Mela Gaskins Butcher

Unfortunately, Mela was injured two days before the start of the symposium when a mountain biker struck her on a hiking trail. She is home from the hospital and recovering but is unable to attend this year. We wish her a speedy recovery. Be sure to subscribe to the Herb Walks newsletter to find out when she will be returning to Ojai for a workshop.

Sunday, November 18, 8:00AM  Morning Yoga: All Levels Welcome!

Sunday, November 18, 11:00AM  “Building Life Force Through Ayurvedic Botanical Medicines”

Sunday, November 18, 3:20PM  “Ayurveda’s Most Celebrated Herbal Medicines”

Mela Gaskins Butcher, MS, holds a five year degree in Kayachikitsa, or Ayurvedic internal medicine. Mela studied under the direction of the renowned Ayurvedic scholar Dr. Jyoti Ananda. She also holds a Masters in Science in Psychoneuroimmunology from the University of Washington. She is the the owner and director of the CENTER FOR AYURVEDA. Mela has been practicing Ayurvedic medicine since 1990 and has personally overseen more than 14,000 individual medical cases working with the Ayurvedic model. She is a frequent author, lecturer, and teacher trainer on the subjects of Yoga and Ayurveda in the US and abroad. She is the faculty head of an annual Ayurvedic school in Los Angeles in partnership with Yoga Works, and  is also the lead Ayurvedic lecturer and Ayurveda  curricula author  for Yoga Works teacher trainings.

Mela has also taught Yoga for over 35 years, and is certified in the Hatha, Iyengar, Bhakti, and Yoga Therapy traditions. She was raised by Yogis in the Self Realization Fellowship tradition (Paramahansa Yogananda) and was initiated as a Kriyaban at the age of 17.