Lean on Ayurveda

Vytaute Liutkeviciute
  • 5.0 (4)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
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Welcome! In the Lean on Ayurveda podcast, its host and Ayurveda expert Vytaute explores how Ayurveda, the ancient science of health and wellbeing, can help us understand ourselves more deeply and guide us to feeling better. For more information about Vytaute’s work, visit leanonayurveda.com.

  1. 4D AGO

    Ep 31 - Working with Ayurvedic Herbs for Spring Lymphatic Care: Tulsi, Dandelion & Manjistha

    Send us Fan Mail Spring is a powerful time of transition in Ayurveda—a moment when the body begins to release winter’s heaviness and reawaken its natural flow. In this episode of the Lean on Ayurveda Podcast, recorded on the auspicious beginning of Navaratri and a new lunar cycle, I explore how to support lymphatic health (rasa dhatu) through Ayurvedic herbs—while staying rooted in the understanding that lifestyle always comes first. You’ll be introduced to three herbs—tulsi, dandelion, and manjistha—each offering a unique pathway to support the body during kapha season, when stagnation, congestion, and heaviness can arise. Rather than approaching herbs as quick fixes, this episode invites you into a more intentional and relational way of working with plant medicine—as something to build a connection with, rather than simply consume. In This Episode You’ll Learn Why spring is a key time for lymphatic support in AyurvedaThe role of rasa dhatu (lymphatic tissue) in overall nourishmentWhy lifestyle practices come before herbsHow to approach herbs as relational, not transactionalThe benefits and qualities of:Tulsi (Holy Basil)DandelionManjisthaHow color, taste, and seasonal foods support lymphatic flowWhy bitter greens and red-pigmented foods are especially beneficial in spring The 3 Herbs for Springtime Lymphatic Support 🌿 Tulsi (Holy Basil) A sacred, sattvic herb known for promoting clarity, harmony, and flow. Supports the lungs and reduces excess mucusEncourages circulation of prana (life force)Gently stimulates digestionIdeal for light spring congestionSimple use: tea with honey, or blended with mint for a fresh infusion 🌼 Dandelion A powerful local and accessible spring herb with cleansing properties. Supports liver and lymphatic functionHelps clear heat, inflammation, and stagnationEspecially supportive for breast tissue congestionEncourages resilience and adaptabilitySimple use: tea, pesto, or added to meals as fresh greens 🌺 Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia) One of Ayurveda’s most renowned herbs for lymphatic movement and blood purification. Supports both rasa dhatu (lymph) and rakta dhatu (blood)Helps dissolve stagnation and clear inflammationTraditionally used for skin, lymph, and reproductive healthHas adaptogenic qualities and deep cleansing action⚠️ Best used with guidance, especially for dosage and duration. A Gentle Reminder Herbs are supportive—but not essential. Before reaching for herbal remedies, Ayurveda invites us to focus on: Nourishing, seasonal foodProper hydrationDaily movementTouch therapies like massage or dry brushingSupporting digestive fire (agni)These are the foundations Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life. Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution.  If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

    39 min

  2. MAR 6

    Ep 30 - Springtime Lymphatic Care in Ayurveda: Supporting the Water Within (Rasa Dhatu)

