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gut

The Power of Healthy Digestion

The Power of Healthy Digestion

A simple approach to feel and look amazing

Have you ever had those days where you wake up feeling amazing? There is a lightness in your step, your hair seems to look especially good, and your skin is glowing? And, then the very next day you have the opposite experience? You wake up feeling sluggish, a little puffy, and your hair is oddly oily or too dry, and things seem to upset you easily? Most likely the glorious day you had before also started off with the perfect poop. Yeah, that’s right, I said it. Poop.

Of course there can always be many other contributing factors at play here, but oftentimes it is our digestion that determines how we feel, how we look, and how we see our inner and outside world.

In Ayurveda, digestion is all about agni. When your digestion is strong your agni is strong. And, when agni is strong, you can easily tap into that glorious flow state. A flow state is when you are in the zone. It’s when your mental clarity is at its peak, you feel vibrant, full of life, and your shakti is lit up. When your digestive system is weakened it becomes much more difficult to follow through with daily tasks and your energy is usually pretty tanked. In Ayurveda, this is associated with an excess of ama. Ama is anything toxic that accumulates in the body. You can think of it as the sludge that slows down digestion. It is only when we are free from ama that we are able to digest our food properly and therefore we can more easily digest our life.

So, how do you clear ama and get the perfect poop? First it is helpful to determine what imbalances may be present within your actual stool. We love what John Dilliard published over at the Life Spa on The Perfect Poop. I highly suggest looking at the chart he created in order to do your own stool analysis. This will help give you a better idea of how to move forward with your dietary choices based off of your individual dosha.

It is important that you are properly assimilating the foods you eat. Your morning movement (the one you do in the bathroom) shouldn’t be too loose, difficult to pass, and it should be free of all food particles. If you fall into either of these categories, you most certainly will want to focus on optimizing your digestion. It’s also possible that your morning movement could look totally normal, but your energy is still lagging behind. In these cases I would still suggest trying out some of the habits and tips mentioned below for increasing your digestive fire.

Food should make you feel sexy

When your gut is off - your brain is off, and most likely, you won’t feel quite yourself. Ever heard of the term gut feeling? The gut and the brain are in constant communication. There’s tons of research to support that having a healthier gut leads to an increase in mood, clearer thinking, and reduces the risk of depression and anxiety. (The Psychobiotic-Revolution: Science Gut Brain Connection)

So, how can you amplify your digestion today? 

  • Sip on warm water or herbal tea throughout the day 
  • Add spices like cumin, fennel, and coriander to your meals
  • Chew on ginger before/after meals
  • Consider taking Triphala at bedtime
  • Consider seasonal cleanses
  • Move your body
  • Abyhanagha 
  • Manage Stress

And...

  • Address food sensitivities 
  • Avoid cold beverages
  • Avoid negative emotions or excessive thinking
  • Avoid eating in excess or emotional eating 
  • Avoid cheese or other heavy dairy products
  • Avoid drinking too much (especially caffeine & alcohol)

The healing tradition of Ayurveda is very tuned into this concept of healthy digestion. So much of our well being (if not all) depends upon how easily we can digest the things around us. If there is a threat to our physical, emotional, or spiritual environment the state of our digestion will surely be affected. But, through careful attention and possibly a few lifestyle changes, we can improve the state of our digestion and the state of our being. When things are moving more freely through us we will always be able to move freely through our lives.

