We had a conversation with the inspiring Jarryd Harvey, Doctor of Chinese Medicine and educator, about the practices and philosophies that shape his life and work.
Jarryd shared his daily practices, spoke about how Chinese Medicine (CM) found him through his own health journey, and reflected on how balance, simplicity and connection guide his approach to well-being. From the importance of rest, to the value of dance, festivals and fun, Jarryd offers a refreshingly grounded perspective on what it means to live well.
Carly Tomadin: Good morning! What a treat to be here with you talking about all things Jarryd Harvey and well-being.
Jarryd Harvey: It’s a delight to be here with you!
Carly Tomadin: How did you start your day today? Any morning practices you’d like to share?
Jarryd Harvey: This morning (and most mornings) started with opening my blinds to the morning sun. The first thing I do upon waking is get outdoors as soon as possible. I keep my phone on airplane mode until I’ve completed my morning routine. I find that it’s so important for me to be exposed to fresh air and morning sunlight before doing anything else. I headed down to Fitzroy Gardens to do some gentle Qi Gong and lymph moving exercises. Once I get home, I usually sit with tea to do my morning prayer/meditation and then it’s time to open my laptop and get to any morning emails, respond to texts or work admin that needs to be done!
Carly Tomadin: That sounds like a very nourishing way to start the day before jumping into work. What does the fresh air, sunlight, Qi Gong & meditation do for you? How does it leave you feeling?
Jarryd Harvey: Getting natural sunlight on your face as soon as you wake up is a really important step in activating your sleep/wake cycle (your circadian rhythm). There is an acupuncture point called ‘Bladder One’ on the inner aspect of the eye, that regulates our circadian rhythm. Getting sunlight on this point by stepping outdoors brings Yang energy into the body and awakens your senses. Qi Gong gets this Yang Qi moving around the body and is a great way to move stagnation brought on from sleep. It leaves me feeling awake, calm, connected and ready to start my day!
Carly Tomadin: Fascinating (and inspiring, too). What exactly is ‘Yang energy’?
Jarryd Harvey: Yang energy represents warmth, activity, movement, and outward expression. It’s the dynamic, active force that fuels processes like metabolism, circulation, and vitality. Yang balances with Yin (coolness, rest, inwardness); when Yang is deficient, people may feel cold, tired, or sluggish, and when excessive, they may feel overheated, restless, or agitated.
Carly Tomadin: That’s clarifying, thanks! Aside from a grounding and awakening morning routine, what does life look like for you at the moment?
Jarryd Harvey: I am very much focused on my Chinese Medicine (CM) practice and studies at the moment. Although I’m fully qualified to practise CM and Acupuncture, I am constantly learning new skills. I am currently reading a book on Heart Shock (treating trauma through a CM lens), studying Chinese Astrology as well as organising for a world renowned Tui Na Massage therapist to come to teach in Australia this coming November.
Carly Tomadin: I can hear how CM is woven into so many aspects of your life—how you work and what you prioritise. Sounds like there are some exciting things on the horizon too. What first drew you to study and practise CM?
Jarryd Harvey: I feel like CM found me! I was bed bound with a chronic illness in my late teens. After years of visiting countless Western doctors and specialists, my condition continued to deteriorate. It wasn’t until someone recommended me to a TCM practitioner that I started to find answers and eventually made a full recovery from my condition.
I was actually a client in a CM clinic, and the head practitioner told me that they had a dream that I would work for them in the future. They asked me if I had ever thought of studying CM. They also offered me an intern position in the clinic…two weeks later I enrolled in a TCM school and started observing at the clinic.
Carly Tomadin: It sounds like you’ve gone through a total transformation over the past decade and that you’ve been completely supported on your journey to becoming a practitioner.
Jarryd Harvey: Yes, I feel very grateful to have had so much support and mentorship on my journey.
Carly Tomadin: How has CM influenced your own relationship to stress, emotions, or balance in life? And is there a lesson or principle from CM you return to most often in your own day-to-day life?
Jarryd Harvey: Chinese Medicine and Daoism have immensely shaped my relationship to how I approach so many aspects of my life. I am a bit of an extremist by nature (not so much any more, but in the past I have been known to do things in extremes).
Chinese Medicine theory can be complex but at its core it is profoundly simple. It all comes back to the Yin and the Yang baby. It’s all about the balance. Seeing things through a CM lens really helps me come back to basics and to see things from a middle ground. Tired and stressed? Clear your schedule and get some rest. Overwhelmed with emotion or stimulation? Spend time in nature or spend some time in silence.
I always come back to the basics. I am always trying to strip things back to do less, and achieve more.
I am a go-getter and I have been known to put too much on my plate…but simplicity is something I am getting better at every day.
Carly Tomadin: That makes a lot of sense and it sounds very intuitive. Bringing it back to basics is a key in my life, too. What are the rituals or practices you lean on when things feel tough?
Jarryd Harvey: When things are getting tough, I will try to clear my schedule for a day or two in order to regather my thoughts and energy. Nature is a true healer for me. Getting my feet on the earth, bathing in a body of fresh water and getting some good quality sleep. Again, I try to keep things as simple as possible.
Carly Tomadin: Simple yet powerful rituals are the way. Are there certain everyday choices—whether in diet or lifestyle—that you see as having a negative impact on mental well-being?
