The Ayurveda Way: 108 Practices from the World's Oldest Healing System for Better Sleep, Less Stress, Optimal Digestion, and More

by Ananta Ripa Ajmera

Celebrated Ayurveda teacher Ananta Ripa Ajmera offers an inspiring introduction to this ancient Indian medical tradition, which complements and extends the health and wellness benefits of yoga. Through 108 short essays you will learn to approach optimal digestion, better sleep, less stress, and a more balanced life. Diet is key, and many essays are accompanied by recipes that incorporate into daily meals spices such as turmeric, cumin, ginger, and mustard seeds. In addition, meditation, yoga and breathing exercises, and self-care practices such as oil pulling and massage, make this time-tested wisdom available to contemporary holistic health enthusiasts — even beginners.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Lifestyle, Cookbooks

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 18, 2017

About the author

Ananta Ripa Ajmera is Certified Ayurveda Health Practitioner and Yoga Instructor who serves as Director of Ayurveda at THE WELL, a modern wellness club in New York City that brings world-class doctors and master healers together for a more balanced you. She is author of the bestselling, award-winning book "The Ayurveda Way".
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"The Ayurveda Way" received a Foreword INDIES 2017 Book of the Year Gold Award in the Body, Mind & Spirit category. It also received a Silver Nautilus Award (considered a major book award, conferred to the Dalai Lama, Desmund Tutu, Barbara Kingsolver, Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle and more for books that make a difference and inspire) in the Health & Healing category. It was featured on Fox News, Reader's Digest, The Cut - New York Magazine, Elephant Journal, Spirituality & Health Magazine, MindBodyGreen, Mother Earth News Magazine, Mother Earth Living Magazine, Aloha Magazine and Global Glam Magazine.

She has taught Ayurveda at Stanford School of Medicine's Health Improvement Program and is certified to teach Ayurveda staff trainings at all prisons and police departments in California. Ananta has also taught Ayurveda at California Department of Public Health, UNICEF, NY Insight Meditation Society, Sedona Yoga Festival, NYU, SFSU, ABC News, Mother Earth News Fair, and Stanford Health Care ValleyCare.

She has spoken at the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), Columbia Business School, UC Berkeley Zellerbach Hall, the invite-only Social Innovation Summit for Fortune 500 executives, government leaders and top social entrepreneurs, and Silicon Valley's Health Technology Forum at Stanford School of Medicine.
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Ananta graduated from NYU Stern Business School, where she received an honors degree in marketing and was a Reynolds Scholar in Social Entrepreneurship.

Reviews

[Amy Kreydin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've enjoyed studying Ayurvedic concepts for a couple decades now and thought I'd really enjoy this book. Instead I found it to be quite rigid and impractical in many ways for a Western audience. A number of the recipes were presented with appealing images but lacked descriptors as to the therapeutics of the ingredients selected which left me disappointed and wishing for more. There was also a lack of integration into Western anatomy and physiology so terms like "magical healing" and "lower your diabetic count" stand out to those of us with even the most basic education in how the human body functions. There are a few hazardous recommendations peppered throughout the book that go against current evidence-based practices, for example, "...rub coconut oil onto your face beforehand to protect your skin (coconut oil is preferable to normal sunscreen because it's chemical-free)." Why Ms Ajmera would think coconut oil could possibly act as a sunscreen is beyond me when the research indicates it fails to block 80% of UVA & UVB rays. Overall, I wanted to like this book more than I did and I don't think it is one I will be recommending for laypersons.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced review copy.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was already familiar wuth Ayurveda before reading this book but I still learned a lot. The foundation of this book is aboutliving in balance. The author herself has had health imbalances in the past so the book reflects how these practices helped her journey. This is a very new reader friendly book, I finished this book with a shopping list and some wonderful mindful meditations to add to my daily routines

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic holistic health information and beautifully written.
Written with great knowledge, depth and an almost poetic style, this book contains valuable information to find the balance towards holistic health. It is also carefully designed, combining the teachings of Ayurveda and Vedic tradition with beautiful images, precious mantras, meditations and delicious recipes.
We are invited to become more aware of every little act, every interaction, the relationship we hold every day with food, with our minds, with ourselves, with everything around us. By remembering this true nature of which we are a part, in which everything is universal consciousness, everything is connected and our actions can heal to the extent that they reflect an appreciation in all aspects of life. Then we can live in balance, nourish ourselves not only physically, but energetically, emotionally and spiritually. Our capacity for enjoyment expands and food is medicine in all its expression.
My gratitude to the Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to review the book

[Sarah]

Delicious recipes, great intro to ayurveda and how to incorporate it into daily life in a practical way

[Bridget McGovern · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, quick introductory read with 108 holistic practices to tend to the body, mind, and spirit. It’s nice if you’re already somewhat familiar with Ayurveda or any mindfulness-based practices because she doesn’t go in-depth for any of the practices.

