Published: 20 March 2026 | Last Updated: 22 September 2026
Author: Rebecca Anderson, Graduate Certificate in Yoga Therapy & Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant
When you’ve studied and practised yoga for decades, it’s natural that the path eventually leads you to Ayurveda. But I’ll be honest: I never truly understood or appreciated this ancient science until my own body needed it.
What follows isn’t medical advice, it’s my personal experience integrating Ayurveda and yoga therapy alongside conventional care after receiving an unexpected autoimmune diagnosis.
When My Body First Asked Me to Slow Down
My first real encounter with Ayurvedic care came at the onset of perimenopause in my late 40s. Disrupted sleep, digestive issues, and sheer exhaustion became constant companions.
According to Healthdirect Australia, perimenopause symptoms commonly include irregular periods, hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, muscle and joint pain, and mood changes [Healthdirect]. At the time, I was still raising kids, working full-time, running a side business, and studying. All the things someone with predominantly Pitta constitution would consider perfectly normal.
Through my yoga studies, I met a wonderful Ayurvedic Practitioner who I decided to see privately. That first appointment was confronting. She was very clear that while perimenopause may have been a factor, my lifestyle, the work, the business, the study, the kids, was the real driver behind my symptoms.
Now, if you know anything about a predominantly Pitta person, you’ll know that being told you’re doing too much is like waving a red flag at a bull. It practically dares them to keep going, and to make sure they excel at it while they’re at it. For several more years, that’s exactly what I did. I took on board some of her herbal recommendations and kept charging ahead.
A Diagnosis I Wasn’t Expecting
In the summer of 2025, I travelled to India, somewhere I’d wanted to visit for a very long time. When you’ve studied and practised yoga as long as I have, India feels like a pilgrimage. It is the birthplace of both Yoga and Ayurveda.
A few months after returning home, I still had a lingering cough I’d picked up on the flight and decided it was time to see a doctor. That’s when I received a diagnosis I wasn’t expecting: Graves’ disease.
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system causes the thyroid to overproduce thyroid hormone, creating a state known as hyperthyroidism. Looking back, the symptoms had all been there:
– Racing heart and palpitations
– Unexplained weight loss despite eating normally
– Difficulty sleeping and night sweats
– Anxiety and irritability
– Tremor in my hands
– Feeling hot when others were comfortable
These align with what Healthdirect identifies as common Graves’ disease symptoms [Healthdirect – Graves’ Disease]. But a number of them were also symptoms for menopause, which is why I’d previously dismissed what my body was trying to tell me.
The Decision Point
This diagnosis meant taking an honest look at my life. Years of running on empty trying to be everything to everyone had put me in this position.
That meant my life had to change.
There’s a quote that reads “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” And I agree with it. That’s why continuing with full-time work in a high-stress role, and running a business on the side, was not going to change my situation.
So with the loving support of my husband and some significant lifestyle changes, I stepped away from my full-time job to give myself time to focus on my health and my business (because like everyone, I still needed an income).
Where Did Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy Fit Into My Recovery
I’ve always believed that the body, given the right conditions, has the ability to heal itself (except of course with from life threatening disease or injury), so my first call after diagnosis was to my Ayurvedic practitioner who provided me with a diet to balance the vata and pitta dosha’s that were out of balance in my body, and daily lifestyle practices like abhyanga (body oiling) to help calm my nervous system.
Ayurveda and Yoga therapy didn’t cure my Graves’ disease, it worked alongside my medical treatment, managing the thyroid hormone levels. What Ayurveda and Yoga therapy did do, was address my nervous system dysregulation that often accompanies autoimmune conditions.
My Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy Protocol
Through my graduate studies in yoga therapy, I’d learned that chronic stress activates sympathetic nervous system responses that can exacerbate inflammatory pathways. My protocol focused on:
Dinacharya (Daily Practices):
Such as abhyanga (body oiling), eating regularly and eating foods that were good for my body. Going to bed and waking at regular times.
Prāṇāyāma (Breath Practices):
Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) became my daily anchor. Five minutes in the morning helped settle the racing thoughts that accompanied thyroid hormone fluctuations.
