NIDHI PANDYA
“The Ashtang Hrudayam mentions women ovulating between the 11th and 13th day of their cycle. Without ultrasounds or ovulation prediction technology. There is also mention of beer as a beverage that may affect fat metabolism. The concept of intermittent fasting. Ayurveda is just full of amazing facts and principles. I also love the fact that Ayurveda is not about prescription, it’s about principles. Principles that can be applied to anyone, anywhere.“
Nidhi Pandya is a third generation Ayurvedic practitioner and has studied directly from the Sanskrit Samhitas, the oldest available texts on the subject.
Nidhi uses Ayurvedic principles to take people on a Journey of self-discovery over a period of a few months. Of really getting to know the insides of their bodies as well as they know the colour of their hair, the size of their clothes or the texture of their skin. Only then can they filter through all the information in the health world today and pick what serves them best.
She offers people a complete program where together they work on all aspects like diet, lifestyle, exercise, sleep, meditation and even mental health. The program is customised and intimate.
Nidhi is a faculty at the Shakti School of Ayurveda (one of the top Ayurveda schools in the US). She also writes for Ayurveda and Health Tourism magazine, India's number one Ayurveda magazine.
Follow Nidhi:
Website: www.nidhipandya.com
Instagram: @my_ayurvedic_life
“There is no question about the human body, mind and even the universe that Ayurveda has not been able to answer for me.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Ayurveda is the only way I know how to live. It has allowed me to demystify and understand the world inside me and see how that world connects with the world outside.
Ayurveda has basically given me an understanding of the universal code of nature. There is no question about the human body, mind and even the universe that Ayurveda has not been able to answer for me.
Simply put, Ayurveda is a science that connects and teaches one how to harmonise all aspects of the universe with the human body and human mind.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
I was indoctrinated in Ayurveda at birth as my grandfather was an Ayurvedic Healer. I was raised with the principles of Ayurveda as well as Dinacharya (Daily Regimen) and Rutucharya (Seasonal Regimen). So Ayurveda really is the only way I know how to live.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
When I moved to the US about 15 years ago, I briefly worked for a pharmaceutical company. The whole experience was a shock to me and I decided to go and dig deeper into my Ayurvedic roots. So I got a formal education in Ayurveda, familiarising myself with the Sanskrit ancient texts.
Today, I work with people all around the world to help them to bring Ayurveda into any ethnic lifestyle, food or culture. Ayurveda is not limited to India or Indians.
Has it helped you with anything major?
I really took Ayurveda one notch up when I got pregnant with my first child 13 years ago. I practiced Ayurvedic pregnancy regimens as well as a strict Ayurvedic post-partum. I had an incredible labour, delivery and healthy children. My body also experienced great transformations. I can say that at 38, I feel younger and healthier than I did at 20.
My kids also follow an Ayurvedic lifestyle and it’s worked great for us. You will generally not even find Children’s Tylenol in my home, let alone any other medication.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Ayurveda is a part of everything I consume, mentally and physically.
I really enjoy examining everything I do through the lens of Ayurveda.
This often entails thinking of the Guna (property) a certain food or lifestyle carries and assessing what it may do to my balance. For example, morning is Kapha Kala which is cold, moist and slow - so for my choice of music or prayer, I will pick something hot and stimulating like the Gayatri Mantra or Mahamritunjaya Mantra.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
A quarter cup of hot water (preferably with a herb) at every single meal.
Reducing the number of meals to 2.5 so my Agni can get enough time to process a previous meal.
Not eating fruits in the winter months.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
The ancient texts have an answer to everything. EVERYTHING. They mentioned things that science is eventually discovering 5,000 years later.
The Ashtang Hrudayam mentions women ovulating between the 11th and 13th day of their cycle. Without ultrasounds or ovulation prediction technology. There is also mention of beer as a beverage that may affect fat metabolism. The concept of intermittent fasting. Ayurveda is just full of amazing facts and principles.
I also love the fact that Ayurveda is not about prescription, it’s about principles. Principles that can be applied to anyone, anywhere.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
Once again, I was born with Ayurveda so it the only way of living I have known.
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?
Ayurveda is about principles. They know that all the meals they eat are balanced. Balanced in the Ayurvedic way. Not all our food is not Indian. But it’s all Ayurvedic.
My girls understand and appreciate Ayurveda. They are very familiar with the concepts of Agni and Doshas. I believe that my 12-year-old can teach a class on Ayurveda.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Dried ginger powder. I see myself adding a pinch to heavy meals or drinks or to even just hot water. Dried ginger helps to kindle the Agni, settle Vata and even aids digestion. It can be consumed in small quantities with other herbs for a fever and even diarrhoea. It’s a great spice to carry on the go.
It’s na-ati-ushna (not too hot) and snigdha (slightly moist)
I feel like its truly underrated.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
I try to create self-awareness around the state of my mental and physical balance through the day. Everything I consume goes through the lens of Guna and Karma (the property it carries, and thus the action it may have on my balance). I also respect the universal clock and the different Kalas (time phases) of the day. This formula has worked very well for me when it comes to routines and daily consumption choices.
I wake up most days around 6 to meditate, practice some Pranayama and eat a small Ayurvedic breakfast. Breakfast usually comprises of 20 soaked and peeled almonds and a cup of milk or chai. After checking my emails, I practice Yoga or Zumba for an hour. A quick shower and I am off to work. I work only till about 3 p.m. on most days.
Lunch is always my biggest meal. This is when my indulgences happen. I usually eat dinner anytime between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. I eat only two big meals in the day, but have no food restrictions.
You will also find me sipping my cup of herbal tea, pretty much all day long.
I do indulge every now and then but try and keep the indulgence during lunch when my Agni mimics the sun.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
I wish our lifestyles were designed in a way such that people had time to cook their own food. Something magical happens when you cook your own food. You begin to notice nuances about your food and health that you would never have otherwise.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
I am amazed to see how more and more people are becoming aware of Ayurveda. This number was very small when I first started 15 years ago.
A lot of people in my circle have either heard of it, or are familiar with it.
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?
I would encourage people to quit drinking cold water. Instead, opt for warm or slightly hot water. Our body is warm-blooded and the gut is meant to be a hot place (after all, it needs to transform all the food you eat into waste and nutrients; and every transformation in the universe requires heat).
When we consume cold substances, our body has to work extra hard to maintain homeostasis. As a result the digestion suffers and the immunity lowers.