Aparna Amy Lewis has been a dedicated student of Acharya Shunya since 2009. She earned the title of Vaidya Bhushana, (Ayurvedic Clinical Practitioner), after completing 5 year studies from Vedika Global’s School of Ayurveda in the year 2013. Aparna's private clinical practice focuses on Ayurveda Psychology and Vedic Counseling.
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Aparna has studied Vedanta, Yoga and allied Vedic source texts under Acharya Shunya in a traditional gurukulam manner and has special affinity with the Advaitan works and commentaries of Adi Shankaracharya, including Tattva Bodha, Viveka Chudamani and the Bhagavad Gita.
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Aparna has supported Acharya Shunya's mission of Empowering Health and Elevating Consciousness in many ways, both at the Awakened Self Foundation and its affiliated non-profit organization, Vedika Global, and in the larger world community. She has served as the Dean of Acharya Shunya’s Vedic Studies Program (2014 to 2018), Facilitator of Acharya Shunya's online Global Satsang (2018-2020), and Adjunct Faculty member at both organizations (2014 - 2021).
She has also coordinated Acharya Shunya’s community celebrations of the Goddess for over a decade, helping to develop and teach the “Honor the Goddess Within” retreat and online course. Aparna currently serves as a Board Member at Vedika Global, and Vedic Educator at Awakened Self Foundation.
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Aparna has compiled, edited, and written about many of Acharya Shunya’s Ayurveda, Yoga, Vedanta, and Vedic teachings in articles, blogs, and course materials. She is currently writing a book based upon Acharya Shunya’s Vedanta teachings titled “Starting Your Spiritual Path - The Sadhana Chatushtayam”. This book highlights the Vedic Four-Fold Qualifications for Self Enquiry and supports sincere discipleship. Aparna regularly writes and moderates for the Awakened Self Foundation social media accounts. Aparna is honored to share her teachers' message of hope and healing with the public in forums such as the Yoga Unify Ethics Council, Sedona Yoga Festival, NAMA conference, The Forest Bathing Institute (UK), Women’s Healing Conference.
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In addition to her Vedic Counseling and Educating, Aparna has over 20 years of practicing and teaching holistic healthcare including Somatic Processing, Trauma Informed Body Work, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Esalen Massage Therapy, and Reiki Energy Healing. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband of 25 years, 2 cats and 1 dog.
Aparna believes that there is no better goal than to know the Self, and no better gift than to have a qualified teacher to guide a seeker of truth. In Acharya Shunya, Aparna feels she has found that teacher; in Advaita Vedanta, Jnana Yoga and Ayurveda, she found that truth; and in Karma Yoga she found the path.
She can be reached at aparna@awakenedself.com
