The Grounded Leader: Ayurvedic Wellness for Leaders Who Want to Succeed from a Place of Balance

Sweta Vikram
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Alternative Health

Welcome to The Grounded Leader: Ayurvedic Wellness for Leaders Who Want to Succeed from a Place of Balance—a podcast where ancient practices meet ambitious goals to help you operate with strength, clarity, and grounded intention.   I'm your host, Sweta Vikram — Ayurvedic doctor, award-winning author, trauma-informed yoga teacher, mindfulness coach, corporate wellness speaker, adjunct professor, and lifelong student of what it really means to lead with clarity, purpose, and peace.   This podcast explores how burnout, chronic stress, and misaligned energy are silently eroding your leadership & career potential. Learn how ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, modern wellness strategies, and emotional intelligence can help you reclaim clarity, purpose, team success, and health.   Each episode blends storytelling, practical tips, & interviews with wellness leaders, Ayurvedic practitioners, and C-suite executives. Gain the actionable tools you’ve been searching for to manage stress, enhance resilience, and lead from a place of balance.    If you’re a high-performing professional, founder, team leader, or heart-centered entrepreneur who's tired of the burnout-and-breakdown cycle… you’re in the right place. Because here’s the truth: your wellness is your leadership. Let's dive in.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 33: Manifestation for Grounded Leaders: Vision, Wellness, and the Courage to Take Action — with Janet Tanguay

    🎙️Podcast Description Manifestation gets talked about a lot. But is it enough to visualize the life, career, or business you want? Probably not. In this episode of The Grounded Leader, I sit down with Janet Tanguay—business advisor, creative strategist, entrepreneur, author, artist, and founder of The Hammock Way of Life—to explore manifestation through a more grounded lens. We talk about what happens when vision meets preparation, wellness, and intentional action. Janet has spent years helping entrepreneurs and professionals transform ideas into reality. Together, we explore why believing in possibility matters—but also why meaningful change requires the courage to act before you have guarantees. We also examine an often-overlooked connection: your well-being affects your ability to envision and build what comes next. When you’re depleted or burned out, it can become harder to recognize opportunities, make clear decisions, take thoughtful risks, or even imagine a different future. Manifestation, then, isn’t simply about asking for what you want. It’s about becoming prepared to recognize—and act on—the opportunities that move you toward it. ✨ Key Takeaways Manifestation requires more than visualization. Vision can give us direction, but meaningful change also requires preparation, decisions, and action.Wellness creates capacity for possibility. When we’re chronically depleted, our ability to think creatively, recognize opportunities, and make clear decisions can suffer.Belief matters—but it needs grounding. Leaders need the ability to imagine possibilities before there is evidence they’ll work, while remaining rooted in reality.Alignment is an important part of achievement. A goal can look impressive on paper and still be wrong for your values, energy, or larger sense of purpose.Sometimes the opportunity looks different from the vision. Staying open to unexpected paths can allow something even more meaningful to emerge.✨ A question to take with you: Are you only envisioning what you want—or are you becoming ready for it? Consider one goal you’re working toward. What is one aligned action you can take today that moves it from intention toward possibility? 🎧 Follow The Grounded Leader wherever you listen, and share this conversation with a colleague, friend, or fellow leader working toward a meaningful goal. 💛 Learn more about my work around Ayurveda, burnout, stress, grief, and sustainable well-being at swetavikram.com. Because the healthiest leaders aren’t necessarily the busiest. They create space for vision, take aligned action, and trust themselves enough to stay the course. ************* BIO Janet Tanguay is an SBA-certified business advisor, creative strategist, and CEO of The Hammock Way of Life, where she guides people in fulfilling their dreams by creating good connections and opportunities.  She is currently working with 100 certified Hammock Way of Life Vision Board coaches from around the world.  She is also a mixed media artist, an author of two children’s books and a book series on Doing Business in New York State, and started a record label after producing her first record, “Smell the Rain. Her memoir The Hammock Way of Life: Leaping Toward Joy was just featured on a Times Square billboard, and two anthologies Inspiration to Success: The Entrepreneurial Journey and Unstoppable Women in Business are being published this year as well. She also runs a weekly virtual Creative Mastermind Group and is known in her circles as a SuperConnector.  Book a Discovery Call with Janet at janettanguay@hammockwayoflife.com or 518-527-6397.   *********** If you are looking for advice from a certified grief coach, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and Doctor of Ayurveda (A.D.), contact Sweta here. Connect on Socials: Instagram  |  LinkedIn |  Facebook  |  YouTube Visit my website Disclaimer: The Grounded Leader is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not medical, mental health, or other professional healthcare advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making changes to your treatment, medications, supplements, herbs, diet, or wellness practices. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please seek immediate professional care.

