Speakers of the Ayurveda Symposium 2020

Secretary to the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha MD (Ayu) is the Secretary of State for AYUSH, Federal Government of India. Previously, he was the Vice Chancellor (President) of the prestigious Gujarat Ayurved University in Jamnagar. He is the founder of the Chakrapani Ayurveda clinic and product line in Jaipur. He has received several awards for his work, including the Padmashri Award, the fourth highest civilian award in India.

Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)
Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari, BAMS, MD (Ayu), PhD (Ayu) Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA). She is the Chair for the Health Sector sub-skill Council for AYUSH and a member of Governing Council of IMS, BHU. Dr. Nesari is also a member of the General Assembly of ICCR, a Member of the Board of Governors, CCIM and serves on the academic board of various universities like ITRA, Jamnagar & National Academic and Research Bodies.
She serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of CCRAS and domain expert of the Technical Screening Committee (TSC) of NMPB. Her influential leadership has brought more than 20 MOUs into the credit of AIIA. She played a key role in converting AIIA Hospital, New Delhi into COVID Healthcare Centre, where the patients are being provided holistic Ayurveda treatment.

Ayurvedic nutrition therapist, masseuse and cook
Stephanie Albert leads Ayurvedic cooking courses as well as the training as an Ayurvedic cook at the European Academy for Ayurveda in Zurich. She also teaches as part of the nutritionist training in Zurich and Lucerne. She herself has completed Ayurveda training in Switzerland, Germany and India. The integration of Ayurveda into western health systems is particularly close to her heart.

Master of Science in Ayurvedic Medicine, certified educator, alternative practitioner
Oliver Becker has been practicing Ayurvedic medicine in his own practice for many years. At the European Academy of Ayurveda, he works as a lecturer, module leader, educational coach and interpreter in the Ayurvedic Medicine course. In addition, he teaches in various other training courses of the Academy. His professional focus as a lecturer includes pharmacology and internal medicine of Ayurveda. In addition to Ayurvedic medicine, he has profound knowledge of yoga, Vedic knowledge systems and Sanskrit.

Practitioner of alternative medicine, medical Ayurveda specialist
Anja Berger is a graduate social scientist and alternative practitioner and successfully completed her studies of Ayurveda medicine at the European Academy for Ayurveda. She works in her own practice in Baden-Baden with a focus on Ayurveda medicine, nutritional counselling and gynaecology/consulting for natural hormone therapy.

Doctor and Ayurveda physician
Dr. Jorge Luis Berra is a physician and director of the Fundacion de Salud Ayurveda Prema, Argentina, a collaborative centre of the Gujarat Ayurveda University and seat of the Ayurveda Chair of the AYUSH Ministry. For the last 20 years he has been the director of postgraduate courses in Ayurvedic Medicine at the Argentine Medical Association and at various universities. Dr. Berra has been invited as an expert by the World Health Organization and the AYUSH Ministry in 2018 and 2019, at the National Institute of Ayurveda and at the Gujarat Ayurveda University.

Ambassador for Ayurveda and Yoga in Great Britain
Amarjeet S. Bhamra administers the influential All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Indian Traditional Sciences. In this position he has made a significant contribution to raising awareness of holistic health in the UK. Among other things, he has helped develop national professional qualifications and standards for Shiro Abhyanga and Yoga. Amarjeet was the inspiration for the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Indian Traditional Sciences in April 2018 and has the privilege of being one of the "100 most influential people in British Indian relations".

Professor and head of Ayurvedic pharmaceutics at the BHU
Prof. Anand K. Chaudhary is Head of the Department of Ayurvedic Pharmacy at the National Third Rank University of India (NIRF 2020) Varanasi, Banaras Hindu University. He is also a member of the Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia Committee of PCIMH and Chairman of the Drug Development Committee of the Scientific Advisory Group of the Central Council of Researches in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH of the Government of India. Prof. Anand K. Chaudhary has published 92 research papers in prestigious journals. He has received many national academic awards from the Government and the prestigious
India's private sector.

Head of the Ayurveda department at the Habichtswaldklinik Kassel
Ananda Samir Chopra, MD, studied medicine and Indology at the University of Heidelberg. After his license to practice medicine, he spent one year in Kolkata, India, studying Ayurveda. Since 1996 leading physician of the Ayurveda Clinic Kassel. 2009 to 2011 scientific assistant in a research project on the modern history of Ayurveda at the University of Heidelberg. Furthermore, he is the 1st chairman of DÄGAM e.V. (German Medical Society for Ayurveda Medicine). In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Chopra continues to be scientifically active in the history of medicine. Since his childhood he has been learning and practicing Indian classical music (Hindustani Sangit).

