About Me
I have been involved in the Vedic sciences since 1984. I am trained in Meditation, Yoga (500 YTT), Pranayama, Ayurveda, specialising in Panchakarma (cleansing and deep purification) Ayurvedic pulse wellness diagnosis, addiction counselling and Himalayan sound baths. I have taken Vedic knowledge into many environments including Ayurvedic health & wellness centers, Beauty Spa, Yoga studios addiction treatment centers and Native reservations. My clients have included all spectrums of society from bus cleaners and addicts to well known celebrities and members of the British royal family. My sound bowl training was held in a Vedic Ashram in the foothills of the Himalayas. I completed all 4 levels of training and have since given hundreds of sound bath sessions. My experience in Ayurveda has given me knowledge and insights into the subtle energetic systems of the human being, helping me to choose the appropriate bowls and soundscapes to suit the persons needs.
Introduction to Vedic Knowledge
My first introduction to Vedic knowledge came in 1984 on the recommendation of a close friend. Prior to this, I led an extremely unhealthy and stressed lifestyle. I was initially instructed into Vedic Mantra Meditation. The profound effect of this effortless technique propelled me to learn more about this ancient system, and over the next ten years, I attended countless meditation retreats, was initiated into the Yoga Siddhis Sutras, as well as many Vedic health and science courses at home and abroad. In 1993, I emerged from the Maharishi Vedic University (same lineage as Deepak Chopra) as a Panchakarma therapist and wellness consultant, offering an extensive range of bodywork and wellness/lifestyle approaches, including pulse reading.
Early Clinical Practice and Establishing Ayurvedic Centers
After graduation, I spent the first two years in clinical practice applying these techniques under the supervision of medical doctors in a clinic in central London. During this time, I attended to mainly very sick people, and although I saw amazing results, I realized that my passion was in prevention rather than cure. I also wanted to provide these approaches in a more relaxing environment. So, for the next three years, with the financial support of client/investors, I developed the first fully residential Ayurvedic center in the UK in a meditation academy set in a beautiful stately home in rural Kent. This approach proved to be a big success, leading to the business needing larger premises to accommodate demand. With the help and support of client/investors, we purchased and converted a seaside hotel in Bournemouth.
Adapting Vedic Knowledge for Modern Audiences
During this time, I had adapted and developed many approaches to suit people living in a modern Western society. I deeply desired to make Vedic knowledge more accessible, with an emphasis on practical application into everyday life. With a growing client base and much media attention, we attracted the attention of many high-profile clients, including the British Royal family, captains of industry, and celebrities, who, for security and privacy reasons, needed to be treated in their own homes. So, I developed and designed equipment for a traveling unit that could provide this service. During this time, I also traveled and trained practitioners to deliver our approaches to spas and wellness/meditation centers at home and abroad, taking the Vedic knowledge to a wider audience.
Partnerships and Transition to Canada
With ever-increasing media attention, the larger health spas started to show interest in our services. In 1999, the decision was made to amalgamate with Hoar Cross Hall health spa resort near the historic town of Lichfield. While this was a good move for the business, I had grown restless. My original goals had been met and exceeded, including the publishing of a book titled The Home Ayurvedic Spa, written by a regular client and author Anna Selby (I was the consultant), published by Collins & Brown in 2001, which has been reprinted three times to my knowledge! However, I desired new horizons and a fresh challenge, so in 2001, I emigrated to Alberta, Canada.
Working with Indigenous Communities in Canada
After taking a year off to rest and settle into a new home and environment (a remote cabin in the boonies), I started work at Poundmakers Lodge, a residential Indigenous addictions treatment center on the outskirts of St. Albert, Alberta. My role was to design and deliver an aftercare program to prepare the clients to make the adjustments to sustain an addiction-free lifestyle. This was a truly rewarding experience. I found the history, culture, and ceremonies of the Cree nation fascinating. Interacting with the Elders, I soon realized that while I had to drop the Vedic terminology, the knowledge of the elements was received with great interest and enthusiasm. I personally enjoyed, and gained great benefit from, two pipe ceremonies and a sweat lodge every week, 4-5 Round-dances per year, as well as yearly POW POW and countless healing circles.
The aftercare program I developed contained many of the Vedic techniques and approaches and proved a great success with clients as well as the management and drug court officials. I left Poundmakers after five years to work for an organization called MITTA, which serviced six reservations and two Métis settlements surrounding the Albertan town of High Prairie. My role was to develop and deliver a similar program to the one I had developed at Poundmakers to the staff and clients of this region. After two years in this role, I had developed and completed the desired program. At this time, I was approached and invited to help set up and train staff for a brand-new spa opening in St. Albert that wanted to deliver the Vedic bodyworks.
New Ventures and Returning to the UK
The opportunity to set up the first Ayurvedic treatments in Alberta was irresistible, and I gladly joined the team. I designed and built the equipment, trained the staff in the relaxation and rejuvenation massage and bodywork approaches of Ayurveda. During this time, interest in my Ayurvedic approach grew, and I realized that I needed to move forward independently. In the following years, I set up a thriving private practice, developed and delivered workshops and weekend retreats, and taught the Ayurvedic component for the yoga teacher training courses held by the main yoga studios in Edmonton and the surrounding area. All was good until Covid struck, and business stopped overnight.
During lockdown, I had the opportunity to evaluate where I was in life and what challenge I wanted to do next. A desire to return to Europe came up, and in 2022, I returned to the UK. While visiting a friend in the Scottish Highlands, I chanced upon Sven & Betsy at Marcassie Farm Project and found myself joining them in setting up a new Ayurvedic center that includes sound bowl sessions for small group workshops as well as personalized individual sessions.