Daytryp Health

Psilocybin Therapy: How Aaron Rodgers Used Ayahuasca to Win Big

Did you know that ayahuasca has been used by indigenous people in the jungles of South America since at least fifty A.D.? 

Even though many people from around the world have never heard of the ayahuasca brew, people have been drinking this tea for a very long time. In recent years the brew has been getting more attention in the media.

To heal from conditions such as trauma and depression, many people who have participated in psilocybin therapy are also choosing to drink ayahuasca. 

In fact, even the NFL player Aaron Rodgers has been drinking ayahuasca. If you want to find out more about how this brew helped him win big, keep reading, and we will tell you everything you need to know. 

Aaron Rodgers and Ayahuasca

Aaron Rodgers grew up in Chico, California, and played college football for the University of California, Berkeley. 

He was drafted by the Packers in 2005, but it wasn’t until 2020 that he made his first trip to Peru to drink ayahuasca. Since he went to Peru before the start of the pandemic, it was not a problem for him to travel. 

He recently shared on a podcast that the time that he spent drinking ayahuasca helped him to have the best season of his career. In fact, he was the NFL MVP in 2020 and 2021. 

During his recent podcast interview, he shared that he did not think that it was a coincidence that he earned this award immediately after drinking ayahuasca. 

Rogers believes that the most important aspect of one’s mental health is self-love, which he reported that ayahuasca helped him to cultivate. 

The NFL superstar says that after he drank ayahuasca for the first time, he experienced the sensation of hundreds of hands moving across his body. These hands were offering him blessings of love and self-forgiveness. 

He also reports that ayahuasca helped him to become more grateful for his life. He believes that the hands that were moving across his body were his ancestors. 

Rogers’s NFL Performance Before His Ayahuasca Experiences 

Prior to drinking ayahuasca, Rogers was performing well in the NFL, but he knew that he could improve but there was something that was in the way. 

In 2019 he was afraid that his career was in decline. But after returning from Peru in 2020, he had the two best seasons of his career. At thirty-seven years old, he ended up being named the MVP of the NFL. 

Before he set out for Peru, he said that he had negative voices in his head. He also says that he had relationship problems with members of his family. 

Even though he has still not been able to heal some of these relationship problems, he has been able to get rid of the negative internal voices. 

Without these voices, it became easier for him to give his heart to his teammates. According to him, this helped him improve his performance on the field. 

Aaron Rodgers Did Not Violate the NFL Drug Policy 

When Aaron Rodgers drank ayahuasca, he did not violate the National Football League’s drug policy.

Several days after he spoke about his experiences with the hallucinogenic tea on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast, an NFL spokesman that he would not have received an NFL violation if the league had known about it. 

One of the reasons for this is that he would not have had a positive test for performance-enhancing substances. He also would not have tested positive for substance abuse substances. 

Misconceptions About Ayahuasca

In his recent interview, Rodgers confirmed that there are many misconceptions that people hold about ayahuasca and other psychedelic substances. 

He feels that most people are afraid that they are going to go crazy and lose control of themselves when they drink ayahuasca. He also noted that the majority of people mistakenly believe that it is “a big throw up fest.” 

In the interview, he pointed out that people often do have challenging experiences when they drink ayahuasca.

But on the other side of these experiences, people tend to open up to a greater realization about who they are and their place in the world. 

Rodgers also noted the “crazy mind-expanding possibilities” that people tend to become aware of once they drink ayahuasca. After he left Peru in 2020, he knew that he would never be the same person as he was before. 

Now that Aaron Rodgers has drank ayahuasca several times, he says that one of his missions is to set the record straight.

He wants people to know that he does not want people to continue being misled by the negative stereotypes about what it means to drink Amazonian tea. 

Aaron Rodger’s goal is to “become more free at work, as a leader, as a teammate, as a friend, as a lover.” He now feels that he is fully prepared to lead the Green Bay Packers to many victories in the near future.

The Basics of Ayahuasca 

Ayahuasca is a tea that people brew with the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the chakruna leaf. Indigenous tribes in the Amazon jungle of South America have been using it for many thousands of years in ceremonial contexts. 

Many people who participate in psilocybin therapy have also drunk ayahuasca.

Even though the substance is not legal in most of the world’s countries, it is legal to drink in Peru.

Therefore, many people travel there to participate in ceremonies with ayahuasca. It’s becoming more common for people to use substances such as ayahuasca and ketamine to treat PTSD

The ayahuasca brew contains DMT, which is a powerful psychedelic. The Banisteriopsis caapi vinecontains something known as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).

This prevents the body from breaking down the DMT that is present in ayahuasca. Therefore, people who drink this tea tend to have psychedelic experiences that can last for up to six hours. 

