Ayurveda for Beginners

5 simple ways to reconnect with your soul and your purpose

Ayurveda – the “knowledge of life” in Sanskrit – is the world’s oldest health system, practiced for over 5,000 years. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. Generations don’t pass down wisdom unless it works, and unless it improves lives in a real, lasting way.

What drew me in weren’t just the rituals, but the resilience: in a world that’s constantly evolving, millions of people – especially across South Asia – still live by this ancient framework. That kind of enduring truth deserves our attention.

Of course, applying Ayurvedic principles today isn’t simple. It’s a vast, nuanced philosophy – rich, layered, and hard to decode. In the U.S., we’ve barely scratched the surface, often reducing it to vague buzzwords or overcomplicated systems. No wonder it feels overwhelming.

So I’m not here to give you a quiz on doshas. I’m here to help you begin. These are five small yet powerful ways you can experience the benefits of Ayurveda, without needing a textbook or a total lifestyle overhaul. These aren’t just tips – they’re lived invitations. My hope is that they offer a starting point compelling enough to pull you in, and grounding enough to keep you there.

1. Begin your day with a glass of room temperature water. Not coffee. Not orange juice. Not even iced water. Just room temp. Plain and uncomplicated. This small ritual delicately wakes up your digestive system. It signals to your body: we’re starting the day together. Not with a jolt, or with chaos, but with calm support.

Think of it like gently pressing the "on" button of a remote versus slamming it against the table. Sure, both will turn the TV on. But only one approach preserves the longevity of the tool.

Your body is the same. You can shock it awake with caffeine or sugar. Or you can ease it into rhythm with something soothing and collaborative. The difference compounds over time.

2. Embrace in-shower meditations. The shower may be one of the last places where your phone can’t follow you. So instead of rushing through it like another box to check, I invite you to lean in. I’m not suggesting being wasteful with it. I’m saying that five extra minutes in the shower can be the difference between starting your day in peace instead of in panic.

What do you do with those five minutes? Close your eyes. Let the water hit your skin and soften your edges. Then visualize your ideal future self:

Where does she live? How does she earn her living? What is she wearing? What’s her workout routine, and how often is she devoting herself to her own personal fitness? How does she spend her free time? How does she handle conflict? How is her relationship with her partner? With her children? With her parents?

So often, we fixate on what we want to have – a home, a job, a number on the scale – but rarely do we imagine how we want to live. This practice is your chance to go deeper. To unlock the vision that feels aligned – not with what looks good from the outside, but with what your soul is quietly asking for.

Over time, this simple shower ritual becomes a portal – for clarity and, eventually, for remembering who you’re here to become.

3. Practice intentional beauty. Ayurvedic wisdom teaches us that beauty isn’t something you consume – it’s a partnership. A give and take.

But most of us only take. If you’re wearing a full face of makeup and flat-ironing your hair every day, you’re taking 100% of the time. This kind of relationship with Beauty is what propels premature aging and hair loss. I know because I used to treat beauty like a transaction: I expected my body to perform, to deliver, to look the part – without pause or reciprocity. But real beauty – lasting beauty – asks for balance. It asks you to give back.

What does that look like? Start with just one day a week. On that day, you’re not taking. You’re giving. You’re evening out the relationship.

For your skin, that could mean skipping makeup entirely and layering on a rich, hydrating mask. I love Tatcha’s Indigo Overnight Repair Cream (yes, “overnight” is just a suggestion). In the warmer seasons, I opt for organic sweet almond oil. On Fridays, I lather one or the other in place of my usual makeup routine. It’s my reset button – moisturizing, calming, and healing so my skin can show up for me the rest of the week.

For hair, on this one day, skip the heat tools and styling products. Instead, pay it forward to your scalp. Massage in a nourishing oil – this collects stubborn buildup, relieves congestion, boosts circulation, and promotes healthy hair growth at the root. That’s why I created this one which also includes a bond complex to help repair hair, too. Run a small amount through your strands to seal the cuticle and strengthen the fiber. Over time, this ritual restores shine, resilience, and vitality. It doesn’t need to be dramatic. Just deliberate.

Reality check: some weeks, it won’t happen. I’ve had stretches packed with retailer meetings, content shoots, investor dinners, desksides, weddings. Sometimes I take seven days in a row. And that’s okay. It’s why I also created this hair density boosting scalp serum that’s easy to apply daily without disrupting your style or your routine whatsoever. The key is awareness. The next time your schedule softens, fold in an extra give-back day – or two. Your body will notice, and it will thank you.

4. Pursue mindful eating. I’m not telling you to change your diet or even to chew your food any slower. What I mean by mindful eating is simple: put the screens away. No phone, no laptop, no TV. Stare at the wall, your food, or even your reflection if you have to – but give your nervous system a chance to recalibrate.

Here’s why it matters: when you remove external stimuli, your body naturally begins to relax. Your senses sharpen. You start to taste your food again – its textures, its temperature, its flavors. You also begin to notice something remarkable: you need less of it.

Why? Because your stomach registers fullness long before your brain catches up – about 20 minutes earlier, in fact. When you eat while distracted, that delay is even more pronounced. The result? Overeating becomes the default. Eat without a screen, and you begin to rewire the way you relate to food.

This one small shift – eating without distraction – is a powerful gateway into building a more intentional, intuitive relationship with your body.

Reality check: there will be times you want to eat while watching something – a long flight, a draining day, or just because you need to zone out. When that happens, just be intentional with your portions. Don’t eat straight from the bag or the box or the pint. Serve yourself a bowl. Choose your portion before you check out. That’s still mindfulness. And it still counts.

5. Integrate daily moments of presence. One of the most powerful Ayurvedic practices isn’t a ritual – it’s a rhythm. And in the spirit of fostering a rhythm in my life, I like to reconnect with myself during the in-between moments of my day. The transitions. The pauses we often rush through without thinking.

Start with just three deep breaths. I use the 4-7-8 method: inhale for four counts, hold for seven, exhale for eight. It’s a breathwork technique proven to regulate the nervous system and calm the fight-or-flight response. Even when I think I’m composed, this method brings me back into alignment. It returns me to the driver’s seat of my life.

When are these transition moments? Before stepping out the door. After sending an important email. Between back-to-back meetings. Right after getting dressed. Before starting a workout. They’re everywhere, if you choose to notice them.

It’s easy to get swept up in tasks, chasing efficiency at the expense of self-connection. This practice of anchoring your breath in the margins of your day is how I’ve learned to lead my life from intention instead of reaction.