CLAIRE RAGOZZINO
“The metaphor of digging one well deep until you find water really came to life for me in my early twenties, and that’s when I decided to not only study Ayurveda as a theory, but to actually live and embody it in daily practice and devote my work to this path. From there, I began to feel better, trust myself and experience what health really means.”
Claire Ragozzino is a certified yoga instructor and Ayurvedic counsellor with a background in holistic nutrition and natural cooking. Her work is dedicated to bringing yoga, Ayurveda, and nutrition to a modern lifestyle. She is the author of the popular site Vidya Living, and also writes and photographs for online and print publications surrounding topics of food, culture, and our relationship to nature. Her first book, Living Ayurveda, offers a comprehensive Ayurvedic cookbook and lifestyle guide. Claire works with clients around the globe and leads immersive workshops and retreats.
Follow Claire:
Website: Vidya Living
Instagram: @claireragz
Facebook: Vidya Living
“Rest is revolutionary.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Ayurveda is awareness. It’s given me a language to deeply know myself and my relationship to the world around me.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
I was in my early teens when I first discovered it, flipping through the pages of Dr. Vasant Lad’s primer, Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing. Having struggled with digestive challenges since I was a young girl, I started to look to food first to heal my body. Yet for years, I jumped from one diet, cleanse, superfood and supplement to the next, seeking the answers outside of myself and always feeling like something was missing. I was in the cycle many of us are in the modern world, sampling everything like a buffet, but never going deep into one topic. The metaphor of digging one well deep until you find water really came to life for me in my early twenties, and that’s when I decided to not only study Ayurveda as a theory, but to actually live and embody it in daily practice and devote my work to this path. From there, I began to feel better, trust myself and experience what health really means. I’ve been practising yoga and Ayurveda since 2009, and working professionally on this path for the past decade.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
The timelessness of this body of knowledge. There’s a depth and breadth of wisdom that applies to all cycles, seasons, and stages of life. This is what drew me to it and continues to draw me back in with eagerness and curiosity to learn more.
Has it helped you with anything major?
Oh gosh, so much! From major imbalances to small life challenges along the way. It’s definitely put me on a positive course with my overall physical and mental health, helping me understand my digestion and menstrual challenges and giving me tools to nurture my body and mind through the years. It’s transformed how I approach my yoga practice, my relationship to food, and my overall relationship to myself and the world around me.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
I often laugh because I see everything through the lens of Ayurveda now. From my digestive health to my appetite and food cravings, to my partner’s emotional state and my loved ones’ general wellbeing. It’s very much a part of my everyday life!
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Establish a regular meal routine and stick to it. Avoid skipping meals and snacking or grazing all day.
Make eating the main event. Try eating in silence without conversation, technology or other distractions. When ready to eat, take 5 deep breaths to prepare your body to receive food. You can even say a small prayer of gratitude before your first bite.
Cook your water. That’s right, boil your water and sip it warm throughout the day. For anyone who struggles with constipation and digestive challenges, this very simple shift can really go a long way!
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
Because Ayurveda is an individual’s medicine, as Dr. Lad describes it, the clinical experience and information is endless. At times, this can feel really daunting to dive into. Yet, the more you learn the more realise how profound and powerful the basics are. With just a little bit of knowledge of self and how to apply the principles of Ayurveda to your life, you can witness really incredible transformations take place in a short time.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
I would say the seeds were planted early on and took root gradually in my life. Yet, when it did, it quickly transformed how I was living.
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 mum is an Ayurvedic massage therapist and postpartum doula. We both arrived to Ayurveda on separate paths but a similar timeline. So it’s a joy when we’re together and can share meals, as she’s a wonderful cook! In my daily life, my partner is a happy recipient of the meals I cook and has adopted many of the practices in his own life. We sometimes discuss the “why” behind some of the meal choices or habits, but mostly he’s picked them up along the way having experienced how good he’s felt when eating and living this way.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Food is my love language. So I adore many types of food and cultural cuisines. And what I also adore about Ayurveda is that you can apply these concepts cross-culturally and enjoy Ayurvedic cooking with a variety of foods and flavours. It’s all about getting creative with spices and knowing how different ingredients work — will they heat you up or cool you down? From there, food can be both a medicine and a joyful expression of art! If I had to pick one go-to recipe, this Fennel Carrot Kitchari has become my tried-and-true staple on busy days or when I need a simple meal to support my digestion. I like to make a quick pickled radish with it to add that Agni-boosting satisfying sour taste to the dish!
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
Ayurveda provides a fabulous outline for a daily routine (Dinacharya), one that takes into consideration your biorhythms and how to work with nature’s rhythms. But rather than feeling like it’s a rigid structure I have to stick to, it helps me anchor in self-care throughout the day — knowing when to eat, when to rest, and when to move — so I have some structure to plan and optimise my days with the times that are most supported for these different activities.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
I often wish that we valued a slower pace of life, that we valued wellbeing and meaningful connection over productivity and personal achievement. I believe when we can step outside of this cultural construct, we can begin to re-prioritise what we give our attention to each day. And that in doing so, there’s more space to care for our own physical and mental wellbeing, and the wellbeing of our families and communities.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Yes, many of my friends are practitioners and it’s always fun to swap stories and share what we’re learning. I’m grateful to be surrounded by such an incredible community of like-minded friends, near and far!
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?
Rest. The pace of modern life is far busier than we are designed to keep up with, and our systems suffer greatly as a result. Rest is revolutionary. We can all benefit from better rest and more of it. So give yourself permission to slow down, and ditch the guilt along the way!
Anything else you’d like to add?
For those interested in Ayurveda, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the foreign words and concepts, or feel you have to do everything perfectly in order to see the benefits. Instead of approaching learning in this way, I invite you to step outside of who you think you are and what you need to be, and allow yourself space to explore and witness the power of simple presence and loving awareness in your daily life. Be curious, be playful! Get to know yourself intimately, be open to new discoveries, and see where this path takes you.