We are a collective drawn together by the sacred whispers of the mountains, committed to elevating consciousness. We honor the Cherokee nation, the original inhabitants of this land, and strive to be worthy stewards, providing rest and healing to all who seek it.
Our Expertise
Ayurveda and Healing Arts
The treatments and programs you’ll experience are guided by the globally acclaimed Ayurvedic physician, author, and healer, Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc. With over 40 years of professional and clinical experience, he has trained our team to provide you with treatments that foster holistic healing of mind, body, and soul. Our onsite team includes world-class Ayurvedic Practitioners, Panchakarma Technicians, a Medical Doctor, Reiki healers, counselors, herbalists, botanists, and more! Many are writers, acclaimed speakers, and educators of the future generation of Ayurvedic practitioners.
Our team, are all disciples of Vasant Lad. They bring their diverse skills to provide you with unparalleled service and guidance.
Award-Winning Hospitality
Our award-winning hospitality team, with a rich history in luxury hotels, brings you the epitome of care. Inspired by Vasant Lad's teachings, they have transitioned from the world of hotels to the world of healing, bringing their expertise and a history of leading transformative retreats to SoHum. Inspired by his teachings and care, as well as guided by other spiritual masters throughout their life, the team now brings their hospitality expertise, unparalleled service, and long history of leading inspiring retreats to the guest of SoHum.
Culinary Refinement
Chef Michael Cheyne, with his culinary expertise, delights guests with an ethical and fresh Ayurvedic dining experience. He collaborates with local farmers for a field-to-table approach, providing vibrant, seasonally abundant meals. His culinary brilliance is reflected in every plate served, highlighting the sacred richness of the region
Our Team
Vasant Lad
A native of India, Vasant Lad’s illustrious 40+ year career includes his service as Medical Director at the Ayurveda Hospital in Pune, India, for 3 years and Professor of Clinica
BAM&S, MASc
Vasant Lad
BAM&S, MASc
A native of India, Vasant Lad’s illustrious 40+ year career includes his service as Medical Director at the Ayurveda Hospital in Pune, India, for 3 years and Professor of Clinical Medicine at Pune University College of Ayurvedic Medicine for 15 years. He holds a Bachelor’s of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAM&S) from the University of Pune and a Master’s of Ayurvedic Science (MASc) degree from Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya. Vasant Lad’s training includes the study of Allopathy (Western medicine) and surgery. He established The Ayurvedic Institute in 1984 – the first Ayurvedic School in the U.S. – which is training Ayurvedic professionals in Asheville, NC. He is the author of 12 books (with over 700,000 copies in print in the U.S. alone), and his work has been translated into more than 20 languages. Vasant Lad is considered to be the premiere authority on Ayurveda outside of India.
Vrinda Devani
Vrinda’s dedication to empowering women towards vibrant health and living shines through in her practice as a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and as an Ayurvedic P
MD, CAP, RYT
Vrinda Devani
MD, CAP, RYT
Vrinda’s dedication to empowering women towards vibrant health and living shines through in her practice as a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and as an Ayurvedic Practitioner. After studying under Vasant Lad, Vrinda followed this passion to Nepal, where she studied Ayurvedic women’s health with Dr. Sarita Shrestha. Vrinda believes in unfolding the human body’s potential through a blend of complementary and allopathic medicine, and so her approach to healing is always extraordinarily well-rounded and compassionate. If she’s not speaking or writing for various prestigious audiences on the intricacies of women’s health, you might find her in the middle of a flow, as Vrinda is also a lover (and certified instructor) of Ayuryoga.
Mitesh Raichada
Mitesh’s passion for Ayurveda was first cultivated while studying to become a certified practitioner under Vasant Lad. An enthusiastic and unyielding seeker of knowledge, Mitesh
CAP
Mitesh Raichada
CAP
Mitesh’s passion for Ayurveda was first cultivated while studying to become a certified practitioner under Vasant Lad. An enthusiastic and unyielding seeker of knowledge, Mitesh studied Indian philosophy at the Tattvajnana Vidhyapeeth in India, Jyotish with Hart deFouw, holds a Reiki Level 1 certification, and has undertaken intensive clinical immersion programs with Vasant Lad in India. These days, Mitesh is busy being the Executive Vice President of the Ayurvedic Institute, but before that, he co-founded a highly successful real estate and hospitality company. When not studying, teaching, or practicing, you can find Mitesh playing his bass guitar or enjoying the limitless beauty of nature.
Sneha Raichada
Prior to becoming the Dean of Education at the Ayurvedic Institute, Sneha had a remarkable journey as an executive of a thriving hospitality business. Luckily for us, Sneha now foc
MPT, CAP, E-RYT 200
Sneha Raichada
MPT, CAP, E-RYT 200
Prior to becoming the Dean of Education at the Ayurvedic Institute, Sneha had a remarkable journey as an executive of a thriving hospitality business. Luckily for us, Sneha now focuses all her energy on developing the next generation of Ayurvedic Practitioners and providing thoughtful care for her clients. While practicing as an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Sneha combines her early experience as a Physical Therapist with extensive classroom and clinical study under Vasant Lad in the US and India, Yoga Teacher Certification, and Reiki III Certification. When she has a free moment, Sneha is most often found experimenting with fresh ingredients, applying the deep wisdom of Ayurveda to all her delectable creations.
