Ayurveda Master Teacher

Gwen Nitya began her studies at Brigham Young University, where she majored in Recreational Management and Youth Leadership.  For her senior internship she created and directed Courage Reins, a therapeutic riding center for people with disabilities.  She is proud to say that Courage Reins is still running strong in Highland, UT, having served hundreds with disabilities since 1998.

After Courage Reins, Gwen's attention turned to raising her three daughters as a stay-at-home mom.  "I'll always treasure those seven years at home with my girls.  They have been my greatest teachers, inspiring me to better myself and humbling me to stay committed to that process!  It is because of them that I sought the healing that Ayurveda and Yoga brought to me.  I was, and am, determined to set the example for them of a Truth Seeker.  If they always seek for Truth in their life, then I know that they will have happiness and inner peace."

Gwen's real healing journey began in 1992 when she first read the book by Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Step.  It was the beginning of breath and inner awareness, which eventually led her to Yoga.

From the age of 13 to 33 Gwen suffered from chronic depression, and in 1997 she was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, the pain of which gave her many sleepless nights and a consistent state of "feeling old".  Practicing yoga helped Gwen survive, and it was a natural way to deal with the pain of her "condition".  But, it was not until she found Ayurveda and began to apply the tools and therapies to herself that a true and lasting release from her symptoms appeared.  From survival to thriving was the gift of applying both Yoga and Ayurveda.

In 2004, Gwen attended The Southern Institute for Yoga Instructors in Nashville, TN, where she studied with Betty Larsen and John Charping the Iyengar Method. "Yoga changed my life.  It calmed me.  It centered me.  It opened me up and brought flexibility into my life in more ways than one!  When I practiced Yoga I was happy.  When I didn't, my body and my spirit yearned for it.  When Yoga became part of my life, I was able to finally come home to myself."

Gwen's studies with SIYI introduced her to Ayurveda, the Sister Science to Yoga.  "I remember, when first introduced to Ayurveda, that I was amazed at how right on target the science was.  That's funny to me now, when I realize that if the sages can give us Yoga, a way to unite with the Divine within, then surely they could give us the path to wellness and vitality on this planet!"  In 2004, Gwen enrolled in the California College of Ayurveda.  She is currently seeing clients in Provo & Spanish Fork, UT as a Clinical Ayurvedic and Pancha Karma Specialist.

In 2008 Gwen joined an Ayurveda Gurukula, Vedika Global, and studied one year with Pratichi Mathur, the founding Ayurvedic Acharya.  Following the tradition of Vedic gurukula initiation, her "Shunyaji" (Pratichi) gave her the new spiritual name Nitya, which means Eternal in Sanskrit.  Gwen's healing and spiritual journey deepened immensely that year as she studied Ayurveda, Yoga Science and Vedanta - always seeking to discriminate between that which is Nitya (Eternal) and that which is Anitya (Impermanent).

"These past five years, having immersed myself in these ancient sciences, I have learned much about healing, harmony, and the path to wholeness and health.  I have applied the principles of Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta to my life and have witnessed personal healing and real change - body/mind/soul.  It's beautiful to me that powerful healing can occur with just very simple and profound natural healing tools and therapies.  My mission is the following:


On this journey with Ayurveda and Yoga, I have also discovered something very fundamental to balancing body/mind/soul – FOOD. We literally are what we eat and food is medicine. That is why I consider my partnership with Shedate to be an exciting addition to my mission. SuddhaRasa Wisdom is simply “The Wisdom of Ojas Increasing Foods.” (Ojas meaning Immunity Reservoir.)  As Ayurveda is a Living Science, I feel that incorporating this knowledge is completely dharmic - a service to all mankind.  As a modern day rishi, I must declare: Tathaastu! (So Be it)"