There are so many ways to celebrate Mother’s Day and the powers of womanhood, regardless of one’s status as a mother. For those looking to reflect or to learn different practices for honoring one’s womanhood, Ayurveda offers a number of insightful perspectives on women’s mental, physical and emotional well-being and health.

The practice of journaling honors private contemplation and unlocks the power it holds, unveiling a deep wisdom formed in ancient India.

Stacey Lindsay is a multimedia journalist, writer, interviewer, media consultant, and speaker. At UMA, Stacey has led our editorial efforts and co-hosts the UMA Ayurveda Podcast, introducing Ayurveda in meaningful, compelling and understandable ways to our audiences. Here, she discusses her own profound journey with Ayurveda. 

Our new feature, Voices of UMA, spotlights members of the UMA community who have developed their own unique relationship with Ayurveda. In this column, Jane reflects on the Ayurvedic practices and products she loves most, and how she sees Ayurveda as an ideal solution for the challenges of the modern world.

In honor of Mother's Day, we sat down with our founder Shrankhla to talk about the wellness habits, skin care rituals, and Ayurvedic principles passed down to her as a child in India.

We spoke with Rachel Varga, a board certified aesthetic nurse specialist, to garner her tips on how to keep our skin vibrant as we grapple with more stress. 

Stress pervades our lives. But often do we really unpack what it is? The culprit, the actual stress, is often an enigma—which is why we asked Nisha Khanna, MD, to fully unpack it for us. 

So often our ego delivers us stories to make us feel safe—but these narratives can leave us feeling scared, overwhelmed, and anxious. Instead, we can find freedom by going deeper, says mindful health practitioner and coach, Jessie Douglass-Smith McGraw, who unveils the way in this insightful essay.

Shrankhla, is always seeking out new and noteworthy artisanal products. Her only mandate: They must be thoughtfully made. Here's what's in her current rotation. 

Yoga and Ayurveda specialist Ali Cramer offers insight into true wellness that is uplifting and encouraging. She helps us realize that living optimally, and practicing Ayurveda—which she describes as slow, gradual ever-evolving process—is accessible to us all.

Sahara Rose is one of the most profound voices of modern Ayurveda. She manages to make the world’s oldest health system seem and feel incredibly fresh and inclusive.

A through line in Carson Meyer's work and life is simplicity and nature. In everything the birth doula and entrepreneur does, she incorporates only pure, raw ingredients and considers the environment first.

Alia Dalal created this Ayurvedic Chai as an answer to traditional masala tea. A blend of warming spices like cardamom and clove, it helps to nurture during the cold and dry Vata season. 

For Shrankhla Holecek, Ayurveda has been a pillar in her life since she was born. As a child growing up in India she would watch her parents perform rituals and prepare foods with the utmost intention. From this, Shrankhla learned to foster a deep connection to herself.

Dr. Zohreh Sadeghi knew she wanted Ayurveda to be her life's work after her first Panchakarma treatment. "Once I was done with the entire course of the treatment, I felt like a new person; as if I had just hit a reset button on my body and mind."

Ayurveda "goes so deep into food, on a vibrational level," says Divya Alter, author, Ayurvedic chef, and owner of Divya's Kitchen in New York. 

"Fear is the only thing holding you back, says Plavsic. "And whenever there is an up, there is always a down."

It's easy to dismiss massage as an indulgence; something we relegate to holidays or special occasions. But for decades research has shown it's more than a luxury. Massage has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation, alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms, ease anxiety, headaches, and digestive disorders, and help with insomnia. 

"Women are the most beautiful when they feel like themselves," says designer Lan Jaenicke. "It's not about a label, it's not about a look, it's not about a trend, it's about confidence and being comfortable."

Candice Forness believes in the direct connection between health and beauty. Her coveted Ayurvedic Facial Massage is an incredible holistic treatment that can "make people younger while they nap," incorporating massage and energy work to honor one's skin, spirit, and overall wellbeing. 

LaToyia Mays, a certified herbalist and founder of The Laya Center, says Abhyanga massage leaves you feeling invigorated and relaxed—and it aids in better digestion, detoxification, glowing skin, and increased stamina. 

Having recently launched our new Navel Therapy Oils, we asked Ayurvedic practitioner Heather Baines AD C-AP for her insight on navel therapy, why it's beneficial for our health, and how the practice is a simple, renewing, blissful act of self-care.

Anne Sage has a considered approach to everything, one we greatly admire. We were thrilled to steal a few minutes of her time to talk beauty, Los Angeles, and, of course, her best design tips. 

For over a decade, the founder of Evolue Beverly Hills, Jean Seo, has curated the best collection of products to suit the needs of her discerning celebrity clients. Using her actresses as test bunnies, she created Evolue Skincare for anti-aging, and LUÉ Skin for anti-acne. Her insights will reduce your time spent primping, and enhance your pampering experience. Jean Seo's 7 Simple Tips for Enhancing Natural...

Whenever our week starts to feel a little lackluster, one of our perk-up-quick tricks is scrolling through the latest posts from our favorite bloggers. We know we’re not the only ones who go online for inspiration, and that the world of lifestyle bloggers is vast, which is why we’re sharing three of our top picks for who to follow right now. Each of these...

  We’ve been fawning over all the epic red carpet looks from this awards season, which is why we jumped at the chance to find out Oscars beauty trends and tips from an insider: TV host Diane Mizota.  Read on to find out her beauty secrets and her favorite red carpet beauty trends. Why are you going to the Oscars this year? Have you...