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 (BAM&S) 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 instructs Level 2 Case Studies, co-instructs Level 2 Applied Skills, Student Clinic, Student Clinic Case Review, and assists with Level 1 Clinical Applications.

A graduate of the Ayurvedic Studies Programin 1994, she pursued further studies at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics and now maintains a private massage practice, integrating Ayurveda. She has served as a therapist in the Panchakarma Department since 1997.

Simon Chokoisky was born to Bulgarian immigrant parents in Phoenix, AZ, where he attended Arizona State University. Dissatisfied with a French major, he turned to Ayurveda in 1998 and side by side with Jyotisha began his study in the Vedic sciences.

Simon has studied Vastu Shastra, Sanskrit, Jyotisha, and Ayurveda, and worked professionally as a fitness consultant and Ayurvedic massage therapist. He has traveled extensively, and speaks four languages, in addition to studying and teaching Sanskrit.

Lisa assists with Level 1 Clinical Application, co-teaches the Level 2 Applied Skills, Student Clinic, Student Clinic Case Review, assists with other Ayurvedic sessions as needed, and serves as a therapist in the panchakarma department. She completed the Ayurvedic Studies Program Levels 1 and 2 and attended the Pune training program.

Currently she provides Ayurvedic consultations with the public and serves as administrative assistant to the Education Administrator.

Nomi teaches the Ayurvedic Studies Program (ASP), Level II Applied Skills course. In other work for the Institute, she coordinates the development and implementation of seminars and intensives as well as external events. She is the Administrative Assistant for the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA).

She began her journey into Ayurveda in 2003 with training in Panchakarma, working three years in a Panchakarma facility. In 2008, believing it was time to engage fully in Ayurveda, Nomi entered the ASP, Level I program to study with Dr. Lad. A graduate of ASP, Levels I and II, as well as the Pune Gurukula program, she has specialty training in Women’s Medicine and post-partum Ayurveda.

Maria E. Garre,
M.Ed, E-RYT-500

 

Maria is dedicated to a life-long study, practice, and teaching of both Yoga and Ayurveda. Celebrating over 20 years of study in Medical and Biological Sciences, Philosophy, Ayurveda and Yoga, Maria’s teachings offer a grounded yet transformative approach to living, being, and embodying Yoga. Blending the knowledge she has gathered from her studies and yearly pilgrimages to India, she is extends dynamic and liberating classes and trainings that embody the alchemy of all these disciplines and teachings.

Currently, Maria is the Teacher Training Director for Shiva Rea’s Prana Flow certification program, the Yoga Director for Ananda Shala in Frederick, Maryland and serves on faculty at the Ayurvedic Institute in the AyurYoga department.

Dr. Sharada Hall teaches nutrition and herbalism for The Ayurvedic Institute’s Level One Ayurvedic Studies Program. She graduated from the Ayurvedic Institute in 1993 and from Southwest Acupuncture College in 2000. 

As a Doctor of Oriental Medicine specializing in Ayurveda, she has operated her private practice in Santa Fe since 2000.  Dr. Hall traveled to India and Nepal in 1995 and in 2000 and apprenticed with Tibetan physicians, assisting in their clinics by performing acupuncture.  Dr. Hall also publishes an online natural health magazine devoted to Ayurveda at Bodhimed.com. As a mother of 2 young boys, Dr. Hall has developed a particular interest and specialty in pediatrics and nutrition.

Daniel teaches the ASP I Ayuryoga class as well as being a Pancha Karma therapist for the Institute. He was first introduced to Ayurveda through his study of Para Yoga, where he completed numerous trainings and over 300 hours of assisting.

After completing ASP 1 and summer intensives in Marma Therapy, Pulse Diagnosis and Panchakarma in 2008, he attended The New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics to develop his love for working with the body in a hands-on way. Daniel has had a private practice since 2009, integrating Polarity Therapy, Core Synchronism, Reflexology, Ayurveda, Yoga and Natural Therapeutics to assist his clients in relaxing and healing from both chronic and acute conditions.

Sunny facilitates the first quarter Level 1 Ayurvedic Studies evening class, leads Level 1 Ayurvedic Review and facilitates Ayurvedic Lecture exams. She has been a dedicated student and teacher of yoga for more than a decade and has studied Ayurveda for almost as long, and is a graduate of the Ayurvedic Studies program Levels 1 and  2.

Sunny loves working with plant medicine and as an Ayurvedic Practitioner and general holistic health consultant, provides clients with individually tailored diet, lifestyle and nutrition counseling, yoga therapy, and Jin Shin Jyutsu.

Jiwan Shakti instructs the Level 1 Applied Lifestyles and Clinical Applications courses. She also serves as the Clinic Coordinator for the Level 2 Student Clinic. Jiwan Shakti is a graduate of the Ayurvedic Studies Program Level 1 and 2, and the Pune Gurukula program.

Additionally she is a Panchakarma therapist since 2009, massage therapist since 2003, yoga, pranayama, and meditation teacher since 2005, and Ayurvedic Consultant and Lifestyle counselor and since 2009. With a PhD in Chemical Engineering, she brings a full range of talents, skills, and knowledge that are relevant to today’s world in Ayurveda.

Dr. LaRosa  teaches the course on Practitioner Skills for ASP Level 1, assisting students to learn specific abilities toward being an effective practitioner in the field of health.

Denise LaRosa, D.O.M. L. Ac., is a licensed acupuncturist and Doctor of Oriental Medicine who graduated from Southwest Acupuncture College in 1996.  While maintaining a private practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico she integrated her past teaching and administrative skills and accepted positions of Associate Professor, Clinical Supervisor, Clinic and Campus Director at Southwest Acupuncture from 1998-2010 until accepting the position of Education Administrator at the Ayurvedic Institute.

Cindy Stanley

Cindy teaches Level 1 Anatomy & Physiology and Level 2 Pathophysiology. A native of Albuquerque, Cindy recently retired after teaching High School science for 32 years. In addition to teaching, Cindy coached cheerleaders and dance teams for 26 years. Cindy has a Masters degree in Science from the University of New Mexico.

She is married and has two wonderful children. Her favorite past times are working out and reading.

Denise LaRosa, DOM

Denise is the Education Administrator here at the Institute. She has practiced meditation since 1980's where she attended an ashram in South Fallsburg, NY for 10 years. During that time she worked in the health care field as the Education Director of Planned Parenthood. As a lecturer and workshop leader, she traveled across the country presenting numerous workshops and training in the area of reproductive health.

Her interest in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine continued to increase, bringing her to Albuquerque in 1992. She attended Southwest Acupuncture College here, where she received her Masters' in Oriental Medicine in 1996 and then opened her practice. In 1997, she began teaching at the college and, in 2003, became Campus and Clinical Director until 2007. She then returned to her practice at Sanjevani Integrative Medicine, where she focused on Esoteric Acupuncture, until accepting her current position here in 2010.

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.

A graduate of the 1991Ayurvedic Studies program, Wynn was invited by Dr. Lad to administer our growing Institution and has continued to assist our board of directors in guiding it as Ayurveda has expanded into the western world. Wynn is a founding board member of NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association) and a new international Ayurvedic organization. He represents the Institute on Ayurvedic matters at the state, national and international levels. He teaches Level 1 and 2 sessions on ethics and legalities. In his rare spare time Wynn can be found canoeing, mountain biking or snow skiing.