Ayurveda

by Sahara Rose Ketabi, Deepak Chopra (foreword)

Ayurveda (Sanskrit for -science of life-), a consciousness-based system of healing, is stepping up to close the gaps between thinking, knowing, feeling, and doing. Idiot's Guides: Ayurveda focuses on the mind-body connection and explain that our experiences--including perceptions and lifestyle choices--are metabolized into molecules in our bodies and will help you make the most life-affirming choices for your optimal health and well-being.

The book includes:

- Ways to achieve and maintain long-term mental and physical wellness based on a unique combination of fundamental energies.
- Suggestions for daytime and nighttime routines and rituals for optimum balance to achieve harmony and to ward off disease.
- Tips to keep you ayurvedically-balanced as you age, including how to care for your body inside and out.
- A thorough description of the doshas, their characteristics, how they differ, and a questionnaire to aid readers into determining their dosha.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Food, Nutrition, Philosophy, Spirituality

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Sahara Rose is an ancient soul in a modern body. She has been called “a leading voice for the millennial generation into the new paradigm shift” by Deepak Chopra, who wrote the foreword of her books. She is the best-selling author of Eat Feel Fresh, Idiot's Guide to Ayurveda, A Yogic Path and the upcoming Discover Your Dharma. She also hosts the Highest Self Podcast, the #1 spirituality podcast on iTunes with over 25 million downloads.

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Sahara is the founder of Rose Gold Goddesses, the sacred sisterhood collective all about embodying the goddess within.

She is a keynote speaker, speaking on stages at Google and Facebook, as well as being featured as the nutrition speaker for Michelle Obama's Let's Move Campaign at Harvard Medical School and in Vogue, Forbes, NBC and more.

Recently on the cover of the nationwide print magazine, Yoga Journal, Sahara Rose is on a mission to remind people of their highest selves so they can share their gifts with the world and raise the vibration of the planet.

Sahara is known for making spiritual + Ayurvedic wisdom fun and relatable so it can serve the needs of today's people. She believes the key to spirituality is embodiment. When she's not writing books, recording podcasts or facilitating workshops, you can find her dancing, DJing and drumming.

Reviews

[Reading Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

People accusing this book of being shallow and/or cultural appropriation are...wow.

First, it's an IDIOT'S GUIDE. You expect a deep and detailed analysis in something that has the word 'idiot' in the title? Someone here's an idiot, that's for sure. She's making a basic beginner introduction to Ayurveda and she delivers just that.

As for the cultural appropriation, ooooooooo wow now who hasn't done their research? If you accuse HER of cultural appropriation for creating a book on Ayurveda for Western audiences, are you also going to accuse Communist China for the same, since TCM borrows heavily from ayurvedic principles? Are you going to say TCM is awful because IT, also, adapts and changes and cherrypicks parts of Ayurveda for its own climate and populace?

Here's the deal: Ayurveda proposes that you can improve your life through various rituals of self care, including dinacharya (daily connections) like tongue scraping, body oiling, diet, etc. She has the clearest analysis of the doshas in the basic Ayurveda books I've come across. And yes, she suggests you can pick or choose and add just a few things into your life, rather than diving headfirst into living in India (which would TRULY be cultural appropriation).

There's no harm in this. The way I see it, people can start a few ayurvedic practices and it becomes a gateway for them doing more research and getting more knowledge (beyond an *idiot's guide*) and deepening and enriching their lives, health and practice. How can you hate on that?

OR, they can try a few things and keep those and never go any further, but now their eating less meat or they've got a meditation practice or they make better and greener dietary choices and that's it. I see...no harm in that, either. If they do small things that have a net positive on their lives and the world, and don't go full ashram...they're STILL bringing more good into their lives and the world. Only fundamentalist JERKS would have a problem with that.

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book isn't an actual interpretation of Ayurveda. As a practitioner who has studied under a leading doctor, a lot of the information is way too simplistic, incorrect, and quite obviously catered towards attracting a "Western" audience. Therefore, it detracts from the actual knowledge and is essentially repackaged to seem more digestible for a Western audience. I agree that some of the knowledge needs to be re-worded, but this could have been done without changing concepts that have been working for over 5,000 years.
I was also extremely disappointed with her website, where she appears to frequently appropriate Indian culture which greatly offends me. First and foremost, Ayurveda is an indigenous medicine, and using Indian culture to appear to be a part of the indigenous culture should not be used to authenticate and validate a clear lack of education and clinical training in Ayurveda.
It is a shame because she could use her fun personality without appropriating my culture, and actually study proper Ayurveda to help people heal themselves. I find it extremely arrogant of her to self-claim or verify herself as being experienced enough to change fundamental concepts of healing in Ayurveda, that again have not been changed for more than 5,000 years because they are Working.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and DK Alpha for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

The Ayurvedic way of life has keep literally millions of people health and well, or at least not miserable and dead for thousands of years. I figured it had many pearls of wisdom to illuminate the more Western style of medicine that I know.