    Episode 33: Manifestation for Grounded Leaders: Vision, Wellness, and the Courage to Take Action — with Janet Tanguay

  2. Sep 22

    Episode 32: Unplugged Leadership: Why the Best Leaders Know When to Disconnect

    🎙️Podcast Description When did being constantly available become a measure of commitment? Emails after dinner. Slack on the weekends. Notifications during conversations. Reaching for the phone before we’ve even checked in with ourselves. Many of us may technically stop working, but our minds never actually clock out. In this solo episode of The Grounded Leader, I explore why our inability to disconnect isn’t simply a technology problem—it’s a leadership, attention, and nervous system problem. 🌿 From an Ayurvedic perspective, digestion extends beyond food. We’re also constantly processing conversations, emotions, experiences, and information. When we consume more than we can integrate, the mind can become overloaded too. Remember: healthy leadership isn’t about responding the fastest. It’s about having the capacity to respond thoughtfully. ✨ Key Takeaways Being available isn’t the same as being present. Constant connectivity can create the illusion of productivity while quietly eroding focus and meaningful engagement.Your attention is a finite leadership resource. Every notification and “quick check” asks your brain to shift focus, making uninterrupted thinking increasingly difficult.We digest information just as we digest experiences. Ayurveda reminds us that excessive stimulation can leave the mind feeling overloaded, restless, and scattered.Try “notification fasting.” Phone-free windows—during meals, first thing in the morning, or after a designated evening hour—can give your mind and nervous system space to recover.Your digital habits shape your workplace culture. Leaders who respond at all hours may unintentionally communicate that their teams should do the same. Modeling boundaries gives others permission to create their own. ✨ Your Unplugged Leadership Experiment For the next seven days, choose one 30-minute window when your phone is completely out of reach. Not face down. Not on silent beside you. Away. Use that time to eat, walk, think, have a conversation, drink your coffee, or simply do absolutely nothing productive. Then ask yourself: What changed when no one else had immediate access to my attention? That answer may tell you more about your relationship with availability than any screen-time report ever could. 🎧 If you try the experiment, come back to this episode at the end of the week and notice whether you’re leading—and living—with a little more presence. Because the strongest leaders aren’t always the most available. They’re the most present. If you are looking for advice from a certified grief coach, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and Doctor of Ayurveda (A.D.), contact Sweta here. Connect on Socials: Instagram  |  LinkedIn |  Facebook  |  YouTube Visit my website Disclaimer: The Grounded Leader is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not medical, mental health, or other professional healthcare advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making changes to your treatment, medications, supplements, herbs, diet, or wellness practices. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please seek immediate professional care.

    Episode 32: Unplugged Leadership: Why the Best Leaders Know When to Disconnect

  3. Sep 8

    Episode 31: Finding Your Voice: From Burnout to Purpose — with Ilene Echavarria

    🎙️Podcast Description What happens when your body starts telling you that the life you’ve built is no longer sustainable? In this episode of The Grounded Leader, I sit down with Ilene Echavarria—bilingual voice actor, dance educator, performer, entrepreneur, and one of my former Ayurvedic coaching clients. Ilene shares her journey from burnout in the advertising world to building a more creative, purpose-driven life. We talk about the signals her body was sending long before she was ready to listen, how she discovered Ayurveda and began working with me, and the practices that have actually remained sustainable within her busy life. This is also a candid look at what 1:1 Ayurvedic coaching can look like in real life—not perfection, complicated routines, or another wellness checklist, but learning how to understand your body and create rhythms that support the life you want to live. 🌿 Key Takeaways Your body often recognizes burnout before your mind does. Learning to notice its signals can help you respond before you reach complete depletion.Ayurveda doesn’t have to mean overhauling your life. Small, personalized practices can be far more sustainable than rigid wellness routines.Well-being and purpose are interconnected. Creating space to feel better can also create greater clarity about how you want to work and live.Sustainable practices have to fit your actual life. The most effective wellness routine isn’t the most impressive one—it’s the one you can realistically return to.Learning to work with your body can change more than your health. Greater self-awareness can influence how you manage stress, make decisions, establish priorities, and show up for your work.💛 Curious About 1:1 Ayurvedic Coaching? If you’re successful on the outside but feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, disconnected, or simply aware that something needs to change, 1:1 Ayurvedic coaching offers a personalized way to understand what your body needs and create rhythms that work with your real life. Visit SwetaVikram.com to learn more and schedule a discovery call with me. You don’t need another wellness routine to perfect. You may simply need a way of living that works better for you. *********** BIO Ilene Echavarria is a bilingual voice actor, dance educator, performer, and certified Access Bars Practitioner whose career has been shaped by a lifelong passion for the arts and human connection. Raised in the Dominican Republic, Ilene began her journey in dance and musical theater before earning a degree in Communication Studies and TV/Film Production from Manhattanville College in NY. She went on to build a successful career in production and advertising, helping bring stories and brands to life behind the scenes. Today, she combines her creative and leadership experience through voiceover, arts education, and wellness. As a dance teaching artist, she empowers young people through movement and social-emotional learning. As a bilingual voice actor, she helps brands and organizations connect authentically with diverse audiences in English and Spanish. And as an Access Bars Practitioner, she supports individuals in creating greater ease, clarity, and possibility for themselves. Across every chapter of her career, Ilene's mission remains the same: helping people connect more deeply—to themselves, to others, and to the stories that move us all. *** If you are looking for advice from a certified grief coach, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and Doctor of Ayurveda (A.D.), contact Sweta here. Connect on Socials: Instagram  |  LinkedIn |  Facebook  |  YouTube Visit my website Disclaimer: The Grounded Leader is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not medical, mental health, or other professional healthcare advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making changes to your treatment, medications, supplements, herbs, diet, or wellness practices. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please seek immediate professional care.

