A selection of speakers at the International Ayurveda Symposium 2026

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha (IND) – Chief Guest

Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India

Vaidya Dr. Rajesh Kotecha, MD (Ayu), is Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush of the Indian government and one of the most influential figures in the global development of Ayurveda. As an experienced Ayurvedic physician and health policy maker, he plays a key role in shaping strategies for integrating traditional medicine into modern health care systems—both in India and internationally.

His work is strongly driven by a commitment to further developing Ayurveda as a socially effective and accessible healthcare system. Under his leadership, key initiatives have been advanced to strengthen Ayurveda in public healthcare, education, and prevention—with a particular focus on resilience, health promotion, and sustainable care models.

He played a key role in supporting the further development of leading institutions such as the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) in Jamnagar, as well as the expansion of international partnerships and global dialogue platforms. In this context, the Ministry of Ayush is also actively involved in international initiatives such as the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he advocated for the integration of Ayurvedic approaches into public healthcare, placing particular emphasis on prevention, immune support, and holistic care.

As the guest of honor at the 2026 Ayurveda Symposium, he embodies a vision of Ayurveda as a socially relevant, internationally connected, and forward-looking health culture.

Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari (IND)

Prof. Tanuja Nesari is one of India’s leading voices in Ayurveda and integrative medicine. She currently serves as Director of the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar, one of India’s most important institutions for Ayurvedic education, clinical practice, and research.

Previously, she served as Director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, one of the flagship institutions of the Ministry of Ayush and a central hub for the development of modern academic and clinical Ayurveda. In this role she played a key part in strengthening institutional structures, expanding international collaborations, and building interdisciplinary teams.

With more than three decades of experience as physician, researcher, and academic leader, Prof. Nesari has been instrumental in advancing Ayurveda within national and global health dialogues. Her work reflects key themes of the Ayurveda Symposium 2026, including the integration of traditional medicine into modern health systems, evidence-based research on non-communicable diseases, and the development of high-quality Ayurveda education.

Under her leadership numerous national and international MoUs and academic collaborations have been established, including cooperation within the framework of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO-GCTM). She has supervised nearly 100 postgraduate and doctoral scholars and authored more than 200 scientific publications and several books, including the German publication “Ayurveda heilt.”

Prof. Dr. Shivenarain Gupta (IND)

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.

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Baune (D)

Prof. Bernhard Baune, MD, PhD, MPH, MBA, FRANZCP, is Professor and Chair of Psychiatry and Director of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Münster, Germany. He is internationally recognised for his work in mood disorders, neuropsychiatry, and psycho-neuro-immunology, with a strong focus on personalised and integrative approaches to mental health.

With more than 800 scientific publications and extensive international research funding, his work spans molecular psychiatry, biomarker research, clinical trials, and mind–body medicine. A particular focus of his research lies in understanding the role of inflammation and immune processes in psychiatric disorders, linking biological, psychological, and systemic perspectives.

In addition to his work in Western medicine, Prof. Baune completed advanced training as a Medical Ayurveda Specialist at the European Academy of Ayurveda (Germany). He collaborates closely with leading experts in Ayurveda, including Prof. Gupta (India), and serves as Honorary Visiting Professor of Ayurveda at Maganbhai Adenwala Mahagujarat University (MAM University), Nadiad, India. His work reflects a strong commitment to integrating Western psychiatry with classical Ayurvedic medicine. He also explores the role of consciousness, spirituality, and transformative processes in mental health and healing.

At the Ayurveda Symposium 2026, Prof. Baune will address the role of spirituality in Ayurvedic medicine, offering a unique perspective on how modern psychiatry and neuroscience can engage with concepts of consciousness, inner transformation, and holistic healing.

Dr. Ananda Chopra (D)

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).

Prof. Dr. Prasanth Dharmarajan (IND)

Dr. Prasanth Dharmarajan is a senior Ayurveda physician, researcher, and Associate Professor of Panchakarma at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, one of the leading academic and clinical institutions of the Ministry of Ayush. Coming from a family of traditional Ayurvedic physicians in Kerala, he combines deep classical knowledge with modern clinical practice and research.

