Geeta Vara Ayurveda

Anyone who knows me knows my love for tennis, especially Wimbledon 🎾. Sadly, no tickets this year, but I’m enjoying the matches from the coolness of the lounge.

Over recent years, I’ve become increasingly interested in the daily rituals behind the champions.

Novak Djokovic continues to challenge our assumptions about what healthy aging looks like.

At 39, he's still competing with (and beating) the best players in the world.

What fascinates me most is that none of these habits are particularly extreme. Warm water instead of ice. Mindful eating. Daily movement. Breath. Meditation. Recovery. Time outdoors. They're simple practices that, when repeated consistently, create the conditions for resilience, vitality and long-term performance, both on and off the court.

In his bestselling book Serve to Win, Djokovic shares that one of the first things he does each morning is drink room-temperature water and avoid iced drinks because he believes they interfere with digestion. Interestingly, this echoes Ayurveda's emphasis on protecting digestive fire (Agni).

He has also spoken about eating mindfully, practising daily meditation, using conscious breathing, prioritising sleep, staying mobile and spending time outdoors.

While he doesn't describe these habits as ‘Ayurvedic’, it's fascinating how closely SO many of them align with principles that Ayurveda has taught for thousands of years.

Ayurveda has always recognised that vitality is built through daily rhythms, not quick fixes.

🎾 Support digestion.

🎾 Calm the nervous system.

🎾 Prioritise restorative sleep.

🎾 Recover with intention.

🎾 Create simple rituals you can sustain.

Healthy aging isn't about doing more. It's about creating the right conditions for your body to thrive: nourishment, rhythm, recovery and rejuvenation.

And that often look like simply doing the fundamentals consistently.

Which of Djokovic's daily wellness habits surprised you the most?

This is how I think about 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗔𝘆𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗮:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗣𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱

At the base are the daily rituals that create the biggest return over a lifetime.

Morning sunlight. Restorative sleep. Nourishing food. Movement. Protecting our senses.

They may not be glamorous, but they are the foundations of vitality.

Once those foundations are in place, we can layer in weekly practices that restore and replenish. Gentle fasting (𝘂𝗽𝗮𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗮), warm oil massage (𝗮𝗯𝗵𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮), time in nature, community and connection, and stepping away from constant digital stimulation help bring us back into balance.

Then come the seasonal practices: living with nature’s rhythms, taking time for retreat and reflection, and, where appropriate, 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 for deeper rejuvenation and renewal.

One of the biggest misconceptions in modern wellness is believing everything needs to be done every day. It doesn't.

Ayurveda teaches us that different practices belong to different rhythms. Some nourish us daily. Others are more powerful weekly, seasonally or at key moments in life.

For me, this is the essence of 𝙍𝙖𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙖 - building resilience through consistent, sustainable rituals rather than constantly searching for the next optimisation.

The goal isn't simply to live longer.

It's to preserve vitality, strengthen resilience and keep life juicy for every decade ahead.

Which layer do you need to strengthen most right now?

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 🧡📙

One thought stayed with me long after everyone had gone home.

Everything feels early... until it becomes mainstream. Perhaps that's exactly where we are with pro-ageing and the wisdom of Ayurveda.

I believe it’s time for a new conversation around ageing - a 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

My mission is to show that so much of what we've been taught about ageing is often misguided and Ayurveda has always had a language for ageing well.

Ageing isn't something to fight or fear, it's truly a privilege. And when we work with our body instead of against it, we can influence how we age from the inside out.

That's why I wrote Rasayana (and so thrilled to be published by Bloomsbury Publishing Bloomsbury Books US Bloomsbury India

It's built around the Seven Pillars of Pro-ageing - a practical guide to cultivating vitality, resilience and longevity through Ayurveda, nourishing daily rituals and a life lived with purpose.

I talk about time as our most precious and finite commodity and that's what we need to learn to how to navigate.

This isn't about perfection or turning back the clock.

It's about embracing the years ahead with more energy, more wisdom and a deeper connection to ourselves and nature.

It’s about 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝗶𝗰𝘆 at every age.

To everyone who has bought the book, recommended it, gifted it or simply shared a kind word - thank you. Every conversation helps this message reach someone who may need it.

If you've started reading Rasayana and it's resonated with you, I'd be so grateful if you could leave an honest review on Amazon. Reviews genuinely help more readers discover the book and keep this conversation growing.

I'd love to know... What does ageing well mean to you?👇🏽

📙 Rasayana is out now online and in all good bookshops.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🧡📙

This one's extra special.

Not just because Rasayana is my second book, but because it marks the beginning of a conversation I've wanted to have for a very long time. In many ways, this book represents something much bigger than me.

If I'm honest, I almost didn't have a launch event. I've always found it easier to let the work naturally find it’s way into the world than pause to celebrate. But Rasayana felt different and hallelujah to my sisters who persuaded otherwise!

This month has been a series of 'pinch me' moments, but looking around that room at the launch was one I'll never forget. It was proof that putting the right people in a room changes everything and reminded me why I wrote this book in the first place.

The room was filled with curious minds, heartfelt conversations, laughter, reflection and people willing to challenge the way we've been taught to think about ageing.

To everyone who came, shared your reflections, asked thoughtful questions and helped make the evening so memorable - thank you. Your presence helped launch a pro-ageing movement.

I truly believe we've been sent on a wild goose chase when it comes to ageing. Rasayana is an invitation to a different conversation about healthy ageing that moves beyond fear and anti-ageing towards vitality, wisdom, resilience and living in harmony with nature.

A heartfelt thank you to my wonderful event partners for your generosity and support: @‌omnom Fushi @‌karmic.skin SCENTERED | Mindful Wellbeing @‌london.nootropics Yogi @‌chocolateandlove Ayumi Naturals @‌simplyroastedcrisps Living Things Soda @‌hasandfilm ✨

And to my publisher @‌bloomsburypublishing my brilliant editors @‌holly.jarrald.books Megan Jones my agent @‌laetitia_lit , dearest family and friends - thank you for believing in this journey.

This is only the beginning.

The special moments continue in part 2 (next post). 🧡

The anti-ageing industry teaches us to fear growing older and to fix the supposedly broken or ageing parts of ourselves.

Ayurveda teaches us to prepare for ageing by nourishing body, mind and spirit.

For thousands of years, Ayurveda has had a language for ageing well.

Rasayana is about preserving ojas - our deepest reserve of vitality, resilience and life force rather than chasing youth, so we can move through every stage of life with strength, purpose and wisdom.

For me, this is the essence of pro-ageing.

📙 Rasayana explores how Ayurvedic wisdom can help us redefine healthy ageing in a world obsessed with staying young.

BOOK out now at all good retailers

✅ Follow Ayurveda Author | Practitioner | Speaker for more Ayurvedic longevity and pro-ageing wisdom.

📌 Save for later | 📮 Share with someone who’s ready to embrace ageing with vitality, not fear.



How do you want to approach ageing?