    Episode 31: Finding Your Voice: From Burnout to Purpose — with Ilene Echavarria

  4. Aug 18

    Episode 30: Grief as a Catalyst--Finding Growth and Leadership Strength Through Loss

    🎙️ In this deeply personal episode of The Grounded Leader, I explore a subject we often avoid in professional life: grief. But grief isn’t only about death — it’s about any loss that shakes your identity, whether that’s the end of a relationship, a career shift, betrayal, illness, or a season of life closing. I share my own story of losing my father — my anchor and safe space — and how that experience reshaped not only my personal life but also my leadership. Together, we’ll look at grief as a profound teacher that can deepen empathy, expand self-awareness, and transform how we lead. From breaking down misconceptions about grief, to offering practical tools and Ayurvedic wisdom for navigating it, this conversation is both tender and transformative. Leaders and high achievers: this one is for you. Because you can’t lead well if you don’t allow yourself to live fully. ✨ Key Takeaways Grief goes beyond death: It’s any loss that alters your sense of self and stability.Leaders grieve too: Suppressing grief shows up in burnout, disconnection, and poor decision-making.Transformation through loss: Grief can catalyze growth, deepening compassion, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership.Practical grounding tools: Therapy, creative expression, Ayurveda, routines, and community can anchor you through grief.A new definition of strength: Vulnerability and empathy are not weaknesses — they’re leadership superpowers. 📣 If this episode spoke to your heart, share it with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone. 🪷If you’re navigating grief, I offer one-on-one grief coaching rooted in Ayurveda and trauma-informed practices — learn more at www.swetavikram.com 📚 And for a deeper exploration, pick up my book The Loss That Binds Us — part memoir, part guide — wherever books are sold. 💡 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Grounded Leader so we can keep creating space for these real, human conversations. If you are looking for advice from a certified grief coach, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and Doctor of Ayurveda (A.D.), contact Sweta here. Connect on Socials: Instagram  |  LinkedIn |  Facebook  |  YouTube Visit my website Disclaimer: The Grounded Leader is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not medical, mental health, or other professional healthcare advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making changes to your treatment, medications, supplements, herbs, diet, or wellness practices. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please seek immediate professional care.

