is a sacred vehicle that consciousness depends on to experience itself. As we venture deeper down the path of Healing with Yoga and Ayurveda, a skilled Ayurvedic Doctor, Yoga Practitioner and Teacher also knows the importance of integrating the more subtle aspects of the body. Because if we don't step outside the lower vibrational layers we identify with, how will we ever truly know who we are? How will we ever experience the truth of why we are here? A deeper level of seeing needs to happen, to deepen our healing and evolution on an individual and collective level.  Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Hemalayaa Behl is an internationally recognized transformation coach, yoga teacher, embodiment mentor and author of the EMBODY Oracle Card Deck. She is the co-owner and visionary of the Embody Costa Rica retreat center with her partner DTO, and has 22 years of experience in the fields of yoga, dance, and personal transformation. Her unique approach combines physical movement, mindfulness, and positive thinking to help individuals achieve their goals.Hemalayaa has been featured in numerous publications such as NY Times, LA Times, Origin Magazine, Yoga Journal, and Shape, and has been featured on TV series such as The Bachelorette, and talk shows Ellen and The Today Show. Today Sasha and Hemalayaa explore the acronym behind her EMBODY retreat center, the challenges of living in a fast-pace environment (aka the matrix), the importance of self-care and rhythms, embodying nature and shifting our mindset around breakdowns, or challenging life moments. Lots of magic in store for you today, including some guided visual meditation.Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Nidhi Pandya is an Ayurvedic Doctor, teacher, coach and speaker based in NYC. Immersed in Vedic wisdom from birth, she draws inspiration from her grandfather, a respected Ayurvedic healer. Her journey led her to formal education in holistic health, culminating in her becoming an Ayurvedic Doctor. However, Nidhi soon realized the limitations of a strictly prescriptive approach to health. This insight spurred her to reinterpret Ayurveda through a transformative lens, making ancient knowledge accessible and relevant in today's world. Today Nidhi's passion lies in empowering women to become self-aware and live intuitively, achieving Mind-Body Balance. Her Inner Climate Method, taught globally, focuses on realigning the mind and body, fostering radical transformation. She contributes to various publications and serves as a faculty member at the Shakti School. Today, Nidhi and Sasha explore what it means to Undo Oneself and our energetic debris (or Samsakaras), becoming a hollow vessel to abide in clarity and truth, generational wisdom, and why creating and maintaining a warm and moist inner climate through our dinacharya, ahara and vihara is essential for preserving fuel and fertility for women. We reflect on the opportunities we have to study, practice, and teach Ayurveda; knowledge that our mothers and grandmothers did not have. We abide in the shared truth that when women heal, families heal, communities heal, the world heals. And we are so excited to bring this to millions and billions of women around the world. Send us a textSupport the showTo learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Season 5 finale, wow! What an honor to be on this journey with you all. To all those who listen, our subscribers and followers: thank you for the privilege of being your teacher, your pal, your guide- but most of all, for inspiring us with your successes, your wins, your growth. When you heal, we heal. When you win, we win. On today's episode, Sasha and Erin discuss their best-laid plans for the Season, and how adaptability and flow are paramount when life makes an entirely different plan for us. As Sasha prepares for her trip to India, including her third Panchakarma, they discuss the details of this intensive treatment, the literal gut-wrenching challenges it brings, and the healing and transformation it can precipitate. We know Sasha will be in great care, and are excited for this next chapter for her. We will see you in India, for Season 6.Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Tara Taylor is a medium intuitive and expert in the wellness industry, using modalities from both Eastern and Western healing traditions, to help influential clients with executive leadership coaching, trauma counseling and sports medicine. She is known for her uncanny ability to strategically unravel complex situations, utilizing her intuition and energy medicine for health, business and life challenges.She works with both individuals and corporations as a strategic advisor to help people achieve optimal physical and emotional well-being. She commonly navigates complex management and HR issues and is known for transforming individuals into peak performance.Her unique methodologies and protocols help to rapidly shift the energy of conscious and subconscious blocks and patterns that prevent people from being at their best. Her clients come from all over the world and include both children and adults who are facing serious diagnosis, professional athletes, celebrities, doctors, and entrepreneurs. Today, Sasha and Tara explore her journey, from discovering her psychic abilities, to maintaining and growing them. We are praying and manifesting a medical field with weaves in medical intuitive work, collaborating with healers of all modalities from around the world, and designing a new holistic healing system that corrects the root cause. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Laura Plumb is an international educator and scholar of the Vedic sciences. She is a Yogi, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Vedic Astrologer, and Spiritual Counselor. She is a graduate of the Kerala Ayurveda Academy, the American Institute of Vedic Studies, and has studied Yoga, Meditation, Vedanta, Jyotisa, herbal medicine, nutrition, health and healing for decades.Laura is also the author of the best-selling book Ayurveda Cooking For Beginners, writer and host of the 53-part television series CleanseVeda, and the 12-part series, Divine Yoga.Spirituality & Health Magazine selected her as one of 100 Trailblazers of Yoga & Ayurveda. Laura's blog, Food: a love story, is an inspirational free resource for Ayurvedic recipes and wise living. Her articles on health and wellness have been published in Huffington Post, Ayurveda Next Door, Spirituality & Health, Well + Good, Yoga Digest and the Times of India, among other national and international media. Laura offers clinical services in natural medicine for whole person wellness, and health practitioner trainings in the Vedic sciences. She leads online courses in Ayurveda, Jyotish, Yoga Therapy, Whole Food Cooking and Nutrition, and offers seasonal retreats as well as sacred Yatras to India. Today, Sasha and Laura explore her journey into the Vedas, the science of light and karma known as Jyotish (such as the significance of the Rising Sign and First House, what a Nakshatra is, the connection between the planets, elements, and goals of life), and even delved a bit into Sasha's natal chart. Laura makes learning so palatable and friendly for listeners, and we feel honored to learn and share her vast Vedic knowledge and intellect with you all.Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Ryan Strong is an Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedic Astrologer, and Spiritual Teacher in the Kriya Yoga Lineage. He spent 19 years in discipleship training under his Guru, Mr. Roy Eugene Davis, who was a direct disciple of Parmahansa Yogananda. Ryan was ordained by his guru in May of 2011 to continue the Kriya Yoga tradition. He now runs The Center for Ayurvedic and Yogic Healing, based in Sacramento, California, working with students and clients around the world. For those new to the Kriya Yoga; it is a traditional spiritual path; an ancient system of enlightenment, non-suffering and self-empowerment. It is the cultivation of external and internal disciplines. Through the regular practice of Kriya Yoga, one experiences greater physical relaxation and emotional peace. The goal is to experience clarity and superconscious states of awareness, culminating in the awakening, or realizing, of the true essence of being. Kriya Yoga is a non-denominational spiritual practice open to anyone wishing to experience greater peace, clarity, and wholeness. Today, Sasha and Ryan explore his spiritual journey, which was profoundly sparked upon reading Yogananda's book, “Man's Eternal Quest” at 19, and then onto “Whispers from Eternity” and perhaps his most famous “Autobiography of a Yogi,” -  the favorite of a few yogis you may have heard of, George Harrison and Steve Jobs.  We learn about personal change agents from Ryan, as he has been a major influence in Sasha's life, both as her Ayurvedic Doctor and Vedic Astrologer for the past 7 years. She is one of many people whose lives have benefited from his mere presence and existence, let alone teachings, and on behalf of us all, would like to say "thank you" to Ryan. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about us, please visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Erin Doppelt is a meditation and spiritual psychology teacher with her masters in psychology from Columbia University. She is also a business coach and full-time mama. Her new book, Nothing Can Stop You, is a self-study book that blends Eastern ritual and Western psychology, inviting you to bring more happiness practices into your daily life. Throughout today's conversation, Sasha and Erin continually tapped deeper into their authentic selves, particularly through their shared Jewish roots. They intended to explore the meaning of Dharmic Business and Mindful Entrepreneurship, but just as Erin's book invites us to unleash our authentic selves, they could not help but lean moreso into the authentic connection forged through  similar backgrounds, love of Israel and India, spirituality, and shared experiences as female Jewish entrepreneurs who resonate deeply with Eastern philosophies. Synchronicity is no coincidence, as Erin also teaches.Find Erin at @erinrdoppelt and www.erinracheldoppelt.comSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

