KAVITA KHOSA
“Ayurveda has taught me how sacred the earth is, how precious its bounties are and how to appreciate and partake of them mindfully and with respect.”
Kavita Khosa, a former Wall Street firm lawyer, has always had a passion for natural beauty and Ayurvedic wellness. She combined those interests with a commitment towards positive social impact to create her artisanal skincare brand, Purearth.
Purearth uses organic, Vedic, biodynamic farming methods, respects seasonality, and the sacred ceremony of harvesting in cadence with nature’s rhythms. The brand also supports income generation programs for deprived communities, and grassroots farmers in India, supporting these women to be self-sufficient through fair trade.
Kavita is the author of ‘Beauty Unbottled: Timeless Ayurvedic Rituals & Recipes’ a book encapsulating the knowledge, science and ancient practices of Ayurveda into a simple guide to celebrate the skin you live in.
Follow Kavita:
Website: Pure Earth
Instagram: @ladolcekavita
“From my innate love and passion for living in harmony with nature to my deep desire to learn and follow indigenous knowledge, alongside my passion for botany is perhaps what drew me to Ayurveda.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Ayurveda is my teacher, mentor, guide, companion, family physician and counsellor all rolled into one. It has taught me the art of living and how to practice this art while honing your innate intelligence and wisdom so that you can experience optimum health, happiness and the joy of living in harmony with nature.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
I was born into it and fortunate to learn from my parents, grandparents, and my community elders around me who practised it daily.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
I must have been a tree in previous life forms. We choose our path and practices well before we are born into this human form, so it's almost like it's in my DNA in a sense. From my innate love and passion for living in harmony with nature to my deep desire to learn and follow indigenous knowledge, alongside my passion for botany is perhaps what drew me to Ayurveda.
What has been the biggest learning for you about Ayurveda?
Ayurveda has taught me how sacred the earth is, how precious its bounties are and how to appreciate and partake of them mindfully and with respect.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Do you know there is something called the Ayurvedic Clock? It is a 24-hour clock, divided into 4-hour cycles of the three doshas, morning and evening. I practice dinacharya and ritucharya daily. Ayurveda is an integral part of my daily life.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
Its timelessness and relevance in today's world of IT and AI. We inhabit this world “srishti” and experience it through our physical body or “sharira” and so long as we live in this body it will be governed by the principles of nature. I do not believe IT and AI can overpower Ayurveda or make its use redundant if we want to live life in a healthy body, with a healthy mind and spirit.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Khichdi as a recipe is my all-time fave and also my comfort food. And A2 organic ghee is my go-to ingredient. The fascinating quality of ghee is that it will take on the quality/potency or virya of every other ingredient, but will never give up its own virya in any recipe.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
My morning and evening/bedtime Ayurvedic rituals in particular are precious to me - they balance and ground me.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
Demystifying and simplifying Ayurvedic concepts e.g. rasa, doshas and dhatus so our society isn’t intimidated by Ayurveda. More educational institutions around the world that make it easier for locals to learn and practice Ayurveda.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
I live in Hong Kong and there is little known about Ayurveda, only a couple of Ayurvedic practitioners. In India, I have my teachers and Gurus, but very few around me or in my circle who truly know and practice Ayurveda.
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?
Learn what is rasa or taste is and how that impacts your doshas and jatharagni (digestive power), your gut, and as a result, your health.