From Corporate Burnout to Ayahuasca Magic with Kayla Ewing
What happens when you spend a decade burning the candle at both ends in the corporate world, only for your body to finally scream “stop”?
In this episode of Cura Medicina, Derek sits down with holistic health practitioner Kayla Ewing to map out her extraordinary journey from the oil fields of South Louisiana to the sacred medicine spaces of Costa Rica. Kayla opens up about her profound shift away from traditional structures, her first eye-opening encounter with plant medicine, and the rigorous inner work required to truly receive the vine’s magic.
The Wake-Up Call: From Pain to the Yoga Mat
For ten years, Kayla navigated the demanding, high-stakes environment of the banking and oil industries in South Louisiana. But the physical toll of a relentless schedule caught up with her in her early 30s in the form of debilitating back pain. When her doctor suggested invasive diagnostic probing, fear became her ultimate catalyst.
“I got home and I thought, ‘No, I’ve lived a healthy life. We’re going the natural route here.’ The next morning, I pulled up three free yoga videos on my laptop in my room, rolled out of bed, and never stopped.”
Within six months, Kayla was completely pain-free. What started as a desperate attempt to stretch out physical trauma quickly evolved into a deep technology for the soul. Yoga became her anchor, altering her perspective, calming her mind, and providing spiritual answers that her traditional Catholic upbringing hadn’t quite fulfilled.
Navigating the “Soup” of Personal Transformation
Transitioning out of the corporate mold isn’t easy, especially in regions where holistic practices are heavily stigmatized. Kayla notes that in South Louisiana, the wellness community is still finding its footing, often because modalities like yoga are misperceived as conflicting with traditional religious beliefs.
Because of this, Kayla initially walked her path in quiet isolation. She went back to school, earning an undergraduate degree in psychology (Mind) and a master’s in human biology (Body). Combined with her yoga practice (Spirit), she beautifully integrated these three pillars to become a fully certified holistic health practitioner.
Holistic Health: Playing Detective with the Root Cause
When Derek and Kayla dive into a clinical roleplay, the true essence of holistic health comes to light. Unlike a modern medical system that heavily focuses on treating immediate symptoms, Kayla operates like a detective, looking for the underlying core beliefs and emotional burdens stressing the human organism.
- Connecting the Dots: A chronic migraine or a localized backache isn’t always just a physical ailment; it can stem from an emotional plane, relational difficulties, or unaddressed childhood trauma.
- The Power of Small Commitments: When working with clients facing numbing habits or addictions, Kayla emphasizes starting small. Rather than demanding massive, unsustainable lifestyle overhauls overnight, true integration lies in committing to one manageable shift at a time—whether that’s swapping a lunchtime drink for tea or dedicating ten minutes to morning meditation.
Stepping Into Medicine: Psilocybin and Ayahuasca
After years of solo spiritual practice, Kayla’s journey took a quantum leap in her late 30s when she encountered psilocybin mushrooms. Entering the experience entirely “blind,” I had a lightbulb moment. She naturally found herself holding space and helping facilitate her companion’s journey, awakening a deep respect for the intelligence of plant teachers.
Years later, facing a profound mental battle regarding her spiritual path and life cycles, she realized she couldn’t break through the final barrier alone. She needed a shaman.
The Soltara Experience in Costa Rica
Her search led her to the Soltara Healing Center, where she worked with the Shipibo lineage and Ayahuasca. From the moment she stepped off the bus, she knew she was exactly where she belonged.
Over the course of three intense ceremonies, Kayla experienced the full spectrum of the medicine:
- Ceremony 1: Deep somatic alignment where her body naturally mirrored her years of yoga practice right on the mat, culminating in a massive physical purge.
- Ceremony 2: A profound emotional and mental release. By trusting the environment and surrendering to the shamans’ icaros (sacred songs), she achieved a deep sense of mental peace that had evaded her for years.
- Ceremony 3: An expansive wave of ultimate compassion for humanity, receiving clear, internal guidance on how to move forward with her life’s work.
Why Preparation Dictates the Journey
A crucial takeaway from this conversation is the undeniable value of preparation. Both Derek and Kayla note that many individuals step into plant medicine ceremonies without a foundational practice, making the integration process incredibly turbulent.
Kayla attributes her smooth, deeply insightful ceremonies to her years of training her nervous system through breathwork, clean eating, and meditation.
“Those who come prepared—the preparation works. The intelligence of these plants and how they integrate into our human experience is absolute magic.”
Kayla’s Daily Practices for Showing Up:
- Morning Grounding: Walking barefoot in the grass and catching the morning sunlight.
- Fluidity over Rigidity: Recognizing that some days a practice means sitting in deep meditation for an hour, and other days it means allowing yourself to cry in the shower.
- Radical Compassion & Forgiveness: Pouring back into yourself first, forgiving your past, and waking up every single day, recognizing you have the power to choose who you want to be.
Connect with Kayla Ewing
If you are looking to dig past surface-level symptoms and integrate your mind, body, and spirit, you can connect with Kayla directly online:
- Website: Holistic Health Integration
- Instagram: @holistically_integrated
Cura Medicina Podcast
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