Kerala Ayurveda Academy is delighted to welcome the following leaders of the Ayurvedic industry in the U.S. and globally to our premier Summit.
Sri Vijay Kapoor
Sri Vijay KapoorDirector of Arsha Vidya Pitham
Inaugural Speech, Fri Sep 27
Sri. Vijay Kapoor is the Director of Arsha Vidya Pitham, one of the main disciples of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. Shri Kapoor was one of the pioneers to establish the teachings of Pujya Swamiji in Piercy, California, started in 1979. Shri Vijay Kapoor serves on the board of directors and officers of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam. He is a great teacher of Vedanta and runs many educational programs in Vedanta and Bhagavat Gita in the U.S.
Ramesh Vangal
Ramesh VangalMBA, BTech
Founder and Chairman, Katra Group
Chairman’s Address, Fri Sep 27
Scientific Panel | Making the Big Impact: Groundbreaking Research in Ayurveda, Sat Sep 28
Closing Panel | Advancing Ayurveda Together, Sun Sep 29
Ramesh Vangal is the Founder and Chairman of Katra Group, including subsidiaries Kerala Ayurveda India and USA. He was honored by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay as a Distinguished Alum and the first Asian to be awarded Alumni of the Year at the London Business School. After a rich career in senior positions at multinationals including Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo and Seagram, his personal healing experiences awakened a deep conviction in the power of nature, Ayurveda and Yoga. It is his mission to build an institution integrating Ayurveda and Yoga, validated by modern science for advancing global shifts in consciousness.
His career began at Procter & Gamble in 1980 with marketing assignments in Europe, the Middle East, Central America, the Caribbean and West Africa. He moved to PepsiCo where served as President, Asia Pacific and led the company’s landmark entry into India in the early 1990s, widely considered a pioneering stage in India’s opening of Foreign Direct Investment. Ramesh Vangal’s name is engraved in the Pepsico Walk of Achievement at Pepsico Global HQ in New York. In 1997, he became the Chairman of Seagram – Asia Pacific, now Pernod Ricard, and part of its global executive board. The same year he joined the Board of Infosys Technologies Ltd as its first independent Director. In 2001, Ramesh founded the Scandent Group, now Cambridge Solutions, an India-listed specialist IT/BPO company.
After two decades of experience in technology, big business and entrepreneurship, Ramesh’s life direction shifted as he faced chronic health conditions and a desire to find a deeper meaning in life. Seeking a connection with nature and his life purpose, be embarked on a personal transformation and healing with the help of Ayurveda and Yoga, which profoundly changed his professional career direction ever since. He founded Katra in 2001 as well as the Asha Foundation for children impacted by cerebral palsy and autism, which has helped over 1,500 children with autism and other special needs. Katra Group is focused on wellness from Ayurveda, nutraceuticals and herbal extracts and is the major shareholder in Kerala Ayurveda Limited. The group today employs over 1,000 team members worldwide, including a network of over 10,000 farmers in India. Powered by Katra and Ramesh’s philosophy of “purpose over profit,” Kerala Ayurveda’s seed-to-shelf wellness approach has touched the lives of thousands of people since 1945 and growing.
Dr. (Vaidya) Anil Kumar
Dr. (Vaidya) Anil KumarBAMS
Executive Director, Kerala Ayurveda Limited
Honoring of the Kerala Ayurveda Lineage, Fri Sep 27
Dr. Anil Kumar is the Executive Director of Kerala Ayurveda Limited, responsible for the consolidation of his family’s business and its entrance into the mainstream Ayurvedic industry. He is the elder son of Kerala Ayurveda’s Founder, Vaidya K G K Panicker, and a third generation Ayurvedic physician. He successfully expanded the historic apothecary, established in 1945, into a publicly listed company under Bombay and Cochin Stock Exchanges, and developed the business in segments of Health Care, Academia, Research & Development, Sales & Marketing. Both an Ayurvedic doctor and entrepreneur, Dr. Anil believes in people, heritage and kindness.
