RAJASHREE VYAS
“Ayurveda is in my genes, having been born to Ayurvedic parents. I firmly believe in Ayurvedic principles and practise them in my daily life. Ayurveda is not just for ill people, but keeps healthy people healthier.”
Rajashree earned her B.A.M.S. degree to become a qualified Ayurvedic doctor. Later, she joined her parents in Ayurvedic practice in Rajshyama Ayurved Hospital, Gujarat, India.
She is very fortunate to have parents who are devoted to and passionate about Ayurveda. She had the opportunity to practise with her father in his Ayurvedic Hospital in India and worked under his expert guidance for a few years. She gained vast knowledge of Ayurvedic principles by practising in a traditional environment.
Since 2004, Rajashree has been practising with the same enthusiasm and passion as an Ayurvedic Practitioner in North West London.
She offers one-to-one consultations, Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle advice, a variety of Ayurvedic treatments, yoga and Pranayam therapy, and her Ayurvedic herbal remedies and preparations.
Rajashree also offers online consultations, healthy cooking and living workshops and webinars in the community group.
Her areas of expertise are women's health and wellness, weight management, skin, mental health and emotional wellbeing, digestion and gut health.
Passionate about Ayurveda, it is her vision to uphold the authentic principles of the practice, spreading health and wellness awareness through yoga, Ayurveda and a balanced lifestyle. Her motto is “let all be healthy.”
“Ayurveda helped me to fulfil my passion.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Ayurveda is in my genes, having been born to Ayurvedic parents. I firmly believe in Ayurvedic principles and practise them in my daily life. Ayurveda is not just for ill people, but keeps healthy people healthier. Even after almost 3,000 years, its methods, principles and rituals are so relevant to our modern times. I am passionate about Ayurveda, and practising Ayurveda gives me work satisfaction. By practising, I can connect and help people to live a healthy life based on Ayurvedic guidelines.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
I am fortunate to have parents who are Ayurvedic Vaidyas. My father is a PhD, gold medallist in Panchakarma. He has served as Dean of Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, India and provided his services as a principal in the Ayurvedic college, Gujarat. Mum was a lecturer in the Ras Shastra department.
My father also established the first Ayurvedic hospital in Himmatnagar, Gujarat when I was a teenager. And during childhood, whenever I got ill from mostly seasonal colds or fever, or when I fell and bruised or bled, I was treated the Ayurvedic way.
I wanted to be a doctor like my dad and set up my own hospital. I got into Ayurveda college where my dad was principal. After completing my 5-6 years of B.A.M.S, I practised in my dad’s hospital from 1999 to 2003.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
After getting married and coming to this country in 2004, I never thought I would be able to practise as freely as back home, as we didn’t know anyone here and had no idea how to start. So, in the early years of settling here, I worked in a GP surgery as an admin and healthcare assistant.
But one part of me always wanted to start my Ayurvedic practice sooner rather than later. While working, I started to plan for it — the first thing I did was to register myself with an Ayurvedic organisation and all the other formalities. I then started my first-ever part-time practice in northwest London, renting one room with a chiropodist in 2005. I then continued working part-time in different places with a few months of maternity gap, but I never stopped.
In 2011, I set up my own practice, where I am still working. So in total I have been practising for more than 15 years now.
Has it helped you with anything major?
Ayurveda has helped me physically and mentally. First, it helped me to fulfil my passion and dream.
After having my first child in a country where I had little family help, I suffered drastic weight gain and postnatal depression. My weight went from somewhere around 50kg to around 70kg, with high blood pressure during pregnancy as well. At the time, I decided I would not start any Western treatments to help me. Instead, I went home for two months with my 7-month-old baby, and underwent a detox, diet and lifestyle change.
Since returning to the U.K., I have maintained a good routine, including a few Ayurvedic herbs which helped me to lose some of the new eight and control my blood pressure. I had to counter same problem twice following each baby, but both times I have managed it well with Ayurveda principles only. Whenever I feel my body needs help with any problem, my first approach is Ayurveda.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
It is definitely part of my daily life from morning to night. I eat, drink, and think Ayurvedically — from waking up early and drinking warm water, practising yoga and meditating, to bedtime golden milk and Ayurvedic spiced tea during working hours, which makes me calm, grounded and satisfied while I am working. I also follow a seasonal cleanse and routine according to my body type.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Follow a seasonal diet and lifestyle. Do a seasonal cleanse to give your digestive system a break and rejuvenate.
Follow a daily routine of yoga and meditation, and favour home-cooked food, including mindful cooking and eating.
Stay close to nature and don’t travel without Ayurvedic first aid herbs.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is an ancient, almost 3,000-year-old science that is still as relevant in our modern daily life. Basically, if you just understand your body type and follow daily routines as per Ayurvedic principles, you should be able to live much more healthily naturally.
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 are family of four, two teenage girls and my husband. They understand that whatever I am making or saying is to benefit their health and wellbeing. We follow a traditional diet and use Ayurvedic principles for our daily routine, and they are used to eating most simple food. My younger daughter now tries to join me for seasonal cleanses to stay healthy. If anyone catches a cold, they know they are not allowed to eat heavy and cold food, favouring light fasting and drinking warm water and my homemade tea. I prepare homemade meals for their packed lunches every day, and all their friends love it and look forward to trying it every time.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Whole mung bean dal and jeera rice made with ghee. I love using ghee in most of my recipes. For a change, a rice-lentil crepe and mung dal crepe with coconut-coriander chutney is our family favourite. Recently, I have been into organic homemade yoghurt, and I absolutely love spiced buttermilk with lunch, and yoghurt with nuts for breakfast.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
So many ways! Including:
Waking up early in the morning
Preparing hot food for lunch and dinner
Where possible, eating a heavier meal at lunchtime
Drinking warm water and herbal tea
Self-Abhyanga once a week
Doing a hair oil massage before washing our hair is a family ritual
Including seasonal fruits and vegetables into my cooking
Morning yoga and Pranayama at least 5 days a week
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
Firstly, I think a parent can play an important role in incorporating Ayurveda’s principles in their family and educating children with healthy habits. Once they grow up, it’s easier to adopt and believe what they have learned in childhood.
Secondly, sometimes people are put off as they think Ayurveda is expensive, when they can get free treatment through the NHS. So sometimes a mention or referral from a GP for alternative therapy, as well as insurance, can make it more accessible.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Yes, absolutely they know me as an Ayurveda lover as I always talk and advise about it. My family are obviously into it but my friends also take interest and recommend Ayurveda now.
What’s the one thing you would encourage everyone to try, or you think would benefit most of the people’s health for the better?
One shouldn’t eat if not hungry. Warm water, warm meals and herbal tea should be part of your routine.
Anything else you’d like to add?
A few last tips:
Favour organic seasonal fruits and vegetables wherever possible.
Have ginger with lemon and pink salt half an hour before a meal when you need to enhance appetite.
Eat according to the season.
Make a routine for mealtime and bedtime.
Plan and manage time for yoga and meditation.
Stay close to nature.