    Send us Fan Mail Ep 30 - Springtime Lymphatic Care in Ayurveda: Supporting the Water Within (Rasa Dhatu) 🌿 Join the Spring Cleanse here As spring arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, our bodies naturally transition out of winter’s heaviness. In Ayurveda, this seasonal shift brings an increase in kapha dosha, which can lead to feelings of sluggishness, congestion, brain fog, or emotional heaviness. In this episode of the Lean on Ayurveda Podcast, I explore how spring affects the lymphatic system (rasa dhatu) and why this time of year is ideal for gently supporting the body’s natural cleansing processes. You’ll learn how Ayurveda understands lymphatic health, the relationship between digestive fire (agni) and seasonal balance, and simple ways to support your body through food, movement, and seasonal rhythms. I also share why many traditions across cultures include some form of springtime reduction or fasting, and how a gentle seasonal cleanse can help restore clarity, lightness, and energy after the winter months. In This Episode You’ll Learn Why spring naturally increases kapha in the bodyThe Ayurvedic understanding of the lymphatic system (rasa dhatu)How lymphatic health influences nourishment of all body tissuesSigns of healthy, depleted, or stagnant lymphatic tissueWhy supporting digestive fire (agni) is central to lymphatic healthHow seasonal foods support natural cleansing in springThe role of movement in maintaining healthy lymph flowWhy many cultures practice springtime fasting or reduction Common Springtime Kapha Symptoms You may notice these signs as winter transitions into spring: Congestion or excess mucusBrain fog or heaviness in the headLow motivation or lethargyIncreased sleepinessWeight gain or sluggish digestionEmotional heavinessAyurveda sees these symptoms as signals that the body is ready to shift from winter nourishment toward gentle lightening and cleansing. Community Spring Cleanse Each spring I host a gentle Ayurvedic cleanse designed to support digestion, lymphatic health, and seasonal transition. Inside the cleanse you’ll learn: How to prepare simple Ayurvedic cleansing mealsHerbal infusions and spices that support agniRhythms that help the body release winter stagnationHow to support lymphatic flow naturally🌿 Join the Spring Community Spring Cleanse here We'll start preparing our bodies on 15 March, we'll cleanse with a traditional ayurvedic monodiet on 20-22 March and then we'll integrate and transition out of the cleanse on 23 -25 March. Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life. Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution.  If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

    1h 4m

  3. FEB 20

    Ep 29 - Ayurvedic Seasonal Cleanses Explained: Spring Kapha, Self-Attunement & Common Questions

    Send us Fan Mail Ep 29: Ayurvedic Spring Cleanse Q&A — How to Move Through Seasonal Transitions with Clarity and Self-Attunement Seasonal change is not just something that happens around us — in Ayurveda, it is something that happens within us. In this episode, I answer the most common questions I receive every year about Ayurvedic seasonal cleanses, with a special focus on the Spring Cleanse. Whether this is your first cleanse or you already live a “clean” lifestyle, this conversation invites you to look beyond food rules and into the deeper purpose of seasonal reset practices. We explore why Ayurvedic cleanses are traditionally done at seasonal thresholds, how to approach them gently and intelligently, and why the real gift of cleansing is not kitchari or herbs — but learning to listen to your body. I also recorded this episode during eclipse season, a time traditionally associated with heightened sensitivity and the need for more intentional living. If you’re feeling foggy, overstimulated, or inwardly restless, this episode is especially supportive. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why seasonal junctures are considered powerful (and vulnerable) thresholds in AyurvedaHow spring relates to Kapha dosha, and why congestion, heaviness, and lethargy often arise this time of yearThe real purpose of Ayurvedic cleansing — and why it’s not about perfectionHow supporting Agni (digestive fire) helps you move through seasonal change with more stabilityWhy timing a cleanse is less about fixed dates and more about observing natureWhat actually happens during the Spring Cleanse (preparation, cleanse days, and re-nourishment)How much time you realistically need each day (and why rest matters just as much as food)What to expect if this is your first cleanse — including discomfort, clarity, and self-trustWhether you “need” a cleanse if you already eat cleanHow seasonal cleanses help cultivate self-attunement, not just symptom reliefMentioned in this episode 🎧 Ep 19: Cosmic Rhythms and Mental/Emotional Clarity: Ayurvedic Wisdom for Eclipse Seasons A supportive listen for navigating eclipse season with more steadiness and clarity. 👉 Link to Episode 19🌱 Ayurvedic Community Spring Cleanse A gentle, guided seasonal reset focused on digestion, lymphatic health, and self-attunement. 👉 Sign up for the Spring Cleanse hereA note from me If there’s one thing I hope you take from this episode, it’s this: Wanting to feel better is not the same as wanting to listen to your body. Seasonal cleanses are not about getting it right — they are about showing up, imperfectly and honestly, to create space for listening. Over time, that practice changes ever Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life. Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution.  If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

