The Book That Deepened My Love for Ayurveda
Growing up in India, Ayurveda was always around us – nani’s warm water wisdom, mama’s turmeric remedies, the natural rhythms our grandparents lived by instinctively. I’ve followed many Ayurvedic practices, along with the naturopathy practices that my grandfather has imbibed in us!
Having done an Ayurvedic course helped. I also visited Kerala’s spice farms and learned from the locals.
“Your Body Already Knows” by Nidhi Bhanshali Pandya truly transformed my understanding. It deepened my knowledge in ways that made everything click. Her approach resonates because she explains our ancient wisdom through modern understanding.
Understanding “Your Inner Climate” – The Foundation of Ayurvedic Health
The core concept that Nidhi beautifully codified from Ayurveda and trademarked as “The Inner Climate®”: It should ideally be warm and moist.
When you have a fever, your body gets alarmingly hot – moving away from loving warmth to emergency mode. When you’re anxious, you feel dry and tight. When you’re grateful, you feel a warm, flowing sensation.
Your body is always telling you what it needs.
The Three Doshas Made Simple
- Kapha (the protector): The nurturing force that builds and protects. When flowing: immunity, stability. When stagnant: heaviness, congestion.
- Pitta (the transformer): The intelligent fire that processes everything. When balanced: clarity, focus. When excessive: inflammation, burnout.
- Vata (the conductor): The subtle wind orchestrating all movement. When harmonious: creativity, lightness. When scattered: anxiety, dryness.
- What I love about Nidhi’s explanation: she helps you feel these energies in your own body.
Solar vs Lunar Living – Why Your Daily Rhythm Matters
This concept made so much sense and helped me feel incredibly in tune with nature.
- The Solar Experience (6am-6pm): Your body wants to heat up and transform during daylight.
- 6am-10am: Warm up slowly (light breakfast, exercise)
- 10am-2pm: Peak productivity (biggest meal)
- 2pm-6pm: Wind down gradually
- The Lunar Experience (6pm-6am): Your body craves cooling and repair during darkness.
- 6pm-10pm: Unwind completely (light dinner, journaling)
- 10pm-2am: Deep repair (sleep)
- 2am-6am: Continue sleeping or meditate
- What I implemented: We moved lunch to our main meal and made dinner much lighter, bathed only before meals never after, and kept intense exercise sessions in the mornings.
Seasonal Living and Life Phases
- Seasons of the Year: Winter (eat more, exercise intensely), Spring (lighter foods, manage allergies), Summer (cooling foods, gentle movement), Fall (grounding foods).
- Seasons of Life: Children, always growing, need lighter, warm foods and more movement than structured exercise. Youth requires balancing productivity with lunar practices. Middle age needs warm, moist foods as the body naturally dries. Old age prioritizes gentle movement and nourishing practices.
The Spice Revolution – Your Kitchen is Your Pharmacy
- Key insight: Spices aren’t just for flavor – they’re digestive medicine. Nidhi writes “A good spice shouldn’t burn your tongue. If it does, dilute with good fats.”
- My routine: A cardamom pod before coffee, bloom cumin in ghee for cooking, fennel and mint tea after summer meals, CCF tea (coriander, cumin, fennel) in winter.
- Results: Better digestion, reduced bloating. Traditional Indian cooking already had this wisdom – we just forgot the purpose.
7 Daily Practices That Transformed Our Family’s Health
1. Abhyanga (Oil Massage) – The Practice That Supports Everything
- Nidhi’s genius insight: Do abhyanga BEFORE exercise, not after. When you oil your body then exercise, the warmth helps oil penetrate deeper tissues.
- My planned routine: Warm coconut/sesame oil (depending on weather), massage from navel outward, exercise with oiled body, then shower.
- What I actually implement regularly: Oiling joints with room temperature oil – knees, elbows,
shoulders, ankles, and wrists before workouts, plus a full abhyanga 1-2 times weekly. - Results: Better workout recovery, softer skin, reduced anxiety.
2. Mindful Eating – Enhance Your Relationship with Food
- The practice: Set aside 20 minutes for main meals. After each bite, put down cutlery. Notice food texture before swallowing. Exhale fully between mouthfuls.
- Why it works: When you eat rushed and tense, your body can’t send proper satiety signals.
- Results: Natural portion control, better digestion, deeper appreciation for food’s complex flavors.
3. Nasya (Nasal Oil Drops) – Brain Food
- How: Warm Anu Taila oil or medicated ghee, lie flat with head tilted back, insert 2 drops per nostril.
- Results: Fewer headaches, clearer sinuses, better focus. Especially helpful during pollution season. Even meditation becomes deeper!
4. Pechoti (Navel Oiling) – The Forgotten Practice
- Method: Before bed, apply warm sesame oil or castor oil to the belly button with gentle circular
massage. - Results: Better digestion, reduced bloating, surprisingly calming. I feel more hydrated throughout the day too!
5. Post-Meal Buddha Pose
- What: Walk 100-200 steps after meals, then lie on your left side with your head propped up.
- Results: No more post-lunch sluggishness, better food movement. It also feels wonderfully decadent! Sometimes I sit in vajrasana when I can’t lie down – even works on an office chair!
6. Oil Pulling – Ancient Oral Care
- How: Swish 1 tablespoon coconut or sesame oil for 5-10 minutes after tongue scraping. Spit into a disposable bag (clogs drains!).
- Results: Whiter teeth, less plaque buildup, stronger jaw muscles, healthier gums. Your dentist will be surprised at your next cleaning!
7. Breath-Guided Decision Making
- Nidhi’s insight: Your breath reveals your nervous system quality – and when you shouldn’t make important decisions.
- The practice: Notice shallow, rapid breathing. Pause. Avoid major decisions until breath regulates. Use humming to reset (extends exhales and makes you happy!).
- Her wisdom: “Decisions from that intense place feel strong but are impulsive since the nervous system isn’t in equilibrium.”
- Results: Clearer decisions, fewer regrets, catching triggers before they spiral.
Why Read the Complete Book
These practices scratch the surface. The book contains 21-day healing protocols, life phase recommendations, and deeper understanding that transforms wellness trends into a way of life.
Nidhi’s complete explanation makes these practices truly life-changing.
What surprised me most: My children started requesting these practices. My younger daughter wants her weekly head massage. My older daughter loves her pudina and sauf chai (mint and fennel tea).
Their bodies already knew what they needed. Just like ours do.
“Your Body Already Knows” is a guide back to trusting your inner wisdom. In our complicated world, that’s revolutionary.
What will you implement after reading this? Take 2 minutes to write it down – our brains forget 90% of what we read within 24 hours unless we actively engage with it. Email yourself a reminder and cc me at [email protected] to start a conversation!
