NARISSA MOELLER
“Ayurveda surprises me every day the deeper I go. I didn’t realise how good I could actually feel, especially after my first 30-day Panchakarma (Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation program). Every day I feel happier, healthier and more relaxed knowing that I am doing what’s best for myself as an individual and not stressing about what everyone is doing. It’s taught me to embrace and love my uniqueness.”
Narissa Moeller started her career working part-time in the beauty industry working as a brand ambassador and soon after in publishing as a journalist. In her early 20s she began practising yoga and Vedic meditation to reduce workplace stress and, through this, discovered the science of Ayurveda. In 2016, she completed a Certificate IV in Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultation from the AIAS in New Zealand and has been practising and writing on Ayurveda and meditation ever since in both Sydney and Adelaide, Australia. She continues to deepen her studies in India every year with various international doctors.
Follow Narissa:
Website: narissamoeller.com
Instagram: @narissamoeller and @nmayurveda
“Ayurveda resonated with me so deeply and I truly believe there is no better way to live your life. The answers are all here.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Ayurveda is a system of health that has an answer to everything. It is for the healthy who want to remain healthy and enhance longevity, and for the dis-eased who want to be cured. To me, it is my guide to absolutely everything in life, from health, beauty, fashion, lifestyle, happiness, relationships right down to my life purpose/Dharma.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
I discovered Ayurveda in my early 20s after many years of health issues and drastic diets. I was working in magazines and always trying the latest health and beauty fads. My meditation teacher introduced me to Ayurveda in 2014 and I fell in love with the whole science right away, which is what led me to study it in 2015 and practise it ever since.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
The Doshas drew me to Ayurveda. Before I discovered the Doshas, I thought I was doing all of the right things — eating all the so-called “health foods,” restricting food groups that people told me were bad, pushing myself at the gym even though I didn’t want to. Then I learnt about the Doshas, which gave me enormous insight into understanding myself, the environment around me and why I am the way I am. It gave me the knowledge on how to heal myself and align my individual micro-self with the greater macro-sphere. Ayurveda resonated with me so deeply and I truly believe there is no better way to live your life. The answers are all here.
Has it helped you with anything major?
It’s helped me balance and clear a lot of issues that women in their 20s go through – anxiety, emotions, stress, skin conditions, irregular periods, confusion about direction and purpose.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Ayurveda is part of my everyday life. Some days I incorporate more things than other days. I try not to be too strict on doing all the practices, but rather do what feels natural, effortless and enjoyable. You start to do more as you start to feel better anyway.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Tongue scraping. Make this the very first thing you do when you get out of bed to not only remove toxins but to instantly feel more AWAKE.
Drinking hot water. Not only when you first wake up but all throughout the day to naturally flush toxins and kindle digestion.
Eating the biggest meal of the day at lunch and having a light breakfast and light dinner. I love how my body feels when I wake up after having a lighter and earlier dinner the night before. Try it, you’ll see.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
Ayurveda surprises me every day the deeper I go. I didn’t realise how good I could actually feel, especially after my first 30-day Panchakarma (Ayurvedic detoxification and rejuvenation program). Every day I feel happier, healthier and more relaxed knowing that I am doing what’s best for myself as an individual and not stressing about what everyone is doing. It’s taught me to embrace and love my uniqueness.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
I have integrated it very gradually starting with the simple things like tongue scraping, drinking warm water, establishing a meditation practice, eating only warm cooked foods to enhance digestion. I’d observe how I felt and then start doing a little more. The more aware you start to become of yourself, the more you start to notice patterns and choices that no longer serve your highest self and make more changes from there. Expanding consciousness is key.
Do your children/family eat an Ayurvedic diet? And if they do, do they know it’s Ayurveda or do they just think of it as home cooking?
My family are definitely beginning to adopt practices of Ayurveda that I have taught them. I love how amazed they are when something I have given them works.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
My go-to ingredient is ghee for many reasons. It provides so much nourishment, internally and externally, and is very grounding for emotional issues. Combined with special herbs, it is used in Ayurveda to detox the body.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
It depends on how busy I am but there are some practices I can’t go a day without. I like to always wake up before the sun, tongue scrape, drink warm water and practise 20 minutes of meditation to set myself up for the day. If I have more time I will do yoga asana, go for a walk in nature or do self-Abhyanga to ground myself. I try to always cook my own food, minimise processed and packaged foods as much as possible and take it with me to work in a thermos flask. This requires being organised and preparing your ingredients such as soaking nuts and lentils a few hours before.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
Society plays a part but I think it depends more greatly on the individual and how much they want to feel good or not. Ayurveda is definitely not for the lazy, and if you want to feel good, you will wake up early and get everything done. It all starts with you. Meditation and yoga studios are popping up everywhere, but I’d like to see more Ayurvedic clinics, Panchakarma centres, shops and cafés.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
They are learning through me. Many of my friends are in their 20s and 30s and at that age you don’t usually endure too many major health issues so health isn’t a top priority. They are busy studying, launching careers, getting married or having children. I hope to encourage more young people to treat health as a top priority and prevent disease early so that they can live a long, healthy life.
What’s the one thing you would encourage everyone to try or you think would benefit the majority of people’s health for the better?
Meditation. It’s is the core to everything, both mental and physical health. Whilst Ayurveda focuses on the physical side of things, meditation provides the shift in consciousness that changes how you see the world and particularly yourself. Through meditation you start to become more aware of patterns in life that aren’t working and change them naturally. This includes everything from food to relationships and work. You become more aligned with you and will find where you are best showcased.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Relax and enjoy the process.