AyurWellness

KUSUM BHANDARI, CAP, CHC

Kusum’s journey through healing modalities has been extraordinarily comprehensive, and driven by a unwavering dedication to supporting others on their healing paths. As an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Kusum also supports the education and evolution of Ayurveda as a faculty member and clinic supervisor at the Ayurvedic Institute.

Prior to her training in the healing practices of Ayurveda, Kusum received her Master’s in Clinical Psychology, and a Postmaster’s in Couple and Family Therapy from Drexel University.  

Her passion for empowering others carries through in everything she does, but truly shines brightest in her speciality areas of diet, nutrition, and cooking.

AXELLE LATORTUE, CAP

Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Axelle followed her passion for Ayurveda to New Mexico, where she graduated as an Ayurvedic Practitioner from The Ayurvedic Institute. Before this journey, Axelle had a remarkable 10-year run working with overseas governments to help them achieve their education system goals, which her Masters in Foreign Service helped her accomplish.

She had spent several years committed to her practice of Ashtanga yoga before turning toward Ayurveda. When she did, she was inspired and delighted by the close connections between both healing modalities.

The driving force behind her work is the lifelong desire to be of service to her community — Axelle truly thrives in her connection-oriented spaces, whether she’s working one-one-one to help a client, or supporting the next generation of healers by supervising the student clinic.

SERAFINA LEFFELD, CAP

Serafina began her journey into the world of alternative healing at a young age, absorbing practices of herbal and flower medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy as well as yoga from her mother. As her affinity for the healing arts developed, she pursued her passions into the metaphysical and transcendental realms. Through further exploration, Serafina discovered the teachings of Vasant Lad, eventually studying and graduating from his Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico as an Ayurvedic Practitioner.

Employing all natural and non-invasive practices such as yoga, pranayama, meditation, nutrition, mantra, ritual and plant medicine, she guides clients towards reconnecting with their body’s intrinsic intuition and innate wisdom. However, Serafina’s true passions lie in women's health, which she embraces as her dharma and purpose. She is dedicated to guiding and supporting women to accept and embrace their bodies by reconnecting with divine feminine and masculine energies coexisting within.

GIUDITTA PACI-FORTUNE, CAP, AYS RYT-500, B.Msc

Giuditta brings a wide cultural perspective, having grown up in Italy and Costa Rica before moving to London to study ecology, marine biology. Having lived in many countries, Giuditta is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian. Working as a chef at a natural food marketplace, she developed her interests in vegan, vegetarian, and organic whole foods. In Taos, NM she studied shamanism, worked towards her Bachelors of Metaphysical Studies, and deepened her yoga practice by becoming a certified yoga instructor. Her yoga experience includes hatha, vinyasa, restorative, pranayama and meditation.

After studying under Vasant Lad and graduating from the Ayurvedic Institute as a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Giuditta’s passion is to educate and guide clients on their healing journey. Her goal is to work systematically with one or more of the tools of Ayurveda to restore balance for her clients’ body, mind and spirit.

ALEX RICE, CAP

Alex is a graduate of The Ayurvedic Institute's Ayurvedic Studies Program, Levels 1 and 2, and a 500-Hour AyurYoga Teacher. She first learned yoga and meditation from her grandmother, and it was actually one of her best friends who introduced her to Ayurveda.

She has worked seasonally around the world and the United States for many years. Her wild and wonderful adventures varied from farms to daycares to restaurants to an outdoor science school, after which Alex found her way to Vasant Lad and The Ayurvedic Institute.

Alex loves connecting with clients, listening to their stories, and ultimately finding the root cause of their concerns. In addition to being a practitioner, she currently supports many of Vasant Lad’s clients, moderates seasonal cleanses, video-edits upcoming immersions, and assists the care team

NISHITA SHAH, CAP, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT

Before being called to Ayurveda, Nishita received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Alabama, and what fascinates her most is how her studies in human psychology overlap with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to continue her healing education in the latter subject at the Ayurvedic Institute.

Under the tutelage of Vasant Lad, Nishita became both an Ayurvedic Practitioner and an enthusiastic Ayuryoga Instructor. Throughout her career, including during the time she spent in her own private practice prior to joining our team, Nishita’s work has been fueled by a devotion to healing through nutrition and yoga.

She also has a deep appreciation for Sanskrit as the mother tongue of all languages, and is both thrilled and honored to bring this love into the classroom.

DAVE YOSS, AP, E-RYT 500

Dave is best known for his love and appreciation for plants of all kinds. After graduating from the Ayurvedic Institute and the Gurukula program in Pune, India, Dave began teaching and has been at it for over 5 years. He’s taught an extensive range of topics, including herbology, herbal preparations, yoga, lifestyle practices, clinical practices, and more.

He also teaches yoga and meditation at Sani Yoga in the heart of Albuquerque, and co-leads their Yoga Teacher Training Program. As a master teacher at the Tantric Alchemy Institute in Costa Rica, Dave also co-led their 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training.

If it’s not already clear, Dave loves to teach! Through his teaching, Dave is able to share and transmit knowledge that leaves students empowered — all made possible by the humorous anecdotes and authentic, fun learning environment for which his classes and consultations are loved.