  5. Jul 28

    Episode 29: Mid-Year Reset: Regulate, Reflect, Realign

    🎙️Podcast Description 🎧 Mid-Year Reset: Regulate, Reflect, Realign July isn’t just the midpoint of the year—it’s a mirror. It reflects how you’ve been leading, how you’ve been living, and how your body has been holding it all. In this short solo episode, I offer a grounded mid-year reset for leaders who are feeling stretched, tired, or quietly disconnected. Instead of pushing harder or chasing new strategies, she invites you to pause and return to what truly sustains effective leadership: a regulated nervous system. Drawing from Ayurvedic wisdom and modern leadership insights, I'll walk you through a simple yet powerful 3-step reset—Regulate, Reflect, Realign—to help you move from burnout to balance without burning everything down. This episode is your permission to slow down, check in, and lead differently in the second half of the year. 🌿 Key Takeaways Leadership isn’t just about strategy—it starts with nervous system regulationSummer’s intensity (from an Ayurvedic lens) can amplify stress, urgency, and burnoutYou don’t need to do more to reset—you need to pause and become awareRegulate: Even 60 seconds of intentional breathing can shift your presence and decision-makingReflect: Not everything you started the year with needs to be carried forwardRealign: Sustainable leadership comes from small, consistent shifts—not drastic overhaulsBurnout isn’t always loud—sometimes it shows up as quiet disconnection and fatigueGrounded leadership begins with honesty, self-awareness, and honoring your energy 👉🏼🎧🪷If this episode resonated, take a moment today to pause, regulate, and choose one small shift to realign how you lead. ✉️ For deeper tools, practices, and reflections to support your wellbeing and leadership, join my newsletter. 🫂 And if you know someone who’s been carrying a lot quietly—share this episode with them. Because the world doesn’t need more burned-out leaders. It needs more grounded ones. If you are looking for advice from a certified grief coach, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and Doctor of Ayurveda (A.D.), contact Sweta here. Connect on Socials: Instagram  |  LinkedIn |  Facebook  |  YouTube Visit my website Disclaimer: The Grounded Leader is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not medical, mental health, or other professional healthcare advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making changes to your treatment, medications, supplements, herbs, diet, or wellness practices. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please seek immediate professional care.

  6. Jul 14

    Episode 28: From Health Crisis to Healing Work: The Power of Aromatherapy

    🎙️ Podcast Description From Health Crisis to Healing Work: The Power of Aromatherapy What happens when your body forces you to pause—when your health begins to unravel, and the life you’ve built no longer feels sustainable? In this powerful episode of The Grounded Leader, I sit down with clinical aromatherapist, educator, and founder of JennScents and Aromaversity, Jennifer Pressimone. Known as the “Aromatherapy Intuitive,” Jennifer shares how a life-threatening health crisis in her late twenties—marked by organ failure, deep exhaustion, and emotional overwhelm—became the catalyst for her healing journey and life’s work. Together, we explore the science and soul of aromatherapy—how scent influences the nervous system, unlocks emotional memory, and supports mental and psychological well-being. This conversation is especially meaningful for leaders, entrepreneurs, and high achievers navigating chronic stress, burnout, and the pressure to always keep going. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body, overwhelmed by life’s demands, or curious about holistic tools for healing—this episode offers both insight and practical support. ✨ Key Takeaways 🌿 Your body speaks before it breaks 🌿 Scent is a powerful gateway to emotional healing 🌿 Healing can become your purpose 🌿 High achievers need regulation, not just resilience 🌿 Simple practices can create profound shifts 🌿 Workplace wellness can be sensory, not just structural 👉🏼🎧🌿 If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to pause and notice what your body is asking for today. And as always, remember: you don’t have to push harder to lead better. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do… is come back to center. ✨ Follow The Grounded Leader on your favorite podcast platform ✨ Share this episode with someone who could use more calm and clarity ✨ Leave a review—it helps more listeners discover these conversations BIO Jennifer Pressimone is CEO, clinical aromatherapist, scent intuitive, holistic health educator, master formulator, and CEO at JennScents, Inc. and Aromaversity. An internationally recognized expert in the field of holistic aromatherapy and personal development, Jennifer has been a contributor in the New York Times, Massage Magazine, Women’s Health, Real Simple, Woman’s World, Vogue Business, Homes & Gardens, and numerous industry podcasts. She has spoken at the World of Aromatherapy Beyond Aromatics conference, Botanica Conference, Holistic Medicine Conference, Biotone, FSMTA, Shift Beyond Work, Nature’s Sunshine, and several other wellness industry conferences. If you are looking for advice from a certified grief coach, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and Doctor of Ayurveda (A.D.), contact Sweta here. Connect on Socials: Instagram  |  LinkedIn |  Facebook  |  YouTube Visit my website Disclaimer: The Grounded Leader is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not medical, mental health, or other professional healthcare advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making changes to your treatment, medications, supplements, herbs, diet, or wellness practices. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please seek immediate professional care.

