Our skin is a remarkable communicator, a crucial part of our immune system, and a welcoming interface for our senses. Through the power of touch, we can reconnect with our bodies and release knots of pain and trauma that have become trapped within us. Touch serves as a major conduit for healing, facilitating physical, emotional, and psychological recovery. It is a true blessing that individuals choose to pursue careers in body work therapy. These healers use their hands to transform not only their own pain but also to alleviate the pain of their clients.
Sabrina, a Berlin-based Ayurvedic practitioner and naturopathic healer, is our fourth Beauty Fatigue interview. I have been lucky many times over to be on Sabrina’s massage table and to have also had my Aryuvedic constitution explained, consulted and mapped out by her.
Sabrina possesses hands of gold, a calm demeanor, and the most welcoming presence.
Our conversation tugged on my heart strings in a big way. Sabrina’s journey into becoming a healer is as inspiring as it is enlightening, offering insights into how we can reconnect with our bodies and find balance in our lives. Enjoy a peek into Sabrina’s world, where ancient wisdom meets modern challenges, and discover how she has navigated this wild life with grace and resilience. The images by Nailya totally reflect her vibe.
Enjoy the words and sights.
x shar

On home and its connection to wellness
I was born in the middle of the Alps - in the Allgäu. I had a very lucky childhood growing up in the biggest playground one can imagine! I spent a lot of time, especially with my father outside in nature, the mountains, and water. When he got sick, I tried to give him as much of a relief and well-being as I could. In these early years I felt really connected to the expression of touch and making him feel good in his body. After his loss I literally lost touch with this part of me but now I see this as the foundation of my present profession.
Path to Ayurveda
While I started my journey as an Ayurvedic Therapist, I studied cultural sciences and finished it with a Bachelor of Arts. During that time I was wondering, in what kind of field I would find more fulfillment than in the field of science. That is how I came to Ayurveda, manual therapy and to my current commitment of becoming an alternative healer.


When I moved to Berlin, started my studies and began to work I felt overwhelmed by the thriving energy of this city. I was totally overcharged and had difficulties in finding a place of belonging. During that time my eating disorder aggravated and gave me the false belief of having control over my life. After a few years and the support of my sister I searched for therapeutic help and started healing. A big topic during my therapy was self-realization and actually taking back control. These two impulses also have a strong impact in Ayurveda therapy as for every successful therapy, compliance and self-efficacy are the pillars of a sustainable and healthy life.
Beauty through the Ayurvedic lens
In ayurvedic terms beauty is not linked to a cultural beauty ideal that follows specific requirements like size, skin color, height or proportions. Ayurvedic beauty includes every form and every color.
Kapha Dosha for example has a quite negative connotation in our western world but instead it is the Dosha that represents beautiful traits like lustrous, long hair, big eyes and soft skin. This is because Ojas, the subtle essence of vitality, is strongly connected to Kapha, which represents the structures of our bodies. When each single structure or Dhatu is nourished, we are radiating both from the inside and outside. This radiance is what Ayurveda describes as beauty.
In order to nourish Ojas we use Rasayanas, which is the general term for all of the actions that balance the Doshas, strengthen digestion and metabolism, enhance sleep, charisma and youthfulness and remove mental and physical weakness.
The untold story in the beauty industry often includes personality development, whereas Ayurveda clearly states the importance of moral and ethical behavior. Only when guided by a moral compass, all of the Rasayanas will really unfold their power and Ojas can thrive


Could you share some practices with us?
I am integrating some of the Rasayanas that support physical and mental well-being in my daily life. Some of them I only apply every now and then.
Other practices include drinking a warm glass of water in the morning, doing oil-pulling and tongue-scraping before cleaning my teeth. I also have a fixed routine of exercising Yoga and/or Pilates for about 15-30 minutes.
I often rotate with Breathwork, EFT-Tapping, facial treatments or lymphatic massage. From time to time I also massage and oil my scalp, do a full body Gua Sha or some Dry Brushing.
How do you incorporate these into your daily/ weekly routines ?
My daily and weekly routines depend on different factors like time, work, seasons and cycle. It is important to keep in mind that some routines are an integral part of each day and others need to be dynamic. Sometimes it is not possible for me to do every beauty routine in the morning, but then I just do it in the evening before going to bed.
During the day each Dosha has two peaks: Kapha from 6:00-10:00/ 18:00-22:00, Pitta from 10:00-14:00/22:00-2:00 and Vata from 14:00-18:00/2:00-6:00. So normally I start my day during Kapha time and use it to exercise my routines and set intentions for the day. During Pitta time I do the main parts of my work and have the biggest meal, while during Vata-time I like to do something creative, look for inspiration or cook.
For menstruating people it can be helpful to follow the menstrual cycle and listen to the body’s needs during menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase. I reduce for example the intensity of my workouts during my menstruation and set more focus on grounding and slowing down, giving myself massages, eating the right foods and taking the appropriate supplements.




