Letting Go of the Checklist: A New Perspective on Fertility and Empowerment with Author and President of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, Heather Grzych
What if the key to your next breakthrough isn’t trying harder—but tuning in deeper?
In this heartfelt episode of The EmPOWERed Half Hour, Becca welcomes Ayurvedic practitioner, author, and wellness expert, Heather Grzych for a soulful conversation about fertility, desire, and the power of presence. Heather opens up about her own unconventional journey to motherhood, sharing how tuning into her body, her environment, and her truth led to powerful self-awareness and peace—even in uncertainty.
Whether you’re navigating fertility challenges, big life transitions, or the pressure of having it “figured out,” this episode is filled with compassionate insights and empowering perspective shifts that will help you come back to your center.
Fertility Isn’t Just Physical
Heather explains why fertility is as much about mindset and awareness as it is about biology.
Desire and Detachment
Learn how obsessing over an outcome can narrow your awareness—and what it means to move forward with clarity instead.
Ayurvedic Wisdom for Modern Life
Discover how ancient practices like body awareness and environmental attunement can guide us in today’s world.
The Power of Presence
When we’re available to the moment in front of us, we see opportunities we might have otherwise missed.
What You Can (and Can’t) Control
Heather shares how embracing both action and surrender leads to deeper empowerment.
Key Moments You Won't Want to Miss:
- Heather reflects on her own decision-making journey around motherhood, and how she navigated the pressure to “make it happen.
- Becca shares how fertility has become a common and rising conversation in her circles—and why it’s time we talk about it more openly.
- They explore the concept of “awareness as a flashlight,” and how tuning inward and outward helps us respond to life with wisdom.
- Heather breaks down how modern women are often conditioned to solve fertility like a checklist—but deep listening offers another way.
- The episode closes with a grounding reminder: the next best step is usually small, simple, and already right in front of you.
Empowering Thoughts to Take With You:
- “Each of us is a convergence of what we do and what’s happening in the environment around us.” – Heather Grzych
- “The best you can do is in every moment, figure out what you want in that moment.” – Heather Grzych
- “When you’re available for what’s right in front of you, you see light, joy, and love you might have missed.” – Heather Grzych
- “There’s always a next step. Sometimes it’s as simple as drinking a glass of warm water.” – Heather Grzych
- “Staying connected to your inner and outer world—that’s where empowerment lives.” – Becca Powers
About Heather
Heather Grzych, AD is an American author and expert in the natural healing practices of Ayurvedic medicine, who currently serves as the president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and faculty at Mount Madonna Institute College of Ayurveda. Heather is a board-certified Ayurvedic practitioner at the Ayurvedic Doctor level, and was formerly the head of product development for a multi-billion-dollar health insurance company. Her first book, The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility, has sold thousands of copies worldwide, and her writing has been featured in Sports Illustrated, Yoga Journal, and the Sunday Independent. Her podcast, Wisdom of the Body, ranks in the top 3% of podcasts globally.
Connect with Heather Grzych
Order Heather’s book: The Ayurvedic Guide to Fertility: A Natural Approach to Getting Pregnant on Amazon.
Power Links
- Join Becca in her Facebook Community - The Dragonfly Effect, Where High-Performing Professionals Chase Big Dreams: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1C4z83krsn/
- Purchase Becca’s Book - A Return to Radiance, The POWER Method to Ignite Your Soul and Unleash Your Potential: https://www.beccapowers.com/a-return-to-radiance
- Invite Becca to Speak: https://www.beccapowers.com/keynotes
- Grab Becca’s Free EBook, The High Performer’s Path, The 8 Forces of Potential for Mindset Mastery: https://www.beccapowers.com/
Follow Becca Powers
🌟 Did you love this episode of The emPOWERed Half Hour Podcast? Sharing your thoughts can make a big impact!
💬 Leaving a review is simple:
- Visit this link.
- Scroll down to the "Ratings & Reviews" section.
- Tap "Write a Review" to share your thoughts and let others know what you loved about the show.
Your feedback helps us grow and continue delivering the content you love. Thank you for being part of our empowered community! 💖
We Want to Hear From You!
What’s one part of this episode that made you reflect on your own definition of extraordinary? Are you holding back in your comfort zone—or stepping toward your potential? We’d love to know! Drop a comment, share the episode with a friend, or tag us in your story with your favorite takeaway.
Becca Powers:
Welcome to another episode of The Empowered Half Hour. I'm so excited to bring you today's guest because we're already friends. I was on her podcast and just enjoyed the interview so much that I invited her to come on this show.
Today, I have Heather Grzych with me. Heather, welcome to The Empowered Half Hour.
Heather Grzych:
Thank you so much, Becca. I'm so excited because I was cold this morning—and you're going to warm me up!
Becca Powers:
That's right. That fire energy is going to come through. Well, let me tell you a little bit about Heather. She's an Ayurvedic practitioner and an author. But what I really love about her is her insight on wellness, infertility, and how much of what she teaches stems from her personal journey.
Heather, are you ready?
Heather Grzych:
I'm ready. Thank you so much for having me.
A New Year’s Wake-Up Call
Heather Grzych:
So let's go back. When I was in my early thirties, I woke up one New Year’s Day hungover on my friend’s couch with my then-husband. We’d been drinking and playing Rock Band until four in the morning.
