Kristen Lillian Riordan
Ayurveda Counselor & Mental Health Counselor
Kristen first fell in love with Ayurveda while earning her 200-hour yoga teaching certification in India. Kristen studied at Kripalu School of Ayurveda, the Ayurvedic Institute, and Chakrapani Research Clinic in Jaipur, India. Kristen focuses on the mental and emotional aspects that influence our diet and lifestyle choices. Kristen is passionate about self-care, women’s health, and the cultivation of healthy thought patterns. You can find Kristen on Instagram.
Follow Kristen Lillian Riordan
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- Ayurveda & Fitness
- March 29, 2019
The word “yoga” means union, and the essence of Yoga is to unite with your true nature. The paramount theme of yoga at its core is the same as Ayurveda—to return to your true nature. As Yoga is Ayurveda’s sister science, Yoga and Ayurveda share themes and principles. Yoga is fantastic for everyone because there are a variety of styles and poses that can be selected, adapted, and modified to complement anyone’s mind-body constitution.
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- Natural Beauty
- July 05, 2018
Our skin has a lot to teach us, and everything physical has a corresponding mental/emotional counterpart. Our skin is symbolic of how we see ourselves. If we see ourselves as flawed humans, this can manifest as flawed skin. If we’re angry, our skin can look angry and agitated.
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- Food and Cooking
- May 29, 2018
Ayurveda teaches us that our gut health is a determining factor of our overall health, and it’s important to learn how to keep our agni, or digestive fire, strong and efficient. Our agni is a big soup of acid, bile, and enzymes that help transform food into usable energy. Maintaining a balanced agni translates into better digestion, elimination, and immune function.
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- Yoga, Meditation & 8 Limbs
- January 05, 2018
Let me be clear, I hate that fat has a bad reputation. Fat isn’t bad. Fatty tissues help protect our organs, lubricate our joints, and store hormones so we can carry babies and breastfeed our little ones. Fat helps us stay satiated after a meal. Fat fuels our brains. Fat is wonderful. Now that we’re clear on the goodness fat offers us, let’s address the concern with having too much fat.
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- Yoga, Meditation & 8 Limbs
- December 02, 2017
Cat-Cow is actually two poses that combine together to create the common mini-sequence known as Cat-Cow. This sequence is designed to help lubricate and warm the spine. We use both flexion and extension to restore the space between each vertebra and support the supple nature of the spine.
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- Health and Wellness
- January 09, 2017
We can launch change and growth in our lives by being deliberate with the thoughts and language that support our beliefs. Reinforcing our beliefs on a daily basis provides cosmic nutrition so that the universe can support us while we take the necessary actions to move in the direction of fulfilling whatever it is we want.
Experience and Education
Degrees and Studies
- Bachelor’s Degree—University of Central Florida
- Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling—Troy University
- 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Training—Yog Peeth
- 500-Hour RYT—World Peace Yoga School
- Ayurveda Studies at the Kripalu School
Certifications
- Marma—Ayurveda Institute
- Ayurveda for Pregnancy—Kripalu
- Nutrition Response Testing—Ulan Method
Publications
Kristen is the author of Your Life is Medicine: Ayurveda for Yogis. Written in a simple, friendly voice, this book is the perfect healthy lifestyle companion for beginners. It includes education and resources for self-care, proper nutrition, yoga, dosha assessments, and more. You can find it on www.wellblends.com and Amazon.
Kristen’s Point of View
How were you first introduced to Ayurveda?
I was first introduced to Ayurveda while studying yoga in India.
When are you most likely to go out of balance and how do you bring yourself back in balance using Ayurveda?
I am most likely to go out of balance in times of change, transition, travel, or during the anticipation of big events. During these times, my vata increases and manifests as constipation, anxious feelings, and sleeplessness. I ground myself by distancing myself from devices, going into nature, eating warm foods, and drinking turmeric milk. I often use pre-recorded Yoga Nidra meditations to help me find rest.
What does the future of Ayurveda look like to you?
I believe Ayurveda will become more of a household name and modality in the future. Most Americans are familiar with chiropractic work and acupuncture. I believe Ayurveda will become this well known and utilized soon.
What's one Ayurvedic practice anyone can implement to spur change in their life, right here, right now?
Drinking turmeric milk at night is an easy and effective practice. It not only tastes yummy, but also helps promote comfort, ease, and sleep.
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