CAAM Board of Directors
- Felicia M. Tomasko, R.N.
CAAM President
- Dr Mark L. Vinick, D.C., CAS
Treasurer &
Immediate Past CAAM President - Arun Deva, Dipl Ayu
Secretary - Dr. Parla S Jayagopal, BAMS, MD (Ayurveda)
- Pratichi Mathur
- Narender Pati, RPh, DAS, CAS
- Prema Rao, M.S., PhD
- Dr. Melina Takvorian, PhD
- Felicia M. Tomasko, R.N.
Felicia M. Tomasko, R.N., CAAM President
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
Back to topDr Mark L. Vinick, D.C., C.A.S, Treasurer,
Immediate Past CAAM 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.”
Dr. Mark L. Vinick www.drmarkvinick.com
Back to topArun Deva, Secretary
Arun Deva is a Diplomate in Ayurveda, a Board Member of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, an Ayur*yoga Therapist and a Vinyasa Krama certified yoga teacher. As a well-known advocate of yoga and Ayurveda, he has been featured many times on both radio and television. Born in India, he has made his home in Los Angeles for the past 30 years.
He can be reached at: yogarasayana@gmail.com and his work can be found at www.yogarasayana.wordpress.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’s 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”.
Back to topPratichi Mathur
Pratichi has dedicated her life to the promotion of spirituality inherent in the tradition of Ayurveda, especially when interpreted in the larger Vedic traditions of Yoga and Vedanta.
Currently, apart from her active role in leading Vedika Global as its Spiritual Director and Dean of Vedika Gurukula, Pratichi is also serving as Director of the Ganesha Institute for Ayurveda and Vedic Studies in California, and on the Board of California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine (CAAM). Pratichi is also on the advisory Board of Yoga Bharati, California and TATHAASTU -- SO BE IT -Mind Body Soul Magazine, New Jersey. Pratichi has been featured, in the San Francisco Chronicle, Tathaastu Magazine, Yoga Journal, and other leading magazines and newspapers and is keynote speaker and teacher at various Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedic conventions worldwide. Pratichi leads Ayurvedic workshops, Sat Sanghas and retreats throughout the United States and India.
Back to topNarender Pati
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
Back to topDr. Prema R. Rao
Prema R. Rao, Ph.D. immigrated to the US from India while in high school. She holds a B.S. degree in Chemistry and Zoology and a M.S. in Biochemistry, both from Rutgers University, NJ. After over ten years of Research and Development experience in the biomedical device industry, she was drawn to Ayurveda. This interest led her to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology with a focus on Ayurvedic medicine. Her Ph.D. dissertation investigated anxiety disorders from an Ayurvedic perspective. The study was a descriptive exploration of Ayurveda as practiced in the United States, and potentially serves as a model for future research on Ayurveda practice in the United States.
Dr. Prema R. Rao prema.rao@gmail.com
Back to topDr. Melina Takvorian PhD
Dr. Melina Takvorian, PhD, holds an interdisciplinary PhD from Columbia University in the City of New York, where she worked on the transgenerational transmission of collective trauma, with emphasis on testimonial writings. She has been an avid reader and researcher of Ayurved since 1998, and has been working, teaching and researching actively with Vaidya RK Mishra since 2003. She is the author of numerous articles and is currently working on a book. She resides in Southern California.
Dr. Melina Takvorian www.vaidyamishra.com
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