Meet Jolijn, a yoga teacher and Ayurvedic practitioner from the Netherlands, whose journey began at age 15, exploring movement and breathwork in dance and theater academies. Years later, during a transformative period, she found peace and purpose through Ashtanga yoga, leading her to complete her first teacher training in Goa, India. Since then, she has trained in various styles, enriching her teaching with a grounded, playful approach that emphasizes inner exploration and the joy of connecting with breath and body. Guided by Ayurveda, she integrates this ancient wisdom into her life and teachings, inspiring students to connect with nature and themselves for holistic well-being.
How did you find yoga and what was your path from student to teacher?
My first yoga class was at the dance academy when I was 15 years old. Some years later I went to the theater academy. We had 'movement' and 'breathing' classes, which felt like the practice of yoga. Later in life when I had to make life changing choices and came across big fears, I found my peace and myself in the practice of Ashtanga yoga. At the age of 26, I did my first yoga teacher training in Goa, India, where I felt the true beauty of sharing yoga -and the way it had changed my own life- with others. Since then, I’ve pursued further training in Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, and Yoga Nidra across the world, enriching my practice and my ability to support others on their journeys.
What’s your approach/philosophy to your teaching?
Yoga is inner work, not so much outer work. But - sometimes the easiest way to look inwards, is by physically moving the body and connecting it with the breath. And then find stillness for meditation. Actually where asana was created for: to finally sit still for long periods of time in stillness.
My approach is: make it playful and fun and show up every day to your yoga mat. Don’t take yourself too seriously: on your mat is your playground to find physical, but also mental edges and boundaries to eventually find stillness and clarity. As adults we have the capacity more than children to play with awareness. Go find edges and honor if there are limitations.
Sometimes you just like to do pranayama or you just move for 5 minutes only. All good. Don’t force it. Let the enjoyment arise from the inside by being content with all that shows up, as a little buddha. Move, feel, don’t focus too much on form, but more on how you can be - here, now-.
Can you share your personal journey with Ayurveda and how it has impacted your life and teaching?
My first encounter with Ayurveda was during my first teacher training in Goa. In a little bookshop, an elderly man handed me a book on Ayurveda, saying with a smile, ‘This will change your life.’ I had no idea how true his words would be. I dove into Ayurveda immediately. I found an Indian teacher in The Netherlands with whom I studied intensively for three years and then continued my learning journey with other inspiring teachers. Almost 8 years later, I can wholeheartedly say that Ayurveda has indeed transformed my life. Issues like digestive troubles, inflammation, hormonal imbalances & eczema (yes, I dealt with the whole shabang) — were healed through Ayurveda. Today, I dedicate myself to inspire and guide others in their journey, offering Ayurvedic consultations, courses, workshops with easy to apply tips & life hacks, but also if there are bigger symptoms: mentally, physically or emotionally. I also host retreats where participants experience living the art of Ayurveda throughout an entire week.
For those new to Ayurveda, could you explain the basic principles of Ayurveda and how do they relate to yoga?
Yoga and Ayurveda go hand in hand with each other. Ayurveda is seen as how to create a happy, healthy and balanced life (by diet, lifestyle choices, quality of sleep etc) and yoga is about calming the fluctuations of the mind (Citta Vritti Nirodha) to be more in the present moment by using body, breath and stillness.
Ayurveda means knowledge of life. So actually easy understanding: How can you understand life - and yourself in this life to make this journey on earth as healthy, happy as possible with preventing yourself from illness. Yoga is about calming the fluctuations of the mind (Citta Vritti Nirodha) to be more in the present moment with inner peace by using body, breath and stillness.
Both ‘systems’ aim to balance the body, mind and the spirit.
Ayurveda wants you to become aware of who you are - how your magical system works and by that creating a happy and healthy lifestyle so stress will stay as much away from you (as stress can lead to complications and illnesses). The focus is on all that comes in via your senses, needs to be digested well. As a cycle, as the circle of life. So lifestyle choices, your diet, the way you can love yourself and anything else. Both Ayurveda and yoga have a holistic approach: body, mind & spirit are all connected, are all 1 and harmonize the body’s natural rhythms and energies.
In what ways can understanding Ayurveda deepen a student’s connection to their yoga practice?
