April 29, 2019
We are honored to present our DIFM Featured Member for this month, Anu – Sandeep “Anu” Kaur, MS, RDN, RYT-500. Anu holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a specialization in Physiology and a minor in Biology from George Mason University. She earned a Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition from James Madison University and completed her Dietetic Internship at the Medical College of Virginia. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Wellcoach and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500). She lives in the greater Washington DC Metropolitan area close to a local farm with her family and enjoys gardening. Anu also loves to write, jog, have a yoga practice and thrives when she is part of community.
What is your area of practice and how do you incorporate integrative and functional nutrition into your work?
I work with cancer survivors and integrate mind body modalities into the work I do with my private practice patients. As an integrative dietitian, my focus is on how mind-body interventions (MBIs), such as yoga, can help manage the nervous system, and particularly help with self-regulation and nutrition-related symptoms, particularly with cancer patients. I work to share what research has been done with MBIs with colleagues and other health professionals through speaking and writing. I am excited to contribute to the new edition of the Oncology Nutrition for Clinical Practices with a great colleague Cheryl Toner, MS, RDN on the chapter, The Role of Mind Body Interventions and Practices in Cancer.
Interestingly, my introduction to integrative nutrition was actually a bit of fate. I started my nutrition career in the clinical world as a clinical nutrition support dietitian (CNSD) and worked in the hospital setting with surgical cancer patients. But before that, I did my thesis work with HIV patients at the Whitman Walker Clinic in Washington DC and it was there that I was first introduced to complementary and alternative modalities (CAM), such as Reiki and supplements. As I journeyed into my career as a young dietitian, I began working in the outpatient setting with cancer patients. Many of them were looking for an improvement in quality of life often through nutrition and supplementation.
Back in the early 90’s, we didn’t quite have the language around integrative or functional medicine the way we do now. I grew with each patient I met and was open to explore the CAM modalities they were using to manage their health and nutrition while professionally making sure that we were doing no harm, e.g., megadosing with supplements. My focus was on safety and efficacy.
As I turn back the pages, I recognize a lot of my integrative exploration was heightened when I became a Diversity Leader of the Academy. At that time, I was part the scientific advisory board for the Alzheimer’s Research Prevention Foundation and was made aware of Dr. Sat Bir Khalsa’s work at Harvard, Kundalini Research Institute and Kripalu in yoga research. As a diversity leader I was charged with leading and organizing an event and decided to do it on yoga. I wanted someone who could present the science of yoga so I reached out to Dr. Khalsa in 2011. Much to my delight he said yes. A reminder you don’t get anything until you ask. It was the beginning of my love for sharing with others the science of CAM and helping RDNs develop an understanding of the evidence-based science that’s out there for mind body modalities. I had the privilege of presenting several times at FNCE on the Emerging Field of Yoga at FNCE with Dr. Khalsa and my friend and mentor, Annie Kay, MS, RDN, E-RYT-500.
Participated and sharing in formats such as DIFM’s Gut Health Webinar Series and the Spring Assembly in Illinois earlier this year is important to me because I know as a group, if we collaborate, we can bring integrative medicine and modalities such as yoga into healthcare. But it will take a village!
What are some of the results you have seen since integrating functional nutrition into your practice area?
One of the most profound results I’ve seen is the power of integrating a component of yoga, something as simple as deep breathing into my practice. Often it starts as a conversation and then an experience of breathing deeply together with a patient/client. By offering this tool to regulate the nervous system and evoke a relaxation response, I have deepened my provider-patient relationship, and often it is an opportunity to dive more deeply into behavior change. Many clients have shared that the breath techniques that I share help them self-regulate and seems to have a cascade effect with lifestyle behavior changes and modifications, including nutrition habits.
Besides, private practice one-on-one, much of my work is in the format of integrative nutrition classes, semi-private yoga classes and workshops for individuals who want to optimize their wellness with a meditation and yoga practice. I have recently paired up with friend and mentor, Maryam Ovissi, E-RYT-500 in doing yoga and nutrition workshops with cancer survivors. The workshop setting is in a beautiful yoga studio space which fosters ease and steadiness, community and a caring environment to talk nutrition and make lifestyle changes.
How does your culture influence your work?
My culture has been my greatest gift. Through my parents and culture there was an emphasis placed on mindfulness and hospitality, e.g., all were welcome unannounced to our house for a cup a chai (with fresh ginger, green cardamom, cloves and cinnamon stick) and often mind-body-spirit discussions. I was introduced to meditation and deeper practices as a teenager. Unbeknownst to me, many seeds were planted that would take root in my professional life. I noticed a significant change in my own life from my mood to my energy and my overall health with consistent weekly yoga classes. This change was something I wanted to investigate scientifically and share with others. It has been a great joy to do that with clients/patients.
Anu and Maryam leading a Chocolate Meditation. Photo credit: Tamao Albert
Where have you completed most of your training in integrative and functional nutrition?
I am continually doing workshops for the functional nutrition aspect. My yoga background is in Kundalini and Hatha yoga lineages. From an integrative perspective, my experience in Yoga training comes from 200-hours of Kundalini yoga through the Kundalini Research Institute and my additional 300-hours in Hatha yoga was done at Beloved Yoga in Virginia. My additional training is as Certified Wellness Coach and Registered Yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and the Kundalini Research Institute.
I do feel my wellness coaching training also supports my integrative approach. I’m very interested in research exploring integrative medicine and possible further yoga training to become a certified yoga therapist. I would love it if there was a PhD in yoga and yoga therapy. I would join the program in a heartbeat!