100 Posts of Seasonal Wisdom: A Personal Journey Behind *The Seasonal Living Blog*
It's a milestone - my 100th blog post! A moment to reflect on the journey and share some unique insights.
As a tribute to this milestone, one of my students suggested a unique idea - an interview that offers a personal look into the journey of writing this blog, the challenges, inspirations, and more.
I'm excited to share this slightly different blog post with you and I hope you find it as interesting as I do.
So here we go. Read our conversation.
What inspired you to start *The Seasonal Living Blog*, and how has your journey evolved?
I love blogs. I love reading and writing; it is an excellent way to introduce my students to some background knowledge about Yoga and Ayurveda.
After a year or so, I started focusing more on the seasonality of Ayurveda, what the different seasons are and what to do, and content that fits outside the scope of a Yoga class.
Since then, I have become more specific in my blog posts, addressing particular seasonal and health problems for health, and sharing seasonal recipes. So, people can take away whatever they need for their lives.
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How do you personally incorporate seasonal living into your daily life? Could you share a favourite ritual or practice?
I grew up in a very food-orientated family. My mother always cooked from scratch and still does. My brother is a chef. I love cooking and baking. Even my father started cooking when he retired.
We had three gardens and a field; we grew potatoes and grains on the field and vegetables in the gardens. We picked raspberries and blackberries in nature, salads and strawberries in the gardens.
You might think I grew up as a vegetarian, far from it. Each year, my extended family bought a pig from a local farmer and slaughtered it at my grandmother's house. In a humongous standalone stove, sausages are cooked, which at the same time make a hearty soup. No, I definitely didn't grow up as a vegetarian. But I grew up pretty healthy.
Without knowing, I grew up Ayurvedically, not in India, but in a small village in Germany. We lived with the seasons and mainly ate what the seasons yielded. Everything got used up and made into jams, preserves, pickles etc.
And I, we, as a family, still do that. We have an allotment to grow vegetables, which is obviously not enough to be self-sufficient, but it keeps the food seasonal.
Was there a specific moment that made you want to share your passion for seasonal living with others?
My passion for sharing knowledge and experiences has always been a driving force.
Seasonal living is a particular passion of mine because I realised while talking with my students that many people experience digestive issues based on their eating habits and food. They don't necessarily eat bad food or processed food. It might even be healthy food, but it might be out of season or eaten at the wrong time.
The other reason was that most people have yet to learn what seasonal food is. Everything is available all year round, so the seasonality gets lost, especially in the younger generation. Everyone should know what food grows during the different seasons.
Looking back at your first blog post, what has changed your writing style and approach to seasonal living?
My blog posts got more sophisticated. I started thinking more about what people need to hear or what problems they might have and started including takeaways, like recipes, cheat sheets or summaries.
I got simpler in my writing because I realised that not everyone has particular or basic knowledge of Ayurveda.
My posts have a clear structure. Back in the beginning, that wasn't there just yet.
What has been your most popular blog post, and why do you think it resonated with your audience?
There are two most popular posts.
One is about spring breathing and sharing suitable breathing techniques.
The second blog post was about the dhatus, the bodily tissues, and their relevance to us. To my surprise, this one was also prevalent. I need help explaining why that is the case.
What unexpected lessons have you learned from writing 100 blog posts?
One unexpected lesson I've learned is the level of commitment required. It's not just about writing; it's about being organised, setting aside time to write, and considering visuals, keywords, and SEOs. This realisation has deepened my appreciation for the blog and its readers.
I need to think about visuals, keywords, and SEOs, all of which must be considered. And yeah, that is what I have learned.
I have taken a few breaks throughout the holidays where I didn't write blog posts for a week or two. I also noticed that I missed the process and found that something was missing in those weeks.
How it impacts your relationship with the readers?
I deeply appreciate the feedback from my readers. It's inspiring to hear that they look forward to reading the blog, that it connects them to yoga, and that it adds value to their lives.
Some students have developed a Sunday morning routine where they prepare a cup of tea, sit down, and read the blog post.
And I keep these students in mind when I'm running late on a Saturday and think I'll just send it out later, then there are people there who are waiting or look forward to reading it. This motivates me to be on time.
What's the most memorable feedback or story you've received from a reader or student?
The memorable feedback was definitely from a student telling me they wait on a Sunday morning and look forward to reading it. These blog posts help them with their lives.
How do you stay connected to your audience's needs and interests while staying true to your vision for the blog?
It is for sure the conversations I have with my students, their questions, and emails with questions that inform me about my audience's needs and what they need to hear.
Do you have a favourite blog post or topic you've covered? What made it unique to you?
It's definitely the posts about the yoga philosophy because I love philosophy and Patanjali or the Bhagavad Gita. They are very close to my heart. I delve into them regularly for inspiration because they have helped me understand what yoga is about, my own being and how the mind works, which I find very important. And I loved writing these blog posts about the yoga philosophy,
Were there any topics or moments where you struggled with writer's block? How did you overcome it?
I have never, touch wood, struggled with writer's block. However, some topics I thought were great ideas, and I have a vague idea about what I want to write about. But then, when I start writing, I realise I need to go deeper into certain aspects. And then it is sometimes hard going to write about it. But once I've gone through the process of exploring and understanding and then sharing that particular knowledge, I love it, and hopefully, it helps or inspires people.
How do you stay creative and inspired, especially after writing so much about seasonal living?
How do I stay creative and inspired? I still find the seasonal aspects of life very inspiring. Seasonal Living is nature's answer for our health. It prevents many issues, although it seems to be too easy. But when we start to live seasonally, they do disappear.
I find it very inspiring to think about how I can share that in different ways, present something that I have covered the year before in a different way, or highlight various aspects. That's how I stay inspired and creative.
What’s next for *The Seasonal Living Blog*? Are there any exciting new projects or themes you're planning to explore?
Yes, there is a new project on the horizon. I plan to take the blog to YouTube and create videos rather than only writing. People love videos and someone explaining something as if they talk just to them. Plus, you can also listen to it.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting their seasonal living journey, what would it be?
I suggest writing about a subject they like and have an opinion about. It is helpful to consider how often they want to post weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. I found it very helpful to plan the content for the next 6 months, as it takes a lot of stress off the whole process.
How do you see your blog and the concept of seasonal living evolving over the next 100 posts?
More recipes, more imbalances and their remedies so that people understand slowly the reasons behind these principles.
My wish is that more readers leave comments. From my experience, I think about what I read but don't leave a comment. I may not believe it's significant enough, but now, being on the other side, I start leaving comments because I know I love feedback or questions.
Now I’d love to hear from you: What are your thoughts? Which posts to you like the most? What would you like to read? Feel free to share your thoughts!
Let’s start a conversation. Leave a message on Instagram, Facebook, or even an old email OR comment below :)
I love hearing from you!
Katja x
P.S. Of course, establishing healthy eating habits is beneficial through all seasons :)