Understanding Ayurveda can help you deepen your yoga practice by learning about the different basic energy’s (vata-pitta-kapha) and noticing what you need and what is better to avoid. This knowledge allows you to understand your needs - what will bring you more in balance and what will calm your nervous system. Ayurveda works with seasons in diet, but also routines and lifestyle choices. A hot yoga class is less of a good idea in the hot summer, than in the cold winter - according to Ayurveda. Its focus on balance enhances mindfulness in yoga, promoting overall well-being. This understanding makes the yoga experience more personal and meaningful.
What are some Ayurvedic practices that you recommend for beginners?
Start by creating some easy rituals in the morning, like:
- scraping your tongue (to remove toxins out of the body)
- drink warm lemon water
- do abhyanga (massaging your own body with sesame oil before you step in the shower, I think one of the most beautiful Ayurvedic beneficial - and easy- practices there is)
Do it step by step, that will have the biggest impact. Ayurveda is the feminine form of medicine, so slow and easy.
Can you share any Ayurvedic practices or routines that can enhance a student’s yoga practice?
Cleansing the system from ama (toxins) helps deepen your yoga practice. No one likes a bloated belly, feeling heavy, constipation or anything like that. You want to feel comfortable in your skin, right? You can cleanse the system by eating according to your dosha, eating easy to digest foods like yellow mung beans, basmati rice, using ghee (golden liquid) and herbs and spices according to your dosha. Triphala is a powder of 3 dried fruits that can help scrape the intestines to create a healthy bowel movement. All starts with stress - and also an unbalanced gut can create clutter in the mind. All is connected, so make sure that what comes in via all your senses, gets their way out as well.
Eating and filling in your lifestyle with the Ayurvedic approach have brought so much more comfort and happiness in my life, and so in my yoga practice.
How do you see the relationship between Ayurveda and modern wellness practices?
People realize more and more that the source -nature & love- heals us, can make us feel good and can prevent us from illness. Often less is more. We don’t need much to have a calm nervous system. Modern technology is an amazing feature we gained through time - with a broken leg, your Ayurvedic therapist can’t really help you - but to get the trust in yourself, know how your system works.
Today yoga is super mainstream, first it was only done by the woo woo spiritual hippie people, right? Now - I guess because there is more proof that it is really great for your health and recommended by western doctors - it has become more mainstream. Ayurveda goes hand in hand with yoga. We don’t have to look far for healing, nature provides all. That’s why we can feel so charged after a walk in the woods, or after a lovely talk with a friend.
Ancient Ayurvedic practices are now used a lot in modern wellness. The other day I was in a pod where they use the technique of Shirodhara in a different way. Really fun. The more robotization there is, the more we long for the connection with nature.
What resources (books, courses, etc.) do you recommend for those interested in learning more about Ayurveda?
I adore Katie Silcox. She has So much knowledge and speaks straight from the heart with the most beautiful words. I studied with her for 2 years. She has a podcast called: Spirit Sessions which I highly recommend to Binge-listen.
I created a course at meditationarmy.com about Ayurveda & Yoga (in Dutch).
I host a course, twice a year, at De Nieuwe Yogaschool about Ayurveda on different topics in English.
Are there specific yoga asanas that you recommend for balancing each dosha?
Vata - Grounding poses, slow & with a focus, like malasana, childpose, treepose, warrior 2, deep Ujjayi breath or Brahmari breath
Pitta - Cooling and flowy and fun poses (not taking it too serious and tense), Sitali breath
Kapha - Spicy, powerful active practice to stimulate, Kapalbathi breath
How do you envision the future of yoga and Ayurveda working together in wellness communities?
As a harmonious blend where both practices complement each other. An offering of integrated programs that combine personalized yoga sessions with Ayurvedic principles, promoting holistic health through education, shared experiences, and sustainable living practices. I would love to bring Ayurveda to young kids (I’m working on a program and on a book) so kids can learn and understand themselves better in the most fun and easy way and they know how to use the wisdom of nature to prevent themselves from for example stress and illness.
Practice On
Connect
- Website: yogawithjolijn.com
- Instagram: @jolijn___
- Join Jolijn at one of her upcoming events:
- Upcoming retreat: Yoga & Ayurveda retreat 20 - 26 januari 2025 - Crete, Greece (more information here)
- Upcoming online course (Dutch): Yoga & Ayurveda - Meditation Army (more information here)
- Upcoming offline course (ENG): Ayurveda: basics, food, herbs, beauty & skincare, sensuality - De Nieuwe Yogaschool - February 2025 (more information here)