I woke up and thought, “I'm going to be happy and healthy.” But then this voice in my head said, “You said that last year too—and you don’t feel any different.”
It hit me hard. That day, I quietly observed everything around me and realized—I needed to leave the country and do a yoga teacher training. Within days, I had decided to go to Costa Rica for a month.
I walked into my corporate job of 13 years and asked how long I could be away. They said more than a week was bad. But I needed a sabbatical. Around that time, I was also trying to get pregnant, staying out drinking, and wondering why it wasn’t working.
When I came back from training, I left my husband. I became a vegetarian, lost eight pounds, and it changed the course of my life.
Embracing the Unconventional Path
Heather Grzych:
After that, I still had a corporate job for a bit, but I eventually enrolled in Ayurveda school. I looked at more "practical" programs, but none of them felt right. I chose something that felt strange to others—but true to me.
Years later, I got pregnant at 40 on the first try after years of preparation. Much of my story is about reconnecting with my soul.
Becca Powers:
You're saying all the right words. I have so many questions, but please continue.
Heather Grzych:
That’s it, really. A lot has happened since. I’m now the president of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. My son is eight. It's been a long and transformative journey.
Purpose Isn’t a Destination
Becca Powers:
So many of us live on autopilot—disconnected from our soul. Your story reminds me of the hero’s journey. You stepped into discomfort to find your truth and ultimately, your purpose.
I have a lot of high-achieving listeners who think purpose is about what we do instead of who we are. But your story shows that purpose can also be found in the approach, the presence, and the calling you follow.
Heather Grzych:
Exactly. When I started doing yoga teacher training, I went deep into self-analysis. You reflect on your breath, thoughts, feelings, and everything around you. You read personal development books thinking, I’m going to find my purpose. Like it’s a rock you’ll stumble upon.
But purpose isn’t far away. It’s not something outside of you. I realized—purpose is not an identity; it’s an energetic quality. It’s in your belly. When you're doing something and your gut feels warm—that’s purpose. It’s a drive, not a job title.
Reframing the Question: What Is My Purpose?
Becca Powers:
Let’s talk to the high performers listening—those taking care of kids, going to work, feeling like something is missing. They may think purpose will show up later, like when they’re 60 or finally write that book. But what if they’re already in it?
Heather Grzych:
Purpose is what's required of you right now. It may not be that future vision—it’s the task in front of you. Take care of your kids. Submit that report. In any given moment, that’s your purpose.
When we project our thoughts too far forward, we lose presence—and that’s when we lose purpose. Even if you have a long-term vision, the next step is your purpose right now.
Presence as a Gateway to Wellness
Becca Powers:
I love that. When I started becoming present—in my role as a mom, wife, or professional—everything shifted. I began hearing the things my kids weren’t saying. I healed emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I now feel connected and purposeful—not because of what I’m creating, but because of who I am in the moment.
Heather Grzych:
Yes. Fertility is a great example of this struggle. We become obsessed with something we want that isn’t here yet. And that obsession creates stress.
I had to step away from the desire to be a mom. I asked myself, “What happens after I have a child?” And I realized—even that dream is impermanent. That helped me let go of the obsession and become more present.
Mind, Body, and the Fertile Ground of Desire
Heather Grzych:
In Ayurveda school, I learned something powerful: When you're caught between a desire of the mind and a desire of the body—let the body win.
Ayurveda is psycho-spiritual medicine. It values simple biological signals: yawning, sneezing, hunger, or the need to rest. When we follow these natural rhythms, we return to our animal state—and that’s our most creative state.
Becca Powers:
That’s beautiful. It also connects to creativity and fertility. Whether it’s a baby, a book, or a business—desires need nurturing. And sometimes, the blockages are mental or emotional.
Cultivating Inner and Outer Awareness
Heather Grzych:
Absolutely. I teach people to use awareness like a flashlight—shining inward to understand your body and thoughts, and outward to read the environment and relationships.
Fertility, business, purpose—none of these are purely in our control. You can take action, but the results require alignment with the world around you.
And honestly, when I look back, I don’t think I really wanted to get pregnant at first. I think I felt like I should. That’s why deep listening—to your body and your truth—is so essential.
Becca Powers:
And that’s an empowering message in itself.
One Step at a Time
Becca Powers:
As we wrap up, how would applying these principles empower someone’s life?
Heather Grzych:
It would make them available for what’s right in front of them. You’d see light, love, and joy you would’ve missed otherwise. You’d stop narrowly chasing something and gain a wider, clearer perspective.
Then you can just do the next thing. Put one foot in front of the other. That’s it.
Becca Powers:
That was beautiful. It made me tear up. Heather, how can people stay in touch with you?
Heather Grzych:
Thank you! My website is heathergrzych.com — that’s G-R-Z-Y-C-H. I’m on Instagram at @heathergrzych. I check my messages there, even if I don’t post daily. Whether it’s scheduling a consultation or just taking your next step, that connection is always open.
Becca Powers:
Thank you again, Heather. It’s always a pleasure to talk with you.
0 comments
Leave a comment
Please log in or register to post a comment