Molly McConnell, CAP, ERYT

Constitution: Kapha

Molly is the co-founder of Cultivate Balance, an Ayurvedic practice and educational platform that specializes in resilience and intentional lifestyle design for purpose-oriented people.

As an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Yoga Teacher, and Wellness Strategist, Molly is committed to living intentionally and with reverence. She strategizes with clients to bring attention to the growing need for collective wellness and the ways in which their individual implementation of radical self-care play into an even greater vision of what is possible.

Molly is humbled to share this ancient wisdom as it intersects with more contemporary themes of feminism, liberation, and justice. You can connect with Molly through Cultivate Balance, where she offers personal consultations, virtual workshops, and in-depth lifestyle programs.

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Articles by Molly McConnell, CAP, ERYT

6 Spiritual Self-Care Practices to Support a Rich and Sensual Life
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6 Spiritual Self-Care Practices to Support a Ri...

These Ayurvedic practices for spiritual self-care will build resiliency and the ability to respond to our ever-changing environment in flexible and adaptive ways.

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daily routine /

6 Spiritual Self-Care Practices to Support a Rich and Sensual Life

These Ayurvedic practices for spiritual self-care will build resiliency and the ability to respond to our ever-changing environment in flexible and adaptive ways.

Read Article
This Brothy Farro Kale Soup Recipe Is the Perfect Late Spring Meal
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This Brothy Farro Kale Soup Recipe Is the Perfe...

Light enough for kapha but still deeply nourishing to soothe and sustain pitta, this brothy farro kale soup recipe is the perfect follow up to your spring cleanse.

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ayurvedic recipes /

This Brothy Farro Kale Soup Recipe Is the Perfect Late Spring Meal

Light enough for kapha but still deeply nourishing to soothe and sustain pitta, this brothy farro kale soup recipe is the perfect follow up to your spring cleanse.

Read Article
Finding Strength and Inner Resiliency During Times of Change and Uncertainty
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Finding Strength and Inner Resiliency During Ti...

As a society, we’re experiencing a great deal of change. Ayurveda offers guidance to help us find inner resiliency when we’re surrounded by upheaval and uncertainty.

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emotional wellness /

Finding Strength and Inner Resiliency During Times of Change and Uncertainty

As a society, we’re experiencing a great deal of change. Ayurveda offers guidance to help us find inner resiliency when we’re surrounded by upheaval and uncertainty.

Read Article
4 Ways to Access Kapha's Gifts of Strength and Resiliency This Spring
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4 Ways to Access Kapha's Gifts of Strength and ...

When kapha is well tended, it offers an abundance of gifts. These practical ways will help you harness the gifts of kapha for increased strength, health, and resiliency.

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daily routine /

4 Ways to Access Kapha's Gifts of Strength and Resiliency This Spring

When kapha is well tended, it offers an abundance of gifts. These practical ways will help you harness the gifts of kapha for increased strength, health, and resiliency.

Read Article
How to Create Your Own At-Home Retreat [Video]
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How to Create Your Own At-Home Retreat [Video]

Dreaming of a getaway? Short on time or finances? Use these tips to create a restful Ayurvedic retreat that can be completed from the comfort of your own cozy home.

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daily routine /

How to Create Your Own At-Home Retreat [Video]

Dreaming of a getaway? Short on time or finances? Use these tips to create a restful Ayurvedic retreat that can be completed from the comfort of your own cozy home.

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Amaranth Porridge Recipe: The Breakfast of Champions
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Amaranth Porridge Recipe: The Breakfast of Cham...

Amaranth is one of the most protein-rich plant-based foods out there. When cooked just right—like this tasty porridge recipe—it yields a creamy consistency with a hint of crunch. 

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ayurvedic recipes /

Amaranth Porridge Recipe: The Breakfast of Champions

Amaranth is one of the most protein-rich plant-based foods out there. When cooked just right—like this tasty porridge recipe—it yields a creamy consistency with a hint of crunch. 

Read Article
Six Ways to Access Pitta’s Gifts this Summer
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Six Ways to Access Pitta’s Gifts this Summer

When pitta is balanced, we have access to passion, clarity, and confidence. Use these six Ayurvedic tips to bring out pitta's brightest gifts this summer. 

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pitta blog /

Six Ways to Access Pitta’s Gifts this Summer

When pitta is balanced, we have access to passion, clarity, and confidence. Use these six Ayurvedic tips to bring out pitta's brightest gifts this summer. 

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Befriending Cardamom
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Befriending Cardamom

Cardamom's unique flavor is commonly found in chai, Indian dishes, baked goods, and more. If you're not already a fan of this spice, prepare to fall in love.   

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ayurvedic herbalism /

Befriending Cardamom

Cardamom's unique flavor is commonly found in chai, Indian dishes, baked goods, and more. If you're not already a fan of this spice, prepare to fall in love.   

Read Article
How and When to Take Ashwagandha
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How and When to Take Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has become a household staple, well-known for its nourishing adaptogenic properties. Explore the best ways—and times—to take this powerful herb.

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adaptogens /

How and When to Take Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has become a household staple, well-known for its nourishing adaptogenic properties. Explore the best ways—and times—to take this powerful herb.

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Six Ways to Access Vata’s Gifts in the Fall and Early Winter
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Six Ways to Access Vata’s Gifts in the Fall and...

Vata dosha is responsible for creativity, imagination, intuition, communication, movement, and joy. Learn how to harness these superpowers during vata season.

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fall recipes health /

Six Ways to Access Vata’s Gifts in the Fall and Early Winter

Vata dosha is responsible for creativity, imagination, intuition, communication, movement, and joy. Learn how to harness these superpowers during vata season.

