Cheryl Silberman, CAS, HTP: Center Director, Faculty & Clinical Supervisor ~ Cheryl has practiced Ayurveda in private practice as a Certified Ayurvedic Specialist graduating from the California College of Ayurveda, specializing in Clinical Ayurveda, Panchakarma, Marma Chikitsa, Healing Touch therapy, Ayurvedic Herbology & Ayurvedic Nutrition. She has completed multiple internships with Ayurvedic Vaidyas in India and the U.S., including advanced training in the above areas as well as Siddha Vaidya medicine and Kaya Rejuvenative therapies. Cheryl currently mentors all Year Two and Intern students while she continues to see patients in consultation and lead Panchakarma services. It is Cheryl’s dream to someday be a true steward of the land.

Corinna Schmidt, CMT, CAE: Panchakarma Director ~ Corinna is a Clinical Ayurvedic Treatment Specialist with 15 years of experience practicing Ayurveda. She studied with leading pioneers in Ayurveda and has completed her advanced studies in pulse diagnosis, herbology, and Ayurvedic medicine. She has performed Ayurvedic Treatments since 1994, and has guided thousands of people successfully through the cleansing program called Panchakarma. She made a name for herself as a teacher of the signature treatments designed by Maharani Ayurveda. She has 2 years experience in operating a busy Ayurvedic Health Center and has afterwards co-created Health Centers in the Midwest, Los Angeles and San Rafael, California. She has taught Ayurvedic Treatments to hundreds of people all across the US and is an experienced workshop leader and teacher, while she continues to offer full service Panchakarma treatments to clients in her own private practice.

Sarah Filzen, eRYT, CAE: Yoga Director ~ Sarah is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher listed with Yoga Alliance, the national registry for Certified Yoga Teachers.  Her training was at the Temple of Kriya Yoga where she studied asana, pranayama and the philosophy of yoga. She is influenced by the precise alignment of Iyengar yoga, the breath and strength of Patabi Jois' Ashtanga yoga, and the flow and grace of Vinyasa yoga.   A certified Pilates instructor,  Sarah incorporates much of the "core" strengthening techniques into her yoga practice. Sarah is also a Certified Ayurveda Educator (Kanyakumari).

Marcia Meredith RN, NP, CAP: Year Two Ayurveda Instructor ~ Marcia has been a registered nurse for 29 years and a nurse practitioner since 2002. She is a 2006 graduate of the two-year program at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico and a grateful student of Dr. Vasant Lad. She has also studied with Swamini Mayatitananda (formerly Bri. Maya Tiwari) of the Wise Earth School of Ayurveda for 8 years. She is grateful to Alakananda Ma of Alandi Ashram in Boulder, Colorado for her wisdom and teachings. She offers Ayurvedic health consultations at the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, the integrative medicine outpatient clinic at Abbott Northwestern Hospital campus, and at her home based practice. At the clinic, she offers integrative nurse practitioner/Ayurvedic consultations. Her home practice includes Ayurvedic consultations as well as Ayurvedic treatments, cooking classes, and introduction to Ayurveda classes. Marcia has a deep passion for Ayurveda with its gentle, natural medicine approach.

Chitra Karki, BAMS: Ayurveda instructor ~ Chitra has a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) from Rajiv Gandhi University, Bangalore, India. She has been extensively trained by eminent Vaidyas for 5 years while studying for her Bachelors degree in Ayurveda – specializing in clinical Ayurveda, panchakarma, Ayurvedic cooking and nutrition, yoga and meditation. Chitra has been practicing Ayurveda in India, Germany and Madison, WI since her graduation in 2002. She gives consultations, teaches classes and has been conducting workshops in Madison since 2004. After 6 years of practical experience in Ayurveda, she has developed a vision to incorporate the basic principles of Ayurveda into mainstream public health to improve the health care system in United States. Currently, she is a graduate student in the Master of Public Health program at UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and also works part time at the State Department of Public Health. Chitra enjoys, walking, reading and spending time with her family.

