We are…
Daksha and Anisha, a mother-daughter team behind PIOR Living!
Our family has always been passionate about healthy living and natural products that make us feel our best. We believe that Mother Nature is the answer to vitality and longevity, and that indigenous cultures hold powerful knowledge of earth’s gifts for health and healing. This is why we strive to discover, source, and produce the best and highest quality natural remedies from around the world! Join us as we search the globe for the most exceptional botanical medicine and wisdom from our ancestors to nourish, heal, and thrive.
How PIOR Living was born:
The first time I tried Chyawanprash, I didn’t like it! However, I knew about its acclaimed health benefits, so I kept searching for the right formula. But there was something wrong with every brand I tried: either there was too much sugar, the texture was off-putting, or the recipe was lacking in quality ingredients or authenticity. When a renowned Ayurvedic doctor shared some of his formula with me, I fell in love! The taste, texture, quality of ingredients, and instantly noticeable health boost made this Chyawanprash easily the highest quality version I’ve ever had. I felt inspired to bring this product to market and help other people discover what authentic Chyawanprash really tastes and feels like.
– Daksha
PIOR Living Advisors
Selina Van Orden
Selina Van Orden is an Ayurvedic Physician, member of the Ayurvedic Practitioners Association (APA), and advisor to PIOR Living. Her practice is informed by the ancient wisdom of indigenous cultures. She is committed to opening up the conversation about the future of medicine and has spoken in the British Houses of Parliament and European Parliament in Brussels on integrating Ayurveda into the modern western system.
PIOR Living Ambassadors
Angela Glaz
Angela Glaz is the mastermind behind Eka and all of its offerings. Through her own physical and mental health challenges, she was inspired to create a safe and helpful space that encourages holistic health and the celebration of what makes each of us unique. Angela has been teaching yoga and indulging in the wonders of Ayurveda for over a decade. She is continually blessed and inspired by the ways she sees Yoga and Ayurveda transform lives and bodies.
Justine Miller
Justine Miller, EYT-500 Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher and Ayurvedic Health Coach is known for her creative sequencing and inclusive classes. She has done extensive training at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and leads retreats and workshops worldwide. Justine takes this 5,000 year old science and makes it digestible and easy to incorporate in day to day life. Off the mat, you can find her cooking seasonal dishes, eating vegan carrot cake, and forest bathing.
Heather Burkart
Heather Burkart is the Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher behind Her Well Being Ayurveda & Yoga. As a mom of two energetic boys, Heather loves to translate the time-tested wisdom of the two sister sciences for busy working and at-home mothers like herself so they can feel more whole, balanced, and content. She loves to cook, bake, tend to her garden, and pick herbs with her two enthusiastic and creative helpers.
Val Joan
Val Joan is a certified Ayurveda coach and yoga instructor. One of her passions is helping women navigate menopause and midlife with Ayurveda, yoga and mindfulness. She promotes a modern and free form Ayurveda that women can easily incorporate into their life. She is part of a new movement that wants to change the narrative around menopause: menopause should not be seen as a painful moment of life but an opportunity to make changes, heal, and set the foundation of a thriving second life. Body, mind and spirit. Modern Ayurveda, hatha yoga, kundalini yoga, and mindfulness are the cornerstones of her work. She is French and lives in San Diego with her family.
Kelly Daley
Kelly Daley, Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Yoga Teacher, guides and inspires clients to nurture a lifestyle of health, peace, and balance within and with the world around them. Kelly continues her studies at the California College of Ayurveda and offers yoga classes, self-care workshops and private consultations. She is the owner of Daley Ayurveda in Brewster, NY. An avid hiker, Kelly has always felt deeply connected to the elements and their affects on the body, mind, and spirit.
Nidhi Pandya
Nidhi Pandya is a third generation Ayurvedic Practitioner based in the U.S. But she works with people from all around the world. She has studied Ayurvedic Sanskrit shashtras. Her mission is to be able to communicate Ayurveda to the modern world in a way that it becomes easily understandable as well as easily accessible. “A person should not have to give up their ethnic foods and lifestyle to practice Ayurveda, as the principles of Ayurveda are timeless.” – Nidhi Pandya
Veladya Chapman
Veladya Chapman is a mother, herbalist and holistic nutritionist with a passion for women’s health and ancestral living. Veladya now lives and thrives in Georgia where she runs her successful online brand and herbal apothecary, Earth Mama Medicine, and cares for her 8- acre homestead.