The wide footprint of Kerala Ayurveda as the full spectrum, most awarded Ayurvedic company it is today is due to Dr. Anil’s conception of a variety of growth channels including: a chain of clinics throughout Kerala and India, the AyurvedaGram Heritage Wellness Center outside Bangalore; a Research and Development facility; the reorganization of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; Kerala Ayurveda Academy; herbal gardens nurturing over 1,200 rare species; 40 proprietary and patented Ayurvedic products and “Vaidyam,” one of the most respected Ayurvedic journals.
Dr. Anil is a Doctor of Ayurveda medicine (BAMS) and former faculty of Kerala University of Health Sciences. He is currently the Vice Chairman to CARe Keralam (Consortium of Kerala Ayurveda Industry), Vice President (South Region) of the Ayurveda Drug Manufacturers Association ADMA), a member of the Pharmacopeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy – AYUSH Govt of India, and an Executive Member of the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organization of India (AMMOI). He formerly served as President of the Ayurvedic Medical Association of India (AMAI – the largest association of Ayurvedic Doctors) and as a member of the Central Council of Indian Medicines Dept. of Ayush (CCIM). He is the recipient of the Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award from KSIDC (Govt of Kerala) on the occasion of their Golden Jubilee Celebrations, and has presented scientific papers in various seminars in India and abroad.
Dr. (Vaidya) Jayarajan Kodikannath
Dr. (Vaidya) Jayarajan KodikannathBAMS, BSc
Vice President and Academy Director, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Honoring of the Kerala Ayurveda Lineage & Teachers, Fri Sep 27
Plenary Session, Sat Sep 28
Clinical Panel | Clinical Management of Autoimmune Disorders, Sat Sep 28
Scientific Panel | Making the Big Impact: Groundbreaking Research in Ayurveda, Sat Sep 28
Panel | Best Practices: Emerging Ayurvedic Clinicians, Sun Sep 29
Case Studies | Mental Disorders, Sun Sep 29
Interactive Forum for Ayurvedic Students & Professionals, Sun Sep 29
Closing Panel | Advancing Ayurveda Together, Sun Sep 29
Dr. (Vaidya) Jayarajan Kodikannath is the Academy Director of Kerala Ayurveda USA, responsible for all academic programs conducted internationally by Kerala Ayurveda. He is an experienced Ayurveda Scholar, with a degree in Ayurvedic Medicine from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. He has run a successful Ayurvedic Wellness Practice. He is also a lead trainer for domain experts in Ayurveda, focused on developing internal resources through training programs and developing new offerings in Ayurvedic Education. He has rich experience in creating programs in Ayurvedic Wellness and has effectively demonstrated and implemented new offerings in Ayurvedic Wellness in India, Europe and the US. He headed the Ayurveda Expert team in the new research project development at Kerala Ayurveda on Efficacy, Safety and Standardization of Ayurvedic Wellness solutions. He is a member of the Expert Curriculum Committee for Masters in Ayurveda at Bastyr University, Seattle, US, as well as a Board Member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA).
Master Subhash Mohanty
Master Subhash MohantyGrade certification at Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation
Yoga Instructor, AyurvedaGram Heritage Wellness Centre
Guest Presenter, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Yoga and Meditation, Sat Sep 28 and Sun Sep 29
Plenary Session, Sat Sep 28
“Mohanty Ji” as he is fondly greeted has taught at Kerala Ayurveda’s AyurvedaGram Wellness Center outside of Bangalore for over a decade. He trained at Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation and has presented research papers at The International Yoga Conference in Rishikesh.
His company is elevating to the consciousness as he seamlessly transmits advanced Yogic concepts into simple and practical tools, teaching the art of Yogasana (postures), Pranayama (breathwork) and meditation. Rooted in pure Indian tradition, Yogi Mohanty makes the ancient wisdom of the ages easily accessible and relevant to the challenges of our busy modern way of living. His teachings touch the lives of diverse students, from beginners to advanced practitioners and teachers. Students may swiftly experience a tangible difference with reduced stress, improved health and uplifted well-being under his gentle teaching style.
