DIPTI ARORA
“Ayurveda is a conscious way of life and not just a health system.”
Dipti Arora is the founder of Thankfully Healthy Teas. Born into an Indian family, entrepreneur Dipti’s knowledge of Ayurveda and yoga inspired her to experiment with her diet and daily routine and helped her to overcome anaemia. Incorporating this ancient wisdom into her modern life led to the recent creation of Thankfully Healthy Teas.
Her home-brewed beverages are teas with Ayurvedic influences that help balance lifestyle doshas thanks to the power of the ancient combinations and ingredients.
Follow Dipti:
Website: ThankfullyHealthy
Instagram: @thankfullyhealthyteas
“ Ayurveda for me represents making better decisions in my day-to-day activities, whether they be connected to movement, food, or emotions.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
For me, Ayurveda translates to simple, conscious daily lifestyle habits.
When did you discover it? How long have you been practising it?
Being raised in an Indian home meant that my mother and grandmother both practised Ayurveda in some capacity, so I have been familiar with it my whole life. In 2019 I lost my job in advertising so travelled to India to see my family where I decided to learn more about Ayurveda so that I could take better care of myself. As soon as I returned to the UK we went into lockdown, which in a way marked the beginning of my full-time journey into Ayurveda.
Has it helped you with anything major?
Yes. I had anaemia until I was 26 years old, but thanks to my training as an Ayurvedic therapist, I was able to remedy it. I genuinely think that Ayurveda has contributed to the fact that I am now the healthiest version of both my physical and mental selves.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
As I have said, Ayurveda for me represents making better decisions in my day-to-day activities, whether that’s in the way I connect to movement, food or emotions. Ayurvedic teachings enable me to function in a way that I didn't know was possible.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
When applied mindfully, my recommended Ayurveda quick fixes are:
- Eating regularly and on schedule
- Using herbs and spices as natural supplements - they really are the most effective
- Understanding the power of a daily routine
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
If you want to learn about healthy living, not just ideas or recipes, but a real philosophy that will give you a better way of life, then the science of Ayurveda makes the most sense.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
100% gradually. As you begin to view things from an Ayurveda perspective, anything and everything becomes possible, for instance, adoption the practise of drinking a warm glass of water every morning. Even if we begin with the simplest daily routine and maintain it, it will be there for you like your best friend, supporting you.
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?
They consider these straightforward methods to be a part of everyday home cooking because, like any other Indian family, they frequently consume healthy foods and beverages that are flavoured with herbs and spices.
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
I frequently cook a 5-minute ghee, cumin, and asafoetida base kitchari, which is my all-time favourite Ayurvedic dish. Ginger is my go-to ingredient, which I include in anything.
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
My goal is to integrate Ayurveda into each aspect of my everyday but, for the time being, my daily principle is to move through and end each day with a highly mindful state of being. As much as possible, I choose routines, practices, and habits that support my physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This is why I think of Ayurveda as a conscious way of life and not just a health system since on some days, none of this is accomplished and on other days, I am able to properly integrate it all.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
It would be much simpler to learn and adjust to a fundamental and very easy Ayurvedic practice of eating fresh foods if canned, frozen, and processed foods were eliminated.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
Yes, a lot of friends know about it.
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?
I'd advise everyone to take good care of their digestive system. I believe that in general, individuals are really reluctant to discuss digestive issues and disorders. That seems to be one of the biggest silent health challenges that people face, based on my personal experience. “You are not what you eat; rather, you are what you digest” as one of my teachers told me when I first began studying Ayurveda, and it is still the most impactful health quote I have ever heard, experienced, or truly believe.