Ayurveda and Perimenopause

Points to live by during perimenopause.

Find Your Rhythm
Hormones WILL be going all over the place during this transition. Whenever you can, practice regular sleep and meal times. This makes such a difference!

Balance activity and rest
For all the Go Go Go, find some Slow Slow Slow (esp around new moon). Stress hormones and sex hormones will be more likely to balance when your life is in balance. In a world where taking your time is not always supported, be a rebel.

It’s Natural
It’s going to happen! Change, and the cessation of periods and ovulation are totally natural. Practice trusting in the bod- although you may not feel good sometimes, this too shall pass. AND you can support your body with Ayurveda!

Find recipes and more in my book Everyday Ayurveda for Women's Health, perimenopause section.

The Sleep Workshop

Want to go deeper in improving your sleep? Unlock the secrets to restful and rejuvenating sleep with our Ayurvedic course on sleep practices.

It’s all about rhythms. Explore personalized routines, herbal remedies, and lifestyle adjustments grounded in Ayurvedic wisdom to promote deep evening relaxation. As well as learn what you may be doing all day long that is affecting your sleep!

There is so much more to it than I can unfold here, so do check it out! Find it in our course catalogue at Ayurvedic Living Institute.

ps- its free for members!

Rose

A mainstay of women’s health is sweet, cool, subtle, and slightly bitter, and has an affinity for the emotional heart.

All of these qualities balance Pitta, and rose gravitates towards blood-rakta dhatu, a tissue dominated by Pitta. A pitta pacifier in rakta dhatu curbs hot flashes, heavy bleeding, skin rashes, and headaches during the pitta time of the cycle. To target heavy periods, we may blend rose with other astringent and rakta-loving plants, such as a tea of Hibiscus and Rose.

There are so many herbal allies! Find recipes and more about using rose in my book, Everyday Ayurveda for Women’s Health.

Ayurvedic classifications of Rose:

taste: sweet, astringent, bitter
qualities: light, dry
actions: cools, moves energy down, calms nerves, reproductive tonic

Try it: Paired with hibiscus in herbal
infusions; rose hydrosol as a cooling face mist

Why Hair Health Starts in Your Bones: The Ayurvedic Connection

When we think about hair, most of us go straight to products: shampoos, conditioners, oils, maybe a serum. But in Ayurveda, your hair isn’t a separate beauty concern — it’s an upadhatu, a secondary tissue of the bones.

Your bones and your hair share the same nutrient pipeline. When digestion is strong, healthy fats and proteins travel through the body’s channels, eventually nourishing your bones — and from there, your hair, nails, and teeth. If digestion is weak, or fat metabolism is sluggish, your hair won’t get what it needs no matter how nutrient-rich your meals are.

This connection explains why hair often suffers during times of grief, stress, or malnutrition. The body prioritizes essential tissues over “extras” like hair growth. In this way, hair becomes a visible marker of your deeper health.

Supporting your bones — and therefore your hair — means focusing on:

• Healthy fats: ghee, flax, walnuts, hemp seeds

• Digestive spices: dry ginger, cumin, turmeric

• Stress balance: meditation, rest, and quality sleep

• Seasonal cleansing: making space for digestion to reset

So next time you notice changes in your hair, think beyond the bathroom shelf. Ask: How are my bones doing? Am I digesting my food well? Am I rested? Ayurveda shows us that beauty truly does begin from within — deep within. Listen to episode #45, Ancient Ayurvedic Secrets for Strong, Healthy, and Lustrous Hair.

The Top 5 Problems Graduates Face After Ayurveda School

You’ve gotta start somewhere!

Educating, sharing stories, and being visible are important parts of building a practice as an Ayurveda pro. I’ve mentored hundreds and I’ve seen what gets in the way.

I’ve created two resources for you to get started- don’t let the voices in your head stop you! I’ve got a FREE course about content creation and social media, as well as the Business Coaching kit, which walks you through step-by-step, honing in on your intentions and goals, and building your online presence. You need a place to send people to learn about Ayurveda, and You. This kit contains everything I figured out by myself over the years and it’s only $200. Don’t go it alone!

Get my FREE guide - What They Didn't Teach You In Ayurveda School at the link in bio. And see all my offerings under the FOR PROS tab at ayurvedicliving.institute

Ayurveda and the Planets

Ayurveda teaches that planetary energies live within us just as they move through the sky. Each planet shapes our strengths, challenges, and growth. By aligning with their cycles, we bring cosmic order into daily rituals and routines—inviting balance, insight, and deeper purpose into our healing journey.

