Geeta Vara Ayurveda

I wanted to share this reflection on Guru Purnima yesterday, but I hesitated.

Not because I lack reverence for the tradition, but because questioning the way we understand spiritual authority can easily be mistaken for rejecting it.

Most of us have grown up seeing the guru in male form: the male teacher, the male authority, the male interpreter of truth.

Yet Vedic wisdom was never exclusively male. Women were seers, philosophers, questioners and carriers of sacred knowledge.

This led me to two questions:

Have we forgotten who can embody the guru?

And have we misunderstood what a true teacher is here to do?

To me, an authentic guru does not seek dependence, admiration or unquestioning followers. A true teacher gives us the tools for self-mastery and guides us back to our true self.

They do not ask us to surrender our inner authority but rather awaken it.

I have explored this more deeply in my first Substack reflection:

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝘂𝗿𝘂?

This is a new space for personal and professional reflections on Vedic and Ayurvedic wisdom where philosophy meets practice and ancient teachings meet modern life.

I’ll be sharing deeper reflections on Ayurveda, pro-ageing, feminine wisdom and embodied living, alongside travel stories, seasonal recipes, herbs and rituals for greater rhythm, vitality and wellbeing.

For me, this is about exploring how traditional teachings actually shape the way we live.

Read the full article through the link in my bio.

I would genuinely love to know what reflections this brings up for you?

Save this post if it is a question you want to sit with, or return to when reflecting on teachers, authority and your own inner wisdom.

𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲: 𝟲 𝗔𝘆𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗿𝘂 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮 🌕

Today is a day to honour our teachers, guides and timeless wisdom that illuminated our journey. I have been reflecting a lot on the meaning of ´guru' and what it means to me. Post coming soon but for now my thoughts are:

A true guru does not try to create a new version of you. They guide you back to who you have always been.

What are your reflections?

Today feels like the perfect moment to slow down, reflect and replenish your ojas: the deep reserve of vitality that helps us feel steady, nourished and resilient.

Here are six simple Ayurvedic-inspired rituals for the evening:

𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
Step outside or sit beside an open window and spend a few quiet moments in the moonlight. Let it be an invitation to cool down, soften and become still.

𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗸
Warm some milk or a suitable plant-based alternative with cardamom, saffron and a small pinch of nutmeg. Sip it slowly as part of your transition towards rest.

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗮𝗯𝗵𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮
Massage warm oil into your feet or body before bed. This is not simply skincare; it is a ritual of nourishment, grounding and affectionate self-touch.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀
In the spirit of Guru Purnima, reflect on the people, experiences and wisdom traditions that have shaped you. You may wish to write a note, offer a prayer or simply acknowledge them inwardly.

𝗔 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗹
Choose food that feels warm, light and easy for you to digest. Kitchari, soup or a simply cooked meal can create more space for rest and reflection.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗮
Sit quietly and rest your gaze on a candle flame. Allow the ritual to draw your attention away from the noise of the day and back towards a single point of focus.

This full moon is not about adding another perfect ritual to your wellness list.

Choose 1 practice that helps you feel more present, nourished and connected - to yourself, your teachers and the wisdom you wish to carry forward.

Which ritual are you drawn to tonight? 🌕

Today, Rasayana officially launches in the US. 🇺🇸✨

Rasayana: Feel Young in Mind and Body with the Wisdom of Ayurveda is my personal invitation to you for a deeper, more nourishing conversation about ageing well. Let's immerse into self care at it's truest form that rooted in vitality, rhythm, digestion, rest, purpose, ritual and renewal.

Not:
❌ anti-ageing
❌ extreme optimisation
❌ biohacking

There is such profound beauty in returning to the wisdom of the body, the steadiness of nature and the life force that is still very much within us.

I love deepening into life through intention, purpose, letting go, play and the everyday practices that help us feel more fully alive.

I’m so grateful to my publisher Bloomsbury Books US for believing in this book and helping bring Rasayana across the pond to readers who will love this contrast of living well naturally.

Available now in the US wherever books are sold.

If you’re ready for a different conversation about ageing - one that is kinder, wiser and more life-affirming, I’d love for you to join me inside these pages.📙🧡
So grateful to Vasant Lad for his generous support, encouragement and belief in my work.