Gentle Asana:
Nothing intense. Forward folds, supported rests, and slow sun salutations, not because my body couldn’t handle more, but because inflammation responds poorly to aggressive movement during active phases.
Meditation & Rest:
Yoga Nidra for sleep restoration. This wasn’t optional—sleep disruption was one of my biggest symptoms, and I needed every tool to support nervous system down-regulation.
Research supports that relaxation techniques can help maintain a positive outlook when managing Graves’ disease, as stress is a known risk factor for autoimmune conditions [NZ Health Directorate].
What Changed Over Three Months
The first month felt impossible. Old habits die hard for a Pitta person. I caught myself reaching for the phone at 6 PM, scheduling meetings, pushing through fatigue. My Ayurvedic practitioner reminded me: “You’re not lazy. You’re healing.”
By month two, sleep improved. Not perfect nights, but fewer middle-of-the-night wake-ups. Digestion settled. The hand tremor I’d dismissed as “coffee jitters” noticeably decreased.
Month three brought clarity I hadn’t anticipated. The fog lifted. I could think without the constant buzz of anxiety. More importantly, I stopped viewing rest as failure and started seeing it as part of the recovery protocol itself.
This gradual shift aligns with what clinical guidance suggests: recovery from autoimmune conditions requires consistent, long-term lifestyle adjustments rather than quick fixes [Better Health Channel Victoria].
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Earlier
If you’re navigating your own autoimmune journey, here’s what I wish I’d heard sooner:
Rest is treatment, not a luxury.
Your body is trying to heal. Fighting that process delays recovery.
Conventional and complementary can coexist.
My endocrinologist wasn’t threatened by my Ayurvedic practice. We worked as a team—medical management for the thyroid, lifestyle approaches for the nervous system and quality of life.
Progress isn’t linear.
Some days I felt great. Others, the fatigue crashed back in. Both were part of the process, not evidence that something was failing.
You need support beyond information.
Reading about doshas won’t change your lifestyle. Having a practitioner who calls you out on self-sabotage, who adjusts your protocol as you change, made all the difference.
How I Work With Clients Now
My own journey fundamentally changed how I approach therapeutic work. When clients come to Serene Wellbeing with chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, or stress-related health concerns, I draw on what I learned the hard way:
Evidence-informed, not trend-driven.
I don’t recommend practices without understanding the mechanism. If it can’t be explained, it shouldn’t be prescribed.
Personalised, not prescriptive.
Two clients with the same diagnosis need different approaches. One person’s grounding practice is another person’s trigger.
Transparent about limitations.
Yoga therapy and Ayurveda support healing. They’re not replacements for medical care when that care is necessary.
Learn more about my yoga therapy services
View Bowen Therapy options
Your Next Steps
If you’re considering Ayurveda or yoga therapy for your own health concerns:
1. Start with medical clearance – Especially for autoimmune or hormonal conditions, establish what conventional care recommends first
2. Be realistic about timelines – Sustainable change takes months, not weeks
3. Track your own progress – Journal symptoms, energy, sleep patterns. What feels good to one person may not work for you
Your healing journey is yours alone. These approaches offered me support, but only you can determine what fits your circumstances.
About Rebecca Anderson
Rebecca is a qualified yoga therapist, Bowen practitioner, and Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant based in Camden South, NSW. Her credentials include:
– Graduate Certificate in Yoga Therapy (745 hours) specialising in evidence-based practice for complex health conditions and chronic pain
– 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training
– Certified Bowen Therapist
– Qualified Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant
Rebecca is a member of Yoga Australia, Bowen Association Australia, and maintains ongoing professional development to deliver safe, effective therapeutic care.
With extensive experience supporting clients with chronic pain, anxiety, autoimmune conditions, hormonal health, and injury recovery, Rebecca takes a whole-person approach that recognises the connection between physical symptoms, emotional wellbeing, and nervous system regulation.
Her own experience with Graves’ disease informs her therapeutic philosophy: healing requires addressing lifestyle, stress, and daily rhythms, not just treating isolated symptoms.
