Healing Isn’t Always Dramatic—But It Is Sacred

Discover how a simple injury led me back to Ayurvedic healing rhythms—and why food, rest, and sleep came before herbs.

Healing Isn’t Always Dramatic—But It Is Sacred

It’s always the simple things that catch us off guard.

I wasn’t doing anything wild. I wasn’t doing anything super cool - which would’ve at least made a better story. I was just putting together a bookshelf. Something small and productive to check off my list. The kind of task you squeeze in between your real plans.

But somehow, in the midst of arranging and assembling, I sliced my hand deeply enough to land myself in urgent care. Three stitches. One shocked nervous system. And a very clear message from the universe:
slow down.

Now, you’d think as a practitioner of Ayurveda, a yoga teacher, and someone who literally teaches others how to align with their body’s rhythm, I would’ve already been slowed down. But here’s the truth: sometimes even when we’re teaching the work, we’re still learning it—again and again.

Because rhythm is not a destination. It’s a relationship.

And this injury? This unexpected little detour from my neatly organized calendar? It became one of my greatest teachers—reminding me of everything I already knew but needed to fully live again.

Why I Didn’t Reach for Herbs First (and Why That Matters)

I get asked all the time in consultations and trainings:
"What’s the best Ayurvedic herb for [insert condition here]?"

And yes—there are amazing herbs in Ayurveda. I love them. I use them. I recommend them often. But they are not where I start. And they weren’t where I started when I was sitting in my house with stitches in my wrist, trying to figure out how to keep showing up for my life while my body clearly needed me to rest.

Because here's what I’ve learned, and what Ayurveda has shown me time and time again:
healing doesn’t happen in a rush. It happens in rhythm.

That means before I even think about herbs, I come back to the basics—because they’re not just basic. They’re foundational.

The 3 Simple Practices That Became My Medicine

1. Warm, easy-to-digest meals

This was the first thing I recommitted to. Not just because it’s something I recommend to my clients all the time, but because I could feel my own digestive fire (agni) flickering under the weight of the antibiotics I was prescribed. I’ve learned enough about my body to know that if I don’t actively support my agni, everything else starts to unravel.

So I brought back the grounding meals: soups, soft-cooked veggies, kitchari, warm lemon water first thing in the morning. No raw foods. No heavy combinations. Just simple, warm, spiced meals that allowed my body to receive nourishment without having to fight for it.

Digestion is the root of healing in Ayurveda. If your agni is weak, you can be taking the most expensive herbs in the world and still not absorb their benefits. So I started here. Always here.

2. Slowing way, way down

This was the hardest one. Because I love what I do. I love teaching. I love creating. I love moving. But when your body physically can’t do what you normally do—when your dominant limb is stitched up and sore—it’s not just inconvenient. It’s humbling.

So I paused. I postponed. I moved my body less. I stepped away from the go-go-go that can sneak into even the most "mindful" of routines. And I went for slow, gentle walks in nature instead.

Ayurveda reminds us that stress blocks healing. When the nervous system is in survival mode, the body isn’t optimizing for repair—it’s prioritizing defense. So I focused on softness. On walks without podcasts. On silence. On breath. On simply being present with what was.

It wasn’t easy. But it was necessary.

3. Prioritizing deep, quality sleep

This is the one most of us think we’re doing well, until we’re not. When I was injured, sleep became a true non-negotiable. Not the rushed, overstimulated, toss-and-turn kind of sleep. But the real thing: consistent, uninterrupted, healing sleep.

And yes, I napped. Even though Ayurveda traditionally advises against daytime sleep, this was one of those times where I leaned into the deeper teaching: listen to your body, and meet it where it is. My body needed to rest. Not just at night, but sometimes during the day too. So I let it.

I allowed myself to break the rules in order to honor the rhythm.

The Real Medicine Is Simplicity

These three practices—warm food, deep rest, intentional slowing—might seem too simple to matter. But that’s the magic. Ayurveda isn’t about overcomplicating things. It’s about aligning with nature, with your own inner rhythm, and with what the moment truly calls for.

I did eventually bring in a couple of herbs specific to my situation. But they were supportive actors—not the lead role. The real healing happened through the foundational rhythms I reestablished in my daily life.

And you know what else? These rhythms are always available. Whether you're healing from a physical wound, emotional exhaustion, or just trying to feel like yourself again—they're yours to reclaim.

Want to Learn How to Live in Rhythm, Too?

This injury reminded me of something big: we don’t heal from knowledge alone. We heal from embodiment. And Ayurveda—at its core—is a system for remembering how to live in a way that honors both.

If this story resonated with you, or if you’re craving more alignment in your own body and life, I’d love to invite you into my 100-hour Ayurveda Alchemy Training.

This is a 6-week online experience where we dive deep into the heart of Ayurvedic living—not as a checklist, but as a rhythm.

You’ll learn how to: ✨ Build routines that support your energy, hormones, and digestion
🌿 Understand your unique dosha and how to care for yourself seasonally
🧘‍♀️ Incorporate Ayurvedic principles into your yoga, your meals, your life
☀️ Stop guessing—and start trusting yourself again

This training isn’t just about learning Ayurveda. It’s about living it. And remembering that healing isn’t something we chase. It’s something we return to.

We begin again in May, and applications are now open.

👉 Apply now at www.lisabermudez.com/ayurvedaalchemy

Whether you’re a teacher, a wellness practitioner, or just someone who wants to feel more at home in their body—this training is for you.

Come back to your rhythm. Come back to your healing.