Sierra Brashear, MA, CAP

Education and Experience

Sierra began incorporating Ayurveda into her life in 2016, when the discovery of her pitta kapha constitution first sparked a new understanding and appreciation for herself. Her love for the wisdom and practices of the ancient healing science led her to have the privilege of studying with Alakananda Ma for over 2,000 hours at Alandi Gurukula in Boulder, Colorado, and she became a NAMA-Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner in 2020.

Also holding a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master's degree in Environmental Peace and Security, Sierra truly understands the ways in which we are deeply intertwined with the health and well-being of the planet at both the individual and the collective levels.

 

 

In 2018, Sierra co-founded Cultivate Balance with her dear friend and fellow practitioner Molly McConnell. The two have been working together for many years to create a practice that embodies intentional and intersectional Ayurveda.

Through their work with Cultivate Balance, Sierra and Molly have come to understand that internal alignment manifests external radiance, and that balancing oneself is the foundation for balancing one's family, community, and the planet.

Sierra also co-authored Moon Bath—Bathing Rituals and Recipes For Relaxation And Vitality, published in 2020 by Chronicle Books, with Dakota Hills. The book offers Ayurvedic bathing and self-care rituals that support realignment with the rhythms and elements of nature.

 

Upcoming Events

If you're curious about working with Sierra, one of the following offerings may resonate with you.

• The Reset for Resilience: A 21-day program, centered around a five-day detox, that is designed to improve digestion, enhance immunity, and promote clarity.

• The Art of Work Life Balance: Learn to foster a more strategic approach to living a meaningful life that enables personal and collective wellness.
• The Art of Fertility: A 16-week program that prepares your body, mind, and heart for an easeful conception and healthy pregnancy.

• The Art of Ayurveda: In this 3-part life-altering course, you'll learn easy-to-implement nutrition, daily routine, and self-care.

Or, start small and simple by exploring the Cultivate Balance virtual workshop library. Learn practices that will shift how you experience your body and lay the foundation for a lifetime of vitality.

 

Sierra's Point of View

What does the future of Ayurveda look like to you?

I see Ayurveda as an opportunity to build individual and collective resilience through intentional lifestyle design that supports us to embody the just and sustainable world we all know is possible.

Cultivating resilience is the strategy for bolstering health and resisting systemic illness—those illnesses that are caused by overwork, chronic stress, lack of access to nourishing food, inequity, racism, multigenerational trauma, pollution, and climate change.

The holistic wisdom of Ayurveda can provide a container that supports us in navigating these and other factors, especially if we as practitioners broaden our definition of wellness to consider the intersectional impact of systems of oppression.

This ancient science of life offers small practices that leverage the rhythms and elements of nature to build resilience.

By illuminating a web of interconnection and balance, Ayurveda provides a system for structuring and implementing these simple, small-scale practices, bringing a unique recognition to the way we know ourselves and design our lives for intentional impact.

As my co-practitioner Molly McConnell so eloquently said, the future of Ayurveda is one that promotes a culture of community care, in which more people feel able and inspired to show up for their purpose in the world.

The future of Ayurveda is also accessible, inclusive, embodied, and integrated into collective daily life as a foundation for a solutions-oriented way of living that creates space for all beings to thrive.

What's one Ayurvedic practice anyone can implement to spur change in their life, right here, right now?

Sip warm lemon honey water slowly upon waking. Well actually, right after tongue scraping!

I love this practice because it invites us to make an intentional choice first thing in the morning—one that hydrates, activates digestion, and supports elimination of toxins.

This is such a quick and easy thing to do, that anyone can do, and it has such a broad impact on the body and mind. I think this is a gateway practice—once you begin, and you feel the positive results, you'll be inspired to take the next step.