The Shakti School

Feminine Form Sacred Technology

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Ojas-Building “Hot Shake”

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We have to clue you in on one of our ultimate Ojas-building aphrodisiac tonics!
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Ojas is our core immunity- our bodies’ ability to renew itself. In the body, it’s related to our reproductive, hormones, and cerebrospinal fluid. ⁣
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It’s also your psychophysical shield, helping us ward off stress and disease (both physically and emotionally). ⁣
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Having strong ojas isn’t just about building it up, it’s also about not losing it. What (and WHO) we pour our creative energy into (if you know what I mean 😉😉) can deplete our ojas especially if we’re not being intentional. ⁣
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But, when we make love with an attitude of complete surrender, and without fear or reservation, Ayurveda says that it can actually BOOST our sense of trust which in turn builds health. ⁣
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Aphrodisiacs can help turn up our passion-pleasure-zest. What we consume also helps build our emotional-physical-resiliency, aka our ojas. That’s where this ojas-boosting love tonic comes in. ⁣
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This warm, spicy-sweet milk is amazing for building ojas, and when combined with these virility-boosting super herbs, it gives our inner lover just the boost we need. Make it for you and your lover before or after your holy lovemaking sesh (or for yourself!)

 

Ojas-Building Hot Shake Ingredients:

Ojas-Building Hot Shake Directions:

  • If you wish, soak the almonds and dates overnight, then drain. (This makes them more digestible, but is not required.)
  • In a small saucepan, bring the milk to a low boil. Add the herbs and spice and whisk.
  • Pour the milk mixture into a blender, add the almonds and dates, and blend on high for 30-60 seconds, until completely smooth.
  • Enjoy with your lover (or inner lover 😉)
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Carrot & Winter Squash Chutney Recipe

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Ingredients: 

  • 1 small delicata squash or any other winter squash (acorn or butternut would work well), seeds removed and chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1/2 cup roasted and unsalted almonds
  • 1 small piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or ghee
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon asafoetida (hing) - a pinch
  • 1/4 teaspoon ajwain
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/4 teaspoon mustard seed
  • Water
  • Salt to taste

Directions:

  1. In a large pan, add the cumin seeds and roast them for a minute or until they become fragrant. Remove and set aside.
  2. In the same pan, melt 1 tablespoon of ghee over medium heat and add chopped squash and carrots. Add 2 tablespoons of water, cover, and cook 25 minutes, or until softened all the way through. Stir occasionally and add water as needed to keep from sticking to the pan.
  3. In a food processor, combine the roasted almonds, ginger, lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of water. Blend until you have a coarse paste.
  4. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil or ghee, ¼ cup of water and all the spices (asafoetida, black pepper, ajwain, coriander, fennel, mustard seed and turmeric) to the mixture. Once the carrots and squash are softened, remove from the pan and add to the food processor.
  5. Blend again until everything is well combined. You can adjust the consistency by adding a little water as needed.
  6. Taste the chutney and adjust the salt and seasonings according to your preference. Keep in mind that Ayurveda recommends reducing salt for Vata balancing, so be moderate.
  7. Heat a small amount of ghee in a small pan. Add the roasted cumin seeds to the ghee and let them sizzle for a few seconds. Pour this over the chutney and mix well.
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Pumpkin Blow-Ya’ Mind Smoothie (it’s hot!)

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I love a hot fall smoothie. It has both deeply nourishing elements, and some reducing spices to counteract the heaviness. 

This is my go-to. So easy. So good for the time of the season!

Ingredients:

- 1 cup canned organic pumpkin puree

- 1 cup almond milk (or any milk of your choice)

- 2-3 fresh organic figs, chopped (dried if you can’t find fresh)

- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (adjust to taste)

- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

- A pinch of Himalayan rock salt

- Whipped coconut cream (optional, for garnish)

- Chopped dried figs and a sprinkle of pecans and cinnamon (for garnish)

 

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Figs: If using dried, start by chopping the dried figs into small pieces. You can use kitchen scissors or a sharp knife.
  2. Heat the Almond Milk: Pour the almond milk into a saucepan and heat it over low-medium heat. Heat until almost boiling.
  3. Blend the Ingredients: In a blender, combine the canned pumpkin puree, hot almond milk, figs, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, and a pinch of salt.
  4. Blend Until Smooth: Blend the mixture until everything is well combined and the smoothie is creamy. Be careful, its hot! I place a towel over the lid for extra safety. 
  5. Serve: Pour the hot pumpkin smoothie into mugs or cups. If desired, top each serving with a dollop of whipped coconut cream, chopped figs, and a sprinkle of cinnamon for added flavor and presentation.
  6. Enjoy: Serve your hot pumpkin smoothie immediately while it's still warm and enjoy the cozy fall flavors!

Feel free to adjust the sweetness by adding more or less maple syrup according to your taste preferences. This hot pumpkin smoothie with fall spices and figs is perfect for warming up on a crisp autumn day or as a comforting treat by the fireplace.

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Ayurveda-Inspired Pumpkin Spice Latte

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In deep reverence for our Crone Mama Fall, I am bowing before the altar of all things spicy, warm, orange, yellow and brown. (South hemisphere ladies, we see you in your bikinis!)

I am also owning the heck out of my basic self =  1. Yoga pants, 2. Furry Boots and 3. Pumpkin Spice

And so, our new team member, Eva, over here at Team Shakti has come up with this RIDICULOUSLY yummy, Ayurveda-inspired Pumpkin Spice Latte. We are currently *running* to go make this! With warming ginger, black pepper and nutmeg to help kindle your agni plus some grounding pumpkin and Ashwagandha - WHAT more could the vata in each of us need!? 😉☕🍁

Ayurveda-Inspired Pumpkin Spice Latte

Ingredients:

Optional: 1/2 tsp ashwagandha powder, 1 date (pitted or soaked) or 1/2 tsp of maple syrup to sweeten

Instructions: 

  1. Blend all the ingredients together until smooth.
  2. In a small pot, simmer over low heat until warm.
  3. Serve and enjoy!

Modification for Each Dosha:

  • Vata - This recipe is perfect "as-is" for keeping Vata in balance.
  • Pitta - Reduce the heat by removing or reducing the amount of ginger, black pepper, or turmeric.
  • Kapha - Substitute 1/2 cup milk with 1/2 cup water, use just 1 tablespoon pumpkin purée, and/or don't add the sweetener.

We hope you enjoy this delish recipe!

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Discover Our Ayurveda School Graduates Part 1

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Our graduates are up to some really amazing things post-Ayurveda School, and we want to share them with you! Whether you're interested in becoming an Ayurvedic Wellness Coach, or just want to learn the masters of Ayurvedic wisdom, there are endless ways to use your certification. Read below to gain some inspiration and see what some of our fellow grads are up to. You can even reach out to them directly for more information on their unique offerings!

 

Jordana Shay 

"Since graduating from Shakti school, I have created my first 3 dream offers, and I am so thrilled to share them with you and my Shakti family!

DHARMA READING + STORY CLARITY INTENSIVE (Half Day) 

I help guide women who are on their spiritual path, but feel burnt out, back into the story they were born to live. To find their highest calling at this moment in time. If you know you were born for something great, but don't understand how to bridge the gap between your lived story and your purpose, this is for you. Finding our purpose can be easier than we think - like a puzzle, we just need to know how to fit the pieces of our story, original essence and dharma together. We always have the answers within and with the right questions, frameworks and prompts, I'm able to help women remember who they truly are.

And, because finding our purpose can feel so hard, I make my intensives super fun and engaging - with spiritual games, dances, practices and jigsaw puzzles galore!

