CAAM Board of Directors

Dr Mark L. Vinick, D.C., CAS
CAAM President
Narender Pati, RPh, DAS, CAS
Treasurer
Felicia M. Tomasko, R.N.
Secretary
Arun Deva, Dipl Ayu
Dr. Parla S Jayagopal, BAMS, MD (Ayurveda)
Pratichi Mathur
Prema Rao, M.S., PhD

Dr Mark L. Vinick, D.C., C.A.S, President

Dr Mark Vinick is a graduate of the California College of Ayurveda, Grass Valley, California, and a Certified Practitioner of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. He completed his Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology in 1972 at California State University–Chico. In 1987 he obtained his Doctorate in Chiropractic from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in Whittier, California.

Dr Mark L. Vinick is both a Chiropractor and Holistic Doctor (Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist) in private practice in Redondo Beach, CA. He has successfully treated a wide variety of conditions based on his extensive knowledge of both modern and ancient healing sciences. He incorporates the best of numerous healing modalities: Chiropractic (traditional and non-force), Ayurvedic Medicine, Energy Healing (Shakti Energy Healing), Nutrition, Homeopathy, Marma Therapy, Pain Management, Anti-aging, Stress Reduction Techniques, and Meditation.

He is Board Certified in three multidisciplinary specialties: Pain Management, Anti-aging Medicine, and Ayurvedic Medicine. He currently serves as a Director and President of “The California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine”. Dr Vinick also serves on the Editorial Boards of the “Light on Ayurveda Journal”, and “Living Tradition Newsletter”. He has had numerous articles published, has lectured extensively, and has appeared on radio and television interviews.

“My desire to serve on the board of CAAM is based on my vision of Ayurveda fulfilling its destiny as the primary alternative and preventive healthcare system in the U.S. If the general public really knew what Ayurveda had to offer, in other words, if they knew what we knew, they would be flooding our offices demanding our services. The reason this isn't the reality yet is because we haven't educated them. My focus as a board member would be to strengthen the individual practitioners to enable them to expand their own practices by giving informal talks to small groups in their own communities. By nurturing this knowledge on the "science of life" on a grass roots level, we will plant the seeds for this profession to grow to its rightfully deserved stature as the premiere natural healthcare system.”

Arun Deva, Board Member

Arun Deva, Board MemberArun Deva practices yoga and Ayurveda in Los Angeles. He has a Diploma in Ayurveda from the Ayurvedic Institute of America. He has twice completed the Ayurkyoga Teacher Training from the Ayurvedic Institute, New Mexico and has also done teacher trainings in both Vinyasa Krama and Anusara Yoga. Having started his studies as a child growing up India, Arun has made his home in Los Angeles for the past 30 years. His commitment is to the “trimurti” of studying, practicing and teaching, in order to further his travels along the Yogic path. He is the founder of Arunachala Yoga & Ayurveda, teaches Ayurvedic and Yogic lifestyle workshops, writes articles for different publications and does ayurvedic treatments including panchakarma as well as yoga cikitsa treatment therapies called “Yoga Rasayana”. He can be reached at yogarasayana@yahoo.com

Dr. Parla S Jayagopal BAMS, MD (Ayurveda),
Board Member

Received his Bachelors degree in Ayurvedic medicine and surgery (BAMS) after completing five and a half years of training from Bangalore University. He also persued three years of education to receive Masters degree in Ayurvedic herbology from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Bangalore.

Dr. Jayagopal completed Yoga teacher’s training course from Atma Darshan, Bihar school of Yoga. In addition to his eight years of clinical experience, Dr. Jayagopal has traveled to Europe and Japan to propagate the science of Ayurveda. Currently he is teaching as associate Prof. in American university of complementary medicine, Beverly Hills, which offers Clinical Doctorate in Ayurveda (AyD)/PhD programs.

In addition to the above he is also offering Ayurvedic clinical services at AUCM community clinic.

Being proactive in propagating ayurveda to the community he has held seminars and educational demonstrations at various Yoga centers, senior facilities and health associations.

Dr Jayagopal has presented several papers in national and international conferences.

“Hailing from a family of traditional Ayurvedic practitioners in south India I have seen how simple herbs can bring amazing cures. Ayurveda is a way of being and living that embraces physical, mental and spiritual life forms. What astounded me is that how a medical science had become part of the culture. It is obvious that food habits of the people and regional diet variations, religious rituals and life routines were all structured based on the principles of Ayurveda. Collecting ethnobotanical information as a part of my post graduate studies I saw how tribal people are so connected to nature and derive health and happiness by harmonizing themselves with the forces of nature. We need to get back to nature, for our well being was the strongest thought that kept coming to me. Ayurveda - nature&rsquos own medicine can bring us to vibrant health in a gentle way if its simple principles are adopted.

It gives every one of us the easy tools to decode the nature’s phenomenon and all the substances that are existing, knowing which, one can make healthy choices in food, life-style, habits, detoxing and rejuvenation for being healthy and prevent diseases.

Awareness comes by knowing. Making more people aware is what makes us ‘healthy’. CAAM can play pivotal role in this direction”.

Pratichi Mathur

Felicia M. Tomasko, R.N., Board Member

Felicia Marie Tomasko is currently the editor in chief of LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health magazine (www.layogamagazine.com), a position that combines her interests and passion in Ayurveda, Yoga, education and writing. She has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and teaching since 1997. It was yoga, and Deepak Chopra’s books that first introduced Felicia to Ayurveda, which she began studying in 1993. Her studies include the practitioner, pancha karma therapist, educator, yoga therapy and Ayurvedic mother and baby care programs at the Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda as well as at Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula, both in Boulder, Colorado. She continues her studies with a number of different teachers and credits them for her implementation of the practice.

Felicia’s additional background includes a degree in nursing and one in biology and work in integrative medicine, neuropsychology research, biochemistry research and journalism and writing. She is also on the board of directors of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, the editorial board of Light on Ayurveda journal, and has a private yoga therapy and Ayurveda practice in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, California. Felicia@LAYogaMagazine.com

Narender Pati, Treasurer

Narender Pati is a Registered Pharmacist with 20 years of experience in different fields of Pharmacy, and also dedicated to Holistic Health practices, especially Ayurveda.

He earned the diploma in Ayurvedic Sciences, Clinical Ayurveda Specialist, and Yoga Instructor Certificates. He offers lectures, seminars, workshops, and Consultations.

“The profound impact of Ayurveda on our lives does not need an introduction, at least, to us, who are already immersed in and feasting on the nectar it offers. Yet, it is in the budding stages in California and the nation. We have a lot ahead of us before Ayurveda gets a strong foothold in the mainstream and becomes a primary way of dealing with disease and prevention. We have seen enough suffering and it is time to start healing. It is my pleasure to serve on the Board of CAAM, and work towards quality education and fruitful research in Ayurveda for the welfare of the society and best of health for the mankind.”

Narender Pati, aumayurveda@yahoo.com