    Episode 28: From Health Crisis to Healing Work: The Power of Aromatherapy

  7. Jun 30

    Episode 27: Pitta Season and Power: How to Lead Without Burning Out

    🎙️ Podcast Description As we move into the intensity of summer, many leaders find themselves feeling sharper, faster, and more driven—but also more reactive, impatient, and overwhelmed. In this episode of The Grounded Leader, we explore a lesser-known truth: burnout doesn’t always look like exhaustion.Sometimes, it shows up as intensity. Through the lens of Ayurveda, we dive into Pitta season—a time governed by fire and water—and how its qualities can either fuel your leadership or quietly lead to burnout. You’ll learn how to recognize the subtle signs of Pitta imbalance in your leadership, understand what’s happening in your nervous system, and shift from reactive intensity to intentional, grounded power. If you’ve been feeling “on edge,” overly critical, or unable to slow down—this episode is your reset. 🌿 Key Takeaways Burnout isn’t always fatigue—it can show up as intensity, irritability, and urgency.Pitta season (summer) amplifies qualities like focus and ambition—but can tip into frustration and over-control when imbalanced.What feels like a “personality issue” is often nervous system dysregulation under pressure.Your state of regulation directly impacts your leadership presence, communication, and team dynamics.The goal isn’t to eliminate drive—but to shift from reactive intensity → intentional power.Small, daily practices (like breathwork, cooling inputs, and intentional pauses) can reset your system in real time.True leadership isn’t about speed—it’s about how you show up while navigating pressure. 🎧🔥💦  If this episode resonated with you, it’s likely your system is asking for a reset—not more discipline. Don’t forget to save it for later and share it with a fellow leader who might need this reminder. ✨I’ve created a free Pitta Reset Guide to help you stay clear, calm, and grounded during high-intensity seasons—without losing your edge. Inside, you’ll find simple Ayurvedic tools, daily practices, and nervous system resets designed specifically for high-performing leaders. 👉 Download your free Pitta Reset Guide and support your leadership from a place of balance, not burnout. If you are looking for advice from a certified grief coach, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and Doctor of Ayurveda (A.D.), contact Sweta here. Connect on Socials: Instagram  |  LinkedIn |  Facebook  |  YouTube Visit my website Disclaimer: The Grounded Leader is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not medical, mental health, or other professional healthcare advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making changes to your treatment, medications, supplements, herbs, diet, or wellness practices. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please seek immediate professional care.

  8. Jun 16

    Episode 26: The Health Gap We Don’t Talk About: Why Men Delay Care—and Why It Matters to All of Us

    🎙️Podcast Description Today’s episode is more personal—and a little uncomfortable in the way meaningful conversations often are. 📣 We’re talking about men’s health. More specifically, why so many men delay care, ignore symptoms, and push through until something breaks. This isn’t about blame. It’s about reflection—and an invitation. Inspired by Men’s Health Month and the conversations many of us are (or aren’t) having at home, I share personal stories, real-life examples, and what both research and Ayurveda reveal about how men approach health, stress, and vulnerability. 👉🏼From the cultural conditioning that teaches men to “tough it out,” to the quiet consequences of delayed care, we explore: Why men are less likely to seek help for mental and physical healthHow stoicism can become a risk factorThe gap between outward strength and true wellbeingWhat prevention, presence, and self-leadership really look likeThrough both clinical insight and lived experience, this episode reframes health not as weakness—but as responsibility. 💡Because men’s health isn’t just a men’s issue. It’s a family issue. A partnership issue. A community issue. Because leadership isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about living longer, wiser, and more grounded. 📩 ✍🏽 ✔️ If this conversation resonates, email me and I’ll send you the 5-minute reflection card—a simple, thoughtful check-in for yourself or someone you care about. If you are looking for advice from a certified grief coach, trauma-informed yoga teacher, and Doctor of Ayurveda (A.D.), contact Sweta here. Connect on Socials: Instagram  |  LinkedIn |  Facebook  |  YouTube Visit my website Disclaimer: The Grounded Leader is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content shared on this podcast is not medical, mental health, or other professional healthcare advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health needs and before making changes to your treatment, medications, supplements, herbs, diet, or wellness practices. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please seek immediate professional care.

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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Grounded Leader: Ayurvedic Wellness for Leaders Who Want to Succeed from a Place of Balance—a podcast where ancient practices meet ambitious goals to help you operate with strength, clarity, and grounded intention.   I'm your host, Sweta Vikram — Ayurvedic doctor, award-winning author, trauma-informed yoga teacher, mindfulness coach, corporate wellness speaker, adjunct professor, and lifelong student of what it really means to lead with clarity, purpose, and peace.   This podcast explores how burnout, chronic stress, and misaligned energy are silently eroding your leadership & career potential. Learn how ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, modern wellness strategies, and emotional intelligence can help you reclaim clarity, purpose, team success, and health.   Each episode blends storytelling, practical tips, & interviews with wellness leaders, Ayurvedic practitioners, and C-suite executives. Gain the actionable tools you’ve been searching for to manage stress, enhance resilience, and lead from a place of balance.    If you’re a high-performing professional, founder, team leader, or heart-centered entrepreneur who's tired of the burnout-and-breakdown cycle… you’re in the right place. Because here’s the truth: your wellness is your leadership. Let's dive in.

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