Ayurveda is founded on the belief that true health is everyone s birthright and that each of us is a self-healing entity who can use nature s abundance to restore and renew ourselves. Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom is a breakthrough book for yoga practitioners, spiritual seekers, and anyone ready to learn a doable approach to this time-tested art and science of health and well-being. Internationally renowned for her ability to make Ayurveda accessible and practical for Western audiences, Acharya Shunya presents a narrative-based guidebook that meticulously covers the how-to s of morning and evening self-care, daily contemplations, self-massage and skin care, cooking (including recipes), beauty rituals, and more.
To rid ourselves of the suffering that afflicts the body, mind, and soul, what we need is an affirmative knowledge of life and how to live it in alignment with nature, writes Acharya Shunya. Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom opens the gates to this profound knowledge.
Acharya Shunya is the first female head of her spiritual lineage that traces its roots to 2,000-year-ago in India, She reinterprets and re-contextualizes ancient Vedic wisdom and dharma teachings of Advaita Vedanta (nondual teachings), Ayurveda's lifestyle wisdom and Yoga philosophy, to create a learning and awakening path for contemporary seekers, empowering people everywhere to lead spiritually fearless, fulfilled and enlightened lives. Her teachings acts like a bridge between ancient wisdom and issues faced by modern humans, today.
Acharya Shunya is the author of three bestselling books Ayurveda lifestyle Wisdom (2017), Sovereign Self (2020) and her newest book - Roar Like a Goddess: Every Woman's Guide to Becoming Unapologetically Powerful, Prosperous, and Peaceful. In this book, Acharya Shunya honors her progressive Vedic roots while breaking the shackles of tradition to bring modern-day women, an inclusive, feminist spirituality.
Acharya Shunya is the founder of The Awakened Self Foundation - a learning, empowering and awakening platform abd Vedika Global, a 501c3 religious not-for-profit, both headquartered in Northern California.
She is a highly-rated motivational speaker, podcast host, workshop facilitator and retreat leader with 20+ years of experience as a spiritual, wellness, relationship and women's empowerment coach and group facilitator supporting individuals, groups, and organizations in amplifying their authenticity and empower them to become a better version of themselves, utilizing goddess archetypes from her culture as tools for unapologetic living. Shunya lectures on Hindu/Vedic spirituality, psychology and wellness modalities (Ayurveda and Yoga) and she lectures at prestigious conferences and at universities such as UCLA, UCSF, and Stanford.
My main peeve with this book is that it is so wordy. The author cannot just say, 'go to bed early', she has to hammer it home, going on and on along the lines of 'but we sit before our screens'. I'd suppose that since we've invested in this book, we're interested in learning about Ayurveda, not about all the bad habits the people who do not follow it have. Otherwise, it is a very comprehensive explanation of ayurvedic principles. Now, some parts of it ring absolutely true to me, like I've noticed some years ago that I have more energy if I get up between 5 and 6 a.m. than if I get up later, even if 'later' means that I get more hours of sleep. Other things, like miswak, I'm just trying out; seems fun, but I have yet to know whether my dentist will see any changes in my mouth, positive or negative. (Shunya is very anti-dentists, by the way; I wish I could afford to be). And there are things I have to think about, like avoiding certain foods in certain seasons (like fruits from March to May; I thought we needed the vitamins), or limiting any cardio activity. So, I would definitely recommend the book to anybody interested in Ayurveda, but I doubt I'll be able to follow these injunctions to the letter; still, I am going to do what I can and see if my health improves, so you can ask me later about it :)
I am very, very skeptical of traditional/alternative medicine. I should first explain why I read this book. #1: it was free. #2: I do a lot of yoga, and from time to time a teacher will say something about "doshas" and I've always been curious. #3: a friend of mine swears by her Ayurvedic practitioner who helped her back to good health when modern medicine failed her.
I would give this book one star for all of the ridiculous statements it contains (example: don't do oil massages on days when it might rain? It rains for 6 months straight in my city, so I guess I this important Ayurvedic ritual isn't used for half the year in monsoon areas? This is not explained). However, for what it is (a book about Ayurvedic lifestyle), it is actually pretty good. I think I now have a good understanding of what it means. For all of you skeptics like me, you won't find sufficient answers here. It requires some suspension of disbelief in order to want to follow this lifestyle. I would be really sad and dehydrated if I followed her advice to sip small amounts of water and only when very thirsty. No thank you! I love water! And on a hot day (every day, where I live) a cold beverage is perfect--but this book tells you never to drink anything cold. Why?? There are many reasons given, but none of them evidence-based.