Dr. (Vaidya) Karthik Krishnan
Dr. (Vaidya) Karthik KrishnanBAMS
Senior Ayurveda Consultant & Head of Marketing – Ayurveda Products & Services, Kerala Ayurveda Limited
Guest Presenter, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Scientific Panel | Making the Big Impact: Groundbreaking Research in Ayurveda, Sat Sep 28
Breakout Session | Ayurvedic Assessment: Application in Daily Practice, Sat Sep 28
Dr. (Vaidya) Karthik Krishnan is a versatile Ayurveda consultant with demonstrated history on in-client management including authentic Panchakarma procedures. Born into a family with a legacy of healing and Tantra, Dr. (Vaidya) Karthik began his Ayurveda education as a young adult with his Guru. After the traditional training, he joined Santhigiri Ayurveda Medical College to earn his Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine & Surgery degree. Dr. (Vaidya) Karthik completed his clinical internship at the National Research Institute of Panchakarma under the guidance of Dr. (Vaidya) Radhakrishnan. He commenced his career as a consultant at Santhigiri Ayurveda Clinic at Trivandrum. In 2013, he joined Kerala Ayurveda Ltd as a consultant and later served as head of the medical services at The Health Village until 2017. Dr. (Vaidya) Karthik is known for his clinical accomplishments and research on diabetes. His protocol on Ayurveda Diabetes Care was recognized at International Ayush Conclave 2018. Currently, he is Senior Ayurveda Consultant & Head of Marketing – Ayurveda Products & Services at Kerala Ayurveda Ltd.
Dr. (Vaidya) Ram Tamang
Dr. (Vaidya) Ram TamangBAMS, MH, AD
Academy Faculty, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Clinical Panel | Clinical Management of Autoimmune Disorders, Sat Sep 28
Dr. (Vaidya) Ram Tamang is an Ayurvedic Physician and Master Herbologist with over 15 years of full-time Ayurvedic practice in Southern California. He is a teacher, mentor and above all, a healer to thousands of clients who have learned from him, and transformed their lives.
Dr. (Vaidya) Ram is the director of The Healing Gardens of Ayurveda, a full-service Ayurvedic clinic in Orange County, CA. The Healing Gardens was established in 2003 and offers Ayurvedic therapies, cleanses, panchakarma and more. Over the last 18 years of his practice, Dr. (Vaidya) Ram has traveled and taught at numerous schools and organizations in Europe and America.
He is known for his ability to simplify the teachings and wisdom of Ayurveda, and his way of blending traditional Ayurveda for the modern needs of today’s world. He is fun, playful and a beloved mentor to many students and clients alike.
Dr. (Vaidya) Sheena Sooraj
Dr. (Vaidya) Sheena SoorajBAMS
Ayurvedic Specialist, Consultant & Academy Faculty, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Clinical Panel | Clinical Management of Autoimmune Disorders, Sat Sep 28
Scientific Panel | Making the Big Impact: Groundbreaking Research in Ayurveda, Sat Sep 28
Dr. (Vaidya) Sheena Sooraj is an experienced Ayurvedic practitioner from Kerala, India. Coming from a family with a strong Ayurvedic background, she developed her passion for Ayurveda at a young age, as her grandfather was a well-known Ayurvedic physician and astrologer. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Ayurvedic Medical Science from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, and is currently studying Natural Medicine at Indiana University.
Vaidya Sheena started practicing in Veda Charitable Trust Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram while completing her residency. She later opened and operated an Ayurvedic clinic in Bangalore for 12 years and served as an authorized dealer of Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala. She has successfully managed a wide range of diseases and has rich experience in supporting clients with allergic disorders, skin diseases such as psoriasis, digestive and respiratory diseases, joint disorders, infertility cases and autoimmune diseases.
She is an active advocate of Ayurveda and is an experienced public speaker on its importance in daily life, having led talks at schools, corporate offices and banks. Her objective is to guide her clients to achieve health in a natural way and continually add value to her profession through initiative, innovation and experience.
Dr. (Vaidya) Rucha Kelkar
Dr. (Vaidya) Rucha KelkarBAMS, PT, DPT
Academy Faculty, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Clinical Panel | Clinical Management of Autoimmune Disorders, Sat Sep 28
Dr. Rucha Kelkar is the Director of Ayurbliss – Ayurveda, Physical Therapy and Yoga Integrative Wellness Center. She has been practicing Ayurveda for over 18 years and is an accomplished Ayurvedic practitioner and educator providing health consultations, panchakarma therapies and workshops on Ayurveda.