GAME OF GODDESSES (Half Day)

For all women who have a deep desire to step into the woman you were born to be - whether that’s to rewrite your story, share your unique medicine, or create that entrepreneurial vision. But feel stuck and resistant to moving forward in your life story.

Game of Goddesses is a women’s power reclamation journey into the story you were born to live.

Combining both the masculine outward journey towards transformation through the lense of the hero's journey, with the feminine embodied path to transformation, we deep dive into a journey of embodiment practices and rituals designed to embrace the exquisiteness of your full aliveness as a woman, the human experience and the experience of stepping into your most confident and courageous self. Practices include identifying your unspoken desires, improv identity,  embodiment shadow work like dancing your shadows and connecting with how they serve and protect you, ritualizing the crossing of the threshold into the unknown and more.  My goal is for you to get so comfortable and intimate with ALL of yourself, you can finally move through the fear and resistance into taking action. So you can get what you deeply want in life.

AYURVEDA INSPIRED CHILDRENS' BOOK

3 Breathes to the Sky, my very  first children's book, (in audio form), an Ayurveda inspired bedtime story for kids, empowers parents and children to become the fullest version of themselves.

On this wild ride your kids will take 3 deep breaths and go on a journey all the way up to the sky where they will meet the Sun, their north Star,  the Moon and  Rainbow who will help them celebrate their day, show them how to connect with their ancestors for extra safety and love,  and how to activate their highest creativity and fullest expression. As well as teach them about the connection between sleeping and healing.  Through this book, my children have learned that being who they truly are is the greatest gift to our planet. And that is the message I would love to share with your children too."

 

Abby Ampuja

"In true 'Gemini style', I have been keeping busy with many adventures since finishing Shakti School Level 1 (and starting Level 2!) I continue to run my own business, "Empowered Coaching", where I offer resiliency coaching, reiki healing, with some sweet Ayurvedic tools and wisdom peppered in (https://ampujaabby.wixsite.com/spot-of-serenity). I am planning to offer a workshop this fall for my community entitled "Ayurveda 101", and I've already gotten some keen interest when I mention it to friends and clients. I worked as a professor of Special Education at Meredith College this past year, where I offered resiliency and self-care workshops for both pre-service and in-service teachers--the 'waterfall down the back' is always a big hit! The other branch of my business ("The Empowered Learner") involves working with kids who have exceptional needs; I primarily focus on SEL (social emotional learning), resiliency, and nervous system regulation (http://empoweredcoachinggroup.com/). In a nutshell, the work I've done at Shakti School has seeped into all aspects of my life--both personally and professionally--and I couldn't be more thrilled! Grateful for this community and all that it continues to offer and teach me on my journey of evolution. Many thanks! Namaste."

 

Eva Peterson 

"Hi, I’m Eva, a Level 2 Shakti School graduate. With over 3 years of experience as a Life Coach and Ayurvedic Health Counselor, I guide leaders and changemakers to reconnect to their intuition, their body, and the cycles of nature so that they can heal burnout, master life balance, and ultimately create the change that they want to see in the world while truly enjoying life. I'm also the host of the Happy Me Happy Earth podcast where I share self-development tools and seasonal Ayurvedic self-care practices to help you reconnect to the cycles of nature and your true self.

I strive to embody the love-based, judgment-free, feminine form of Ayurveda that I learned at the Shakti School each day. I have integrated these teachings into my unique coaching business, and continue to revisit the lectures years later as I deepen my understanding of Ayurveda. The wisdom passed on to me through the Shakti School has not only enabled me to heal myself but has also empowered me to help others reconnect to their inner healer. I’m incredibly grateful and honored to be a link in the chain of Ayurvedic healer women. It’s a powerful lineage that extends thousands of years into the past, through the Shakti School into me and my fellow Shakti sisters, and into the future for thousands of years to come!"

 

Megha Choksi

"Megha is an intuitive Energy Healer and an Ayurvedic Wellness Coach. She relocated to Abu Dhabi from Singapore where she began her journey as an Usui Reiki Practitioner. She combines her knowledge of Ayurveda along with Chakra Healing to help you release stress, find balance and gain inner clarity. Through Ayurveda Wellness Coaching, Megha will help you tap into your own body’s inner wisdom to live a life more in alignment with nature and its biological rhythms. Prior to this, she has worked in corporate for over 12 years across different geographies. Her passion and purpose in life is to support people on their self healing journey.

The Shakti School’s teachings helped to deepen my knowledge of Ayurveda and allowed me to better understand myself and my connection to nature. It taught me to be an observer without any judgment and witness how the dance of the different doshas impacts our emotions, actions and our bodies. It has helped me to manage my stress and anxiety and allowed me to live a life in alignment with nature and it’s seasons. I am grateful to Katie Silcox, who is an amazing teacher, mentor and a spirit woman. Her lectures and resources have inspired me to find my purpose in life as a healer and motivated me to share the wisdom of Ayurveda with my clients and friends and family."

 

Mindy Schlechter, MSW, RPYT

"Mindy Schlechter is an Ayurvedic psycho-spiritual wellness + life coach, hypnotherapist, prenatal yoga instructor, long-time labor and delivery social worker, and mama of 2. She teaches women how to hold the same nourishing space for themselves that they hold for others, and her coaching programs focus on restoring self-trust and intuition for healing. She is the owner + founder of Effloresce Coaching where she serves women who are seeking conscious conception, fertility & pregnancy health, postpartum balance, and support during early mothering years. Mindy is also deeply committed to the power of sisterhood and witnessing women along their quest for root-cause healing, as they move away from trauma and stigmatizing diagnoses and embrace their intrinsic wholeness. Mindy’s approach aims to help usher humanity into their next evolution, a consciously created “new earth” of light beings which starts by healing the women who will bear this new generation (and the lineages that will come after them!). Specific service offerings include 1:1 session work (in-person & remote) utilizing cognitive techniques like NLP and hypnosis, somatic techniques through movement/yoga, mindfulness based practices, and Ayurvedic counseling for holistic health. Effloresce also offers group coaching, prenatal yoga classes, women’s circle facilitation, and specialty workshops.

Graduating from Shakti School in 2021 allowed Mindy to finally fit all the pieces of her training together into one cohesive offering that serves mamas on all 4 levels; physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual! She is now enrolled in Level 2 and plans to deepen her offerings and scope of practice upon completion."

 

Claudi Sult

"Claudi is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor (600 hrs), mama, enthusiastic traveller, conscious creator and (com)passionate foodie. With her new project “Moonlit Mamas” she opened a holistic healing haven for Mamas in all stages of motherhood. Weaving together the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, Tantra & other feminine form medicine, she helps women to cultivate peace & balance, abundant energy & radical self love. Reconnecting with the woman beyond the mother & allowing her to make herself a priority! Claudi holds space through empowering workshops, 1:1 consultations and women’s circles & ceremonies, both online and offline in Portugal’s wavy Southwest coast.

Initially, I signed up to Shakti School for my personal healing. But only a few weeks in, the healer woman in me started to awaken - which has been in my lineage a long time ago, yet dormant through for many generations. The last 2 years transformed me to the depths of my tissues. I learnt to come back home into my body, heal my nervous system, open my heart, let go of my little demons, surrender and fully trust in the ever-present love and support of Mother Nature, the elements, the universe. On top of that, I found a "home" full of inspiring, light-spirited Shakti women, who continue to guide and hold me beyond our studies. Bowing to Katie & the team for gifting this to the world."

 

Kellie Hoffman

"Shakti School did inspire me to open my own business. During level 2, I also took Brooke Sullivan’s Sage Roots 200 hour level yoga training. I like doing the combination of yoga and Ayurveda because I feel they belong together. I love bringing these teachings to my community. My business is Be Centered Health Coaching & Yoga."

