Have you ever felt frustrated by your experiences with Western healthcare? You’re far from alone. In this week’s episode, Rita and Brittni explore what’s missing from conventional medicine, how we got here, and what moving toward a more integrative model of healthcare could look like.

Highlights:

• Key differences between Ayurvedic and Western medicine: preventative vs. reactive care.
• The Ayurvedic six stages of disease and why symptoms can arise despite normal diagnostics.
• How the 1910 Flexner Report pushed out holistic and herbal medicine while reinforcing racial, gender, and economic barriers to becoming a doctor.
• How gaps in conventional care created space for a multi-trillion-dollar wellness industry, leaving people caught between two profit-driven systems.
• The role of community and connection in health, and unlearning individualistic approaches to healing.
• A proposed three-tier healthcare model that makes lifestyle medicine accessible to all while reserving reactive care for emergencies, surgery, and advanced disease.
• How colonialism nearly erased Ayurveda, and our reflections on teaching Ayurveda as white American women.

If you enjoyed this conversation, it would mean the world to us and help support our work if you’d like, share, leave a review, as well as subscribe to our podcast on whichever platform you use.

If you’re looking for more connection or would like to support this podcast, we’d love to have you join our Patreon community. Here you’ll get bonus episodes and access to our community chat Q&A.

And don’t forget to check out our Wellness Library, which is filled with self-guided classes, kitchen tutorials, herbal recipes, and more Ayurvedic practices all for just $5 a month!

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Classes, kitchen tutorials, herbal recipes, and more for $5 a month in the Wellness Library!

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https://www.rhythmiclivingayurveda.com/

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https://mountainsforbreakfast.com/

If you struggle with acid reflux, heartburn, indigestion, or bloating, this episode is for you. Today Brittni and Rita take a deep dive into what's actually driving these incredibly common digestive complaints — and why standard treatments so often fall short of real, lasting relief. Acid reflux is so much more than excess stomach acid, and Western medicine's approach to treating it almost completely misses the bigger picture. Drawing on Ayurvedic wisdom and Rita's clinical experience as a medical speech language pathologist, they break down the root causes of acid reflux and indigestion, the role of gut motility, nervous system health, and digestive fire, and what a natural, whole-body approach to healing actually looks like.

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider if you are experiencing chest pain or concerning symptoms.

Highlights:

• Why acid reflux and heartburn are far more than a stomach acid problem — and the missing piece most treatments completely overlook
• The surprising ways reflux can show up beyond heartburn, including throat symptoms, chronic cough, sinus issues, and more
• The two Ayurvedic root causes of acid reflux and indigestion — and why addressing both is essential for lasting relief
• What long-term use of acid-blocking medications can do to the body — and why weaning off them requires support
• The foods, habits, and emotional patterns that quietly contribute to heartburn and indigestion
• Simple but powerful natural remedies for acid reflux — from dietary shifts and meal timing to sleep position and posture
• The herbs Ayurveda reaches for to soothe, rebuild, and restore digestive function naturally
• Why your nervous system, stress levels, and how fast you eat matter more than you might think

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This week, Rita and Brittni are talking about transitioning into Vata season. They break down why autumn calls for a two-phase approach: first flushing out the heat that accumulated over summer, then building warmth and stability for the winter ahead. As the air gets colder, drier, and more mobile, many people notice an uptick in anxiety, poor sleep, constipation, dry skin, low energy, and scattered focus without understanding why. In this episode, they break down exactly what's happening from an Ayurvedic perspective and share simple, practical tools to help you move through this transition with more ease, groundedness, and even a little creativity.

Highlights:

• Why it's essential to flush out summer heat before building warmth and stability for winter
• Why the fall transition can feel so unsettling for your body and mind — and what Ayurveda says is actually going on
• The symptoms that show up this time of year that most people never connect to the season
• Key foods, spices, and practices to support digestion, circulation, and the nervous system
• The one practice Brittni and Rita keep coming back to for grounding the nervous system during Vata season
• Why oil might be the most underrated tool in your fall wellness routine — and all the ways you can use it
• The unexpected creative and spiritual opportunity that Vata season offers — and how to actually tap into it
• Why learning to rest this season might be one of the most powerful things you can do for your health all year

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Classes, kitchen tutorials, herbal recipes, and more for $5 a month in the Wellness Library!