Assistant professor Panchakarma at the AIIA
Dr. Prasanth Dharmarajan PhD comes from a family of Ayurvedic doctors in Kerala and was one of the first employees of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), the top institute of the AYUSH Ministry of the Indian government. In 2015, he was appointed advisor and assistant professor for Panchakarma. He built up and developed the Panchakarma Department, which now treats hundreds of patients per day. He created the first national standards for training panchakarma therapists in India and trained the Institute's postgraduate students and therapists. Zuvor he worked in the Department of Panchakarma and Integrative Medical Studies at the Mata Amritanandamayi Math and its Ayurvedic School of Kerala. There he led and taught educational programs for international students, including Western doctors and medical personnel.

Graduate ecotrophologist
Dr. Astrid Gerstemeier has been self-employed for over 20 years in her own practice for holistic classical and Ayurvedic nutritional advice and coaching. From 2001-2006 she was also head of the nutrition department of the outpatient neurodermatitis therapy centre Schwelmer Modell. In 2010 she founded the Sonnenberg Health Centre in Wiesbaden, which she still runs today. In holistic coaching sessions she accompanies clients in the development of new behavioural patterns to improve their quality of life. As an experienced lecturer and specialist, she trains professionals and patients in Ayurvedic and classical dietetics. She holds a doctorate in oecotrophology, is an Ayurvedic nutrition and health consultant (European Academy of Ayurveda), certified nutritionist (VDOE), nutritional expert for allergology (DAAB) and coach for holistic personality coaching (Academy for Holistic Leadership).

Nives is a certified Ayurveda wellness practitioner, 500 RYT certified yoga teacher, founder and instructor at the Shakti Academy - a yoga school for women. She is the author of the book Mondschön. A Course in Femininity, published by Kösel Verlag in 2018. She is internationally active as a yoga teacher, Ayurveda expert and women's circle leader. In her deepened knowledge of Vedic philosophy she focuses especially on the topic of femininity.

Medical doctor
In addition to her degree in human medicine, Dr. Harsha Gramminger is an engineer for production technology. She completed a 3-year training in Ayurveda medicine in India, supplemented by additional training in meditation techniques, psychotherapy, massage techniques and various CAM therapies. Since 2000
own practice clinic for Ayurveda medicine and Panchakarma cures in Germany, director and lecturer of Ayurveda training at the Euroved Academy, since 2007 president of the EUAA (European Ayurveda Association e.V.), was vice president of ANME until 2017. Author of the book trilogy "New Age Ayurveda". Dr. Harsha Gramminger dedicated a large part of her life to the spread and recognition of Ayurveda in Europe with the aim of establishing Ayurveda as an equal medical science in Europe.

Practitioner of alternative medicine
Sandra Grünes is an alternative practitioner, physiotherapist and medical Ayurveda specialist. She completed her studies of Ayurvedic Medicine with Dr. S.N. Gupta, combined with several years of Ayurveda and Yoga studies in India and Sri Lanka. She is also trained in clinical acupuncture and as a yoga teacher and has specific further training in holistic gynaecology.
Since 1998 she has been running her own naturopathic practice for Ayurveda medicine and yoga therapy in Freiburg. Since 1999 she has been leading Panchakarma cures. She is also a lecturer at the European Ayurveda Academy and the Yoga Academy Freiburg.

Specialist in orthopaedics and rheumatology
Hedwig H. Gupta, MD, is a specialist in orthopedics and rheumatology with a focus on Ayurveda and therapeutic yoga. She first studied Ayurveda in the Gurukula system with Dr. OP Tiwari. From 1999 she did post graduate studies of Ayurveda at BHU (Banaras Hindu University). Studied Sanskrit and Yoga there as well. Today she is based in Asperg. Head of the vidya sagar academy for Ayurveda and yoga therapy, 2nd chairwoman of DÄGAM e.V. (German Medical Society for Ayurveda Medicine) and 2nd chairwoman of DeGYT e.V. (German Society for Yoga Therapy).