Talya Lutzker
Talya Lutzker is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, yoga teacher, cookbook author, and one of the most accessible and inspiring Ayurveda teachers online today. She’s the founder of The Detox & Nourish Your Body With Ayurveda Bootcamps, The RAD Cleanse (Radiance Ayurveda Detox), and Ayurveda Starter School. Since 2003, Talya’s created Ayurvedic lifestyle and nutrition centers – places to drink up deep nourishment for the heart and soul of who you are. Join her tribe at Ayurveda Every Day With Talya.
Rachel Spillane
Rachel Spillane is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Yoga Teacher and Board Member of the Colorado Ayurvedic Medical Association. Her mission is to empower women with knowledge, tools and support for their wellness journey. Her practice, Saraswati Ayurveda, is based in Denver, offering consultations, lifestyle coaching and herbal medicine. She loves exploring the outdoors with her two dogs, gardening and eating veggie tacos.
Shilpika Devaiah
Shilpika Devaiah is the owner of Ayur-Shilpi Ayurveda & Wellness, Cleveland, and a certified Ayurveda doctor through NAMA. She received her Bachelor of Ayurveda (BAMS) from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India, and Diploma in Panchakarma from Ayurdhama Ayurveda Hospital in India. Shilpika also has a 200-hour Yoga Teachers Training Certification from the Sivananda Yoga Ashram, India.
Angela Perger
Angela Perger is an Ayurveda Health Counselor, Yoga teacher and host of The Simple Ayurveda Podcast. Most days you’ll find her playing on the beach with her two children or curled up with a good book. Her mission is to share Ayurveda in easy, real-life ways so that you can thrive. She uses Ayurveda and Yoga to naturally manage ulcerative colitis and a rare autoimmune liver disorder. Her online offerings empower you to be your most radically vibrant self.
Cecile Antoine Alfonzo
After working over 15 years in Marketing positions in the Beauty and Pharmaceutical industries, Cecile left the corporate world to reconnect with a more mindful and healthy lifestyle. Since she had been practicing Yoga for almost 20 years, it seemed natural for her to get her 200h Yoga Teacher Training. She then pursued additional Yoga certifications, and studies in Ayurveda, Reflexology, Reiki, and Aromatherapy. She is the owner of Hold Your Hand, a personalized and tailored Coaching Program, where she integrates her trainings to help people reclaim their power and take action towards their health & well-being goals.
Sierra Brashear & Molly McConnell
Molly McConnell, RYT 500, and Sierra Brashear, MA, are both Clinical Ayurvedic Practitioners and graduates of Alandi Ashram’s 2,000+ hour, National Ayurvedic Medical Association certified program. The two believe that self care is a radical act — reminding us that when we are vibrant and awake, we have the clarity and energy to show up for what we believe in. As co-founders of Cultivate Balance, the two offer Ayurveda education, herbal products and holistic lifestyle design consultation.
Vanessa Rivero
Vanessa Rivero is an Ayurvedic Counselor, Yoga Instructor, and Health Coach. Her mission is to teach the importance of taking control of our own health by using ancient wisdom and modern science. She utilizes Yoga and Ayurveda to manage her resistance to insulin and hormonal imbalance. She’s passionate about the complexity of health and wellness and aims to encourage clients to own their individualities with pride and stir away from what society expect them to be.
Syama Kumari
Syama is an Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga & meditation teacher based in the UK. Teaching Ayurvedic cooking, yoga and lifestyle workshops everywhere! Having a degree in public health & nursing, she also studied Ayurveda with Vaidya Mishra and continues to learn from Divya Alter and Dr. Marianne Tiedalbaum. Yogic lifestyle, cooking, meditation and caring for women, families and children with Ayurveda is her passion. Being an end of life doula, she shares Ayurvedic practices with the elderly too.
Jaya Daptardar
Jaya has been practicing and teaching Ayurveda’s lifestyle management in the U.S. since 1998. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from Amarawati University, Maharashtra India and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from California College of Health Sciences. Jaya is a certified Panchakarma Therapist, Beauty Therapist, and Board Certified Alternative Medical Practitioner. She is a founder and director of institute of lifestyle management, an author of two books: Aging Gracefully and Ayurveda’s Wisdom for Management of Pain and Addiction, and concentrates on prevention and women’s wellness.
Kate Sadowsky
With a Masters Degree in Holistic Health Education and five years studying clinical Ayurveda, Kate Sadowsky helps holistically-minded people navigate food, stress, and health like stealthy, soulful ninjas. Spending fifteen years with moderate to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (and now over fifteen years pain-free) has gifted her an enormous toolbox for working with stiffness, pain, and inflammation. She teaches people living with RA how to manage their health and regain energy naturally in her 8-week online program.
Lisa Bermudez
Lisa Bermudez has been teaching yoga in New York since 2009 and continues to teach group yoga classes, workshops, private yoga sessions, and host retreats. In addition to teaching yoga, Lisa is also a writer, a non-professional skydiver, and outdoor enthusiast.