[publication day in USA 🇺🇸]

One of the things that fascinates me in the longevity and wellness world is how often modern science gives a shiny new name to something Ayurveda has understood for thousands of years.

Lifestyle medicine speaks about food, movement, sleep and stress.

Ayurveda speaks about dinacharya and vihara — how we live each day.

Circadian biology talks about light, timing and the body clock. Ayurveda has always said: live with the sun, respect rhythm, stop behaving as though your body is available 24/7.

Gut health research speaks about digestion, inflammation and the microbiome. Ayurveda begins with agni, our digestive fire because it understands that health depends on what we can absorb and transform, not just what we consume.

Nervous system regulation, lubrication, resilience, constitutional medicine, seasonal living, healthy ageing? Ayurveda has language for all of it.

The terminology may be new.

The body is not.

And, if we are being completely honest, many of today’s 'breakthroughs' are not discoveries at all. They are modern validation of what nature and the ancient sages have been telling us all along.

In a $6.8 trillion wellness industry, plenty of things glitter.

Not all of them are gold.

My books, Ayurveda and Rasayana, take you beyond trends and quick fixes into a deeper, more sustainable and personalised approach to preventative health and longevity.

Available from all good book retailers.

✅ you're invited to folow Ayurveda Author | Practitioner | Speaker for more Ayurvedic longevity and pro-ageing wisdom.

📌 Save for later | 📮 Share with someone who’s ready to embrace ageing with vitality, not fear.

Anyone who knows me knows my love for tennis, especially Wimbledon 🎾. Sadly, no tickets this year, but I’m enjoying the matches from the coolness of the lounge.

Over recent years, I’ve become increasingly interested in the daily rituals behind the champions.

Novak Djokovic continues to challenge our assumptions about what healthy aging looks like.

At 39, he's still competing with (and beating) the best players in the world.

What fascinates me most is that none of these habits are particularly extreme. Warm water instead of ice. Mindful eating. Daily movement. Breath. Meditation. Recovery. Time outdoors. They're simple practices that, when repeated consistently, create the conditions for resilience, vitality and long-term performance, both on and off the court.

In his bestselling book Serve to Win, Djokovic shares that one of the first things he does each morning is drink room-temperature water and avoid iced drinks because he believes they interfere with digestion. Interestingly, this echoes Ayurveda's emphasis on protecting digestive fire (Agni).

He has also spoken about eating mindfully, practising daily meditation, using conscious breathing, prioritising sleep, staying mobile and spending time outdoors.

While he doesn't describe these habits as ‘Ayurvedic’, it's fascinating how closely SO many of them align with principles that Ayurveda has taught for thousands of years.

Ayurveda has always recognised that vitality is built through daily rhythms, not quick fixes.

🎾 Support digestion.

🎾 Calm the nervous system.

🎾 Prioritise restorative sleep.

🎾 Recover with intention.

🎾 Create simple rituals you can sustain.

Healthy aging isn't about doing more. It's about creating the right conditions for your body to thrive: nourishment, rhythm, recovery and rejuvenation.

And that often look like simply doing the fundamentals consistently.

Which of Djokovic's daily wellness habits surprised you the most?

This is how I think about 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗔𝘆𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗮:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗣𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱

At the base are the daily rituals that create the biggest return over a lifetime.

Morning sunlight. Restorative sleep. Nourishing food. Movement. Protecting our senses.

They may not be glamorous, but they are the foundations of vitality.

Once those foundations are in place, we can layer in weekly practices that restore and replenish. Gentle fasting (𝘂𝗽𝗮𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗮), warm oil massage (𝗮𝗯𝗵𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮), time in nature, community and connection, and stepping away from constant digital stimulation help bring us back into balance.

Then come the seasonal practices: living with nature’s rhythms, taking time for retreat and reflection, and, where appropriate, 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 for deeper rejuvenation and renewal.

One of the biggest misconceptions in modern wellness is believing everything needs to be done every day. It doesn't.

Ayurveda teaches us that different practices belong to different rhythms. Some nourish us daily. Others are more powerful weekly, seasonally or at key moments in life.

For me, this is the essence of 𝙍𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙖 - building resilience through consistent, sustainable rituals rather than constantly searching for the next optimisation.

The goal isn't simply to live longer.

It's to preserve vitality, strengthen resilience and keep life juicy for every decade ahead.

Which layer do you need to strengthen most right now?