About Us
Dr. Christina Werthe (Dr. Tina) is a master of bodywork and practitioner of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. She holds a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine from the Pacific College of Health and Science. A long time student of renowned Ayurvedic physician Dr. Vasant Lad, she has also completed numerous programs of study in Ayurveda including Dr. Lad’s Gurukulam and clinic internship in Pune, India. In addition, she attended the Vedic Vidya Institute from 2004-2011, studying Jyotisha, Sanskrit, Vāstu, Ayurveda, and Patanjali’s Raj Yoga Sutras, under the direct tutelage of master Jyotishi and vedic scholar Hart de Fouw. She is also a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, holding a degree in Sanskrit and South Asian studies.
Her love for the eastern healing tradition took root in 2000 while working and attending classes at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico. She received tutelage in marma point therapy from ayurvedic physician, Dr. Robert Svoboda. During that time, she also completed the Ayur-Yoga program at the Ayurvedic Institute and underwent panchakarma clinic internship. In addition, she undertook a bodywork and massage program at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics. Her interest in herbs later led her to graduate studies in herbal medicine, studying at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin (AOMA) from 2012-2014.
Dr. Tina provides acupuncture, bodywork, panchakarma, lifestyle/herbal consultations, and Jyotisha readings by appointment. She also leads restorative yoga and meditation classes. Dr. Tina is a licensed acupuncturist through the state of California and accredited through NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medicine Association). Contact: christinawerthe@gmail.com
Bryan is an experienced Vedic astrologer or Jyotishi as well as a teacher of the subject. He received tutelage from Master Jyotishi and Vedic Scholar Hart de Fouw from 2002-2011. Alongside study with Hart, he also attended the Vedic Vidya Institute, studying the gamut of classical Indian subjects including: Jyotisha, Sanskrit, Vāstu, and Patañjali’s Raj Yoga Sūtras.
While learning from Hart, Bryan assisted in teaching Hart’s highly successful Jyotiṣa Trilogy courses, presenting in class and co-teaching study groups with Aletha de Fouw. Also during that time, Bryan had the honor of sitting on the board of the Vedic Vidya Institute as Vice President from 2007-2010.
Along with his interest in metaphysical subjects, Bryan is also a lifetime student of Vedanta. He had the privilege of meeting his Vedanta teacher Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 2007.
Bryan is accredited through ACVA (American College of Vedic Astrology) since 2006. Bryan offers Jyotisha readings at Desha Yoga and by phone as well as on-site Vāstu consultations by appointment. Contact: bryantarin@gmail.com
Nina Shah is a master of herbs. She comes from a lineage of ayurvedic vaidyas (doctors) from India. She is a doctoral level Ayurvedic Practitioner with three years of Practitioner level education of 3400 hours from Shubham Ayurveda in Fremont, CA. She is NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medicine Association) Certified Practitioner. She is in the process of obtaining Ayurvedic Doctor designation, a newly developed standard by NAMA, which is based on the BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medical Science) from India.
Her extensive education in Ayurveda has included direct study from the Sanskrit ayurvedic text of Ashtanga Hrudaya with references from other honorable ayurvedic texts, Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Just like any great tradition of knowledge, the study of Ayurveda is a lifetime process. Her continuing education includes the reading and study of Ashtanga Hrudaya in Sanskrit with mentoring ayurvedic doctors on a weekly basis.
She has been in practice since 2012. She provides Ayurveda health assessments, herbs, and Panchakarma leadership by appointment at Desha Yoga. Contact: nina@omkarayurveda.com
Dr. Monika Singhal hails from a lineage of ayurvedic vaidyas (traditional ayurvedic doctors) from northern India. She received allopathic medical training (M.D) from the All Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. As a NAMA certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, she is also a graduate of the San Diego College of Ayurveda where she studied in depth the ancient teachings of Charaka. She has a prestigious back round of numerous residencies and research assistant positions, including cancer research at Tufts New England Medical Center (2006).
After moving to the United States in 2002, Dr. Singhal joined a naturopathic practice in Seattle, Washington, where she collaborated with other holistic physicians to provide the best of integrative care to a diverse population. While there she gained in depth understanding of the herbal treatment strategies of naturopathic medical application. During that time, she also worked as a volunteer youth counselor for those in foster care and healing from drug dependency.
Dr. Singhal combines her knowledge of Ayurveda with that of her Western Medical back round to support a holistic approach to the healing process. She is an apt translator of disease pathology into holistic understanding, integrating knowledge of such things as blood work into ayurvedic methods of analysis. She specializes in working with children and youth, structuring daily and seasonal routines to bring strength and vitality to the growth process. She provides Ayurveda health assessments by appointment at Desha Yoga. Contact: singhal.drm@gmail.com