David McConaghay
Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedic Astrologer
D. Div. Candidate
D. Div. Candidate
Your 20-minute introductory conversation is FREE.
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"David is a true healer. He is compassionate, a good listener and has a profound knowledge of the body. He was able to offer me innovative suggestions and ideas on how to deal with my various health issues. I especially appreciate his encouragement and wise advice." — K.K. "David may be young, but he has pursued his interests during the few years that he's inhabited this planet with such zeal, passion and depth that you'll likely do a double-take when his knowledge, speech and/or actions intersect with your sphere of being." — M.L. |
Offerings
<<< Ayurvedic Consultations >>>
<<< Vedic Astrology Readings >>>
<<< Personalized Yoga Programs >>>
<<< Teaching and Tutoring >>>
More info at: VedaDave.com
Contact: AyurvedaDave@gmail.com
All appointments take place via Zoom video conference.
Ayurveda
As a holistic system of medicine, Ayurveda operates with the understanding that physical well-being is inextricable from a calm mind and a contented soul. In this way Ayurveda is all-inclusive, offering effective prevention or remedial measures for the full spectrum of conditions. That being said, there are specific issues Ayurveda is especially well-suited to address.
These include (but are not limited to):
Psycho-emotional health is integral to any individual's overall well-being. Ayurveda provides a framework wherein all physical qualities have an energetic corollary. Therefore, an Ayurvedic consultation includes questions about family, social and work history in addition to current biomedical concerns.
Ayurvedic treatment is a collaborative process. Practitioner and patient work in tandem to identify the roots of dis-ease and adopt appropriate diet, exercise and self-care countermeasures. Herbs, oils and tinctures will be suggested according to individual circumstances. Other recommendations often include yoga asana, pranayama, essential oils, music or color therapy, as well as outside references for further treatment or self-study.
My scope of practice does not allow me to make a Western diagnosis, but I am required to suspect them and refer accordingly.
What happens in an appointment depends upon who you are. Some people show up with specific health issues for which they seek resolution. Others arrive with nothing but a general sense that something is off and they should feel better somehow. These situations are equally workable.
Just as often, consultations take the form of a coaching session focused on relationship dynamics, career options or any of the many existential burdens of being human at this stage of the world story. I particularly enjoy these conversations because it feels so good to get real about the strangeness of life on Earth right now, and because there exist many different strategies to skillfully engage and use the chaos to serve your personal evolution.
Given the inherently gentle, gradual approach of Ayurvedic treatment, it is my preference to meet with each client at least three times over the course of several months. This includes an initial intake, a followup check-in to make appropriate adjustments, and a second followup to evaluate progress and determine the best next steps.
As a holistic system of medicine, Ayurveda operates with the understanding that physical well-being is inextricable from a calm mind and a contented soul. In this way Ayurveda is all-inclusive, offering effective prevention or remedial measures for the full spectrum of conditions. That being said, there are specific issues Ayurveda is especially well-suited to address.
These include (but are not limited to):
- digestive distress
- anxiety and insomnia
- lethargy, fatigue and brain-fog
- skin conditions
- chronic pain and/or inflammation
- libido, fertility and women's health
- diabetes prevention and management
Psycho-emotional health is integral to any individual's overall well-being. Ayurveda provides a framework wherein all physical qualities have an energetic corollary. Therefore, an Ayurvedic consultation includes questions about family, social and work history in addition to current biomedical concerns.
Ayurvedic treatment is a collaborative process. Practitioner and patient work in tandem to identify the roots of dis-ease and adopt appropriate diet, exercise and self-care countermeasures. Herbs, oils and tinctures will be suggested according to individual circumstances. Other recommendations often include yoga asana, pranayama, essential oils, music or color therapy, as well as outside references for further treatment or self-study.
My scope of practice does not allow me to make a Western diagnosis, but I am required to suspect them and refer accordingly.
What happens in an appointment depends upon who you are. Some people show up with specific health issues for which they seek resolution. Others arrive with nothing but a general sense that something is off and they should feel better somehow. These situations are equally workable.
