Faculty

Dr. Marc Halpern

Dr. Marc Halpern, D.C., C.A.S., P.K.S. (Ayurvedacharya), is the founder and president of the California College of Ayurveda. He is one of the pioneers of Ayurveda in the West and is considered to be a pre-eminent practitioner and teacher of Ayurveda in the United States. He is one of the few Westerners ever recognized in both the United States and in India as an authority on the subject of Ayurveda and was awarded the All India Award for Best Ayurvedic Physician. A pillar in the development of the profession in the United States, he is the co-founder of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association for which he served as Chairman of the National Committee on Ayurvedic Education from its inception in 2000 until 2005. He is also a co-founder of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. A Doctor of Chiropractic with post-graduate certification in Holistic Medicine, Dr. Halpern has studied with many noted teachers from India and the United States.

Dr. Halpern is a contributing writer to several popular books on Ayurveda and holistic medicine and has written two textbooks on Ayurveda. He has published articles in almost every major journal and magazine of yoga or Ayurveda, and in 2005 was interviewed by Mike Wallace on CBS's 60 Minutes. Dr. Halpern's own remarkable story of personal healing was featured in the national magazine Spirituality and Health. He has been quoted in many major newspapers, including The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. In addition to his work with the California College of Ayurveda, Dr. Halpern is a certified yoga instructor and a regular teacher of Ayurveda at International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers worldwide.

Southern California Faculty

Robert J. Talbert Jr., M.S., C.A.S., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certification as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. Rob is in private practice in Laguna Beach, California. He completed a post-graduate one-and-one-half-year clinical internship with Vicki "Vijaya" Stern and participated in post-graduate study with Dr. Liladhar Gupta in Vrindavan, India. He is a member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, American Herbalist Guild, and American Botanical Council. He has been a life-long student of Yoga, Zen, Vipassana, and Tibetan meditation.

Devi Mueller, C.A.S., MAyu, is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certification as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. She completed the Master of Ayurveda program through the International Vedic Hindu University, with a focus on Samkhya and Yoga Philosophy in 2009. She served as President of the Board of Directors of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) from 2008 through 2010 and continues as a Member on the Board of Directors. Devi has been instrumental in producing many of the NAMA Conferences as well as supporting the work of CCA in Southern California. Devi is in private practice in Seal Beach, California. She has been studying and practicing numerology, astrology, meditation, and yoga for the past 25 years.

Marisa Laursen, B.S., C.A.S., P.K.S., A.Y.T., C.M.T, is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certifications as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, Pancha Karma Specialist and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist. She has an active clinical practice in Chino, California. Marisa is a member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, has a B.S. degree in Human Services, is a Certified Massage Therapist and has completed post-graduate Ayurvedic training in India as well as through the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta organization. Marisa considers herself a life-long student of Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta.

Mary-Alice Quinn, C.A.S., graduated from the California College of Ayurveda with certification as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. She is a practitioner member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. She has completed a variety of advanced post-graduate Ayurvedic studies in the US and India and has been a practitioner of Yoga for more than ten years. Mary-Alice writes articles for popular yoga and Ayurveda publications, conducts public workshops throughout Southern California and has an active private practice in Los Angeles where she focuses on both preventative medicine and disease management.

Eleni Tsikrikas C.A.S., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certification as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. She maintains her private practice in Los Angeles, California. A certified Yoga teacher in the lineage of T. Krishnamacharya, she continues to deepen her studies in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with her teacher. Eleni is a member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine.

Vidya Venkatesh, C.,A.,S., P.,K.,S., has been running her private Ayurvedic practice, Niroga Ayurveda, for the past two years. She combines her extensive training in Ayurveda and Pancha Karma with a detailed knowledge of Sanskrit to harness the wisdom of ancient texts.. She was a top student in Sanskrit for over four years when studying in India and is proficient in reading and writing. More recently, she has completed the 1st and 2nd levels of study at the Samskrita Bharati Institute in Orange County, California. At the Chinmaya Mission of Los Angeles, she has been requested to coach children in chanting Sanskrit prayers and has been invited to judge pronunciation and accuracy during chanting competitions. In addition, she serves as a faculty member at the California College of Ayurveda in Southern California.

