Ayurveda: Coming Home to Yourself

Hi, I’m Maria.

I’m a Chicago-based licensed pharmacist, yoga teacher, and Ayurvedic practitioner with roots in Ikaria, Greece—one of the world’s Blue Zones, places known for longevity, where people have traditionally lived close to nature, stayed connected to community, and used traditional herbs, foods and remedies as part of everyday life.

My path has brought together two worlds I deeply value: the science of Western medicine and the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda.

I believe our bodies are always communicating with us, sometimes quietly and sometimes in ways we can no longer ignore. Ayurveda has taught me to become curious about those messages—to slow down, listen, and begin to understand what my body is asking for.

This is what I hope to share with you: a different way of looking at your health, one that helps you become more connected to your body, more in tune with nature, and more confident in recognizing what you need and how to nourish yourself.

Because sometimes our bodies have been speaking to us all along. We just need to learn how to listen.

What I Offer: Bringing Two Worlds Together

What if, instead of always looking outside of yourself for the answer, you learned to listen to what your body is already telling you?

What if you began to understand your own unique nature—your rhythms, your energy, and what helps you feel balanced?

My background gives me a unique perspective on health. Western medicine has taught me the importance of medications, lab work, and medical care, while Ayurveda has taught me to step back and look at the whole person—our digestion, energy, daily rhythms, lifestyle, and connection with nature.

Through my workshops and gatherings, I share practical Ayurvedic teachings that you can bring into your everyday life—from food and herbs to daily routines, movement, breath, and living more in rhythm with nature.

You don’t need to know anything about Ayurveda to join me. This is a space to learn, connect, ask questions, and become more curious about your own body and what it may be telling you.

My Journey to Ayurveda

My path began when I started experiencing unexplained ear ringing and eye floaters, along with some other sublte signals my body was sending. As a pharmacist, my instinct was to look through the lens of Western medicine—a field I deeply respect and value. But I found myself wondering: What else can I learn about my own body?

As a yoga teacher, I already knew the power of awareness and slowing down. That curiosity led me to Ayurveda, where I explored herbs, food, daily routines, and living in rhythm with nature. Ayurveda wasn't asking me to become someone new; it was teaching me how to come back to myself and listen to my body's signals.

Growing up in Ikaria, I had already seen some of this wisdom in a different form. My YiaYia, (grandmother) Maria, lived to be 98 years old. She lived close to nature and used traditional herbs and remedies that had been passed down through generations. As I studied Ayurveda, I began to recognize something familiar in its teachings—the same respect for nature, food, herbs, simplicity, and the wisdom of the body that had already been woven into my own family.

It almost felt like I was discovering something new while at the same time remembering something I already knew.

Today, I weave together my background as a pharmacist, my practice as a yoga teacher, and the principles of Ayurveda. I don’t view Western medicine and ancient practices as conflicting—they complement each other. My goal is to help you build self-awareness and support your own well-being.

Ayurveda: A Definition of Health

In Ayurveda, everything in nature—including each one of us—is understood through the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space.

These elements come together in different ways to create our unique constitution, or Prakruti. They influence our bodies, our minds, our energy, and even the way we experience the world around us.

When these elements move out of balance, Ayurveda teaches us to look beyond the symptom and become curious about what may be happening underneath.

And the beautiful thing is that we are not separate from nature. Because we are made from these same elements, we can work with nature to support greater balance within ourselves.

Through food, movement, meditation, pranayama, herbs, daily routines, sleep, and our connection with nature, Ayurveda gives us practical ways to support our wellbeing.

This is where Ayurveda becomes so much more than simply focusing on a symptom.

It invites us to look at the whole person and ask:

What is out of balance—and what might help me come back to myself?

Sometimes the best way to understand Ayurveda is to experience it. My workshops are an invitation to explore these teachings, connect with yourself, and discover simple practices you can carry into your everyday life.

Upcoming Classes and Workshops

Moonlight Yoga & The Elements

Moon Bathing 🌙 Fire Ritual ✨ Herbal Tea ✨

Sept 24 5:45pm

Hartigan Beach Park, Chicago

Step under the moonlight for an evening of grounding yoga, a reflective moon bath, fire ritual and warm herbal tea as we gather to reconnect with nature and the elements within us and all around us.

COME FEEL LIKE A WITCH 🧙‍♀️🍂🔥

Yoga, Fire + An Ayurvedic Autumn Brew

Tuesday October 13 5:45pm

North Loft Yoga studio, Chicago

This October, step out of the ordinary and into an evening of movement, fire, warming spices, and a little bit of magic as we gather together, awaken our inner kitchen witches, and remember the simple beauty of creating something nourishing with our own hands. 🍂🔥🌙

Stay Connected

Come as you are

Return to nature

Reconnect to the wisdom within

I’d love to stay connected with you as I continue sharing Ayurveda, hosting workshops, and creating opportunities for us to come together.

If you’d like to stay in touch, leave me your email below and I’ll keep you posted about upcoming events, gatherings, and things I’m excited to share.