AYURVEDAFEST MEXICO
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20 - SUNDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2025
MALINALCO, MEXICO
A GATHERING OF AYURVEDIC PROFESSIONALS AND AYURVEDA FANS
TO CELEBRATE THE SCIENCE WE ALL SO LOVE
Fill your Ayurvedic cup with this four-day festival packed with high-level Ayurvedic workshops, Ayurvedic connections, and sattvic fun!
We’re gathering the Ayurvedic community in the “pueblo mágico” or magic town of Malinalco, Mexico; a land rich with Aztec history and its own traditional natural medicine wisdom and herbal apothecary, where tulsi and gotu kola grow in abundance.
Connect with some of your favorite (or soon-to-be new favorite!) Ayurvedic and natural medicine doctors: Dr. Jay Kodikannath, Dr. Manjusha, Dr. Prasad, Dr. Jay Parla, Dr. Anu, Dr. Kai and Kathy Jo, who will be sharing their decades of knowledge in a packed lineup of Ayurvedic workshops.
This is a fantastic opportunity to make connections and create community with your fellow Ayurvedic colleagues, classmates, and others who follow this way of living. In this niche and tiny industry of Ayurveda, it can get a little lonely and isolating, which is why we want to bring us all together for an event that’s not only educational, but fun!
Pack your bag and get ready to marinate in Ayurveda in a traditional Mexican town that you’re going to adore!
GET READY FOR FOUR DAYS FULL OF VEDIC festivities!
*Deepen your knowledge with high-level learning workshops taught by our expert Ayurveda, Chinese, and natural medicine doctors
*Fill your cup with sattvic connections with fellow Ayurvedic professionals
*Nourish your ears with a classical north Indian Sitar concert
*Sing your heart out at our evening kirtan cycle
*Get that prana moving with morning yoga in the fresh Malinalco air
*Nerd out on Ayurveda with birds of a feather Ayurveda fans
*Get your groove on at our mocktail mixer party
*Get your shop on in our Ayurvedic market
*Take a break from cooking kitcharee and let us nourish you for the long weekend
Our All-Star Lineup of Guest Teachers and Artists
VAIDYA JAYARAJAN KODIKANNATH:
BUILDING HEART-CENTERED HEALING CONNECTIONS
Vaidya Jayarajan Kodikannath is the Academy Director of Kerala Ayurveda USA, responsible for all academic programs conducted internationally by Kerala Ayurveda. He is an experienced Ayurveda Scholar, with a degree in Ayurvedic Medicine from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. He has run a successful Ayurvedic Wellness Practice. He is also a lead trainer for domain experts in Ayurveda, focused on developing internal resources through training programs and developing new offerings in Ayurvedic Education.
He has rich experience in creating programs in Ayurvedic Wellness and has effectively demonstrated and implemented new offerings in Ayurvedic Wellness in India, Europe and the US.
Dr. Manjusha Vinjamury:
THE DETAILS OF AYURVEDIC DETOX
Dr. Manjusha is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Licensed Acupuncturist with more than 30 years of clinical and teaching experience both in India and in the U.S. She is the founder and director of Acuveda Holistic Health Center in La Mirada, CA, where she helps her patients through both Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. Prior to moving to the US, she was a professor and head of the department of Kaya Chikitsa at Goa Ayurvedic Medical College.
Dr. Manjusha is a pancha karma expert, and has been teaching both pancha karma and Sanskrit for over a decade at the Southern California University of Health Sciences in California.
She’s the author of the Ayurvedic Terminology Pocketbook for Students, a go-to manual for all Ayurvedic students with the most common Sanskrit terms in Ayurveda and their translations.
Vaidya Jayagopal Parla:
AYURVEDIC Diet, Anywhere and anyone
Dr. Jay is a world-renowned speaker, professor of Ayurvedic medicine and a NAMA registered practitioner with more than 23 years of experience in Ayurvedic practice and teaching. He is a professor of Ayurvedic medicine at American University of Complementary Medicine in Beverly Hills and a visiting faculty member at Southern California University of Health Sciences in California and Japan School of Ayurveda in Tokyo.