Well, yes and no. It really resonated with me in some places and in others I wanted to throw my eReader across the room because I disagreed with what was being said. I am full-on in the Paleo mind-set and this book didn't discuss that world at all. As it shouldn't, since that is not the purpose or scope of this book. However the things in it that went against what I know from researching the Paleo life-style really turned me off.

Great book for the basics, but if you have a specific life-style that isn't vegetarian/vegan, this may not be the book for you. No, Ayurveda is not said to be vegetarian/vegan in the book, but it is very skewed in that direction.

3 stars and I bought the Paleovedic Diet and will be reading that soon. I'm not against Ayurveda, I am fascinated by it, but I personally need a book that is a combo of the two worlds. This one didn't work for me personally, but it is NOT a bad book. It is VERY informative and really digs deep into Ayurveda. I do recommend it if you don't have a dietary life-style that would be contra to Ayurveda and if you just want to learn more about it. I didn't know a thing about it and I have walked away learning quite a bit. It has left me wanting more, so down the rabbit hole I go!

[Love Jonson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good, basic information interspersed with some useless charts, repetition, and a damaging amount of body shaming and food shaming for any poor soul (in her eyes) who finds themselves of the Kapha body type. It's pretty damaging; the author needs to recognize her hypocrisy in discounting eating disorders and overexercise as Vata imbalances while perpetuating the diet culture that proclaims anyone born with a larger body needs to shrink it down to be a Vata.

[Kristi Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read all my reviews at: https://brainfartsandbooks.wordpress.com

To say I was disappointed by this book is an understatement. When looking through the chapters I was so excited to learn about the different body types, chakras, what foods to eat for each body type, and different routines to do to balance everything out. What I found was this book was so long and drawn out that I quickly lost interest. There were many facts that were repeated over and over again. It also bothered me that one of the body types had artificial sweeteners listed as okay. Sorry, but back in the day I’m pretty sure there were no artificial sweeteners available. How could this be included in an Ayurvedic diet? That really disappointed me. There were some good takeaways in this book but I would say to save yourself some time and just go buy the Cliffs Notes.

Thank you to Netgalley,  Sahara Rose, and  Alpha Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Faith Tydings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books that I have every read on Ayurveda. I don't like being called an idiot, but I really appreciate the simplicity of this not-so-simple topic. A must read and definitely a must re-read. I will keep this on my reference shelf so that I may keep going back to it for further understanding.

[Ensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so, so impressed by this book. Well-organized, tons of information, and easy to read. I feel like I have a good understanding of Ayurveda after finishing it. Checked it out from the library but I'll be buying it so I can use it as a reference!

[Kelly Reinhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read that breaks down so many parts of Ayurveda. I learned so much from this book, including finding out my own doshic constitution, and there are tons of tips and recipes for bringing Ayurveda practices into your home. Great book to get started and learn a ton.

[Katerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Ayurveda Bible: The definitive guide to Ayurvedic healing and finding myself struggling with concepts, word definitions, and information overload - I really wanted to find a book on Ayurveda that would break down everything for me in a more mundane way. Especially since I am no scientist, psychologist, or doctor.

Aftering listening to Sahara Rose's podcast "The Higher Self" podcast and noted that she mentions her book multiple times throughout her series. With her multiple mentions and podcast episodes about Ayurveda, I decided to take the plunge and read The Idiots Guide to Ayurveda.

I was not disappointed.

I loved the way she formatted to book and went through each chapter thoroughly. I was never left pondering or wondering if I missed anything. Unlike the Ayurveda Bible, you are given a broader understanding of the concepts discussed and everything is broken down in a way we, regular humans, can understand.

One of my favorite things about this book was the flow of the book sections. Everything was in a perfect place and anything you were left off with in one chapter flowed into the next. I also loved how Sahara inserted her own experience and how she accomplishes some of the items at home. Especially since some ayurvedic practices would be best in a Ayurveda Center, however most individuals don't have access or the money to fly to India to get such a treatment.

If you are on the look out for an entrance and a beginners guide to Ayurveda "Ayurveda (Idiot's Guide) will definitely be the book for you. My one suggestion is to BUY THE BOOK, do not go to library like I did. I found myself constantly reaching for my highlighter to annotate the book - as there was so much information that pertained to myself. So buy the book, do not rent it.