Just as often, consultations take the form of a coaching session focused on relationship dynamics, career options or any of the many existential burdens of being human at this stage of the world story. I particularly enjoy these conversations because it feels so good to get real about the strangeness of life on Earth right now, and because there exist many different strategies to skillfully engage and use the chaos to serve your personal evolution.
Given the inherently gentle, gradual approach of Ayurvedic treatment, it is my preference to meet with each client at least three times over the course of several months. This includes an initial intake, a followup check-in to make appropriate adjustments, and a second followup to evaluate progress and determine the best next steps.
Initial 20-minute consultations are FREE.
Astrology
If Ayurveda is the "science of life," then Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology is the "science of light." It is the study of how spirit takes form, providing a zoomed out perspective that gives galactic context to our lives here on Earth.
The stars and planets do not cause events to happen any more than a clock causes time to pass -- they are simply the cosmic markers by which we can discern the current status of the various cycles operating within and around us. With this knowledge, we can observe, choose and act in greater alignment with nature.
An astrological consultation can address a wide range of issues. Similar to an Ayurvedic intake, there is always value in first determining your basic astrological constitution by examining the natal chart. The natal chart serves as a map of your individual karma in this lifetime, describing the psycho-spiritual dynamics that govern your inner experience as well as the external factors likely to apply throughout your current incarnation.
Once we've established the map, we engage the clockwork of current transits and dasha cycles to understand precisely where you are in your journey. It usually becomes very obvious why a person has chosen to seek guidance at that particular time. Common topics of exploration include major or minor life transitions, relationships, family issues, housing or career choices and creative pursuits.
The beauty of Vedic Astrology is that you do not need to believe in it: it works anyway! I rarely tell anyone something they don't already know about themselves, but it can create great relief and a sense of self-validation to have your most subtle inner knowings reflected back to you and coherently verbalized by a relative stranger.
The knowledge that there is an intricate cosmic order within which our seemingly random lives play out is a source of deep peace. I enjoy sharing this understanding with others so that they too may relax into their true nature, realize their highest inspirations, tap into their deepest motivations, and move forward with a clear vision of where they've been, who they are now and where they're going next.
Every human society throughout the history of existence has studied the stars in search of an expanded sense of meaning. I am humbled and grateful to have inherited a tiny slice of the collective knowledge acquired as a result of this search, and am honored to continue that quest with every client I encounter.
If Ayurveda is the "science of life," then Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology is the "science of light." It is the study of how spirit takes form, providing a zoomed out perspective that gives galactic context to our lives here on Earth.
The stars and planets do not cause events to happen any more than a clock causes time to pass -- they are simply the cosmic markers by which we can discern the current status of the various cycles operating within and around us. With this knowledge, we can observe, choose and act in greater alignment with nature.
An astrological consultation can address a wide range of issues. Similar to an Ayurvedic intake, there is always value in first determining your basic astrological constitution by examining the natal chart. The natal chart serves as a map of your individual karma in this lifetime, describing the psycho-spiritual dynamics that govern your inner experience as well as the external factors likely to apply throughout your current incarnation.
Once we've established the map, we engage the clockwork of current transits and dasha cycles to understand precisely where you are in your journey. It usually becomes very obvious why a person has chosen to seek guidance at that particular time. Common topics of exploration include major or minor life transitions, relationships, family issues, housing or career choices and creative pursuits.
The beauty of Vedic Astrology is that you do not need to believe in it: it works anyway! I rarely tell anyone something they don't already know about themselves, but it can create great relief and a sense of self-validation to have your most subtle inner knowings reflected back to you and coherently verbalized by a relative stranger.
The knowledge that there is an intricate cosmic order within which our seemingly random lives play out is a source of deep peace. I enjoy sharing this understanding with others so that they too may relax into their true nature, realize their highest inspirations, tap into their deepest motivations, and move forward with a clear vision of where they've been, who they are now and where they're going next.