    52 min

  4. FEB 6

    Ep 28 - When We Feel Unsupported on Our Ayurvedic Journey: Partner Support, Clarity & Self-Leadership

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 28: Partner Support on the Ayurvedic Path Why decisiveness, self-leadership, and clarity change everything In this episode of the Lean on Ayurveda Podcast, we explore a topic many of us quietly struggle with: feeling supported (or not) by our partner when we choose to care for ourselves differently. Drawing from Ayurveda, lived experience, and conversations with clients and listeners, this episode gently reframes “partner support” and reveals why clarity and decisiveness are often the missing piece—not more convincing, explaining, or negotiating. Whether you feel fully supported, somewhat supported, or quietly resentful, this conversation offers relief, insight, and practical guidance. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why partner support has less to do with your partner and more to do with your own clarityHow indecision quietly creates resentment (even when no one does anything “wrong”)Why we sometimes use our partner as an exit strategy when we don’t fully trust our own yes or noWhy self-leadership and personal responsibility are where it's atHow to articulate the real return on investment of your Ayurvedic practicesWhy investing in your well-being is never selfish—and how your whole family benefitsHow seasonal cleanses, structure, and rhythm support not only the body, but relationshipsA key takeaway: Your Ayurvedic journey is not about changing your partner. It’s about becoming more rooted in yourself. When you are clear, grounded, and decisive about what supports your health and fulfillment, collaboration becomes possible, often naturally. Support grows over time as the benefits become visible and embodied. You don’t need perfect support to begin. Support evolves as self-trust deepens. ___ Join Our Community Spring Cleanse 🌱 If this episode resonated and you’re feeling the call to reset with the season, you’re warmly invited to join the Community Spring Cleanse. Key dates: Preparation begins: March 15 (live Zoom call)Cleansing days: March 20–22Integration phase: through March 25What’s included: Guided preparation (phasing out caffeine, alcohol & refined sugar)Optional digital detox3 days of Ayurvedic mono-diet (kitchari)Gentle integration support (including a live Zoom closing circle on 22 March)A nourishing, supportive community experienceDone fully from homeThis cleanse is ideal if you: Want to align with the seasonal rhythms of AyurvedaAre returning to a practice that already supports youAre new to Ayurveda and want a grounded, accessible entry point✨ Early bird pricing is currently available! 👉 Save your seat (or via Instagram: @lean_on_ayurveda) leanonayurveda.com Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life. Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution.  If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

    44 min

  5. JAN 23

    Ep 27 - Ojas Is Not for Sale: Ayurvedic Ritual, Slow Beauty & Slow Aging with Osi Mizrahi

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I'm joined by Osi Mizrahi, founder of Osi Oils - for a deep conversation on abhyanga (self-oil massage), slow beauty, and aging with vitality and grace. Together, we explore how ancient Ayurvedic rituals can become a powerful antidote to modern stress, hormonal transitions, and the pressure to “fix” our bodies — inviting us instead into practices of self-love, sensuality, and nervous system regulation. This episode is a beautiful entry point for anyone curious about Ayurvedic self-care, especially women navigating perimenopause, menopause, burnout, or a longing to reconnect with ritual in everyday life. In this episode, we explore: What abhyanga really is — and why oiling the body is considered an act of love (sneha) in AyurvedaHow beauty rituals can support the nervous system, hormones, and emotional healingThe connection between vata dosha, aging, dryness, and stressWhy slow beauty is inseparable from slow agingHow small, realistic rituals (even 10 seconds!) can make a profound differenceThe role of pleasure (kama) as a legitimate and healing aim of lifeHow oiling the skin supports ojas, radiance, and inner vitalityWhy aging is not the problem — urgency isPractical ways to begin Ayurvedic rituals without overwhelm👉 Learn more about Osi and her oils here: https://osioils.com 🎁 Listener discount: Use code LEANON20 for 20% off your order Spring Cleanse with Vytaute If you’re feeling the call to reset, rebalance your doshas, and gently support digestion, hormones, and energy levels, I will be hosting the next Community Ayurvedic Spring Cleanse on: 🗓 March 20–22, 2026 (more info will follow!) A beautiful way to support vata and kapha as we transition into spring. Key Ayurvedic concepts mentioned: Abhyanga — daily self-oil massageSneha — oil, love, affectionVata dosha — movement, dryness, aging, nervous systemOjas — vitality, immunity, inner glowPanchakarma — deep Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenationSlow beauty / slow aging — ritual over urgencyResources & links Osi Oils website: https://osioils.comDiscount code: LEANON20 (20% off)Spring Cleanse dates: March 20–22✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and share the Lean on Ayurveda Podcast — and consider passing it on to a woman who could benefit from more softness, ritual, and nourishment in her life. Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life. Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution.  If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