To find out more about what’s in the stars this season, listen to my podcast episode with @theinnergalaxy writer and astrologer from Mumbai.

If you missed my episode on Vedic Astrology/ Jyotisha you can find the link to the podcast episode # 30 in the bio, remember to follow to be the first to hear the next episode!

Rethinking Menopause: Heart, Brain, and the Sacred Threshold of Midlife

As women, we are often taught that menopause is a medical issue to solve—a series of symptoms to suppress or reverse. But what if it’s something else entirely? What if this powerful shift in our bodies is an invitation?

In my most recent episode of Everyday Ayurveda, I had the privilege of speaking with three integrative experts who are challenging the way we think about perimenopause and menopause. Together, we explored what happens to the heart and brain during this sacred transition—and what women really need to thrive.

What stood out to me most was the language of transformation. Dr. Scott Blossom talked about the way hormones influence everything from cognition to metabolism, and how the microbiome plays a central role. Jennifer Boyd offered a refreshing, if provocative, reminder that Western medicine often gets it wrong—and that women deserve better than a one-size-fits-all solution. And Kimberly Giunta reminded us that our hearts are not just pumping blood—they’re speaking truth.

One of my favorite moments? Kimberly’s breakdown of self-breast massage as a way to regulate hormones and access our own wisdom. It was practical, moving, and profoundly Ayurvedic.

This conversation helped me reframe the midlife years as something to support and honor—not something to fear.

If you’re navigating this season, or supporting someone who is, I invite you to listen. And maybe even ask yourself: What if I trusted my body?

Listen to the episode here

In solidarity,

Kate

When the Ritual Becomes the Crutch: Rethinking Our Relationship with Coffee

We don’t just drink coffee.

We cradle it.

We walk the dog with it.

We hold it like a compass pointing us toward productivity.

In fact, coffee has become more than a beverage—it’s a culturally sanctioned permission slip to begin. It’s the container that holds our sleepy ambition, the pause that kickstarts movement, the moment that says, “Now I can.”

But what if the ritual that once grounded you is now the very thing that’s making you feel ungrounded?

Coffee, Caffeine & the Catch-22 of Fatigue

Here’s something Ayurveda teaches us: the body keeps score long before you do.

For many of us, especially in perimenopause and menopause, the same cup of coffee that once perked us up can start to take more than it gives. We may ignore the signals—slightly more anxious mornings, a subtle shift in sleep, a bloated belly, a crash around 2pm—because we don’t want to question a ritual that feels sacred.

And that’s fair. Ayurveda doesn’t exist to strip away the joys of life. It exists to reveal them more clearly.

But here’s the paradox: the more tired we feel, the more we reach for stimulants. And the more we reach, the more depleted we become. It’s a feedback loop that pulls us further from our natural energy and deeper into compensation mode.

Eventually, the joy of the ritual gets replaced by necessity. And that’s when it’s time to re-evaluate—not just what we drink, but why we’re drinking it.

Listening for the Body’s Quiet Signals

Unlike modern wellness trends, Ayurveda doesn’t speak in absolutes. It doesn’t say “coffee is bad.” It asks:

• Is it working for you?

• Is it working right now?

• And is it still serving its original purpose?

Sometimes the shift is seasonal. What you could digest in December may no longer feel right in July. Sometimes the shift is constitutional. A fiery pitta body may find that too much coffee ignites the skin, the stool, or the temper. And sometimes the shift is life-stage related—what supported your 30-year-old nervous system may overstimulate your 50-year-old one.

The wisdom is in noticing.

The Joy of the Ritual—Without the Crash

Here’s the good news: the beauty of a morning ritual doesn’t disappear when you change what’s in your cup. You can still have the warmth, the pause, the intentional moment—with a beverage that supports where you are now.

Think:

A turmeric latte with steamed oat milk and cinnamon

A chicory blend with a splash of almond milk and cardamom

A steaming mug of triphala tea or lemon water, taken slowly

Or a half-decaf cup of the good stuff, savored instead of chugged

It’s not about deprivation. It’s about agency. It’s about realizing you get to rewrite your rituals when they stop working—and you don’t need to sacrifice pleasure to do it.

Feeling Off Lately? Here’s a Gentle Way to Recenter Your Mood

You know that feeling: You’re not exactly sad, but not yourself either.
You’re showing up, doing the things—but the lightness, the joy, the spark? Missing.
Maybe it’s stress. Hormones. Burnout. Or maybe it’s just… life.

Whatever the reason, it’s okay to admit it:
Sometimes your mood needs a little support.