Shop our Favorite Digestive Aids

Banyan Detox Digest

Banyan Triphala

Banyan Cleanse Bundle

For Banyan Botanicals use code KATIE15 for 15% off at checkout

Prior Living Chyawanprash Use code SHAKTISCHOOL for 25% off

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Head on over to @yogalifemag to snag our Golden Yo Head on over to @yogalifemag to snag our Golden Yogini Milk recipe✨⁣
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Repost from @yogalifemag ⁣🤍
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“In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has long been used to help and ease ailments in the body and this Golden Yogini Milk recipe from Ayurvedic expert, Katie Silcox M.A. is no exception! Packed full of natural anti-inflammatory, immunity and digestive properties, this drink will help to keep your body’s defense up through the colder months of the year.”⁣
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Check out the full article & get the recipe by clicking the link in their bio! ❤️🫖🔥
“Learning Ayurveda this past year has been a pow “Learning Ayurveda this past year has been a powerful ride. Ayurveda teaches us to vibe with our body’s natural flow and rhythms. I have started to honor that feminine energy that is within me.⁣
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The wisdom and depth of this ancient holistic healing system not only provide insights into physical health but also offer a profound understanding of the mind-body connection and the intricate nuances of feminine well-being.”⁣
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Meet our beloved Cynthia @cynthia_amaro__ one of our students here at The Shakti School!⁣
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Cynthia is a Fashion Licensing Agent in NYC and a Dog Momma to 2 doodles. She’s currently enrolled in our Level 1 Ayurveda School. ⁣
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She writes, ⁣
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“Ayurveda has helped me connect with my true purpose aka My Dharma. Ayurveda has reignited my passion for yoga, and I’m now working towards becoming a yoga teacher and starting Level 2 in 2024. ⁣
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Learning that Ayurveda is the healing aspect of yogic science has brought everything into perspective. It’s teaching me to heal myself first so I can inspire and help others heal too. ⁣
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Realizing that true awareness leads to the recognition of unity and transcending personal limitations is the ultimate goal of Ayurveda. Being a student of Ayurveda is my Self-Care Routine and I want to share it with the world.” ⁣
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You can book a call with a coach to explore whether our year long Ayurvedic Wellness Coach program is right for you at the link in bio or go to our website and click “book a call!” ❤️
Shakti Fire Cider 🔥🔥🔥 Here’s your winte Shakti Fire Cider 🔥🔥🔥 Here’s your winter immunity boost recipe (and home-made gift idea!) ⁣⁣
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Here’s how to make it:⁣⁣
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~ 1 medium onion, chopped⁣⁣
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~ 10 garlic cloves, smashed or roughly chopped⁣⁣
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~ 2 jalapeños, sliced⁣⁣
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~ 1 organic lemon (grate it and juice it)⁣⁣
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~ 1/3 cup grated ginger⁣⁣
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~ A bunch (3-4 sprigs) of fresh rosemary (dried is also fine!)⁣⁣
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~ 1 T black pepper seeds, crushed⁣⁣
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~ 1 T cardamom pods, crushed⁣⁣
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~ 2 blood oranges, finely sliced⁣⁣
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~ A few of cinnamon sticks⁣⁣
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~ 1 T cloves⁣⁣
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~ A big dollop of raw, local, honey ⁣⁣
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~ Apple cider vinegar⁣⁣
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Add all ingredients to a quart size jar. Cover completely with ACV (push down everything in the jar so that it’s below the ACV). Place a piece of parchment paper between the lid and the jar to prevent any transfer from the lid. Shake daily, storing in a cool place for about a month.⁣⁣
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Then sip daily (you can also add it to your salad dressing or food, but don’t heat because of the honey! 🍯🍯🍯)
Vatas and ‘feminine-form-style-work’ goddesses Vatas and ‘feminine-form-style-work’ goddesses, welcome to the club 💃🏻
The latest episode of Spirit Sessions podcast, The The latest episode of Spirit Sessions podcast, The Deepest Meaning of Ayurveda with Sandhiya Ramaswamy, is here!⁣⁣
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According to Katie, this is her favorite episode ever! ⁣⁣
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This week, Katie chats with Ayurvedic Practitioner and beloved Shakti Ayurveda School teacher, Sandhiya Ramaswamy. Their conversation goes way beyond the typical nutrition and lifestyle tips into deeper spiritual concepts of Ayurveda and Tantra such as Sadhana and Swastha.⁣⁣
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Did you know the way you eat your food is the way you make love? ⁣⁣
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Join Sandhiya and Katie for a love-filled conversation about duality, ego, joy, ancestral medicine and how to stay mindful and present in a world of social media and breaking news.⁣⁣
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In this episode you’ll hear:⁣⁣
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~ How Sandhiya went from stressed-out corporate life to Ayurvedic healer⁣⁣
~ Sandhiya’s #1 Ayurvedic lifestyle tip⁣⁣
~ What does reclaiming our root healing traditions look like?⁣⁣
~ Why food is the primary medicine in Ayurveda⁣⁣
~ What are Sadhana and Swastha?⁣⁣
~ How to be established and centered in your divine self⁣⁣
~ Why Ayurveda is community healing⁣⁣
~ How to banish Ayurveda guilt⁣⁣
~ Level 1 Ayurveda School is open for registration! Join now and begin a deep soul-journey in January with incredible teachers like Katie and Sandhiya.⁣⁣ @sandhiyaramaswamy 
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Listen to the full episode by clicking the link in bio or by going to https://theshaktischool.com/podcast/ 🎤❤️🌹

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