Dr. (Vaidya) Rucha is a teacher for leading Ayurveda schools in the United States. She is also a writer for various Ayurvedic magazines and a published author for Physical Therapy/Yoga and Ayurveda journals. She has been a featured presenter at national Ayurveda conferences on multiple occasions.
She received her graduate degree from University of Pune, India and her doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from The College of St. Scholastica, MN. She specializes in orthopedic physical therapy and integrates it with Yoga and Ayurveda. Her clinic is located in San Mateo, CA.
Dr. (Vaidya) Namyata Pathak-Gandhi
Dr. (Vaidya) Namyata Pathak-GandhiBAMS, MD (Ayurveda), Vaidya Scientist Fellow
Ayurvedic Specialist, Consultant & Academy Faculty, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Scientific Panel | Making the Big Impact: Groundbreaking Research in Ayurveda, Sat Sep 28
Dr. (Vaidya) Namyata Pathak-Gandhi is a physician trained in Ayurveda and modern medicine in a 8.5 year program in Mumbai, India under the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. In 2011, she was selected as the youngest and exceptional Vaidya Scientist Fellow (VSF) in a nationwide screen by the Department of AYUSH, Government of India, through Centre of Excellence, Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Bengaluru.
Mentored by some of the best minds in Ayurveda and conventional medicine, she understands the nuances for Integrative health education, practice and research. Her teaching reflects a smooth blend of classical Ayurveda and certain biomedical fundamentals for safe, pragmatic application.
Trained to address diverse health conditions, she has a special focus on (i) high primary cardio-metabolic risk like Prediabetes and (ii) chronic neurodegenerative condition of Parkinson’s Disease. She is on the editorial board of international peer reviewed journals, has authored several publications and delivered talks to community, industry, research groups.
Mamta Landerman
Mamta LandermanCAS, PKS
Academy Faculty, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Clinical Panel | Clinical Management of Autoimmune Disorders, Sat Sep 28
Closing Panel | Advancing Ayurveda Together, Sun Sep 29
Mamta Landerman is a Clinical Ayurveda and Pancha Karma Specialist. Her vision for the growth and establishment of the Ayurvedic Profession in the U.S. led her to become the Pioneering and Founding President of The California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine (CAAM) where she served for 5 years since 1998. In 2018 she was again invited to pick up that mantle and currently serves on the CAAM Board once again as its President. Under CAAM she produced three Ayurveda International Symposia at UC Berkeley from 2001 which brought together for the first time in the U.S. a large community of Ayurvedic Professionals, Schools, Mentors and Suppliers that sowed the seeds and led to new ventures and Ayurvedic Professional Groups sprouting around the country.
A native of India with a deep love for Nature (she runs her organic blueberry farm in Sebastopol) and ancient studies, Mamta is a freelance teacher of Ayurveda and Jyotisha and loves traveling all over the U.S. teaching these subjects. She has been doing transformational healing work for the last 39 years and has been on the Faculty of Kerala Ayurveda Academy since its journey began in the U.S.
Dr. (Vaidya) Kamya Pillai
Dr. (Vaidya) Kamya PillaiBAMS, AWP
Ayurvedic Specialist, Consultant & Academy Faculty, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Breakout Session | Incorporating Herbs & Formulations in Ayurvedic Practice, Sat Sep 28
Vaidya Kamya Pillai is a specialist in Ayurveda, having earned her degree in Ayurvedic Medicine from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala and later served as a faculty in the same university under the Ophthalmology and ENT departments. She also completed her Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner (AWP) certification from Kerala Ayurveda Academy in 2015 and serves as an AWP mentor for students at the academy.
Vaidya Kamya gained valuable experience in managing a broad spectrum of disorders while operating as an independent practitioner in India during 2009-2013. She takes pride in motivating people to adopt a healthy lifestyle by adopting Ayurvedic practices, especially children and teens. She organized and led free medical camps on behalf of multiple Indian NGOs with the aim of spreading the message of Ayurveda to the masses. She also presented many white papers on the topics of eye health and autoimmune disorders in various seminars across South India.
She is highly skilled in preventive medicine, autoimmune disorders, skin and joint health, and is also passionate about kids’ nutrition and Ayurvedic cooking.
