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 Applied Lifestyle and Lab and co-teaches the Level 2 Applied Client Studies, Student 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 served as a therapist 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.

Easter teaches AyurYoga and panchakarma client yoga at the Institute and also assists with marketing.  She attended the Ayurvedic Studies Program, remaining in Albuquerque to continue her practice.

For spiritual well-being, Easter practices as an Ayurvedic lifestyle consultant, marma therapist, Jyotishi and yoga teacher. For material well-being, Easter works as an emergency room medical scribe and an on-line site designer and manager specializing in the health and education industries.

Lisa assists with the Level 1 Applied Lifestyle and Lab , co-teaches the Level 2 Student Clinic, Grand Rounds, 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. 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.

Sherrie Darling

Sherrie teaches the Level 1 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology course. With a Masters in Exercise Physiology from University of New Mexico, she has been accepted into their doctoral degree program for Health, Physical Education and Recreation with an emphasis in Exercise Science.  

An enthusiastic body builder, horsewoman, and tax advisor, Sherrie maintains a busy lifestyle and brings a creative and enthusiastic vitality to her classroom.   

Ron Hadsall

Ron instructs in Level 1 Ayurvedic Applied Lifestyle and Lab. 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.

Jeremy teaches Level 1 Sanskrit.  He holds an MA in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies with a concentration in religious studies. He is currently working toward a PhD in philosophy at the University of New Mexico (UNM), which includes studies in Indian philosophy.

Since 2002, he has taught numerous classes at UNM and College of Santa Fe, including Living World Religions, Eastern Religions, and Critical Thinking.  Jeremy’s interests include the classical schools of Indian thought, and he is currently working on translating Vyasa’s commentary on the Yoga Sutras and Gaudapada’s Agama Shastra, an early Vedanta text.

Sonia Elisa Masocco teaches Level 2 Ayurvedic Herbology, and co-teaches Student Clinic 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 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.

Sunny 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. Most recently she studied intensively under Dr. Lad and his faculty at the Ayurvedic Institute where she graduated from Ayurvedic Studies program Levels 1 and 2.

Sunny has a great love for working with plant medicine and continues to study in this realm. As an Ayurvedic Practitioner and general holistic health consultant, she provides clients with individually tailored diet, lifestyle and nutrition counseling, yoga therapy, and Jin Shin Jyutsu.

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.
 

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.

Ellie has practiced yoga and meditation since 1972 and began living an Ayurvedic lifestyle in 1990. In 1992, in addition to her career as a human resource consultant and public speaker, Ellie ministered a New Thought church and co-directed a Spiritual Center with her husband where they offered meditation, yoga, fire ceremony and Vedic teachings. Ellie accompanied her husband when he came to the Institute as a student in 2000 and she began her current position here in 2001.

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.