Thryv with CAAM - 2026 Business Workshop

A 10-Week Business Accelerator for Aspiring and Seasoned Practitioners

You have the passion and the expertise to heal. Now, let's build the thriving, sustainable business you envision. This comprehensive 10-week program is designed specifically for Ayurvedic wellness professionals like you. We provide the step-by-step blueprint to transform your knowledge into a legally sound, professionally marketed, and ethically run practice.

Course Timings:

January 11th - March 15th, 2026

Sundays, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM PST

Course Cost:

Members: $120.00

Non- Members: $200.00

Course Details

  • Are you a recent graduate or currently practicing Ayurveda on the side, ready to formalize your business but unsure where to start? Navigating the choices between a Sole Proprietorship, LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, or Non-Profit can be confusing.

    This interactive class is designed for you. We will break down the pros and cons of each entity, providing the clarity you need to make an informed decision. Come with your questions—this session will be a collaborative deep dive into building a solid foundation for your business.

Class 1 – Jan 11, 2026- Vish Chatterji

Class 2 - Jan 18th, 2026- Anupama Kizhakkeveettil

  • Build a strong foundation for your business from the very start. This class will guide you through the must-know legal requirements—from business formation to liability insurance—so you can launch with confidence and protect your future. Start smart, and avoid costly overhauls later!

Class 3 – Jan 25th, 2026- Sandhiya Ramaswamy

  • Pricing is one of the most critical and personal components of your business model, as it is deeply influenced by your specific niche, target clientele, and service delivery method—including the decision to incorporate a sliding scale. To define your strategy, begin by asking foundational questions: Are you building a full-time practice or operating on the side, and what specific services will you offer, such as one-on-one consultations, group packages, or speaking engagements? With this clarity, you can then explore various pricing models tailored to your goals, including package pricing, membership or subscription plans, tiered offerings, group programs and workshops, or supplemental product sales.

Class 4 – Feb 8th, 2026 - Jessica Scharer

  • Your brand is the soul of your business, a vital identity that goes far beyond a simple logo. These two sessions are designed to help you clarify and powerfully communicate this identity by defining your core values, unique voice, and visual presence. The journey begins with a Brand Core Deck, where we will solidify the foundational elements of your mission, values, personality, and market positioning. We will then bring this core to life through a Visual Identity Deck, a practical guide to exploring typography, color palettes, logos, and imagery, ensuring a cohesive and professional look across all platforms.

Class 5 – Feb 22nd - Lisa Mistry-Ghatala

  • In this session, you will be guided through foundational marketing strategies to grow your audience and attract your ideal clients. You will learn how to define your client avatar—understanding exactly who you are speaking to and their core pain points—and then establish 3-4 key content pillars to create consistent, focused content without the overwhelm. You will learn practical lead generation techniques to convert followers into paying clients, including effective calls-to-action, free opt-in ideas for building your email list, and SEO basics for blogs and local clientele. The session will also delve into essential business tools, from digital platforms for scheduling and customer management to cost-effective design software like Canva for creating professional graphics. Finally, you will cover the critical role of in-person marketing essentials, such as professionally printed business cards and brochures, which build trust, reinforce your brand, and leave a lasting impression on potential clients.

  • Have you ever wondered how to successfully set up your Ayurveda clinic? Establishing a professional workflow from the start is the key to a sustainable business, as streamlining client management will free up your time to focus on what truly matters: growing your practice and providing excellent client care. This involves building a solid backend with essential legal documents like waivers and consent forms, adopting secure, HIPAA-compliant software for records and communication, and integrating reliable payment processing tools. You'll also learn to maintain organized records and implement customer retention strategies to keep clients engaged. Furthermore, we will explore how to scale your business by envisioning future growth, such as hiring a manager or collaborating with other wellness professionals.

Class 6 – March 1st, 2026- Manju Kolli

  • From Sourcing to Selling: A Practical Guide to Herbs

    This session offers a comprehensive overview of the herbal product lifecycle—grounded in Ayurveda, aligned with legal compliance, and rooted in sustainable business practices. From soil to shelf, you will gain clarity on how to ethically and legally work with herbs, beginning with the critical importance of sourcing high-quality, ethically harvested ingredients from reputable suppliers. We will guide you through establishing rigorous quality control and laboratory testing to ensure purity and potency, followed by best practices for processing, handling, and packaging to preserve integrity and meet strict labeling requirements, including California's Proposition 65. The session also demystifies the legal landscape, covering federal and state regulations, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and liability protection. Finally, we will explore how to build a trustworthy brand and effectively market and sell your products, empowering you to navigate the entire journey with confidence and professionalism.

