The California College of Ayurveda is pleased to introduce you to our Ayurvedic Health Practitioner Interns 2013-2014. Our Interns have completed their academic studies and are now working under the supervision of our experienced clinical instructors. The talented group of interns comes from throughout the United States, Canada and United Kingdom.
Our Ayurvedic Health Practitioner (AHP) interns work on supporting their patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle that is in harmony with their constitution. When you see an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, you will learn your constitution as well as the nature of any imbalances. You will also receive support to adjust your diet and lifestyle accordingly and to normalize your digestion and elimination. As part of your program, an intern can include ayurvedic herbal medicines, aromatherapy, color therapy, sound and mantra, and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy. This is is the best of preventative health care! If you are have a specifc condition and are looking for clinical management through Ayurvedic Medicine, you should consider having a consultation with an Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist intern or graduate.
Interview with Isabella from Southern California
1) What inspired you to study Ayurvedic Medicine?
I have been a yoga practitioner for many years, and it was through yoga that I was introduced to Ayurveda. Yoga always led me in the right direction; therefore I knew in my heart that this was the path for me. I fell in love with what Ayurveda stands for and most importantly the way it can transform a person’s life if they are open to it!
2) What do you think makes Ayurveda attractive to the public?
Ayurveda seems to be the most complete and holistic approach to healing. The mere fact that it has been around for over 5,000 years says a lot, it is an art and a science all on its own. There is so much wisdom behind its teachings that truly connects us on a higher level. It transforms not only the body, but also our spirit and our mind. These are just a few of the reasons that make Ayurvedic medicine so attractive.
3) What do you think about the future of Ayurveda in the United States?
The future of Ayurveda is quite a positive one. More and more people are looking for holistic healing. People are living longer and are looking to enhance their quality of life, and that means more preventative care. The way in which Ayurveda supports patients emotionally and spiritually will also be a contributing factor in its great future. It will not only enhance a person’s quality of life, it will also transform their life.
4) What is your favorite therapy in this traditional system of medicine from India?
Shirodhara is hands down my favorite therapy in Ayurveda! It takes me to a place of pure bliss. A deep sense of calm and clarity take over every time I receive.
5) What does your path to Ayurveda look like?
I was born and raised in Pasadena, a suburb of Los Angeles. Because I was central to everything and had great weather year round, my weekends were spent hiking, swimming, doing outdoor yoga, and just enjoying the outdoors. In high school I grew close to a teacher of mine, Mr. Khalsa. He was my chemistry and physics teacher. He had a peaceful way about him that I always admired and looked up to. One day I came across a yogi times magazine my mom had lying around, I opened to read and there he was…Mr. khalsa, my science teacher. There was an article about him and his teachings of Kundalini yoga. As I continued to read, there were articles on Ayurvedic cooking, yoga philosophy, poses, mantras, and much more. I realized that there was more to yoga than just poses. My desire to learn about the philosophy and spirituality of yoga grew. Right after high school, I attended CSUF, where I majored in Kinesiology. At the same time I also attended Cloud Nine school of yoga, which was based out of Huntington Beach. At Cloud Nine, I was given an intro to Ayurveda and I just couldn’t get enough. I wanted to learn more about this ancient science of healing and that is when I met a yoga teacher/CAS named David Wells, who would become like a mentor to me. He told me about the school and their programs. A year or so went by and David left to study in India. I decided to go online and see what else CCA had to offer. There was so much excitement as I went through the website, reading about the school and about Ayurveda. I knew in my heart that this was my true calling so I decided I would save up some money and enroll. In 2011, I joined the AHE class in Cerritos and began my journey into Ayurveda.