 

Caterina Boutagy

"Since completing my first year of ayurveda school, I have been building an online platform called Studio Ojas. It's a space where I share ayurvedic recipes, PDF guides, and lots of yoga and body yantra (meditation) practices. Alongside Studio Ojas, I also have a yoga retreat business called Rasa Lila. I just finished up a retreat in Bali where I offered my first ayurvedic herbal wisdom workshops, and my clients absolutely loved it. I am so grateful to all that I have learned in Shakti School, and how I have been able to weave the teachings alongside my work as a yoga teacher."

 

Jackie DeConti

"As a lover of many things, I am the host of Elixir Podcast, founder of Madre & The Muse, an Ayurvedic wellness company, and co-founder of Terra Sol Sanctuary, a yoga studio in Wilmington, NC. 

Having graduated from Shakti School Level 2 in 2022, as an Ayurvedic lifestyle guide, I work within the realms of feminine-form Ayurveda to inspire and empower women - infusing ancient wisdom with rituals and practices accessible to the modern world. With a multifaceted background in education, yoga, art, and music, I offer one-on-one Ayurvedic wellness consultations, private and public workshops, weekly live music yoga sessions, and yoga teacher trainings. My offerings weave in mindfulness and playfulness through a variety of experiential modalities. I am so grateful to the teachings that I learned from the incredible teachers in Shakti School and the community of fellow graduates that I still am connected with today."

 

Veronica Burgess Loomis

"My passion is in helping mothers with teenage daughters shift from feeling shame, disconnection and overwhelm to feeling empowered, connected and supported to strengthen their mother-daughter bond.  As a mother of two daughters, I wanted to create an offering for mothers who may have spent many years disconnected from this part of themselves emotionally, physically and spiritually. I also wanted to create a space for mothers to come together and feel supported as they are in the cycle of their daughters moving from childhood to womanhood. We need community and connection and I learned that from being in Shakti School. I have experienced firsthand how the teachings of Ayurveda and Tantra have had an impact in my own life and how I approach mothering. By integrating the feminine-form teachings from Shakti School, I was able to reconnect to my body and reclaim my story and all my parts and pieces. I found the most benefit in attuning to cyclical living and implementing womb care into my life. This allowed me the deeper connection to my own intuition and to mother from within. The more aware we are of our own cycles the more we can share this with our daughters to support them in their transitions. The teachings and the sacred container of Shakti School is something so invaluable and I can't seem to sum up in words. I deepened my understanding of myself, tapped into my heart in ways I never had before and made so many lasting connections. And I am still feeling the ripples of my time at Shakti School through my life in such a beautiful way."

 

Tara McKinney

"I’ve made a career out of serving others, though not in a way that always honored my needs. Ayurveda and The Shakti School helped me change that. They gave me so much more than teachings and practices. They gave me more access to the deeper layers of my being. I learned how to prioritize filling my cup and serve others from there. For that, I bow to all my teachers, including my Shakti sisters. 

I recently launched two businesses. Soul in Service Consulting focuses on enhancing nonprofits’ sustainability and impact via program design and personnel development. I help nonprofits align the way staff work with the rhythms of Mama Nature in order for staff to think more clearly and creatively, feel better in their bodies, and experience a higher quality of life overall. As staff receive more aligned support, it uplevels the support they offer those they serve. 

Also dear to me is accompanying women out of patterns of depletion and into ones of nourishment. Soul in Service offers Catholic women a Christian approach to wellness that helps them shift from faith as self-sacrificing service into faith as self-nourishing service. I integrate Catholic pastoral theology from my Master of Divinity (the professional degree of Catholic priests) with the teachings and practices of Ayurveda and yoga. Presently, I offer three ways to work with me: a three month group program; individual accompaniment via spiritual direction, coaching, or mindful movement; retreats and immersions."

 

Hadlee Garrison

"Hi I'm Hadlee, and I'm an Ayurveda Health & Life Coach, and founder of Happy Healthy with Hadlee. I help ambitious women stop the all-or-nothing cycle when it comes to their health so they can stop obsessing about their bodies and start really thriving in body, mind, and spirit. My health coaching program, Happy Healthy Habits, combines the foundational habits & routines of Ayurveda, food & body psychology, and nervous system regulation & emotional processing to help members experience greater health, energy, confidence, capacity, and joy in their everyday life.

I had coached people utilizing the wisdom of Ayurveda for 3.5 years before starting Shakti School. But Shakti School helped me bring all of these concepts so much deeper – both in my personal embodiment, and in making me a more effective coach. I especially appreciated the focus on emotional processing and nervous system support that is woven throughout Shakti School, which I haven't found in any other training. I'm so grateful to Shakti School – I have found that I'm so much more confident and compassionate with myself and others, and my clients' results have become even more profound than they were before! Thank you Katie and all the other amazing teachers in Shakti School!"

 

Claudia Batschari

"I have started my own business already during Level 2. It is called 'Ayurveda with Claudia’ and it is all about bringing everything I have learned about Ayurveda, wellness, and the feminine etc. in the last 2 years, into my community. My interest is to empower people and to give them tools to come closer to themselves again, trust themselves, get more embodied and remember their gifts, strength and inner voice.

I have- and had already quite a few 'one on one' clients, I first started with family and friends and now the circle is growing wider and wider. I have run 2 retreats (so far with friends), done 1 workshop and 1 very successful online cleanse. I have loved it all and I am learning constantly and my head is brimming with all the ideas I have and I love immersing myself further and further into this realm which I love.

Through my time in Shakti School I have gained so much strength and trust in myself that even if a critical voice comes in, when I feel into myself even deeper, I am vey clear about what my path is- and that it will go well! I feel at home in myself and with myself and it's been the best thing I could imagine. Before I started with Shakti School I have been running my own business called zanzibar-retreats, a website for beautiful handpicked accommodation in Zanzibar, for over 15 years and it is still running strong but I have taken myself more and more out. One of my visions is to eventually run an Ayurvedic retreat in Zanzibar and thus merge these two businesses…!!!

Our little European Shakti Sister Study group is still going strong and we meet once a month online. Watching each other spreading our wings is pure magic.

I am German based in Cape Town (I am currently for a 2 months sabbatical in Berlin) and would love to also extend my offerings to Germany and globally through online options."

 

Sheridan Ruth

"As a somatic trauma therapist specializing in nervous system regulation for anxiety free relationships with love and money, Ayurveda school has been infused into my work and given me new ways to support my client’s nervous system’s through the deep healing process. It has also supported me as I’ve expanded into more 1:1 work and even opened up Body Based Business coaching."

 

Amore St Ives

"Amore has the roots of the Pacific Northwest and the spirit of the Southern Coast.  She spent many of her formative years exploring the healing powers of nature in Portland Oregon that initiated her love of untethered travel and learning.  She went to school at The University California - San Diego, The Art Institute, Ashford University and Shakti School of Ayurveda to follow her passion for people, movement, art and wellness.  Currently she holds degrees in psychology, interior design, theatre dance and a Masters in management.  She is also a certified personal trainer and wellness coach.  In 2001 she served in the Peace Corps, Ghana Africa as a health and sanitation teacher to local villages.  Upon returning from Africa Amore was diagnosed with two auto-immune diseases; ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis.  This has only activated a deeper yearning to learn and share her experience and knowledge as a collective community of healing.

She continues to tap into her exploratory nature through her world travels, continuing education opportunities and yoga practice.  She is E-RYT 500-hour yoga certified, 600-hour Ayurvedic practitioner and plans to complete her doctorate in Ayurvedic medicine and philosophy.  Over the past 10 years she has facilitated countless trainings, workshops, retreats and community events integrated in yoga, nutrition and whole life wellness. Currently she is the CEO of Modrn Medicin, a wellness center including yoga, Ayurvedic café and treatment room in San Diego, CA.