Laura Plumb
Laura PlumbAWP, E-RYT 500
KAA Alumnus
Breakout Session | Setting up a Successful Practice, Sat Sep 28
As a graduate of the Kerala Ayurveda Academy, the American Institute of Vedic Studies, and with decades of study into Yoga, Meditation, Vedanta, Jyotish, herbal medicine, nutrition, health and healing, Laura Plumb is an international educator on the power of the Vedic sciences to promote vibrant health and sacred living.
Founder and Director of VedaWise, Laura Plumb leads workshops, trainings and teaches worldwide. She is widely recognized for understanding and sharing the deeper principles of Ayurveda while making them accessible and relevant to modern life.
Laura is lead faculty for the Ayurvedic Integrated Nutrition 200 hour Professional Training, author of the best-selling book Ayurveda Cooking For Beginners, creator/presenter of the online video course The Medicine In Your Kitchen: Introduction to Ayurvedic Cooking hosted by Spirituality & Health, host of the 53-part television show CleanseVeda available through Gaia and Amazon, and a 12-part series called Divine Yoga available at Amazon.
Formerly the General Manager of The Discovery Channel Europe, Laura offers clinical services in natural medicine and health practitioner trainings in the Vedic sciences. She leads online courses, and gives classes and consultations in Ayurveda, Jyotish, Yoga Therapy, Whole Food Cooking and Nutrition. Additionally Laura has served as a contributing Ayurvedic educator at the UCSD Center for Integrative Medicine, is an Ambassador for Banyan Botanicals and runs The Sophia Camp for Girls – a week every summer dedicated to cultivating self-esteem, self-care and self-regulation through Yoga, Ayurveda, mentoring and creative play.
Laura’s blog food-alovestory.com is an inspirational free resource for Ayurvedic recipes and wise living. Her popular whole food, plant-based seasonal cleanses are powerful, effective and deliciously nourishing. Her articles on health and wellness have been published in Huffington Post, Ayurveda Next Door, Spirituality & Health, Well + Good, Yoga Digest and the Times of India, among other national and international media.
Dr. (Vaidya) Rekha Nahar
Dr. (Vaidya) Rekha NaharBAMS, BSc
Ayurvedic Specialist, Consultant & Academy Faculty, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Case Studies | Infertility, Sun Sep 29
Dr. (Vaidya) Rekha is an Ayurvedic Practitioner with almost two decades of experience, specializing in women’s health. She earned her degree training at Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India and received her certification in the U.S. at Kerala Ayurveda Academy.
Ayurveda has been an inspiration to Dr. (Vaidya) Rekha since her early childhood, when her younger brother overcame an epidemic illness thanks to its healing power. Prior to moving to the U.S., she ran a hospital in India specializing in health care for women, including gynecology, obstetrics and infertility.
She believes a healthy woman is the pillar of a family and contributes to the health of our world. Each day she strives to fulfill this role for her family and clients, offering lifestyle guidelines, herbal formulations, natural remedies and an encouraging, positive outlook. She relishes helping others grow closer to nature through holistic health solutions and looks forward to each time a client successfully conceives.
Revathi Raghavan
Revathi RaghavanAWP
KAA Alumnus and Faculty, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Ayurveda for Your Personal Health & Wellbeing, Sun Sep 29
Revathi Raghavan is a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner from Kerala Ayurveda Academy. She is also a Yoga and Meditation Instructor with the Art of Living foundation for 18 years now. As an Ayurveda educator, she regularly travels and conducts Ayurvedic workshops on Dinacharya (Ayurvedic self care/daily routine), Skin and Beauty, Cooking and Nutrition, and Ayurvedic Home Remedies. She also teaches a 5 day Marma Practitioner Training and has trained over three hundred practitioners so far. She serves as a guest teaching faculty at Kerala Ayurveda Academy and Wellness Center in Milpitas, California. Trained in ‘panchakarma techniques’ and healing modalities, she offers these therapies in addition to lifestyle consultations in her practice in Fremont, California and also at KAA. She is a professional member of National Ayurvedic Medical Association(NAMA). She holds a Masters in Mass Communications and a Bachelors in Electronics Engineering. In her leisure, she enjoys hiking, dancing, writing, artwork and cooking.
