How Ayurveda Can Support You Postpartum With Rachel of Saraswati Ayurveda

I am so excited to share with you the wisdom of Ayurveda with my friend, Rachel of Sarawati Ayurveda.

Today we are diving into how to support your hormones as you recover from birth and the simple and attainable practices you can bring into your daily postpartum routine. I truly believe that with a little intentionality, we have the ability to create a sacred container around our postpartum journey.

Without further ado – please meet, Rachel.

Hi Rachel, thank you so much for being here and sharing your work with us. Let’s start off by introducing Shugie readers to your journey. How did you get to where you are today?

My journey into Ayurveda started right around age 30. Like so many young women, I found myself overworked and out of balance, physically & mentally and questioning what I was really doing with my life.

I’d been a public school teacher for five years and didn’t have the tools to manage my stress well. Balance was non-existent for me – I did nothing but work during the week and would drink on the weekends to blow off steam. The stress affected my sleep and menstrual cycle – after going off birth control in my early twenties, I’d lost my period for several years. When my digestion finally started breaking down, I knew something had to change.

When I first read about the doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha, everything clicked for me. I began practicing Ayurvedic food combining to support my digestion and eventually saw a practitioner to learn about my birth constitution. I discovered that my history of childhood antibiotics, drinking, and traveling had led my microbiome out of balance. My practitioner gave me dietary advice and an herbal formula to tackle the bad gut bacteria.

Immediately, I felt a shift in my anxiety and depression. I was so compelled by Ayurveda, that I quit my job teaching and began the full-time, two year program to become a practitioner. It was a big change for me and as we dove into meditation and spirituality, I had to deal with my deeper issues around substances, my family and most importantly, my relationship with myself. This was all around the time of my Saturn return so there was a lot of work to be done. Pretty much every aspect of my life shifted. 

Today, thanks to Ayurveda, I feel more vibrant and grounded than ever. It has given me the tools to create balance in my life and the space to appreciate it. And I feel so grateful that I get to share this with others.

In my work with clients over the last few years, I’ve seen how our medical system often fails to support women’s health. We aren’t given a lot of options when it comes to our hormones, and reproductive health and being told to “just go on birth control” feels really disempowering. My goal as a practitioner and doula is to provide tools and resources so that we always have choices.

For those who aren’t familiar with Ayurveda, can you tell us, what is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is the world’s oldest healing science, originating in India. It offers a holistic approach to improving life and health through balance with nature.  

Ayurvedic wisdom honors that each individual is a unique blend of the five elements – air, space, fire, water and earth. These elements combine to form the three doshas or mind-body types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

When we understand our mind-body constitution and the qualities of the foods we eat, our lifestyle and environmental factors, we can learn how to stay in balance. 

For me, Ayurveda is about bringing more ease and joy in our lives. When we’re digesting and sleeping well and feeling nourished, we have more energy to enjoy what matters.

How can Ayurveda support us postpartum?

As you know, postpartum is such an important time for nourishment and healing. In Ayurveda, we consider the first 40 days after birth a sacred window – an opportunity to support mothers’ health for the next 40 years.

Digestion and the foods we eat play a vital role in the healing process and our ability to nurture a little one. Ayurveda utilizes healing foods and herbs to rekindle digestion and support lactation.  We also incorporate self-care practices like belly binding and oil massage for mom and baby to heal.

In many Asian cultures, it is traditional for a new mom to move back into her mother or mother-in-law’s home to be cared for.  And while this level of postpartum support isn’t always possible, we should take note of the great need for it. Our society’s expectations for new moms don’t support healing or set them up for success. 

Where do you begin when setting out to support yourself through Ayurveda?

I recommend having an Ayurvedic consultation to better understand your dosha type and determine the root cause of any imbalances. You can take a dosha quiz online but these often give a partial picture.  A practitioner will give you personal recommendations and help you know where to start.

Here are some simple things everyone can do

???? Drink warm water or herbal tea between meals.

???? Incorporate digestive spices like cumin, coriander, fennel, ginger and turmeric.

???? Eat mindfully and chew your food well.

???? Make time for slowness and grounding.

???? Spend time outside – sunshine and nature are some of the best medicine.

How does Ayurveda balance and support your postpartum hormones?

We know that digestion, diet and stress are major factors when it comes to our hormones. In Ayurveda, we always start by supporting digestion. During pregnancy and birth, all of our major organs are moved around so digestion is weakened. During this time, it’s important to eat warming, digestible foods and to avoid cold or raw foods. Think soft, soupy foods like broth, congee and kitchari.

Lack of sleep and the stressors of being a new parent can take their toll on hormones. Ayurvedic self-care practices like abhyanga and belly binding are designed to ground and support your nervous system.  Self oil massage is easy to incorporate into your routine, just rub warm oil onto your limbs and joints before a warm shower or bath. For sound sleep, rub oil onto the soles of your feet and put on socks before bed. A practitioner can recommend herbs to support hormonal balance and lactation as well. 

How can we book with you? 

I focus on supporting digestive and reproductive health and love to support mothers throughout their journey, from fertility and pregnancy to postpartum. I offer 3-session and 3-month packages to work together 1:1 as well as online and group programs. Please visit my website to learn more and apply for a free call.

– Rachel, Founder of Saraswati Ayurveda