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Katie

2020 Ayurveda School Scholarship Recipients

We are happy to announce the following 2020 Ayurveda School scholarship winners. Thank you for all your soulful and love-filled participation. We deeply appreciate all of the honesty and effort poured into the submissions. Our team watched every single video sent and felt truly inspired by many! Without further ado, below are some of the recipients of this year's 2020 winners and their testimonials.

Jamille Henry | San Antonio, Texas | @goddessjamm

"My name is Jamille and I am from San Antonio, Texas. As a scholarship recipient, I would really like to learn and reconnect with nature and use this knowledge to improve my own health and the health of my family. This also blends beautifully with my studies in nutrition. Doing Shakti school and working toward my degree at the same time, I am seeing how the Western and Ayurvedic sciences connect and it is incredible! I can’t wait to see what other ways I will be able to incorporate the knowledge I gain here."

Amanda Rezenda | New York, New York | @mujerlilith

“My name is Amanda Rezende and I'm from Caracas, Venezuela. Last year, I found the Shakti School scrolling down on my Instagram feed and immediately fell in love with Katie's message. Every time I saw an email from Katie talking about the Ayurveda School my heart beat fast as if it knew that I was prepared to receive that knowledge. I had no doubt, I needed to be part of this, so I applied for the scholarship program; as I recently launched my women-focused online content platform www.mujerlilith.com (soon to be launched in English) to offer holistic information that empowers women in Latin America, Spain and the rest of the world; and couldn't afford the course, due to all the expenses a project like this could result in. I'm on a mission to keep empowering women with the tools I learn and I definitely think being in this course will be an amazing add-on to the library of my life. A library that's in constant service of women around the world as I, undoubtedly, believe we women have a mission to elevate this world's vibration in the next centuries to come. Thank you Shakti School, Katie, Amaury and everyone who works on this beautiful initiative to bring Ayurveda to more women. May your message and knowledge be multiplied for thousands and thousands of generations.”

Marion Martin | Tucson, Arizona | @Solcozy

“I am a diverse explorer, a curious single parent & a passionate desert dweller here in Tucson, AZ. I was raised in South Georgia but have fallen in love with the desert mountains, the sunsets & sounds. I previously studied Hebrew/ Judeo-Christian texts while living in Israel. I am drawn to & inspired by the multifaceted layers of meaning and encouraged discussion surrounding Sanskrit and Ayurvedic philosophies. In 2014 I helped open a 300bed shelter for unaccompanied alien children in Tucson. This work triggered some traumas in me that I am still working to create sustainable healing from. In 2016 I became pregnant & searched out mainly DIY Ayurvedic learning but I also found Shakti school. This scholarship learning opportunity means so much to my own internal support, my ability to parent & hopefully share with my community to offer support. I hope to cultivate my passion for learning Ayurvedic life skills and healing mechanisms along with creating a healthy community & financial stability. I am stoked to learn along with this beautiful group of lovely humans this year.”

Madhu Prana | San Francisco, California | @prana_madhu

“I am Madhu, a visual designer, dancer, and yoga instructor. My early trysts with Ayurveda were during my grad-school days when I would look up Ayurvedic remedies to heal minor health issues. But it is in the last few years that my relationship with Ayurveda truly deepened. I ended up with a painful stomach infection and developed ulcers; it was a very hard time. Doctors put me on antibiotics and while the stomach infection went away, my stomach had become extremely sensitive to all kinds of foods. I could not enjoy a single meal without extreme pain for hours after eating. Around the same time, I had a sciatica nerve injury while dancing as well. That's when I decided to make it my own responsibility to self-heal and started reading more about Ayurveda. I slowly observed and understood my imbalances and made necessary changes to my diet, routine, and started to practice self-care. I was feeling very positive and my energy levels improved significantly. I’m extremely grateful for this ancient healing system that has the potential to transform lives. My vision is to share this knowledge in my own unique way to this world. I consider it a blessing to have found and to learn from a teacher like Katie who is so heartful and passionate about this healing system! I sincerely believe the world really needs love in the purest form which starts with us by loving ourselves and our community <3 Thank you Katie and Amaury for choosing me, I’m soul excited to receive this scholarship and look forward to a magical year with all the wonderful queens of Shakti school!!!”