    52 min

  6. JAN 9

    Ep 26 - Trauma-informed Ayurveda, Emotional Digestion and Healing in Community with Angela Perger

    Send us Fan Mail In this deep conversation, I’m joined by my beloved teacher Angela Perger, founder of Simple Ayurveda, to explore how ancient Ayurvedic wisdom can meet modern trauma awareness - and why, for many of us, healing requires more than food, herbs, and routines alone. Together, we dive into trauma-informed Ayurveda, emotional digestion, and the role of community in healing chronic conditions. Angela shares her own powerful health journey, how she integrates German New Medicine (GNM) with Ayurveda, and why learning to live with paradox may be one of the most important skills on a healing path. In this episode, we explore: What trauma-informed Ayurveda really means - and why it’s not a one-size-fits-all approachHow unresolved emotional experiences can show up as physical symptomsAngela’s personal journey with autoimmune conditions and long-term healingAn introduction to German New Medicine (GNM) and how it complements AyurvedaWhy “doing everything right” still isn’t always enough - especially for Western nervous systemsEmotional digestion and how the body processes unresolved experiencesWorking with health-related fear, medical anxiety, and chronic illnessRitualizing medication and medical appointments as a form of nervous system supportThe power of healing in community (and why it’s often missing today)Why sharing our stories in safe groups can be profoundly transformativeLiving in paradox: the wisdom of “yes, and” instead of “either/or”Creativity, improv, and joy as unexpected healing toolsWhat it means to find - or create - a modern village for healingAbout Angela Perger Angela Perger is an Ayurvedic practitioner, educator, and the founder of Simple Ayurveda. With a background in education and decades of lived experience navigating chronic illness, Angela brings a deeply compassionate, nuanced lens to healing. Her work integrates classical Ayurveda with trauma awareness, emotional digestion, ancestral inquiry, and German New Medicine - supporting people who feel they’ve “done all the right things” but are still searching for deeper resolution. Angela is also the host of the Simple Ayurveda Podcast, where she shares grounded, practical wisdom for living in rhythm with nature and the body. Explore Angela’s work: 🌿 Website: https://simpleayurveda.com 🎧 Podcast: Simple Ayurveda (available on all podcast platforms) Her Programme Ayurveda Encompassed starts in February 2026! ------ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing it with a friend — it’s one of the best ways to support the podcast and help this work reach those who need it. Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life. Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution.  If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

    1h 7m

  7. 12/12/2025

    Ep 25 - Q&A: Ghee & Inflammation, Finding Harmony in a Harsh World & Overcoming Procrastination

