Is Your Body's Inner Wisdom Trying to Tell You Something?

Hello Warriors!

Welcome back to the ‘Pause Like a Warrior newsletter. This week on the Suburban Warrior podcast we explore what may be a new world of medicine for most of us with Nidhi Pandya—an Ayurvedic practitioner, teacher, and creator of the Inner Climate Framework—for a conversation that will change how you think about your body, your health, and your power.

Nidhi Pandya is a New York City-based Ayurvedic expert with a global reach. Raised in India under the guidance of her grandfather, a respected Ayurvedic healer, Nidhi absorbed the science of life as a living language. Her formal education in classical Ayurveda and deep reverence for Vedic wisdom laid the foundation for her revolutionary Inner Climate Framework, which helps modern women return to their natural equilibrium.

Ayurvedic medicine—often called “the science of life”—is a holistic healing system that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It focuses on the balance between mind, body, and environment, using food, lifestyle, herbs, and energy practices to prevent and treat illness. It’s all about aligning with the natural rhythms of life—and learning to trust the intelligence already built into your body.

Unlike the one-size-fits-all prescriptions often seen in both Western and traditional modalities, Nidhi’s approach is rooted in bio-individuality, emotional healing, and intuitive empowerment. As a faculty member at the Shakti School, an international speaker, and author of Your Body Already Knows, Nidhi helps women step out of confusion and into their own embodied intelligence—especially during times of transition like perimenopause and menopause.

5 Powerful Lessons from Nidhi Pandya

1. Your Body Carries Ancient Wisdom—You Just Forgot How to Listen

In today’s health culture, we’ve been taught to outsource our well-being to experts, trends, and protocols. But as Nidhi reminds us, your body already holds the answers. Ayurveda is about remembering how to listen—reconnecting to that built-in intelligence that speaks most clearly when we’re in balance.

2. Disease Begins When Wisdom is Lost

Ayurveda teaches that the very first cause of disease is the loss of inner wisdom. When we rely too heavily on outside information and ignore our own body’s cues, we disconnect from the instincts that keep us well. Healing begins with reclaiming that innate awareness.

3. You Have an Inner Climate—And It Affects Everything

Hot flashes, anxiety, burnout, eczema—these aren’t random symptoms; they’re signals of a deeper imbalance. Nidhi explains that we all carry an “inner climate,” and when it shifts, everything from our digestion to our mood is affected. The first step to healing is learning to understand and restore that internal environment.

4. Your Toolkit Should Include More Than Supplements

True wellness requires more than pills and powders. Nidhi emphasizes the power of emotional and energetic tools that support your nervous system. From preventative rituals like meditation and music to real-time regulation techniques like breathwork and humming, your toolkit should help you feel safe, centered, and resilient—no matter what life throws at you.

5. Equilibrium is the Gateway to True Intuition

Not every craving or impulse is a sign of inner wisdom—especially if we’re out of sync. According to Nidhi, real intuition only speaks clearly when we’re grounded. When your body is in a state of equilibrium, you can finally trust the signals it sends. Until then, what feels like a “message” may just be your system begging for regulation.

If you want to learn more about Nidhi Pandya’s work and the powerful healing principles of Ayurvedic medicine, be sure to visit her website at nidhi.me, where you can also purchase her book Your Body Already Knows directly. For daily inspiration, tools, and insights, follow her on Instagram at @my_ayurvedic_life.

New Study Links Perimenopause to Increased Risk of Depression and Anxiety

A recent study published in Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society has found that women undergoing perimenopause are at a heightened risk for developing depression and anxiety. The research indicates that hormonal fluctuations during this transitional phase can significantly impact mental health, leading to mood disorders even in women without prior histories of such conditions. These findings underscore the importance of healthcare providers recognizing and addressing the psychological symptoms associated with perimenopause. Early intervention and appropriate treatment strategies are crucial for improving the quality of life for women during this stage.

Based on the findings of the study linking perimenopause to increased risks of depression and anxiety, here are the common mistakes doctors may be making — and what women can do to advocate for themselves:

Common Mistakes Doctors Are Making

1. Misdiagnosing Psychological Symptoms as Generalized Depression or Anxiety
   Many doctors fail to recognize that mood changes during perimenopause are hormonally driven. Instead of addressing hormonal shifts, they often prescribe antidepressants without exploring the root cause.

2. Overlooking Hormonal Testing and Menopausal Transition
   Some physicians don’t screen for perimenopause in women in their 40s or even early 50s, dismissing symptoms like mood swings, brain fog, and sleep issues as unrelated or “just stress.”

3. Relying Solely on Pharmacological Treatments
   Conventional medicine may focus on quick fixes like SSRIs or sleep aids, bypassing more holistic or lifestyle-based approaches that could be more effective in addressing the hormonal and metabolic changes.

4. Failing to Educate or Validate Women’s Experiences
   Too often, women are told their symptoms are “normal” or “just aging” without real solutions or empathy. This can lead to frustration, isolation, and unnecessary suffering.

5. Missing the Window for Early Intervention
   Doctors may wait until menopause is complete before offering support, even though the most disruptive symptoms often begin years before a woman’s last period.

What Perimenopausal Women Can Do

1. Track Your Symptoms and Menstrual Changes
   Keep a journal of your mood, cycle patterns, sleep, energy, and mental clarity. This data helps you and your provider identify patterns linked to hormonal changes.

2. Ask About Perimenopause Directly
   If you’re between 35 and 55 and noticing emotional or physical shifts, ask your provider whether you could be entering perimenopause—even if your period hasn’t stopped.

3. Advocate for Holistic Evaluations
   Push for a comprehensive approach: not just mental health screening, but also hormonal labs, thyroid testing, nutritional status, and lifestyle assessments.

4. Explore Alternative and Complementary Therapies
   Modalities like Ayurveda, acupuncture, adaptogens, and breathwork can support emotional balance and resilience. They’re especially helpful when combined with medical care.

5. Find a Provider Who Specializes in Midlife Women’s Health
   Seek out OB-GYNs, nurse practitioners, or functional medicine providers who understand the full spectrum of perimenopausal symptoms—mental, physical, and emotional. Highlights:

Ready to Warrior Up!

Listen to the Full Episode: Suburban Warrior podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for reading—and remember, knowledge is power! If you’re experiencing symptoms, don’t ignore them. There is help (and hope) out there. Stay tuned for our next newsletter to keep transforming your mindset and rocking your inner warrior!