Me, my beliefs & my practices

I am an Educator, Clinical Herbalist, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Kitchen Alchemist and Reiki Practitioner. I am a Certified Holistic Health Coach accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.

I have been very fortunate to have studied with Sonia Masocco, Dr. Shehkar Annambhotla, David Frawley and Vasant Lad to gain knowledge about the ancient healing sciences of Ayurveda and Herbalism. I have learned many different diet and lifestyle practices that are beneficial in the healing process. Through my apprenticeship and ongoing employment in an herbal apothecary I have learned the proper preparation of healing herbal remedies. As a Reiki Practitioner, that vibration is added in the creation of tinctures, teas, plant medicines and foods that I prepare.

I worked in corporate America for 30+ years and I get it. Working a very high-stress international corporate job that never seemed to end – East coast hours + West coast hours + Factories and agents worldwide. The evil blackberry or cell phone that never allows you to truly have down time. Expected to be connected even when on vacation. Never enough time in the day to get your work done, let alone think about taking time for yourself to eat balanced meals or trying to create boundaries and have a work life balance. Not having time to properly nourish yourself and sustaining on coffee, sugar and poor quality take-out foods not appropriate for your constitution. The internal dialog – when I get this project completed, next week, I will do this for myself, if I can just make it through this quarter. You can insert whatever your own internal dialog is – you know you have one!

Life is short and by not making the time to take care of yourself, you are making your life even shorter. I am happy and honored to share all I know and have learned with you, to help you find your balance and bring back your vibrance. Let's do this, you are worth it!

To fix an imbalance, we need to get to the root of the problem. Placating the symptoms may make you feel better in the short term, but unless the root cause is addressed, you will never really get well.

Everyone is unique and there is no one size fits all when talking about your health

We need to create sustainable daily routines and healthy habits that will allow us to live long, happy and fulfilling lives.

Being healthy is not just consuming foods and exercising appropriate for your constitution and age. We also need to nourish our mind and spirit. If we are not happy or feel loved, it will have a negative effect on the body and just as much as consuming a diet devoid of nutrients and not taking exercise. 

I'm not a trained chef and have learned all that I know from my travels and observing how people prepare food. I've been cooking my whole life and was fortunate enough to have spent time in the kitchen with my grandmothers, parents and other family members - observing and helping them cook. 

I spent summers as a youngster in my local library checking out cookbooks of cuisines from around the world - having my parents & brother be the Guinea pigs for my creations.

As an Ayurvedic practitioner, I have studied the benefits of food and herbs on the body, helping to restore and maintain balance and health. I've learned how to take humble ingredients and make them into meals that are as amazingly delicious as they are incredibly healing.

By combining my love of cooking and my belief in the Ayurvedic principals, I've learned that food as medicine doesn't have to be a trade-off for flavor and taste, but instead a celebration of all things good. And that is the basis of every dish I prepare in my vibrant kitchen for you and your family.

Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. Originating in India 5,000 years ago, it practices a natural and holistic tenet that everything in life is connected. Because of this, general health and wellness rely on achieving balance and harmony. Another Ayurveda tenet is that all individuals have energy, or prana. The energy system in the body has to flow well and be in balance for us to be healthy. When a person is imbalanced or stressed, they’re likely to develop disease. Ayurveda focuses on implementing lifestyle interventions and natural treatments, therapies and remedies to provide balance among your physical body, mind, spirit and the world around you.

Balance is achieved with the help of a healthy diet, restful sleep, regular exercise and stress management. If needed, botanicals, exercise, activities that promote mindfulness and other resources may offer additional support.

Every individual is unique, and Ayurveda defines a person’s specific constitution, or prakriti. According to Ayurveda, these prakriti determine your physical, psychological, behavioral and immunological traits. Different constitutions respond to different treatments, so what works for you might not work for someone else.

Each person’s constitution is made up of three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. Think of doshas as energy types. Vata controls the flow of movement in your body and mind. Vata determines your flexibility, the movement of your muscles and joints, your blood flow and the way you breathe. Pitta, loosely translated as “fire,” is responsible for controlling digestion, hormones and metabolism. Kapha is the element that holds everything together, from your cells to your muscles, bones and ligaments. The densest of the three doshas, kapha is known for endurance and lubrication.

Each of these doshas is believed to dictate your emotional strengths and weaknesses, the foods your body needs and wants, the exercises that might work the best for you and more. When the doshas are out of balance, illness occurs. As an Ayurvedic practitioner, I work to help you find a balance among all three doshas. I use nutrition, stress management, exercise and herbs to help you regain health and balance.