Every human society throughout the history of existence has studied the stars in search of an expanded sense of meaning. I am humbled and grateful to have inherited a tiny slice of the collective knowledge acquired as a result of this search, and am honored to continue that quest with every client I encounter.
Initial 20-minute consultations are FREE.
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Yoga
Yoga is not a thing to do -- it is a way of doing things. It is a perspective, an approach, a mindset that informs every thought, word and deed.
Ideally, modern postural yoga creates a container wherein we can safely explore the limits of effort while dissolving all barriers to relaxation. The physical practice is the outward expression of our internal state, and as such, is a valuable tool for self-inquiry. Daily asana exposes the fluctuations of focus and distraction, alignment and imbalance, aggression and sluggishness. Basic awareness of these patterns is prerequisite to observing the more deeply seated psycho-emotional habits that one may want to either cultivate or resolve.
My personal approach is to promote your own intuitive movement. The structures suggested by specific poses are an invitation to tune more deeply into your embodied experience. The pose need not be performed "perfectly" in order to be of benefit. The only goal is to learn how to live more fully in your body, to move with the spontaneity of a small child, and to enjoy the process of exploration regardless of any need for "results" -- because that's what gets results!
Private yoga sessions are tailored to each individual. Some people simply need a task-master to help them hold plank pose longer than they otherwise would -- I can play that role. Others are looking to establish a steady home practice -- I would be honored to support your efforts by suggesting custom routines and advising on practical issues like how best to arrange your space.
I also have a great deal to offer those looking to engage more deeply in a spiritual practice. It is said that "asana prepares the body for pranayama; pranayama prepares the mind for meditation; meditation prepares the heart for devotion." This is a beautifully concise and accurate description of the process, but there are so many details to consider in between!
I have the experience and expertise to address these questions and many related concerns. More than anything, I offer the fruits of my own practice in support of yours. I am only 30 years old, but have already been a dedicated spiritual aspirant for more than 12 years. In that time I have absorbed a wide range of philosophical insights, useful thought-experiments and metaphysical understandings that make me well-equipped to meet you just exactly where you are.
We can keep it super simple, or get as weird as you might want:
It is my preference to frame all yogic recommendations in the context of your Ayurvedic constitution and Astrological circumstances. That being the case, it usually takes at least three sessions to really get to know you and get the ball rolling in the desired direction.
Here, check out this lovely video about the Sivananda yoga program by clicking on the photo below. I am featured at various intervals performing asana on the dock next to the pond at the ashram in Grass Valley.
Yoga is not a thing to do -- it is a way of doing things. It is a perspective, an approach, a mindset that informs every thought, word and deed.
Ideally, modern postural yoga creates a container wherein we can safely explore the limits of effort while dissolving all barriers to relaxation. The physical practice is the outward expression of our internal state, and as such, is a valuable tool for self-inquiry. Daily asana exposes the fluctuations of focus and distraction, alignment and imbalance, aggression and sluggishness. Basic awareness of these patterns is prerequisite to observing the more deeply seated psycho-emotional habits that one may want to either cultivate or resolve.
My personal approach is to promote your own intuitive movement. The structures suggested by specific poses are an invitation to tune more deeply into your embodied experience. The pose need not be performed "perfectly" in order to be of benefit. The only goal is to learn how to live more fully in your body, to move with the spontaneity of a small child, and to enjoy the process of exploration regardless of any need for "results" -- because that's what gets results!
Private yoga sessions are tailored to each individual. Some people simply need a task-master to help them hold plank pose longer than they otherwise would -- I can play that role. Others are looking to establish a steady home practice -- I would be honored to support your efforts by suggesting custom routines and advising on practical issues like how best to arrange your space.
I also have a great deal to offer those looking to engage more deeply in a spiritual practice. It is said that "asana prepares the body for pranayama; pranayama prepares the mind for meditation; meditation prepares the heart for devotion." This is a beautifully concise and accurate description of the process, but there are so many details to consider in between!
- What asanas should I perform and how often?
- What pranayama practices are appropriate?
- How do I meditate? or, Why am I not making any "progress" in my meditation?
