Panchakarma Retreat

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

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

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

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

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

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.