Sandhiya Ramaswamy, M.B.A., C.A.S., P.K.S., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certifications as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and a Pancha Karma Specialist. Born and having lived in India, she has had a lifelong and intimate connection with Ayurvedic healing. A member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, she has a private practice in Orange County, California. Sandhiya is also a certified Yoga Teacher and Thai Yoga Massage therapist. She studied yoga with Jonny Kest, Ganga White and Tracey Rich.

Nevada City Faculty

Mary Thompson, C.A.S., P.K.S., (Ayurvedacharya), is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda and senior teacher with certifications as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Pancha Karma Specialist. Mary is a graduate of the first graduating class of the College in 1997. In 2008 she received the Charaka Award for Excellence in Ayurvedic Teaching and was given the title "Ayurvedacharya" (respected teacher of Ayurveda) by Dr. Halpern. She has been an invited speaker at several Ayurvedic conferences and is a founding member and former Secretary of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. She is also the founder of the non-profit organization, Everyday Ayurveda. Mary is in private practice in Grass Valley, California.

Brenda Igler, C.A.S., P.K.S. (Director of Herbalism): Brenda is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certifications as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and a Pancha Karma Specialist. Brenda has continued her education with studies in India, focusing on herbalism and complementary treatments of cancer. As part of the teaching faculty at the College she is involved in teaching all levels of the curriculum. As the Director of Herbalism Brenda runs the Advanced Ayurvedic Herbal Apprenticeship course. Brenda conducts her clinical practice at the College’s healthcare center utilizing her compassion and inspiration to guide her patients in a creative way through their healing journey.

Ryan Phillip Strong, C.A.S., is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist at the California College of Ayurveda. Ryan is also a Kriya Yoga practitioner, and has studied under Roy Eugene Davis, a direct living disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. Ryan is an ordained minister with the Center for Spiritual Awareness. He teaches meditation, and promotes the universal teaching of healthy conscious living through Ayurveda and Yoga. Ryan works to heal the root cause of disease in his patients, helping to create total balance in their mind, body and spirit. Ryan lives with his wife and daughter in Auburn California and gives frequent free lectures on Ayurveda and healing.

Kim Kinjo, C.A.S., P.K.S., C.M.T., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda and is certified as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and a Pancha Karma Specialist. She received her massage certification from the Phillips School of Massage in 1991. Kim specializes in teaching as a part of the College's Ayurvedic Health Practitioner Internship Program and is on our staff of Intern Supervisors. Kim is a member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and maintains her private practice at the College's clinic and panchakarma center in Grass Valley.

Ragaia Belovarac, M.A., C.A.S., P.K.S., C.M.T., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certifications as Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Pancha Karma Specialist. Ragaia is the past co-director of the College's Pancha Karma Center, where he worked closely with Dr. Halpern. This experience deepened his understanding of creating and holding sacred space in a way that facilitates the patient's healing journey. Ragaia co-teaches the Pancha Karma Specialist trainings with Dr. Halpern for the students of CCA. He is also the director of Blue Sage Sanctuary in Nevada City, California, where he practices Ayurveda and Pancha Karma.

Ashlee Sakaishi-Griffiths CAS, PKS, BS Nutrition is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certification as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Pancha Karma Specialist. Ashlee has been doing Ayurvedic Body Therapies since 2009 and is currently a lead Pancha Karma Therapist at the CCA Ayurvedic Spa. Ashlee has a clinical practice through the college in Nevada City and has been working on expanding her knowledge and practice in Post Partum care and Women's health. Her passion is helping her patients to find their true inner light through Ayurvedic principles and through the transformative experience of Ayurvedic Body Therapies.

Marty Morales is a Certified Rolfer, Rolf Movement Practitioner, and massage therapy instructor. He has been in private practice since 2003 and has a broad base of experience, from clinical work to spa massage. He trained in a variety of styles including, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Reiki, and Cranial Sacral. Marty's bodywork instruction ranges from beginning massage therapy courses to advanced Structural Bodywork. He also consults and trains at individual spas in San Francisco. Marty has written a book called, "Mastering Body Mechanics" which covers body mechanics for deep tissue massage, and is an experienced speaker and business coach.