Ayurveda Clinic Director, Professor, J.S. Ayurveda College, Vice Chancellor, Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University, India
Prof. Shivenarain Gupta MD (Ayu) is a physician and professor of Ayurvedic medicine from Nadiad (India). He earned his doctorate degree from the famous Ayurveda University of Jamnagar. Today he heads the Department of Internal Medicine at the P. D. Patel Ayurveda Hospital. As a professor of the affiliated J. S. Ayurveda College, he has succeeded in establishing one of the most prestigious pancakarma clinics in India, where patients from India and Europe receive help. He was awarded by IASTAM (India) for his achievements in teaching and appointed as Vice Chancellor, Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University in 2022. At the European Academy of Ayurveda, he has been one of the key teachers and academic head of training in Ayurvedic Medicine for many years.

Professor and head of Svasthavritta
Dr. Mihir Hajarnavis MD (Ayu) is professor and head of the department of Svasthavritta and deputy headmaster at Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya in Pune. He is also a member of the study commission PG Paraclinical Subjects at the Ayurved Maharashtra University of Health Science in Nashik. He has been teaching in his special field of Svasthavritta for two decades and has extensive experience in research.

Practitioner of alternative medicine, author
Manuela Heider de Jahnsen is an alternative practitioner, lecturer and author. In addition to her training in traditional medicine in India and Vietnam, she studied tropical medicine and Indology in Berlin. She teaches and works in the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe. Manuela Heider de Jahnsen teaches Ayurveda-Yoga Therapy at the European Academy of Ayurveda (Rosenberg), where she completed her Ayurveda Master of Science degree. Her Ayurvedic-Yogatherapeutic focus areas in practice and teaching are rehabilitative medicine, urban panchakarma, trauma, childbearing.

Iris Hüttner is a journalist and published the Press Service Ayurveda from 2008. Since 2005 she has been Ayurveda representative of the German Wellness Association, her thematic focus is consumer protection. She lectured at several international Ayurveda congresses and undertook several longer trips to India in recent years to research Ayurveda clinics, where she conducted numerous conversations and interviews with doctors and patients.

Holistic dentist, Ayurveda specialist
D.M.D. Annette Jasper has been running her own practice in Munich for 20 years. Already at the beginning of her career she decided to work holistically and, if possible, not to use metal. Her special expertise lies in the fields of implantology and CMD (cranio-mandibular dysfunction). She deals with functional disorders and their effects such as tinnitus, back problems and headaches. Accordingly, she regularly lectures on the topic of tinnitus as a guest speaker in ENT clinics. In Dr. Japser's practice, factors from naturopathy and Ayurveda flow into the highly modern dental medicine.

Ayurveda doctor
Dr. Jategaonkar, MD (Ayu) and MA Sanskrit, comes from a well known family from Pune, which is dedicated to Ayurveda. Both parents have been Ayurveda doctors for over 30 years. Dr. Jategaonkar learned Ayurveda in the traditional way from his father who is a student of the late Vaidya Ashok S. Bhat - a great personality in the field of Nadi (Pulse) testing. His final thesis on MD Ayurveda treats Triphala as a research topic. The work contains one of the largest compilations of references about Triphala not only from the Ayurvedic literature but also from almost all other Sanskrit texts from Vedas and Puranas. Currently Dr. Jategaonkar is practicing Ayurveda in three clinics in Pune.

Practitioner of alternative medicine, Ayurveda specialist
Vanita Kansal completed six years of Ayurvedic medicine with a focus on Panchakarma therapy in India with distinction. Afterwards she worked as a lecturer and Ayurveda physician at several clinics in India. In addition, she gave lectures on Ayurveda topics in Germany, Switzerland, China and India. Since 2010 she has been working as an Ayurvedic doctor in the Ayurveda Parkschlösschen, Traben-Trarbach. Well-founded expertise in Panchkarma-cure guidance, nutritional science, Ayurvedic lifestyle, herbal medicine and meditation. In the meantime she has acquired the title of alternative practitioner in Mainz.

Internist, researcher, indologist
private lecturer Dr. med. Christian S. Kessler, MA is senior physician and research coordinator at the Immanuel Hospital Berlin and is scientifically active at the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin on Ayurveda and many other topics. He has a master's degree in Indology and is the medical director of the advanced training for doctors "Ayurveda as complementary medicine" in Berlin.

Medical doctor
Ulrich Koch is a doctor, yoga teacher and head of the homeopathic practice in the Psychiatric Institute Outpatient Clinic in Hofheim. He is a pioneer in the research and clinical application of yoga and meditation for people with mental disorders.