- I don't want to pray to any statues or monkey-gods, so what is devotion and why does it apply to me?
- How can ancient, esoteric yoga philosophy help me live my modern day-to-day life?
I have the experience and expertise to address these questions and many related concerns. More than anything, I offer the fruits of my own practice in support of yours. I am only 30 years old, but have already been a dedicated spiritual aspirant for more than 12 years. In that time I have absorbed a wide range of philosophical insights, useful thought-experiments and metaphysical understandings that make me well-equipped to meet you just exactly where you are.
We can keep it super simple, or get as weird as you might want:
- Just getting started? Where do I begin?
- Curious about Vedanta ("the knowledge beyond which there is nothing to know")?
- Looking for practical applications of sacred geometry and quantum physics?
- What is "ascension"? Do I want that? If so, how do I accelerate the process?
- What about all the unformed questions that defy the English language?
It is my preference to frame all yogic recommendations in the context of your Ayurvedic constitution and Astrological circumstances. That being the case, it usually takes at least three sessions to really get to know you and get the ball rolling in the desired direction.
Here, check out this lovely video about the Sivananda yoga program by clicking on the photo below. I am featured at various intervals performing asana on the dock next to the pond at the ashram in Grass Valley.
Teaching
Teaching represents the culmination of all the study, training and life experience I've collected over the years. There is nothing I enjoy more than synthesizing the best of my knowledge in order to accurately transmit exciting ideas to people eager for life-changing information.
In a sense, my teaching career began in elementary school when I would help my friends figure out what the heck just happened in math class. It continued in high school as a soccer coach and writing center tutor. I was working in the writing center when it first dawned on me that a) I really enjoy teaching, and b) it is of benefit to others!
After earning a Bachelor's degree in English, I went to Guadalajara, Mexico to get a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and spent most of the next year in Bogotá, Colombia helping business professionals, artists and musicians to better understand and interact with the language.
These days, I am perfectly capable of leading an excellent asana class or profound pranayama / meditation session, but my true mastery arises in the realm of jnana yoga, the more academic side of things. Making dynamic use of Powerpoint and YouTube, I have crafted a collection of presentations that can be customized for any audience. Here is a sampling of classes I like to lead:
Teaching represents the culmination of all the study, training and life experience I've collected over the years. There is nothing I enjoy more than synthesizing the best of my knowledge in order to accurately transmit exciting ideas to people eager for life-changing information.
In a sense, my teaching career began in elementary school when I would help my friends figure out what the heck just happened in math class. It continued in high school as a soccer coach and writing center tutor. I was working in the writing center when it first dawned on me that a) I really enjoy teaching, and b) it is of benefit to others!
After earning a Bachelor's degree in English, I went to Guadalajara, Mexico to get a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and spent most of the next year in Bogotá, Colombia helping business professionals, artists and musicians to better understand and interact with the language.
These days, I am perfectly capable of leading an excellent asana class or profound pranayama / meditation session, but my true mastery arises in the realm of jnana yoga, the more academic side of things. Making dynamic use of Powerpoint and YouTube, I have crafted a collection of presentations that can be customized for any audience. Here is a sampling of classes I like to lead:
Elementary Ayurveda:
In this introduction to the living wisdom that is Āaa-yoo-ur-véda, we establish the essential vocabulary that provides access to the ayurvedic worldview. We’ll explore our shared experience of guna and dosha — respectively, the quality and form of all natural phenomena — and discuss the implications for our personal health practices, our relationships to self, other & society, and the active cultivation of a more accurate self-awareness.
The Subtle Anatomy of Ayurveda:
Of what are human bodies composed? How are our biological systems organized? What forces animate, maintain and decay us? How does a foreign material like food become bodily tissue? Does your body end at the edge of your skin? If not, of what does your body consist beyond that? What is the relationship of those unseen layers to the gross, more obvious body? And how can you better streamline the many-varied strata of your whole being?