    Send us Fan Mail In the final episode of 2025, we’re closing the year with a special Q&A, featuring questions submitted by my current clients. We explore everything from the truth about ghee and inflammation, to navigating the emotional weight of the world, to finding your way out of procrastination patterns. In this episode, we cover: • Is ghee inflammatory? We look at what modern sources say, where confusion often arises, how ghee behaves in the body according to Ayurveda, the role of butyrate in gut health, and what the classical texts tell us about using ghee therapeutically. • How to feel harmony in a world that feels harsh. We explore the lens of Kali Yuga, the deeper perspective of yogic philosophy, how to hold both agency and surrender, and the two practices that can keep you rooted when the world feels overwhelming: rhythm and prayer. • “I keep procrastinating. What do I do?” A practical Ayurvedic take on procrastination. We differentiate between tamasic (inert) procrastination and rajasic (busy but avoidant) procrastination — and how to shift each one using sattva, rajas, or both. End-of-Year Offering: Ayurvedic Holiday Support Sessions For the month of December, I’m opening up something I rarely offer — single one-on-one sessions to support you through the holiday season. These 60-minute focused sessions can support you with: digestion and food rhythm while traveling or hostingstress, sensory load, and overwhelmemotional tenderness that often arises this time of yearWe choose 1–2 priorities and build a simple, personalized support system so you can enter the new year feeling grounded, nourished, and clear. → Book your session here. Resources Mentioned in this episode: WebMD nutritional overview of gheeResearch on the anti-inflammatory effects of butyrate: Canani RB, Costanzo MD, Leone L, Pedata M, Meli R, Calignano A. Potential beneficial effects of butyrate in intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. World J Gastroenterol. 2011 Mar 28;17(12):1519-28. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i12.1519. PMID: 21472114; PMCID: PMC3070119.Charaka Samhita passages on ghee (ghṛta)Simple Ayurveda Podcast ep 169: Time from a Vedic Perspective: A Deep Dive into the Yugas.Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life. Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution.  If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

    41 min

  8. 11/28/2025

    Ep 24 - Ayurvedic Winter Foods: How Sweet, Sour & Salty Nourish Your Deep Tissues

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 24 — Winter Foods: How to Nourish Your Body and Build Strength This Season In today’s episode, we explore how to nourish yourself during winter (Hemanta) using the principles of Ayurveda. This is the season of strong digestive fire, deeper nourishment, and building the tissues that carry you through the colder months. Think: sweet, sour, salty, warm, grounding, and deeply supportive foods. Before we dive in, I’m also sharing a special offering available only in November and December — my 1:1 Ayurvedic Holiday Support Sessions, a single 60-minute session designed to help you create a simple system of support for the very real challenges of this season. If you’ve been curious about what Ayurvedic coaching feels like, this is the perfect taster. What We Explore in This Episode 🌬️ Early Winter & Your Body’s Intelligence Why your digestive fire naturally strengthens when the weather turns coldHow Ayurveda understands this season as a time of containment, nourishment, and steadying the systemWhat happens if you don’t feed your digestive fire properly during winter (hint: depletion)🥣 The Ayurvedic Tastes That Support You Most Now You’ll learn which of the six tastes build strength and stability in winter and how to naturally bring them into your meals. We discuss the sweet taste present in grains, dairy products and the use of meat as medicine.  We also cover sour and salty tastes and their roles in supporting digestion of heavier winter foods. We talk about warm hydration rituals and their role in strengthening agni - our digestive fire. 🌱 What Winter Is Really About in Ayurveda Winter is the season of building kapha on purpose. Build wisely now → feel strong in spring. Under-nourish now → deplete deeply later. Book your Winter Holiday Support Session with Lean on Ayurveda here. Learn more about my work: https://leanonayurveda.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: receive seasonal reflections, ayurvedic practices, recipes and free resources to bring balance into your daily life. Book a 1:1 ayurvedic consultation: learn how to use food, rhythm and ritual to support your unique constitution.  If this episode resonates, please share it and rate the podcast - it helps more people discover the art of ayurveda as a support system for modern living!

    36 min
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About

Welcome! In the Lean on Ayurveda podcast, its host and Ayurveda expert Vytaute explores how Ayurveda, the ancient science of health and wellbeing, can help us understand ourselves more deeply and guide us to feeling better. For more information about Vytaute’s work, visit leanonayurveda.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Vytaute Liutkeviciute
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Lean on Ayurveda
  • Show Website
    Lean on Ayurveda

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