Discover the Science of Life
How My Unique Journey Brought Me To Find Ayurveda
We All Want To Feel More Alive, Don’t We?
Learn how the ancient healing power of Ayurveda can help you feel more alive physically, mentally and spiritually
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word meaning “The Science of Life.” But it goes way beyond what we think of as life. It extends to include the body, sense organs, mind and soul. Instead of being merely a health plan, Ayurveda is a WAY OF LIFE that fosters a harmonious art of living, connecting us with our true nature. Ayurveda is all about empowering individuals to take charge of their own health in a way that brings about lasting change.
Ayurveda found me at just the right time
How my passion for yoga, holistic health, travel and breathwork brought me to the unshakeable power of Ayurveda
Hi, I'm Mariana, a Yoga teacher, Ayurvedic Practitioner and the Founder of VIDA Ayurveda. I'm also a wife and mother of two beautiful young boys, living in the serene surroundings of Byron Bay, Australia. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, my journey has been a blend of diverse experiences, being open minded and following my passions.
When I was 15 years old, I discovered the world of scuba diving. It was an unusual and expensive hobby for a teenage girl, but I was captivated. To fund my weekend diving trips, I worked as an assistant for my dentist after school and even considered a career in dentistry at that time. Diving wasn't just a hobby; it was a meditative escape into the underwater world, driven by a thirst for exploration and my interest in a diving magazine.
One particular edition that I read featured an interview with a famous free diver who attributed her incredible breath-holding ability to Pranayama, a breathing technique used in Yoga. Intrigued, I went deep into exploring the world of Pranayama, scouring libraries for books and immersing myself in the practices that I learned. This was my first encounter with Yoga and it felt like a revelation.
My mission is simple - to help people feel better and live healthier lives in a way that lasts
My enthusiasm for Yoga grew alongside my love for diving. At age 16, I started Yoga classes at a club affiliated with my mother's workplace. Despite being the youngest in a class of older women, I was fascinated. As I prepared for university, I chose to study Biology, the study of life, reflecting my deep-seated curiosity about the natural world.
Our family relocated to southern Brazil, where I continued my studies and joined the Right Whale Project, engaging in marine biology and whale watching across various beaches. My passion for Yoga was rekindled when I discovered a Yoga school at Guarda do Embau, one of the beaches. Immersed in both Yoga and marine biology, I deepened my practice and understanding of Yoga by reading every book I could get my hands on.
Then my Yoga teacher invited me to join a Yoga teacher training program. Ecstatic, I dove headfirst into this new path, opening my own Yoga school, participating in workshops and festivals, and fully embracing the Yogic lifestyle. Though I left university, my passion for the study of life continued through the discovery of Ayurveda.
Years later, I moved to Spain, continuing my Yoga teaching and studies. There, I met a love, from Australia, leading me to Byron Bay in 2010. It was here that I learned about an Ayurvedic Practitioner Training at the Ayurveda College. Drawn by the meaning of Ayurveda, "Science of Life," I felt a profound connection to my lifelong fascination with the study of life. This led to the birth of VIDA Ayurveda. "VIDA'' meaning "LIFE" in Portuguese..
At VIDA Ayurveda, I combine my passions for Yoga and Ayurveda, sharing the wisdom and benefits of these ancient practices with others. My journey has come full circle, uniting my love for exploration, the study of life, and the healing arts. My life has been incredibly and profoundly shifted by the power of Ayurveda and I look forward to it making a positive impact on your life as well!
Where heartfelt compassion meets deep wisdom
Here’s why working with Mariana at VIDA Ayurveda is better than the rest
Mariana stands out among Ayurvedic practitioners for several reasons. Her work is a remarkable blend of heartfelt compassion and knowledge. She delivers treatments with genuine care, deeply rooted in her comprehensive understanding of Ayurvedic wisdom. This unique balance between heart and mind makes her treatments particularly powerful.
Her massage skills are exceptional, described as magical hands that intuitively know where to go, providing targeted relief and comfort every time. This intuitive skill is a rare gift that sets her apart in her field.
Mariana's home clinic is another distinctive feature. It's not just a place for treatments but a clean, comfortable, and inviting space where clients feel truly welcomed and at home. Her personal touch extends beyond Ayurveda, as she often shares her homemade baking and cooking, creating a warm atmosphere.
Her passion for helping others is evident in her dedication to improving her clients' health. She empowers her clients and community to adopt more natural and healthy living practices, reflecting her commitment to holistic wellness.
With over two decades of experience in Yoga and Ayurveda, Mariana brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her practice. This extensive background ensures that her clients receive well-informed and effective care, drawing from years of dedication and study.
Let’s Meet the rest of the VIDA Ayurveda Team!
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Ross Adams has a passion for teaching Yoga practices and philosophy, and a variety of meditation techniques, including Mindfulness, Kirtan and Japa meditation.
Ross became a yoga teacher in 2013 with Radiantly Alive in Bali and taught in Byron Bay and Bali before joining the Byron Yoga Centre team in 2016, completing his Byron Yoga Centre Level 1 training in the same year. Ross completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy with world renowned teacher and yoga therapist Dr N. Chandrasekaran in 2018, and since then has completed numerous courses including Trauma Aware Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Yin Yoga.
Ross is a retreat host and teacher trainer at Byron Yoga Centre and loves sharing the benefits of yoga and meditation with his students.
He has been involved in all of the VIDA seasonal cleanses, sharing encouragement and daily meditations with participants.
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Lilian Alkmim, an Ayurvedic therapist and nutritionist has been practicing Ayurvedic medicine for the last ten years. She graduated as a Nutritionist and an Ayurvedic Consultant at AUS, completed the “Advanced Ayurvedic Health Care for Women and Kids” course and was recognized by the International Academy of Ayurveda IAA. Lilian was recently certified in modern nutrition, delivering programs that are science based, without losing the holistic view of ayurvedic medicine.
“After years of battling with premenstrual migraines and completely disconnecting from my body’s wisdom, I felt hopeless and exhausted. I began a journey to find another way to live with more health & confidence. After a few years of pilgrimage, I found Ayurveda in 2012. To learn and practice Ayurveda has allowed me to regain my ground. It was the starting point to dive into women’s health & mysteries.”
In the last 10 years, Lilian has supported hundreds of women in the discovery that there is so much self healing potential within our own cyclic body.
Experience the Benefits of Ayurveda for Yourself
So that you can stop feeling tired and stressed, and start feeling energised and centered