ANGELA SCHROEDER
Angela Schroeder first came to yoga aged 19 as a way of balancing life with a demanding career in IT consultancy and her study of music. Over time corporate life fell away and she left the city to follow her dream of running a holistic practice. In 2014 she found Himalayan Hatha yoga which she now teaches, alongside Prana Kriya yoga and meditation, enjoying the balance of teaching and continuing the lifelong journey of deepening these wonderful yogic practices. She is also passionate about growing her knowledge of sound therapy through various modalities including singing bowls and the voice with the healing sounds of mantra. In 2004 she studied Reflexology at The Bayly School of Reflexology, and shortly after became a board member of The British Reflexology Association helping to grow their community. Since then she has studied Ayurvedic massage and has over a decade of experience giving treatments both privately and in the corporate world, most recently studying Ayurvedic Nutritional Lifestyle. Angela now teaches for corporate clients in London, plus in person classes locally in Surrey, and an online community class for amputees. Angela is available for Ayurvedic consultations and treatments, marmapuncture, Himalayan Hatha, Prana Kyria yoga and meditation lessons, reflexology and sound therapy.
Follow Angela:
Instagram: @angelayurveda9 @breatheinnerpeace9
Website: www.breatheinnerpeace.com
Contact: Angelayurveda9@gmail.com
“AYURVEDA IS A WAY OF LIFE THAT HAS HELPED ME TO RELEASE, RESET AND REJUVENATE MY MIND, BODY AND SOUL. IT CONNECTS ME BACK TO NATURE AND AT ITS VERY ESSENCE IS THE CORE OF MY BEING. “
WHAT DOES AYURVEDA MEAN TO YOU?
Ayurveda is a way of life that has helped me to release, reset and rejuvenate my body, mind and soul. It connects me back to nature and at its very essence is the core of my being in combination with a deep love of yoga, meditation, reflexology and sound therapy.
WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER IT? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PRACTISING IT?
I started my corporate career in my early 20s and my body began to stiffen up!!! I found a local lunchtime yoga class and the rest is history. My first encounter with Ayurveda began in 2010, in meeting Dr Deepika Rodrigo of the Ayurvedic Institute. I received a Panchakarma treatment and followed this up with a course in Ayurvedic Abhyanga Massage and related techniques to complement my existing Reflexology and Japanese Acupressure knowledge practices.
In the years that followed, I deepened my physical practice of yoga in the learning and teaching of Himalayan Hatha, Prana Kriya yoga and Atma Meditation with Yogi Ashokanda in London and India (Tiruvannamalai). Following an invitation from my reflexology teacher, Nicola Hall, to the APPG for All Indian Sciences group at the House of Commons, I met with Angela Hope Murray, distinguished practitioner of Ayurveda, and was welcomed into the professional world of Ayurveda. This expanded my learnings into 'marmapuncture' with Dr Godagama. I then began further Ayurvedic studies with Dr Athique of the Ayurvedic Institute and more recently Dr Sam Watts in the clinical study of Ayurveda and herbs.
I've worked privately and independently as a practitioner at Neals Yard, and more recently the Hale Clinic in Harley Street, crossing over my world of corporate life by integrating, lecturing and managing Wellness Programs alongside consulting at Accenture, HR-Path and currently Workday.
WHAT DREW YOU TO AYURVEDA?
5 years had passed since the birth of my first baby which was a fairly traumatic experience. I felt the pressure of time ticking and was looking for support to move forward. Finding Ayurveda felt like the wisdom I needed and key to conception.
HAS IT HELPED YOU WITH ANYTHING MAJOR?
Sure enough, Ayurveda delivered. The mix of an Ayurvedic detox and continued massage unravelled my mind and body, and by the 3rd lesson on the course I'd conceived baby number two. This time around both pregnancy and birth went like clockwork and my second son was born in a birthing pool without any complications. He is still to this day a very calm soul (I'd also followed some hypnobirthing and NLP techniques too - all in all a great combo).
IS AYURVEDA PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE OR JUST FOR YOUR MEDICINE CABINET OR FALL-BACK ROUTINE?
Ayurveda is very much part of everyday life alongside my daily yoga practice, starting with early morning routines (dinacharya) through to eating a clean diet (including each of the six tastes) and ensuring to have plenty of sleep.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 AYURVEDIC TIPS THAT HAVE WORKED FOR YOU?
Everyday I practice:
Waking up early with the sun
Body brushing
Yoga and meditation
Eating according to the six taste guidelines in every meal and going for a walk afterwards to aid digestion
As a medicine when required I turn to:
Morning Coriander Water (to cool me down)
Morning Immune Boost (ginger, lemon, turmeric and honey paste)
Swapping out onion and garlic for asafoetida
WHAT SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT AYURVEDA?
Its simplicity, effectiveness and deeply rejuvenating results.
DID YOU INTEGRATE IT GRADUALLY OR OVERNIGHT FOR ANY PARTICULAR REASON?
I've integrated the principles of yoga and Ayurveda gradually throughout life as and when I've learnt and experienced the benefits. Putting it into practice has been the key. It's a lifetime of learning that needs time to land in the body, once learnt, always present.
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?
I do not enforce an Ayurvedic diet with my boys, as a single mum there is much to juggle, I'm veggie, the boys are not and that's ok, we share meals when they like the look of what I'm eating and sometimes are surprised to find that it's meat free and tasty. Although at times when my eldest has suffered with teenage anxieties during exam stress I've made comforting and calming remedies such as turmeric milk and helped him relax with simple hand and foot massage and breathing exercises.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE AYURVEDIC RECIPE OR GO-TO INGREDIENT?
I have a very simple remedy for a cold which is my absolute 'go to' to the point that it's been named 'Christmas Tea' by my partner. It's great for anyone suffering with a cold over the festivities because it’s comforting and warming to the Agni (digestive fires). It's a simple mix of coriander seeds, black peppercorns, cloves, ginger boiled in water adding a spot of lemon and manuka honey to serve.Simple yet effective!!! We generally make up a flask to sip throughout the day.
HOW DOES AYURVEDA FIT INTO YOUR DAY-TO-DAY ROUTINES?
Where possible throughout the day I'll stick to certain food groups, for example eating sticky Kapha food groups only in the morning, Pitta warm foods at lunchtime and Vata lighter meals for dinner.
WHAT DO YOU WISH WAS EASIER IN OUR SOCIETY TO MAKE AN AYURVEDIC LIFESTYLE MORE ACCESSIBLE?
Thanks to its simplicity, an Ayurvedic lifestyle is easily accessed, however a cultural shift is necessary in the teaching of proactive health in keeping the immune system strong, and when out of balance finding the 'cause' over taking a tablet to rectify only the symptom in necessary, we live in the west in a society looking for a 'quick fix'!
Unity between the Ayurvedic organisations would really help to grow this message, the great work of these groups will reach those who can influence and work alongside allopathic medicine in harmony.
DO PEOPLE AROUND YOU/IN YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS KNOW ABOUT AYURVEDA?
Yes, my partner and friends know about Ayurveda, they are always intrigued and willing recipients of new ideas and concepts, they follow the protocol of advice and come back for more so hopefully it's helping.
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?
Since the very beginning of my journey into holistic practice I've seen that the western world would benefit hugely from the integration of breathwork. In our fast paced world we are so often in our heads, breathwork offers quick and easy access to learning how to be present and connecting to the body away from the thoughts, it's in this body connection that we can start to re-connect to the self.