NITI SHETH
“Ayurveda, on the other hand, looks at broad and general principles that can be applied to pretty much every scenario. You just need to get your head around a few key concepts and then you’re good to go. We often think something of value and power needs to be complicated, but there’s strength in simplicity – and this is what attracts me to Ayurveda.”
After graduating from university, Niti travelled to India and studied at the world renowned Vaidyagrama – an Ayurvedic healing village in South India. There she learnt the basic concepts of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Nutrition under the guidance of Dr Ramdas. Back home in Australia, Niti joined Back2Health – one of the leading Ayurvedic clinics in Brisbane. She soon started living her passion of Ayurveda through workshops, open days, expos, cooking demonstrations – and helping people adopt Ayurveda into their own lives. Niti has taken her wisdom, passion and vision with her and is sharing that in her new home, England.
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“Ayurveda can be as big or as little as you want it.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
There’s a lot packed into the word Ayurveda, “the science of life!” and that’s exactly what Ayurveda means to me – a way of living. It guides how I eat, walk, breathe, interact with others and the environment. It permeates everything I do. But I don’t want this definition to turn people away because of its enormity: Ayurveda can be as big or as little as you want it. It can affect your whole life, or just a part of it – you can choose what Ayurveda means to you.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
Unknowingly I was exposed to Ayurveda as a child through my mother and her many home remedies. On a more conscious level, I discovered Ayurveda in my final year of university. I was at a retreat and sat in on a one-hour seminar of Ayurvedic Nutrition in 2011, and from then on I knew this was going to be a part of my life – in either a big or small way. So you can say I’ve been practising it consciously since around 2012.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
Its simplicity – I was studying Nutrition at university when I discovered Ayurveda. Western Nutrition was based on details – umpteen vitamins and minerals, recommended intakes for different genders and age groups, symptoms of deficiency and excess – it was a lot of little things to remember. Ayurveda, on the other hand, looks at broad and general principles that can be applied to pretty much every scenario. You just need to get your head around a few key concepts and then you’re good to go. We often think something of value and power needs to be complicated, but there’s strength in simplicity – and this is what attracts me to Ayurveda.
Has it helped you with anything major?
I’ve been lucky enough to be fairly healthy my whole life, so there hasn’t been one, single, aha! moment where Ayurveda saved my life. I’ve been receiving little droplets of wisdom that have together made a big difference in how aware I am of my own health, and also helped me to help others.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Idealistically, I want to practise many more elements of Ayurveda on a daily basis. Realistically, it’s definitely a part of my everyday life, but there’s so much more I could be doing to raise my health and wellness to the next level. I implement those practices that I have been brought up with – things that are second nature to me. Warm water on waking up, tongue scraping, a vegetarian/Sattvic diet, and certain home remedial measures if I fall sick. But then there are many things I do knowing full well that they are totally against Ayurvedic principles! Eating foods that may not the best for my body type, not sleeping on time, pretty much doing things against my body’s intuition. Since studying and knowing more about Ayurveda, I am very aware what aspects of my life are “Ayurvedic” and what aspects are not!
My Kapha nature is sometimes a barrier to me adopting routines and practices that fall outside my comfort zone! But the second I feel things going a bit awry, I reel in my over-indulgent senses and strictly align myself to a more Ayurvedic way of living.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
1. Eat according to your digestion. We are all different and so is our health and digestion. When you treat it as such, you’ll notice such a big difference to your overall health. Ayurveda talks a lot about good digestion and how it is the cornerstone of good health, and modern medicine is now beginning to follow suit. When you eat in a way that leaves you feeling satisfied, energised and with a clear mind, you know you’re eating correctly. When you feel something is not right with your digestion – you’re bloated, lethargic, feeling reflux, or overfull – it’s a sure sign that aspects of your health could begin to go downhill. Understanding your digestion, what works and what doesn’t for you, is a great way to keep the rest of your health in good condition. Your digestion is like your trusted informant – listen to it carefully, and you’ll know whether you’re headed towards good health or something else!
2. Periodic cleansing/detoxing. We all live lives far from the Ayurvedic ideal, and while the best thing to do might be to remove ourselves from certain environments, grow our own food, and live more in sync with nature, that’s not always the most practical. So periodic cleansing/detoxing is great way to recalibrate our bodies and all its systems. It’s like a regular MOT. It gives our bodies, digestions and minds a break from the norm – and the best part is you can tailor it to your life, your needs and your routine. The more strictly you adhere to certain guidelines, the better you’ll feel – because no gain without pain right?! I like to think of these mini-cleanses as my atonement for stuffing my face with chocolate cake every once in a while.