I found some of this information helpful. The advice about sleeping and waking times rings true to me, and some of the diet advice probably has merit (turmeric, for example, is a cancer fighter).
Bottom line, this book describes the lifestyle in a lot of detail, enough for me to know I don't want to follow it (for the most part).
I would like to share with you this morning a very insightful and useful book that came across my desk from a publicist. It is available today.
Ayurveda is a health system that believes that true health is everyone's birthright, and that each of us is a self-healing entity who can use nature's abundance to restore and renew ourselves. The practitioner and author, Acharya Shunya, was born in northern India, where her formative years were spent learning the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda from her guru, who was her grandfather (or Baba). He was a spiritual teacher and practitioner of this ancient wisdom.
Shunya now is a practitioner herself, in California, and her book, Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom, is the result of her years of work teaching people how to understand, use, and practice the Ayurveda philosophy. Acharya Shunya presents a narrative-based guidebook that meticulously covers the how-to's of morning and evening self-care, daily contemplations, self-massage and skin care, cooking (including recipes), beauty rituals, and more. It also talks a great deal about yoga.
She writes "To rid ourselves of the suffering that afflicts the body, mind, and soul, what we need is an affirmative knowledge of life and how to live it in alignment with nature."
I loved the stories that begin each section. In them she relates the enormous influence her Baba had on her by giving examples of conversations she had with him as a child and the wisdom he imparted to her.
This is truly a unique book. It certainly can't be digested in one sitting, but it looks to me that someone seeking its wisdom needs to work on it, one step at a time. Here are some steps that every reader can do.
Wake up early each morning at a set time. Have an altar in your room and put fresh flowers on it every day. Every morning meditate to your healing for fifteen minutes. Stop eating (or minimize your consumption of) harmful foods - which foods are harmful, and which foods are best eaten at certain times of the day and the year are discussed throughout the book Eat beneficial foods - there is a big section toward the end of the book that discusses food and includes recipes.
This book will tell you: when to wake up, go to bed, when to poop, what to eat at what time of day and during which season, how to clean your body, when to have sex and when to abstain, what yoga postures to do and when, etc. It will also tell you that you cannot live in Alaska and practice Ayurveda because it is not suited for human inhabitants. Obviously, Ayurveda is both a product of its place and time/place in time (hence, eat lots of dal, use Himalayan rock salt, chant mantras from the Rig-Veda), there is so much that transcends its private locality.
I was fascinated by the access the book provides to the Sanskrit language. The vocabulary is so clearly oriented to the immaterial/spiritual world. Even though it was confusing for me to try and keep everything straight, I ended up feeling comfortable with concepts like "dosha" and "agni" by the end of the book.
In case it's of interest, I checked this book out from the library because I saw it on display at Vasper Systems at NASA. I found it compelling enough to buy my own copy. Western spirituality and medicine have a looooong way to go to come anywhere near offering such an integrated and holistic approach to vitality.
I found this book inviting me to look at health and disease anew. With her insights, her own journey and stories, the author Acharya Shunya has facilitated this discussion in an easy to follow, contemplative style. I liked how the Ayurvedic vocabulary has been introduced to the reader, in a natural, relevant way. I feel I can access the Ayurvedic wisdom shared in this book, in any part of my life where I want to make a positive change. This book is the beginning of a deep conversation between Ayurveda and myself in the pursuit of lasting health and happiness.
Through the book, the author empowers readers with many practical wisdom teachings and tools. No matter where you are in life, the lived experience that talks to you in these pages, is your ally in understanding and practising healthful living.
But, at the same time, it is more than a prescriptive book of 'do's and don't's'. The book is engaging our consciousness. In the spirit of an ongoing discussion, Acharya Shunya asks us to examine our beliefs. 'Are we ultimately expecting our environment to foot the bill of natural medicine?' It questions the bondage to disease consciousness. Sometimes people feel that they are genetically predisposed to certain diseases and are just waiting to manifest it at some time in their life. So they give away the power they have in the present. They do not see a way to counteract their impending ill health. I felt this book is a light to show a way out of that tunnel.
The book declares and explains how physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health are intertwined. Not only that, but the health of the human being and that of the planet are linked. Wow ! When we appreciate and live with Nature's rhythms, we will not be at loggerheads with her. Unity consciousness! Ayurveda is that science which illustrates this reality. And this book does it justice.