He was among the early faculty members involved in building the clinical and academic structures of AIIA and played a central role in developing its Panchakarma department and national training standards for Panchakarma therapists in India. With decades of clinical experience, he is widely respected by patients for his integrative and highly effective therapeutic approaches, especially in complex chronic conditions.

His clinical and research work focuses on systemic regulation in Ayurveda, the mechanisms of Panchakarma, and integrative approaches to chronic diseases. At the Ayurveda Symposium 2026, Dr. Dharmarajan will address the Ayurvedic understanding of chronic and smouldering inflammation and explain the role of srotas, the body’s channel systems, in the development and treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Dr. Priyadarshan Joglekar (IND)

Dr. Priyadarshan (Salil) Joglekar is an experienced Ayurveda physician, educator, and internationally respected teacher of classical Ayurvedic psychology and philosophy. With decades of clinical practice and teaching, he is known for his ability to interpret the classical Ayurvedic texts in ways that illuminate their relevance for contemporary life and medical practice.

He teaches Ayurveda at Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya in Pune, one of India’s historic institutions of Ayurvedic education, where he contributes to the teaching of classical Ayurvedic knowledge and philosophy.

Dr. Joglekar’s work focuses particularly on the psychological and existential dimensions of Ayurveda, including the role of consciousness, emotional balance, and inner resilience in health and healing. Drawing from classical texts as well as long clinical experience, he explores how Ayurveda can guide individuals in facing profound life experiences such as trauma, illness, and the processes of life and death.

At the Ayurveda Symposium 2026, Dr. Joglekar will address the theme “Ayurveda and What Truly Matters in Life – Life, Death and Trauma.” His lectures illuminate how Ayurvedic wisdom can help cultivate resilience, meaning, and inner balance in times of personal and societal challenges.

Vaidya Nachiket Kotecha (IND)

Vaidya Nachiket Kotecha, BAMS, is an Ayurveda physician, consultant, and CEO of the Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic & Research Centre in Jaipur, India, a well-established institution for classical Ayurvedic treatment, research, and product development.

Coming from a renowned family of Ayurvedic physicians, he continues a long-standing clinical tradition while integrating modern approaches in healthcare delivery, technology, and product development. He received his Ayurvedic medical degree from KLE University, Belagavi, and completed his clinical training at the National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur, where he was trained by leading experts in the field.

With extensive clinical experience, he is known for his empathetic and patient-centred approach, especially in the management of chronic and lifestyle-related conditions. Alongside his medical work, he is actively involved in the development of Ayurvedic formulations and the digital expansion of Ayurveda-based healthcare services.

At the Ayurveda Symposium 2026, Vaidya Kotecha represents a new generation of Ayurvedic physicians, combining classical knowledge, clinical experience, and innovative approaches to make Ayurveda accessible and relevant in a modern global context.

Sascha Kriese BA Hons (Ayu) (D)

Sascha Kriese, BA Hons (Ayu), Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurveda Physician (UK), is an experienced Ayurveda practitioner, pulse reader, and international teacher who has been active in the field of Ayurveda and holistic healing for more than two decades. He completed a three-year degree in Ayurveda at Thames Valley University London and received his training in pulse diagnosis in India under Dr. Pankaj Naram.

Through his clinical work, teaching, and mentoring, Sascha Kriese has supported many people in understanding the connections between physical health, emotional processes, and personal transformation. In recent years, his work has increasingly focused on the psychological and existential dimensions of healing, including trauma integration, shadow work, and grief processes.

At the Ayurveda Symposium 2026, he will speak on grief work in Ayurveda, exploring how Ayurvedic understanding of mind, consciousness, and emotional balance can support people in times of loss, transition, and the search for what truly matters in life.

Dr. med. Antonio Īśvara Morandi (I)

Neurologist and Ayurveda doctor

Antonio Īśvara Morandi is a neurologist and Vaidya (Ayurveda Academy, Pune (India) / Joytinat International College of Ayurveda). He has also specialized in Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapy (Ayurveda Institute Ashtavaidyan Thaikat Mooss', Thrissur).