3. Decluttering your mind – you’ve probably heard many times that we live in a Vata-deranged world. There’s too much air all around us, and way too much air inside of us, especially our heads. And this causes us to over-worry, be stressed, anxious, living on edge and just generally in a state of mental chaos. I’ve found a simple declutter of my mind – journaling or a guided meditation can do wonders for my state of being. It can instantly lift my mood, which in turn helps me feel better physically.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
The thing that surprised me most about Ayurveda was that despite being SO old (over 5,000 years old) it speaks of principles and guidelines that we can still use today. I mean, who would’ve thought that there would be exact protocol on how to treat a variety of different diseases, or remedies for common ailments, that we can refer to and use today? I’m always awed by how applicable Ayurveda is in today’s age. It’s like the sages predicted what life would be like and guided us accordingly. There’s so much proof and substantiality in the fact that Ayurveda has been alive and kicking for over 5,000 years!
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
I definitely integrated Ayurveda gradually over time, as I feel that’s the best way to make any new habit stick in your life and your routine. Some people (Pittas) are pretty good with making changes once they know the reason behind the change — and then can implement things overnight. Others (Kaphas and Vatas) need to incorporate small changes over time, so small that it hardly seems like doing anything different. And that’s where I fit in: small changes integrated gradually.
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?
On a whole, my family eats “Ayurvedically” some of the time (I would say around half the time). With modern conveniences, and new tastes which have bombarded our taste buds, “Ayurvedic” cooking faces a lot of competition from other foods. Ayurvedic meals are fresh, simple and healthy, so we try and incorporate this into our diet when we can. Other than that I try and sneak in extra veggies at any opportunity! Most of the time they know that it’s Ayurveda, because it’s pretty much the only topic I talk about at the dinner table!
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Oh, this is a tricky one! I’d say my favourite recipe is a good spice blend — something like a combination of cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric and fresh ginger. I love this particular combination of spices because it can be used as a tempering for savoury dishes like curries and soups, as a rub for roast veggies or even boiled in water for a herbal, digestive tea. These spices are super versatile and are good for people of any Doshic constitution.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
Ayurveda fits into my day-to-day routine in many places — from waking up in the morning at a particular time (aligning my routine with the natural Doshic cycle), to my cleansing practices like tongue scraping and morning warm water, to just generally being more aware of my body, how I’m feeling and how I’m responding. There are SO many Ayurvedic practices people can implement — at the end of the day, I think it’s about listening to your body, then acting in a way that suits and benefits you. One person might benefit greatly from just the simple act of drinking hot water throughout the day, while another person might benefit from an earlier, lighter dinner — find a practice, follow it diligently for a few weeks and see the impact it has in your life.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
Definitely more education, and also trying to remove the association of Ayurveda with being “Indian.” While it does have an Indian origin, its application can differ. I don’t want people to think that living an Ayurvedic life means you have to live an ‘Indian’ life. I wish there was more education about Ayurveda and its principles in mainstream avenues, so that people, kids in school, those in offices, maybe even through the NHS, were being made aware about Ayurveda and its numerous benefits. I also think taking away the “alternative” label would help to bring it to more people’s attention — it’s a way of life at the end of the day, just a different one to what most people are used to.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Most definitely yes! They pretty much associate me with Ayurveda — and are always seeing if I eat “Ayurvedically” or live “Ayurvedically.” My good friends know now that this isn’t the case all the time! Through spending time together, they’ve also begun to know more about Ayurveda and even apply some aspects in their lives.
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?
It sounds simple, but listen to your body. We can make health as simple or as complicated as we like — and the beauty of Ayurveda is that it makes health and life very simple and easy to understand. Listening to your body is the first step. Once you know what you’re feeling like — physically (your digestion, respiration, immunity, all physiological functions), mentally and emotionally — you know how to respond. Don’t like going to sleep with a full stomach after a big dinner? Then eat a lighter meal a few hours before bed. Not feeling hungry for breakfast, but still gulp down a bowl of cereal before running out the door because someone said “eat breakfast like a king?” Then listen to your hunger and just have something light like a herbal tea or fruits. We are all different and we need to treat our health that way.