“I trust the timing of my life.” What a powerful affirmation, mantra, and relationship with life. For those of you who are new to our show: welcome. We are so thrilled to have you join us. In today's episode, Sasha and Erin reflect on the pressures of the proverbial biological clock that women inevitably, collectively face.  Whether becoming a mother is a priority, a curiosity, if it just organically happens, if it ends up looking a way you never would have imagined, or if it is not something that seems to be happening yet, how do we make peace within ourselves? Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Divya Alter is the chef and co-founder of Bhagavat Life and Divya's Kitchen, an Ayurvedic restaurant in Manhattan. She has nearly 30 years experience studying, practicing and teaching Indian spiritual philosophy, yoga, Sanskrit chanting and vegetarian cooking throughout Europe, India and the US. Originally from Bulgaria, she studied and taught Sanskrit in Sweden and India, and has assisted in the translation of many ancient texts. She is the author of “What to Eat for How You Feel: The New Ayurvedic Kitchen,” and “Joy of Balance - An Ayurvedic Guide to Cooking with Healing Ingredients,” as well as the nation's first Ayurvedic Culinary Certification. Today, as Sasha and Divya sat down to explore Ayurvedic Food as Medicine and why every Vaidya or Healer is a Good Chef, they connected from the heart on so many levels: their shared love of India (Vrindavan in particular), Hanuman, and all things Ayurvedic cooking - including the mission, Divya's personal healing journey with Ayurveda, the role of the mind in preparing food, as well as the role of the mind in eating food. We invite your Heart space to expand and let the Ojas of our conversation to pour in. Follow Divya @divyaalter and Divya's NYC @divyas.nycSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