He is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Ayurvedic Point, Milan and President of the Scientific Society for Ayurvedic Medicine Italy (SSIMA). He has been Advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO) on several working groups, including those focused on benchmarks for practice and training in Ayurveda and terminology in Ayurveda and the topic group of the Artificial Intelligence applications in Traditional Medicine under the AI4Health Project. Dr. Morandi teaches an elective course titled “Introduction to Ayurveda” at the Faculty of Medicine at the State University of Milan. He is also a member of the Commission on Non-Conventional Medicines for the Board of Medical Doctors in the Province of Milan.

He was honored with the title of Āyurveda Acharya in 2003. In 2017 he was awarded the prestigious IASTAM ZANDU Award for Research in Ayurveda. Dr. Morandi is a prolific author, having contributed numerous scientific publications and books. He is an active member of several editorial committees for scientific journals and is frequently invited to serve as Chairman, Keynote Speaker, and Guest of Honor at major international events on Ayurveda.

Dr. med. Kalyani Nagersheth (D)

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 clinic 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.

Prof. (Dr.) Alathiyoor Narayanan Nambi (IND)

Prof. (Dr.) Alathiyoor Narayanan Nambi is a senior Ayurveda physician, teacher, and representative of the renowned Alathiyoor Ashtavaidya lineage of Kerala, a family tradition of classical Ayurvedic physicians that has shaped Ayurvedic clinical practice for generations.

He serves as Principal and Professor of Kayachikitsa (Ayurvedic Internal Medicine) at Ashtamgam Ayurveda Chikitsalayam & Vidyapeedham in Kerala, where he combines clinical practice, teaching, and research. His medical training includes both formal Ayurvedic education and many years of traditional apprenticeship under eminent physicians of the Kerala Ayurvedic tradition.

Prof. Nambi is widely respected for his deep knowledge of classical Ayurveda and his long clinical experience in treating complex chronic diseases, including metabolic disorders, rheumatic conditions, neurological diseases, and psychosomatic disorders.

Alongside his clinical work, he has been active internationally in research collaborations and Ayurveda education, including cooperation with European academic institutions and integrative medicine initiatives.

Through his lectures and teaching, he contributes to bringing the principles of classical Ayurveda into dialogue with modern medical and scientific perspectives.

Dr. Devi Narayanan (IND)

Dr. Devi Narayanan is an experienced Ayurveda physician, psychotherapist, and international teacher associated with Ashtamgam Ayurveda Chikitsalayam in Kerala, a well-known centre for classical Ayurvedic treatment and clinical training.

With many years of clinical practice, she is particularly known for her ability to combine classical Ayurvedic medicine with psychological and therapeutic approaches. In addition to her medical training in Ayurveda, she holds a Master’s degree in Applied Psychology and qualifications in counselling and clinical hypnotherapy. This interdisciplinary background allows her to address both the physical and psychological dimensions of illness.

Her clinical work focuses especially on integrative approaches to trauma, emotional stress, and psychosomatic disorders within the framework of classical Ayurvedic hospital treatment. Drawing from both Ayurvedic psychology and modern therapeutic methods, she supports patients in restoring mental balance and inner resilience.

Dr. Narayanan also teaches internationally, including for many years at Ayurvedic Point in Milan, where she trains students and practitioners in the practical application of Ayurvedic medicine and mind–body therapies.

Dr. Manoj Nesari (IND)

Dr. Manoj Nesari is a senior Ayurveda physician with extensive clinical experience and an important figure in the development of Ayurveda policy and public health in India. He has served as Advisor (Ayurveda) to the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, contributing to national strategies for strengthening Ayurveda within modern healthcare systems.

Alongside his policy work, Dr. Nesari is known as a clinician and lecturer who brings the insights of the classical Ayurvedic texts into contemporary clinical practice. His lectures often illuminate traditional concepts in a new light and demonstrate their relevance for modern health challenges.

His work resonates closely with the themes of the Ayurveda Symposium 2026, particularly the role of Ayurveda in strengthening resilience and longevity, understanding the relationship between doshas, agni, hormones and metabolism, and developing integrative approaches to chronic and lifestyle-related diseases.

Through his clinical practice, teaching, and international lectures, Dr. Nesari contributes to making classical Ayurvedic knowledge accessible and applicable for modern integrative healthcare.

