About Joanna Webber
I'm a fully qualified Ayurvedic Practitioner with a BSc in Ayurveda (Manipal, India, First Class Honours) as well as a Hatha Yoga teacher, with over 20 years experience. I co-founded The Ayurvedic Academy, a leading provider of Ayurvedic education. I've also recently qualified an integrative counsllor (BACP).
​
Ayurveda
​
My formal journey into Ayurveda began with a four-year Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and internship at Manipal University, where I graduated with first class honours. I then undertook a practicum at Alvas College in Moodbidri, Karnataka, under the guidance of Dr Aithal, followed by time with Dr Ganshyam Marde in his Pune clinic. I completed my internship with Dr Partap Chauhan, founder of Jiva Ayurveda, New Delhi. I've also trained with Sascha and Rebecca Kriese, co-founders of Ayuseva and Dr Vasant Lad. I've been a full member of the Ayurvedic Professionals Association for over 20 years.
​
Yoga
​
I've been teaching for over 20 years having completed the Advanced Yoga teacher training qualification with Sivananda Yoga. I'm also quliafied in:​ Yoga therapy for lower back pain (Yoga Biomedical Trust); Pregnancy Yoga (Uma Dinsmore Tuley) and Ayurvedic Yoga (Mukunda Stiles). I love to weave these sister sciences together to support a more integrated approach to health.
​
Foraging
​
As well as studing and prescribing Ayurvedic herbs, I've completed the foundation course in Western Herbalism from Heartwood College. I'm a self-taught forager, having gained much experience leading Pukka Herbs' Herbal Education and Wellbeing strategy for 6 years in a Senior Leadership role, which included Project managing an advocacy programme to get herbs and spices recognised on the UK Government’s Eat Well guidance. I'm now the UK brand ambassador for Yogi Tea. ​
Prior education and experience​
​
I completed a Masters in Human Sciences at Oxford University and worked in corporate social responsibility and ethical investment. I have a Post graduate Certificate in Education, and feel strongly about making diet, lifestyle and herbal advice more readily available, so people of all ages can make informed and empowered choices for themselves. I live in Somerset with my family, lots of animals and spend all my spare time foraging and growing food and herbs.​
“Ayurveda is about living in connection with ourselves, as well as our daily and seasonal rhythms — something the rest of nature and all other species manage to do without even thinking about it! I love that this becomes a creative dance as nothing is ever still, and we must constantly adapt to thrive, especially around spring and autumn when the seasons change, leaving us a little vulnerable. It is about having the knowledge to live the best life you can. And fulfilling your true potential (dharma) and enjoying yourself on this journey of discovery as to why you are on this planet at this time.” (from an interview of Joanna with Jasmine Hemsley, read full interview here)
Keep in touch! Sign up for seasonal wellbeing tips, foraging updates and recipes
My journey to becoming an Ayurvedic practitioner
​
My yoga journey began when I was 19 years old. It kept be sane whilst at Oxford University, a very stressful environment! I spent the next 10 years exploring various Schools of Yoga. After 5 years working in finance, as an ethical investment analyst, I was exhausted and quit to explore alternative ways to work. I had set up yoga classes for stressed city workers which I really enjoyed so I trained as a Sivananda Hatha yoga teacher in the Austrian Alps, which have a similar feel to the Himalayas. I’ve never looked back and love teaching in different environments such as drug rehabilitation projects, festivals, companies, health clubs, children’s groups as well as my own home where I often serve up an Ayurvedic thali afterwards for “Yoga Supper Club” or at the very least, a chai and an energy ball.
​
My interest in Ayurveda was awakened as a tourist in Kerala in 1999, where I visited a very old doctor in a sleepy backstreet. He asked no questions but held my wrist and read my pulse. To say I was amazed by what he could tell from my pulse is an understatement and I made a commitment to study Ayurveda in the future. It was a very moving experience as he also ready my friend’s pulse and correctly said she had cancer, and correctly indicated the area of the body, but that there were no longer any cancer cells in her body. This has turned out to be true as she has been in remission ever since.​
It took a few years more but I eventually studied Ayurveda with Manipal University. I am truly indebted to all my teachers along the way, and indeed future teachers as Ayurveda is a lifelong journey. I have especially enjoyed studying with Sascha and Rebecca Kriese of Ayuseva, who have been instrumental in me setting up my practice. Though I’m most especially grateful to the old vaidya (doctor) in the Keralan backwater, whose name I do not know.
​
Ethics and sustainability
I aim to be socially and environmentally responsible, embracing inclusivity in all I do. I use organic oils massage oils. I donate 10% of my annual profit to a range of environmental charities.