Modrn Medicin: Modrn Medicin uses a whole system approach to wellness through the inclusion of nutrition, movement and community.  Our storefront location in San Diego, California offers health enhancing foods and drinks that are infused with medicinal plants.  We include the benefits of these healing remedies as part of the MM experience as well as offer educational workshops.  Our menu evolves seasonally to enhance the restorative effects of plant based medicine. MM also offers movement classes, sound healing, community acupuncture and special events.  Our community can also work with a private Ayurvedic counselor for customized health plans.

Shakti school has been instrumental in solidifying the root foundation of Ayurvedic healing for my own wellness journey, the services I offer my private Ayurvedic clients and the core values of my Ayurvedic company, Modrn Medicin. It also empowered me with the confidence to open the first physical Ayurvedic cafe in San Diego, California. I am so thankful for the community that Shakti school created for us and the endless opportunities to share the wonders of this ancient healing. It will be a part of me and my dharmic service always."

 

Crystal Hoshaw

"I've been studying and embodying Ayurveda in my life since my teens, but Shakti School finally gave me a way to synthesize my learnings and become certified so I can help others. Through my business, Simple Wild Free, I offer group and 1:1 coaching for women to make peace with their bodies and their plates through embodied eating. Using the wisdom of Ayurveda, intuitive eating, somatic practices, and mindful self-compassion, I teach the techniques and the mindset shifts necessary for receiving deep nourishment from food—on the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. Shakti School has been a huge catalyst in my work, as the community itself has the depth and self-awareness to reflect on how we apply Ayurveda to our own lives. Through the wisdom of the SS teachers, I saw that even Ayurveda isn't immune to the ills of wellness culture, and that a compassionate, feminine, and embodied approach is the key for myself and thousands of women out there to find true healing and self-acceptance."

 

Emily Iannuzzelli

"Seasons IV was founded by two sisters who struggled to find seasonally appropriate skin care. Inspired by Ayurveda, each formulation is designed to provide your skin exactly what it needs in the Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. We source the highest quality ingredients so you can glow year-round!  Emily Iannuzzelli is a graduate of Shakti School and was inspired by Meredith's Klines skincare module.  Recognizing how much work it takes to learn Ayurveda, Emily wanted to translate the wisdom of Ayurveda for clients who may not have the time or resources to dedicate to studying.  Emily has also translated the wisdom of Shakti School into several offerings at her improv theater in Baltimore including "Improv and the Nervous System," "Meditation for Improv," and "Improv as a Mindfulness Practice.

Emily Iannuzzelli is a graduate of Shakti School and was inspired by Meredith's Klines skincare module.  Recognizing how much work it takes to learn Ayurveda, Emily wanted to translate the wisdom of Ayurveda for clients who may not have the time or resources to dedicate to studying.  Emily has also translated the wisdom of Shakti School into several offerings at her improv theater in Baltimore including "Improv and the Nervous System," "Meditation for Improv," and "Improv as a Mindfulness Practice."

 

DaLisa Fritts

"I’m DaLisa, a Certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor, RYT-200 Yoga Instructor, fur mama and people person. A few of my favorite things are sun dresses, being barefoot in the grass, and a fully stocked kitchen.

My wellness journey started in my 20’s, but really I had struggled all my life with my health. My journey actually began when I became aware that even though all my issues were “normal” they didn’t have to be my reality.

I wanted more for myself, my future, and my family. I wanted to feel like the best version of myself everyday, and to bring that feeling of wholeness out in other women. To be a source of education, empowerment and support - the stuff we didn’t learn or have access to growing up.

DaLisa Fritts is a certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor specializing in women’s health from the Shakti School of Ayurveda. She is the founder of Blooming Luna Wellness where her mission is to educate, empower & support women on their life-long wellness journey. Specializing in stress management, nervous system work and loving awareness, DaLisa uses Ayurvedic practices, yoga, self-care and breathwork to help clients tune into their body’s wisdom & restore healthy balance in their life. By reconnecting to our natural rhythms through seasonal foods, herbs, spices, daily practices, movement & self care we can tap into the body’s inner wisdom and restore balance in our digestion, sleep, and mental health. 

DaLisa works in-person & virtually one-on-one as well as hosts workshops & retreats with women of all ages and life-stages to help them feel their best, bring awareness to their unique needs, and take control of their health."

 

Diana Damian

"Peristeam Hydrotherapist and Ayurvedic Wellness Coach since 2020, born and raised in Romania, living in Berlin since 2009. Pelvic Steaming with a plan is my jam. I combine my knowledge of Ayurveda and Pelvic Steaming to balance out the reproductive system. Since my training I have supported women in getting pregnant naturally, managing endometriosis and fibroids, dissolving cysts and trauma, balancing out painful periods and cycles as well as vaginal infections, during labor preparation and postpartum recovery, as well as in welcoming the menopause with ease. My next project is to approach teens and the menarche, to "start them young" and have an impact on the long run. On my website you can find podcasts, testimonials and blog articles.

I work as a steam guide, with constant support via chat or email over a span of 1, 2 or 4 months - depending on what timeline suits the client best. Having someone on your side during the changes which come with pelvic steaming is an important part of the healing journey. After filling out the (menstrual analysis) intake form I create a tailored steam plan including Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle guidelines according to your symptoms. Depending on the root causes, steaming might not be enough. In the end it all comes down to your digestion, both physically and mentally. Ayurvedic guidelines support you in increasing your digestion on all levels which impacts directly the reproductive system."

 

Zeynep Kesmis

"As a mother of two, it has been a challenge to remember to take care of myself and Shakti School just provided me the gentlest space to do that. The whole year was a journey to myself. This endless journey is one that I could not go alone. I feel so grateful for having joined this community and having learnt so much. All the teachers and Katie have affected my life in many ways and whenever I practice Ayurveda, I remember all the lovely teachers we had, the authentic ways they each told us their approaches. There really is something so magical about this school that is hard to put into words for me! I simply cherished the wisdom and compassion conveyed.

After receiving so much love and light, it was inevitable for me to share what I experienced. To fulfill that, I had the courage – putting myself out there is usually the least I like to do - to establish a personal website where I could connect and provide hopefully similar support that I received in my own journey.

I just feel that this positivity has a big ripple effect and we are all connected much more than we realize. This website is practically me practicing to follow my heart!"

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What It Means to Get ‘Juicy’ and Why You Should Try It

By Crystal Hoshaw

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A few things might come to mind when you hear the word juicy, but I’m not talking about couture or the Notorious B.I.G. 

Getting juicy doesn’t have anything to do with squeezing into a velour tracksuit or sporting curves like the Kardashians. 

It’s an inside-out affair that has to do with every layer of the self, from the subtle to the most physical. In fact, being juicy is one of the telltale signs of radiant, whole-person health.

So what does it really mean? In simplified terms, being juicy refers to lubrication. 

So much of the body depends on lubrication for optimum health, from the joints to the mouth to the eyes to the sexual organs. 

On a more microscopic level, the skin relies on lubrication in the form of collagen—a protein—and ceramides, a fat necessary to protect the skin from the elements as well as pathogens.

Plus, there’s even an emotional element to lubrication, if metaphorical. Think bouncing back from difficult emotions, resilience in hard times, or letting things roll off you like a big rubber raincoat.

The best way to think about the type of lubrication I’m talking about is to picture a big, juicy grape. Then compare it to a raisin. The raisin is dried up and shriveled, and doesn’t contain nearly the same amount of water as the grape. 

When it comes to wellness, we’re going for the grape.