Dr. Jay is an herb expert and co-founder of the Ayurvedic herb company Athreya. He’s a master “Ayurvedacizing” western foods, herbs, and lifestyle for the western world, making Ayurveda accessible for all. In his podcast “Wellness Through Ayurveda”, Dr. Jay dissects cuisines from around the world through the lens of Ayurveda for a fascinating discovery of Ayurvedic principles in non-Indian cultures.
Dr. Sivarama Prasad Vinjamury:
REFINING YOUR CLINICAL ASSESMENT SKILLS
Dr. Prasad has over thirty years in clinical experience in integrating Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and western diagnostic methods to evaluate, assess, and manage patients. He is a Professor at Southern California University of Health and Sciences in California, teaching both traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
Dr. Prasad graduated from the University of Kerala, India earning a Doctor of Medicine in Ayurveda degree. He then received his Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree from Southern California University of Health Sciences, his Master of PublicHealth degree from Cal State Fullerton, and the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine degree from Pacific College of Health and Science.
Dr. Prasad is also deeply involved in clinical research in complementary and integrative medicine. He has been a Principal Investigator of studies on Fibromyalgia, Hypertension, Insomnia, Cancer and Osteoporosis.
Vaidya Anupama Kizhakkeveettil:
ADVANCED TOPICS IN AYURVEDA
Dr. Anu is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, licensed acupuncturist, yoga teacher, and Professor and Program Director of Ayurvedic Medicine at Southern California University of Health Sciences. Her many contributions to the field of complementary and alternative medicine include extensive travel to propagate Ayurveda worldwide, numerous research presentations at national and international conferences, frequent publication in various peer-reviewed research journals, and regular participation as a peer reviewer at conferences as well as journals.
She currently serves on the Research Working Group of the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health and is Co-Principal Investigator for an NIH-funded research study. She has received a number of awards for her work on Ayurveda and complementary and alternative medicine.
Kathy Jo Stäheli:
BUILDING AN AYURVEDIC RASAYANA PROTOCOL
Kathy Jo Stäheli, AD, is a NAMA-recognized doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine with nearly two decades of specialization in Panchakarma—the Ayurvedic science of detoxification and rejuvenation. As the founder of Purusha Ayurveda Panchakarma Sanctuary, she has dedicated her career to creating a space where clients can experience the transformative healing powers of Ayurveda.
Her journey began in Santa Cruz, California, where she worked as a Panchakarma Technician, leading her to pursue formal education at Kerala Ayurveda Academy and Bastyr University. Kathy Jo further expanded her knowledge through multiple internships in India with the country’s top Ayurvedic doctors in clinics, hospitals, and retreat centers.
In her role at Kerala Ayurveda Academy, Kathy Jo not only served as a practitioner but also as a global business development manager, helping to introduce Ayurvedic resources to the U.S. market. Her innovative spirit led to the creation of Purusha Botanicals, a custom skincare line that gained national recognition and was even featured in the Oscars goodie bag.
Her deep commitment to authentic Ayurvedic practices is reflected in her leadership within the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) for over a decade, where she currently chairs the Panchakarma Committee. With nearly 20 years of experience in the Ayurvedic health industry, Kathy Jo combines her profound knowledge with compassionate care, guiding her clients toward balanced, healthy lives through the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda.
Dr. Carlos Alvear Lopez:
Plants - Our “evolutionary allies”
Dr. Carlos graduated in 2001 from the Anáhuac University School of Medicine. He then received additional clinical training at Harvard University from 2001 to 2002. Since 2001 he has run a comprehensive health center in Malinalco, growing organic medicinal plants including many Ayurvedic herbs, and refining them to create herbal formulas.
