The California College of Ayurveda is pleased to introduce the Ayurvedic Health Practitioner Interns 2014. Interns have completed their academic studies and work under the supervision of experienced clinical instructors. This semester’s talented group of interns comes from throughout the United States, Canada and United Kingdom.

Ayurvedic Health Practitioner (AHP) interns work on supporting patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle that is in harmony with their constitution. Patients learn about their constitution as well as the nature of any imbalances. They will also receive support to adjust their diet and lifestyle accordingly and to normalize your digestion and elimination. As part of the Ayurvedic program, an intern can include ayurvedic herbs, aromatherapy, color therapy, sound and mantra, and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy. This is is the best of preventative health care! For those who have a specific condition and are looking for clinical management through Ayurvedic Medicine, they should consider having a consultation with an Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist intern or graduate. 

Interview with Yoshiko from Texas

1)  What inspired you to study Ayurvedic Medicine?

To explore, know and learn all about Ayurveda was a major decision in my life. Two significant experiences led me to the path of Ayurvedic Medicine. First, I was a dancer, choreographer, group fitness instructor and fitness instructor trainer for over 25 years. This required me to manage my health for professional reasons, but it was not easy to avoid injuries as they kept occurring all the time. In 2003, I suffered a serious injury in my lumber spine and hip joints and the  doctor suggested that surgery was the only option. I refused and was determined to treat and rehabilitate myself through the use of Oriental medicine such as Chinese acupuncture, Japanese osteopathy and Ayurveda. I also started Yoga and Pilates. After one year, I had a complete recovery and I felt better than before.  I wanted know how I had healed.  I visited my doctor, but he could not provide me with a convincing answer.

Second, in 2011 my mother suffered from a cerebral stroke. She remained in a vegetative state and the doctors that were supposed to treat her did not have any treatments for her.  Instead they said they “would just wait…”, and I wondered what they were waiting for! I decided to do something for my mother and immersed myself into the study of Ayurveda. I started the Ayurveda program at CCA in the spring of 2012 and participated in all the body therapy workshops. In summer of 2013, my mother was in critical condition; her blood pressure was 40/20 for nearly one week. I started to administer the Ayurvedic therapies that I learned from Dr. Marc Halpern and gave Ayurvedic hands-on therapy to my mother for about two months. My mother had a miraculous recovery. She is alive, smiles often and sings. Her BP is 120/70. I asked her doctor how she had recovered. He only said that it was the “power of love”. I was a witness to her miraculous recovery. Thus, because of there two life events, I am continuing to study Ayurvedic Medicine.

2)    What do you think makes Ayurveda attractive to the public?

These days people are more careful about their health and are willing to take steps to prevent the onset of disease. The public is also aware of the fact that diseases are increasing at a steady rate. Thus, the public is hungry for knowledge about how to have a healthy life. People are interested in many different therapies; diet, massage, herbs, counseling, aromas, sounds, yoga etc.  Ayurveda Medicine does not advocate a “one size fits all” approach.  Instead it recommends individualized therapy; specific and relevant treatment for a particular body type. I think this individualized treatment approach is what makes Ayurveda attractive to the public.

3)    What do you think about the future of Ayurveda in the United States?

Ayurveda has a bright future. I think Ayurveda integrates well with Western medicine, and helps people who suffer from lifestyle-related illnesses. While Western medicine treats these patients based on the symptoms they manifest, Ayurveda treats the root cause of disease. Together both sciences correct their imbalances. With this dual treatment approach, the US Government should be happy to support Ayurveda. This harmonious balance of medical treatment will create a beautiful and healthy future for people living in the US.

4)    What is your favorite therapy in this traditional system of medicine from India?

I really love all of the therapies. However, if I have to choose only one, I would have to say, “bliss therapy”. Bliss therapy includes abhyanga (enhances immunity, increases circulation and creates deep relaxation in the body and mind), shirodhara (calms the central nervous system and integrates the mind and body.) and svedana (an herbal steam that induces sweat, and causes the tissues to release toxins at the cellular level).  When I first received bliss therapy at CCA, I felt that I had gotten a brand new body. It was like I got a new life energy, and my mind and body were not clouded!  It just felt like bliss!! 

5) What does your path to Ayurveda look like?

I was born and grew up in a small traditional town in Kyoto, Japan. I did graduate studies in Japanese history and a craft at Tezukayama University, in Nara, Japan. At the same time, I started to perform dance on the stage, in competitions and on TV. After graduating from university, I moved to Tokyo, and continued working in the entertainment business, choreographing and teaching dance. I met a lot of great people from different fields.  Because health management was a part of my job, I always took care of my own health as well. As I was the director of production, I had to take care of all the cast’s health as well. I was already following an Ayurvedic lifestyle. 

In 2006, I moved to the US and completed RYT-200 and Pilates. I learned how important it is to have core stabilization and move with breath so that mind and body have a sense of unity (oneness). During my time practicing Yoga, I became aware that Yoga and Ayurveda are sisters, and wanted to study Ayurveda as well; therefore, I knocked on the door of Ayurveda at CCA.

With my background and experiences, I was ready to incorporate Ayurveda. I love to create, adjust, collect, design, praise, help, trust and harmonize. These skills are useful for my patients’ treatment plans. I am also interested in teaching Ayurveda in Japan and in the US because we need more Ayurvedic Professionals in this society.  

Last, the powerful experiences that I described above cleared my path. I believe that we all have amazing healing power in our deep consciousness. Ayurveda teaches us how to tap into this awareness. The picture before me is not out of focus for me.  My path to Ayurveda is straight, wide and endless.

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