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 Jasmine from Ohio

1)  What inspired you to study Ayurvedic Medicine?

Ayurveda, yoga, and meditation are part of my dharma. For over 25 years I have enjoyed the benefits of holistic lifestyle practices, healing arts, meditation, and yoga. But it wasn’t until I faced my own autoimmune and digestive health challenges that I fell in love with the ancient science of Ayurveda. It was the perfect combination of what I had practiced for years with a system that presented a treatment plan specific to my nature. Ayurvedic medicine addressed the needs of my body, my mind, and my spirit.  I felt these benefits and was called to learn more so I could share this wisdom with others.

Ayurveda was the perfect complement to my current path: owning several yoga schools, running an essential oil and holistic lifestyle company, and creating a seva yoga foundation that gives back to those in need. I became so interested in it that I studied to be an Ayurveda Health Practitioner and partnered with the the California College of Ayurveda to create an affiliate school in Columbus, Ohio. Our existing yoga training institute added the School of Ayurveda to become the The Yoga on High Teacher Training and Ayurveda Institute by expanding the program to include healing light and Ayurvedic wisdom. 

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

Many reasons. First, there is an innate wisdom to Ayurveda that speaks to the core of who we are as humans. It allows those who practice it to care for each individual in a holistic and comprehensive way that shows them they are seen, heard, and loved.

• Ayurveda Teaches Us Self-Love and Self-Care
• Ayurveda is the combination of empowering personal responsibility, taking care of our mind and body, and reconnecting with our true nature. In order for us to do our dharma in this world by serving others, we must first take care of ourselves. A well-rounded Ayurvedic practice teaches self-care and self-love. If you think about it, health-care without self-care is sick-care. This is avoided in Ayurveda through an energetic exchange between caregiver and patient. 
• I believe we are in a middle of a self-care crisis. People have forgotten what it means to implement simple daily lifestyle practices of health and wellbeing to have greater balance and radiance. Traditional allopathic medicine rarely addresses the lifestyle of patients in way that supports permanent change in habits. The root cause is never really addressed. The whole body approach of Ayurveda concentrates on not just the physical body, but also the emotional and spiritual life of the patient. This multi-dimensional approach can help break through a lifetime of dysfunctional cycles that are often the root cause of disease. Self-care and ultimately self-love can help us heal and sharpen our ability to make choices that serve our highest good.
• Ayurveda Teaches Us to Reconnect with Nature
• Over time we have neglected our connection to nature and all its wisdom. In doing so we have created a feeling of separation and dis-ease within ourselves. Ayurveda teaches us to return to the innate wisdom and light that is within us all.  It allows us to shift our consciousness and become aware of the elements of all living things in order to reconnect our body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda is deeply rooted in the qualities of the five elements, and these are easily integrated into lifestyle and dietary practices to manage our own well being.
• Ayurveda is a Lifestyle
• Ayurveda often has an immediate positive effect on the patient.  Even if the disease in the body or mind takes a while to reverse, the sustainable diet and wellness lifestyle practices create self-confidence, resulting in a chain reaction of better choices. A skillful Ayurvedic Practitioner helps patients implement sustainable and effective change in their behaviors. Ayurveda is the perfect blend of lifestyle guidelines, dietary focus, the wisdom of plants and herbs, and yoga and energetic healing that is analytically and intuitively crafted for the constitution of each patient. Eventually, through practice, Ayurveda becomes a way of life and a preventative measure for future health issues.
• Ayurveda Expands Our Consciousness
• As we become more sensitive to the elemental qualities and interconnectedness of all living things, our consciousness expands. We can begin to peel away the layers of our habitual patterns and illuminate the areas of our life that can be purified and healed. It’s not an easy path, but one that puts us on the road to reconnecting with our true nature, which is already perfectly whole and complete.

3)    What do you think about the future of Ayurveda in your country?

Ayurveda focuses on prevention and maintenance and applies a whole body, mind and spirit approach to lifestyle. It teaches healthy and preventative daily habits.

This is quite different from the allopathic care model. It is no secret that healthcare in the United States is broken.  In a routine visit to the doctor, you are lucky if you spend fifteen minutes with them. They do not heal the root cause of disease. Allopathic medicine treats the root cause with synthetic medications, which often create even worse symptoms. There is definitely a time and place for western medicine, but it frequently does not take into consideration the whole body, let alone the mind and spirit. With our high-tech disconnected society, people have a need to feel wholeness, connection, and healing.

Ayurveda’s future is promising, as a shift in consciousness and awareness is actively calling humanity. Listen! Can you hear it?

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

Tough question! A seven day on-site Panchakarma therapy is one of the most profoundly healing things that I have ever experienced. One day I hope I can administer this therapy at my wellness center. Of the five therapies offered within a Panchakarma, shirodarah is my favorite.

5) Biography:

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