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Lifestyle, Sex, Spirit

Sleep Like A Baby

“There are three supports (pillars) of life. They are food, sleep and observances of bramacharya. Being supported by these, the body is endowed with strength, complexion and growth, and this continues up [until] the full span of life, provided that the person does not indulge in regimens detrimental to health.”

Charaka Samhita

This Ayurvedic quote reminds us that sleep is one of the most critical elements of health and well-being. Flip ahead a few thousand years to modern times, where lack of sleep tops the charts for chronic health complaints. Ayurveda holds sleep as the “wet nurse of the world.” It is a time when our body heals tissue, detoxifies and does a major sub-conscious dump on any undigested life emotions and scenarios. And so, if we aren’t satisfied with our nightly slumber, we just aren’t getting enough of the wet nurse.

In that light, I wanted to give you some super-practical, easy home remedies that will help ensure that you sleep like a baby this season.  These pointers will help you turn bedtime into sacred ritual:

Make it cozy. Make sure your body feels comfortable. Sometimes feeling cold is enough to keep your body from relaxing into dreamland. Invest in eco-friendly, soft sheets and other bedding.

Get rid of the clutter. There should be nothing in the bedroom that distracts the mind from relaxation. Remove stacks of papers you need to file at the office. Take any spare change and old piles of mail off the top of your dresser. Throw out anything that has lived under your bed for more than a year.

Eat light at night.  Have your last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime.

Set the mood for sleep. One of the first questions I ask insomniacs is, “Are your lights still on at 8 and 9 pm?” Start turning off overhead lights an hour or so before bedtime. Avoid fluorescent lights always, but especially at night. Low lighting helps inform the body that it is time to start turning in for sleep. Try using lamps and candles instead, and if you do have overhead lighting, think about installing dimmers.

Turn off the screens. Set an intention to turn off all electronic screens (computers, cellphones, TVs) by 9 pm. Screens and artificial lighting can disturb the circadian rhythms that produce sleep hormones.

Be in bed by 10 pm.  I know, I know, this one is tough. But have you ever noticed that you get a second wind around 10 or 10:30? That’s because the energy and metabolic processes your body normally uses for cleaning itself out while you sleep get diverted to mental energy if we’re awake. According to Ayurveda, our body detoxifies and rejuvenates from 10pm through 2 am. When we stay up late, we truly do miss out on beauty sleep. If you typically go to bed at midnight, try the 15-minute rule. Each night, head to bed a mere 15 minutes earlier. Within a few weeks, you will be soundly sleeping at 10!

Take a warm bath. Taking a scented, warm bath before bed almost always induces amazing slumber. Add a few drops of essential oils, such as myrrh, lavender, honeysuckle, jatamamsi (an Ayurvedic herb that grows in the Himalayas), sandalwood, chamomile, neroli, or pure rose.

Oil up. Rub some pure sesame oil in your ears, nose, on the crown of the head and on the soles of the feet before bed. This is a tried-and-true Ayurvedic sleep enhancer.

Unravel the day.  This powerful Tantric practice actually strengthens your ability to assimilate life, and can enhance your memory. Once in bed, mentally go back through your day in increments of 30 minutes. Try to simply register what happened during the day, in the 30 minutes before bedtime, then 30 minutes before that, et cetera, without judgment. Notice any feelings that come up as you go through the catalog of your day, then let them go. End with the point where you woke up in the morning. Gently drift into sleep.

Brew a cup. Herbal teas soothe the mind and body, and are a lovely way to wind down before sleep.  Try lavender, chamomile, oat straw, or lemon balm. Add a little ghee or coconut oil for added lusciousness, or a few strands of saffron and some warm milk.

This article originally appeared on the Yoga Journal Blog on November 15, 2012.

