Health Institute Australasia Alumni
Meet some of our amazing alumni
HIA ALUMNI INTRODUCTION BY SHANTI GOWANS
Radiate brightly, and be the mirror that reflects and amplifies the light in others
Health Institute Australasia is welcoming and accepting of people from diverse backgrounds and identities, and we strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all.
With deep gratitude, we acknowledge the Gurus of HIA Ayurvedic Studies
Reflecting on the ability to combine Yoga, Meditation, and Ayurveda over the past 54 years fills me with immense gratitude. More than a collection of wellness practices, this is a living tradition passed from teacher to student. At Health Institute Australia (HIA), our educational programs, clinics, treatments, meals, cooking classes, produce garden, and retreats are built on Vedic knowledge lived, practiced, and passed down over generations.
I am truly humbled to share this transformative wisdom with you, but I have not done it alone. HIA has thrived through the collaborative efforts of BAMS-trained Ayurvedic Doctors (Vaidyas) from India and the dedication of everyone who has invested in this vision.
We owe our foundation to several key figures:
Professor Dr. P.H. Kulkarni
(1935–2024)
Guided by his efforts 30+ years ago, HIA began offering Ayurveda as a vocational choice in Australia. A highly renowned Ayurveda Lokguru and research guide, he authored over 90 books on holistic health and Indian medical sciences. We honour him as our foundational lecturer and mentor, and we continue to use his textbooks in our curriculum.
Guided by his efforts 30+ years ago, HIA began offering Ayurveda as a vocational choice in Australia. A highly renowned Ayurveda Lokguru and research guide, he authored over 90 books on holistic health and Indian medical sciences. We honour him as our foundational lecturer and mentor, and we continue to use his textbooks in our curriculum.
Dr. Swapnil Dashpute
We are deeply indebted to Dr. Dashpute for his eternal dedication to Ayurveda, his push for excellence, and his collaborative, inspiring association with our teachers.
B.A.M.S ( Ayurvedacharya)- Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Pune
D.Y.A (Diploma in Yog Shastra & Ayurved) – Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth – Pune
PGDBA (Post Graduate Diploma Business Administration) – Symbiosis Institute of Distance Learning, Pune
PGDCC (Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Cosmetology) – Indian Institute of Aesthetic Medicine, Pune
FIIM (Fellow of Institute of Indian Medicine) – IIM, Pune
B.A.M.S ( Ayurvedacharya)- Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Pune
D.Y.A (Diploma in Yog Shastra & Ayurved) – Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth – Pune
PGDBA (Post Graduate Diploma Business Administration) – Symbiosis Institute of Distance Learning, Pune
PGDCC (Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Cosmetology) – Indian Institute of Aesthetic Medicine, Pune
FIIM (Fellow of Institute of Indian Medicine) – IIM, Pune
Dr. Manish Patwardhan
A postgraduate Ayurvedic physician and consultant who has been teaching at HIA since 1996. His direction, strategy, mentorship, and kindness as our doctor-in-residence on the Gold Coast have made our journey incredibly joyful.
Dr. Shilpi Boseroy and Dr. Rani Samath (Kapde)
Both have been instrumental instructors for HIA, alongside numerous Ayurvedic clinics that collaborate with us to support our correspondence students.
Ultimately, our work is grounded in the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Vagbhata treatises—the seminal texts we use in our Australian government-accredited courses. Furthermore, at HIA we are proud to employ our graduates from our own courses as instructors, directly demonstrating the quality and employability of our graduates.
When I reflect on our team, I can’t go past thinking how awesome each member is. We each use our unique gifts to accelerate our shared vision for the world. We celebrate our differences and our commonalities. Our culture is purpose led, impact driven and values aligned.
Shaping this culture has been deliberate and is ongoing. In the past, I have been willing to accept skilled people who were not a comfortable fit in our culture. But I have learnt from the heartache that doing so causes, and I am protective of the culture we have created. Our culture is our brand. It’s how we show up in the world. It's how we mentor our students.