[Viktorija Marinković Uma Vid · Rating 3 out of 5]

i hoped for more. the descriptions of the book are promising, but book itself is a little bit shallow. it can be inspirational for some ayurvedical cooking, but it lacks explanations why some meals are good for different dosha types.

[January Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book 100 million stars if I could. An excellent, well thought out, well written and instructive piece of work!

[Lkking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Common sense prescription for health based on yogic practices. Reader friendly design, illustrations and recipes.

[Soňa · Rating 3 out of 5]

PODCASTové zamyslenie je tu
Život podľa ajurvédy vám ponúka jednoduchú a zároveň efektívnu cestu k zdraviu a vitalite.
Uznávaná učiteľka ajurvédy Ananta Ripa Ajmerová ponúka inšpiratívny pohľad na najstarší a najkomplexnejší liečebný systém na svete, vďaka ktorému dokážete predísť vážnym chorobám, budete sa cítiť šťastne a viesť harmonický život bez zbytočného stresu.
V 108 kapitolách vás autorka prevedie touto prastarou múdrosťou, ktorá vás naučí vďačnosti, zlepší vám trávenie, spánok a prinavráti radosť do života.
Rozlúčte sa s potravinami, ktoré vám kradnú krásu a inšpirujte sa receptami, ktoré vám naopak prinavrátia pôvab a zdravie. Naučte sa jesť v tichosti, meditovať na rušných miestach a podľahnite tajomstvám jogy.
Odhaľte liečivú silu ajurvédy a osloboďte svojho ducha.

Táto kniha má 4 časti - Uzdravenie tela, posilňovanie mysle, oslobodenie ducha, posledné kúsky skladačky s 9 kapitolami a 108 časťami v nich. Ako jedna veľká mála nás ma previesť úvodom do ajurvédy. Pre tých, ktorí nikdy neboli v kontakte s ajurvédou je to podľa mňa skvelý začiatok.
Nie je tu priveľa histórie či zložitých vysvetlení, ale jednoduché návody ako aplikovať veci do každodenného života. A to je možno aj najväčší problém knihy :)

Pre niekoho to môže byť postačujúce prečítať výňatky odtiaľ i odtiaľ, ale nie každému to dá dokopy celkom (aj keď ajurvéda je tak obrovská, že to asi ani veľmi možné nie je). 108 častí je doplnených krásnymi farebnými fotografiami a často aj motivačnými vysvetleniami (ktoré mňa osobne skôr odháňali ako priháňali), ale beriem, že táto kniha je pôvodne mierená na americký trh.

Celkovo 3 ajurvédske mačiatka s kurkumou a mandalou :)

Prvá veta: Môj život zvonka pôsobil úžasne.
Posledná veta: Skúste to, choďte sa vykúpať do mesačného svitu a prežite uzdravenie jemnou silou mesiaca.
Goodreads Challenge 2021: 85. kniha

[K. Duet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and helpful. This book gave me a lot to consider changing in my everyday routine and specifically my diet. Some of it does not pertain to me (particularly the sexual side of things), but I will definitely be giving some of these practices a try to relieve some of the stress in my life.

[Minna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little too Pinteresty, but the wisdom is sound.

[San · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5/5) I came across this book while browsing in my library and its a decent introduction into the world of Ayurveda. I have recently decided to look into Ayurveda as a way to supplement my usual health practices (alongside modern medicine and science) and possibly address some minor health/ lifestyle concerns I was having, so this book appeared at the right time. I appreciate that the author, despite the occasional questionable claim here and there, mentions that health is holistic and I can certainly see how the lifestyle changes that Ayurveda recommends could make a positive impact on one's overall health. Some reviewers noted that for them, this book wasn't relatable or practical (ex. ingredients being hard to find) and I can certainly see that. But for me, as someone with Indian heritage that lives in North America (like the author), I actually really enjoyed finding a book that talks about healthy living and eating in a way that incorporates my culture. As someone else said, its great to find a book with healthy eating that mentions Indian food and not just dishes found in Western cuisine. Overall, this book has inspired me to look more into this practice.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those familiar with Ayurveda and you are looking for a few things to spice up your day this book is quite fun. It is a cute quick read, with lots of interesting recipes.

I am not sure this would be a book I would recommend if you are not familiar with Ayurveda. Mostly because while she offers great tips she does not explain why or under what conditions you may want to try something.

[Jen Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

No disrespect to the author- the book was well laid out and interesting- I just disagreed with a lot of the principles.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful photos and easily laid out suggestions for practice. Would have liked a little more detail about some of the things, seemed simplistic on certain pages.