Giving juiciness a name: Ojas

While there’s no equivalent for this type of all-encompassing lubrication in Western medicine, there is a name for it in Ayurveda: ojas. 

Sometimes translated as “vital fluids,” ojas is the juicy quality that makes life feel abundant, insulates us from the cold, and acts as a pathway for pleasure. 

Without it, life is dull, dry, brittle, and tight. It not only lacks hydration—it lacks flexibility, adaptability, and that je ne sais quoi, in-the-flow vibe that brings about joy. 

The lubrication that ojas provides is also responsible for immunity, as ojas feeds the mucous membranes and ceramides layer that are integral in keeping out infection.

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Physical effects of low ojas

When it comes to the physical body, there are several physical symptoms that may point to a lack of ojas:

  • dry skin and lips
  • brittle hair and nails
  • scanty sweating
  • dry mucous membranes
  • premature wrinkles
  • reduced immunity
  • vaginal dryness

An extreme lack of ojas can actually affect the nervous system and the cerebrospinal fluid, which provides nutrients to and protects the brain and spine. 

The nerves themselves are wrapped in a layer of myelin, a plasma membrane that helps protect them and contains the electrical impulses they carry. 

Without myelin, the nerves can become like livewires, which can be the beginning of a number of neurodegenerative disorders. 

 

Psychological effects of low ojas

Since ojas impacts the nerves, brain, and spine, it may not come as a surprise that the juiciness of ojas—or lack thereof—can affect the emotions as well. 

Psychological effects of low ojas can include:

  • insecurity
  • anxiety
  • paranoia
  • feeling ungrounded
  • feeling unsafe, or like you don’t belong
  • fatigue and tiredness
  • brain fog and poor memory

Needless to say, ojas is a must on both a physical and psycho-emotional level. 

When it comes down to it, ojas could be considered the closest physiological correlate to self-love. As such, it’s the core as well as the byproduct of a healthy wellness routine that’s focused on deep well-being. 

In other words, ojas is the refined essence of life that makes us feel like we’re wrapped in a big, warm, protective hug.

How to get juicy from the inside out

Now you know how essential ojas is for feeling your best, inside and out. Here’s how to dive into juiciness in every aspect of life. 

Focus on the sweet

While diet culture so often tells us to shun sweet things, ojas relies on sweetness to grow and flourish. 

However, sweetness doesn’t just come from sugary foods like cookies and cake. There are a whole host of things that can bring sweetness into your life, like:

  • a tender hug from a loved one
  • giving yourself a slow, sensual massage
  • a heart-to-heart chat with a dear friend
  • a cozy cuddle-up with a warm blanket, a tea, and a good book
  • listening to uplifting, inspiring music
  • surrounding yourself with colors that energize you
  • placing fresh plants or flowers throughout your space
  • eating your favorite comfort foods (especially when cooked with love!)

When you reframe sweet to encompass more than just the tub of ice cream in the freezer, you can start to meet your craving for sweet from other places. 

It doesn’t mean you have to skip the sweet foods—it’s just a way to expand where you get your sweetness from. 

The bottom line is that when you crave sweet, it’s often a deeper craving than the desire for sugar. It often speaks to a more subconscious desire for:

  • rest
  • calm
  • love
  • affection
  • tenderness
  • softness
  • a sense that you’re safe, held, and belong

By regularly and intentionally giving yourself the sweetness you crave in a variety of ways, you can reduce your dependence on any single source. 

This can do wonders for the quality of your diet just as much as it can for the quality of your relationships! 

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Take hydration to the next level

If getting juicy is the opposite of feeling dried out, then hydration can help you get there. 

Hydration can happen on so many levels, from getting enough water to using your favorite moisturizer.

Here are some quick tips for getting deeply hydrated:

  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Add sea salt or trace minerals to your water.
  • Eat healthy fats like ghee and avocado oil.
  • Keep your skin barrier happy and protected with oils and moisturizers.

How much water is “plenty?” About half to one ounce per pound of body weight, according to Penn Medicine.

Salt and trace minerals can help add back important macro and micro minerals to the body. These are important for a number of reasons, including:

They also contain important electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium that support healthy hydration by affecting the amount of water your body retains.

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Make fat your friend

As mentioned above, healthy fat is one way to moisturize the body from the inside out. Adding healthy fats to your diet ensures your tissues are getting enough lubrication (read: juiciness). 

According to a 2021 review, omega−3 fatty acids can protect against metabolic disorders and chronic disease by increasing α-linolenic acid (ALA) in the diet. 

There are a number of great dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids, including:

  • walnuts
  • edamame
  • beans
  • chia seeds
  • hemp seeds
  • flax seeds
  • tofu
  • seaweed
  • fish like salmon, mackerel, and anchovies
  • MCT oil

Of course, you can always add an omega-3 supplement to your diet too. 

According to Ayurveda, ghee, or clarified butter, is considered an ideal healthy fat that’s used in cooking as well as body care. 

Along with being high in omega-3’s, ghee is a great source of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid that may help reduce inflammation and support digestive health. It’s also high in antioxidants and fat soluble vitamins.

Healthy fats are incredibly beneficial for the health of a number of body systems, but it’s still important to maintain balance in your fat intake.

Moisturizing 3.0

You may know that moisturizing is essential for skin health, but there’s so much more to moisturizing than just applying lotion or serum.

Ayurveda recommends self-massage with oil, also known as Abhyanga, on the daily. 

This practice is incredibly soothing and relaxing when done with patience, presence, and care. It also often involves medicated oils or ghees that are deeply nourishing to the skin. 

These oils may also include herbal blends for encouraging specific health outcomes, and can be warmed to help open the pores for increased absorption. 

Applying warm oil to the entire body from head to toe each day is a wonderful way to send a signal to your body that it’s loved, nourished, and cared for. 

It’s also a sure-fire way to up your juiciness. 

The takeaway

Getting juicy goes beyond the surface level. It’s about bringing on the ooey-gooey love into every aspect of your health, from your emotions to your diet to your skin. 

With a few simple lifestyle habits, you can be dripping with juiciness—in other words, glowing with self-love from the inside out.

Sources:

Ahmad R. (2015). How Much Water Do You Need Each Day?. https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2015/may/how-much-water-do-you-need-each-day

Bali S, et al. (2019). Ghee: the much maligned cooking medium, now slowly reclaiming its

therapeutic reputation. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sharadendu-Bali/publication/356498949_Ghee_-_The_Cooking_Medium_for_Good_Health/links/631d8079071ea12e3624b02a/Ghee-The-Cooking-Medium-for-Good-Health.pdf

Borycka-Kiciak K, et al. (2017). Butyric acid – a well-known molecule revisited. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5497138/

Chycki J, et al. (2017). The effect of mineral-based alkaline water on hydration status and the metabolic response to short-term anaerobic exercise. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5676322/

Gaffney-Stomberg E. (2018). The Impact of Trace Minerals on Bone Metabolism. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12011-018-1583-8

Han F, et al. (2019). Neuroinflammation and Myelin Status in Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Normal Aging Brains: A Small Sample Study. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/pd/2019/7975407/

Kumar Saini K, et al. (2021). Omega−3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs): Emerging Plant and Microbial Sources, Oxidative Stability, Bioavailability, and Health Benefits—A Review. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/10/1627

Mohammadifard N, et al. (2017). Trace minerals intake: Risks and benefits for cardiovascular health. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2017.1406332

Morell P, et al. (n.d.). The Myelin Sheath. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27954/

About Crystal

Crystal Hoshaw has been a student of yoga since 2004 and a student of Ayurveda since 2007. She earned her Ayurvedic Wellness Coach certification from The Shakti School after years of on-site study in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Thailand. She marries her knowledge of Ayurveda, mindfulness, and yogic philosophy through coaching and courses at www.simplewildfree.com. You can also find her on Instagram. 

