The Everyday Ayurveda Guide to Self-Care

by Kate O'Donell and Cara Brostrom

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Everyday Ayurveda Guide to Self-Care is a DIY and technique manual for wellness and natural healing by Kate O'Donnell. Due out 28th July 2020 from Shambhala publishing, it's 288 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This book provides a broad survey course in Ayurvedic wellness from the beginner concepts through more advanced uses and lifestyle applications. The content is split into three sections: what Ayurveda is and some ways our bodies and minds work and interact with the energy around us, Ayurvedic lifestyle changes (and the attendant benefits) in the context of daily & seasonal changes, and finally a collection of DIY tutorials and recipes.

The book is logically formatted and written in an accessible and understandable style. I was also glad to see useful recipes with a minimum of pseudoscientific emphasis. The book is full of safe and natural suggestions for everyone, no matter what life-stage they're at. The recipes include ingredients which are relatively easy to source and should be easy to find in most places. Recipe ingredients are listed with American standard measures only (there's no conversion chart in the book, but it shouldn't be problematic to convert to metric measures if necessary. The author has also included a resource/bibliography list for further reading, glossary, chapter notes, and a cross referenced index. The book throughout, including the recipe sections is well photographed with clear and attractive tutorial and recipe photos which are easy to follow.

All in all it's a good beginner to intermediate handbook for Ayurvedic concepts.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.