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TheShaktiSchool

Here’s the thing, my coffee-loving sister. It’ Here’s the thing, my coffee-loving sister. It’s not about the coffee. It’s about the connection.⁠
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Whether it’s a solo sunrise moment or a chat with your beloved on the porch, coffee offers us an excuse to pause.⁠
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To come home to your senses.⁠
To connect to your heart.⁠
Because the most healing part of your morning brew?⁠
⁠
It might not be the coffee. It might be the intention you’re drinking it with.⁠
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🎓 Want to go deeper?⁠
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This is the kind of thing we teach, embody and live inside our 2026 Ayurveda School Certification.⁠
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Inside our year-long feminine-form Ayurvedic Wellness Coach Certification Training you’ll learn:⁠
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∙ How to read your own body like scripture⁠
∙ How to work with the seasons, cycles and your own nervous system⁠
∙ And how to become a true feminine healer (for yourself + others)⁠
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💫 Comment WISDOM to get instant access to our Women’s Wisdom & Ayurveda Mini-Course to start evolving right now.⁠
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🌿 Comment AYURVEDASCHOOL (one word) to get more details on our program or book a complimentary connect call with our team.⁠
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With love (and yes, a warm mug in hand),⁠
Katie 💋
Even small shifts like these can help stoke your a Even small shifts like these can help stoke your agni, boost your metabolism and strengthen your digestion.

🥬 Avoid processed food + leftovers. Food carries prana—the living energy that fuels body, mind and spirit. The longer food sits or the more processed it is, the less prana it has to offer you.

→ Instead: Cook simple, fresh meals when you can and eat warm foods to nourish your inner fire.

🌙 Avoid eating dinner after 6pm or sundown. Your digestion moves with the sun. Eating late overloads the body, leaving you heavy and foggy the next day.

→ Instead: Opt for an earlier, lighter dinner. Soups, kitchari or steamed veggies with a touch of healthy fat are perfect.

🍠 Focus on full meals instead of constant grazing. Every time you snack, your digestive fire is interrupted and never fully resets. Over time, this weakens agni—your body’s power to transform food into energy and vitality.

→ Instead: Root yourself in 3 nourishing meals a day so your system can digest fully and then truly rest.

🍽️ Eat only until three-quarters full. Stuffing yourself extinguishes your flame. Leaving space keeps you light, clear and energized.

→ Instead: Pause mid-meal, tune in and stop before heaviness sets in.

💦 Don’t drink ice water with meals. This is a big one. Cold and excess liquid dampen your digestive fire - it’s like pouring water on a sacred flame.

→ Instead: Sip warm water or herbal tea if you’re thirsty with meals, and drink larger amounts between meals.

When we honor the sacred fire that not only digests only our food, but also transforms our emotions and life experiences, we unlock more sustained energy, more fuel and more soul-power.

🪔  Ready to deepen your relationship with Divine Feminine Ayurveda? Comment WISDOM and we’ll send you our free course, Women’s Wisdom and Ayurveda so that you can start diving in right now.
The week before your period can also mean ICKY SYM The week before your period can also mean ICKY SYMPTOMS like bloating, headaches, fatigue, sore boobies & breakouts. Ayurveda teaches that this is often linked to imbalances in hormones (hello estrogen dominance?), ama buildup (that’s toxins), nutrient depletion and stress overload. That’s why food—and herbs—are your best allies in this phase.⁠
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Enter: the ultimate hormone-balancing, PMS-soothing treats you can imagine.  Made with cacao, dates, oats, Ayurvedic herbs (Ashwagandha, Shatavari), Maca, spices and mineral rich ingredients, these recipes are your new period BFFs.⁠
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In these recipes you’ll find ingredients like:⁠
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🍫 Cacao + oats, which are loaded with magnesium—your PMS bestie for easing cramps, stabilizing mood, calming the nervous system & boosting progesterone.⁠
🌿 Ashwagandha helps calm stress + anxiety.⁠
🌸 Shatavari supports female hormones + cycles.⁠
🌱 Maca gives an energy + mood boost.⁠
🧡 Spices like cinnamon, cardamom & fennel aid digestion + circulation.⁠
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If you’re looking to reduce PMS, support your hormones and satisfy your chocolate cravings in the luteal phase—this recipe bundle is your go-to. Swipe right to see everything you’re gonna receive. ⁠
⁠
Want the full recipes? We’re sending them out in our newsletter this week. ⁠
⁠
Comment “HORMONE LOVE” + I’ll DM you the next steps to get added to our list.
In Ayurveda, Agni is more than your digestion. Ag In Ayurveda, Agni is more than your digestion.

