Ayurveda San Diego

Monica B Groover, PhD, CMT, RPYT, A.W.P
College Founder and Program Director

Dr Monica B Groover is the founding member of San Diego College of Ayurveda along with Pandit Atul Krishna Das. She received her doctorate from India, and, has also studied extensive Ayurveda under Guru Shishya Parampra, and specialized in Bhaishajya (Herbs), and, Panchakarma Treatments. Dr Groover is an Ayurvedic Childbirth and Post Partum Educator conducting women support workshops for pre natal, post partum, and menopausal women in Escondido California regularly. She also offers special Panchakarma Therapies.

Dr. Groover's research and articles have been published in India, as well as U.S. Her articles have been published in Light of Ayurveda Journal, and her curriculum has been used by Universities. Ms. Bhatia's was part of a committee for National Ayurveda Exam Development and educational standards for Ayurvedic Practitioner in USA.

Dr. Groover has her own Ayurveda and Panchakarma Wellness Center in San Diego. Ms. Groover has been a guest lecturer Hahn's School of Nursing, Bastyr University, Florida Vedic College, as well as Kerala Ayurveda Institute.

Dr Kirti Pingle, BAMS, Dr(Ayurveda). Dr Kirt Pingle is our Block 2 Program Director. She is an Ayurvedic Vaidya, specializing in Roga Nidana. Dr. Pingle received a gold medal from European Ayurveda Academy for her thesis on Diabetes. Dr. Pingle ranked first in MD. Roga Nidana from Bharati Vidya Peetha in Pune, India. Dr Pingle lives with her 2 year old son and her husband inin San Diego, CA. She is the co-editor for Dirghayu International Ayurvedic Journal from India. She is actively involved with Dr. Monica in spreading community awareness about Ayurveda in San Diego.

Dr Aparna Dandekar, D.O., AWP Dr. Aparna Dandekar received both her Bachelor’s of Arts in Sanskrit as well as her Bachelor’s of Science in Zoology from the University of Washington, Seattle (‘96). She received her doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA (‘02), and did her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles County Medical Center (‘05).Dr. Aparna Dandekar is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and graduated from San Diego College of Ayurveda as Ayurveda Wellness Practitioner. She practices Ayurveda in Oakland and offers Home Visits as well.
Contact Dr Aparna for a consultation in Oakland and San Francisco Area

Born into a family of Vedic tradition from Maharashtra, Dr. Aparna integrates the east and west to find holistic therapies for her patients. Dr Aparna teachers the Block 1 Foundation course for the college. She also enjoys reading ancient Sanskrit texts, as well as literature in the Indian languages of Marathi and Hindi.

Pandit. Atul Krishna Das

Director- Technical Support, and, Admissions

Pandit Atul Krishna Das is the co-founders of San Diego College of Ayurveda. A Vedanta pundit of Vaishnava Vedic Philosophy, Samkhya Philosophy and Sanskrit, Pundit Krishnaji has translated and edited a number of ancient Sanskrit texts including Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Sri Brahma Samhita, Hitopadesh, Origin of Ratha Yatra and various Stotrams. He is helping us translate Charaka Samhita word by word from Sanskrit and giving his own commentary. Pandit Atul Krishna teaches Samkhya, Manasa and Sanskrit for SDCOA.
His book on Samkhya philosophy will be published in 2012. Pandit Atul's been been published in the Light of Ayurveda Journal.

Leah E. Jones, BA, AWP Leah graduated San Diego College of Ayurveda as a NAMA recognized Ayurveda Wellness Practitioner. Leah's wellness practice incorporates the Practice of Ayurveda along with the Yoga Philosophy outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Sri Patanjali and the Therapies of TCM/Acupuncture to create a system of healing that is unique and all encompassing.

Along with seeing private clients, Leah Consults full time for a Licensed Acupuncturist and regularly for many other Holistic health practitioners, such as Massage Therapists, Yoga Teachers, Reiki Practitioners, and Holistic Doctors of Veterinary Medicine.