Alka Mulakaluri
Alka MulakaluriAWP, AD (NAMA), LMT
KAA Alumnus, Panchakarma Specialist and Faculty, Kerala Ayurveda USA
Alumni Panel | Best Practices: Emerging Ayurvedic Clinicians, Sun Sep 29
Her belief, love, and passion to heal and help people to walk towards optimal health Spiritually using Sattvik and natural means diverted her back to her roots from where she comes to Ayurveda. She believes that touch is the best source to heal people and to reach their heart.
Alka is a certified Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner and Panchakarma Technician from Kerala Ayurveda Academy and has earned her diploma in Ayurvedic Sciences at well-known Ayurveda colleges in India. She is also a California Licensed Massage Therapist graduated from Everest College, San Francisco. She specializes in Panchakarma techniques and Ayurvedic detox programs, combining the knowledge of western massage techniques and traditional Ayurvedic preventive measures.
She is a compassionate and inspiring educator, committed to providing services to humanity.
Victor Briere
Victor BriereAD
KAA Alumnus
Alumni Panel | Best Practices: Emerging Ayurvedic Clinicians, Sun Sep 29
Victor is the co-founder of Pacific Coast Ayurveda, where he serves as a NAMA-recognized Ayurvedic Doctor and Kundalini Yoga Teacher. A gifted pulse reader, Victor specializes in Ayurvedic diagnostic techniques and health counseling. His in-depth individualized approach offers clients and students a detailed and multi-layered perspective of their health profile. Emphasizing the role and importance of lifestyle change and the support often needed to successfully address the root cause of illness, he offers on-going health counseling that applies clinical Ayurveda through the yogic prism.
He works closely with Madison Madden, AD, where they integrate the diagnostic, counseling, and therapeutic elements of Ayurveda in a fluid and multi-dimensional way.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Victor’s love of Kundalini Yoga led him to Ayurveda. He studied at Kerala Ayurveda Academy in both Los Angeles and in Kerala, India. He continued his education under the tutorship of acclaimed Ayurvedic doctors including Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar, Dr. Vasant Lad, Dr. Bharati Lele & Dr. Avinash Lele. He is a student of Gurubhai, founder of Center for Applied Consciousness, where he learned the art of yogic counseling.
Jeannine Rashidi
Jeannine RashidiCMT, CPT, YTT, AWP
KAA Alumnus & Student Mentor
Alumni Panel | Best Practices: Emerging Ayurvedic Clinicians, Sun Sep 29
Jeannine Rashidi is a highly skilled health & wellness practitioner. She opened her Goodbye Tension practice in 2003 focused on alleviating the core of physical, emotional, and mental tension. Her commitment to empower and inspire her clients towards awakening the healer within has been a passion for the last 17 years.
Jeannine is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, currently enrolled in the Ayurvedic Doctorate program at Kerala Ayurveda Academy. She has apprenticed under Dr. Jayarajan Kodikannath since 2016, traveled to Kerala to directly experience the roots of Ayurveda, and is an ongoing Samskritam (Sanskrit) student to enable her to directly study the source Ayurvedic books. She is a devoted wife, mother, and recent grandmother. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, photography, meditation, and time devoted to family and spiritual practice.
Madison Madden
Madison MaddenAD
KAA Alumnus
Alumni Panel | Best Practices: Emerging Ayurvedic Clinicians, Sun Sep 29
Madison is a NAMA-recognized Ayurvedic Doctor, Kundalini Yoga Teacher, and co-founder of Pacific Coast Ayurveda. Madison’s gift lies in the hands-on therapeutic elements of Ayurveda, where she utilizes hands-on techniques to heal and reverse pathology. Her specialties including panchakarma, marma therapy, women’s reproductive health and natural life transitions such as childbirth and menopause. Her expertise is rooted in the connection and manifestation of mental & emotional patterns in the physical body.
Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, chronic ill-health as a child led her to seek a path to health that addresses all dimensions of a human being and our inextricable link to the natural world. She studied Ayurveda at Kerala Ayurveda Academy under Dr. Jayarajan Kodikannath, and has studied under many acclaimed Ayurvedic doctors including Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar, Dr. Manisha Kshirsagar, Dr. Bharati Lele & Dr. Avinash Lele.