Nickole L. Thornton, CAP, LMT: Ayurveda Instructor ~ Nickole Thornton is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, and Yoga Instructor. She travels to various Yoga and Ayurvedic centers across the United States providing Lectures Consultations, and Panchakarma. Nickole graduated under the teachings of Dr. Vasant Lad at The Ayurvedic Institute where she was employed for eight years working in the Panchakarma department. Additionally, she owned and operated Earthwise Therapeutics in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 2004 to 2008. In 2008, Nickole continued her Ayurvedic journey in India and studied Advanced Ayurvedic Assessments in Dr. Lad's Guru Kula program. She relocated to Seattle, WA last spring where she teaches Ayurvedic classes and provides Panchakarma. She enjoys sharing her love of Ayurveda in a way that is applicable to everyday life and looks forward to facilitating this Ancient Ayurvedic System at Kanayakumari. May each individual be empowered on their own healing path while planting the seeds of Ayurveda.

Poonam Gupta: Yoga Teacher Training Instructor ~ Poonam grew up with yogic training at home. Her father was her first yoga teacher and taught her asanas, kriyas and the essence of yogic philosophy. Poonam learned how to meditate at a young age and as she grew older her parents taught her the principles of Ayurveda and how to eat holistically. Later on, she received a formal training in India, in Sivananda style of yoga. Poonam has also been trained and certified in US and is a 500 level yoga teacher. Due to her vast training, with teachers in two different cultures, Poonam has developed a very unique style of her own which comprises focus on alignment, Vinyasa flow, pranayama and meditation. Poonam's rich ethnic background allows her to be a teacher in a wide variety of additional art forms including Hindi, Sanskrit, chanting and singing, Reiki, and Ayurveda. She also conducts regular satsangs in Hindi for Indian community. Her love for yoga and community service transcends the yoga classroom scenario and, as a result, she can be often found volunteering free classes at home, public libraries, spiritual organizations and children's programs.

Bryn Schumacher, CPT, CAP: Bryn is a graduate of Kanyakumari Ayurveda Education Center as a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner. Upon completion of her studies she traveled to India for advanced study and to experience Ayurveda at it's roots. Bryn has also been certified as a Panchakarma Technician (Kanyakumari) and has studied various types of pranic healing such as Reiki and Healing Touch. She has nine years of experience working in the health care field as a Health Technician and Phlebotomist which has given her deep insight into the world of modern medicine. Bryn enjoys gardening and time spent in nature. It is with love in her heart that she moves forward into a career of endless healing possibilities for fulfilling her dharma.

Jerry Becker, HTCP/IT: Jerry is a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner (CHTP) 2002. He has 12 years of healing experience using Chi Kung healing methods, 6 yrs experience using crystal healing techniques and 4 yrs. energetic readings. He teaches Healing Touch methods and Tai Chi for Health and Relaxation, Chi Kung, Chi Kung Healing, Push Hands, Self-Defense, Awareness Training, Meditation and Flow drill training. He has more than 22 years experience in the Martial Arts, holding ranks of 4th Dan - Ao Denkou Jitsu, 2nd Dan - Shinwa Uechi Budo Karate, 2nd Dan - Uechi Ryu Karate Do., Senior Instructor Yafu Kobudo, 12 years studying Eskrima, 13 yrs studying Tai.

Leo Goberman, LMT: Leo is a graduate of two massage schools, The Institute of Physical Training in Minsk, Russia and The Lakeside School of Massage in Milwaukee. While residing in Russia, Leo worked extensively with the Russian sports program at a time when the Russian government generously supported athletic programs. Since coming to the United States in 1991, he has worked at Le Club, as well as, with professionals and private clients in the fields of sports medicine, physical therapy, and chiropractic. Leo’s massage is efficient and effective as it is custom designed to quickly target each individual’s structural imbalances, leading the way to better posture and ease of movement.  He also shows concern for the diet, lifestyle, and stress management of his clients, making his work a perfect fit with the Ayurvedic and yogic philosophy of Kanyakumari.

Nicole Hinterstocker: Nicole is an Aesthetician, Massage Therapist, and Ayurvedic Practitioner living and practicing in Milwaukee WI.  She grew up in Mequon, Wisconsin and graduated from the Blue Sky School of Massage in 1997.  While there, Nicole had the fortunate opportunity of studying with the world-renowned Ayurvedic Skin Care teacher and Bio Chemist Pratima Raichur.  In 1998, Nicole moved to New Mexico to study and work with Dr Vasant Lad, a leading Ayurvedic Physician, and director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque.  During this time she became further interested in the use of herbs for natural skin care products.  This lead to the birth of Ajara Ayurvedic Beauty, an herbal skin care company, which she founded in January 2002.  The Ajara product line continues to grow and now provides a full line of body care, hair care and spa equipment based on Ayurvedic principles.  In the spring of 2005, Nicole attended the Space Coast Health Institute to further her knowledge on the subject of skin care, and graduated with a license to practice Aesthetics.  With Nicole’s wealth of experience and knowledge, she is now joining our team to provide Ayurvedic Bodywork to the greater Milwaukee community and beyond.