Sharee Nicole
Sharee runs her clinic, Living Prem Acupuncture & Ayurveda in Palms, California. Prem or प्रेम in Sanskrit is a word for “love”, more specifically, pure, unconditional love. Living Prem is a concept and lifestyle that Sharee weaves together with the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Yoga & modern science to create a holistic treatment plan for her patients. Each patient not only receives support in the treatment room but support they can incorporate into their daily lives, realigning, and harmonizing themselves with their most natural & balanced state. Sharee is a licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist, Board Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Health Coach, Reiki Master, Certified Yoga Instructor, and Birth Worker with a focus on women’s health through all stages of life especially during the reproductive years.
Sandra Nicht
Sandra is an Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist in Maryland, graduating from Kripalu School of Ayurveda in 2010 and from Maryland University of Integrative Health with an M.S. in Yoga Therapy in 2015. She has practiced yoga since high school, Ashtanga Yoga from 1995 until menopause and Shadow Yoga since 2009. She is also a Mother of Cats (four) and is grateful for their fluffiness.
Mónica Casanova
Mónica Casanova, ERYT Hatha & Prenatal Yoga Teacher, Ayurvedic Practitioner and Panchakarma Technician is passionate about sharing the healing power of the Vedic Healing Arts, Yoga & Ayurveda. Her background in classical dance inspires her to infuse different disciplines from her trainings to create custom, transformational programs for her clients to awaken their innate healer within. Her practice, Coco Shakti Ayurveda, currently offers Bilingual Ayurvedic Counseling, Ayurvedic YTT Education and CE, Virtual Classes & Workshops, Ayurvedic Postpartum Care, and Panchakarma Therapies.
Jennifer Ward
Jen Ward combines Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Functional Medicine and Integrative Health Coaching and Pilates to help you achieve optimal health. By applying ancient wisdom to a modern lifestyle, Jen helps you balance your body by uncovering the root of your imbalance and explore your constitutional health, your nature within. Jen offers individualized support and incorporates the appropriate health tools to help you achieve your health goals. She believes in both the power of food as medicine and the importance of mind-body connection.
Greta Kent Stoll
Greta is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA) and a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT). Her Ayurveda practice, Asheville Ayurveda, is located in Asheville, North Carolina. Greta also co-owns and teaches yoga classes at Iyengar Yoga Asheville. In addition, she is a freelance writer and editor. Check out some of her posts on the PIOR Living blog!
Jen Massman
Jen is an integrative health practitioner and Ayurvedic health coach. She is passionate about empowering others to take their health into their own hands and find the foods, movement and mindset that centers them. With modern lab testing and ancient Ayurvedic tradition, she supports women on their journey to restore and maintain total mind/body balance. When she’s not studying epigenetics and hormone health, she can be found drinking ginger tea, running, or generally being a jungle gym for her two young, vibrant kids.
Alexa Bull
Alexa Bull is an Ayurvedic Health Coach, Yoga teacher and founder of Alevan Botanica based in Brooklyn, NY. After spending years working in the fashion industry, Alexa left the corporate world to study and learn about yoga and Ayurveda. Through her studies, she found purpose and passion helping others discover their individual potential for wellness. Alexa currently offers Ayurvedic health consultations, private and group yoga, and Pilates classes around the city and virtually. When not working, she enjoys spending time outside, hiking, reading and cooking with family and friends.
Pooja S
Pooja is an Ayurveda Health Counselor, and a Physician Assistant by profession. She is also the founder of Honey, Ghee, and Tea. She enjoys combining her passion for Ayurveda and knowledge of Western medicine in the content she shares. Her Instagram page exhibits her passion for cooking through an abundance of seasonal Ayurveda-friendly recipes and Ayurvedic knowledge presented in an easy to understand manner. Pooja also works individually with those seeking to discover more balance within their lives.
Prema Shakti
Prema Shakti, Āyurvedic Practitioner, is a devoted practitioner and disciple of yoga and āyurveda. She guides her students to explore the union of body, mind and spirit through āyurvedic principles, asana, pranayama, bodywork therapies, energy healing and meditation. Prema maintains specialty certifications as a Registered Psychotherapist, Yoga Teacher, Licensed Massage Therapist, Vedic Counselor, ĀyurDoula and Reiki Master. Prema sits on the board of COLORAMA as the Treasurer and on the Seminars in Āyurveda sub-committee through the National Āyurvedic Medical Association.
