In this week’s article of our Rediscovering Ayurveda series, we interviewed Dr. Shweta Hiremath.
Meet Dr. Shweta Hiremath
An Ayurveda doctor by profession and a self-proclaimed singer by passion, Dr. Shweta studied Ayurvedic Medicine and completed her BAMS from Rajiv Gandhi University, India. Shortly after completing her degree, she moved to London in 2010 and went on to pursue a diploma in clinical nutrition from Stonebridge University in the United Kingdom.
“It’s been over 12 years now since I began my Ayurveda journey. Initially, when I had moved to London, I started working with Ayurveda Pura as an Ayurvedic Consultant and proudly associated with them for a decade. I have also delivered several talks on health and wellness with Ayurveda, conducted workshops and have also been an examiner for Ayurvedic students.”
When asked what inspired Dr. Shweta to step on to the path of exploring this 5000 year old ancient science, she responds, “I was always aware of the richness of Ayurvedic system, since Ayurveda originated from India and has been a mainstream school of medicine in Indian households for the longest time.” As someone who had always been inclined to a holistic form of treatment, Dr. Shweta realized that Ayurveda was the career path for her.
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One of the most significant and special things about Ayurveda is that it views every individual as unique with their distinct physical traits and qualities. Did you know that our dominant Doshas are determined at the time of conception itself? What a fascinating fact! Our Prakruti and Doshas become the foundational factors that shape our physicality and mental abilities.
A balanced life
So, when Dr. Shweta started studying about Prakruti in Ayurveda, she was amazed with the simple changes one could make in order to attain optimal health.
“I started adopting the diet and lifestyle based on my body constitution. I realized how everyday practices could be tweaked and modified to suit one’s body type, thus helping to lead a balanced life.”
You might wonder what keeps Dr. Shweta motivated to do what she does? Well, the answer is truly simple and meaningful – making a positive impact on patients’ lives. “The reward at the end to be able to truly make a difference in people’s lives at possibly the hardest times and phases keeps me motivated to do what I do.”
Ayurveda is now a globally recognised medical system. People are fascinated by Ayurveda and want to perceive it as a profession. “When I give talks on health and wellbeing about Ayurveda and Nutrition in the western world, I see people moving to pursuing Ayurveda as a career path after realising its potential. I am glad to have been able to make a difference.”
A day in her life
As an Ayurvedic doctor and practitioner, Dr. Shweta tries to follow Ayurvedic Dinacharya (daily regimen) and Ritucharya (seasonal regimen). She begins her day with a glass of warm water, eats soaked and peeled almonds which is followed by doing Surya Namaskars (sun salutations). With lunch being her biggest meal of the day, she maintains reasonable and regular meal timings and enjoys sipping on herbal teas in between her consultations.
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Her evenings are spent in unwinding with applying warm sesame oil to her feet. Light dinners (especially soups) and digital detoxes followed by meditation make up for her night routine.
When asked about her three favourite healthy habits, Dr. Shweta shares –
- Following diet and lifestyle based on Prakruti & Vikruti
- Living in harmony with nature and following the circadian rhythm
- Practicing Satwik traits
Influence and acceptance
“I remember feeling deeply inspired after learning about Dr. Deepak Chopra’s journey of transition from Modern Medicine to Ayurveda. He is the voice for holistic healing for our entire generation and he has influenced a lot.”
Ayurveda believes that the root cause of any disease is your Agni (digestive fire). You are what you eat. It not only important to know what you eat but also how much to eat, when to eat and how to digest it.
When it comes to skin care, understanding the skin type as per Dosha is very crucial. Using the products that balance your Dosha, balancing your Agni, eating warm, healthy food, sleeping well and stressing less are basically the key to a glowing and healthy skin!
Herbs like Manjishtha, Neem, Chandan, Ghrit Kumari are also beneficial for your skin health.
“Ayurveda is associated with Yoga as both an ancient healing practice and shares a common goal to achieve an overall health and wellbeing in terms of physical, mental and spiritual levels. We can make use of the digital era and spread awareness regarding Ayurveda and Yoga. We need to pass on this golden knowledge to the younger generations so the heritage can be taken forward. Doing free health workshops and serving the needy across the country can also benefit in creating awareness.”
Embracing the changes
People today have become more health conscious and are now looking for natural remedies. They are ready to embrace Ayurveda more than ever to draw its benefits. More so, Ayurveda can act as a preventative measure for so many chronic conditions like diabetes, blood pressure, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, etc. Mindful eating can significant reduce the risk of conditions like IBS, ulcerative colitis, etc.
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Dr. Shweta’s message to the reader says: “Living a healthy lifestyle will always be a personal decision for everyone but we as an Ayurvedic Doctor’s/healthy living enthusiast can always pass the message to those who need the help. The more we see health as a practice rather than as a problem to fix, the more we encourage the body’s natural potential to be healthy. Don’t go to battle trying to stop a habit, instead reshape it and send it in a new direction.”
From Amrutam’s list of holistic products, Dr. Shweta would love to try Amrutam Herbal Ubtan for skin health and Bhringraj Hair Therapy for her hair health.
We are beyond grateful to have Dr. Shweta Hiremath as part of our #AmrutamFamily!