 

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2023 Ayurveda School Scholarship Recipients

Scholarship Winners!

We are happy to announce the following 2023 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 2023 winners and their testimonials.

 

Rosa Rodriguez | Austin, Minnesota | @brujabonita_

"Hola! My name is Rosa, born and raised in Texas, but have made Minnesota my home for over 20 years. My roots come from a Mexican decent, both my parents and older siblings were born and raised in Mexico and I couldn’t be more blessed to have that fire running through my veins. I found Ayurveda very interesting because all of the wonderful approaches to healing oneself through natural medicine and not a one size fits all kind of scheme. I grew up where folk medicine is a traditional way of healing and finding remedies through nature is very common (mind, body & soul). I truly believe this knowledge will add so much more to my current lifestyle and most importantly help me, help others, in finding their way of healing for their own bodies (physically, mentally and spiritually). I also plan on finding ways to incorporate both Ayurveda and folk medicine together to help not only continue my healing journey, but guiding others looking for alternative ways to western medicine. Ayurveda adds so much consistency to my ~Bruja Bonita~ creation and leads me to wholeheartedly believe I am on the right path. I am completely over the moon having received this scholarship for Shakti School and my heart is filled with gratitude! Thank you so much for this opportunity! Para siempre agradecida."

 

Gretchen Clore | Indiana | @gretchenlouiseclore

"Originally, I was led to Ayurveda via my past yoga teacher trainings. I wanted to study Ayurveda more in-depth, but it took me nearly 3 years to find a school/program that felt right for me. I found The Shakti School through Brett Larkin and Nicole Foos. After listening to Katie's Spirit Sessions podcasts, I was hooked!  This program is a perfect fit for my lifestyle as I teach yoga part-time, recently remarried, and am a bonus momma for an 11-year old girl who is involved in lots of extracurriculars. 

I was worried about "fitting in" because I am 56-1/2.  The study of Ayurveda appeals to me more than ever now because it is helping me navigate the menopausal years in a more natural and compassionate way. As a vata dosha type, I have all of the tendencies: anxiety; dry skin, hair, tongue; cold hands/feet, fast walking, love of travel, hatred of being in one place, doing too many things at one time, understanding concepts immediately but then forgetting them just as easily. My natural tendencies impacted my experience of menopause by disturbing my already-fragile sleep.  I'm happy to report that I'm finally in a place where I can slow down and really lean into this experience. My tribe is helping me to remember that Love is Strengthening Me, and Self Doubt is Weakening Me. As I inhale, my mantra is "Stay in my heart"; as I exhale, my mantra is "Live less in the mind".

Thank you Shakti School for believing in me and giving me this incredible opportunity to be situated in the truth of who I am."

 

Julee Davidson | Michigan | @juleestar

"Hi my name is Julee Davidson and I can’t begin to explain how grateful I am to have been chosen for a partial scholarship with The Shakti School. The unconditional love and support that this community of women has given to not only myself but to thousands of women throughout the world is both amazing and awe inspiring!  

For years I have suffered with migraines and intestinal issues along with being scattered and unfocused, but thanks to Ayurveda and the Shakti School I am completely healed, not only of physical issues but my life has opened like a beautiful lotus flower to living a spiritual life full of beauty and purpose. 

My goal is to transform others' lives like I was through the Shakti School with Katie and all the wonderful teachers we had. This experience continues to hold that sacred space for me!  Om Shanti Shanti Shanti"

 

Taylor Iverson | Canada 

"My name is Taylor and I come from a small town in Northwestern Ontario. Like many, it was Yoga that sent me on a journey to travel and search for the deeper roots of this wild reality we call life. I first dabbled in the wisdom of Ayurveda during a yoga course and knew I would one day return to it. Shakti school has been beyond what I could have imagined, making the ancient teachings so accessible to us 21st century women. I'm currently living on the west coast of Canada, a student of creative writing at Vancouver Island University and Yoga Therapeutics at Ajna Yoga Centre. My hopes are to be able to use my voice, both on paper and with clients within my community to help resurface the nature-knowledge that is timeless. It's been just short of a decade since I've first embarked, and the change that's happened in that time, within mainstream health's openness and confidence in these practices, is amazing."

 

Katricia Kelly | Las Vegas, Nevada | @katriciakellyyoga

"I am a San Francisco native that has made Las Vegas her home for the past 28 years.  I love the desert landscape and its scenic views.  If I could hike every week I would as the mountains bring me so much peace and calmness.  But, when the trail isn't available, then you can catch me hanging out with my cute little dog Tazzy or inside of a yoga studio.  Either taking a class or teaching one.  I'm also a huge foodie and love supporting my local restaurants. I've been a yoga teacher since 2015 and I can honestly say that achieving this goal has been one of my biggest accomplishments.  I feel that combining Ayurveda with yoga will benefit my students even more.  They both look at the human being as a whole.  They compliment each other and would be beneficial for self healing all around.  I would love to incorporate workshops and private sessions for the Las Vegas community.  Offering a complete package of love & wellness!" 

 

Leanne Warren | Massachusetts | @lwarren05

"Hi 🙂 My name is Leanne Warren and I am from Littleton, MA! I am truly so grateful to The Shakti School and the scholarship program for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow. Being a part of this Ayurveda community and being introduced to so many people across the world is truly a beautiful thing that is hard to put into words. I have to give a huge shoutout to Nikki Nie, a Level 1 Shakti School graduate who is now enrolled in Level 2, who introduced me to the world of Yoga, Ayurveda, and loving myself first. Finding Nikki and this path has put me on such a divine journey of self-healing, self-love and exploring knowledge.

I knew that 2023 was the year that I would expand my mind and gain knowledge in so many fields that I love. I am here to learn more about the overarching beauty that is Ayurveda, what it means, how to use these practices, and how to balance myself first before I apply that knowledge to others. Maybe this course will bring me to the work of helping and healing others but first I need to help and heal myself. Whether I share this knowledge professionally or personally, these Ayurvedic tools will always be a constant in my life. It really is such an honor to be taught this sacred knowledge and I know The Shakti School will only push me closer to the life I want to live!"

 

Fanny Akasha | Berlin | @fanny.akasha

"My name is Fanny, I am originally from France, based now in Berlin for many years. I used to work in a marketing company for many years, until I finally found the courage to quit, as I could feel it was not fulfilling me, I was very stressed and at the same time I got diagnosed with endometriosis, and had to do a surgery.

I needed to change some things in my life, and I also refused to take the pills that would suppress my menstruation. So I had to look for alternative ways to heal myself. The practice of yoga has helped me a lot and through yoga I discovered Ayurveda. I discovered Katie  two years ago and was dreaming of joining her training as I am a big fan of her teaching. Also, the feminine approach to Ayurveda really resonates with me. 

I am teaching yoga in Berlin, but the yoga scene here is very competitive and hard to live only with yoga teaching, i was combining it with working in a restaurant. Then I had an amazing opportunity to volunteer in India in an ashram and improve my yoga teaching.

Now I am back here with the huge luck of being part of Shakti School and I am developing a yoga and ayurveda coaching for women who suffer from endometriosis. I am trusting that it will work. I can already integrate the teaching from the shakti school into my life, my relationship, my works, I am so grateful. Thank you!"