Her practice is inspired and informed by her work with Gurubhai, Kundalini Yoga Teacher, for the last decade. She now lives in Gualala, California and is a member of the Center For Applied Consciousness, a collective of artisan-run businesses rooted in Yoga, Ayurveda and Environmental Stewardship.
Martha Harkey
Martha HarkeyB.S. M.S., PhD, DAS, AWP
KAA Alumnus
Alumni Panel | Best Practices: Emerging Ayurvedic Clinicians, Sun Sep 29
Dr. Martha Harkey has a BS in pharmacy, MS and PhD in pharmacology, certificate in Western Herbalism, DAS (Aloha Ayurveda Academy), and AWP (Kerala Ayurveda Academy). She has over 40 years experience in medicine, as the Founding Director of Pharmacokinetics Service (provided individualized drug dosage regimens for patients); Research Manager and Director of SmithKline BioScience National Laboratory; Adjunct Professor at University of California, Davis, School of Medicine (conducted NIH-funded research on Interactions between Medicinal Herbs and Pharmaceuticals and developed course on Integrative Medicine for medical students); Consulting Pharmacist at North Shore Pharmacy (provides medication therapy management for patients with multiple diseases and works with physicians to simplify drug dosage regimes); Ayurvedic Practitioner and Health Consultant at North Shore Wellness Center.
Terri Adolfo
Terri AdolfoL.Ac., MTCM, MS, CAP
KAA Alumnus
Alumni Panel | Best Practices: Emerging Ayurvedic Clinicians, Sun Sep 29
Teri holds a 4-year master’s degree in traditional Chinese medicine from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NIAOM), and a Master of Science degree from University of California, Davis in community health and organizational development. She has studied in India and is a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner.
Teri has an active practice and takes an East-West approach in all of her treatments, teachings and individual consultations. In her work with cancer patients, she incorporates Ayurvedic lymphatic drainage and reflexology of the feet, hands, ears and head. She also uses pranayama breath work, guided meditation and cranio-sacral therapy to support healing. In her Ayurveda consultations Teri also offers nutrition counseling and self-care education.
Vipin Vijay
Vipin VijayInteractive Forum for Ayurvedic Students & Professionals, Sun Sep 29
Vipin Vijay heads the Kerala Ayurveda’s major concerns including Ayurveda products, manufacturing & corporate governance in U.S. & India.
Yulia Quinn
Yulia QuinnAWC, MIA
Cultural Showcase, Sat Sep 28 (Choreography: Ekaterina Seliverstova)
Yulia Quinn is currently an AWP student at the prestigious Kerala Ayurveda Academy.
She is a former investment banker with over a decade of investment banking experience spanning across the globe, including New York, London and Moscow. Yulia has worked on many high-profile multi-billion transactions in the European and US markets, such as initial and follow-on public offerings of companies on London and New York stock exchanges, as well as cross border M&A transactions, at financial institutions such as Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Goldman Sachs.
Her journey to Ayurveda began with a personal healing and spiritual transformation experience. A dynamic, exciting, yet depleting, investment banking career eventually drained down her health. Finally, in 2010, Yulia took medical leave and travelled to Indus Valley (“IVAC”), an Ayurvedic center near Mysore, India to undergo a panchakarma treatment. Inspired by IVAC’s rich ayurvedic library and enlightening conversations about the powerful philosophy of Ayurvedic medicine with IVAC;s founder, Dr. Talavane Krishna, at the settings of IVAC’s beautiful vastu gardens, Yulia decided to embark on her lifelong learning passion of Ayurveda. However, it was not until 2017 when Yulia decided to turn her passion into her new profession by enrolling into AWC program with the Kerala Ayurveda Academy.
Yulia’s passion of Kathak, one of Indian classical dance forms, began in 2010 when she met her guruji, Seliverstova Ekaterina Yurievna at the Indian Embassy’s Cultural Center in Moscow. Mrs. Seliverstova, who is a graduate of Kathak Kendra, the leading National Institute of Kathak in India, is an experienced teacher, exceptional choreographer and a regular jury member at the number of Indian festivals and competitions. Yulia had a pleasure of studying with her for over 3 years and participating in various exhibitions in Moscow. After relocating with her family to the US in 2014, Yulia continued her studies of Kathak at Kaladharaa Dance School in Salt Lake City, Utah with her new teacher Sonali Loomba. She is actively performing for various community event in Utah Valley.