Hari Simran Khalsa
Using ancient traditions and Ayurvedic medicine in combination with modern science and counseling, Hari works and guides people in feeling their very best within the body and the mind, in connection to their true, and authentic inspiration. She specializes in women’s health and healing which includes treating: digestive symptoms, disordered eating, menstrual irregularities, peri-menopause and menopause symptoms, sleeping disturbances, anxiety and depression.
Clare Michalik
Clare Michalik is a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, writer, and digital content creator. She is the founder of Clareminded, a growing YouTube channel rooted in the pursuit of helping others learn and implement practical Ayurvedic teachings for their modern lives. Clare is passionate about community and raising the collective vibration through her work with individual clients, joint gatherings, and collaborative projects. She lives as a digital nomad, working and traveling worldwide, seeking adventure wherever she can, and continuously seeking soul connections.
Heather Johnson
Heather Johnson founded the Ayurveda Life School and Podcast as a way to share her love for Ayurveda. She is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor certified through the California College of Ayurveda. She has taught yoga for over 10 years as an RYT-500 and is a licensed massage therapist. She leads a monthly 28 Day Ayurveda Immersion Program, live and virtual events. Heather is a mother of four children and two golden retrievers, loves the outdoors, and adventures with her husband.
Angelica Neri and Rachel Jeffries
Angelica Neri and Rachel Jeffries are intuitive healers who empower their clients to self-heal on the physical, emotional, and spiritual level. Together, they created SoulFull Veda to help their clients find and work with the root of their imbalances. You can sign up for SoulFull Veda’s newsletter and book an intuitive healing session at soulfullveda.com. Angelica is an Ayurvedic Specialist-1, 500-hr Kundalini, Kriya, and Meditation Instructor, and Reiki Master. Rachel is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor-1, Certified Holistic Nutritionist, 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga and Yoga Nidra instructor, and Reiki Master.
Lauren Gernady
Lauren Gernady is an Āyurvedic Practitioner and a 500-hour Āyurvedic Yoga Teacher. Graduate of the Kripalu School of Āyurveda, former intern and current Academic Coordinator of KSA. With a deep commitment to the study of Vedic traditions, Lauren spreads her love of Āyurveda, Yoga, and Jyotish through writing and teaching. As the former cook and “kitchari queen” at the Āyurvedic Center of Vermont, Lauren has an empirical understanding of the transformational power of Āyurveda through diet, lifestyle interventions, and Pañcakarma.
Ashlynn Williams
Ashlynn is a wife and mom from Texas. She’s a former corporate professional and is now a well respected international Yoga Alliance Instructor and certified Ayurveda Health Counselor & Herbalist. She offers a wealth of knowledge and wisdom in both Yoga & Ayurveda, helping to guide individuals from all backgrounds on their path towards health & healing. She is currently based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and spends her time seeing clients, teaching yoga, homeschooling her kids and continuing Ayurveda & Herbalism studies.
PIOR Living Art and Photography
Chenoa Egawa
Chenoa Egawa is Coast Salish of the Lummi and S’Klallam Nations of Washington State. She is a medicine woman, singer, photographer, teacher and author of the newly published children’s book – The Whale Child – in partnership with her brother, Keith Egawa. Chenoa is dedicated to bringing healing to our Mother Earth and to people of all origins. She serves as a voice to bring Native wisdom and perspectives to the world when these teachings are particularly poignant reminders of our shared responsibility to live with respect for ourselves, one another, and all that gives us life. Learn more about Chenoa’s work at www.swanclan.com.
“When I go out in nature, my senses come alive and I feel great freedom and happiness to be witness to so much beauty. My photography is simply a reflection of nature’s supreme artistry. Deep reverence, and the awareness that I must live responsibly, respectfully and sustainably guide my relationship to, and interaction with, the natural world. In order to restore, preserve and protect all life – human life included – we must remember that all life is interconnected. Our ancestors knew very well that human beings are made of nature. We are not separate. We are completely interdependent. Each and every day we are able to survive through the love and generosity of the living elements, plants, animals, sun, moon and stars. The Earth holds all the remedies we need to heal and nourish ourselves emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually, yet in our world today, many of us have forgotten this sacred connection. As a result, we are destroying our precious planet. Through my photography, I hope to inspire those who see these images, and awaken in them a sincere desire to reconnect to the wisdom, cycles and rhythms of our Mother Earth and Father Sky, so that our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to come, may enjoy a future in health and harmony.”
Nabalo
Iris is a woman with a sensitive heart and a mysterious old soul. Her mission is to inspire and help others manifest the lifestyle of their deepest desires. She travels the world in search of adventure, and she feels at home in the forest. She is passionate about the beauty of nature and honoring that in her photography. She believes in slow living, ancient wisdom, plant medicine, self care and kindness. You can follow her work on nabalo.com and her journey on www.instagram.com/nabalo.
