My Teacher ~ Dr. Vasant Lad
Vaidya Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A. Sc. was born in India and is a world renowned expert on Ayurvedic Medicine. He is the founder and director of the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico. Dr. Lad has dedicated his life to sharing the beauty and wisdom of Ayurveda in the United States and throughout the world. In 2017, The Doctor from India documentary film was released. It is a meditative portrait of Dr. Lad’s life work. I highly recommend this film.
At age 19, I was guided to go and study with Dr. Lad in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Site unseen, I moved from Seattle to the southwest, with an inner knowing so deep, I had to follow it. When I arrived that first day and met Dr. Lad and sat in class with my fellow students, my life began to steer in a different direction. Every part of me knew that I was on my path, with the right teacher. Dr. Lad continues to teach us so many gems of wisdom. One thing I have heard him repeat often in class is, “I’m not teaching you what to think, I’m teaching you the art of how to think.” This is the gift of a true teacher.
I have been blessed to study Ayurveda with Dr. Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute and in Pune India. My colleagues and I hosted Dr. Lad at Bastyr University in the Seattle area for 14 years. We feel fortunate to have been able to share him with the northwest community. Dr. Lad has also authored countless books on the subject of Ayurveda. You can find out more about Dr. Lad and the Ayurvedic Institute HERE.
You can access Dr. Lad’s Free Friday night archived lectures HERE.
Other Noteworthy Teachers
My first teachers and guides are my parents, Rudy and Elizabeth Kruse. I am forever grateful for their unconditional love, wisdom and support, for all areas of my life.
Other teachers who have touched my life in profound ways: Dr. N.V. Krishnamurthy and Dr. Poornima Krishnamurthy of AyurPrajna, Mysore India, Dr. Nagendra of the Vivekananda Kendra, Bangalore, Dr. Sundara Rao of Bangalore, Jaisri Lambert, Dr. Sarita Shrestha, Betheyla Anuradha, Will Foster and K.P. Khalsa.