Andishesh Jahanbin
Andishesh JahanbinCultural Showcase, Sat Sep 28
Born in Tehran, Iran, Andisheh is a student at Kerala Ayurveda Academy AWC program. He began his musical journey on violin, but not long after migrating to the United States in 1998, he was gravitated towards Iranian Traditional & Sufi music and studied the Persian musical system & Vocals (Ra`deef). He has performed on several occasions as a solo artist and also shared the stage with many great musicians from the United States & Iran.
In the past few years, Andisheh has been cooperating with The Iranian Studies of Stanford University for research, translation, and acting in the field of theater, and had the privilege to work with the renowned Iranian director and play-wright “Bahram Beyzaei” in a 10-hour play ” TarabNameh” and other projects sponsored by the Iranian Studies of Stanford University.
Varsha Mital
Cultural Showcase, Sat Sep 28
Varsha Mital is from Seattle, WA, but originally from Agra, India. She has a BSc. in Biology and Chemistry, an M.A. in English Literature, a double B.Ed. in school and College teaching. She worked for several years as a lecturer in the Dept. of English at Dayalbagh university, Agra. She was also awarded Fulbright scholarship in American Literature.
Varsha is well trained in Indian Classical vocal – in Hindustani, Carnatic, as well as Dhrupad genres and has performed in India, UK, and USA. She also teaches Indian classical vocal. She also learnt Kathak and sitar while growing up in India. Recently she has learnt Mantra yoga and Naad yoga from I. Ashok, her Carnatic vocal teacher. She is a poet, singer, and composer, and has written and composed many songs and musicals some of which have been performed in Seattle. Varsha volunteers with Dhrupad Music institute of America, Seattle chapter, and helps organize Indian classical music concerts.
Varsha works as a freelance graphic designer and has studied art and design at the Academy of Arts, San Francisco. She is also a trained yoga teacher- 200 hours RYT. Varsha’s other interests are Ayurvedic cooking, Vedic Astrology, and Ayurveda, and is currently a KAA student.
She is performing Skanda Mantra Tarangam – Indian Classical Vocal, based on Mantra Yoga and Naad Yoga.
Srinivas (Cheeni) Kadaba
Srinivas (Cheeni) KadabaCultural Showcase, Sat Sep 28
Srinivas (Cheeni) Kadaba is a dabbler. He likes to learn, read, and teach the samskritam language as it is a key to a trove of wisdom and knowledge in all areas of the highest human endeavor including philosophy, sciences, and the arts. He loves music from all corners of the world, enjoys hiking in the outdoors and shooting landscape and wildlife pictures, practices the martial arts, and sings occasionally. He has a PhD in Electrical Engineering and has worked as a researcher and technologist throughout his career.
Praveena Kumar and Dholrhythms Dance Company
Praveena Kumar and Dholrhythms Dance CompanyCultural Showcase, Sat Sep 28
Praveena Kumar MA, RD is a registered dietitian, Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner, yoga teacher and yoga therapist. She believes that healing begins from the inside and food plays a vital role in this process. What we put in our body affects how we feel. According to Ayurveda, we are what we digest.
Her interest in yoga, nutrition and wellness began at a young age and directed her path to formally study Ayurveda for the past 13 years. She also has 13 years of experience working as a clinical dietitian in an acute care hospital. She believes in mind-body medicine and that the combination of nourishing plant-based foods, mindfulness-based practices and movement are the root of true health and wellness.
She seamlessly combines all of these healing modalities, creating a unique and effective experience for her clients on their path to wellness.
She has a Master’s degree in Nutrition from San Francisco State University. She graduated as an Ayurvedic Wellness Practitioner from Kerala Ayurveda Academy and has done her yoga teacher training as well as yoga therapy training with Dr. Ganesh Mohan of Svastha Yoga and Ayurveda. She continues to study yoga philosophy with A.G, Mohan (student of Krishnamacharya) and his wife, Indra Mohan of Svastha Yoga and Ayurveda from Chennai, India.
Praveena performs with her dance company, Dholrhythms Dance Company.