What is a great book to start with for those interested in Ayurvedic practices?
For me the book “Ayurveda - The Science of Self Healing” from Dr. Vasant Lad has been a great teacher. It offered me an extensive knowledge about Ayurveda and combines both theoretical and practical insights. It is a dictionary for newbies and professionals and focuses as much on the basics as it does on the different areas of application such as Pranayama, Meditation, Nutrition, Yoga and herbal medicines. I almost could not put it out of my hands and tried to incorporate as many things as possible.
What are your thoughts on the beauty and wellness industry ?
I see the development of both industries as more holistic than a few years ago. Beauty and wellness are more intertwined and the demand for alternative and less invasive beauty-methods is growing more and more. Both segments enjoy a bigger audience that is interested in taking care of its physical and mental wellbeing and therefore investing more time and money. When looking at ayurvedic principles this is exactly what Ayurveda has always stated: beauty comes from within, through following individual constitutional rules, supporting a balanced digestion and a peaceful mindset.
Nevertheless, this holistic approach does not apply to every person interested in beauty. It takes more time, effort and self-acceptance to see your own beauty as something that evolves and shifts over time. It is a fact that we will never look and feel the same way in our bodies. Of course the easiest and fastest way to force external “beauty” on yourself is an invasive procedure. But where and when do we stop in this race for beauty and fighting age? I think a big topic that the beauty and wellness industry is still not taking into account is the process of aging gracefully.
Food is what nourishes our cells which give us that glow. Is there an Aryuvedic recipe that you would like to share and explain its contribution to beauty ?
There is one really helpful recipe that is not necessarily delicious but it has helped me many many times when I felt like getting sick or having a weak digestion. It is the “Agni potion” with fresh turmeric and ginger, fresh orange juice, coconut juice and pippali or black pepper. After drinking the potion for a few days my agni gets more stable, I have less brain fog, I feel more active and my skin clears up.



Recipe for Agni Drink
Ingredients:
• 1 large piece of ginger
• 5 fresh turmeric roots
• 500 ml coconut water
• 2 oranges or lemons
Instructions:
•Cut the ginger and turmeric into small pieces.
•Boil them in 500 ml of water for 15 minutes, then let it cool.
•Squeeze the juice from the oranges or lemons and mix it with the coconut water.
•Blend the entire liquid mixture, including the ginger and turmeric, in a blender
•Finally, strain the mixture through a sieve or cloth.
Keeps for 1 week refrigerated.
Take a shot in the morning on an empty stomach.
Enjoy
Being a woman in service, how do you give back to yourself ?
I am giving back to myself through different strategies. The first one is putting the focus on myself and taking care of my boundaries. I do that by saying (and still learning to say) “No” from time to time and listen to my intuition.
Secondly, I am going away from the city as there is a big difference due to the local detachment. I do not feel the pushing energy of the city anymore when I am in nature or the Allgäu, so I can get in contact with myself more easily. My partner and I have a little boat that we regularly use for sailing in summer. It is always an adventure when we travel to other countries to participate in regattas. With sailing I can feel myself physically and at the same time be in connection with nature. And thirdly, another very important aspect of giving back to myself is inspiration through culture. I love going to museums, exhibitions, the movies and every now and then dancing to electronic music.
Do you have any cleansing /protecting rituals,something that resets your own energy after coming in contact with so many different energies ?
With some exceptions I only work barefoot which gives me the best connection to earth and feeling of stability. Also breathing out the energy that is moving in my and the other person's body. And also, what might be too obvious is also washing myself properly at the end of the day, taking a bath and putting on my favorite perfume or essential oil to arrive home in my body.
What do you find most beautiful about yourself?
I like my smile the most! A smile is something that will never get old and always be beautiful. It is able to transport my authentic feelings where I am not able to put them into words.
Where can we find you ?
IG: rasayana.therapy
https://www.instagram.com/rasayana.therapy?igsh=MWs2dmxuZ295NmY5dw==
At Original Feelings Studio and Lobe Block.
Editor / Art Direction : Sharlene Walker
Photographer / Co- Art Direction :