Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 to October 15, honors the rich history, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic Americans. This month highlights the diverse stories of resilience, creativity, and influence that have shaped communities across the United States. At Ambaya Gold, we are proud to share the journey of our founder, Ambaya, whose roots in Mexico and deep connection to her heritage have inspired her path in holistic healing and entrepreneurship. Annie and Ambaya sat down to discuss Ambaya's past, from childhood to present.
Annie: What was your childhood like growing up in Mexico?
Ambaya: I was born in Mexico City and had a beautiful childhood with my large, united, happy family. I experienced blessings all around. My siblings and I had the privilege of the freedom to play. We didn’t have chores. We were allowed to be kids, go to school and play. I was blessed to live where I did and to be born into this family.
Annie: What inspired your interest in healing? When did that begin?
Ambaya: I was surrounded by the art of healing my whole life. My father was a doctor. It seemed he was willing and able to cure anything that came his way, whether a human, animal, plant, or even a car. He constantly shared his knowledge with my siblings and me, so it was natural and second nature for us to know all about medicine since it was a very present subject.
Annie: When did you move to America?
Ambaya: My whole family moved when I was twelve, and we were quite excited and, at the same time, sad to leave the extended family. My father loved what America stood for—freedom, integrity, and professionalism in medicine. He wanted his children to be responsible, independent, and productive.
Annie: How did you begin studying holistic healing compared to your father's Western medicine?
Ambaya: When I became pregnant with my first child, I had terrible long-lasting morning sickness, and my father had to feed my body the minerals it needed intravenously. I had just come out of college, where I lived a high-speed life, living recklessly, eating whatever I wanted, and not maintaining the healthy lifestyle my body needed. So when I became pregnant, my body showed me that it would not work. I started paying attention to healthy meals. I lived in Austin at the time, where health awareness was beginning to rise, and I was right in it. I gained a genuine respect for my body and experienced firsthand how imperative health is over everything else in this world.
Annie: How did your Ayurvedic studies begin?
Ambaya: Five children later, I focused all my time on nurturing them and preparing the healthiest foods for their sake and mine. Around this time, my father got accidentally poisoned, and on his deathbed, his last words to me were, "Sweetheart, pursue your natural healing with your herbs. Go put some compassion into this science because there is none."
His words must have affected me greatly because I enrolled in the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a few months later. My heart immediately resonated with the ancient teachings of Ayurveda. This wise knowledge that has been around for thousands of years has revealed the natural connection to God, the Inner Spirit, us Humans, and our deep connection to Nature.
Annie: And how did all of this lead you to begin the journey of Ambaya Gold?
Ambaya: Looking back, I can see that every aspect of my life has been part of God‘s plan with his timing, even if I didn’t know it at the time. I have lived in Sedona for the last 22 years after studying Ayurveda with Dr. Lad, Dr. Svoboda, Deepak Chopra, and Dr. Mishra. Their teachings have contributed to my life significantly and allowed me to express my passion for serving others through Ayurveda's ancient science. Likewise, my experiences with and blessings from the Siddha Yoga Masters have landed me in a Spiritual pursuit that keeps on growing, and I am eternally grateful for them.
When I moved to Sedona in 2000, I began offering Ayurvedic consultations and making dry herbal remedies to assist my clients' health. I also had a Neurofeedback business and gave my clients Ayurvedic treatments before their neural feedback sessions. When I got introduced to the liquid form of Shilajit, a powerful mineral pitch, I noticed that when clients took the liquid with the Ayurvedic mixtures, the immediate uptake became evident through the change of the brain waves. The clients themselves noticed they were experiencing quick health changes, their symptoms were disappearing, and they kept coming back for more, so Ambaya Gold grew due to their requests. We have now been making these solutions for 14 years."
Ambaya's newest chapter: Teaching Tai Chi Gung
Ambaya’s devotion to holistically improving the quality of life for those around her has been unrelenting in this lifetime. She is gifted with and has been immersed in a path of Siddha Yoga for many years and has now been led by Rasaji to share and teach Tai Chi Gung to further Remember, Express, and Live our True Nature- at one with our Divine inheritance. If you're interested in enhancing your sleep quality, improving flexibility, building strength, managing stress with greater ease and gaining clarity and focus regarding your personal spiritual connection, you might want to check out Tai Chi Gung here (it's free to sign up to this amazing community)!
Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month: Embracing Cultural Roots and Holistic Healing
Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to reflect on the profound contributions of Hispanic individuals who have enriched various fields, including medicine, arts, science, and more. Ambaya’s story is a testament to the values of her Mexican heritage—strong family bonds, a deep sense of community, and a passion for healing. Her journey from Mexico City to becoming a practitioner of Ayurveda in Sedona reflects how cultural identity can shape one's passion for well-being and balance.
Throughout her life, Ambaya embraced both her father’s dedication to medicine and her natural inclination toward holistic healing, ultimately merging her cultural roots with a broader understanding of health and wellness. Her respect for nature and the wisdom of ancient healing practices—combined with her upbringing in a vibrant Mexican family—formed the foundation of Ambaya Gold’s mission to bring vitality and wellness to others.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, it is stories like Ambaya’s that remind us of the rich and diverse histories within the Hispanic community. These stories of resilience, culture, and passion continue to shape not only individuals but the wellness world as a whole.
At Ambaya Gold, we honor Hispanic heritage through our commitment to holistic health, nurturing the body, mind, and spirit, and celebrating the profound legacy of healing across cultures!
