What if meditation wasn't something you turned to only when you were overwhelmed, anxious, or at your breaking point? What if it became a simple, accessible daily practice for coming home to yourself?
In this episode of Modern Sacred: Women's Work, we're joined by meditation teacher and health coach Nichole Adams for a conversation about making meditation and mindfulness accessible for modern women—and why we don't have to wait for a crisis to begin.
Nichole shares her own journey of self-discovery, identity, self-worth, and learning to listen to what is true beneath the expectations and conditioning we absorb from society and culture. We explore what it means to move from constantly doing into a deeper experience of being, and how practices like meditation can help us develop greater self-awareness, self-compassion, inner peace, and connection to ourselves.
We also talk about nervous system regulation, stress and anxiety, the labor of self-care, nurturing and “mothering” energy, and the ways small everyday rituals can create meaningful shifts in how we feel and move through the world.
One of the central ideas of our conversation is the difference between being a “crisis meditator”—someone who only meditates when life feels unbearable—and developing meditation as a consistent practice. Nichole offers a refreshing perspective on how meditation can fit into real, modern life: it doesn't have to be complicated, uncomfortable, or time-consuming.
We talk about simple ways to bring mindfulness into everyday moments, including the possibility of a short meditation or even a beverage blessing as a small sacred ritual.
If you've ever thought, “I should meditate, but I don't know how to make it part of my life,” this conversation is for you.
Connect with Nichole Adams
Learn more about Nichole, her meditation offerings, and her work on Facebook or Instagram @nichole.simque.adams
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Chapters
00:00 The Journey of Self-Discovery
03:27 The Formation of Identity
06:20 The Pursuit of Authenticity
09:34 The Importance of Self-Awareness
25:57 Balancing Doing and Being
26:36 Crisis of Identity and Conditioning
27:33 Struggle with Self-Worth and Safety
28:02 Journey to Self-Nurturing and Compassion
37:03 The Impact of Societal Influences
50:33 The Quest for Self-Love and Acceptance
55:15 Resonance and Energetic Contribution
56:09 Nurturing and Mothering Energy
57:06 The Labor of Self-Care
59:03 Accessibility of Meditation as a Modern Sacred Practice
01:20:48 The Power of Simplicity and Comfort
01:21:30 Journey from Discomfort to Passion
01:22:01 Mindfulness and Nervous System Regulation
01:24:06 Everyday Rituals and Practices
01:24:56 Impact of Meditation on Self-Discovery
01:36:09 The Ripple Effect of Mindfulness
Modern Sacred: Women's Work explores the practices, questions, and conversations that help women create more intentional, meaningful, and connected lives.

What can Ayurveda teach us about women’s health, nervous system regulation, hormones, and emotional well-being?

In this episode, we sit down with Britt Vanderhoof, founder of The Ayurvedic Nurse, to explore the intersection of Ayurveda, mental health, women’s health, and holistic healing. Britt shares her journey from nursing into Ayurveda—and how Ayurvedic principles transformed the way she understands the body, mind, emotions, and nervous system.

We explore how Ayurveda can support women through perimenopause, menopause, the menstrual cycle, stress, inflammation, sleep disruption, and emotional change. Britt breaks down the Ayurvedic doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—and explains how understanding your unique constitution can inform nutrition, daily routines, seasonal living, sleep, movement, and self-care.

We also explore nervous system regulation and weight, nutrition and inflammation, emotional balance, grief and healing, and the connection between physical and emotional health. At the heart of the conversation is an invitation into embodiment: learning to listen to your body, understand its signals, and develop a more conscious relationship with your health.

Whether you're curious about Ayurveda, navigating perimenopause or menopause, interested in nervous system health, or seeking a more embodied and conscious approach to women’s wellness, this conversation offers practical wisdom for supporting your whole self.

Learn more about Britt:
Instagram: @the.ayurvedic.nurse
Website: theayurvedicnurse.com

• Ayurveda and mental & emotional health
• Ayurvedic cleansing and healing
• The doshas: Vata, Pitta & Kapha
• Ayurveda, nutrition & seasonal living
• Nervous system regulation, stress & weight
• Sleep, routine & daily rhythms
• Ayurveda for women’s health and hormones
• Perimenopause, menopause & the menstrual cycle
• Embodiment, gratitude, empowerment & conscious living

Join the Modern Sacred newsletter and receive our Women's Empowerment Spotify Playlist for free:
→ modernsacred.substack.com

Join the Modern Sacred Membership for bonus podcast content, live events, and resources:
→ modernsacred.com/membership

00:00 Introduction to The Ayurvedic Nurse
02:16 From Nursing to Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
03:28 Mental & Emotional Health in Perimenopause
05:26 Britt’s Journey Into Ayurveda
14:34 Ayurvedic Cleanse & Healing
22:10 Understanding Your Ayurvedic Body Type
30:21 Understanding Ayurveda & the Doshas
30:48 Ayurveda, Diet & Seasonal Changes
32:29 Balancing the Doshas
36:08 The Nervous System & Health
37:28 The Nervous System & Weight
39:20 Sleep, Routine & Ayurvedic Rhythms
56:10 Ayurveda for Menopause & Perimenopause
01:02:25 Ayurveda & the Menstrual Cycle
01:04:50 What Is Ayurveda, Really?
01:05:05 Nutrition & Inflammation
01:06:06 Balancing Emotions & Energy
01:09:24 Grief, Healing & Emotional Processing
01:36:02 Gratitude & Empowerment

What is Nervous System Regulation and why is everyone talking about it? Is there any real science behind the concept, or is this just another hype term marketed towards women to drive purchases of yet another tea, cream or app on the road to embodiment and inner peace? If nervous system regulation is legit, what role does it play for woman on the road to embodiment and conscious, soul-led living?

In today's conversation, Abby and Chelsea delve into the topic of nervous system regulation and its impact on daily life. Abby brings her background as a nurse and nervous system educator to explore the understanding of the nervous system, the role of cortisol and the vagus nerve, and a body-first approach to healing and trauma processing.

You'll learn about the main branches of the nervous system and the automatic responses in the background software of your body and how to begin rewiring your nervous system towards more peace and calm on the path to becoming a more embodied woman. Learn about the vagus nerve, and how to train it to become your master engage switch for peace and calm on command as we discuss the empowering nature of nervous system regulation, the balance of feminine and masculine energies, and the understanding of physiological aspects of well-being.

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Takeaways

• Nervous system regulation for beginners
• Body-based approach Trauma processing
• The role of the vagus nerve in nervous system regulation
• Balancing feminine and masculine energies
• Understanding the physiological aspects of well-being

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Nervous System Regulation
• 02:10 Understanding the Nervous System
• 06:39 The Role of Cortisol and the Vagus Nerve
• 26:11 The Body-First Approach and Trauma Processing
• 29:36 Trauma Processing and Release
• 48:02 The Vagus Nerve and Nervous System Regulation
• 57:42 The Shift to a Life Worth Living
• 58:46 The Magic of Nervous System Regulation
• 01:05:08 Empowerment Through Understanding
• 01:08:03 The Impact of Lifestyle Choices
• 01:13:20 The Science of Nervous System Regulation