Nishita Shah, AP

Nishita Shah, AP

Ayurvedic Practitioner, Yoga Therapist & Teacher

Pitta Kapha
Constitution: Pitta-Kapha

Nishita is passionate about holistic living and loves everything and anything regarding food—literally. You can generally find her in the kitchen testing out some new and wacky dessert recipe or figuring out ways to incorporate various herbs into the foods she makes. Outside the kitchen, she loves spending time in nature or on her mat doing her daily sun salutations. Check out her website, www.nourishthefire.com, for more fun recipes!

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Articles by Nishita Shah, AP
  • Warm and Comforting Winter Asparagus Soup Recipe
    • All Recipes
    • February 01, 2022
    Warm and Comforting Winter Asparagus Soup Recipe

    Perfect for a light winter meal, this balanced, nutritious asparagus soup recipe is packed with flavor and filled with spices that will kindle digestion and warm you up.

  • Quick and Easy Summertime Lime Cooler Recipe
    • Summer Recipes & Health
    • July 26, 2021
    Quick and Easy Summertime Lime Cooler Recipe

    This quick, easy lime cooler can be enjoyed in either sun or shade. It’s the perfect treat for body and soul—especially on extra hot, scorching summer days.

  • 5 Simple Practices for a Healthy, Sparkling Mouth
    • Routines and Rhythms
    • June 24, 2021
    5 Simple Practices for a Healthy, Sparkling Mouth

    Brushing and flossing aren't the only ways to keep your mouth healthy. Check out these simple practices you can do every day for a clean, sparkling smile.

  • Stay Warm with This Winter Elixir Drink Recipe
    • All Recipes
    • January 22, 2021
    Stay Warm with This Winter Elixir Drink Recipe

    This warming winter elixir drink recipe will boost your digestive fire while you melt away any excess kapha. It's the ideal drink to enjoy on a chilly winter day.

  • Warming Winter Recipe: Curried Coconut Root Vegetables
    • All Recipes
    • December 29, 2020
    Warming Winter Recipe: Curried Coconut Root Vegetables

    The qualities of a vegetable are important to be aware of when cooking food since we are bringing those qualities into our bodies. These curried root vegetables make for a grounding and balancing meal.

  • Pitta-Pacifying Recipe: Coconut Ginger Truffles
    • All Recipes
    • August 11, 2020
    Pitta-Pacifying Recipe: Coconut Ginger Truffles

    These coconut truffles are SUPER fun and balancing for pitta. They're made with a base of coconut, which is great for the summer because of its cooling nature.

  • Summertime Berry Crisp
    • All Recipes
    • June 30, 2020
    Summertime Berry Crisp

    Perfect for summertime, this berry crisp includes coconut, sucanat, and maple syrup—all things that are super cooling and balancing for the liver and blood.

  • Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe
    • All Recipes
    • May 07, 2020
    Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe

    This creamy pudding blends chocolate, chia seeds, coconut milk, and spices to create a healthy feel-good treat perfect for any time of year and any occasion.

  • How to Make Your Daily Routine Work for You 
    • Routines and Rhythms
    • February 11, 2020
    How to Make Your Daily Routine Work for You 

    Even when you know the benefits of a daily routine, it can be hard to decide exactly what yours should consist of. Here are a few tricks to help you get started on creating your perfect routine.

  • 4 Reasons to Love Kapha Dosha
    • Kapha
    • January 23, 2020
    4 Reasons to Love Kapha Dosha

    Kapha has gotten a bad rap. For some reason, we fixate on its negative attributes. Find out more about the beauty of balanced kapha and why we would do well to embrace the kapha within us.

  • 5 Ways to Get More Turmeric in Your Life
    • Health and Wellness
    • January 21, 2020
    5 Ways to Get More Turmeric in Your Life

    Turmeric has now become way more mainstream than we ever could have imagined. Here are five different ways to utilize this root, both from a nutrition standpoint and as an herbal remedy.

  • 5 Easy and Dreamy Ayurvedic Super Milk Recipes for Your Bedtime Ritual
    • Food and Cooking
    • December 13, 2019
    5 Easy and Dreamy Ayurvedic Super Milk Recipes for Your Bedtime Ritual

    An evening routine is essential in Ayurveda. Check out these "supermilk" recipes with different ingredients to help you achieve the perfect bedtime vibe.

  • 6 Secrets for a Balanced, Vibrant Vata This Fall
    • Fall Recipes and Health
    • September 27, 2019
    6 Secrets for a Balanced, Vibrant Vata This Fall

    Fall is one of the best times of the year to find a connection to our inner peace and calm. Read this article to learn some of Ayurveda's best secrets for making this practical and attainable. 

  • Easy Spring Greens Recipe with Kale and Cabbage
    • All Recipes
    • April 30, 2019
    Easy Spring Greens Recipe with Kale and Cabbage

    Perfect for spring, this recipe combines greens with spices are not only tasty, but supportive of digestion, and balancing for kapha. And almost as good as this recipe is how little time it takes to make! 