 

Michelle Taylor | Dorset, UK | @michellemaslintaylor

"I’m a yoga and reiki teacher based in the UK. Ayurveda is something I’ve felt called to study more for some time but all the training and books I came across were really prescriptive and didn’t feel at all flexible or easily applicate to modern life as a busy yoga teacher and mum of three - I felt like I had failed before even getting started. Enter Katie! I just love her approach to Ayurveda, simplifying and taking what you can without guilt over not “doing it all perfectly”. My mission is to support stressed out, burnout yogis for whom yoga alone is just not enough to create the balanced nervous system and healthy body and mind they crave. I see an epidemic of burnt out yoga teachers who are running themselves ragged running from class to class without nurturing themselves. My vision is to see these teachers including Ayurvedic principles and rituals to support them in a way that can work with their schedules and support their own health and wellness while they hold space for others." 

 

Leighton Murphy | Chile | @bellyandsoulwellness & bellyandsoulwellness.com

"Hi, my name is Leighton Murphy. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon. The twists and turns of life have led me to the Chilean Patagonia, which I have called home for the past six years. I dedicate myself to growing my food, tending to our animals, raising a resilient child, and being a Health Coach. My motivation to grow my own food sustainably comes from a love for this marvelous and generous planet and this body I have been blessed with. I am fascinated by learning how to best nurture it in a sustainable way that cycles with the seasons and with us females. My coaching currently focuses on helping women return to the magic of cooking, fermenting, and locally sourcing their food. I plan to continue to Level 2 Ayurveda School after this year and become an Ayurvedic Health Consultant. My true passion within all of this is the sacredness of childbearing. I aspire to one day have a thriving practice as an Ayurvedic Practitioner, focusing on holistically nurturing and supporting Mamas, before, during, and after pregnancy."

 

Irene Díez| Spain | @irene10yoga

"My first encounter with ayurveda helped with some digestive issues that were bugging me for a long time, it was such a simple yet effective solution that I got hooked and wanted to learn more. Fast forward quite a few years... during my recent pregnancy but most profoundly during postpartum, ayurveda has been a key practice to bring myself back to balance. I've been craving community, ancestral knowledge, and support. I feel that in our western culture this has somehow got lost... It's my deepest desire to bring this wisdom and intuitive approach to mamas and babies, especially during postpartum because let's be real, the fourth trimester it's just not enough! I'm also super lit up to share with my yoga and movement community. Feeling lucky and blessed to be part of this, thank you!!!"

 

Jasmine Jelsema | West Olive, MI | @jasminejelsema & jasmineapothecary.com

"It feels so amazing that I have already put some of my ayurvedic wisdom into practice. A few of my friends have told me that certain information I have shared just seems to stick. Ayurveda makes sense and as I explore more profoundly, I notice that so much of the ayurvedic teaching is solidifying my own internal wisdom. It is like the universe is confirming my intuition, "you are right".  There is so much that I want to do/ can do with my Ayurveda Education. Currently, I am a reiki energy healer, yoga teacher, and artist. I also work as a creative learning associate at an art museum and a writer for a local blog. After studying Alternative Medicine at Evergreen State College. I discovered a deep passion for teaching at an outdoor nature school. Initially, I plan to continue to incorporate ayurveda into my reiki sessions. It has helped me to gain more knowledge and be introduced to vocabulary that is conducive to my healing sessions. In the future, I plan to offer health coaching services and create holistic courses inspired by ayurveda and reiki."

 

Mahashweta Sengupta | India | @learning_with_missmaha

"Hi there, beautiful people, Namaste! I am Mahasweta Sengupta, a passionate school educator and trainer with over 9 years of experience in the world of education! I am currently living in India! I started off as a French language specialist and slowly took up responsibility and became a lead teacher and now I’m heading the Primary years and looking at promoting wellness and Social emotional learning across the school (need of the hour)!

I grew up in Pondicherry, in a progressive school called Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education where I got interested in wellness as it was a big part of our curriculum! I am a lifelong learner and consider myself grateful to be able to have the freedom to grow and learn every day! My love for ayurveda and the deep wisdom of ancient India drew me to this wonderful course and I am really looking forward to spreading the knowledge of Ayurveda and becoming more aware of myself through this journey! I can’t wait to tap into the magic and wonders of Ayurveda and truly live through this course more deeply! 

Through this course I am sure to impact wellness in its truest forms and promote it in a more holistic way back into the classrooms to the young budding changemakers - the students! Did you ever wonder what a powerful impact it would be, if children had access to the magic and wisdom of Ayurveda and learnt to live more in tune with themselves and really understand the science of life?

What if we did not have to wait long to comprehend and incorporate the truths of sustainable and holistic living right from an early age? I bet it would make all the difference!

I can’t wait to demystify the truths of life and take my health into my hands and start my journey by tapping into my being with intention, joy, love and purpose and by spreading the knowledge and magic to the children and my community! I am so thankful and thrilled for this amazing opportunity, so grateful to the entire Shakti school team and of course to Katie Silcox for creating this school! If you are looking for an empowering course on Ayurveda, one that fits into the modern lifestyle and schedule, look no further, you’ve found the right place!"

 

Mylinda Ogundipe | Ohio | @the_worlds_linda

"My name is Mylinda Ogundipe and I live in Northwest Ohio with my husband and our daughter. I am currently a 200 hour certified yoga teacher, a mindfulness coach, and am in the process of becoming a yoga therapist. My interest in the health and wellness space was sparked by my desire to increase the health of my daughter, who was born with Sickle Cell Disease, an inherited blood disorder that causes organ damage as well as pain in various parts of the body. Our research into holistic support maintained that a healthy diet, yoga, and meditation could help manage this disease, so after a deep dive into yoga, I found Ayurveda. My initial interests in this program was to help my daughter and others living with Sickle Cell Disease. I still want to specialize in assisting those with Sickle Cell Disease, yet after being exposed to all the good that Ayurveda can do, I have expanded my focus to include individuals living with chronic pain in general. As a woman of color, I also believe that Ayurveda can serve as a protective factor against the disparities faced at all points of the motherhood journey, so I would like to expand my focus to help women of color along the path of motherhood. My ultimate goal would be to marry this Ayurvedic knowledge with yoga therapy in order to assist as many people in as many ways as possible. I know this Ayurvedic journey has just begun, and I am so very excited to learn more! Thank you so much for this scholarship opportunity!"

 

Michelle Murphy | Vancouver, BC, Canada | @puravedaa

"I spend my time homeschooling my 14yo daughter and we currently incorporate Ayurveda as part of our curriculum.  I am using Ayurveda to understand my own health challenges and hope to be able to utilize what I learn to address some long standing concerns. If I am able to assist others in a meaningful way, I will happily share this new found knowledge."

 

Lori | San Francisco, CA

"I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and pretty much have lived in California my whole life. I have over twenty years of a strong business background, and over twenty years of dedicated yoga practice. In 2015 I earned my certified yoga teacher training certificate of which I am very proud!

In 2006 my health and life veered, and in approx 2015, they took a hard left.

My doctor led me to Ayurveda last year, and I purchased Katie’s HHS book and couldn’t put it down. I happened to see the Shakti Ayurveda School was offering scholarships for 2023, and I applied last summer.

Last September I flew out of state for an appointment and left it with very low spirits. I was happily shocked to get back to my hotel room and receive Sarah’s message that I had been awarded a scholarship for Shakti School. I was beside myself. I was so filled with gratitude, and in the midst of everything I’d been through, I felt like I’d gotten my first break. As great as I thought Shakti School was going to be, it’s been so much more.

A few weeks into the curriculum, wondering if I would ever learn the words, I woke up in the very early am hours one day with Ayurvedic doshic language running through my head. It was all there, in the Ayurveda, the Rishis knew what they were talking about.