And that doesn’t mean jumping into something intense or synthetic. It can start with something small, steady, and natural—like Acknowledge’s Mood Support Gummies.

The Reality: Mood Swings in a Fast-Moving World

These days, it’s easy to feel emotionally stretched thin.
We’re juggling work, relationships, deadlines, family, and a nonstop digital feed of bad news and comparison traps. It’s no wonder we feel anxious one minute and low-energy the next.

Modern life isn’t designed to support emotional wellness—it’s built to test it.

So if your inner world’s been feeling a bit off lately, that doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you.
It means you’re human. And you deserve support. And joy.

Why I Reach for These Mood Support Gummies

• 🌼 They Don’t Mask—They Support
  These gummies don’t “force” a feeling. They work with your system to encourage more emotional balance naturally.

• 🌿 They’re Packed with Uplifting Botanicals
  Ingredients like lemon balm, saffron, and other nature-backed allies help soothe the mind and lift the spirit—without making you feel foggy or checked out.

• 💫 They Take the Edge Off, Not Your Spark
  You stay alert, present, and aware—just more grounded and emotionally buoyant.

• ✨ One of these and one cocktail gets me to
  “Party mode” and I only have one drink! Without feeling sleepy.
  

How I Use Them

1. Tune In

I take one when I feel emotionally off—irritable, anxious, low. It’s like a breath of fresh air.

2. Pair with Intention

Sometimes I’ll take it before a walk, a journaling or craft session, or when I need to reset.

3. Use as Needed, Not as a Crutch

These gummies aren’t about escaping emotions—they provide a sometimes needed new vantage point.

Try the Mood Support Gummies from Acknowledge and see what it feels like to gently support your emotional state without harsh chemicals.

🎁 Use code KATE50 for 50% off your first order
👉 acknowledge.co/products/mood-support-gummies

Take the edge off the day, without losing yourself in the process.

Here’s to steadier days and lighter moods,
Kate

Scattered Mind? Here’s a Natural Way to Reclaim Your Focus

We all have those days: your to-do list is long, your tabs are endless, and your brain just… won’t cooperate. Whether it's mid-afternoon brain fog, an overflowing calendar, or just a restless mind, staying focused can feel like an uphill battle.

In a world full of distractions and dopamine overload, it’s no wonder our attention spans are fried. But what if there was a way to gently guide your brain back to clarity—without energy drinks, overstimulation, or burnout?

The Modern Focus Problem

Let’s be honest: We’re expected to do more, respond faster, and stay “on” constantly. But our brains weren’t built for this kind of nonstop input. What happens?

• You start a task, get distracted, and forget what you were doing.

• You open Instagram to post something and end up scrolling for 25 minutes.

• You sit down to work and end up reorganizing your desktop instead.

This mental noise isn't laziness—it's a natural reaction to overstimulation and under-support. If you are using a product for occasional support, be sure to couple this with efforts to reduce multi-tasking. This is important.

A Gentle Solution: Acknowledge Focus Gummies

These garden gummies are formulated to help bring the mind back online in a soft, supportive way. Not with harsh stimulants or artificial focus enhancers—but with natural ingredients known to help clear the mental clutter and anchor attention.

Why They Work

Here’s what makes these little brain boosters different:

• 🌿 Botanical Brain Boosters – Infused with natural nootropics and adaptogens that help sharpen mental clarity without the jitters.

• ⚖️ Balance, Not Buzz – Designed to lift the fog without throwing your system out of sync. No booze needed.

• 🧠 Support for Mental Endurance – Helps sustain your energy and focus for longer stretches without that dreaded crash.

• ☁️ Smooth and Subtle – You’ll notice you’re simply “in the zone,” not over-amped or overstimulated.
  

My Daily Focus Ritual

Here’s how I’ve woven Focus Gummies into my routine:

1. Take One with Intention

I might take one before I dive into creative work, or mid-afternoon when I start losing steam. No rush of energy—just a quiet hum of clarity.

2. Pair with Purposeful Habits

I use it as a cue to set my environment up for focus. I close the extra tabs, put on a playlist that helps me concentrate, and go into “maker mode.”

3. Use Consistently, Not Constantly

You don’t need to take them every day—but they’re there when your brain needs a little backup.

Your Focus Reset Starts Here

If you're looking for a natural, gentle way to feel mentally awake, present, and in control, give Acknowledge Focus Gummies a try. You don’t need another coffee. You need clarity—on your terms.

Use code KATE50 for 50% off your first order at acknowledge.co.

Here’s to fewer tabs, more presence, and getting things done—with ease.
Stay sharp,
Kate