Optimal Heath and Wellness, with Melina Meza On and Off Your Mat Yoga Podcast

For our 42nd episode, I sat down with Melina Meza, Melina is a pioneer in the field of yoga, nutrition, and Ayurvedic Health, sharing her knowledge with yogis around the world for more than 20 years. She is the author of Seasonal Health and Wellness and the Art of Sequencing as well as the creator of Yoga for the Seasons – Fall Vinyasa DVD. Her teachings can also be found on Yoga Anytime, YogaUonline, and Gaiamtv. Whether it’s with individual clients, workshops or retreats, Melina teaches a holistic practice that features lifestyle, diet, and yoga practices tailored to the rhythms of the four seasons.
5 BIGGEST TAKE-AWAY FROM THIS EPISODE
1- Ayurveda is a practical, experiment based, preventative health science teaching people to tune in with the flow of nature to address their needs in order to balance yourself with the elements.
2- For optimal health, keep track of digestion of what you take in (food and experience), good energy levels, ability to focus, good sleep, creativity. 
3- In fall, turn towards things that are warm, hydrating, nurturing, drawing your attention more inward and helping you slow down.
4- For better sleep, avoid food late in the evening, self-care (oil massage, bath), writing down what you have on your mind, rest before bed, no screens 1 hour before bed.
5- For optimal digestion, eat when you're hungry, stop when you're satisfied (before being full), avoid cold liquids around meal time, distraction while eating.
QUESTIONS SHE ANSWERED DURING THIS EPISODE :

Can you tell us about yourself and your journey through yoga, nutrition and Ayurveda?What is Ayurveda?In your opinion, what does optimal health and wellness looks like nowadays?Something I like about your book is that it’s simple. You don’t talk about the constitutions. Why not? Do you think we need to understand them to choose the best practice for us or is following the rhythm of nature enough?We are in fall now, what are the qualities of this season that we should keep in mind?Do you have tips for good sleep hygiene? Digestion is at the core of Ayurveda. Any general tips for better digestion?How should our movement practice look like in fall?If we look at meditation, what kind of practice would serve us best in fall?

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