PRIYA RAGHAVAN
“The other aspect that drew me to Ayurveda was the fact that we’ve never heard of our grandparents speak of sustainability or being“eco-friendly,” because that was pretty much the only way they lived. Everything was reused, resources were conserved and used only when needed — something we really need today. As I found myself looking for the better, more sustainably green option for everyday essentials each time [in the UK], I found myself going back to a few ways that form the very core of Ayurveda — living in the context of our surroundings.”
Priya Raghavan is the founder of Earthen Living UK, a company that combines the simplicity of yesterday with the functionality of today.
Priya grew up in India and has worked extensively within India as well as across Asia and Europe enjoying many entrepreneurial successes. London began another chapter in her life over ten years ago. That chapter brought with it several changes – amongst which was a need to do something closer to her heart and something that meant more — not just to her but to society and to the environment that we seemed to be losing and letting go of.
She decided to take a break from her career for a while. Study. Learn. Explore. Let go and enjoy life for a while. A lot of this time was spent reminiscing about home, about the times with her grandparents. She was charmed by the simplicity of their lives and how effortlessly green and sustainable their lives were. Bringing back practices long forgotten, making an effort to go back to her roots, made all the difference.
Priya is also the fifth generation of the family that built a brand of Ayurvedic products that defined the temple town of Nanjungud near Mysore, India. With over 100 years of history associated in the making of Ayurvedic products, it was only natural that Ayurveda as a concept influenced Priya’s decisions — only she decided to take it further by adding a range of products that extended the concept of Ayurveda.
She decided to put together her several years of experience in manufacturing, an eye for detail and a passion for creating something more soul-satisfying and driven by personal beliefs into something meaningful — Earthen Living.
Follow Priya:
Website: Earthen Living UK
Instagram: @earthenlivinguk
“Small changes can make big differences. Focus on keeping your body healthy and free of toxins. Make sure your mind is at ease and calm. The rest sorts itself out.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Simple, sustainable living — in body, mind and soul.
For me Ayurveda is there to avoid creating issues you may need to resolve tomorrow. It is a lifestyle that guides you to live well today with a simplicity that helps you live tomorrow with as much ease.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
I have lived with Ayurveda. I grew up in India. At home it was not taught to us as “Ayurveda.” It was just the way things were meant to be. Everyday practices that became habits. I practised Ayurveda unknowingly all through my childhood.
I also come from a family that has been making Ayurvedic products for over 100 years now.
My great-grandfather was one of the students from the first batch of the first College of Ayurveda set up in the state of Karnataka by the then Maharaja, Chamraja Wadiyar. Post-graduation he had an idea for a toothpowder recipe that became a great success. He went door to door selling the toothpowder he had made. To date people around Mysore and Karnataka speak very fondly of the “Nanjangud Toothpowder.” So many summer holidays were characterised by watching ginger and rose petals being dried in the sun, seeing huge pots of herbal oils and Chyvanprash being made.
I did break away from a few Ayurvedic practices as I grew older and more experimental. The ways of the west were always a lure to be tried out as it was meant to be the better, or more developed life, so by and by a few habits changed. Others didn’t as they were too ingrained in me.
I’ve been in London now for over ten years. When I moved to the UK, it was a difficult shift for me in more ways than one — emotionally more than anything else. The noise in my head and the need for more than a just a career led me to back to my roots. This time around I knew it better as Ayurveda.
I knew it worked for me, so I decided to learn and study more.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
The simplicity of it.
The beauty of just living in sync with nature and also taking charge of your own health.
Anyone who takes a Dosha quiz the first time will realise they don t know themselves as well as they ought to. Ayurveda begins with a good look at yourself, inside out, and I loved that.
Back in my other life, we began the day at the factory with basic equipment checks to make sure everything was oiled, smooth and good to function for the day. We also closed each day putting back all workshop tools to make sure we were ready for the next day and for any emergencies. We followed a system, a routine, because we could not afford to have a machine breakdown.
Ayurveda for me was making sure of just that — more about the the mind than the body. How you think and how you feel drives how you look in my opinion — and we all want to look our best!
The other aspect that drew me to Ayurveda was the fact that we’ve never heard of our grandparents speak of sustainability or being“eco-friendly,” because that was pretty much the only way they lived. Everything was reused, resources were conserved and used only when needed — something we really need today. As I found myself looking for the better, more sustainably green option for everyday essentials each time here, I found myself going back to a few ways that form the very core of Ayurveda — living in the context of our surroundings.