The Science of Light & The Four Aims of Life:
Vedic Astrology (Jyotish) is the study of light in the form of stars and planets. This knowledge serves as a compass, map & pocket-watch to guide people through life, space & time. This class introduces the foundational concepts of Vedic Astrology, describing the basic frameworks of a dynamic system which can offer clear perspective on past confusion, enhance our comprehension of current circumstances and even anticipate future conditions.
Multi Dimensional Medicine:
As described in David’s forthcoming doctoral thesis, Multi Dimensional Medicine is a modality that addresses the full spectrum of body-mind-spirit dissonance that humans experience. This theory aids its practitioner with postural awareness — physical posture of course, but also the psycho-emotional and subtle energetic poses we adopt, whether we know it or not. This workshop incorporates guided group activities and meditations to demonstrate the ever-present, living reality of otherwise abstract, esoteric concepts.
Any of these topics can be a one-, two- or three-hour talk. We can also mix-and-match to create an interactive day or whole weekend of workshops. I particularly enjoy contributing to yoga teacher training programs, as the students tend to be most eager to absorb transformative information, and the container of a YTT supports this evolutionary instinct.
Here is what some trusted teachers have said about my presentations:
In this introduction to the living wisdom that is Āaa-yoo-ur-véda, we establish the essential vocabulary that provides access to the ayurvedic worldview. We’ll explore our shared experience of guna and dosha — respectively, the quality and form of all natural phenomena — and discuss the implications for our personal health practices, our relationships to self, other & society, and the active cultivation of a more accurate self-awareness.
The Subtle Anatomy of Ayurveda:
Of what are human bodies composed? How are our biological systems organized? What forces animate, maintain and decay us? How does a foreign material like food become bodily tissue? Does your body end at the edge of your skin? If not, of what does your body consist beyond that? What is the relationship of those unseen layers to the gross, more obvious body? And how can you better streamline the many-varied strata of your whole being?
The Science of Light & The Four Aims of Life:
Vedic Astrology (Jyotish) is the study of light in the form of stars and planets. This knowledge serves as a compass, map & pocket-watch to guide people through life, space & time. This class introduces the foundational concepts of Vedic Astrology, describing the basic frameworks of a dynamic system which can offer clear perspective on past confusion, enhance our comprehension of current circumstances and even anticipate future conditions.
Multi Dimensional Medicine:
As described in David’s forthcoming doctoral thesis, Multi Dimensional Medicine is a modality that addresses the full spectrum of body-mind-spirit dissonance that humans experience. This theory aids its practitioner with postural awareness — physical posture of course, but also the psycho-emotional and subtle energetic poses we adopt, whether we know it or not. This workshop incorporates guided group activities and meditations to demonstrate the ever-present, living reality of otherwise abstract, esoteric concepts.
Any of these topics can be a one-, two- or three-hour talk. We can also mix-and-match to create an interactive day or whole weekend of workshops. I particularly enjoy contributing to yoga teacher training programs, as the students tend to be most eager to absorb transformative information, and the container of a YTT supports this evolutionary instinct.
Here is what some trusted teachers have said about my presentations:
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"Dave has lifted a veil in our community
between the heart and the mind… an infinite wellspring of energy... when at Lotus House, his presence leaves waves of magic behind… the solid relationship he builds between the ordinary and the divine… students eyes brimming with stars, see their world in new cosmic light.” — Mary Clare Sweet, Owner, Lotus House of Yoga, Omaha, Nebraska “David breaks down complex concepts in a way that feels both engaging and totally digestible. His approachability and lack of a holier-than-thou attitude around lifestyle choices and inviting people to use this wisdom to activate healthy change in their lives sets him apart. He really listens, which is an incredible and essential quality in a healer and teacher.” — Gina Caputo, Founder & Director, Colorado School of Yoga, Boulder, Colorado |
Other services available by request include:
- Ceremonial Design: support for creating custom rituals to honor major and minor turning points throughout life.
- Tutoring: personalized instruction and training in any of the above subjects.
- Content: custom content for your website or promotional materials; expert editing support for your academic endeavors.
Your 20-minute introductory conversation is FREE.