Agni is the sacred fire that transforms what you take in from the outside world into vitality, clarity and wisdom.

When your Agni is strong, you don’t just break down food with ease - you metabolize emotions, challenges and life changes. You have the power to burn through confusion, soften your defenses and transform what’s stuck or hard into insight and freedom.

Old hurts lose their grip.
Confusion burns away, revealing truth.
The “stuck places” in your body and psyche soften, making space for more.

Agni is not just a physiological process…it’s foundational to our psychological and spiritual vitality.

When you tend your sacred fire, you feel more grounded and resilient in times of change.

You see clearly what needs to stay and what needs to be released.

It’s easier to connect to the part of you that is already whole and needs nothing added.

And here’s the beautiful paradox:

Tending Agni doesn’t have to be about doing more.

Removing what dims your inner flame (like outdated habits, stagnant emotions and the “shoulds” that never belonged to you) is one way that we can increase our agni-power.

This is the work we do at The Shakti School: this community is about holding you as you release what’s dimming your light and step into habits, spiritual practices and purpose-driven action that helps you burn brighter.

🪔  Are you ready to reawaken your inner fire? 

Comment WISDOM and I’ll send you our free Women’s Wisdom + Ayurveda mini-course. This course is an invitation to reclaim your power, cultivate your light and immerse yourself in Divine Feminine Ayurveda.
I’ve been on a deep dive into natural hormone su I’ve been on a deep dive into natural hormone support—because your mood swings, sleepless nights and that weird bloaty rage aren’t just "you being crazy." 😬⁠
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They’re signs your cool aunt hormone (aka progesterone) might be MIA.⁠
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But here’s the kicker: PROGESTERONE is super sensitive.⁠
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To stress. To blood sugar spikes. To liver congestion. To xenoestrogens. To basically being a modern woman. So, NO IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT YOUR HORMONES ARE WHACK. ⁠
⁠
So what’s a gal to do?⁠
⁠
Here’s what I’m loving lately to bring her back in:⁠
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🌿 Liver love: Your liver is the queen of hormone metabolism. I’m loving warm lemon water, dandelion root tea, nettles, dill-for-days (!) beets, milk thistle and castor oil packs over the womb & liver. Plus dry brushing and self-abhyanga with cooling oils like coconut, monoi and honeysuckle. ⁠
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🍳 Blood sugar balancing meals: Try more healthy fats, veggies and grassfed or vegetarian protein - like 80-90 grams a day! ⁠
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🌻 Vitamin B6 + magnesium + zinc: These are the micronutrient fairy godmothers of your luteal phase. (Hello, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate.) Also, do not skimp on the dates! ⁠
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🌸 Shatavari, wild yam, maca and chasteberry (Vitex). These are our Ayurvedic and herbal allies for feminine hormone harmony. Make sure to check any contraindications, but I am mad about maca lately. ⁠
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🧘🏽‍♀️ Less cortisol, more calm. Daily meditation, alternate nostril breathing and saying no to anything that isn’t a soul yes.⁠
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The truth is, our hormonal systems are WISE.⁠
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They are mirrors of our relationship with our inner feminine.⁠
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This is exactly the kind of thing we go DEEP into in our Ayurveda School.⁠
⁠
Our 2026 Level 1 Ayurveda Certification is now open for enrollment – and I want you to know:⁠
This isn’t just another health course.⁠
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It’s a portal to becoming the embodied healer you’ve been seeking.⁠
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🌺  Start reconnecting with your inner feminine right now. Comment WISDOM for our free Women’s Wisdom & Ayurveda 3+ hour lecture series with me. ⁠
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Here’s to progesterone peace and liver love,⁠
Katie

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