Sandy Viteri
Most of her life Sandy has grappled with a number of medical concerns and after exhausting the solutions Western Medicine could offer, Sandy began exploring more holistic approache
RYT 200, AC
Sandy Viteri
RYT 200, AC
Most of her life Sandy has grappled with a number of medical concerns and after exhausting the solutions Western Medicine could offer, Sandy began exploring more holistic approaches to health and wellness. On her healing journey, Sandy traveled to India where she had the honor of being treated by and learn from world-renowned Ayurvedic physician and author, Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc. After this experience Sandy has devoted herself to the two sister sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga.
Sandy received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from George Mason University before launching a successful marketing and sales career and is now putting her years of experience to work in making self-healing more accessible and relatable to a wider audience.
Sandy is passionate about healthy living practices, spirituality, chakra work, travel, marketing, and animals. She is a 200hr Yoga certified Teacher and she is currently studying to become an Integrative Healthcare Practitioner and an Ayurvedic Consultant. Sandy currently lives in Asheville, NC, with her husband and her golden retriever Bonnie.
Michael Cheyne
Michael was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He started working in restaurants at a very young age and fell in love with using food as a tool for healing and community grow
Chef
Michael Cheyne
Chef
Michael was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He started working in restaurants at a very young age and fell in love with using food as a tool for healing and community growth. He has worked for some of the top chefs in the country, including Michelin Star and James Beard Award winners. Michael strongly believes in sustainable farming practices and building relationships with the community and local producers.
Michael has enjoyed a very diverse background as an artist, having success in both the photography and music industries. Michael’s interest in photography started around 8 years ago and he has worked on projects for outlets such as People Magazine, Rolling Stone, CMT, Billboard, to name a few. Micheal brings his passion for music and the visual arts to his culinary creations, creating a feast for all the senses.
Julia Apodaca
Julia started working at the Ayurvedic Institute in 2015. She discovered a passion for bodywork and studied massage at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics. She then worke
LMT, NTS
Julia Apodaca
LMT, NTS
Julia started working at the Ayurvedic Institute in 2015. She discovered a passion for bodywork and studied massage at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics. She then worked as a therapist and operations manager for the Panchakarma department. Julia also worked as the program director and instructor at New Mexico School of Massage. In this position, Julia developed and taught a 40 hour ayurvedic bodywork course for massage therapy students. Julia has brought her passion for teaching to SoHum as the wellness director, where she trains massage therapists in traditional ayurvedic and panchakarma therapies. When Julia is not training new therapists, you will find her working on clients or hiking on the trails on the SoHum property.
Eliot Steer
Eliot is a psychologist and Ayurvedic practitioner with a focus in integrative mental health. He is a graduate of Palo Alto University’s Ph.D. clinical psychology program, The Ay
PhD
Eliot Steer
PhD
Eliot is a psychologist and Ayurvedic practitioner with a focus in integrative mental health. He is a graduate of Palo Alto University’s Ph.D. clinical psychology program, The Ayurvedic Institute’s Level 1 and 2 programs, and he has completed clinical training in integrative medicine at University of California San Francisco’s Osher Center. Eliot is well versed in a variety of psychotherapy modalities, including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Jungian therapy, dream analysis, and internal family systems. In addition, drawing from his extensive knowledge of Ayurveda and yoga, Eliot employs a holistic and client-centered approach to address the complex interplay between mind, body, and spirit.
At SoHum, Eliot provides Vedic counseling sessions to help individuals navigate psychological challenges during the panchakarma process and beyond. Vedic counseling is a talk-based therapy that provides supportive guidance for health concerns, one’s soul purpose, goals, values, relationships, and spirituality. Single sessions are offered for support during your SoHum stay, as well as an optional package of 3 online follow-up sessions after panchakarma.
Nishita Shah
Nishita’s first foray into Ayurveda and Yoga began at a young age. Being raised in a traditional Indian household in the middle of the deep South, she was always trying to fi
CAP, C-IAYT, E-RYT500
Nishita Shah
CAP, C-IAYT, E-RYT500
Nishita’s first foray into Ayurveda and Yoga began at a young age. Being raised in a traditional Indian household in the middle of the deep South, she was always trying to find a balance and connection between Eastern and Western cultures. After college, her curiosity deepened for these traditional Vedic sciences. She was blessed with the opportunity to study under Vasant Lad, MASc at The Ayurvedic Institute where she completed her formal studies in Ayurveda and Yoga. Nishita is passionate about sharing these sciences, and is excited to continue this at SoHum, both as an instructor with our various programming and supporting clients with their Panchakarma. She also currently teaches at The Ayurvedic Institute as the lead yoga instructor, supports the yoga training programs at Asheville Yoga Center, and sees Ayurvedic clients with AyurPrana. If you don’t find Nishita with clients or teaching, you’ll find her outside hiking or in her kitchen–cooking and baking for those she loves.
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