Thousands of people visit Peru every year to attend ayahuasca retreats, just like Aaron Rodgers did.

These retreats are led by facilitators who help participants safely participate in ayahuasca ceremonies. Facilitators will also help participants to prepare for and integrate from their ayahuasca ceremonies. 

Most ceremonies are led by indigenous shamans who spend many decades as apprentices before they start holding ceremonies.

Several of the most important Amazonian indigenous groups that hold ceremonies are the Shipibo-Conibo of Peru, the Koreguaje, and the Huni Kuin of Brazil. 

Microdosing Ayahuasca 

Microdosing involves consuming very small amounts of psychedelic substances. It’s not that difficult to find organizations selling microdoses of psilocybin. But it is harder to microdose ayahuasca because it is much harder to find in the United States. 

There are lots of studies showing that ayahuasca can help people to overcome conditions such as depression and addiction. Therefore, more and more people are becoming interested in microdosing ayahuasca. 

The Legality of Ayahuasca in the United States

You might be surprised to know that, under certain circumstances, it is legal to drink ayahuasca in the United States.

This is because a church called the União do Vegetal (UDV) brought a case to the supreme court to get approval to use ayahuasca for religious purposes. 

The supreme court decided that it was not legal for the government to prosecute those who used ayahuasca during the church’s religious services. 

Unfortunately, this decision only applies to several different churches. This includes the Santo Daime, UDV, and Native American churches. 

If you are not a member of these churches, it is not legal to consume ayahuasca in the United States. This is one of the reasons why it is popular for people to fly to countries such as Brazil and Peru, where it is legal to drink the tea. 

There are various organizations that are currently trying to make it legal to consume ayahuasca in the United States.

Since the substance has many potential therapeutic benefits, there are also several well-funded research studies underway in the United States. 

It’s likely that studies show that ayahuasca can help people to heal from their illnesses. 

The Future of Ayahuasca and Psilocybin Therapy

Aaron Rodgers grabbed many newspaper headlines when he recently talked about his experience of drinking ayahuasca. This is why it’s very likely that more people will start talking about the benefits of ayahuasca and psilocybin therapy. 

Are you ready to take steps to improve your mental health? If so, we are here to help you.

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Yvé Dizes

Tryp Guide

Grounded in decades of extensive training with shamans, yogis, and spiritual teachers, Yvé
leverages her innate ability to channel the quantum field to provide profound insight and
transformation for her clientele. Her work is deeply influenced by her daily meditation practice, esoteric research, quantum mechanics, and J.R.R. Tolkien… only partially a joke!

Yvé’s advocacy for Divine Neutrality inspired her exploration into the transformative potential of Ketamine therapy. She delights in her role as a Tryp Guide, where she creates and holds sacred space, promoting transformation through this unique modality. Graced with an amazing partner and soul community, Yvé is humbled and honored to share her life’s purpose with you.

Will Burkhart

Tryp Guide

Will has spent his life seeking truth and exploring the limits of what is possible. This has led him to many extreme experiences—Marine Corps combat veteran, US Army Airborne and Ranger schools, wilderness adventure racing, high altitude mountaineering, ultra-endurance events, holistic healing modalities, psychedelics, and coaching. 

Will is a Co-Active Certified Professional Coach and a High Flow Performance Coach. He specializes in integrative psychedelic coaching and facilitating psychedelic experiences. He is relentless in his passion to explore life’s magnificence.  It’s an ongoing journey and one he would be honored to share with you as a Tryp Guide.

Steve Judson

Tryp Guide

While everyone has a different path to happiness, the majority of people encounter comparable experiences along the way. Examples include honesty, kindness, compassion, generosity, concern for oneself, others, and nature; respect for life; a desire to make a good difference; and many more.

Steve’s involvement, acceptance, and advocacy of the use of entheogenic substances as sacraments for direct spiritual experiences is what has inspired him to work hard to create peace and harmony in both his own life and the lives of those around him.

Steve has made a commitment to rejuvenating his own spiritual life using humanist resources and a humanist perspective. With an emphasis on the mysticism of the unitive experience and the practical use of entheogenic rituals for learning about and developing human consciousness to create a direct connection to the Divine within, Steve has been studying and using a variety of transformational tools. Each has acted as a catalyst in his own consciousness, resulting in profoundly life-altering experiences that have gradually revealed Steve’s true self and pointed him in the direction of his true purpose in life.

Steve’s desire to be of service to others by coaching, mentoring, and guiding them through a shamanic methodology and the practical use of entheogenic rituals is the driving force behind his life’s work, passions, and interests.