I’m not exactly sure how my Ayurveda education will manifest itself out there, but I have a feeling it’s going to be much bigger than I’d even imagined. I’m already sharing what I’ve learned with others, and even “diagnosing” them ; ) And for this, I am so grateful again. : )"

 

LaToya Jones | Richmond, Virginia | @yoga_enchantress & www.rootedandcrowned.com

"Hi, I’m LaToya Maria! I am a therapeutic yoga teacher, feminine embodiment guide and wellbeing educator with an intentional focus on women’s health. I'm the founder of Rooted & Crowned, a collective devoted to creating bespoke holistic wellness experiences for women. Known by many as an energy alchemist, I passionately guide women on a holistic journey into embodiment, liberation, and ease. My devotion to mindbody intimacy led me to yoga as a personal practice in 2015. In 2017 I took a sabbatical from work and traveled to India to study yoga philosophy where I completed my hatha yoga and meditation teacher training in Rishikesh, India. I have over 15 years of energy and movement-centered well-being expertise which contributed to the development of my signature style, Enchanted Flow- aimed at increasing reproductive health, honoring women’s cyclical nature, and expanding innate wisdom to support overall well-being. After spending 10 years living outside of my home country, losing my job in 2020 and grieving my father’s death in 2022, I found myself in deep need of care. I found my way back to Ayurveda through the comfort of food, rest and healing touch. I rediscovered Shakti School last year and felt a spark of light shine within me that said, “this is a practice that not only supports you, but the women and girls you hold space for.” I intend to bring Ayurveda for the female form into my community in an accessible way. I envision myself facilitating workshops and retreats that can transform women across all socioeconomic statuses. Wellness and wellbeing isn’t a luxury, it is our birthright! I am so grateful for this scholarship and to be a part of this community. I intend to move on to Level II next year."

 

Lisa Chan | Wales, UK | @shakti_lisa & lovelettersfromshaktilisa.wordpress.com

"Hi, my name is Lisa. I am absolutely thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Women's Ayurveda Tantra Course Level 1 on a partial scholarship for the whole of 2023. I am an intuitive creatrix with the ability to feel and sense emotions from others and the collective. I am deeply passionate about personal development especially in the field of women's health on all levels. 

I have been on the spiritual path for the last 15 years which started due to major health challenges in dealing with chronic pain, which I was able to heal from but then returned in a different form in my body. It has given me the gift of going deeper into the healing heart space and to learn to trust this journey I'm on.

When I traveled to Kerala in 2017 it sparked my interest in Ayurveda. A year later I started my studies in naturopathic nutrition which I am still loving today. Now feels like the right time to bring Ayurveda into my life. Being part of the Shakti School this year will support me further with my studies knowing I am here to be part of the conversation of bringing back Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Age in the rise of the Divine Feminine and female empowerment. My areas of interest include spirituality, holistic health, nutrition, tantra and many other subjects that support us as women.

In following my path, I want to show other women that despite health challenges, when we learn to love and honour ourselves where we are we can create space and invitation for love, healing and empowerment that ripples out into the world, our lives and the Universe. It gives us the courage to step back into the remembrance of who we are."

 

Jenny Ebelke | Kansas City, Kansas

"Hi everyone! My name is Jenny Ebelke and I live in Kansas City, Kansas.  I am a retired Firefighter Paramedic and recently started teaching Emergency Medicine at a local University to chiropractic students.  I also teach students at a local community college the skills and assessments they will need to become First Responders,  EMTs, and Paramedics.  While I worked in the field, I didn't always take the best care of myself or my mental health.  After an injury forced me to retire from the field due to permanent deficits, I began a long journey of self-healing and self-love.  I have made leaps and bounds in the last 4.5 years since retiring and will be a life-long learner/practitioner of self-love, yoga, and Ayurveda. One of the things I accomplished that has helped me grow was becoming a Certified Life Coach helping others evaluate their lives based on 7 key areas to figure out where they are currently, and where they want to go.  The one category I'm most excited for is the "Fitness" category which includes all things mental and physical in regards to health. I'm completing my yoga instructor certification shortly and I am thoroughly LOVING Shakti School!  I have learned so much in these past few months and can't wait to incorporate my Ayurveda knowledge into my coaching career.  Thank you so much for this opportunity!!"

 

Aminah Thomas | New Orleans, Louisiana | @givinglifewellness

"Greetings, my name is Aminah Thomas, and I have been certified as a Holistic Wellness Consultant and Yoga Instructor. In this life, I have the divine pleasure of guiding and raising four beautiful children. I am also blessed to have a magnificent husband to partner with on the amazing journey. 

I was introduced to Ayurveda through my yoga teacher training, and it quickly became one of my favorite parts of the course. The more I learned, the more I was called to learn more. How grateful am I that ayurveda has found me? Extremely grateful!!!!  Coupled with yoga, meditation and breathwork, ayurveda has changed how I interact with myself and the world.

My life story is filled with several synchronicities that have led me here, to The Shakti School. I am so honored that I have been gifted the opportunity to learn in this beautiful environment of loving and knowledgeable beings of wisdom.  It brings me so much joy knowing that I get to integrate the practices of ayurveda for my own healing, and ultimately, I will share what I have embodied with others so that they may create a healing space within themselves. I am here to absorb, embody and share. I see myself sharing Ayurveda with people in this world who look like me, and whose hearing connects with my words."

 

Cindy Ward Schrick | Minnesota, USA | @cindyward__ & www.cindyward.co

"My name is Cindy Ward Schrick and I live in St. Paul, Minnesota, my hometown. With a background in psychology, art and business I worked mostly abroad in Marketing and left it quite happily as my two boys were born just 17 months apart. After a traumatic end to a toxic marriage I repatriated back home. I first experienced Ayurveda during my divorce through a neighbor who taught at the European Academy of Ayurveda. I did an at home group cleanse with her and couldn’t believe how incredibly nourished I felt at a time when I was completely depleted!

Upon returning home another traumatic event happened- my eldest son wasn’t returned following a visit with his dad in Germany. I supported myself and my youngest son who was with me through the shock and traumatic loss. Mostly for my own healing and growth I did training in Breathwork. Once out on the other side I was fortunate to win several scholarships that enabled me to become a certified Co-active Coach and Relational Trauma Coach. I often work at the intersection of Coaching and trauma and know from my own experience that Ayurveda holds a life wisdom that is needed in our trauma infused world. I’m not sure exactly what it will look like but I know as I integrate Ayurveda in my own life there will be an integration with my coaching and ripple out to others. As I’ve studied Vedic spiritual teachings with Ayurvedic teacher Acharya Shunya, my heart has been tuned in to Katie and Shakti School’s feminine form for years; so of course I was beyond happy dancing when Sarah shared that I had won a partial scholarship!! 

With love and gratitude to be here with all of you <3"

 

Gabriela Beatriz | Brisbane, Australia

"Hi, my name is Gabriela. I am originally from Brazil, currently living in Brisbane, Australia, and loving every second of Shakti School! I’m profoundly touched by these teachings and very grateful for this amazing opportunity.

Growing up I found myself many times longing for guidance, growth, wholeness, and healing from a community led by women. Unfortunately, modern life had made this yearning difficult because most women are disconnected from community and also from their own bodies and important rites of passage. 

So, my deep desire is to be able to create a space where women from different backgrounds can access the beautiful wisdom of this feminine form of Ayurveda taught in Shakti School. All women deserve to feel their best selves, safely supported by other women, and engaged in nourishing practices that help bring balance back into their lives.

Part of that desire also includes my fellow women back in South America, mainly in Brazil and Argentina. And, I would love to include other modalities that I am trained in, like Australian Bush Flower Essences, Saraswati Healing and Shakti Yoga. All a perfect complement to Ayurveda!

I’m forever grateful for Shakti School and its wonderful teachers. Ayurveda is about honouring the uniqueness of each individual and the knowledge and empowerment that comes with understanding our bodies and the environment is invaluable."

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