Faculty
Dr. Marc Halpern
Dr. Marc Halpern, D.C., C.A.S., P.K.S. (Ayurvedacharya), is the founder and
president of the California College of Ayurveda. He is one of the pioneers of Ayurveda
in the West and is considered to be a pre-eminent practitioner and teacher
of Ayurveda in the United States. He is one of the few Westerners ever recognized
in both the United States and in India as an authority on the subject of Ayurveda
and was awarded the All India Award for Best Ayurvedic Physician. A pillar in
the development of the profession in the United States, he is the co-founder of the
National Ayurvedic Medical Association for which he served as Chairman of the
National Committee on Ayurvedic Education from its inception in 2000 until
2005. He is also a co-founder of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine.
A Doctor of Chiropractic with post-graduate certification in Holistic Medicine,
Dr. Halpern has studied with many noted teachers from India and the United
States. His greatest inspiration and support has come from Dr. David Frawley.
Dr. Halpern is a contributing writer to several popular books on Ayurveda and holistic medicine and has written two textbooks on Ayurveda. He has published articles in almost every major journal and magazine of yoga or Ayurveda, and in 2005 was interviewed by Mike Wallace on CBS's 60 Minutes. Dr. Halpern's own remarkable story of personal healing was featured in the national magazine Spirituality and Health. He has been quoted in many major newspapers, including The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. In addition to his work with the California College of Ayurveda, Dr. Halpern is a regular teacher of Ayurveda at International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers worldwide.
Southern California Faculty
Robert J. Talbert Jr., M.S., C.A.S., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with
certification as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. Rob is in private practice in Laguna Beach, California.
He completed a post-graduate one-and-one-half-year clinical internship with Vicki
"Vijaya" Stern and participated in post-graduate study with Dr. Liladhar Gupta in Vrindavan,
India. He is a member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, American Herbalist
Guild, and American Botanical Council. He has been a life-long student of Yoga, Zen, Vipassana,
and Tibetan meditation.
Devi Mueller, B.S., C.T., C.A.S., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certification
as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. She serves on the Board of Directors of the National
Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). In 2004 Devi was the coordinator of NAMA's
national conference held on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, and in 2008 she helped
coordinate the national conference held in Chicago. Devi is in private practice in Seal Beach,
California. She has been studying and practicing numerology, astrology, meditation, and yoga
for the past 20 years.
Marisa Laursen, C.A.S., is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and graduate of the California College
of Ayurveda. She is the director of Shanti Yoga & Ayurveda, a yoga studio and Ayurvedic
Wellness Center located in Chino, California. Marisa is on the board of the California Association
of Ayurvedic Medicine and has a B.S. degree in Human Services. She is a yoga instructor
and a Level III practitioner in Reiki. Marisa has completed extensive post-graduate training in
Ayurveda.
Mary-Alice Quinn, C.A.S. graduated from the California College of Ayurveda with certification as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. She is a practitioner member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. She has completed a variety of post-graduate studies in Ayurveda and has been a practitioner of Yoga for more than ten years. Mary-Alice conducts public workshops throughout Southern California and has an active private practice in Los Angeles where she focuses on both preventative medicine and disease management.
Eleni Tsikrikas C.A.S., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda with certification
as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. She maintains her private practice in Los Angeles, California.
A certified Yoga teacher in the lineage of T. Krishnamacharya, she continues to deepen her
studies in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with her teacher. Eleni is a member of the National Ayurvedic
Medical Association and the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine.
San Francisco Faculty
Dr. Annapoorni Ramasubramanian, B.A.M.S., M.D., C.A.S., is a graduate of the California
College of Ayurveda, where she received her Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist certification, and of
Bombay University in India where she received her Bachelors degree in Ayurvedic Medicine
and Surgery and also her Medical Degree. Dr. Anu, as she likes to be called, was a Resident
Doctor in K.G.M.P. Ayurveda Hospital in Bombay. She also ran an Ayurvedic clinic while simultaneously
serving as an Assistant Doctor to noted physician, Dr. Sharad Shah. Dr. Anu
brings a unique perspective on Ayurvedic practice and education being the only Ayurvedic
teacher formally trained in both India and the United States.
Grass Valley Faculty
Mary Thompson, C.A.S., P.K.S., (Ayurvedacharya), is a graduate of the California College of
Ayurveda and senior teacher with certifications as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Pancha
Karma Specialist. Mary is a graduate of the first graduating class of the College in 1997. In 2008
she received the Charaka Award for Excellence in Ayurvedic Teaching and was given the title
"Ayurvedacharya" (respected teacher of Ayurveda) by Dr. Halpern. She has been an invited
speaker at several Ayurvedic conferences and is a founding member and former Secretary of the
California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. She is also the founder and Executive Director of
the non-profit organization, Everyday Ayurveda. Mary is in private practice in Grass Valley,
California.
Amanda J. Lyon, B.A., C.A.S., P.K.S., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda and
is certified as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and a Pancha Karma Specialist. She received her
bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland. She is a certified SivanandaYoga Teacher and a
member of the CCA faculty. She conducts the college's Advanced Ayurvedic Herbalism Certification
course.. She maintains her practice in Grass Valley at the college's community clinic.
Brenda Igler, A.A., C.A.S., P.K.S. Brenda is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda
with certifications as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and a Pancha Karma Specialist. Following
graduation, Brenda was selected by Dr. Halpern to become an Intern Supervisor at the College
overseeing the clinical work performed by many of the interns. A member of the teaching faculty
and Director of the College's Herb Department, Brenda conducts her clinical practice at the
College's health care center. She is also a trained Reiki practitioner. Brenda is a compassionate
and inspiring practitioner of Ayurvedic Medicine committed to providing service to humanity.
Carol P. Prentice, C.A.S. is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and graduate of the California College
of Ayurveda. As a member of the teaching faculty, Carol specializes in the teaching of the
Ayurvedic Health Practitioner Internship program and is on our staff of Intern Supervisors. Carol
is a member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, a graduate of the Alexander Training
Institute in San Francisco, and a Level II Reiki practitioner. She maintains her private practice
in Grass Valley, California.
Kim Kinjo, C.A.S., P.K.S., C.M.T., is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda and is
certified as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and a Pancha Karma Specialist. She received her
massage certification from the Phillips School of Massage in 1991. Kim specializes in teaching
as a part of the College's Ayurvedic Health Practitioner Internship Program and is on our staff of
Intern Supervisors. Kim is a member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and maintains
her private practice at the College's clinic and panchakarma center in Grass Valley.
Ragaia Belovarac, M.A., C.A.S., P.K.S., C.M.T., is a graduate of the California College of
Ayurveda with certifications as Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Pancha Karma Specialist.
Ragaia is the past co-director of the College's Pancha Karma Center, where he worked closely
with Dr. Halpern. This experience deepened his understanding of creating and holding sacred
space in a way that facilitates the patient's healing journey. Ragaia co-teaches the Pancha Karma
Specialist trainings with Dr. Halpern for the students of CCA. He is also the director of Blue
Sage Sanctuary in Nevada City, California, where he practices Ayurveda and Pancha Karma.
Amarnath Matthews, C.A.S., P.K.S., C.M.T, is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda
with certifications as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Pancha Karma Specialist. He
received his massage therapy certification from Bryman College and is a certified Reiki practitioner.
He currently serves as the Director of the College's Pancha Karma Center and has traveled
to India where he spent six months deepening his ayurvedic studies. Amarnath is a devotee
of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma), the great spiritual Saint from India.