How did we end up HERE? In this moment, in these  circumstances? Was it our decisions, our actions, our conditioning, our inner beliefs about ourselves? Well, yes. And the word for that, is Karma. Whether Karma is a matter of Decisions vs Conditions, or Nature vs Nurture, what we are always aiming to find, is the justification around our life. Why are we here, and they are there? Who gets to decide? Is it all just a random game, are we in a simulation? Ayurveda believes in the laws of Nature, and the Queen is Karma. Our responses and reactions to the conditions we inherit upon our birth, our upbringing, and the experiences through out our adulthood, generate an outcome. It is that simple. Generational traumas are inherited just like real estate or genetic traits and qualities, like our physique or the way our voice sounds.Today, Sasha and Erin sat down to explore what it is to reconcile with all of our karmas. In other words, every single thing that had to happen to bring us to this present reality. And, to make peace with reality, with whatever we got, whoever we got, and wherever we are. And to make the absolute best out of it. One thing is for sure. It is good to have genuine friends who love you unconditionally, and through thick and thin, withhold judgment. Of all the karmas to aspire toward, this one is probably the most underrated and taken for granted. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Abbey Leigh is a Doctor of Ayurveda, specializing in reproductive health and fertility. She is also a Pancha Karma Specialist, Marma  Therapist, Polarity Therapist, Certified  Ayurvedic Herbalist, Registered Yoga Teacher, and runs Yoga Teacher Trainings and Retreats around the world. She was Sasha's supervisor and mentor during her first practitioner internship at CCA.Abbey's mission is to inspire women in reestablishing a profound connection with their bodies, unlocking their inherent wisdom, and wholeheartedly embracing the organic ebbs and flows of life's rhythms and cycles. She supports women to consciously conceive their heart-desired baby, whether it be natural conception or through fertility treatments. She believes that Conscious conception is more than just the physical process of trying to have a baby. It's about taking a complete approach that considers the physical, energetic, emotional/mental, and spiritual aspects of both partners' lives.In today's episode, Abbey shares her personal health journey into Ayurveda, and how it has all guided her own Fertility journey and Divine conception. We are so excited to share this gift of a woman with you all today. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

France Brunel is a Brooklyn & Paris-based designer, yoga teacher, Ayurveda student, and founder of the interior design studio Yoom, known for its holistic approach as it blends wellness and design to promote mindful living and overall well-being. In her earlier years as a product designer, France discovered the profound influence of design on wellbeing. Graduating from Rhode Island School of Design and building unique expertise during her roles in various design agencies, she recognized that deliberate choices in colors, shapes, materials, and textures have the ability to not only shape the physical environment but also nurture the mind, body, and heart of those inhabiting that space. Subsequently, her yoga teacher training and schooling of Ayurveda infused her with a holistic perspective on well-being. Today, she draws from the wisdom of these two disciplines —one focused on inner harmony, the other on outer harmony—to curate a weekly newsletter that empowers you with guidance for designing daily surroundings that effortlessly promote wellness in every aspect of your life.Through her design, styling, and writing, France is shifting the cultural landscape of wellness and design — revealing a rich source of overall wellbeing where the two fields intersect. Today, Sasha and France explore the principles of chromotherapy, design materials, layout, and spacial arrangement as a means of enhancing health and healing dis-ease for each dosha. We hope it inspires you to approach your space in a holistically new way. https://weareyoom.com/@weareyoomSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

