Nathalie Azkue Moukom, Ayurveda Practitioner & Women’s Health Coach
She shares her personal journey with Ayurveda, family rituals, and the power of simplicity.
1. Nathalie, what brought you to Ayurveda?
You don’t find Ayurveda- Ayurveda finds you.
At least, that’s how it was for me. My mother opened her first Ayurveda retreat center over 20 years ago in our hometown of Hannover and has been running the Ashoka Ayurveda Center in Madeira since 2007. So Ayurveda was always around, but my own path with it started much later — more consciously and deeply. Even now, I’m constantly discovering new things in this fascinating healing tradition. It’s a lifelong journey, and that’s exactly what I love about it.
2. How do you make Ayurveda part of your everyday life?
As a mom of three, Ayurveda feels like a true gift. Our routines are well established — but that also makes them flexible. Our kids already have a natural awareness of their inner balance. They intuitively know what feels good for them, physically and emotionally. I think that’s one of Ayurveda’s biggest strengths: it teaches us to understand ourselves without chasing perfection.
3. What advice would you give to someone trying an Ayurveda retreat for the first time?
Stay open and curious — and really allow yourself to be in the process. Ayurveda often works more gently than we expect. Not everything can be understood right away with the mind. Healing happens by observing, feeling, and letting things unfold. The combination of yoga, treatments, diet, and herbal medicine activates changes on many levels. My advice: don’t overthink it — just experience it.
4. What’s your personal Ayurveda lifehack?
Definitely Abhyanga — Ayurvedic self-massage with warm oil. I choose the oils depending on how I feel each day and what my body and nervous system need. Then I follow it with some gentle movement and breathing exercises. It doesn’t take long, but it changes my whole day. A small ritual that gives me lightness, clarity, and resilience.
5. How can you keep Ayurveda practices going after a retreat or consultation?
Start small. Pick something easy or something you enjoy — whether it’s Gandusha (oil pulling in the morning), a golden evening milk with saffron and nutmeg, or simply eating with more awareness. It’s not about doing everything perfectly. Pitta types especially struggle with that (I know from experience!). Ayurveda is a journey, not a race. Every little step counts.