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https://www.rhythmiclivingayurveda.com/

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https://mountainsforbreakfast.com/

Today on the podcast, Brittni and Rita dive into one of Ayurveda's three pillars of health — sleep. This conversation goes far beyond standard sleep advice, exploring why Ayurveda considers sleep so essential for detoxification, cognitive health, and long-term wellbeing, and how the timing of sleep matters just as much as the total hours. They also break down sleep imbalances through the Ayurvedic lens, explaining how Vata, Pitta, and Kapha type sleep issues each look completely different — and how to address each one in a way that actually fits your body and constitution.

Highlights:

• Why Ayurveda considers sleep one of the three pillars of health — and what that actually means for your body overnight
• The glymphatic system and what modern science now confirms about sleep and brain detoxification
• Why the timing of sleep matters — what happens in the body between 10pm and 2am and why going to bed later disrupts more than just your energy
• How Vata, Pitta, and Kapha type sleep imbalances each present differently — and the specific tools and practices that support each one
• Why starting with just one small shift is almost always more effective than overhauling everything at once

Support the podcast on Patreon!

Classes, kitchen tutorials, herbal recipes, and more for $5 a month in the Wellness Library!

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Today on the podcast, Brittni and Rita explore one of their most passionate topics — cycle syncing. Not just in the context of hormone health, but in the context of how we work, create, make decisions, and move through life. In this conversation they break down why our menstrual cycle is one of the most underutilized tools we have as women, and how learning to align our energy and output with each phase of the cycle can reduce burnout, unlock creativity, and help us show up more fully in every area of life.

Highlights:

• How the four phases of the menstrual cycle — menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal — map onto different types of cognitive and creative energy
• Why our current work structures are built around the male 24-hour hormonal cycle — and what it would look like to build around the female cycle instead
• Real examples from Brittni and Rita's own businesses of how they align their work, writing, editing, and decision making with their cycle
• Why bleeding on a big decision might be the most powerful thing you can do before saying yes or no
• The connection between cycle syncing, healing painful periods, and unlocking creativity — and why these aren't separate things
• How to start cycle syncing even if you have limited autonomy over your schedule
• Download Brittni's free guide at mountainsforbreakfast.com to go deeper into each phase and how to plan your work around your cycle

Support the podcast on Patreon!

Classes, kitchen tutorials, herbal recipes, and more for $5 a month in the Wellness Library!

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Today on the podcast, Brittni and Rita dedicate a full episode to Abhyanga — the Ayurvedic practice of warm oil self-massage. One of the most beloved and foundational practices in Ayurveda, Abhyanga is far more than a skincare ritual. It supports circulation, lymphatic flow, joint health, nervous system regulation, digestion, sleep, and emotional wellbeing — and it can be adapted for any constitution, any season, and any schedule. In this episode, they break down exactly how to do it, how to make it work in real life, and why this simple practice of oiling your body might be one of the most powerful things you can do for your health.

Highlights:

• What Abhyanga is and why Ayurveda considers it one of its most important daily practices
• The meaning of sneha — why oil and love are the same word in Sanskrit, and what that means for how we practice
• The wide-ranging physical benefits — skin health, circulation, lymphatic drainage, joint strength, bone health, nervous system support, digestion, breast health, and healthy aging
• Why so many women feel hesitant to connect with their bodies through touch — and why this practice can be so healing for that
• How to warm your oil, what type of oil to use, and the key massage techniques to know
• How often to practice, how long to spend, and how to create both a short version and a longer more luxurious version that fits your life
• Contraindications — when to skip Abhyanga and what to be mindful of during menstruation, pregnancy, illness, and active digestion
• Practical tips for managing oil on your laundry, plumbing, septic systems, and avoiding slipping in the shower

Support the podcast on Patreon!