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Springtime Green Mung Bean Soup Recipe
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Springtime Green Mung Bean Soup Recipe

Wondering how to use your extra green mung beans? This delicious spiced mung bean soup recipe is the perfect tridoshic recipe for your spring rejuvenation.

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ayurvedic recipes /

Springtime Green Mung Bean Soup Recipe

Wondering how to use your extra green mung beans? This delicious spiced mung bean soup recipe is the perfect tridoshic recipe for your spring rejuvenation.

Read Article
How to Soothe Anxiousness with the Sour Taste
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How to Soothe Anxiousness with the Sour Taste

Do you love sour foods? According to Ayurveda and modern science, there may be a good reason to indulge in all things sour, especially if you're feeling stressed.

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food cooking /

How to Soothe Anxiousness with the Sour Taste

Do you love sour foods? According to Ayurveda and modern science, there may be a good reason to indulge in all things sour, especially if you're feeling stressed.

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Education and Experience

In addition to being a NAMA-certified Ayurvedic practitioner, Molly holds a bachelor's degree in Women's & Gender Studies with a minor in Leadership & Public Service.

Upon completing her degree at the University of Missouri, Molly quickly surrendered to India and slowly surrendered to herself. Somewhere along the way, she accidentally became a traveler, discovering the power and patience of watching the Universe unfold.

It was during this discovery that she stumbled upon the vastness of Ayurveda and began to immerse herself in its wonders. With more than 2,000 hours of Ayurvedic study and clinical experience at Alandi Gurukula in Boulder, Colorado, and intersectional feminist background, Molly is a lover of both learning and unlearning.

In addition to teaching and practicing Ayurveda, Molly has been guiding holistic yoga experiences for more than ten years—in the California Sequoias and at The Esalen Institute, in the Japanese countryside, in the Southwestern coast of India, in the mountains of Colorado, and throughout the Midwest.

Molly sees both yoga and Ayurveda as important tools for reconnecting with the rhythms of nature. Her aim is to rejuvenate the spirit of community by offering practices that inspire a deeper connection to self and a greater appreciation for others.

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

Through their work with Cultivate Balance, Molly and Sierra 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.

Events and Programs

If you're curious about cultivating resilience with Molly, one of the following offerings may resonate with you.

  • The Reset for Resilience is a seasonal Ayurvedic Cleanse for Body and Mind, centered around a five day detox, designed to improve digestion, enhance immunity and promote clarity. (Begins April 4, 2022)
  • The Art of Work Life Balance is an in-depth program that invites you to foster a more strategic approach to living a meaningful life that enables personal and collective wellness—using the wisdom of Ayurveda.
  • The Art of Ayurveda is a three-part course where you'll learn easy-to-implement nutrition, daily routine and self care practices that will shift how you experience your body and enable you to lay the foundation for a lifetime of vitality.

To start small, explore the Cultivate Balance virtual workshop library, or email Molly to learn more about setting up your personal Ayurvedic consultation.

 

Molly McConnell

Molly's Point of View

How were you introduced to Ayurveda?

I found Ayurveda as a means to finding myself while journeying through India in my early twenties. It was the discovery of this all-encompassing philosophy that enabled me to connect more deeply with myself and with others—to honor and appreciate the fine line between human resilience and fragility.

My early exploration of the Ayurvedic doshas gave me a structure to hold space for the spectrum of what it means to be human. As a product of the patriarchy, I had struggled with body image my whole life. Understanding my Ayurvedic constitution liberated me from the constant questioning of my enoughness. It was the first modality that I'd come across that made sense and encouraged me to work with myself exactly as I am, rather than how I should be.
 

When are you most likely to go out of balance and how do you bring yourself back in balance using Ayurveda?

I am most likely to go out of balance when I don't feel grounded into my home space. As a kapha, I love to be at home, to feel settled, to have a space to host others, and to be in an unwavering routine. When I'm traveling frequently and not taking the time to ground back into my kapha nature, I start to feel less like myself.

This type of imbalance can show up if I'm on a road trip, staying with friends, or in a new environment for several days—and when it does, I do my very best to maintain my core Ayurvedic routine practices to bring myself back into balance. These practices include...

  • Warm water with lemon and honey in the morning—always helps me feel my best
  • Connection to nature—especially hikes
  • Eating well cooked and spiced foods—mostly vegetables for me!
  • Walks after meals—even if I only have 10 minutes
  • Designated time for mindfulness—journaling, reading, or meditating
  • A simple, but luxurious evening skincare routine—I always travel with body oil and serums :)

It's not always possible to maintain all of my rituals, but when I do these simple things, I feel my very best—even in the midst of the change movement and uncertainty. Getting back to these practices always helps me return to a state of resilience relatively quickly.
 

What does the future of Ayurveda look like to you?

I believe that a more compassionate world is possible, and that we have an opportunity to co-create alternative solutions together. But first, we must know ourselves—we must re-cultivate the ability to listen to our bodies, to understand our needs, and to believe that we are worthy of our own love. Ayurveda is a means to this way of being.

Ayurveda gives us practical tools to seamlessly (and enjoyably!) implement radical self-care into daily life. From here, our ability to care for others expands with authentic compassion and a deeper commitment to foster the well-being of all. This is collective wellness.

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.

Now, more than ever, we are being called to return home to ourselves and the Earth. Reconnecting to the earth-aligned wisdom of Ayurveda is an emergent strategy for co-creating a more compassionate world.
 

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

Eating more cooked vegetables! I feel like so many people are still into raw salads as a perceived “healthy” choice, but what they don't realize is how hard this can be on digestion. Too much cold, raw food is often the culprit behind regular gas and bloating that is actually totally preventable.

When in doubt, well-cooked vegetables with spices and healthy fats is the way to go! I love to encourage my clients to eat vegetables for breakfast. :)

 

Molly McConnell