Bus Stop Baby

EXCERPT OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY KAYLA LUDWIG

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path” - Brené Brown

Chapter One: Origins

My story began in 1991 in the bustling heart of Bangkok, Thailand, alone at a bus stop—dressed in a fresh hospital onesie, with a nameplate that translated to ‘Oom.’ A guardian angel brought me to a baby home, where I spent the first year of my life. For the first 27 years of my life I had the impression that I was a planned adoption since birth. I arrived with hospital documents, birth cert, and everything. I did not know I was abandoned at a bus stop until I visited the baby home myself, at the age of 27. It was then that I discovered the baby home was able to track my birth information due to the fact I was still in a recognized onesie by a local hospital when I arrived at their door. The story they told my parents was a little more glorified, and I see why. That was a tough visit.

Though it was a tough visit, It was absolutely beautiful too. I brought with me photos as a baby, and to my great surprise, three women in those pictures still worked there! I was able to meet the amazing woman who held me as an infant, after 27 years! It was absolutely incredible.

I was adopted by a loving family from Colorado. My new world was warm and welcoming, filled with the love of an incredible mother and father, and two older sisters who embraced me wholeheartedly. At that age, I couldn’t grasp the magnitude of the journey that had just begun, but looking back, I understand how fortunate I was. This has kept me humble, and filled with gratitude for a chance at life. Let’s see what we can make of it!

Childhood for me was all about movement. From soccer fields to horseback rides, piano lessons, to over a decade of gymnastics, I was always in motion. The backdrop to all this energy? The breathtaking Colorado mountains. I spent hours playing outdoors, soaking in the beauty of nature, running wild and free. I miss that time—a feeling I know many of us can relate to. It’s easy to take our youthful wellness for granted, only to realize much later how precious it was.

Growing up, my family was all about home-cooked meals, with the occasional processed food that marked the convenience-driven 90s. Our kitchen was a place where meals were created from scratch, for better or worse. Cooking brought us together, whether we were nailing a recipe or making something we vowed never to attempt again. While I didn’t realize it then, this was the foundation of my relationship with food and health.

The Shift: College Life

College hit, and so did the reality of leaving behind the comforts of home. Dorm life meant crappy food halls, ramen noodles, and mac ‘n cheese dinners made in microwaves. Suddenly, health and wellness took a backseat. I went from being active every day to only walking to and from class. Running and gymnastics became distant memories, and even occasional hikes felt like mini-marathons.

Working as a server kept me moving, but it also meant I was surrounded by greasy, delicious, all-American food. Four years at a local favorite burger joint, featuring dishes like the infamous “Cow Patty” burger—a one-pound monstrosity loaded with tater tots, bacon, ham, cheese, and smothered in green chili—took its toll. I gained 30+ pounds and didn’t think twice about it. The endless supply of burgers, fries, and beer kept me blissfully ignorant of how out of balance I had become.

A New Chapter: Hawaii

After college, I moved to Hawaii, chasing both the love of my life and a fresh start. But I still carried my old habits with me. The island life, though, had its own way of waking me up. Bikinis and beach culture made me painfully aware of how out of shape I felt compared to the sun-kissed, fit locals. It wasn’t until my late 20s that I started to truly shift my focus back to health and wellness.

Working as a parachute packer, I found myself in a physically demanding job, and over time, I lost the weight I had gained in college. But the real turning point came in 2020, when the world shut down. Skydiving operations came to a halt, and I pivoted into a new space, my first love—mental health/psychology. Exercising the better half of my bachelor’s degree I began working at an alternative mental health clinic, where my own transformation truly began.

Finding Purpose

I started as a medical cannabis consultant at the clinic and quickly moved into Ketamine Infusion therapy as a guide. Psychedelics were a key component in my shift of perspective that mended my infant wounds. I worked as an integration coach, guiding people on their journeys to healing with Ketamine Therapy. Through these experiences, I realized that many of the patients I encountered had neglected something critical—themselves, just like me. Along the journey of life, we are greeted with distractions- work, school, family, work, socializing, exercise, and did I mention work?…there are a lot of distractions these days! Where’s “me” time?

I invite you to visualize a beautiful rare plant you just picked up from the store and are excited to add to your home. You skipped caring instructions, as you just defaulted to what you’ve done in the past with other plants, but this was not the right one to do so with. It gets weak and looks dreadful. You realized it needed less water and more sunlight and was much more finicky than the other house plants you’ve had in the past. You are the plant. Don’t forget your care instructions! Basic care looks different for all of us, and almost always needs modification as we get older.

Ayurvana:

I have a deep fascination with the ancient—ancient history, civilizations, knowledge, and wisdom. The mystery of this world fuels my passion for continuous learning. Perhaps one of the most well-known ancient practices is Ayurveda, a wisdom that has been preserved for over 5,000 years—how incredible is that? It stands as one of the earliest recorded holistic practices in our Earth’s known history.

While I am not an Ayurvedic practitioner, I hold immense respect for its knowledge and am on a journey to deepen my understanding of it. The name I chose to represent my practice, Ayurvana, stems from the same Sanskrit roots as this ancient system. Ayur translates to life and longevity, while Vana can mean forest or woodland—a space for grounding, restoration, and tranquility- my favorite space to recharge. I wanted the name to embody vitality and serenity, a rare and precious sanctuary in today’s turbulent world.

I approach health and wellness holistically with a biological systems-based client-centered approach. Functional medicine honors the uniqueness of the individual, focusing on the root causes of imbalance rather than quick fixes. I am captivated by Ayurveda as well. I am actively working towards certification and look forward to including new knowledge in my practice. The study of both supplies well for me as a coach and the individuals I am fortunate to work with. I have integrated Functional medicine practices into my daily life as much as possible, and I can honestly say I have made system updates that operate better than the last model. The old me is very much alive, but her bad habits have been kicked to the curb. There are new habits in town that have longevity and vitality in mind!

This is what I offer my clients—a partnership on their journey toward health and well-being, where we create a plan that works for their lives, needs, and goals. What do you want to do with your chance at life?