In today's episode, recorded in the thick of Kapha Season, aka Allergy Season, Erin and Sasha thought it fitting to discuss: Allergies. In Ayurveda, allergies are primarily due to a combination of localized tissue weakness, or Stanya Samshraya, and low or altered Ojas.  These immunity impairments are caused by either General Depletion and Degeneration or Blockage and Stagnation. Which helps us understand systemically, that then when someone has an autoimmune condition, they usually have a long list of allergies and symptoms. But an important note for those suffering: you can retrain the immune system by strengthening Ojas. Understanding this pathogenesis in the eyes of Ayurveda will allow you to reclaim your power to heal yourself naturally, and prevent the condition from returning. We hope this knowledge serves you well for every Season to come. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Dhyana Masla, author of Ayurveda Mama,  is a certified Ayurveda health counselor and educator, guiding groups and individuals on transformative healing journeys. Through her yoga and Ayurveda trainings as well as her online community, Soul Space, she empowers countless individuals to become healers in their own homes and to live a life of real meaning. Today, Sasha  withs with Dhyana to explore the inspiration for writing her book, the spiritual aspects of pregnancy and childbirth, what it means to consciously conceive, preparing the body and mind for pregnancy, and the journey of conscious parenting. We hope this conversation inspires mamas and future mamas to seek, and receive, more support. And for partners, families and communities to facilitate an environment for making that happen, leading to happier, healthier mamas and babies. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

We extend this invite into our conversation today, to curious listeners, who would like to tune into an intimate conversation between friends who believe in the power of a compassionate witness. We hope it inspires you all to do the same, and perhaps listen more deeply to loved ones, whether it be family, friends, or partners, and perhaps the walls or coping mechanisms you have can start to feel safe to come down too.Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Nate Stein, aka Equanimous, is a music producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist. He is the owner of Hi Vibe Records. and founder of HiVibe Fest, frequently behind the booth of other top ecstatic dance and music festivals around the world.As his friend and fellow traveler on the spiritual path, Sasha and Nate enjoy a discussion with fun anecdotes of a 15 year friendship and the exploration of shared values such as sustainable organic farming and what it means to live equanimously.Learn more about Equanimous and his music at  https://www.equanimouslove.com/Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Welcome back to Ojas Oasis!  Sasha and Erin are back for Season 5, diving into the practical side of Time Management. Join them as they share real-life strategies for thriving in a fast-paced world with endless "to-do"s, what can feel like a constant lack of resources (like time itself!), infinite distractions, and constant curveballs. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Antoinette Beauchamp is a certified leadership coach, facilitator, speaker, and meditation teacher, known for her bespoke methods that empower individuals navigating significant life and career transitions. Her work, inspired by her own transformative personal experiences, and influenced by Ayurveda, has established her as a key figure in the coaching realm. As a friend and healing guide, it has been so magnificent to witness her journey, and how supporting women in major life or business transitions became one of her primary passions. Connect with Antoinette on Instagram: @abcoachedLearn more about Antoinette's work  at https://www.abcoached.com/ Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Welcome back to Ojas Oasis! Today,  Sasha sits with Vishnu Dass, an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA), clinical herbalist, massage therapist, Vedic astrologer, author, educator and mentor with over two decades of full-time clinical and teaching experience, to explore his journey as well as the magical world of Herbal Medicine.  Stay connected with Vishnu Dass:Website: Blue Lotus AyurvedaBook: Ayurvedic Herbology East & WestSend us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Erin and Sasha explore some of their favorite themes and questions, like: "How can we be fully present while staying on schedule? How can we get out of our mind and into our body more during yoga (and life in general)? What does it mean to achieve mastery of something as deep as Ayurveda? Is there anything more important to pursue mastery of than our own Self? What might that look like in our day-to-day life, both intrinsically and extrinsically?" As we bring Season 4 to a close, we thank you for your ongoing support, and for joining us on this beautiful, blessed, wild ride. Feel free to revisit past seasons and episodes until next season arrives. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Happy New Year 2024!We are wishing you all a gentle, peaceful, nourishing start to a year full of blessings. And what better way than to introduce you to Anuradha Gupta, a NAMACB Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, who is also an engineer with an MBA. Her great-grandmother was a Vaidya and Midwife in India, and fought for the survival of Ayurveda during the British rule. A passionate and influential advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, Anu serves as a board member of her local chapter of the oldest LGBTQ+ organization in U.S., and volunteers for Art of Living, as a contributor to its mission of promoting peace through meditation. She also happens to be a classmate of Sasha's in the Ayurveda Doctor program at Kerala Ayurveda Academy, which is how Sasha and Anu first met. It is such a joy to bring friends, colleagues and classmates to Ojas Oasis, as you will  hear the smile in Sasha's voice. In today's conversation, Anu and Sasha explore the many reasons Ayurveda is especially relevant in today's modern world. You can find Anu on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

