SUSAN CHEN
“Just as I do not recommend being a crisis meditator, I don't recommend being a crisis Ayurveda practitioner. One doesn't receive the programme's full value when Ayurveda is employed only when imbalances arise.”
After 14 years working on Wall Street in New York, Susan turned to Vedic Meditation to find resilience in the chaos. The practice was so effective in quickly eliminating stress and overwhelm in her life that she left the corporate world to study and teach full time.
In 2017, after two years of study and immersing herself in a 12-week training program in India with Thom Knoles, Susan was inducted as a Vedic Meditation teacher in the highest order.
Today, Susan loves teaching people with big lives and watching their busyness shift from ‘a grind’ to an enjoyable, fulfilling adventure.
She now teaches courses and leads retreats in Austin, New York, Los Angeles, and Hawaii.
Follow Susan:
Website: Meditate With Susan
Instagram: @thesusanchen
Facebook: Susan Chen
“Ayurveda doesn't say ‘no’ to anything; it simply says "know" to everything.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
To me, Ayurveda means wholeness on the move. Ayurveda is the knowledge of how to be balanced and vibrant, peaceful and dynamic while responding to the need of the time, at all times.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
I discovered Ayurveda about eight years ago alongside learning Vedic Meditation from my teacher Thom Knoles. He suggested that I spend some time learning and embodying Ayurveda, as it's such a complementary body of knowledge that pairs incredibly well with Vedic Meditation. And after having gone through meditation teacher training and now teaching Vedic Meditation myself, I've seen Ayurveda help so many of my students live to their full potential in addition to their meditation practice.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
Ayurveda's holistic approach and complete body of knowledge is what keeps me grounded in practising Ayurveda as my primary tool to keep well and vibrant. Ayurveda doesn't say "no" to anything; it simply says "know" to everything. Ayurveda encourages us to know the cause and effect of actions we take in our lives, especially related to our consciousness and physiology, and note what is life-supporting and what might be less life-supporting. So simple, yet so profound.
Has it helped you with anything major?
Ayurveda has helped me feel grounded and blissful despite enjoying a demanding schedule of teaching and business. As a result, I am less frazzled and don't feel anxious sensations anymore, and I sleep very soundly at night these days.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Ayurveda is part of my everyday life. Every action that I take is considered through the lens of Ayurveda. Just as I do not recommend being a crisis meditator, I don't recommend being a crisis Ayurveda practitioner. One doesn't receive the programme's full value when Ayurveda is employed only when imbalances arise.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Sleep before 10pm, rise before 6am.
Eat light dinners and eat in accordance with the position of the sun.
Meditate daily to allow the body to return to its natural rhythms and promote self-healing.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
At first, I was a bit overwhelmed by how encompassing Ayurveda was as a body of knowledge. And it was through the overwhelm that I incorrectly assessed Ayurveda as strict, rules-driven, and rigid. However, as I developed a relationship with Ayurveda and poured my time into understanding this beautiful body of knowledge, I realised how open and inclusive Ayurveda is. Ayurveda simply shares with us timeless knowledge and asks us to experience the cause and effect directly and then choose wisely.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
I threw myself and went all-in, as I spent seven weeks in India with The Raju Family and immersed myself in the Ayurveda way of life. (And that's where Jasmine and I met!)
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?
Yes, we enjoy an Ayurvedic lifestyle 80 percent of the time. We are more relaxed 20 percent of the time, and this is usually the time when we are with friends, family, and prioritise being together. Most of our family and friends think of our home-cooked meals as healthy vegetarian cooking and always rave about how well they feel afterwards!
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Kitchari! It's fast, satisfying, and can be made with pantry items and whatever you have in the fridge!
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
It fits into every moment! My sleep schedule, who I gravitate towards being with, what I eat, how I process events and demands of the day, everything!
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
Earlier dinners! If we could normalise eating at 6pm, that would be a huge game-changer for everyone's health and wellbeing.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
They sure do! Ayurveda goes hand in hand with Vedic Meditation.
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?
Sip on hot water throughout the day! Nix the iced water and iced drinks.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you for spreading the word on Ayurveda and encouraging us all to embrace wholeness in health!