Our guiding drive is for all of our students to have a fulfilling life. Giving others the meaning they crave today is our team’s passion, and supporting each other’s genius is a high priority. In every endeavour, there are specific people who make life easier. They value what we do and why and how we do it. They put in the effort that is needed, on time, and happily. They are a pleasure to work with. They stick, for good, and rave about us to anyone and everyone who will listen. Meaning and purpose are magnetic. When we resonate together, life, despite its ups and downs, seems effortless… and the miracles begin.
This is why it brings me so much joy to acknowledge our alumni who now, each in their own lives and circumstances, are being their best, most impactful selves and doing good in the world by helping others thrive.
It is my greatest wish for you to be connected with your own brilliance. Radiate brightly, and be the mirror that reflects and amplifies the light in others.
With my unlimited blessings.
Shanti Gowans
When I reflect on our team, I can’t go past thinking how awesome each member is. We each use our unique gifts to accelerate our shared vision for the world. We celebrate our differences and our commonalities. Our culture is purpose led, impact driven and values aligned.
Shaping this culture has been deliberate and is ongoing. In the past, I have been willing to accept skilled people who were not a comfortable fit in our culture. But I have learnt from the heartache that doing so causes, and I am protective of the culture we have created. Our culture is our brand. It’s how we show up in the world. It's how we mentor our students.
Our guiding drive is for all of our students to have a fulfilling life. Giving others the meaning they crave today is our team’s passion, and supporting each other’s genius is a high priority. In every endeavour, there are specific people who make life easier. They value what we do and why and how we do it. They put in the effort that is needed, on time, and happily. They are a pleasure to work with. They stick, for good, and rave about us to anyone and everyone who will listen. Meaning and purpose are magnetic. When we resonate together, life, despite its ups and downs, seems effortless… and the miracles begin.
This is why it brings me so much joy to acknowledge our alumni who now, each in their own lives and circumstances, are being their best, most impactful selves and doing good in the world by helping others thrive.
It is my greatest wish for you to be connected with your own brilliance. Radiate brightly, and be the mirror that reflects and amplifies the light in others.
With my unlimited blessings.
Shanti Gowans
EUNICE ARDENWOOD
JULIANNE BLACK
LINDA BAILEY (Clunes, NSW, Australia)
EWA BARTKOWIAK (Oslo, Norway)CATHERINE BOITEUX (Gold Coast, Australia)
TRISH BIANCO (Hawaii)
DEBBY BOSHOFF
IVAN BOSHOFF
IVAN BOSHOFF
DAMIEN BRIDGER
LOUISE BROOKES (Gold Coast, Australia)
LAUREL BUXTON (Melbourne, Australia)
DR ROBERT CAMPBELL (Melbourne, Australia)
TRISH CAMPBELL
JAN CLEASON
NICK COLLINS
DR DOUG COWARD (USA)
HILARY ELFLETT
HARRIETT EPSTEIN
PAULA NANAL ESCARTIN
CARISSA PUTRIZANDRA FINNEREN
SUE GREEN (Gold Coast, Australia)
KIM HAWKINS (Batemans Bay, Australia)
LOUISE HALL (Gold Coast, Australia)
AARON HOOPES (USA)
AARON HOOPES (USA)
CORAL LARKE (NSW)
JOYCE LAWSON (Australia)
JOYCE LAWSON (Australia)
LINDA LEAH (Melbourne, Australia)
DAVID LENEMAN
DAIANE LIMA
ROSWITHA LIPSTINE
VALENTINA LONDONO (VIC, Australia)
AYA M. (Japan)
AYA M. (Japan)
PAM MACASEY
ANNE MACCALLUM
ANNE MACCALLUM
LYN MOORE (Australia)
ANNE PORET MANWA
TANYA MCFARLAND (Australia)
CAITLIN MCGRATH
CAITLIN MCGRATH
DR SHANE MCIVER
LYNANNE MCKENZIE (Gold Coast, Australia)
MELANIE ANNE ROBINSON
MARILILIS MOLDER
JOELLE MOORE
MELISSA KENNEDY