[Zee Monodee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd begun looking into Ayurveda a little while ago. Much of my issues with diets and other lifestyle tips were that they were mostly geared to a Western person (for example, kale doesn't exist where I live!) I looked into eating for my 'kind' - as in, I'm of Indian origin and we still eat pretty much the Indian way of rice, dals, curries, and the like (not the grilled chicken/salmon with asparagus or kale and hollandaise sauce - the kinds of recipes I'd see in most diet or healthy living books). Since Ayurveda is of Indian origin, I thought it might ring closer to home in what it says to eat and how to live.
And so I'm glad I picked up this book first to delve into the fray. Because Ms. Ajmera has it written in 108 little bite-size nuggets that get you slowly into the fold, does not scare you away with too much information at once, and it is pretty much the basics - which is perfect when you're getting into this world (beside doing those quizzes to know your doshas and how to eat accordingly for them).
I loved the way she conveyed the information. Yes, it was a bit 'surface' at times, but hey, you're just getting started - you do not want TMI and this is just the right dose to ease you in. Her prose and manner of 'teaching' through this book is also very gentle and easy to comprehend.
On the whole, I loved this book, and it made me fall in love with Ayurveda. It has just about everything you need to get you started in this field, so this makes it the perfect primer and/or beginners' book for those interested in knowing more about Ayurveda, what it's all about, and how you can apply it to your life never mind where in the world you are and what your origins are.

[Anonymous Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be absolutely wonderful. As someone who does not practice and knows very little about Ayurveda, I found this to be informative and very easy to follow. After reading it, I learned so much about the background, lifestyle, and day to day teachings. I really enjoyed how the book is divided into Body, Mind, Spirit, and Putting it All Together. For someone looking to understand Ayurveda on a beginner's level, this was just what I was looking for as it guided me through the basic foundation of a complicated and in depth science. I really appreciated the incredible recipes, photos, and personal anecdotes from the author. There is even a daily schedule incorporated at the end, showing the basic layperson how to go about their day according to Ayurveda- hour by hour. Reading this made me see how relatable and simple the practices can be, especially when the author writes about her own experiences living without and then with Ayurveda. I would highly recommend the book to anyone looking to learn about natural medicine, healing remedies, and a healthy lifestyle. Even if you do not practice Ayurveda or know much about it, this is a great book to read as it brings together an ancient science with a modern perspective.

[Raye MacLennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely wonderful. This is the first book that actually explained in a sensical way what Ayurveda is really about. How effective it is on many levels (spiritually, mentally, physically, energetically), and how to connect with our own bodies again. How educational of a book, and should be used in schools for health class. This is better medicine than what we are experiencing in the Western world. Thank you for this great book and product! Magical.

[Kelsie Oreta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read by Ananta Ripa Ajmera in my journey to understand and incorporate Ayurvedic principles in my daily life. She breaks down Ayurvedic habits and beliefs in such a way that a beginner will not feel overwhelmed by information or life change, and does so in books that are full of illustrations that are suitable for a coffee table book. Her writing voice is calming and encouraging.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had many good guidelines. However, I did feel some were not really ayurvedic.

I wish many of the slokas had their Sanskrit versions provided as well - only the English translation was provided directly.

No practice a magic cure all including Ayurveda. Everything requires consistent practice over time. Claiming that doing one thing will dramatically transform your life like it did theirs is not very helpful.

[Linda Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!

New to all of this, but I loved this book! I am so willing to give all of this a try because it makes so much sense. I love that it covers so many areas of your life, not just eating or just exercises! It is the whole-body experience, inside and out! How could you not remake yourself!

[Jessica Harrocks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is a very beautiful book with a lot of very well intentioned advice (108+ suggestions!). Towards the end I felt slightly panicked about how one would try and live a Vedic lifestyle and be able to function in society. Though I don’t think that will deter me from trying to add some in.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the recipes don’t make sense, and some ingredients are hard to find. However, the recipes I have tried are simple and delicious. Some of these habit changes are easy to incorporate while others seem totally impractical time wise. Easy to read; I like the 108 changes to make idea. I definitely got a few ideas on new habits to start. Overall, a fun book to read for beginner Ayurveda.

[Kevin Vrieze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a dense book. Remarkable overview of Ayurveda. An excellent introduction and upgrade in understanding. Gives one a basic working familiarity on which to build. It's a big field and thia is a great start. I loved the "space". One needs to read this several times. I loved it. I think you might too!

[Honey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started reading it and found many things to be fascinating but it felt too rigid and quick to diagnose me as having a problematic system because I do not perfectly fit into the box as defined of what makes a balanced body type. I can accept that but it shows that this book’s goal and mine aren’t aligned.

[Noreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book visually, and very easy to read. It provides 108 ways you can improve your life the Ayurveda way. These were very easy things to add to your life. It's a beautiful book to give as a gift too.

[Julie Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Ayurvedic books. With beautiful images and engaging content, this book serves as a source of inspiration to continue to incorporate Ayurvedic practices as a primary source of wellness.

[Amanda Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave such great ideas for daily practice of Ayurveda. I've loved using some of her suggestions in conjunction with my yoga classes and daily routine. Ayurveda feels inherently correct and lovingly supportive for my whole-body healing.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this, however, I think it would be a challenging lifestyle....

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy-to-understand overview of the benefits of Ayurveda. The book includes lots of small and specific ways to balance and optimize your health. (I'm sipping the spiced milk right now!)