Jarryd Harvey: There are some pretty interesting trends in the wellness scene that I don’t necessarily agree on:
I’m not a fan of plant based diets as a CM practitioner. It can be controversial but I believe that it is so important for the human body to be nourished by consuming animal products. Particularly saturated fats (ghee, butter, animal fats) and the consumption of warm, slow cooked meats and bones for deep nourishment of Yin*, Blood and fluids. And don’t even get me started on ice baths (especially for menstruating women) 🥲
*Nourishing Yin means supporting the body’s cooling, moistening, and restorative functions. Yin is associated with rest, fluids, calmness, and inward focus. When Yin is depleted, people may feel hot (especially at night), dry, restless, anxious, or exhausted. To nourish Yin is to restore these qualities—through practices like adequate rest, calming the mind, eating cooling or moistening foods (e.g. pears, sesame, tofu), staying hydrated, and conserving rather than expending energy.
Carly Tomadin: What about coffee/caffeine?
Jarryd Harvey: Coffee is seen to be as very Yang (activating and hot) in nature. Long term, coffee is very dehydrating and can really exhaust the Kidney Qi (adrenal glands). It’s best enjoyed once in a while rather than relied upon for energy on a daily basis.
Carly Tomadin: That’s important intel right there. Back to you—you’re the picture of health, and it’s also not uncommon to see you on a dance-floor at a party or festival. What do you think about the balance between discipline and letting your hair down?
Jarryd Harvey: Love this question! I believe that play, adventure, music and dance are such an important part of being healthy. I used to take my well-being way too seriously. I was scared of eating non-organic food, I ate a super restrictive diet and I isolated myself from the outside world. I thought that others were damaging their bodies by having fun or partying. It was one of my CM mentors and now dear friends, Natasja Fox, who told me that I needed to “let my hair down and go to a festival”, in order to overcome some health issues I was navigating at the time.
I lack fire in both my Chinese and Western astrology charts. It’s actually important for me to connect with the fire element in order to find and maintain balance in my life. Fire is all about connection. It is the heart, it is music, dancing, travelling…it’s having fun and being spontaneous. And I believe that having fun and being on the dance floor can be done in a healthy and harmonious way, there’s nothing more revitalising than a good dance with friends by the river at a festival.
Carly Tomadin: That makes so much sense. We’re social creatures. Without a sense of connectedness, our well-being really suffers. Even the introverted among us need to spend time with others. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given (and do you actually follow it)?
Jarryd Harvey: In regards to having a positive impact on others, one of my very first yoga teachers said something that really landed with me. It was the 90-9-1 rule. I can’t remember the exact words but it was something along the lines of, “Most people will never care what you do—and that’s okay. Around 90% will quietly watch, 9% will occasionally engage, and 1% will really feel what you share. Don’t waste energy on the majority who aren’t interested. Focus on the ones who are—that’s where your positive impact grows.”
I think it really helped me overcome my fear of being seen in the wellness industry. There’s always going to be people that disagree with you or don’t care about what you do or have to offer. There’s no point in focusing any of your energy on them, they will always exist. Focus your energy where it does matter and on those who do care.
Carly Tomadin: Oh I love this, so true. What a helpful perspective shift. What are some simple practices that people can incorporate into their daily lives to support general well-being?
Jarryd Harvey: One of the simplest and most effective things that you can do for general health and well-being is to get out in natural sunlight as soon as you wake up. Don’t look at your phone or the TV when you wake. Just get outdoors, even if it's for 10 minutes. Go for a walk, move your body. Doing this will set your circadian rhythm up for better hormone production, stress management and quality sleep for the night ahead.
Carly Tomadin: Mmm, this sounds like a simple yet potent practice to implement and one way we can follow in your footsteps! Tell us, if you had a free day with no plans, how would you spend it?
Jarryd Harvey: I love reading books on Chinese Medicine, studying astrology, going to the gym, practising yoga, spending time in nature, cooking, going to market (I eat fresh oysters at the market with friends every Saturday), water colour painting or spending time with friends and family.
Carly Tomadin: It sounds like you live such a wholesome and well-balanced life. And yum to oysters at the market with friends, that sounds ideal. Lastly, what’s on the horizon for Jarryd Harvey?
Jarryd Harvey: I’m in a bit of a study phase at the moment. I am currently studying Chinese Astrology (I hope to integrate this into my practise some time next year), as I mentioned earlier I am also organising a workshop with a Tui Na Massage therapist in early November, and next year I will be completing a 6 month Classical Acupuncture mentorship to deepen my understanding of the work I am currently practising and to take my practise to the next level. I feel like I’m currently doing a lot of work behind the scenes. I’ve been a bit of a hermit this year! But it is serving me well 🙂
Carly Tomadin: Exciting things on the horizon! It certainly sounds like there is a lot happening behind the scenes amongst all of that hermiting.
This has been such a juicy conversation Jarryd, with so many pearls of wisdom. Thank you so much for sharing your time, story and insights with us.
Jarryd Harvey: Thank you Carls! It is always such a pleasure to interact with you. I admire your approach to life and your work. I hope to bump into you on the dance-floor somewhere this Summer? 🙂
Carly Tomadin: 🥰 I feel just the same about you. And yes you certainly will, can’t wait!