ANJA BRIERLEY LANGE
“Ayurveda teaches us that we are part of Nature.”
BIO: Anja Brierley Lange is the author of Teaching Yoga for the Menstrual Cycle - an Ayurvedic Perspective. She began her yoga teaching journey in 2005 in venues and studios across London. Whilst building her community through various classes, workshops and lectures, she became increasingly aware of the limitations of standardised yoga teaching and training. Specifically relating to menstrual cycle awareness, female anatomy and health.
With a strong ambition to better serve the individuals within her community, Anja enrolled at university studying for a four-year degree in ayurvedic medicine. She found herself returning to India apprenticing and working alongside several specialist doctors in hospitals across India. In 2009 she graduated with a bachelor of science (BSc) and a postgraduate degree (PGDip) in Ayurveda.
Since 2013 she has also been training yoga teachers including creating specialist teacher training courses. Now after over 18 years of teaching experience, it is in this space she continues to dedicate her focus and growth. Continuing to broaden her training beyond yoga, in order to obtain and guide a holistic practice, with women’s health at the heart.
Originally from Denmark, she now lives on the Sussex coast.
Follow Anja:
Website: Yoga Embodied
Instagram: @anja_yogini
Facebook: Yoga Embodied
“Often Ayurveda is simply reduced to what dosha you are and what you should eat. And that is very limited. We are not just one dosha and there is a difference between our constitution (prakruti) and our current state (vikruti) as well as how our current environment and season are. ”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
Listening to our inner wisdom. To our body, the natural world and the environment we live in.
Ayurveda is often translated as the knowledge of Life. And for me, Ayurveda offers a framework and support on how to navigate through life - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
Back in 1998, I was travelling in India. I spent some time at one of the Sivananda yoga ashrams and they had a 2-week course in yoga and ayurveda which I enrolled in whilst I was there (this is also where I did my first yoga teacher training course!). But it was really a few weeks later when I saw an Ayurvedic doctor in Kerala I fell in love with Ayurveda and how effective it was.
The turning point though was several years later. I was living and teaching yoga in London at the time and went to see a lecture with renowned ayurvedic physician Dr Robert Svoboda. I knew I had to immerse myself in Ayurveda and study it. It was the missing puzzle in my yoga practice and yoga teaching - and I guess in Life in general. I enrolled at university for a degree in Ayurveda straight away! That was in 2006.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
It really is a language that makes sense to me. Certainly, as a yoga teacher and practitioner, as Ayurveda is often referred to as a sister science of yoga. But also in life in general. It just makes sense. I find it interesting to read current medical research papers yet I also love the language and principles of Ayurveda.
It is a holistic science and art encompassing all aspects of life. And it connects us to Mother Nature and her seasons and cycles. Ayurveda teaches us that we are part of Nature.
Has it helped you with anything major?
It has been a constant stable companion in my life for a while now. As a general part of daily living as well as me seeing ayurvedic doctors myself for specific issues such as sinus pain, anxiety and menstrual health.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Definitely a way of life. I am not rigid or strict at all when it comes to Ayurveda. But the principles of Ayurveda are everywhere. It’s not just about a diet or taking specific herbs. It’s acknowledging that if I feel hot and bothered I will embrace cooling and calming qualities. This can be in my diet but it is also in how approach life in general.
Same if I am ungrounded and anxious. Perhaps I enjoy abhyanga (oil massage), do some grounding soothing and slow yoga, and be aware of what I watch on the telly or how I engage with other people. And how I engage with my own thoughts - this is all Ayurveda too.
The principle of Ayurveda such as the 5 elements, the doshas and the different gunas (qualities) informs these decisions. I also incorporate this knowledge when I teach yoga.
One of the most life-changing lessons Ayurveda has taught me is about our connection to Mother Nature and her changing seasons and cycles and how we are exactly the same. We too have seasons and cycles; 24 hours of sleep, activity, digestion, and rest. The lunar/monthly cycle, the seasons, and the yearly cycle of winter, spring, summer and autumn. And of course the life cycle of being born through midlife to the end of life.
I am very interested in the moon cycle and that of our inner moon; the menstrual cycle. Our culture is so linear that we forget the seasons of our monthly cycle and how much it affects us. Our hormones change and it affects our physiology, our mental state and our energy. In Ayurveda, we look at how the doshas influence our cycle and the menstrual phase. I am so passionate about this topic that I wrote Teaching Yoga for the Menstrual Cycle - an Ayurvedic Approach. Because even in our yoga practice and yoga teaching we rarely acknowledge our menstrual cycle. I wanted to share about the cycle from the Ayurvedic perspective as a sister science to yoga - yet also share more current research along with the classical texts on Ayurveda and the menstrual cycle.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
It was very gradual. I learned a little a long time ago and I have never been someone who would be strict about diets or lifestyles. I live in the Western world as a regular “householder” and it’s about making Ayurveda work for me rather than trying to “fit into” a specific stereotype of a wellness system. Also, all sudden big changes increase Vata dosha according to Ayurveda so gradual is usually a good idea!
I got more immersed in Ayurveda when I was studying it full-time at university and especially whilst apprenticing in Ayurvedic hospitals in India. But the wonderful thing about Ayurveda is that it is a way of living. And it’s a living science. You adjust to where you are and how you are at this moment. Like yoga most of us don’t live isolated in a cave or self-sufficient homestead with time to just meditate. We live a modern life with work, families and the current infrastructure, culture and politics - and we can still apply Ayurvedic principles to support us.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
Kitcheri. Always Kitcheri. So simple and easy. You can keep it very plain or be creative with it too.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Some do. I have a lot of yoga people in my life. But there are also many misconceptions about Ayurveda and how you are supposed to be or eat. Often ayurveda is simply reduced to what dosha you are and what you should eat. And that is very limited. We are not just one dosha and there is a difference between our constitution (prakruti) and our current state (vikruti) as well as how our current environment and season are.
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?
Look at Mother Nature where you grow up and where you live now. What are the quality of the current season, the weather, are you living in the city or countryside, is it dry or humid? All of this affects you.
If you have a menstrual cycle where in your cycle are you? And how do you experience the different phases of your cycle? Can you embrace the changing seasons of hormonal and doshic shifts and work with the power of your cycle rather than against it or simply ignoring it?
As the external environment changes so does our inner experience. We are Nature too with our own seasons and cycles. I would encourage us all to take a moment to just stop and check in with ourselves to notice how we actually feel. And acknowledge our outer environment and how that affects us.
Anything else you’d like to add?
As a yoga teacher and Ayurvedic practitioner, I feel Ayurveda can bring so much understanding and awareness to our yoga practice. If you practise yoga or teach it explore more. Yet appreciate your scope of practice. And if you are curious as to how yoga and Ayurveda can be part of menstrual cycle awareness I’d invite you to look at my book Teaching Yoga for the Menstrual Cycle - an Ayurvedic Approach or join one of my immersions or workshops.