Ayurveda doctor and researcher
Dr. Abhay Kulkarni is a practicing Ayurvedic doctor at the Ayushree Ayurvedic Hospital and Research Centre, Nashik. He has more than 25 years of clinical and educational experience. As a researcher he covers the areas of diabetic nephropathy, psoriasis, infertility and Garbhanskarhe and was awarded a project by the Ministry of AYUSH. CEO of the non-profit organization Ayurveda Seva Sangh. Author of four books on Ayurveda. Member of the Senate of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, and the Maharashtra Acupuncture Council.

Dr. Rajashree Kulkarni PhD has extensive clinical experience in handling a wide range of cases, ranging from chronic kidney failure to cancer. Together with her husband and partner Dr. Abhay, she shared her vision of a private, internationally recognized, fully Ayurvedic hospital, which was realized in 2003. She also works as an associate professor in the R.S. & B.K. Department of the Ayurvedic College and is a guest lecturer at various institutes in Australia and Germany.

Dr. Rajashree Kulkarni has worked on various research projects. She is the author of over 1,500 published articles and was editor of the journal Arogyahitaya.

Ayurveda doctor, former general director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda
Prof. Dr. Abhimanyu Kumar MD (Ayu) MSc PhD is Vice Chancellor of the Uttarakhand Ayurved University in India. Previously, he was Executive Director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi, the new Excellence Initiative of the Indian Ministry of Health AYUSH for Postgraduate Education and Specialist Medicine in Ayurveda. He also holds the position of Director General of the CCRAS Central Councils for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences for several years. Prior to that, he was active for many years as Head of the Department of Ayurvedic Pediatrics, NAI, Jaipur. He holds a PhD in Pediatrics and a Master in Applied Psychology. He has also published three books and more than 60 scientific articles.

Specialist in general medicine, additional qualification in naturopathy
Study of Ayurveda medicine in Germany and India. During his further training as a specialist in general medicine and neurology, he worked for many years in the field of integrative medicine, including classical European naturopathy under Prof. Dobos at the Knappschaft Hospital in Essen and Ayurveda under Prof. Przuntek at the Protestant Hospital in Hattingen. Currently working in the integrative medical fasting clinic Buchinger-Wilhelmi. Research on the role of the bacterial intestinal flora in neurodegenerative diseases while working in Hattingen as well as in the master's program at the European Academy of Ayurveda. Training in classical European naturopathy in Bad Wörrishofen, obtaining the additional title of naturopathic medicine, as well as various further training courses in the field of integrative medicine and nutritional medicine.

Practitioner of alternative medicine
Markus Ludwig enjoyed 5 years of training in the Kalari martial and healing arts in India. Research in Marma-Nadi-Therapy, development of the "Holistic Kalari Therapy". Extensive activity as alternative practitioner and lecturer for Kalari therapy since 2000.

Ayurveda cook and entrepreneur
Volker Mehl, born in Mannheim in 1976, grew up in Lorsch in southern Hesse. After stopovers in Munich, Berlin, Wuppertal and Kassel, he has now returned to his home town, where he runs his cooking school and Ayurveda Academy in Heppenheim. With his 10 books published since 2011, two of which were awarded as the best India cookbook in Germany, he is one of the most successful Ayurveda authors in Germany.

Ayurveda doctor, former professor for postgraduate studies at the Gujarat Ayurved University
Prof. Dr. S.K. Mishra MD (Ayu) PhD was for several years professor and physician at the Faculty of Internal Medicine at the renowned Gujarat Ayurved University in Jamnagar (India). As a founding member of various Ayurveda colleges and associations, he looks back on a long and successful teaching and practice of Ayurvedic medicine. At the European Academy of Ayurveda he lectured on his specialties of Kaya-Cikitsa and Rasa-Shastra as part of his studies of Ayurvedic Medicine.

Indologist and religious scholar
Prof. Dr. Martin Mittwede is head of the Master of Science in Ayurveda Medicine at the European Academy of Ayurveda. The indologist and religious scholar habilitated already in 1996 with a research project on Ayurveda and has many years of experience in further medical training. He also teaches at the University of Frankfurt/Main and has published numerous works on Ayurveda medicine.

Neurologist and Ayurveda doctor
Antonio Morandi is a neurologist and Vaidya (Ayurveda Academy, Pune (India) / Joytinat International College of Ayurveda). He also has a specialization in Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy ( Ayurvedic
Institute Ashtavaidyan Thaikat Mooss',Thrissur). He has been Director of the Ayurvedic Point, Milan, for many years and is President of the Scientific Society for Ayurvedic Medicine Italy (SSIMA). In 2017 he was awarded the prestigious IASTAM ZANDU Award for Research in  Ayurveda. In 2019 he received the ECIM Award for the best clinical publication as co-author.