KATERINA KVAPILOVA
CHRIS MORROW
PATRICIA MOSS
KAREN OAKLEY (Melbourne, Australia)
BRYCE OTT
OLIVIA OVERS
CAROL JOY PEARSON
HELEN PERKINS
MALGOSIA PLEJEWSKA-SUSZKO (South Australia)
DANIELLE PRITCHARD (Melbourne, Australia)
PRIYA
MARK QUIRK
NICOLE RICHARDSON
KELLI ROSE
FABIO SANCHEZ
FRANCESCA SCIATTELLA
VENETIA SCOTT
JENNY SHAVIVREBECCA SINCLAIR (Sydney, Australia)
DENISE STATHIS
CON STATHIS
SONIA MIRANA STAUDER (Gold Coast, Australia)
ANNE STEPHANY
CHERYL ANNE STUBBS (Gold Coast, Australia)
HILARY SULLIVAN (Gold Coast,Australia)
JOCELYN THOMPSON (Brisbane, Australia)
ALKA TYLE
VALLI
CAROLINE VON PYPEN
ALISON VERBRUGGEN
MANUELA VASQUEZ
ARTHUR VASSILOU (Melbourne, Australia)
CHRIS VILLIERS (Melbourne, Australia)
ROXANNE WILLIAMS (Gold Coast, Australia)
ALANA WILSON (USA)
Testimonials
Past and present students tell how they feel about studying at HIA
"What a gift Shanti Yoga is to my mind and body! I feel so much calmer and clearer, grounded and free. Thank you to all the teachers here."
"Shanti Yoga was a life-changer for me. I'm humbled by my ability to have manifested this time. Shanti yoga teachings and the community they offered me was so refreshing and useful in my personal growth."
"Shanti Yoga is just amazing. It feels like growing and growing and growing! The environment with all of the students and teachers is nourishing on any possible level life has to offer. The exchanges with all of us are deeply touching and allowing vulnerability. Here you may be with everything that's there without any judgements. I love our philosophical group discussions. They help shifting perspectives, mirroring, understanding, feeling and - simply - living."
"Shanti yoga with Shantiji is just an increadible experience, and for me absolutely one of the greatest gifts that I could have ever gifted myself. A place where I have learned to connect with my deepest core. Being able to be vulnerable, Together sharing life experiences, And creating unforgetable memories. I am immensly grateful for this Yoga journey, a journey of a lifetime."
"I have found a safe and beautiful place at Health Institute Australasia. These almost two years of studies have changed me for the better, I have learned and grown incredibly much. I feel so grateful to be here and have the experience of receiving all the teaching from Shantiji, an exceptional human being, and from all the beautiful staff that makes this an amazing place to meet delightful people."
"I never knew yoga could be so deep until I entered this school. I am learning important life lessons, not only in my qualifications and fitness, but also in my mindset and spirituality."
"I've been six months studying at Shanti Yoga and it has been a discovery journey for me. I feel just grateful because I found this place where I can be and know myself better while sharing with warm-hearted people. The learnings at Shanti Yoga are deep and profoundly awakening, I would say is the perfect place to study Yoga not only for the practice itself but for the holistic and spiritual perspective."
"I’m so happy that I chose to study in Health Institute Australasia with Shanti. The year of study gave me so much, much more than I expected initially. The knowledge shared was really deep and helped me to find my inner peace and steps that are leading towards self-realisation."
"I have been studying Yoga at HIA since 2017. This Yoga school has become a sanctuary for me, where I can regularly practice this discipline that is close to my heart. In particular, what I liked is that they teach classical yoga derived from hatha yoga, Marrying the principles of the 8 limbs of yoga, from the Sutras of Patanjali. They are complete theoretical and practical courses, studied to give an enriching experience in the world of Yoga, so essential for a yoga training."