Alisha Lettman | Vancouver, BC, Canada | @ital.womb

"As a heritage learner, having been gifted this program has been a great blessing. This opportunity to reconnect to such a powerful traditional knowledge system reverberates in my bones, activating a knowing that is bigger than my life. I am inspired to follow this wisdom by continuing on to learn Ayurvedic massage, and incorporate all I've learned in my future Midwifery practice."

Jane Daniels | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | @ncjane77

“Hello, my name is Jane Daniel and I’m mom of three bouncing boys, a holistic health coach, and a female that finally feels like herself at the ripe young age of 42. I was introduced to Ayurveda during my training as a health coach and became more interested in it as I dealt with my personal physical journey of cystic acne, extreme exhaustion, and serious Type A (aka imbalanced Pitta, LOL) tendencies. Through books that fell into my arms, podcasts, and my daily meditation practice that I started 5 years ago, I realized these physical issues were related to images, emotions, and feelings that I haven’t dealt with in my past. I deeply resonate with Ayurveda and want to use this knowledge in continuing to heal myself and intuitively help clients in their own journey of life in a more feminine, fluid way. I love Katie’s perspective and style of teaching Ayurveda and am humbled by the generosity of receiving this scholarship. Thank you for the opportunity and am thrilled to be a part of such an amazing group of women!”

Kelsey Jo Thompson | Twin Cities, Minnesota | @kelseyjothompson

“My name is Kelsey and I am one of the very blessed and honored recipients of the Shakti Scholarship — which, without — being a part of this community would not be possible! I have committed my life to working with kids; teaching them tools to access their own super powers through imagination, playfulness, yoga, breath, connection, creativity, food, and joy! My business is growing as a holistic learning + lifestyle specialist; while I also work part-time as a substitute teacher (preK-12), camp counselor, and yoga + barre instructor. I am an archetypal Pisces who loves the water element and all things associated! If you follow me on IG you will find me at the lake, on the farm, playing with llamas, cooking nourishing foods, or dancing on top of elevated surfaces. I plan to use my Ayurveda education to first heal my own imbalances, and to integrate a holistic health education in the schools by coaching teachers, students, and their families to take control of their own health, too.”

Arlene Salcedo | Temecula, California | @lunasoulwellness

“My name is Arlene Salcedo. I am a Latina who has lived in Southern California my entire life. I am a mother of four beautiful children and a wife to a wonderful husband. I am honored to receive this scholarship to attend Shakti School for the Ayurvedic Wellness Coach Program. Attending Ayurveda school has been a goal of mine for quite some time. I was first introduced to Ayurvedic philosophies during my 200-hour yoga certification training. It was during this time that I fell in love with the holistic approach to health and lifestyle. I am excited to become a certified Ayurvedic Wellness Coach. Upon graduating, I intend to lead Ayurvedic wellness retreats immediately and continue to introduce Ayurveda to my yoga students. I am committed to becoming a healing resource for my Latina community. In leading the practice of Ayurveda in my community, I hope to help facilitate the growth of the Ayurveda lifestyle for future generations. During my practice and growth, I hope to always create a safe and welcoming space for Latinas and other women of color. In the end, my dream is to open my wellness center, where ALL women will feel safe, comfortable, and excited to practice healthy living in the SAME space. I hope to empower all women to be their own healer.”

What’s Love Got To Do With It

Whether you are single or in partnership, we're all in a constant state of relating to one another. Maybe it’s your lover, your husband, or your girlfriend, but it’s also your mother, your best friend, and your neighbor. The list goes on. Inevitably, as any relationship deepens, our emotions become more vulnerable, our fears and personal stories get in the way, and it can become increasingly difficult to approach conflict with love and clear communication, which is what we all ultimately desire.

If we could only take a moment to pause and step back it’s possible that we could have more success when it comes to resolving issues with the ones we love most.