General practitioner and Ayurveda physician
Since 1998, Dr. med. Annette Müller-Leisgang has been working with her own practice for Ayurveda and nutritional medicine in Munich. In addition, she specializes in travel and occupational medicine. She has more than 30 years of experience in Ayurveda and heads the Ayurveda Institute Munich.

Ayurveda doctor and researcher, director of Ayuwave
Dr. Vijayendar Murthy is an internationally recognized Ayurvedic physician and researcher. He is the Director of Ayuwave London, UK, and Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. Murthy received his diverse medical education and clinical practice in India, New Zealand, Australia and England. He lives and works in London. His healing methods attract a wide range of health seekers and patients, including stars and the British Royal Family. Dr Murthy also runs an innovative radio show called "Unlock your Health".

Specialist for physical and rehabilitative medicine, medical psychotherapist
Dr. med. Kalyani Nagersheth has been working as an Ayurveda doctor since 2000 and was head of the Ayurveda department at the Habichtswald-Klinik, Kassel. Today she runs her own practice for Ayurveda medicine in Frankfurt. She also takes over the medical supervision of Panchakarma cures at the Rosenberg Ayurveda Health and Spa Centre. One of her specialties is Western and Ayurvedic Phythotherapy. She is a book author and has many years of experience as a lecturer in Ayurvedic medicine.

Director of the Institute of Ayurveda SNA Oushadhasala
Prof. A.N. Nambi MD (Ayu) represents the rich heritage of the Ashtavaidyas, for centuries the largest family of traditional doctors in India. He is active as a speaker, lecturer and physician in clinical practice and research. In addition to his position as director of the Institute of Ayurveda S.N.A. Oushadhasla (P) Ltd,
Thrissur, Kerala, he is a faculty member at Ayurvedic Point, Italy. He also served as scientific coordinator of the INDRA network and was a member of the Council for International Cooperation of Indian System of Medicine in the AYUSH Department of the Indian Government.

Pharmacologist
Cornelis Peters studied pharmacology and physiology at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and became a research associate at several leading hospitals in the Netherlands. Among them is the famous Dutch Cancer Institute, Antony van Leeuwenhoek. During a sabbatical in India, he came across Ayurveda and became fascinated with this healing method that he studied to become an Ayurveda doctor. He founded the Europa Ayurveda Centre in the Netherlands with his late wife, Dr. V.P. Mohana Kumari, and son Vighnesh M. Peters. Together they are the inspiring driving force behind this institute. Europa Ayurveda Centre (EAC) is an agricultural estate with treatment and research facilities. The center is actively involved in research projects with Ayurvedic medicinal plants grown on 10 ha of land owned by the center.

Europa Ayurveda Centre (EAC) is an agricultural estate with treatment and research facilities. The centre is actively involved in research projects with Ayurvedic medicinal plants grown on 10 hectares of land owned by the centre.

Ayurveda doctor and pharmacologist
Vaidya Rammanohar MD (Ayu) is a doctor of Ayurvedic medicine and pharmacologist. He is currently serving as Director of Research at Amrita Centre for Advanced Research in Ayurveda, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kollam, Kerala. He also serves as a research advisor for the National Institute of Ayurveda and for History of Science at the Indian National Science Academy. He is an expert member of the World Health Organization Committee on International Standardization of Ayurvedic Terminologies. He served on the Kerala State Government Task Force for AYUSH response to COVID-19. Further, he is a member of the Interdisciplinary Research and Development Working Group for COVID-19 at the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. His special interest is psychology and spirituality from Ayurvedic perspective.

Specialist for Ayurveda nutrition
Kerstin Rosenberg runs the European Academy for Ayurveda together with her husband. The internationally renowned specialist for Ayurveda and nutrition has been training people in Ayurveda nutrition and health counselling, psychology and therapy throughout Europe since 1996. She has 25 years of practical experience in Ayurveda and is in daily contact with patients, training participants and spa guests. As an author, she has published numerous Ayurveda books, which are among the best known works of Ayurveda literature.

Director of the European Academy for Ayurveda
Mark Rosenberg heads the European Academy for Ayurveda and is managing partner of the Rosenberg Ayurveda companies. He has many years of experience as a management consultant, Vastu expert and Yoga teacher BDY/EYU. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of VEAT - Berufsverband Europäischer Ayurveda-Mediziner und -Therapeuten e.V. He was awarded the prestigious Vaidya Sundarlal Joshi Memorial Management Award by MGMS (India) to honour him for his outstanding management achievements in the field of Ayurveda. He also received the IASTAM Pandit Shiv Sharma Oration Award.