Gabriela Paleta (PT)

Ayurvedic Practitioner, Aromatherapist

Gabriela Paleta is an Ayurvedic therapist, aromatherapist, and yoga instructor with a practice in Lisbon, Portugal. She is the president of AMAYUR, the Portuguese professional association for Ayurvedic medicine, and is actively committed to promoting and professionalizing Ayurveda in Portugal and Europe.

In her clinical work, she places a special emphasis on women’s health, emotional well-being, and a holistic lifestyle, combining Ayurveda with aromatherapy, yoga, and subtle therapeutic techniques. She also runs her own Ayurveda practice in Lisbon.

Through her teaching, lectures, and work with professional associations, she has made a significant contribution to the development and establishment of Ayurveda in Europe.

Kerstin Rosenberg (D)

Kerstin Rosenberg is one of Europe’s leading experts in Ayurvedic nutrition, dietetics, psychology, and culinary practice. She is a co-founder and senior lecturer at the European Academy of Ayurveda (REAA) and has played a key role in shaping the teaching of Ayurvedic nutrition, health counselling, psychology, and lifestyle medicine in the DACH region.

With more than 30 years of practical experience, she specialises in translating classical Ayurvedic principles into contemporary therapeutic and everyday applications. Her work focuses on the therapeutic use of nutrition, the strengthening of digestive fire (Agni), and the connection between food, psyche, constitution, and long-term health.

Kerstin Rosenberg is the author of numerous books on Ayurveda, nutrition, women’s health, and holistic living, including “Die Ayurveda-Ernährung,” “Das große Ayurveda-Buch,” “Ayurveda kompakt,” “Ayurveda für alle,” “Ayurveda heilt – Ernährung als Medizin,” and “Mit Ayurveda durch die Wechseljahre.”

She is also the initiator and conceptual developer of the India study program “Food as Medicine”, an immersive learning journey connecting participants with the roots of Ayurvedic nutrition, cooking, and clinical application in India.

At the Ayurveda Symposium 2026, Kerstin Rosenberg will speak on the role of Agni in the context of longevity, showing how digestive intelligence, dietetics, and Ayurvedic psychology can support vitality, resilience, and sustainable health.

Mark Rosenberg (D)

Mark Rosenberg, Dr. h.c. (MAM University, India), is one of the leading pioneers and thought leaders for Ayurveda education and integrative health concepts in Europe. He is the founder and director of the European Academy of Ayurveda (REAA) in the DACH region and the Rosenberg Ayurveda Health and Treatment Centre in Germany, institutions that have played a key role in establishing high-quality Ayurveda education and clinical practice in Europe.

The Rosenberg Ayurveda Health and Treatment Centre has received international recognition for its integrative approach and high standards of care, including the DACH Spa Award.

For more than three decades, he has been actively involved in the development, professionalisation, and international networking of Ayurveda. His work focuses on building bridges between classical Ayurvedic knowledge and modern healthcare systems, with a strong emphasis on quality standards, education, and clinical application.

Mark Rosenberg serves as Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Vedic Sciences, MAM University, India, and was awarded an honorary doctorate (Dr. h.c.) in recognition of his contribution to the international development of Ayurveda. In addition, he is a sought-after lecturer in the field of Vastu and holistic architecture, as well as a consultant and developer of integrative healing health retreat concepts, combining Ayurveda, environment, and conscious design.

Through his teaching, publications, and international collaborations, he continues to shape the development of Ayurveda in Europe and beyond.

Theresa Rosenberg (D)

Practitioner of Natural Medicine, MSc in Ayurvedic Medicine
Theresa Rosenberg is a non-medical practitioner specializing in Ayurvedic medicine and completed studies in Ayurvedic medicine at the European Academy of Ayurveda. In her own clinic in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, she performs medical consultations, nutritional counseling, constitutional determinations, individual cures, and medical manual therapies. In addition to her clinic, she works as an Ayurvedic physician in the Rosenberg Therapy and Competence Center and as a lecturer at the REAA in Birstein. She is also an expert in Ayurvedic medicine for animals.