[Sierra Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was some encouraging intro material and I think I really learned a lot. However, I do wish more on the inherent spirituality of Ayurveda and practical home remedies had been included. There was only a little bit toward the end.

[Tessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

2018 - Book #56 of 100

[Dianna Thiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice, concise summary.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Such a simple read and really taught me a lot about Ayurveda. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in learning more and trying out this ancient system with a more modern approach. I think what would have made it even better, would be an extra section with month-long guide on how to really incorporate each part of Ayurveda daily with recipe suggestions. Honestly though, Ayurveda has taught me to really check in with my body throughout the day to see what it needs and that’s what has been amazing so far. Sahara gives such awesome suggestions in each chapter on how to incorporate Ayurveda, so she definitely gives you all the tools to do this, but I will piece together my own. She even breaks down a way to build up the self-care regimen week by week. This book has sample recipes (four I believe), but what’s great is she has a separate cookbook that explains more and gives lots of recipes. However, after reading the book it sounds like a simple veggie soup is best in the evenings and I will do more research on Panchakarma, which sounds like a self-care regimen on steroids ha ha, but very interesting.

[Allegra Wermuth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book very quickly, in less than 24 hours. It is a great comprehensive resource that I plan to refer back to on a regular basis.

[Maggie Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clear and understandable for someone completely new to Ayurveda. Even if you aren't going to try a 'full Ayurveda lifestyle' this book gives you great tips on what you can start implementing without the all or nothing scare mentality many wellness books seem to have. This is relatable and written for the modern age, what are you already doing that is ayurvedic? what can you start doing? It's humorous and very well explained whether you are a health nut or just dipping your toes in.

[Mélanie D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I am a complete beginner regarding Ayurveda, I cannot testify whether the content of this book is correct, but as someone who wanted to learn the basics of Ayurveda, I feel this is a great start. Everything is explained in a simple way, a great way to start learning about it. Of course, this is just the tip of this massive, massive iceberg.

[Brittany Burger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly informative

Sahara made this complex sounding topic incredibly informative and easy to read! As an IBS sufferer, her knowledge and ideas have definitely provided the answers I was seeking out to ease my symptoms, as well as just feel better in general.

[A Tidal Wave · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's one of the best books to start with if you have no idea about Ayurveda and are aware of its benefits and want to implement it in your life then this is your go to book, guide, textbook.... Very easy to follow and clear in her words. It's a simple boastful must read.

[Priyanka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own several books on Ayurveda. While most sit on the bookshelves of my office, this text can be found in my kitchen, my bedroom, or on my person -- it's my go-to reference guide.

I love Sahara's approach to Ayurveda. Everything is explained in a way that's fun, easy to understand and takes into account our modern-day realities.

I see a lot of people criticizing this book for over-simplifying the subject matter. This book is very clearly an introduction to the Ayurveda (it is literally titled "Idiot's Guide to Ayurveda"), so if you are new to the Ayurvedic way of life and don't know where to start, this is a good book for you.

As for the cultural appropriation accusations...lol. I am an Indian woman and I can confidently say that I never felt the author was trying to appropriate Indian culture. She's very open about being of Persian descent and shows great appreciation and admiration for Indian culture, which is beautiful.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting information fairly clearly and succinctly explained. I'm not sure I believe all of it, though. I will say, for what it's worth, that after I read about vatas needing to rub sesame oil into their skin every night, I started putting lotion on as much of me as I could reach every night before sleeping (she recommends against lotion, by the way, but I was going by the spirit of the recommendation more than the letter of it), and I found that I actually did settle into sleep better. That said, I am not certain I'm really a vata, but I'm certainly none of the other doshas. The usefulness of ayurveda seems limited when the advice for vata and pitta are opposite, and I see features of both in myself. I know I should treat the imbalance, but I don't really see those either. Plus, I just don't want to give up popcorn.

[Trang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good beginner's guide to ayurveda for me. The beginning sections seemed redundant though and overall it becomes confusing as to what diet and/or oils to use when someone is Vata but has some Kapha ailment. I think in the end, like anything else, it's about balance.

Many of the ingredients in the diet aren't items I enjoy eating such as beans and lentils so it wouldn't be practical for me. However, I will try out tongue scraping, oil pulling and oil massages more often. I recently learned about the double cleanse method in skincare, using an oil cleanser (similar concept of like likes like and will pull sunscreen or makeup off easier) followed by a gentle cleanser, so the theory behind oil pulling makes some sense from a scientific perspective. It seems as if oil is used for everything though, including nose, ears and eyes. Not sure how many of those practices I would try.