Nicole A. Eull, Psy.D: Mental Wellness/Hypnotherapy Our psychologist, Nicole Eull, Psy.D., offers a unique blend of the evidenced-based theories of cognitive-behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, yoga, and meditation to establish a supportive, creative, and fun environment where individuals can learn the skills necessary to meet their fullest potential. Dr. Eull promotes the principles of healthy living, openness to all possibilities, a solid and balanced direction for achieving goals, and a clear intention for how those goals will be attained. She has extensive experience designing and implementing trainings on healthy living, stress management, goal setting, cultural competence, and managing chronic illness. She works with clients with varying health concerns including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, chronic pain, amputation, paralysis, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and tobacco use. Dr. Eull is trained in clinical hypnosis through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). She is a certified yoga instructor, fluent in Spanish, and has lived abroad in both Mexico and Guatemala. Favorite pastimes include yoga, cooking, gardening, travel, scuba diving, reading and walking her dog Scarlett. She offers individual therapy, deep relaxation & imagery, instruction in mindfulness meditation, hypnotherapy, pre-natal hypnosis, pre-surgical hypnosis, chronic disease management/pain management.

Maria Knier, CAP: Maria is a graduate of Kanyakumari Ayurveda Education and is on staff at Kanyakumari as a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner. She has been acting as Kanyakumari's "Creative Eye" for the past 13 years by creating and maintaining Kanyakumari's website and other visual materials. Maria has enjoyed studying healing from a creative perspective. She has always had an interest in alternative healing practices and effectively combines her creative energy with her healing studies to address physical, emotional and spiritual growth for others.

Nan Flaherty RYT/CAP: Nan is a 2006 graduate of Kanyakumari 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher Training Program and a 2009 graduate of Kanyakumari Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner Program. Through teaching what she calls ”AyurYoga”, she incorporates the “sister sciences “of Ayurveda and Yoga and cultivate asana practices that explore and integrate the concepts of both. These practices not only nurture the health and well being of the physical body, but create balance and harmony in the emotional body and mind. Her training in both Yoga and Ayurveda have allowed her to create classes that are fluid, insightful, strengthening and relaxing.

Inez Gawrych CAE: Our Office Manager, Inez, has studied Ayurveda at Kanyakumari and is a CAE (Certified Ayurvedic Educator). She has received certification in Pune, India at The International Academy of Ayurveda. Inez is currently finishing her internship for certification as a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner. She has worked in banking, mutual funds and the transportation industry for 37 years. Inez enjoys her family, especially her 3 grandsons, and loves to walk outdoors, gardening and yoga. Her interest in alternative healing practices is a good fit for working, observing and learning at Kanyakumari.

Anita Fisher, CAE: Anita is the Center's Marketing Director. A Year 2 student in the Kanyakumari Ayurveda Education program, she has studied Ayurveda in India with a variety of Ayurvedic physicians and healers. Her passions are two-fold: teaching Ayurveda and holistic health care with a spiritual foundation and further integrating Ayurvedic practices into her own life. She has over 25 years of marketing experience in large multi-national corporations and small businesses and has enjoyed mentoring college-level marketing students for many years.

Barbara Chernov: Barbara is a certified panchakarma technician, as well as a practitioner of Ayurvedic massage, Healing Touch and Core Synchronism. She has had years of experience with healthy eating and is now teaching Vaidya Mishra's 7 week food plan, along with various cooking classes. She is also a trained grief counselor and will be offering a women's support group for patients and students of Kanyakumari. For over 20 years, Barbara has been directing a summer camp for girls where she shares her health and wellness training and nutrition knowledge with young women. She continues to travel to India for advanced study in Ayurvedic education.

Dr. Dale Buegel, MD: Dr. Dale Buegel has practiced and taught hatha yoga and meditation for 30 years in seminars and in his practice of complementary medicine. As a contributing author to Yoga International and Himalayan Path magazines, he has illuminated such topics as breath mastery and sacred connections of the heart. His expertise in the fine points of yoga techniques and in the use of simple, sequential steps for mastering advanced yoga practices have earned him the respect and appreciation of students in the U.S. and abroad.