  • Kapha-Pacifying Recipe: Easy Ginger Pickle
    • All Recipes
    • January 01, 2019
    Kapha-Pacifying Recipe: Easy Ginger Pickle

    This recipe for a super easy ginger pickle will not only give your agni the boost that it may be looking for, but it will also align well with those healthy diet goals you are setting.

  • Rose Energy Bites
    • All Recipes
    • February 19, 2018
    Rose Energy Bites

    Simple. Easy. No Bake. And so delicious! These tasty little bites are packed with tons of flavor and lots of plant-based energy.

  • Golden Chickpea Crepes
    • All Recipes
    • December 27, 2017
    Golden Chickpea Crepes

    In Ayurveda, the winter season is largely influenced by kapha dosha. What does this mean? At this time of year, the water and earth qualities tend to naturally increase in our bodies, just as they do in nature—the external cold and generally wet quality of winter internally increases kapha dosha. Remember, our body is just a microcosm of the greater macrocosm we live in.

  • Spiced Holiday Nog
    • Holidays
    • December 22, 2017
    Spiced Holiday Nog

    The best way to approach holiday feasting is by finding balance. Who says you can’t indulge with the rest of your family and friends? There are definitely delicious and healthy ways to do this.

  • Garlic Chili Soba Noodles
    • All Recipes
    • November 02, 2017
    Garlic Chili Soba Noodles

    Yay autumn! Even though I love the summer, autumn definitely comes in a close second. And after the heat of the summer, I really look forward to this time of year. With the weather starting to cool, I naturally want more warmth. And I know that we are transitioning into vata season simply by what my body is craving. All I have to do is pay attention and listen.

  • Pitta-Pacifying Recipe: Zesty Arugula Pesto
    • All Recipes
    • June 23, 2017
    Pitta-Pacifying Recipe: Zesty Arugula Pesto

    Arugula's bitterness is so great for the pitta that is coming with the warmer months. Greens are important to incorporate into our diet. They are great for detoxing our livers and aiding in the removal of built up toxins.

  • Summer Recipe: Sweet Corn Curry
    • All Recipes
    • June 16, 2017
    Summer Recipe: Sweet Corn Curry

    Corn is the perfect sweet vegetable for the warmer months. The warming spices in this tasty dish help with digestion, and the corn is the perfect sweetness for balancing pitta! 

  • Kapha-Pacifying Recipe: Moroccan Quinoa Salad
    • All Recipes
    • June 02, 2017
    Kapha-Pacifying Recipe: Moroccan Quinoa Salad

    This quinoa and vegetable salad incorporates a lot of great things that are balancing to pitta, but still slightly warm enough to melt away any residual kapha that may be lingering. To top it off, it is super easy to make and ideal for a quick lunch!

  • Sweet Potato Sabji Recipe
    • All Recipes
    • April 26, 2017
    Sweet Potato Sabji Recipe

    In this recipe, we are utilizing sweet potatoes—one of the best vegetables for vata dosha. The best part? It takes a grand total of 15 minutes to make. Share this recipe with your friends and family, and embrace everything that transitions offer.

  • Three Ways to Get More Ginger in Your Diet
    • Ayurvedic Herbalism
    • April 25, 2017
    Three Ways to Get More Ginger in Your Diet

    Spring is prime-time kapha season, and it’s important to keep this lovely dosha in check. One of the best spices you can have on stock is ginger—in any shape or form, from fresh to powder. This little root will do you big wonders.

  • Cleanse-Friendly Carrot Ginger Soup
    • Women's Health
    • April 06, 2017
    Cleanse-Friendly Carrot Ginger Soup

    Cleanse season is upon us, and this is a great meal that can easily be adjusted to support you during a cleanse, as the simple ingredients and heating spices assist the cleansing process. 

  • Simple Split Mung Dal
    • All Recipes
    • December 28, 2016
    Simple Split Mung Dal

    This split mung dal recipe is super simple and easy to make. When made in a pressure cooker it takes about twenty minutes, tops (and that includes the prep!). When cooking in a pot, it takes about 30–40 minutes.

  • Vata-Pacifying Recipe: Baby Bok Choy
    • Vata Recipes
    • December 05, 2016
    Vata-Pacifying Recipe: Baby Bok Choy

    Bok choy is packed with all the good stuff that not only makes us feel good, but is also super supportive for a healthy body, too. Well-cooked green veggies, like bok choy, are also great for vata.

  • Vata-Pacifying Recipe: Date Rolls
    • All Recipes
    • November 03, 2016
    Vata-Pacifying Recipe: Date Rolls

    Here’s a SUPER simple and yummy recipe. It’s filled with warming spices that are rolled into dates, making the perfect afternoon snack. Bon appetite!