Vera Schulte has been an alternative practitioner since 2003 and a certified medical Ayurveda specialist since 2007. Since 2008, she has had her own naturopathic practice with a focus on Ayurveda medicine and gynaecology. After her training in Germany and India, she also attended numerous Ayurvedic and classical naturopathic advanced training courses on women's health.

Based on this knowledge, she developed a fertility therapy over several years, which she successfully applies in her practice. The practical manual-therapeutic part "Ayurvedic fertility massage for fertility" has been taught regularly at the European Academy for Ayurveda in Birstein for several years.

Dr. Dania Schumann studied nutritional science and holds a doctorate in medical science.

She has deepened her knowledge in Ayurvedic Medicine at the Gujarat Ayurveda University and completed further training in Ayurvedic Medicine with the world-renowned Ayurvedic physician Dr. Vasant Lad. She is a certified Yoga teacher and a state-certified and certified alternative practitioner.

Dr. Dania Schumann has founded a state-certified distance learning educational institute and passes on her knowledge in her training as a holistic Ayurveda nutrition coach, which combines nutritional science, nutritional psychology and Ayurveda.

Dana Schwandt is a pioneer: She belongs to a generation of young women who dare to think Ayurveda differently. She brings Ayurveda into the modern world in a way that is suitable for everyday use and accessible to a large audience. In her books, online courses and in her podcast "Da ist Gold drin", the expert for Ayurveda and personal development shows how we can easily integrate Ayurveda into everyday life and live healthy and happy.

Photo: Grit Siwonia

Lena Schwind is nutritional therapist B.Sc., Ayurveda coach, yoga teacher and the founder of Lenatura. She currently practices in her own practice rooms in Mainz. In her daily work with patients, in her podcast "Unbeschwert ernährt" (carefree nutrition) and her online courses, Lena combines scientific nutrition therapy and Ayurveda medicine and allows us to understand the deeper psychosomatic level behind digestive disorders.

Ayurveda physician and health trainer
Win Silvester MA holds a master's degree in health management and heads the Q-Fitness Academy in Bonn. He completed a three-year study of Ayurveda medicine, supplemented by study visits to India and Sri Lanka. He also teaches the South Indian martial art Kalaripayattu, in which movement, meditation and massage come together. With his many years of training and course-leading experience, he enriches the Ayurveda Academy as a translator and specialist lecturer.

Practitioner of Ayurveda medicine and indologist
Elmar Stapelfeldt is an alternative practitioner, master of indology and author. He is currently active as a non-medical practitioner, nutritionist and scientific assistant at the Immanuel Hospital in Berlin. He has extensive experience in the application of Ayurvedic medicine. Among other things, he was a long-standing lecturer at the European Academy for Ayurveda, including 5 years as head of the department of Ayurvedic Medicine.

Practitioner of alternative medicine and editor-in-chief of the Ayurveda Journal
Ralph Steuernagel has dedicated 20 years to the interdisciplinary cooperation of western and eastern medicine. He runs his own Ayurveda practice and academy in Bad Homburg (D). In addition, he is the editorial director of the Ayurveda Journal.

Dr. Mrunmayee Jategaonkar has a postgraduate degree in Ayurvedic Samhita and Siddhant (study of the basic principles and texts of Ayurveda) and in Sanskrit. She completed her practical training in Ayurveda with her father Atulchandra Thombare, who is a highly respected vaidya in the field of Panchakarma Chikitsa and has been working in Ayurveda for over 35 years.

Dr. Mrunmayee Jategaonkar practices in two private clinics in Pune. She has special experience in the field of infertility, pre- and postnatal treatment and consultation. She treats patients with both Panchakarma (Shodhan) and Shamana.

Certified nurse, Ayurveda therapist, Yoga teacher
Petra Wolfinger is a qualified nurse and Ayurveda practitioner and has a wealth of experience in the field of Ayurveda for women, lifestyle coaching and health care. She is the representative of the European Academy for Ayurveda in Austria and has been running her own studio for many years. Here she dedicates herself to health prevention with Ayurveda in companies and teaches stress prevention. She completed her training as an Ayurveda therapist and specialist in Ayurveda gynaecology at the European Academy for Ayurveda as well as during numerous trips with cure and study stays in Kerala/South India and Sri Lanka.