Steve loves sharing the knowledge he has gained using many entheogenic sacraments and transformational tools that can help spark a shift in consciousness and result in a profound realization of one’s true nature. Steve also firmly endorses both the idea of cognitive liberty (the right to direct one’s own consciousness) and the safe and appropriate use of entheogenic sacraments for a direct spiritual experience.

Steve has put a lot of effort into learning about and developing the best techniques as a practitioner and guide to provide the right guidance, proper preparation, safe navigation, and holistic integration into the sacred work he performs, and he remains dedicated to his work through practice, mentorship, and study.

 

There is a prayer in Sanskrit, one of the oldest recorded languages dating back 7000–8000 years, that says, “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu.” This means: “May all beings everywhere be happy and free. May the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and that freedom for all.” This is a truth Steve lives by every day.

Megan Schneider

Tryp Guide

Megan is passionate about holding a sacred space for others to explore healing connections between the mind, body, breath, and spirit. As a plant energy practitioner, essential oils specialist, and yoga teacher, she wholeheartedly believes in an individualized approach to health and the power of curating personalized integrative self-healing practices of your own. Megan creates space for others to explore the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic medicines, both from a physiological and metaphysical standpoint, while inspiring others remembrance of their divine beauty, purpose, and gifts. Through the art of intention, peaceful presence, and loving awareness she hopes to welcome you more deeply into accessing your innate power to heal from within.

Joel Newton

Tryp Guide

From a young age, Joel sought happiness in competitive sports, business, and relationships. Each accomplishment came with a fleeting sense of fulfillment causing another repeat of the same cycle. That same mysterious desire for acceptance led Joel to seek information in new and unfamiliar territories. Joel has found comfort in his study of past and current visionaries, such as Carl Jung, Dr. Richard Schwartz, Deepak Chopra, and Gabor Matè. Learning that love of oneself is the true path to peace. Joel honors medicines and substance along with meditation and self-care for the aid of self-discovery. He has found that nothing is more enjoyable than supporting others in their constant journey of growth. Healing himself and others has become his greatest gift and passion.

Nick Ghiz

Tryp Guide

Nick’s upbringing instilled in him the significance of giving, helping, and inspiring others. He understands that these invaluable gifts have the power to shift paradigms within one’s life. For him, being involved in someone’s transformative journey is a privilege. Deep within each of us lies the ability to discover peace and lasting happiness. Sometimes we just need someone to guide us along the way. Nick carries this responsibility close to his heart, knowing firsthand the vulnerability we experience when seeking help. He hopes to be a bright light throughout this magnificent adventure you are about to embark upon.

Stephanie Bernau

RN

Tryp Guide

Stephanie is a registered nurse helping to guide individuals in their journey towards wellness. Raised in Pima, Arizona and graduating from her hometown college, she has over 9 years of experience in pediatric emergency and trauma medicine. With her passion for health and involvement in the fitness community, Stephanie became a fitness coach in 2017. Dedicated to her own personal project of “unbecoming” and healing, Stephanie went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Arizona State University in 2022, focusing on the evidence-based approach to integrating the mind, body, and spirit for optimal health and wellbeing. Stephanie is an advocate for integrative health and wellness, while honoring your journey by providing a compassionate and supportive space for healing. In her spare time you can find her exploring the sky with husband Jamie and their dog Coco.

Hanna Caldwell

RN

Tryp Guide

Hanna is from a small town here in Arizona. From the time she was a child, community has been a huge part of her life. She believe in total wellness and healing through mind, body and soul. This been a theme in her life, especially as an ER nurse and a nurse here at the clinic. Hanna loves helping others and blending western and holistic medicine to help others live to their greatest potential.

Ann Berardi

RN

Tryp Guide

Ann is a registered nurse with a passion for helping others find balance in wellness and health. After graduating with her BSN from Cleveland State University in 2013, she worked briefly as a progressive care cardiac nurse. During that time, she was trained in Usui Reiki and completed her master/teacher level training in 2014. She then devoted herself as a hospice nurse, supporting and coaching many individuals and their loved ones through the dying process. After several years, Ann transitioned her skills and desires to focus on helping individuals achieve optimal wellness with holistic therapies. She opened a small mobile IV infusion business in 2019, offering in-home infusion therapy focusing on prevention and health maintenance. She also became certified in medical aesthetics.
 
Her constant ambition as a nurse is in service and helping others activate their own healing for optimal wellness while living from their highest self. Her goal is to provide a calm and peaceful environment where individuals can relax into healing.
  
She grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and has lived in sunny Arizona since 2015. She finds relaxation in the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, star-gazing and flying airplanes.

