Why I became an Ayurveda Health Counselor: an ever-evolving journey to live my purpose & heal my symptoms.
My 600-hour Ayurveda Health Counseling certification after 2 years of study.
This is not a fad regimen or diet. It is not one-sided. It is not a “let’s just kill the symptoms and move on” deal — this is a roadmap to help you understand why you’re faced with specific health/emotional challenges and what you can do to see them, accept them, and then ultimately, shift them.
When it comes to healing modalities, there’s a slew of options out there (what amazing times we live in, honestly) — hypnotherapy, yoga, breathwork, ice baths, massage, sound healing, Astrology, and on and on…. I have pretty much tried them all and even got certified as a practitioner in several of them: I became a Reiki practitioner, 500-hour registered yoga teacher, Tarot reader, and even a plant medicine guide. When I was ready to embark on yet another training in hopes to tie it all together to create a sustainable business (because honestly, once I really started on this path, working a regular 9-to-5 no longer fit me), I was looking into herbalism programs. I had settled for a local herbal program because I wanted to be in-person, working with the plants hands-on while building community. And even though I hope to become a certified herbalist one day (plants are by far one of my biggest healing allies and greatest passions and I still study from many incredible herbalists), something about that particular program didn’t scream “F yes”! And when it comes to making decisions, I 10000% rely on my intuition — it’s never let me down.So I happily waited for more clarity. Then one day, I was hiking with a new friend. She mentioned she was in an all-women’s Ayurveda school program and was on her second year of study. Until that moment, I hadn’t really considered furthering my study of Ayurveda (we did get basic education in yoga teacher training), but it always seemed too vague and broad and complex to me, where I thought it was all about the three doshas and food lists and some spices and strict diets. Little did I know it was SOOOOO much more than that (and p.s. diets don’t have to be strict).
I love all that I do: writing, yoga teaching & Ayurveda Health Counseling.
‘Ayurveda’ translated is : “the wisdom / science of life.” Sound complicated and broad? It is. But here’s the thing: when you learn the principles of Ayurveda, you learn how many paths you can veer off into because the principles are meant to incorporate every facet of life, whether that’s becoming a doula, an herbalist or selling Ayurvedic oils. The sky’s the limit when it comes to how and where in your life you want to utilize this wisdom (and everyone from stay-at-home moms to physicians can learn and use this in their homes or private practices), and in our school (The Shakti School), we learned from both.Established roughly 6,000 years ago in India, Ayurveda is folk medicine, spiritual practice, and mostly in former years, even surgery! A practice and way of life that encompasses it all includes not just the body, but also the psyche, the energetic body, and the spiritual body. Ayurveda also wasn’t spear-headed by a couple of old men in power, it was downloaded from gifted rishis (seers) in ancient India and transposed to the oldest scriptures known to date, The Vedas.So, we bow to this lineage and give thanks to where it came from, while also recognizing that Ayurveda — although ancient — is meant to be adapted to modern times. And, when the world is simply burnt out from the grind and machines, who couldn’t use the wisdom of nature — from what to eat to how we shift our routines for the seasons to how we answer questions like “wtf do I eat?”“We have cellular intelligence, tissue intelligence, and systemic intelligence. The body speaks its own language. A student of Ayurveda should be sensitively aware of the body’s responses. If you are observant, your body will tell you what to eat and what not to eat.” — Dr. Vasant Lad, (doctor & leader of bringing Ayurvedic education to the west)
Now, seven years after my first yoga teacher training, I see very much how my study of natural practices and medicine from the east has deepened and expanded. I remember my teacher at that life-changing, blissful and challenging yoga training in Nicaragua saying something along the lines of “once you start studying yoga it becomes a lotus flower or mandala, its depth and information is never-ending.” And I deeply believe it would take many lifetimes to learn it all.So, in today’s modern age, what can Ayurveda actually help with?Ayurveda can help with:
What and how you eat — according to your doshic imbalances and the season you’re in (both environmentally & according to the season of your life).Healing on an energetic level: from breathwork to yoga practices to meditation and visualization, energy medicine is real medicine, and the mind is a huge culprit for many diseases.Women’s health: whether you’re experiencing menstrual irregularity or you’re trying to get pregnant or want to have a more nourishing postpartum experience, Ayurveda’s got a whole protocol.Pharmacology — from spices in your kitchen cabinet to herbal remedies you can grow in your garden that will aid digestion, nervous system health, and more, Ayurvedic herbs are not just from India, they should be from your local garden or outside your door to make life more easeful.Big life transitions & changes (how to cope, what to do and how you can support yourself and your loved ones through challenging and unpredictable times, from travel to loss.)How to create a unique daily routine to support your gifts, your imbalances and challenges to boost overall physical and mental health & well-being, and most importantly, how to stay focused, grounded and productive in a way that feeds your soul.
— Preventative health: from seasonal cleansing to tongue scraping to exercise and diet, learn how to cleanse your body on a regular basis to clear ama (toxins) to prevent imbalances and diseases from developing and spreading over time.Stress-reduction: a majority of imbalances and then disease comes from stress, trauma and anxiety/fear — learn the tools to help you feel better today, heal unresolved issues and become confident in how to self-soothe and stay centered in times of more stress.And much, much, much more!
This is not a fad regimen or diet. It is not one-sided. It is not a “let’s just kill the symptoms and move on” deal — this is a roadmap to help you understand why you’re faced with specific health/emotional challenges and what you can do to see them, accept them, and then ultimately, shift them.That is how we really heal.In the near future, I will write about my own personal health journey and how Ayurveda has dramatically helped and empowered me, my health and my life…but for now, I want to share this wisdom with you.
Ayurveda Health Counseling
I am taking on three more 1–1 clients for my Ayurveda Health Counseling beta program: a 5-session in-depth journey over the course of 3 months for the lowest price it will be available for the general public. Whether you’re experiencing non-life-threatening health symptoms, or you want to learn how to relax and self-soothe, or you want to deepen your yoga practice, or you want herbal and dietary help with a supportive counselor who will both challenge you and hold your hand at every step of the way, I encourage you to set up a free call to see if we’d be a good fit working together. You can get in touch via email: brittchristinenelson@gmail.com for a quick 20-minute chat. Again, I am only taking on three more clients for this specific program at this price point, so I encourage you to reach out as soon as you are able!Learn more about the program here and stay tuned for group offerings in the near future.Thank you for reading, and I hope this post inspired you in some way to live life a bit more slowly and in tune with nature — on your own terms.To your health,Brittany