  • Vata-Pacifying Recipe: Crock Pot Oatmeal
    • All Recipes
    • October 19, 2016
    Vata-Pacifying Recipe: Crock Pot Oatmeal

    This breakfast recipe is ideal for the transition of the seasons. With the winds picking up and the mornings becoming cooler, oatmeal is a nourishing and grounding way to start the day.

  • Pitta-Pacifying Recipe: Simple Cucumber Raita
    • All Recipes
    • August 11, 2016
    Pitta-Pacifying Recipe: Simple Cucumber Raita

    One of my favorite summer recipes is this cucumber raita. My mom would make it all the time as an extra dip to have with dinner. It’s very similar to Tzatziki sauce, but with an Indian twist.

  • Pitta-Pacifying Recipe: Tahini Soba Noodle Bowl
    • All Recipes
    • July 20, 2016
    Pitta-Pacifying Recipe: Tahini Soba Noodle Bowl

    I packed this noodle bowl with veggies and avocado, and then topped it off with a tahini sauce and sesame seeds. I mean, what's not to love?! 

  • Kapha-Pacifying Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins
    • All Recipes
    • May 25, 2016
    Kapha-Pacifying Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins

     As soon as I saw rhubarb in the grocery store, I snatched as much as I could! Rhubarb is packed with good vitamins, minerals, and fiber. You really can’t go wrong with this plant.

  • Make Your Own Ayurvedic Chutney: Kapha-Balancing Cilantro Chutney Recipe
    • All Recipes
    • April 14, 2016
    Make Your Own Ayurvedic Chutney: Kapha-Balancing Cilantro Chutney Recipe

    Try this super easy, super quick, and most importantly super tasty chutney recipe. It’s packed with fresh cilantro and delicious spices to reset your digestion.

  • Vata-Pacifying Recipe: Easy & Fast Butternut Squash Soup
    • All Recipes
    • December 05, 2015
    Vata-Pacifying Recipe: Easy & Fast Butternut Squash Soup

    Soups is a great meal for the winter months. Super simple and grounding, it is perfect for this time of year! Enjoy this delicious soup any time of day as you savor the cooler temperatures and favor the warmer foods! 

  • 10 Minute Meal—Avocado Fried Rice Recipe
    • All Recipes
    • November 10, 2015
    10 Minute Meal—Avocado Fried Rice Recipe

    Rice is basically a staple in my diet. I love rice, always have and always will. For some reason, there is usually leftover rice. Growing up, we regularly had it, and now in our home, it’s the same, with the perpetual question of what to do with the leftover rice. Well, you can toss it for one thing. Or you can turn it into fried rice!

  • Roasted Fennel Recipe with Cucumber Mint Sauce
    • All Recipes
    • September 08, 2015
    Roasted Fennel Recipe with Cucumber Mint Sauce

    If you're a fennel fan, don't miss this delicious recipe! Paired with cucumber mint sauce, this sweet roasty fennel will be the gem your next dinner. 

  • Tahini-Ginger Endive Slaw
    • All Recipes
    • August 11, 2015
    Tahini-Ginger Endive Slaw

    One of my favorite parts of summer is all of the fresh veggies available at the market. My other favorite thing? It’s salad season! With sunshine in the air, summer is the best time to chow down on some raw veggies.

  • Coconut Strawberry Smoothie
    • All Recipes
    • June 26, 2015
    Coconut Strawberry Smoothie

    It’s the age of the smoothie. Everywhere you go, you see smoothie mixes here, protein powders there, and a plethora of different recipes to ensure you get the most nutrient-dense smoothie known to mankind. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love smoothies. In fact, they were my general go-to breakfast most days than not. Especially when I was in a hurry, there wasn’t anything quicker than putting everything into liquid form so that I could drink it on my drive to work.

Experience and Education

Nishita is an Ayurvedic Studies Program levels 1 and 2 graduate from the Ayurvedic Institute, where she studied Ayurveda and Yoga under the world-renowned Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc.

Degrees and Certifications

  • B.S. Psychology—The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Ayurvedic Studies Program, Yoga Teacher Training —The Ayurvedic Institute
  • Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner— National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA)
  • Certified Yoga Therapist— International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT)
  • Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT500)—Yoga Alliance

Nishita's Point of View

How were you introduced to Ayurveda?

By my lovely husband before we were married. I feel blessed that it fell into my lap!
 

When are you most likely to go out of balance and how do you bring yourself back in balance using Ayurveda?

When I don't take the time in my day for my daily practice and my daily routine. Daily routine is key for me to stay balanced and make sure I'm living my best life! Best way to get back in balance? Back to the daily routine. :)
 

What does the future of Ayurveda look like to you?

The future of Ayurveda is one where we all understand our truest nature and seek to work collectively to help heal each other.
 

What's one Ayurvedic practice anyone can implement to spur change in their life, right here, right now?

Take two minutes to yourself each day. Whether it's pausing to breathe, getting fresh air, or finding gratitude, a simple two-minute break can help you reset, recenter, and connect you back with your true self!