Podcast with Dr. John: Ayurveda 201 Intro
Subscribe to the LifeSpa Podcast to get updates on new episodes! Dr. John will be discussing Ayurveda 201: his new online course with Larissa Hall Carlson + Yoga Journal launching May 27!
Podcast with Dr. McCall: Journey through Cancer
Best Ways to Detox your Brain
Did you know that your brain has its own lymphatic system (called glymphatics) and that there are easy ways to keep it running smoothly? I have written numerous articles on the newly discovered lymphatic vessels that drain toxins from the brain while you sleep (three pounds per year!). But this is just the tip of
Brahmari Pranayama: Enjoy 15x More Nitric Oxide Benefits with Humming
Science now supports a fun and easy way to boost cognitive function, connect mind and heart, and break up old traumas held in the body, while supporting your blood, digestion, and immunity. It’s an ancient practice called brahmari pranayama that releases nitric oxide lying dormant in our nasal passages. I’ll unpack each of these fascinating
Change Your Life Overnight with Mouth Tape: 20 Reasons to Nose Breathe While You Sleep
Do you wake up with a dry mouth, bad breath, or a scratchy throat? Do you suffer from snoring or sleep apnea? Curious about an unorthodox technique based on ancient wisdom to stop snoring and protect your teeth and gums, while boosting your parasympathetic nervous system and putting fight-or-flight responses at ease? Read on for
Dr. John’s Ayurvedic Fitness Plan
I have always been a believer that athletics was the best model for life—living life fully from a calm center. Along the way, I have been a big fan of Dan Millman’s books: most famously, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. He most eloquently links athletics, peak performance, life, and spirituality in his 17 books. As
10 Easy Ways to Lose Weight Ayurveda-Style
Relax and Eat The first and most surprising weight loss strategy is as simple as changing how you eat. While doing things like eating quickly, mindlessly, in the car, standing up, or distracted by the TV may seem benign, new research may make you think twice before you pull into your next drive-thru. The trillions
3 Ayurvedic Pillars of Effortless Exercise
Recently, I competed in a sprint triathlon with my family here in Colorado. With only a couple of weeks to train for this event, we incorporated a few Ayurvedic training techniques and successfully used them for this triathlon. The Personal Scoop Originally, my 24-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son were going to join me for this
10 Breathing Exercises (Pranayama) to Restore Mind-Body Balance
The body has two opposing nervous systems that act to either speed up or slow down various functions of the body. How you breathe determines which nervous system is activated. Startled by a bear, you would likely take a mouth wide open, gasping breath. When under stress, we cry, scream, yell or gasp, and run
Overstimulated & Overwhelmed? Learn the Ancient Practice of Pratyahara
Are you in control of your senses, or are they in control of you? For most of us, our senses are in control in an attempt to ward off any rejection or disappointment while boosting joy, happiness, and stimulation when good things happen. (1) A study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology studied the brains
Boost Fat Metabolism with this Breathing Technique
Most people think we lose weight by converting body fat into energy, creating heat, and by sweating off the pounds during vigorous workouts, but the way the body actually rids itself of fat may surprise you. In a study published in the British Medical Journal, researchers investigated where the fat goes when one loses weight
5 Reasons Morning Exercise is Better than Evening Exercise
Ayurveda considers the morning to be the best time to exercise, but many find the thought of waking up early to workout exhausting in itself. Traditionally, farmers would wake up very early and do most of their physical labor in the cool morning hours, before it got too hot. In Ayurveda, the first four hours