Class 7 - March 8th, 2026 - Jayagopal Parla

  • This final session offers a unique opportunity to gain wisdom from a panel of seasoned practitioners who have walked the path before you. Through a blend of lived experience and honest insight, they will share the defining successes and stumbles of building a wellness business, offering real-world lessons on everything from their initial entry into the field to their strategies for evolution and growth. The discussion will provide crucial peer-to-peer learning on practical challenges like time management and setting boundaries, especially for those juggling other commitments. The session will also serve as a program conclusion, recapping the essential pillars of establishing your business—from structure and branding to legal compliance and ethical client care—and will end with a dedicated Q&A to clarify any remaining questions.

Class 8 – March 15th, 2026

Register for the Business Workshop

Meet the Speakers


  • Founder

    Vish Chatterji is the author of The Business Casual Yogi: Take Charge of Your Body, Mind & Career and the newly released Astrology Decoded: The Secret Science of India's Sages, through Mandala Publishing. He is an accomplished business leader turned executive coach with a twenty-year executive career. As a corporate leader, he managed $2B global vehicle platforms for DaimlerChrysler, created a $200M division at Belkin, led product innovation at Universal Electronics resulting a five-fold increase in stock price, and bootstrapped a tech startup to early revenue.

    In parallel to his leadership career, he has studied the Indian Wisdom Traditions for the past two decades. Vish now coaches business leaders blending Western management with Eastern wisdom, and teaches on a variety of topics at the intersection of leadership, well-being and spirituality. He helps people find light in their work through the wisdom of his ancestors, leveraging the traditions of Yoga, Meditation, Ayurveda, Vedic Philosophy, and Jyotish (Vedic Astrology). His coaching practice, Head & Heart Insights counsels clients across the globe, and he serves as a Faculty Coach and Educator for the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute at UC Berkeley.

    Vish holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University, an MBA from University of Michigan and an Executive Coach certification from UC Berkeley. He completed his yoga teacher training at Anand Prakash Ashram, Rishikesh and completed teaching certifications in Ayurveda & Meditation at Chopra Global. He also completed Dr. David Frawley's 300-hour Ayurvedic Astrology course and Dr. Suhas Kshirsagar's courses in Vedic Counseling and Vedic Medical Astrology. He has also held publicly elected office overseeing the Beach Cities Health District in Los Angeles California.

    He was born in the bustling city of Hong Kong to Indian parents, has traveled to over fifty countries, and can get by in seven languages. He currently resides in Redondo Beach, California, within a bike ride to the Pacific Ocean. He is a married father of three and is often found cooking with the family, working in the garden, and tinkering in the garage!

  • Vaidya Anupama Kizhakkeveettil, BAMS, MAOM, L.Ac., C-IAYT, FAIHM, PhD  is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, a licensed acupuncturist, professor, researcher, and the founding Program Director of the Ayurvedic Medicine program at Southern California University of Health Sciences. She is also a certified yoga therapist and holds a PhD in Public Health, with a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine. Vaidya Anupama is the co-founder of Athreya Herbs, a US-based Ayurvedic herbs company, and the Athreya Ayurvedic Integrative Health Center. Her contributions to the field of complementary and alternative medicine are extensive, including travel to more than ten countries to promote Ayurveda, numerous research presentations at national and international conferences, and publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has served as Co-Principal Investigator and advisor for NIH-funded research studies, and has received several awards for her work in Ayurveda and complementary medicine. Vaidya Anu was invited to attend the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Expert Consulting Meetings in 2019 and 2020. She also served as a reviewer for the WHO ICD-11 Traditional Medicine Beta Draft for Ayurvedic Medicine. As a passionate advocate for the Ayurvedic profession, she serves on the board of directors for the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine (CAAM), the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), and the Ayurvedic Accreditation Commission (AAC). She has previously served six years on the Action Board of the American Public Health Association (APHA), coordinating grassroots and grasstops advocacy activities. She is currently the chair of the APHA's Integrative Complementary and Traditional Health Practices (ICTHP) Section.

  • Sandhiya Ramaswamy has been spreading “the gospel of Ayurveda” for 15 years, through her wellness platform Alchemy Ayurveda. She is an Ayurveda health & lifestyle coach, a faculty member at Ayurveda schools, an inspiring Ayurveda plant-based chef and curator of bespoke spiritual retreats to India. Prior to her wellness career, she spent many years in the corporate world. Her well-rounded perspective makes her approach to Ayurveda pragmatic, relatable, joyful and most importantly, very effective.

    Sandhiya is passionate about making Ayurveda accessible and available to everybody.

