The Elemental Kitchen: Somatic & Ayurvedic Cooking Class

Join us for a hands-on, sensory-rich cooking experience where the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda meets somatic awareness and intuitive kitchen practices.

This isn’t just a cooking class—it’s a guided journey into the senses, where you’ll feel the elements in your body, explore your unique dosha makeup, and reshape your relationship with food through breath, sound, and seasonal nourishment.

Led by Chef Oliver Holecek and the Samadki Somatic Method, this workshop invites you to slow down, reconnect, and reimagine cooking not as a chore or a diet—but as a healing, intuitive ritual rooted in presence.

What to Expect:

Introduction to Ayurveda

• Discover the foundations of Ayurvedic wisdom, including the doshas, six tastes, seasonal alignment, and digestive fire (agni).
• Take a short quiz (sent beforehand) to understand your personal constitution.
• Learn how to move away from rigid “health” labels toward intuitive nourishment.

2 – Hour Guided Cooking & Somatic Practice

Together, we’ll prepare and enjoy a complete meal emphasizing all four elements, exploring techniques, tools, and traditions along the way.

Menu & Flow:

WATER: Kachumber Salad – Fresh, cooling, full of life. (Knife skills, cutting techniques, seasonal alignment)

FIRE: Dosa & Chutney – Hands-on, tactile, and expressive. (Touch, tearing, and texture)

AIR: Kitchari – Grounding, soothing, light. (Spice exploration, pressure cooking, digestion)

EARTH: Halva & Herbal Tea – Sweet, warm, and comforting. (Winter element, completion, reflection)

Each dish will be paired with sensory cues—sound, breath, texture—to deepen your awareness and awaken your parasympathetic nervous system. Expect to smell, listen, and move through each bite.

Mindful Eating Practice – You’ll learn how to eat slowly, with intention, and in alignment with your body’s signals. No rush, no pressure. Just presence.

What You’ll Walk Away With:

• A deeper understanding of your dosha and how to eat seasonally to support it
• Practical Ayurvedic cooking techniques and simple recipes
• A new, empowered relationship with cooking: rooted in intuition, not perfection
• The ability to tune into how food feels—not just how it looks or performs

FAQ:

• Allergies: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Low Sugar.
• Recipes Contain Ghee (no lactose dairy)

What to Bring:

• Your curiosity and appetite
• An apron

This class is for you if…You’ve felt intimidated by Ayurvedic cooking or turned off by restrictive health rulesYou want to reconnect with your body’s natural rhythmsYou’re curious about somatic practices and intuitive eatingYou’re ready to transform your kitchen into a space of healing and creativity

Spots are limited to 20 guests!

Reserve your place now and step into a new rhythm with food, your body, and the seasons.

Once you sign up, you’ll receive a link to the Dosha Quiz and a short pre-class reflection a few days before the event.

Let’s cook, breathe, and heal—together.

CHEF OLIVER HOLECEK

Chef Oliver Holecek is a culinary educator, somatic wellness coach and founder of Primo Chocolate.

Based in New York City, Oliver blends his background in intuitive cooking, Ayurveda and somatic movement. With over a decade of experience in the food world– from herbal mixology to catering Farm-to-Table weddings in the Catskills, Oliver now teaches at a local cooking school where his classes focus on mindfulness, accessibility and the healing power of the kitchen. He has studied somatic practices with Hana Van Der Kolk, got certified in Ayurvedic panchakarma in India and co-hosts experiential workshops integrating embodiment, movement, and food. Oliver’s approach to cooking is playful, grounding, and deeply intentional—inviting participants to shift their relationship with food from performance to presence. Through each dish, he helps others explore nourishment as a personal and seasonal ritual.

VALERIA ITRIAGO

Valeria Itriago is a multidisciplinary somatic embodiment and movement coach, trained performative dancer, and certified facilitator in body-mind-based modalities.

With a deep connection to the wisdom of the body, Val guides individuals through transformational journeys using somatic dance, breathwork, ethereal music, energy practices, and meditation to help them release emotional blockages and unlock their full creative potential. Through her intuitive approach, Val creates sacred spaces where movement becomes a bridge to emotional freedom, self-expression, and deeper self-awareness. She weaves together the art of yoga nidra, chakra activation, and nervous system regulation, holding space for healing and embodied transformation. With certifications in somatic experiencing and sound healing, Val continues to expand her knowledge and practice, drawing from studies in yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and an in-depth understanding of nature and flow patterns. Always seeking new ways to support others on their path of liberation and self-empowerment, her vision is to cultivate conscious communities rooted in connection, trust, and the transformative power of movement.

MIHIR SHAH

Mihir Shah is a facilitator, yoga teacher, improviser, and community weaver who creates playful, immersive experiences that nourish both body and spirit.

With roots in Dharma Yoga, Ayurveda, and his work as a Guide at Othership, Mihir blends intuitive movement, mindful cooking, and sensory exploration to spark deeper connection — to self, to others, and to the present moment. He’s hosted a wide range of embodied gatherings, including Samadki’s Signature Somatic Dinner Series: A Dance of the Senses. Mihir’s spaces are tender, spicy, and alive — where food becomes medicine, presence becomes play, and every sense is an invitation to come home to your body.

THE ALCHEMIST’S KITCHEN

The Alchemist’s Kitchen flagship is a unique destination located at 117-119 Crosby Street, Soho, New York.

We are a botanical dispensary dedicated to connecting you with the power of plants.

We offer a wide variety of events, workshops, classes, and other experiences to nourish both our minds and bodies. We believe that taking care of ourselves includes the healthiest possible relationship we can have not just with our bodies but also within ourselves.

Follow Us to be notified of future events.

Other ways of connecting:

Youtube

Instagram

Facebook

Tiktok

Questions regarding this event can be sent to le***@******************en.com.