Alisia Malta

RN

Tryp Guide

Alisia graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011. She has worked in both outpatient and inpatient settings during her 12 years as a RN. Her fascination with the human brain led her to become a specialist in Deep Brain Stimulation therapy. Alisia is also an artist and has been selling her work professionally for the last 10 years. Through several difficult life events, she experienced firsthand the healing power of creative expression. Her passions reside in health, psychology, art, and human connection. She is ecstatic to be part of the Daytryp team, and grateful for the opportunity to assist with the intentional use of psychedelic medicines for healing.

Nellie Bowers, RN

RN

Tryp Guide

Nellietha (Nellie) has been in healthcare for 18 years. She graduated with a Bachelors in Science from Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2018. She grew up in a family that prioritized alternative medicine and witnessed firsthand the profound impact natural remedies have on physical and mental health. As someone who has personally experienced the transformative effects of psychedelics, she is passionate about helping others find relief and healing through these alternative therapies. In her free time, she enjoys her animals, gardening, and being out in nature.

Jeff Kaplan

Jeff was born and raised 25 miles north of Chicago, IL. He graduated from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1999 with a B.S. in Business Communications. Jeff has worked for several successful start-ups in the consumer and daily deal space, excelling in business development and customer service. He is a certified life-coach specializing in working with adolescents. As Daytryp’s Intake Coordinator, he takes great pride in being the first voice our clients hear when they call into the facility. He enjoys working on his spiritual self, doing voiceover work, spending time with his girlfriend in San Diego and taking his bulldog Walter on road trips across the country.

Dave Romanelli

Chief Vibe Officer

David Romanelli fuses ancient wellness practices with modern passions that give people accessible tools to overcome stress, focus their mind, and improve their relationships at work and home. David’s third book, Life Lessons from the Oldest and Wisest, is a reminder that countless professionals, parents, and partners have walked the earth before us. The book was inspired by his series of national events called DRINKS WITH YOUR ELDERS, that created a space for isolated elders to reengage with their community and share their life experiences with younger generations. His previous book, Happy is the New Healthy, was inspired by David’s friendship with a 111 year-old New Yorker. The book reached #1 on multiple Amazon and Apple Bestseller Lists.

Dave partnered up with Daytryp Health to create TRIPT, which is a psychedelic integration APP which is offered to all Daytryp clients.

Most recently, David was a featured voice on a new app from Calm, which brings peace of mind and healing techniques to the 1 of every 3 Americans touched by cancer. His daughter Cooper (aka SuperCooper) put leukemia in the rear view mirror and is David’s inspiration everyday to live with strength, passion, and joie de vivre. Throughout Cooper’s treatment, David found the power of psychedelic therapy as a profound way to heal the trauma and constant worry and reset to a positive path forward as parent, partner, and professional.. His 365 day platform, MEDITATE ON, compels his listeners to gain perspective on their journey and take time each day for reflection, quiet, and meditation. David has been featured in The New York Times, Food & Wine, Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek. You can learn more at www.DavidRomanelli.com

Furthermore, Dave is in charge of Daytryp Retreats, which brings people from all over the world to Phoenix, AZ for 3-4 day retreats to experience life-changing psychedelic journeys.

Dr. Joe Tafur

MD

Medical Advisor / Tryp Guide

Dr. Joe Tafur has dedicated his career to exploring complementary and alternative approaches to health management, particularly Amazonian plant medicines. He completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at UCSD Department of Psychiatry, and worked as a Family Physician in the US before exploring indigenous medicine in South America (SA). He helped found Nihue Rao Centro Espiritual, a traditional healing center in the Peruvian Upper Amazon, and underwent apprenticeship in Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine and Shipibo curanderismo. In 2017, Dr. Joe founded Modern Spirit, a 501c3 nonprofit focused on demonstrating the value of spiritual healing in modern healthcare. In 2019, he and his colleagues opened the Ocotillo Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Tafur is also a leader in his spiritual community and leads plant medicine journeys across the continent. Joe is also a best selling author with his book, The Fellowship of the River.

Rebekah Bohucki

RN

Tryp Guide

Rebekah graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University. After working as an RN in the hospital setting for 13 years, Rebekah stepped away to pursue a career more oriented towards holistic healing and treating the root cause of disease. Rebekah is passionate about the powerful healing abilities of psychedelics and plant medicine and believes that with the right tools and guidance, our mind and body have the innate wisdom and ability to heal from the inside out. Rebekah is also on her path to becoming a Priestess, which includes training in the sacred art of holding energetic space. On her free time, she loves being a mom to her two beautiful children, traveling the world, hiking, yoga, and reading.