    She serves as the Chair of the Fundraising committee and the Co-Chair of the Events committee at CAAM.

  • Jessica Garcia-Scharer is Compadre’s production lead, specializing in streamlining internal processes and communication to ensure a smooth client experience. 

    With over 20 years of experience in the creative industry, she has held key roles in production management across entertainment, sports, and brand marketing, giving her a deep understanding of how strategy, storytelling, and visual identity come together to create impactful brands.

    In addition to her creative leadership, Jessica is a certified Ayurvedic Health Counselor and has served on the board of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine as Marketing and Communications Committee Chair. 

    She brings her branding and business development expertise to CAAM’s professional education programs, teaching Ayurveda practitioners how to translate their vision into simple, effective brands that reflect their unique purpose—without unnecessary complexity or cost.

  • Lisa Mistry-Ghatala is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and founder of SOMA Lifestyles, an Ayurvedic lifestyle brand that empowers people to reconnect with their heritage and embrace the natural rhythms of life. With over 17 years of marketing experience in Silicon Valley and a deep understanding of Ayurveda, nutrition, and herbalism, Lisa guides individuals toward physical, mental, and spiritual balance. Based in the Bay Area, where she was born and raised, she is passionate about helping others live in harmony with nature.

    As a board member of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, Lisa oversees the Marketing Committee, leading efforts to raise public awareness of Ayurveda and deepen its understanding across California. Lisa’s mission aligns with CAAM’s mission to promote and expand the reach of Ayurveda, ensuring it remains accessible, relevant, and impactful in today’s world.

  • Manju Kolli is an NAMA Certified Ayurvedic Doctor and a clinical Pharmacist based out of San Francisco, Bay Area. She is the founding director of Ayurhitam, an Ayurvedic wellness clinic. She brings a unique voice to the field with her past career as a clinical pharmacist and her dedication to demonstrate clinical effectiveness of Ayurveda in our times.

    A mother of two boys, she is a native of India and has lived in the United States for the past 22 years. Her keen interest in protecting and preserving ancient Vedic culture has led her to build and flourish her Ayurvedic practice and volunteer for multiple organizations.

  • Professor Jayagopal Parla, BAMS, MD (Ayu), is an internationally recognized educator and practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine and Yoga therapy. He is the Founder and Director of Athreya Ayurvedic Integrative Health Centre and the Founder and Vice President of Athreya Herbs, an American-based Ayurvedic herbal company. As a dedicated educator, he serves on the faculty of several institutions, including Southern California University of Health Sciences (where he also earned a Master's in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), Mount Madonna College of Ayurveda, and the Japan School of Ayurvedic Medicine. He further promotes the field globally as a frequent speaker at international conferences.

  • Jeremy Ann Anderson is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist with nearly 20 years of experience as a student, practitioner, and educator, dedicated to training the next generation of Ayurvedic professionals. Through her private practice, Inspired Life Ayurveda, she offers 1:1 consultations, mentorship, international retreats, and leads a healing collective for women with chronic inflammation. Guided by a deep belief that true wellness comes from aligning with the rhythms of nature, Jeremy Ann’s passion for Ayurveda and commitment to education align seamlessly with CAAM’s mission to promote and expand the reach of Ayurveda across California.

  • Anushree is a multi-faceted professional. Her credentials and experience range from Yoga, Reiki, Ayurveda to Master’s degrees in Computer Science and Teaching. She has worked as an engineer in the Silicon Valley and as a teacher in the public school system. In keeping with the quote, “It all makes sense in the end”, these are the experiences that she leans on to leverage in her current work as a 21st century health care professional donning several hats - educator, entrepreneur, holistic health advocate, guide, speaker and practitioner.

    “The Ayurvedic Life” that started in 2014 has transformed from being a website focused on the Ayurvedic perspective of food and lifestyle to her counseling practice in which she offers her clients holistic health plans, education and Ayurvedic therapies to enable and empower them to steer themselves back to their highest selves.

    Anushree chairs the Student Committee and leads the Clinical Immersions at CAAM.

  • Rakesh Balakrishnan is an engineer and MBA-turned-Ayurveda practitioner based in Pleasanton, CA, where he lives with his wife and two kids. With deep roots in Kerala, the land of Ayurveda, Rakesh actively collaborates with clinics there, promoting holistic health and well-being while balancing his passion for Ayurveda with his professional journey.

    Previously, he held mid-level executive roles in Fortune 10 companies before transitioning to Ayurveda. As a CAAM Board member, he leads the Membership Committee, working to expand and enrich the CAAM community experience.