I now look at disease as a signal to check and prune and beautify life, which gets healed with conscious lifestyle, diet and behavioural choices. Disease can become unnecessary when we start to self regulate and eschew a life of excesses and unconsciousness.
Truly a light on health and consciousness, a book to cherish. I keep going back to the book, as my understanding opens up at more levels.
This book takes you on a journey to another time and space, to experience what it was like for the author to learn Ayurveda from Baba, a living master, while she was growing up in India. This was really fascinating, as I've never been able to learn directly about Ayurveda from someone who has actually lived it her whole life. It brought the science of Ayurveda to life in a way that I've also never read in another Ayurveda book (and I have read quite a few!). The practical examples and case studies the author shares are fascinating and inspiring.
It's hard to pick a favorite chapter, but if I had to do so, I would probably choose the second chapter, on celebrating an awakened sky. While waking up earlier is not an easy thing to do, and it took me some time to start doing this, remembering the beautiful passages Acharya Shunya has shared about the value of this, along with morning practices to do when rising that don't take that much time but are really powerful, inspired me to start waking up earlier, and it feels so great to do that and the practices she shares!
It was so interesting to learn about the different personalities of the six tastes that Ayurveda introduces. I had never thought of the tastes of my food as having personalities, but that really helped me see my food in a whole new way, and to develop a different relationship with my meals, which has been awesome.
I was amazed at how inspiring the chapter on Ayurveda's oral health practices were. I really did not expect to cry when reading about brushing your teeth in the morning! But the way Acharya Shunya describes learning about the art of dental hygiene in Ayurveda from her grandfather, Baba, has such an immediacy that really touched my heart and also changed the way I approach morning routines I once found really boring and mundane. I now follow all of those oral hygiene practices, and found myself pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to put into action. It's so great to know why I am doing what I am doing - that knowledge makes such a difference.
This book is so rich and beautiful. It is a treasure of Ayurveda wisdom that I am looking forward to reading and referring back to often.
It's so refreshing to read an Ayurvedic book that empowers the reader to know that optimum health is within them, ready to be awakened, ready to be reclaimed and enjoyed. As someone who has read many practical books on Ayurveda, this book stands out because I felt so connected to the authors message of awakening my own health and consciousness rather than trying to diagnose myself and focus on my imbalances and disease management. If you are seeking Ayurveda because you are ready to be the author of your own health and healing, this is the perfect read for you. It includes easy to follow, practical, holistic and cost effective tools into your everyday life, with a wide range of tools for your lifestyle. There are so many beautiful tips offered filled with heart warming and authentic encouragement from the author Acharya Shunya. To read about her personal journey, and how she was so wisely guided to reclaim her health by her teacher is truly inspiring. How she so graciously shares and invites her readers through her personal story is what I connected to most from this book. I have been ready to awaken my own health and align my body, mind and spirit but I didn't have the proper outlet. This book has given me the chance to have the wisdom, support and desire to make changes in my life that will allow more space to live with joy and vitality just as the title suggests. I highly recommend this book!
What I love about Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom is that Shunya offers all the information of her ancestors and guru (her own grandfather!) condensed into an informative and deeply personal text/encyclopedia of Ayurvedic practices.
There are 2 columns of text per page throughout most of the book, and although not everything is fully digestible (pun) or relevant if you’re reading it front to back, it is possible to read as a first-hand account of a passionate teacher whose methods have worked for millennia. It is a thick TEXT, complete with informative tables, recipes, home & bath DIY, natural remedies, yoga postures, and more!
For those who have zero knowledge of Ayurveda, and who don’t live with the seasons, or with mindfulness towards their own bodies, this book could change your life! This is a true gift for those who are in desperate need of a lifestyle change!
For those, like me, who have *some* knowledge of Ayurveda, but not exactly sure how to do it better— this will be your guide to deepening your practice.
It cleared up confusing aspects of Ayurveda, explaining them with history, culture, and science.
This is a book I will hold onto for years, as I introduce new recipes and routines into my lifestyle that fall in line with Ayurvedic teachings to live the best me that I can!