Kathryn Kiser

Tryp Guide
Kathryn, also known as Kat, has a deep love for nature and animals and a passion for the great outdoors. She cherishes her children and her dog, and enjoys being silly and surrounded by loved ones. She loves laughing and feeling free. Kathryn prioritizes taking care of both her heart and loves the activities that she chooses daily. Her personal journey towards self-love has been a long and challenging one, with many ups and downs. She spent a lot of her life living in fear and suffering with a closed heart. Choosing to heal through her traumas and open her heart have been the best adventures yet. Kat chooses to be a student of life and will continue on this path. As a participant in your healing journey, she holds space for you to feel into your own love and to witness your growth and healing. From her heart to yours, she looks forward to supporting you on your journey.

Lauren Krison

Lead Tryp Guide & Operations Manager

Lauren is a Phoenix native. She graduated from Arizona State University Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 2007. After spending over a decade in corporate and start-up marketing, the burnout became unbearable, and she knew it was time to pivot to her true passion – wellness. From diet and lifestyle changes to subconscious reprogramming and psychedelic medicine, Lauren’s own wellness journey led her to discover healing modalities that transformed her life in every way imaginable. Her passion led her to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where she graduated in 2021 as a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. As a Tryp Guide, Lauren is honored to hold space for others as they embark on a healing journey of their own.

Ajona Olsen

MSN, APRN, ANP-C, Medical Director

Tryp Guide

Ajona Olsen started her career in healthcare in 2001 as an RN in a hospital. She graduated from Arizona State University as a nurse practitioner in 2006, and worked in corporate medicine for fifteen years. In 2021, she began researching psychedelics as a powerful tool in healing and trained in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. Ajona opened her own practice at the beginning of 2022 to serve those on a journey toward healing and, in turn, has found happiness in the healing for herself and her loved ones. Ajona met Chris Cohn, founder of Daytryp Health, in June of 2022. She is very excited to act as Medical Director and partner with the incredible team at Daytryp. Outside of work, Ajona is an avid yoga enthusiast and enjoys spending time with her family.

Quinn Snyder

MD, FACEP

Chief Medical Officer

Quinn graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in 2007. In 2010, after studying under Andrew Weil and traveling to India to study plant-based medicines, he completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at Drexel University. Quinn has continuously practiced EM at some of the top Departments in and around Phoenix. He possesses leadership experience in Data Analytics, Quality, Operations, and Business Development. During the pandemic, he was the manager of the largest Emergency Department in Arizona, and his experience was the subject of interviews on CNN, PBS Newshour, BBC World News, NPR, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. He has used Ketamine in his clinical practice and is committed to the emerging field of psychedelic medicines for healing.

Chris Cohn

MAC


Founder & CEO

Chris was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. He attended Brophy College Preparatory, then graduated from the University of Arizona. Chris later attained his Masters Degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Addiction Counseling from Grand Canyon University. In 2008, Chris founded Scottsdale Recovery Center and Arizona Addiction Recovery Center, two of the most well-known drug and alcohol rehabs in the state. In 2019, after exiting the rehab space, Chris took a deep dive into the incredible world of psychedelic and plant medicines for his own healing journey. Daytryp Health was birthed from Chris’s ongoing desire and passion to help people heal, recover, and thrive with the intentional and careful use of psychedelic medicines.

Rudy Montijo

MS, LASAC, Consultant/Integration Therapist
Tryp Guide

Rudy Montijo lends his expertise in operations and business development consulting for Daytryp. He received his undergraduate from the University of Arizona, a master’s degree in Addiction Counseling from Grand Canyon University, and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy training from Polaris Insight. Rudy worked under Daytryp’s founder and CEO, Chris Cohn, while operating and expanding Scottsdale Recovery Center from 2013-2014. He currently has an award-winning career in medical sales. He is a former D1 athlete, having played football at the University of Arizona. Rudy is a clinical therapist who is trained in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, actively races on the Ironman triathlon circuit, and is a certified yoga instructor. After helping others, Rudy’s greatest love is his two children, River and Savanna.

Esther Mathers

VP Operations

 

Esther is a seasoned designer with over 25 years of experience in the creation, management and development of calming spaces. A passionate and driving force behind any project, she thrives when curating environments that foster relaxation and well-being for both the mind and body. In addition, Esther has a talent for providing holistic solutions with innovative ideas to persistent challenges. She was honored to be commissioned by the Founder and CEO of Daytryp Health, Chris Cohn, to design the interior of their flagship location. The opportunity has been life-changing, transformative, and inspiring on many different levels. Esther currently lives in Mesa, AZ with her two children and enjoys outdoor activities, particularly those involving water.