Has it helped you with anything major?
It changed my perspective of living. I have a more proactive approach versus a reactive one.
I think of myself as a very different person today in comparison to a few years ago. I prioritise differently — I look at health differently and the necessity of the everyday “oiling of the machine” as it were. I acknowledge better how the mind, body and the emotions work in synergy to make me the person I am.
I am more mindful of the choices I make and am far more calm and composed even if life does not unfold exactly the way I would expect it to.
Pregnancy is a special time for all expectant mothers. Ayurveda saw me through that and after very well and I am thankful for that support too.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
It is a part of my everyday in more ways than one. It is through food, yoga, fabrics and dyes, decisions I make for the business — I believe in using Ayurveda as a lifestyle tool that guides my decisions.
I like using it to first remove excesses of all kinds — because then we need to worry less about resolving the issues that those excesses create.
What are your top Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Make time for your meals: very few of us take longer than twenty minutes to have a meal. Put aside your phone, the magazines. Chew your food, relish and taste each flavour, share the meal and that time without distractions with your loved ones.
Oils vs creams for the skin and body: I gave up on creams a long while ago and have not missed them one bit. Oils for the face and body as the oils are easier to decipher and safer food for the skin. The right routine can mean you need less food for your skin rather than more.
Rethink your body – from the inside out. Get help to know if your body is in balance and if not the changes you need to make. Small changes can make big differences. Focus on keeping your body healthy and free of toxins. Make sure your mind is at ease and calm. The rest sorts itself out.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
That many years ago we had this intelligence to understand so much and appreciate the importance of living in harmony with nature. It was sustainability from the start.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
I brought back a few practices as I had known them — the rest came on gradually but fairly quickly.
It didn’t take much convincing because it made perfect sense to me, but one practice or one change at a time worked best for me.
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?
We do have an Ayurvedic diet at home. It has now become a habit. My son Ruhaan will be three soon and like I did, he just follows a routine as of now, without an explanation of what and why. I see that changing soon though as he gets to know friends and their lifestyles better. For now he loves his chyvanprash, he knows to ask for his kasturi pills when he has a runny nose, and will come and tell me he “needs” sitophaladi when he coughs. My husband has embraced the small changes we have made to our diet as well. He grew up with a few Ayurvedic practices too and now has his own stack of herbal allies he is loyal to.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
My go-to ingredient is definitely ghee!!! For digestion, the essential lubrication, just the taste and so much more!
My favourite recipe is going to be a cliché — rice and mung dal. I like it best when prepared the South Indian way. It’s called “Pongal” and I can eat it any time of the day, every day!
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
Very easily most times. I am a big fan of using toothpowder, and especially ours which has the added benefit of the herbs. I oil pull and tongue scrape and appreciate the idea of complete oral hygiene versus only cleaning teeth.
I go by the food combinations Ayurveda suggests and avoid snacking. With a young one around, cooking fresh food every day can be a challenge sometimes, but the secret is in planning I think.
I have always felt good with exercise in the mornings versus any other time of the day.
Some days it feels like my yoga practice has given me a new body in an hour!
It has been several years now since I stopped experimenting with creams and switched completely to natural, non-fragranced oils for the skin and hair.
I am conscious of my buying decisions and don’t like extras. I just do my best to make the best choices every day (in a given situation) – not just for me and my family but for the entire environment.
There is a lot on this planet I would like to keep for my son to enjoy :)
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
I do believe Ayurveda is very accessible today. I would only wish people would try and incorporate it slowly, one aspect at a time, so that it does not get overwhelming.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Most of my Indian friends do – all may not follow it. Some others may not have heard of “Ayurveda” but would be very familiar with the concept of following the seasons or following a natural calendar.
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?
Multi-tasking isn’t an essential.
Eat when you re eating. Enjoy the outdoors when you are out. Just be honest about the task at hand and enjoy it.
Use every day towards better health.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I started Earthen Living for people like me, who wanted to make the better choice but found it difficult sometimes. I wanted an easier option to allow people to find everyday products that were simple, functional and more importantly kind — to all of us and the planet.
We currently have a whole load of pure, honestly made botanicals for a healthier you but we also have several new projects coming up in the near future.
So stick with us, follow us — we definitely need the support to do even more!