In Part 3 of our series on Healing Trauma with Freedom Cole,  Sasha and Freedom explore the cosmic perspective of Jyotish, or what we call Vedic Astrology in the West. We hope this series helps illuminate, or invites you to explore, the ways in which the Vedic system works together to heal us.To learn more about Freedom and take one of his Astrology courses, visit https://shrifreedom.org/Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

The 2nd in a 3-part episode series with Freedom Cole, Sasha and Freedom discuss how Yoga can heal trauma,  and discuss what Yoga and Yoga Therapy mean, how they differ, and the role and scope of a Yoga Teacher and a Yoga Therapist.To learn more about Freedom and take one of his Astrology courses, visit https://shrifreedom.org/Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

In this 1st of a 3-part episode series, Sasha and Freedom Cole delve into the topic of Trauma.  Freedom is an internationally known and respected Vedic scholar, Author, Ayurvedic practitioner, Yoga teacher, and Vedic Astrologer, with a Masters degree in Psychology. As Trauma can have profound impacts on not only an individual's health, but also their families, communities, and future generations, we begin this exploration from an Ayurvedic Perspective.By clearly defining what Trauma is, and then understanding how Trauma manifests as disease in the body and mind from both a Western and Vedic perspective, we begin building a bridge. By seeing how each system may fill the gap of another, we pave the path for a modern, integrative approach toward healing and healthcare. To learn more about Freedom and take one of his Astrology courses, visit https://shrifreedom.org/Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Erin and Sasha explore the joy of curiosity, of an interest in the core of our meaning. We start the conversation about source energy, and how the solar system impacts our health and daily lives.Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Sasha talks with Suniti Ramanujam, a social entrepreneur, zero-waste living enthusiast, and founder of Pure Mitti, a brand of natural, toxin-free lifestyle products with a mission to improve the health of people and our planet.Shop Pure Mitti products at https://puremitti.com/ and @puremitti Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Today's conversation concludes our 3 part series on the sub-doshas, specifically Kapha, the dosha of Earth and Water.Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Sasha and Erin continue the conversation on "subdoshas," the entities that are responsible for overseeing specific actions, organs and/or emotions.  We review the fundamental language of Ayurveda, including the pancha-mahabhutas, or 5 great elements, how they combine to form the 3 doshas, and give some extra love to Pitta, the dosha of Fire and Water, by introducing her 5 subdoshas. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Vata, nature's bioforce of motion and circulation, plays a significant role in our Mind-Body system, specifically our digestive and emotional well-being. As we settle into the winds of Vata season, Sasha provides practical tools for balancing all aspects of Vata- including her 5 subdoshas-  in order to stay healthy in mind, body, and spirit. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

‘May all beings be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and freedom for all.'Our hearts are with the families of those we've lost in the Isreal-Hamas War.  May their memories be a blessing. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Sasha and Erin discuss the real meaning of Yoga, what it means to be a Yogi, and what obstacles keep us from actively pursuing the path.Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram

Sasha and yoga teacher and operations manager for the International Institute of Ayurveda Jennifer Day discuss menstrual health from an Ayurvedic point of view, as well as through societal and cultural lenses. Send us a Text Message.Support the Show.To learn more about Ayurveda, visit www.OjasOasis.com Connect with us @ojasoasis on Instagram