I got into this book after reading one which was penned by a disciple/student of Acharya Shunia, and though that book had given very good pointers and directions about Ayurveda, I wanted to see what the teacher had to say and thus delved into this one. It's a good book, explained mostly pertaining to the seasons and what to do when and also how - very good explanations on this, though the why is not often covered and it seems only someone with inherent Ayurveda knowledge would figure out why (it's not really common sense as we know it). However, the text is very clunky, with information buried in paragraphs and you might miss it if you're not paying attention to every word. Some bullet points and a less clunky layout would've benefited this book immensely. The many recollections of her author's time with her mentor, her grandfather Baba - well, those got a bit repetitive, boring, and frankly tedious after some point. On the whole, good Ayurveda pointers, but sadly, I'd hoped this would be 'the' book to give me all the knowledge I needed of Ayurveda, but it fell short on that end.
Good information in here and beautifully put together, but I found the writing to be babbling and repetitive throughout. I also think a new student would get lost in all the words and not walk away with a clear sense of the material. I found the stories a bit contrived, and there’s an overall sales tone: she’s trying to convince us Ayurveda works on just about every page. You’ll find numerous testimonials throughout, which I found unnecessary and unconvincing.
I think there are many other books better suited for beginners or as a reference text for Ayurveda basics. It’s all been written before, and more concisely. That said, if you like a lot of flowery language and enjoy reading testimonials, you might enjoy this one.
Checked this out from the library and then proceeded to renew 2 times (the most my library would allow). Of the Ayurveda books I've been reading/researching, I kept coming back to this one.
Things I liked: Practical approach Approachable for someone new to Ayurveda A balanced mix of philosophy, Ayurveda tips and practices, and a handful of recipes
Things I didn't like: Too many "miracle" stories. Jane (always a woman) healed her IBS/Eating Disorder/Anxiety/etc by following a strict Ayurveda lifestyle, went on to enroll in an Ayurvedic program, and is now a Ayurvedic practitioner.
I'm on the fence about purchasing this one - this one could be a solid resource to have on the shelf.
Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom beckons the reader to wholeness. It leads you from the body (sleep, bath, teeth, elimination) to the spiritual (mantras, intentionality and holy Sanskrit words). It has intensive sections on food and seasonal meals. It advocates that participants enter into pre-dawn meditation to welcome the light. This book collects all the parts of healthy living from an Ayurvedic perspective. It is easy to follow and gives explanations for modern life, especially in America. I recommend a thorough reading and maybe, a second reading of this guide.
This is the best book I've read on Ayurveda. It is the perfect read for anyone looking to further their options on healthy approaches to living your best life outside of prescription drugs. I appreciated Shunya's beautiful and honest testimony of the practice she has lived by her entire life. She does a brilliant job connecting humanity with the natural world that surrounds us. This is a book I will consistently refer back to for guidance and I highly recommend as a yoga teacher.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I did not know much about the Ayurvedic system of healing and this book was an interesting and accessible intro. There is a lot of helpful advice and recipes. It is easy to read and provides stories as to how Ayurveda helped real people. If you are interested in learning more, this book is a great place to start.
Really good book, simple to understand and interesting back story to the author with her childhood memories pertaining to her ayurveda 'training'. Great for both beginners and those who are studying. Holstic yet pratical and modern view of living a life with Ayurveda rather than 'doctering'. Loads of great advice for the average man. Also some good recipies and lists.
This will be my treasure book! It is beautifully written, touched my heart, is wonderfully organized and will help one to heal and to stay healthy and happy. Excellent resource for practitioners as well as those just getting into ayurveda.
This informative book gives so many practical tips and recipes, I find myself referring to it often in my Ayurveda Practice. Has small stories about the author growing up which are beautiful snippets on life and knowledge of plants and meditation in India. It is also a beautiful book visually
Fantastic super in-depth book of ayurveda; she has perspectives of American and Indian, so it's nice to see how I can implement some of the more traditional elements of ayurveda. I def learned quite a lo abt ayurveda, and found this book to be helpful AND beautiful.
This comprehensive overview of the Ayurveda lifestyle includes discussion of the religious/philosophical background logic as well as day to day practice, but it’s a lot to take in. Best as an ongoing resource to dip into.
This book offered in-depth Ayurvedic insight and wisdom, and it asks readers to take responsibility for their health by taking better care of themselves with Ayurvedic practices.
I would recommend Eat Feel Fresh by Sahara Rose in place or as supplement to this book. It is more digestible and easier for westerners to adopt to in my opinion. Plus the recipes are delicious!
A must read for anyone looking to get more familiar with the Ayurvedic wisdom and way of being. The appendix is filled with amazing and delicious recipes which was also a plus.