When Dylan Smith first learned to meditate at age six, it wasn’t a spiritual awakening — it was just part of life. Growing up in a meditating family in Sydney, he absorbed the importance almost by osmosis. But it wasn’t until a chance visit to an Ayurvedic clinic in India, years later, that everything changed. In this episode, recorded live in front of an audience of meditators, Dylan shares how a Deepak Chopra book sparked a complete shift in direction, what drew him to study with the legendary Raju family, and why Ayurveda isn’t just about treating illness, it’s about enlivening health. We talk about the synergy between meditation and daily routine, the power of rhythm, and what it really means to live in tune with nature. Grounded and refreshingly practical, Dylan brings Ayurveda to life in a way that’s both timeless and totally doable.
Guest Bio
Dylan Smith is an Ayurvedic practitioner and holistic health educator based in Byron Bay, Australia. Founder of Vital Veda, Dylan shares the principles of Ayurveda through consultations, courses, and his podcast. He has trained extensively with the renowned Raju family of South India and brings deep lineage-based knowledge into a modern, relatable context. With a background in Vedic Meditation and a lifelong connection to the Vedic tradition, Dylan is passionate about helping people enliven their natural health through rhythm, routine, and awareness.
Key Topics Covered
Growing up in a meditating family and rediscovering practice as an adult
The moment that shifted Dylan’s path from architecture to Ayurveda
Why health isn’t something to fix — it’s something to enliven
Daily rhythm and the science behind it (including circadian medicine)
The synergy between Vedic Meditation and Ayurvedic treatments
Simple lifestyle shifts: hot water, early bedtimes, mindful digestion
How Ayurveda adapts across climates, cultures, and constitutions
Why Dylan encourages patients to “transcend food rules” and go back to principles
Notable Quotes
💬 “It wasn’t a big aha moment. I just said, ‘Okay.’ And that was the beginning.”
💬 “You don’t need to treat the disease. You enliven health — and the body remembers.”
💬“Meditation is the foundation. But it’s not the house. Ayurveda helps you build the rest.”
💬 “You feel it in the pulse — meditators have lightness. Even under stress, that clarity remains.”
Timestamps
00:00 — Introducing Dylan Smith and his Vedic roots
04:00 — Childhood exposure vs. conscious return to meditation
07:00 — The Deepak Chopra moment and pivot to Ayurveda
11:30 — What Ayurveda really is: dharma, rhythm, and the four aims of life
16:00 — Digestion, fruit rules, and transcending food dogma
18:50 — How meditation complements Ayurvedic healing
22:00 — Treating the nervous system: differences in meditators’ physiology
25:00 — Simple daily tools: hot water, early sleep, living in rhythm
30:00 — Waking up early, morning energy, and creative clarity
Links & Resources
Dylan Smith’s website: https://vitalveda.com.au
Vital Veda Podcast: https://vitalveda.com.au/podcast
Instagram: @vitalveda
Dr. Raju clinic in India: https://www.drraju.com
Recommended reading: Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra
Learn to Meditate: https://www.londonmeditationcentre.com/learn-to-meditate