In 2012, Carlos co-founded Sapientia, a naturopathic model for neuroregeneration and neurotransmitter balancing to treat and prevent conditions such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and dementia. His practice incorporates medical models from around the world, including Chinese medicine and shamanism. He has led workshops and consultations in Mexico, South Africa, Spain and Switzerland.
SUBHRANIL SARKAR:
SITAR CONCERT
Regarded as one of the foremost players of his generation, Subhranil Sarkar has shared his music and touched the hearts of people all around Europe, USA, Canada, India and Mexico.
He was initiated into music t the age of 6 and gave his first public performance at the age of 8, and started performing oat the All India Radio, Kolkata from the age of 9. Subhranil was accepted as a disciple by the great Sitar maestro Padma-Shri Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan. He belongs to Stiar’s first family, the “Etawah Gharana”, which has gifted us Hindustani Classical Music.
ARUN KOLAGADA:
MORNING YOGA
Arun, from Mysore, India, is a software engineer and a movement enthusiast who practices and teaches Yoga. He is at his most balanced self when he can physically express in the form of sports, martial arts, or the practice of yoga.
At the age of 10, he attended his first yoga class and then dedicated years to learning, training, and teaching capoeira (afro-brazilian martial art) in Mumbai and Goa in his home country of India. At the age of 28, he was reintroduced to the asana practice in Goa. This initiated an inquiry into the science and anatomy of yoga.
Arun will be leading our morning yoga classes. He includes elements of Ashtanga Vinyasa and classical Hatha yoga with emphasis on breath, alignment suggestions and adjustments.
Benny Oyama: KIRTAN
Benny Oyama is an American Singer-songwriter who intricately weaves his spiritual journey through the threads of Eastern Philosophy, Meditation, Yoga, Brazilian musical forms, and Central and South American wisdom.
His music, both lyrically soulful and devotionally talented, acts as a transformative force uplifting hearts and souls across the globe.
The Location
Our home for this FESTIVAL is the pueblo mágico (magic town) of malinalco, mexico.
It’s a charming and traditional Mexican town rich with Aztec history, and it’s just a quick two hour drive from Mexico City. The climate here is lovely: warm during the day and cool at night.
You can either fly into Mexico City (MEX) or Toluca (TLC) and we’ll arrange a private or shared taxi directly to and from the airport. Just send us your flight info and we’ll take care of the rest! MEX is a direct, relatively economical flight from pretty much everywhere in the US.
If time allows, you can stay an extra in Malinalco town itself and explore this traditional Mexican pueblo. We’ll send your our Locals Guide to Malinalco PDF with our favorite places for tamales and French pastries, the best way to visit the Aztec pyramids, and everything you need to know for that insiders local experience. Or, book our Guided Tour add-on for Sunday afternoon and explore the town with a local!
We’ll be staying at Villa Huakal…
a stunning retreat center nestled in the heart of nature in an vast valley surrounded by breathtaking cliffs and mountains.
This organic and natural space beautifully blends traditional Mexican design with stylish modern touches. The retreat center and the rooms themselves are spacious, and you’ll feel the expansive ether element throughout your stay.
You’ll love this indoor-outdoor living experience, as all of our workshops and even our meals will be in covered outdoor spaces. Hello, fresh air!
The Rooms
YOUR HOME DURING THE FESTIVAL WILL BE A SPACIOUS AND STYLISH ARCHITECTURALLY-DESIGNED ROOM with a comfy bed and a private bathroom with a rain shower and hot water.
All double rooms have a private outdoor patio where you can cozy up with a mug of CCFtea or sit for your morning meditation.
You’ll feel cocooned by nature here in the expanse of the valley enveloped by rolling mountains.
Choose the room type that works best for you:
- Shared double room for two with two separate beds
- Shared double room for two with one king bed for couples
- Shared quadruple room for four with four queen-sized bunk beds
Book a shared room with one of your Ayurveda buddies or come solo and we’ll pair you with a roommate.
Men and women are welcome.
The Food
ENJOY nourishing, balanced meals prepared by MASALA MALINALCO.
