In today's episode, it is a special pleasure for me to welcome my friend Dr. Janna Scharfenberg for the second time.
Dr. JannaScharfenberg is a doctor, Ayurveda specialist and author. She has alreadybeen a guest on the Darmglück podcast (episode 26), so today we are not talking about the basics of Ayurveda, but about how she, as a Western / conventional doctor, combines modern science with the ancient tradition of Ayurveda.
Among other things, we will talk about:
- Healthy routines for everyday life
- How Ayurveda helps you to get to know yourself better
- How to live Ayurveda in the family
- How does Janna manage to live a healthy life alongside her independence and as a mother?
- How can I not only live the Ayurvedic principles on my plate, but also incorporate them into my everyday working life?
I have the feeling that Ayurveda is currently very popular, do you also have this feeling?
Janna: Yes, I also have the feeling that the topic is becoming more and more popular and is becoming more widespread. Even if Ayurveda seems a little complicated at first, you learn more and more about the subject through various magazines, bookshelves and offers such as retreats or medical concepts.
You first have to find your way in, the easier the access routes are, the quicker you get to grips with the subject.
What is your specialty within Ayurveda?
Janna: My specialty is that I like to combine traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern science. For me, the focus is that I know the old traditional knowledge and of course the deep medical knowledge and then see how I can combine the knowledge with western natural medicine and how this complements each other.
I'm interested in what it means for you in everyday life, for example, to cook fresh three times a day, how does this work well for you and how can we adapt it. Adapting the combination of old and new in a very modern way is my biggest hobbyhorse.
You are also a good example for others because you are very busy, self-employed, have a child and also travel a lot.
Janna: Yes, life should be fun, it's not about having to be in the kitchen all the time just to live Ayurvedically. We can also make it easy for ourselves if we know how.
How does Ayurveda help you in your everyday life? give us an example of this?
Janna: Ayurveda is basically a universal concept of life, it looks at all areas of life. One example is that you learn for yourself individually, what are healthy routines that I can develop in everyday life.
It also helps a lot to get to know yourself better in this way, to see what energy type you are. If you are a morning person, you should do the most important tasks in the morning; if you are an evening person, you should do the opposite.
So it is important to pay attention to when the highs are and when the lows are and what you need to get your energy back. To do this, you should apply the general Ayurvedic recommendations and adapt them to yourself in order to put them into practice.
How do you deal with the fact that there are different Ayurveda types in the family? Or can you say that certain things are applicable to all types?
Janna: There are certain recommendations that are suitable for everyone. Ayurveda also sees itself as family medicine. The following aspects, such as eating fresh, seasonal and regular food and drinking lots of water, can be implemented by everyone.
My husband, for example, eats a different portion size or chooses more protein as an ingredient than I do. Our daughter and children in general need to ground themselves in the initial phase, they need a lot of substance, so children also like to eat sweets.
We simply look at what the individual's needs are and how we can combine them. You can help with the spices, for example, or if someone has a bigger appetite, you can have another meal.
How can mothers pay more attention to their own needs if they are constantly responsible for others?
Janna: That's the number 1 top question ;-).
It is recommended that everyone pays attention and knows that certain things are now being implemented, that you pull together, build a foundation and look at what is important to each individual.
So to look at where I can create my islands that are good for me.
An example as a young mother would be to ask yourself whether I really have to do yoga in the morning or whether I can also catch up on the yoga class in the afternoon. Another tip is to organize your meal planning well for the week, for example by pre-cooking food on Sundays, etc.
You should really think about it: What things are good for me and how can I incorporate them? It doesn't have to be perfect. We can also ask for help and ask for support.
How do you integrate Ayurveda into your everyday working life?
Janna: It's a very exciting topic. I have got into the habit of incorporating the basic Ayurvedic principles into my everyday life.
In Ayurveda, we have three different bioenergies, i.e. three different doshas:
- Kapha, which is very earthy.
- Vatta, which is very airy &
- Pitta, which is very fiery.
With Pitta, it's important to go outwards, negotiate or talk about financial matters and make things happen.
Vatta has a lot to do with creativity and social interaction.
Kapha means that I do patient tasks that go into detail, which I don't really like doing. I try to plan my days accordingly. So I look at what my week looks like, determine my Kapha, Vatta and Pitta days and bundle my tasks accordingly.
The more I bundle these for myself, the more efficiently I start my day and the better I can ground and balance myself in the evening.
Does Ayurveda also help with monthly cycles such as the phases of the moon?
Janna: Ayurveda is a natural medicine and goes hand in hand with all these cycles.For example, we have different phases during the day, at midday is the pitta phase where the digestive power is at its highest in the middle of the day, in the evening is the kapha phase, the earthy phase.In Ayurvedic gynecology, the individual phases of the cycle are also considered differently.
You have written a new book that will be published soon, would you like to tell us more about it and what it could do for us?
Janna: Gladly, my first book was published in May this year: Ayurveda for Life, which was about how to adapt traditional wisdom to our lifestyle in a modern way.
When working with my clients, I noticed that many of them are unhappy in their current job. For me, that doesn't fit together when it comes to holistic health.
This prompted me to write a second book, which is a kind of planner/journal, which is about determining what type of Ayurveda you are and how you can optimize your everyday life accordingly. For example, how to work cyclically with several breaks, with the help of an interactive calendar to get to know yourself better.
In addition to the planner, you can book a free transformation program and also get motivation and support through a group exchange.
So this journal serves as an annual planner?
Janna: Exactly. The journal is designed for one year. It's about getting to know yourself better. Once you have established the principles, you can buy the journal again next year as a calendar.
You can pre-order the journal now, right?
Janna: Yes, you can pre-order it now. It is already available on my website and in the usual online and offline bookshops.
If the interview has aroused your interest, you should definitely read Janna's first book. Here you will find everything you need to know about Ayurveda and learn more about how to integrate Ayurveda into your everyday life.
Janna: It makes perfect sense to get a taste of the subject, it's an easier start for the second book and you're already half a pro ;-).
It's really your strength that you can convey the topic so well and you can get started straight away, you make learning a lot of things very easy and suitable for everyday use.
Finally, would you like to encourage us to tackle this complex topic?
Janna: Gladly. The most important Factor is relaxation at the start, make it easy for yourself, pick out what sounds coherent and sensible to you. Take the recommendations that work for you and have fun.
That's a great final word. Thank you very much dear Janna.
The links to the episode are:
Janna's new book: Ayurvedafor Life - Plan,plan according to type, work stress-free, live healthy, to bepublishedin December: https://amzn.to/2VHezLa
Janna's first book: Ayurvedafor Life:Ayurvedic healing for a modern lifestyle & everyday life - for more balance and health:https://amzn.to/31fQqga
Janna's website: https://drjannascharfenberg.com/
Janna's podcast and blog:https://drjannascharfenberg.com/blog-podcasts/
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