Alkje Schütze (D)

HP Alkje Schütze (D) HP, MSc in Ayurveda Medicine is a naturopath and pharmacist with specialization in the field of oncology and palliative medicine. She has a degree in Ayurvedic medicine from the European Academy of Ayurveda. She gained clinical experience at Indian Ayurvedic hospitals in Gujarat, Maharasthra and Kerala. She is particularly passionate about integrating traditional Indian with European medicine, especially in the areas of phytotherapy, nutrition and mental training. She contributes her expertise and experience as an associate Ayurvedic physician at the Rosenberg Ayurveda Competence Center in Birstein and as a lecturer in the Heilpraktiker training of the European Academy for Ayurveda in Birstein and in Switzerland as well as at other institutions in Dresden. In her own Ayurveda healing practice in Dresden she works in an integrative way and combines Ayurveda with traditional European and scientifically based medicine. Her main focus is the accompanying treatment of patients with oncological diseases.

Léini Siebenaller (D)

After completing her studies in Ayurvedic medicine with a postgraduate diploma from Middlesex University, Léini Siebenaller runs her own practice, where she provides diagnostic and manual therapy services. As an associate naturopathic practitioner, she led select medical treatment programs at the Rosenberg Ayurveda Health Center. With her particular expertise in nutritional and phytotherapy, and her many years of experience working in the panchakarma herbal kitchen, Léini Siebenaller is a valuable asset to all students of the European Academy of Ayurveda (REAA).

Win Silvester (D)

MA in Health Management, MSc in Applied Psychology
Win Silvester is an Ayurvedic therapist, mental coach, and international lecturer working at the intersection of health, performance, and personal development. With over 25 years of experience in the health sector, he combines Ayurvedic knowledge with modern psychology, coaching, and resilience training.

He studied Ayurveda at the European Academy of Ayurveda and has been training and mentoring therapists for many years. He also holds qualifications in coaching, hypnosis, and mental training, and works with high-performing individuals, including elite athletes, executives, and special forces.

A particular focus of his work is translating the principles of Ayurveda into concrete, practical strategies for everyday life—especially in the areas of stress management, resilience, and emotional balance. Through his work as a lecturer and translator at international conferences, he helps bridge the gap between classical Ayurveda and modern Western contexts.

At the 2026 Ayurveda Symposium, he will serve as both a speaker and a translator, offering insights into resilience, longevity, and personal transformation in Ayurveda.

Carmen Durgā Tosto (I)

Yoga teacher, therapist, vice-director Ayurvedic Point
Carmen Tosto is the Co-Director and Co-Founder of "Ayurvedic Point" (Milan, Italy). She obtained her Yoga Teacher diploma at the Yoga-Sūrya Chandra Marga Institute under the guidance of Master Gabriella Cella (Yoga Ratna) and further enhanced her training with a diploma in Ayurvedic Therapy from the Joytinat International College of Āyurveda, under the direction of Swami Joythimayananda. She has also deepened her knowledge of Marma Point Therapy under the guidance of Vaidya Atreya Smith and specialized in Panchakarma Therapy at the Ashtavaidyan Thaikat Mooss' Ayurvedic Institute in Thrissur, India. In 2003, she was awarded the honorary title of "Āyurveda Acharya" by the Ayurvedic Institute Ashtavaidyan Thaikat Mooss - Kerala, India. She is the creator of the PMT - PranaMarmaTherapy© Method and the AYT - AyurvedaYogaTherapy© Method. Her main interest lies in the integration of Yoga and Āyurveda into medical practice and the clinical application of Panchakarma Therapy. She is the author of numerous publications on Āyurveda and Yoga and currently directs the Treatment Department at the Ayurvedic Medicine Center "Ayurvedic Point" in Milan. She is also the co-author of scientific publications in international specialized journals, conference presentations, and books. She teaches the elective course "Introduction to Āyurveda" at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan.

Petra Wolfinger (D)

Qualified nurse, Ayurveda practitioner and yoga teacher
Petra Wolfinger, qualified nurse, Ayurveda practitioner, yoga teacher, co-author of the book Ayurveda in Menopause, podcaster. She has been closely associated with Ayurveda and yoga for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in the fields of yoga, massage, manual therapies, gynecology, Ayurveda for children, stress prevention, lifestyle coaching and preventive health care. An important focus in her work is understanding and accessing the body. She was a representative of the European Academy in Austria for over 15 years and also had her own practice in Klosterneuburg near Vienna. Today she shares her wealth of experience as a lecturer and leader of Ayurveda cures and retreats at the Rosenberg Academy and Spa Center