Dr. John Douillard: The Ancient Ayurvedic Path To Better Digestion and Better Breathing

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. John Douillard, a leading expert in Ayurvedic medicine and founder of LifeSpa.com. I read his book Body, Mind, and Sport about 20 years ago, and it was one of the first books I found that combined breath work and movement. With over 40 years of experience, Dr. John blends ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern science to help people achieve lasting health, vitality, and longevity. We talk about how aligning your diet and lifestyle with your dosha and the seasons can optimize gut health and detoxification. You’ll learn why today’s extreme wellness trends might work short-term but often miss the root causes of poor health. I discuss how nasal and diaphragmatic breathing techniques—practiced by elite athletes and used by Dr. John in his own triathlon training—can improve oxygen delivery, reduce stress, and open up the diaphragm. Dr. John explains that 91% of athletes don’t have a fully contracting and relaxing diaphragm because of excessive sitting, which keeps the diaphragm in a pre-contracted, rigid state. He walks us through a basic Ayurvedic breathing technique called DPR—breathing through the belly, chest, and upper chest while raising your arms—to fully engage and loosen the diaphragm. This breath work pumps the lymphatic system, clears toxins, and helps with brain health. We also cover the “bellows breathing” exercise, or “The One Minute Meditation,” a powerful technique to open the rib cage, increase energy, and enter a deep state of calm. This conversation cuts through the noise of trendy health advice, so if you want to reconnect with time-tested strategies rooted in Ayurveda that support long-term well-being, you don’t want to miss this show. Dr. John Douillard is a globally recognized expert in Ayurveda and the founder of LifeSpa.com—one of the world’s most trusted sources for evidence-based Ayurvedic healthcare. He’s authored seven books and over 1,500 articles, helping millions reverse aging and heal naturally. Dr. John began his Ayurvedic studies in India in 1986 and later partnered with Deepak Chopra to train Western doctors in Ayurvedic medicine. He also served as Director of Player Development for the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and has applied Ayurvedic techniques to improve athletic performance, working with top athletes including Billie Jean King. Check out his website, www.lifespa.com, and explore his books—especially Body, Mind, and Sport, which explores how nasal breathing can enhance performance and reduce the stress of exercise.   TIMESTAMPS: Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practised throughout India and Nepal. We will learn much of this science as related to our diet and training. [00:58] It's not really the food that is causing the problem, it is your body's flawed internal detoxification processes. [04:07] It's easy for people now to disregard this ancient medicine, and think only modern science has credibility. [09:40] You can bring wheat and dairy back into your diet. Wheat is not the culprit. [11:42] The most common elective abdominal surgery in America today is having the gallbladder taken out because of the sludge that we eat. [17:14] We have done away with the seasonal pattern of eating. [21:10] The Ayurvedic philosophy looks at body types to see what really works for us. [24:09] More than diet, lifestyle preferences differ with these three different body types. [30:16] After taking a quiz on LifeSpa.com a person can get a better understanding of what their body needs. [38:02] We dump 70 million tons of toxic chemicals in our atmosphere every year in America according to the EPA, that filter down on everything we eat and breathe and drink. [41:50] Breathing correctly adds so much to your well-being. [45:49] How does one get started learning nasal breathing? [55:18]   LINKS: Brad Kearns.com BradNutrition.com B.rad Whey Protein Superfuel - The Best Protein on The Planet! Brad’s Shopping Page BornToWalkBook.com B.rad Podcast – All Episodes Peluva Five-Toe Minimalist Shoes lifespa.com Dr. Douillard's LinkedIn Dr. Douillard's Facebook Instagram @lifespa Body, Mind and Sport Body, Mind, and Sport Eat Wheat The Three Season Diet The three body types   We appreciate all feedback, and questions for Q&A shows, emailed to [email protected]. If you have a moment, please share an episode you like with a quick text message, or leave a review on your podcast app. Thank you! 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