Classes, kitchen tutorials, herbal recipes, and more for $5 a month in the Wellness Library!

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Connect with Rita
https://www.rhythmiclivingayurveda.com/

Connect with Brittni
https://mountainsforbreakfast.com/

If you're in the middle of perimenopause or menopause and feeling like your body has completely changed overnight — this episode is for you. Hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, dryness — these symptoms are real, they're disorienting, and most women are told very little about why they're happening or what they can actually do about them.

Today Rita and Brittni break it all down through the Ayurvedic lens, offering a framework that finally makes sense of what the body is going through — and practical tools that can work alongside or before turning to HRT. There is so much more to this conversation than most women are ever told, whether you're considering HRT, already on it, or looking for additional ways to support your body through this transition, we hope this conversation offers a helpful perspective.

Highlights:

• Why perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes, anxiety, insomnia, and dryness happen
• The three stages of life in Ayurveda and why this transition is one of the most profound transformations a woman moves through
• Why losing estrogen and progesterone is like losing your body's buffer — and what that means for your mood, sleep, and digestion
• Weight gain around the middle during perimenopause — what Ayurveda says is actually happening and why restriction often makes it worse
• Why common wellness trends like intermittent fasting, cold plunging, hot yoga, and cutting carbs can backfire during this transition
• The Ayurvedic tools that actually help — Abhyanga, alternate nostril breathing, daily routine, grounding foods, and gentle movement
• An honest, judgment-free conversation about HRT, lifestyle medicine, and why starting to support yourself earlier always makes a difference
• The powerful reframe — why this transition, as hard as it is, is also one of the most transformative chapters of a woman's life

If you enjoyed this conversation, it would mean the world to us and help support our work if you’d like, share, leave a review, as well as subscribe to our podcast on whichever platform you use.

Support the podcast on Patreon!

Classes, kitchen tutorials, herbal recipes, and more for $5 a month in the Wellness Library!

IG | LinkedIn | YouTube

Connect with Rita
https://www.rhythmiclivingayurveda.com/

Connect with Brittni
https://mountainsforbreakfast.com/

Today on the podcast, Rita and Brittni break down one of the most foundational concepts in Ayurvedic nutrition — the six tastes. Sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent each carry specific elemental qualities that have a direct effect on digestion, tissues, cravings, and overall balance in the body. In this episode, they walk through each taste, the foods that embody it, and how to work with them based on your constitution, the season, and what your body is asking for. This one is equal parts educational and practical, and a great episode to share with anyone who's curious about using food as medicine.

Highlights:

• What the six tastes are and why Ayurveda uses taste — not macros or calories — as its primary framework for understanding food
• A breakdown of each taste, its elemental qualities, and which doshas it balances or aggravates
• Why incorporating all six tastes can reduce cravings and help you feel truly satiated after a meal
• The difference between lemon and lime — and why it matters more than you might think
• Why ferments, sourdough, and other wellness staples aren't always the right choice for every body or every season
• How seasonal eating maps directly onto the six tastes — and why nature makes it easier than you think
• Easy, practical ways to start incorporating all six tastes into your everyday cooking without overhauling your whole diet

If you enjoyed this conversation, it would mean the world to us and help support our work if you’d like, share, leave a review, as well as subscribe to our podcast on whichever platform you use.

If you’re looking for more connection or would like to support this podcast, we’d love to have you join our Patreon community. Here you’ll get bonus episodes and access to our community chat Q&A.

And don’t forget to check out our Wellness Library, which is filled with self-guided classes, kitchen tutorials, herbal recipes, and more Ayurvedic practices all for just $5 a month!

Patreon | Library | IG | LinkedIn | YouTube

Connect with Rita
https://www.rhythmiclivingayurveda.com/

Connect with Brittni
https://mountainsforbreakfast.com/