One of the most typical causes of arguments comes from the patterned thought process of seeing the other person as the answer, or source, to your happiness. This is more common in romantic partnerships. In American society we have been taught through pop culture that our partner should be “our everything.” It’s quite a burden to place on one another when in fact our deepest sense of happiness should come from within our own independent well of joy. If we are unable to find our own inner peace and ease, every relationship we are in will suffer because of it.

Many relationships suffer due to our lack of understanding around our own pain and suffering. When we're hyperfocused on our own pain it puts us in a defensive position where from we feel attacked. This can be extremely harmful to the relationship and will be a major obstacle to overcoming the initial or root issue. When you find yourself in an uncomfortable conversation and you are in defense mode, either an argument with a family member or a fight with your husband, try asking the following questions:

What's the story I'm telling myself?

Who am I in this conflict?

What is this conflict truly stemming from?

Do I need to be more independent around this issue?

Only after taking a step back (maybe even taking several days) and answering these questions are you ready to enter back into the conversation with your loved one. At this point you will be far more equipped to clearly communicate what it is that you truly feel and in a way that will be expressed with love rather than coming from baggage, anger, fear, or any other negative emotion.

The issue may always be there, but as we evolve how we deal with the issue, it's possible that the relationship may evolve as well, and the issue may dissolve because of that. Try to see arguments as opportunities for growth for you and your loved one to strengthen your connection, and to align more fully on certain values. It's also an opportunity to examine and tell the truth. It’s always helpful to place yourself in the other’s shoes. Try to understand where your loved one is coming from and put their needs before your own. When we operate from a place of love and presence it makes space for deeper appreciation and understanding. And, could even lead us to embrace the differences that got us into the quarrel in the first place.

Key Take-Aways:

Take a step back

Ask yourself the above questions on how you play a role in the conflict

Communicate how you feel from a place of love

Think less about solving the conflict and more about evolving it

While researching this topic, multiple women came up with the same answer when asked what was the one thing they felt would create more ease in their relationships:

“communicating our needs regularly and finding the balance between getting our own needs met and helping the other person get theirs"

I have a class all about Polarity and Relationship Dynamics, including a powerful 20-minute Body Yantra meditation for igniting your animal magnetism in The Shakti School Subscription, February 2018 issue.

And, if you’re looking for ways to spice up your relationship in the bedroom or to give yourself some extra love, check out our favorite CBD intimacy fluid from FORIA wellness. Make sure to use the coupon code SHAKTILOVE at checkout 🙂

Ep. 75 Tantric Herbalism with Brooke Sullivan

I’m joined in this episode by Brooke Sullivan, Tantric Yogini and Herbalist and Founder of The Wild Temple. We dive into what it means to be a modern Tantrika and its application in medicine and herbalism. Brooke teaches in our Level 2 Ayurveda School training and I’m really excited to share this conversation with our wider audience. This is a must-listen episode to anyone interested in herbal medicine, Tantra and traditional or feminine form medicine.

In this episode you’ll hear:

~Herbalism in the context of Tantra

~Tantric medicine throughout history

~The Misunderstanding of Tantra in the East and the West

~Vitalism and Energy Medicine

~Personal legitimacy and authority

~Our Truth as Kundalini Awakening

~Infrangible! Listen to learn more!

~The Prana in plants

~The methodology of “Whatever Works”

~The importance of a healthy body for spiritual practice

~Feminine Form Herbalism vs Reductionism

~Plants as Yantras

~The role of our lineage in plant medicine and healing

~Connecting to our sense of worthiness and sensuality

~Brooke’s plant recommendations for the modern gal

~Find Brooke online at TheWildTemple.com

Save 15% on Stress Ease by visiting banyanbotanicals.com/katie. And if you are curious about your unique ayurvedic mind-body constitution take Banyan’s free dosha quiz.

This episode is sponsored by ApotheKary! A boutique apothecary based near us on the east coast in DC offering Ayurvedic inspired herbs and blends. Their Seal The Deal aphrodisiac blend is full of adaptogens and natural energy boosters. It features Maca, Acai Berry, Ashwagandha and other good herbs. Use promocode GHEESPOT10 for 10% off your entire order.

Learn more:

HELP US SPREAD OUR POD WINGS

This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
Write us a review in iTunes
Share this show with one friend right now!

