CPD08 Ayurvedic Nutritional Psychiatry: Food-Mood Yoga and Meditation Therapy (Online)

The gut microbiota and the brain are constantly talking to each other. So, the health of the gut can have direct effects on the brain and our mood. For example, the gut is involved in the production of serotonin, an important brain chemical that affects our mood. And the gut microbiota of babies’ is involved in their brain development. So, it’s important to get it right even at the start of life.

Professor Felice Jacka

The Food and Mood Connection

We invite you to become part of this pioneering work in the field of Yoga Therapy, exploring the powerful connection between food and mood, gut health, and the gut microbiome. This evidence-informed course will help you understand the relationship between nutrition, the gut microbiome, and mental wellbeing through the integrated perspectives of Yoga, Ayurveda, Meditation, and the biopsychosocial model of wellbeing.

Why the Gut Microbiome Matters

Part of this notable work includes an emerging awareness that we must take care of our microbiota. Our microbiota (our ‘gut-bugs’) is the community of microorganisms that lives in the gut and plays a critical role in metabolism, healthy body weight, glucose regulation, immune function, and the health of both the skull-based brain (the physical brain) and the embodied brain (the mind as it exists throughout the nervous system).

Supporting the Gut-Brain Connection

Extensive research has shown that there is a remarkable communication pathway connecting the gut microbiota and the brain, known as the vagus nerve. By improving vagal tone, we have the capacity to positively influence the entire nervous system and support the neuroplastic changes associated with improved mental health and overall wellbeing, creating optimal conditions for both brain health and a thriving gut microbiome.

Yoga Therapy, meditation practices, and evidence-informed dietary approaches all contribute to supporting gut health by encouraging choices that nourish the microbiota. These include eating a diverse, whole-food diet rich in organic foods where possible, developing greater awareness of antibiotic use—not only medicinally but also throughout the food chain—and cultivating mindful lifestyle practices. When combined with yoga and meditation, these approaches create a positive feedback loop that supports the health of the microbiota while strengthening the gut-brain connection, enhancing resilience, and promoting overall health and wellbeing.

“All the research is now saying that depression and anxiety can lead to gut problems, and then gut problems can then also lead to depression and anxiety. So, there is that clear bi-directional relationship that makes sense when we think about the strong gut-brain axis.”

Professor Felice Jacka

An Evidence-Informed Approach

The course is both evidence-informed and evidence-based, integrating traditional and contemporary yogic approaches to diet and eating with compassion-focused therapy for body image and mental health. Mindfulness and meditation practices are woven throughout the course, providing practical strategies that support healthy lifestyle change, enhance wellbeing, and strengthen the connection between gut health, food, mood, and overall quality of life.