We know how important it is to nurture agni during travel and stay grounded with the right food amidst all the Ayurvedic excitement and learning. We’ve mindfully crafted a menu that follows Ayurvedic principles for a happy belly.
All food will be as fresh as it gets, made from scratch, and prepared with love by our Ayurvedic chef, Rosi.
The retreat packages include breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and digestive teas and beverages.
Whether you’ve been a practitioner of Ayurveda for years, are in the midst of your studies, or you’re a die-hard Ayurveda fan or natural medicine enthusiast, this experience is going to fill your cup.
AYURVEDAFEST is for you if…
You’re an Ayurvedic professional or student
You’re not an Ayurvedic professional or student but you love Ayurveda or natural medicine
You’re feeling isolated and alone in the Ayurveda field and want to connect with like-minded people
You want to meet birds of a feather and expand your Ayurvedic community
You’d like to expand your Ayurveda knowledge (“forever a student!”)
You’d like to learn from Ayurvedic and natural medicine doctors with decades of experience
You love having sattvic fun!
the schedule
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20
2-5pm - Arrival, Check In & Snack
5:30pm - Welcome Event
7pm - Dinner
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21
7-8am - All Levels Yoga Class
8:30am - Breakfast
10am-12pm - Morning Workshop
12:30pm - Lunch
2-4pm - First Afternoon Workshop
4:30-6:30pm - Second Afternoon Workshop
6:30pm - Dinner
8pm - Kirtan
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
7-8am - All Levels Yoga Class
8:30am - Breakfast
10am-12pm - Morning Workshop
12:30pm - Lunch
2-4pm First Afternoon Workshop
4:30-6pm - Second Afternoon Workshop
6:30pm - Dinner
8pm - Classical Indian Music Concert
9pm - Mocktail Mixer Party
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23
7-8am - All Levels Yoga Class
8:30am - Breakfast
10-11:30am - Morning Workshop
12pm - Lunch
1:30pm - Checkout
Meet Your Hosts
julie bernier
Julie is an Ayurvedic Doctor based in Oaxaca, Mexico, and dedicated to helping women with their health. She frequently travels to India to steep in Ayurveda and shares that wisdom with her students via online programs, consultations, and international retreats.
This is Julie and Cecilia’s fourth event collaboration in Mexico—these two vata pittas make an event planning dream team!
CECILIA MOLINAR
Cecilia is a movement educator and Ayurveda technician as well as a craniosacral therapist. Originally from Mexico City, she’s now a Malinalco local and has lived in this beautiful town for 13 years. Cecilia is excited to co-host this festival to connect and expand the community of people working with ancestral medicines.
The Details : Please Read!
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You can either fly into Mexico City (MEX) or Toluca (TLC). MEX is a direct, relatively economical flight from pretty much everywhere in the US.
Malinalco is a 2 hour drive from MEX and once you’re out of the city itself you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the forest and countryside. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Toluca. We don’t recommend flying into Mexico City’s newer airport, NLU, as it adds an extra hour or two to Malinalco.
We'll arrange a private or shared taxi to bring you directly to and from the airport—just send us your flight info and we'll take care of the details! We use our favorite known taxi drivers and send you their photo and license plate before they pick you up for your peace of mind. If you'd like to share a taxi, we'll pair you with other festival participants that have similar flight times.
The taxi cost each way is 1500 MX / about $78 USD from MEX and 900 MX / $47 from TLC. This cost can be shared amongst riders.
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All bookings will be processed through WeTravel. A $400 nonrefundable deposit is required to book.
You can pay the remainder in full or with a payment plan. Final payment is due January 20, 2025.
All deposits are 100% non-refundable. You may cancel your reservation up to December 1 and receive a full refund of the amount paid, minus the $400 deposit. There will be no refunds thereafter for any reason. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your personal security.
While we try to be as compassionate as we can in our cancellation policy, as festival organizers we have to protect the financial and time investments that we have made to create this experience and so, the deposit and cancellation policy are black and white.