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to try to figure out what Ayurveda was, since I heard the term tossed around recently and wondered what people were talking about. It’s basically a very old Indian system of holistic health and wellness–body, mind, spirit–that’s been around for thousands of years. There are a lot of Indian words that will never stick in my mind throughout the book, but the author was great to explain in normal terms what everything meant. There were some cool concepts that resonated with me for health and wellness and some, especially near the end, that just seemed a little too “out there” to fully embrace. But overall, it did just what I wanted it to. It explained Ayurveda principles of health and wellness so I could understand them better. If you’re wondering (like me) what Ayurveda is, this book is a good one for the layman to start with.

[Aline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little disclaimer: Prior to reading this I only knew that there were the three Doshas, nothing else, so I can’t say how accurate it is.

I know Sahara from her Podcast, which I love.

I found this really interesting and a great introduction into Ayurveda! It’s very easy to understand, all Sanskrit words are translated and it’s very approachable for the modern time.
The only thing I didn’t like was that it was very repetitive in some parts. The descriptions of the Doshas and what you should and shouldn’t eat are repeated many times. I understand that it can be useful to repeat things to memorize it better, but sometimes it seems like she tried to fill up more pages?

If you are interested in Ayurveda and want to start with the basics, I recommend this book.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot deeper than I was expecting

I was originally thinking this would be a brief skimming of the ancient art of Ayurveda. Not only is it a great introduction it combines the ancient parts of this science with how it can be incorporated into modern life. I now count many of the techniques as part of my daily rituals. Tongue scraping, dry brushing, self oil massage and paying attention to the foods and activities that work with my Dosha. All of this has given me a deeper appreciation and understanding of my body. I had been developing a conscious and deeper mind and neglecting to pay attention to the temple I spend all of my time in. Thank you so much Sahara for this amazing gift of Ayurveda knowledge.🙏🏻❤

[Joséphine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very clear and practical introduction to Ayurveda, adapted for modern times and a western audience. The quiz is not enough to know what is your dosha, and she mentions it: you need to see an ayurvedic therapist to know for sure which of your dosha(s) is unbalanced and what is your prakriti- the right balance of doshas for you, more or less. Still, the book really helps understand the various doshas and the medical conditions that can appear when they're unbalanced. Lots of great tips for the morning and evening rituals, a few recipes adapted to each dosha, and a more spiritual part around the chakras.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ayurveda part of the book was quite nice. It introduced the main aspects pretty well and discussed a lot about nutrition. The book was lacking to explain how to treat sickness quick would have been really interesting.
Personally, I struggled with the "religious" aspect of the book. A part of the book was dedicated to spirits and what not. Personally, I didn't want to read the book to get contact to a new spirituality but to learn about ayurveda which is as far as I understand only the science of life not of spirits. 😊
BUT: if you don't look at the last part of the book I think it is a really good introduction to Ayurveda.

[Ankur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book with curiosity about Ayurveda. This book certainly covers All the basics (constituents, dosha etc) and also explain them in a understandable language. Audio narration has certain grammatical/accent challenges but they don’t distract from grasping the meaning. This book certainly offers a quick way to ramp up on basics of Ayurveda. Of course don’t expect to become an expert on it just with it. I would have liked author to include more facts about the history, origins as well as general misconceptions around Ayurveda allowing listeners/readers to lean in fully. Still it makes for a good quick read.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic introduction to the rich, often confusing, yet illuminating practice of Ayurveda. Sahara breaks it down into its simplest bites and nuggets for true comprehension so you can not only integrate the concepts but quickly put them into practice. This is a book I see myself consulting again and again if not for recipes, then for refreshment on doshas, and other quick, easy reference information that many books on this topic don't provide. I feel like, thanks to this read, I have wrapped my mind around Ayurveda. There's still a lot to learn in this infinite, unending lineage, but this was a pretty damn good start.

[Laura Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Excelente! Hacia la segunda mitad del libro se vuelve un poco más pesado porque conecta los doshas con otros conceptos, pero el final del libro es muy práctico y directo. Es un excelente libro para iniciarse en ayurveda, pero sí creo que es necesario profundizar más posteriormente en otros temas. Las rutinas de mañana y de noche, así como algunos consejos sobre mi dosha me han hecho sentir mucho mejor últimamente. Aunque no te lleves mucho del libro, lo poco con lo que te quedes es muy útil. Muy recomendado.

[Yaaresse · Rating 3 out of 5]

You really can't go wrong with either the "For Dummies" or "Idiot's Guides" books for a good introduction to almost any subject matter. I was curious as to what Ayurveda is and does. To that end, it was a decent introduction to the subject containing a very brief history, explanation of terms, and discussion about the what, why, and how. It was not so basic as to be condescending nor so detailed as to be dull.