From my heart to your screen,

Katie

Ep. 74 Kapha Balancing for Late Winter-Spring

In this quick and information packed episode you’ll learn when Kapha season is and how to stay balanced with food throughout it. A lot of people like doing a spring cleanse, but it’s easy to go overboard and wreck your hormones with an extreme fad cleanse. So listen up and learn how to alter your diet this season in a safe and nurturing way.

In this episode you’ll hear:

~What is Kapha season

~When is Kapha season

~What to do during Kapha season

~How to balance Kapha in the body

~Foods to eat this time of year

~To purchase The Cleanse Workshop click here

Support a great company while you’re supporting your breasts, and save 15% on Breast Care Balm by visiting banyanbotanicals.com/katie

This episode is sponsored by ApotheKary! A boutique apothecary based near us on the east coast in DC offering Ayurvedic inspired herbs and blends. Their Mind Over Matter mushroom blend is going to help you get through the stagnation of Kapha season. It features Chaga, Reishi and Lion's Mane. Use promocode GHEESPOT10 for 10% off your entire order.

Learn more:

HELP US SPREAD OUR POD WINGS

This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
Write us a review in iTunes
Share this show with one friend right now!

Foria Awaken Arousel Fluid and Personal Lubricant

From my heart to your screen,

Katie

The Pelvic Floor & Pleasure

The pelvic floor was designed not to be a muscle you train, but rather a muscle that moves fluidly in connection with the muscles in your lower limbs and trunk of your body. The combination of these muscles working together in a feminine flow is what results in a healthy pelvic floor. Contrary to popular belief, repetitively engaging in kegel exercises (exercises that train the pelvis to contract) is not a balanced approach for strengthening the pelvic bowl, unless you are using them for postpartum recovery or targeting a certain injury or imbalance. Don’t get me wrong, kegel exercises do have their place in women’s health. Kegels and other tightening exercises (like using a jade egg: See p. 198 of Happy, Healthy, Sexy) can be extremely beneficial to mother’s after giving birth or any woman working to retrain, retone, and re-tighten the vaginal walls. Outside of that, when we exclusively focus on contracting the pelvic floor we become vulnerable to many health imbalances including chronic stress, bloating, hormonal issues, and possibly pelvic floor disorder. When our pelvic floor muscles are too tight it can dull our sensitivity to arousal and sexual pleasure. For a flower to open, it must surrender it’s petals. It all comes back to balance.

Did you know that there is a direct line of fascia linking your jaw to your pelvis?

The connection and bio-mechanical relationship that your jaw and pelvis have is particularly helpful for women to understand. It's especially relevant for women with pelvic floor pain. A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics from Hanover Medical School in Germany revealed that TMJ (aka temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction) plays an important role in hip mobility restriction experienced by patients with pain. This indicated a connectedness between these two intrinsic parts of the body.

If you've been stuck in a pattern of clenching the pelvis it may be difficult to even know where to begin when it comes to relaxing those muscles. Going to the jawline can be a more accessible place to start and will seem to magically open the pelvic bowl. Ina May Gaskin, a female healer and wise leader in midwifery, even coined the term “the sphincter law” to explain that if the jaw and throat are relaxed then the buttocks and pelvis will be too. She says, “The state of relaxation of the mouth and jaw is directly correlated to the ability of the cervix, the vagina, and the anus to open to full capacity.” (Gaskin, 2003, p. 170) On the flip side, if you are clenching your jaw often, you’re probably also clenching your pelvis.

How do I know if my pelvis is contracted?

If you exercise frequently, do yoga, stress easily, or wear heels above 1/8th of an inch, your pelvis is probably contracted. In the modern day yoga and fitness world many women are cued to “contract the navel, lift your belly in and up, draw your navel in and pull your tailbone down,” and while these cues may have there place for certain exercises, if you aren’t spending adequate time intentionally doing the opposite and relaxing you are cuing your body to stay in a hyperarousal state. When we wear heels it causes an anterior pelvic tilt.

These incredible bodies we live in were made to keep each body part in balance with the other. If one body part becomes fixed, the whole system has to compensate. This can lead to a chain reaction of imbalance causing our abdominal organs to be squashed and our belly to bloat.