Hence, we encourage you to book with the full intention of attending, and highly recommend purchasing a cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance policy to cover your costs in case you can’t make it.
In the event that the retreat has to be canceled due to a force majeure, we will reschedule the retreat and your payments will be applied toward the new retreat date.
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We know that you’ll book this event with the intention of attending, but the unexpected does happen, which is why we HIGHLY recommend purchasing international travel/medical insurance for you trip, flight cancellation and interruption, emergency medical expenses, and emergency evacuation expenses.
The most comprehensive insurance is generally a Cancel for Any Reason policy, which needs to be purchased within a few days of your trip purchase. Insuremytrip.com has several options but please be sure to read cancellation policies carefully before purchasing.
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Americans do not need a visa for Mexico—just a passport with at least 6 months validity at the time of travel. Please check the requirements for your country.
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For all of you NAMA members, AYURVEDAFEST is officially approved for 14.5 PACE credits. You’ll receive a certificate of completion after the festival.
The credits are as follows
Topics in Ayurveda: 10 PACE
Topics in Sister Sciences (e.g., Yoga, Jyotish, Vastu): 3 PACE
Topics in Wellness (i.e., Topics outside of Ayurveda, such as Western Medicine, CPR, Chinese Medicine, etc.): 1.5 PACE
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You can either fly into Mexico City (MEX) or Toluca (TLC). MEX is a direct, relatively economical flight from pretty much everywhere in the US.
Malinalco is a 2 hour drive from MEX and once you’re out of the city itself you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the forest and countryside. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Toluca. We don’t recommend flying into Mexico City’s newer airport, NLU, as it adds an extra hour or two to Malinalco.
Check in is at 2pm on Thursday, February 20 and check out as at 1:30pm on Sunday, February 23.
Our welcome event on Thursday starts at 5:30pm and dinner is at 7pm. Look for a flight that arrives on Thursday between 10am and 1pm (2pm max) for plenty of time to settle in before we get started.
For departure day, our closing event ends at 11:30am. Look for a flight that departs after 4pm, or after 6pm if you'd like to join us for lunch (starts at 12pm) before flying home.
Room Options & Pricing
Come solo or bring a friend or partner. Men and women welcome!
If you’re a solo traveler and would like to share a room, we’ll pair you with a roommate. We invite you to be open minded about sharing with someone you haven’t met before. People who attend Ayurveda events are typically birds of feather and ideal roommates.
Gold Package: shared room for two with two separate beds - $1200 USD per person
Pearl Package: shared room for three friends booking together, either with two queen beds or one king and two twins (limited availability) - $1000 USD per person
Silver Package: shared room for four with four queen bunkbeds - $810 USD per person
Copper Package: our off-site option. If you would like to book your own accommodation and stay in a hotel or AirBnB in town, you can join the festival during the day for all the activities and meals - $600 USD per person
Reserve your spot with an $400 nonrefundable deposit. Payment plans available.
Please carefully read the Payment Policy above before booking.
Questions? Contact Julie at hello@trueayurveda.com.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
*3 night / 4 day stay at Villa Huakal
*7 Ayurvedic workshops with our all-star lineup of Ayurvedic and natural medicine Doctors
*All meals and drinks: wholesome, vegetarian and Ayurvedically aligned breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
*Daily all-levels hatha yoga
*Kirtan and Indian classical music concerts
*Ayurvedic mocktail mixer party
*Ayurveda swag bag with local gifts
*Our Locals Guide To Malinalco PDF
*A certificate of completion and 14.5 PACE credits for NAMA members
UPGRADE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH AN ADD-ON:
*3-hour group guided tour of Malinalco pyramids, town and market with a local on Sunday after the festival ends: $50
*Deluxe Ayurvedic swag bag upgrade: $30
NOT INCLUDED
*Airfare
*Transportation to/from Malinalco (we’ll help to arrange taxis)
*Travel insurance
