Vasant Lad, M.A.Sc.
Ayurvedic Physician and Executive Director

Vasant Lad brings a wealth of classroom and practical experience to the United States. A native of India, he served for three years as Medical Director of the Ayurveda Hospital in Pune, India. He was Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Pune University College of Ayurvedic Medicine for 15 years. He holds a Bachelor’s of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree from the University of Pune and a Master’s of Ayurvedic Science (MASc) degree from Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya. Vasant Lad’s academic and practical training include the study of Allopathy (Western medicine) and surgery as well as traditional Ayurveda.

Beginning in 1979, he has traveled throughout the United States sharing his knowledge of Ayurveda. In 1984 he came to Albuquerque as Director, principal instructor and founder of the Ayurvedic Institute. Vasant Lad is the author of numerous books and respected throughout the world for his knowledge of Ayurveda.

Vasant Lad's Biographical Data
A Compendium of Vasant Lad's Published Works
 

Sandra Aumiller

Sandra assists with Level 1 Integrated Lab and co-teaches the Level 2 Integrated Clinic and Grand Rounds. She also assists with other sessions as needed. A graduate of the Ayurvedic Studies Program at the Ayurvedic Institute in 1994, she pursued further studies at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics and now maintains a private massage practice, integrating Ayurveda.

She has worked in the Panchakarma Department of the Ayurvedic Institute since 1997 and has assisted and conducted training in various Ayurvedic therapies and integration of Ayurvedic knowledge to numerous students that have attended programs at the Ayurvedic Institute.  

Lisa assists with the Level 1 Integrated Lab and teaches portions of the Level I Ayurvedic Review course. She co-teaches the Level 2 Integrated Clinic, Grand Rounds, and assists with other Ayurvedic sessions as needed. She completed the Ayurvedic Studies Program Levels 1 and 2. Her enthusiasm, encouragement to others and love for continued personal study of Ayurveda is a real asset to Institute students, staff and her clients.

Currently she provides Ayurvedic consultations with the public and serves as Administrative Assistant to the Education Administrator.

Ron Hadsall

Ron instructs in Level 1 Ayurvedic lifestyle practices. He has personally practiced an Ayurvedic lifestyle since 1992 and has practiced yoga and meditation daily since 1968. In 1992, Ron and his wife started the Center for Spiritual Awareness of North Texas where he taught meditation, yoga and Vedic teachings including Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita.

After 30 years in corporate management and training, Ron brings with him the experience of balancing the spiritual values of life while performing in practical ways to attain positive results in the business world. He attended the Ayurvedic Studies Program at the Ayurvedic Institute and is now on staff full time as the Administrative Projects Coordinator.

Sonia Elisa Masocco teaches Level 2 Ayurvedic Herbology, and co-teaches Integrated Lab and Grand Rounds.  She also facilitates the Ayurvedic Beauty Concepts, Hands-On Ayurvedic practices and the Aromatherapy and Ayurveda intensives here at the Ayurvedic Institute.

An ITEC qualified practitioner in Aromatherapy, Reflexology as well as Massage Therapy, she enhanced her training with the completion of the Ayurvedic Studies Program and participation in the Gurukula program in Pune, India. Having been in private practice in Hong Kong and Albuquerque, she brings her clinical experience as well as her passion for plants and plant medicine as a vibratory vehicle for transformation.

Donna Papania

Donna teaches Level 1 and Level 2 AyurYoga and panchakarma client yoga at the Institute and assists with Integrated Lab. She served with the Panchakarma Department as a yoga therapist, and assisted with client support and education.

She began yoga study with Sivananda yoga, continued with AyurYoga and is a graduate of the Ayurvedic Studies Programs Level 1 and 2. With a degree in nutrition, she combines her love of nutrition, yoga and Ayurveda through her teaching and consultation practice.
 

Halle teaches Level 1 and 2 AyurYoga and panchakarma client yoga at the Institute. Her Ayurvedic journey began in 1995 and led to her graduation from the Ayurvedic Studies Level 1. She brings joy and enthusiasm to her teaching combined with a sense of wonder, awe and respect for the human form. Halle is passionate about yoga and its role in life-long wellness/healing.

Along with teaching at the Institute, she has private yoga clients, teaches public yoga classes for ‘boomers’ and is an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Coach. When not on ‘the mat,’ Halle loves to hike, enjoy water sports and to travel, especially road trips.

Donald Van Howten,
PIT, VMT, LFT, LMT

Donald Van Howten has been a practitioner and teacher in the field of bodywork and personal development for more than 35 years. Associated with the Institute since its founding in 1984, Van is a graduate of the Rocky Mountain Healing Arts Institute and the Postural Integration Institute where he completed the trainer program.

Van has developed a unique form of bodywork called "Life Impressions," influenced by various therapies, including Hakomi body-centered psychotherapy, Ayurveda, cranial-sacral work and Feldenkrais. Van is the founder and current director of Life Impressions Bodywork Institute in Santa Fe, NM. He presents a special training class for the ASP 1 students and Institute staff each year.
 

Luscha teaches the "Emotional Healing from an Ayurveda Perspective" seminar. She graduated from the Ayurvedic Studies Program in 1998.

She has served as a massage therapist in the Panchakarma Department since 1998, and has a Master’s degree in counseling. She combines principles of Ayurveda with western elements of self-healing. Her private practice includes deep emotional healing, abhyanga massage, shirodhara and color therapy.

Claudia Welch, DOM

Claudia Welch facilitates the first quarter Ayurvedic Studies evening class. Dr. Claudia Welch began her study of Ayurveda in 1987, under the tutelage of Robert Svoboda, BAMS. She lived in India for three years, studying Ayurveda and related subjects. Claudia came to the Ayurvedic Institute in 1991 and continued her education with Vasant Lad while working here. She is also a graduate of Hart De Fouw's Advanced Jyotish course.

Claudia is on the teaching faculty at Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque, from which she graduated in 1997. She has lectured on Eastern Medicine internationally and has a busy private practice in Albuquerque, incorporating Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Ellie Hadsall

Ellie Hadsall is the Education Administrator. She oversees the operation and development of instruction and curriculum. As student liaison, she coordinates student activities and counsels on academic and personal matters.
 

Dorothy Seeger

Dorothy Seeger is the Administrator of the correspondence course, "Lessons and Lectures on Ayurveda". A graduate of the Ayurvedic Studies Program, for the past twelve years she has continued to provide student support and respond to student inquiries. Dorothy evaluates exams personally and trains staff for additional evaluations and support as necessary.
 

Wynn Werner

Wynn Werner is the Administrator of the Institute. He is responsible to the Board of Directors for the general operation of the Institute and oversees all of its departments and facilities, assuring that the Institute fulfills its mission, purposes and goals.

Wynn is a founding board member of NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association) and represents the Institute on Ayurvedic matters at the state, national and international levels.  A graduate of the Ayurvedic Studies program, he teaches Level 1 and 2 sessions on ethics and legalities.