Many of us have lost our sensitivity to even feel this hyper-flexed state because we've become somewhat disconnected from our bodies. By engaging in more fluid, less structured movement, and through time spent softening, surrendering, and relaxing the pelvic floor those muscles will actually become stronger! Just like the rest of the body, when you overtax a certain muscle, you need adequate rest and recovery time in order for that muscle to actually grow and remain healthy.

How can we maintain an overall healthy pelvic floor?

Diversify your movements! Don’t just focus on one exercise. Doing kegels is similar to doing a bicep curl for your pelvis. You’re only going to strengthen one muscle. Try engaging in a wide range of fluid motions. Movements involving squatting, lunging, and lengthening of the limbs will help tone the pelvis while also help to strengthen the extremities which will create ease on the pelvis while also gaining strength and longevity.

Exercises to tone, relax, & strengthen the pelvis:

Breathing practices with elongated exhales
Long walks in shoes without heels
Take pause throughout the day to relax the jaw
Lay down with some massage balls!
Get or give yourself a face massage
Chakravakasana (cat cow) with lion’s breath to loosen the hips and the jaw
Anytime you are doing tightening or strengthening exercises make sure to take adequate recovery time and focus on relaxing the jaw & the pelvic bowl
Our Foam roller and pelvic release classes in the Shakti School Membership Community:

How will having a more relaxed & toned pelvis lead to experiencing more pleasure?

When the pelvic floor muscles are chronically tensed the muscles will eventually become less flexible. When the muscles are unable to move and stretch, sensations will become weakened and the ability to engage with that area emotionally will also become more difficult.

In Happy Healthy Sexy: Ayurveda Wisdom for Modern Women, I wrote: “Pleasure-power has everything to do with cultivating our ability to feel and experience pleasure in daily life-- in and out of the bedroom. It’s about getting quiet and content enough to experience the immense beauty that is always present when our senses are tuned in.” Similarly, when we educate ourselves on the pelvic floor it is essential for us to focus on being in continuous engagement with our bodies. The key element to building strength, fluidity, and our ability to experience pleasure is to return to movements that are less rigid, more balanced, and more fluid. It is there where we will find more ease with the body, mind, and spirit.

Our Favorite Products for Pelvic Floor Health

We LOVE this product. It's main ingredients are Hemp (a source of CBD!) and Kava. It helps relax the pelvic floor and increase blood circulation to nourish your tissues and increase your capacity for pleasure. Get 10% off your order with the promocode SHAKTILOVE.

Jade Eggs Set

Banyan’s Coconut Brahmi Oil

Use promocode SHAKTI10 for 10% off your order with Banyan.

Foods that are good for your connective tissue:

Bone Broth
Ghee
Collagen
Tocos (Plant collagen-like supplement) Receive 15% with code SHAKTISUN
Magnesium
Spring Water
Chia Seeds
Golden Milk
Women's Blend Tea

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19539119

https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/kegel-queen/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4573594/

https://www.alignpt.com/mysterious-connection-pelvis-jaw/

https://www.christinemathesonnd.com/blog/pelvic-health-jaw-tension-connection

Ep. 73 History and HERstory of Ayurveda

In this episode I discuss the difference between a “masculine” approach to healing, often associated with allopathic medicine, and a “feminine” approach to healing, usually associated with holistic and traditional medicines like Ayurveda. We’ll learn why it is important to embrace BOTH forms in their highest expressions. You’ll learn one perspective on the origin story of traditional healing methods and a little bit about the journey Ayurveda has gone through from British colonization to the present.

In this episode you’ll hear:

~The subtlety of dual philosophy

~The place of symptom-based allopathic medicine

~The definition of what I call Feminine Form Medicine

~The psychospiritual origin of so many of our dis-ease

~A brief history of Ayurveda in India

~Ayurveda today in India and internationally

~The HERstory of Ayurveda

Save 15% on Banyan Botanicals Nasya Oil by visiting banyanbotanicals.com/katie

Learn more:

HELP US SPREAD OUR POD WINGS

This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
Write us a review in iTunes
Share this show with one friend right now!