About Us
The Ancient Healing Tradition of India in the Pristine Nature of Old Florida
At Rasayana Cove, we believe that wellness is the key to a happy and healthy life. As the first residential Ayurvedic retreat in the USA, we have been committed to promoting the ancient tradition of Ayurveda in Central Florida since 1995.
Classical Ayurveda embraces eight branches of medicine: surgery, internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, toxicology, otolarygology, virilization, and rejuvenation. The latter is called Rasayana in Sanskrit, the original language of Ayurvedic science. Rasa refers to "essence," "flavor, "taste", "emotion", or "juice.". As a therapeutic process it is concerned with the conservation, transformation, and revitalization of energy. This traditional approach to diet, daily regime, and herbal oil treatments provides the model for the rejuvenation program at Rasayana Cove.
Our clients have reported such physical improvements as lower blood pressure, reduction in cases of chronic pain due to arthritis, sciatica, lumbago, and fibromyalgia, as well as weight loss in cases of obesity, weight-gain in cases of emaciation, improved bowel and bladder function, relief from chronic fatigue and insomnia, improved hepatic enzyme count, and a renewed enthusiasm for life.
Julia Mader
Julia Shyama Mader embodies the Ayurvedic lifestyle with the familiarity of one raised in the tradition. From 1972 until 1979 Julia lived in India, concentrating her time in the ancient pilgrimage town of Purl, Orissa, living with a Bengali family, and in Almora in the Himalayas. During this time she received private tutelage from Hindu scholars and assimilated the ways of the Indian people, especially the art of cooking.
After a decade of homesteading in her native Canada she returned to South India with her husband, Dinesh, to study Ayurveda. This study program lasted 11 months over 2 trips and included personalized experiential research, study, and treatments in a number of the Ayurvedic clinics of Kerala. It was there that Julia learned the mysteries of herbalized oils and how they are applied to suit the individualized needs of the recipient.
After returning to North America The Maders moved their Ayurvedic center from Ontario to the woods of central Florida. Julia amalgamates her extensive training in Polarity and Massage therapy with her years of study in Ayurveda, and her university graduate training in psychology and family dynamics. She offers nurturing and gentleness to everyone seeking retreat at Rasayana Cove. In determining the details of these treatments she is specific in honoring the traditions of Ayurveda as it is practiced in India.
Dinesh mader
Dinesh Mader contributes his experience and background in massage therapy, yoga, Ayurveda, and a long-standing love of nature, the Healing Mother. Dinesh began a modest practice of physical yoga after college and a tour of duty in the Peace Corps in north Africa. He then worked as a rural health planner for the Appalachian Regional Commission, but left the boardroom to pursue a life of renunciation and self-sufficiency in the woods of Canada. In 1984 his quest for self-healing led him to the renowned Ayurvedic master, Dr. Vasant Lad, and the Ayurvedic Institute. There he also met Dr. Robert Svoboda, Ayurvedic author and scholar, and served as his promoter in the Toronto area for the following five years. Their activities included a number of workshops in remote settings in the Canadian wilderness.
In 1991 he and Julia made the first of three trips to India to study at the International Institute of Ayurveda and research the proper administration of Pancha Karma treatments. This lead to the conception of Rasayana Cove, an Ayurvedic healing retreat in a natural setting.
He is a writer, lecturer, licensed massage therapist, and initiate in Tantra Yoga. His life is devoted to serving others seeking a life of balance and self-realization. He is presently drafting a work on his 1998 pilgrimage to the source of the holy river Ganga in the Himalayan mountains.
CIARA MCKINZIE
Ciara McKinzie is a Massage Therapist & Ayurvedic Health Counselor and her mission is to help you return to your true state of wellness.
Ciara worked on a cruise ship, lived in Hawaii, and spent a great amount of time hiking and backpacking out west. It was then that she realized she wanted to use her hands to help others heal through massage therapy and energy work. Ciara followed her dream of becoming a massage therapist and obtained her license from the Fortis Institute in Towson, Maryland. She completed her yoga teacher training at Heartwood Institute in Bradenton, Florida, which helped her to further her healing journey. She worked at a spa before creating her own successful practice.
Ciara is passionate about the ancient practice of Ayurveda, and is licensed with an Ayurvedic Health Counseling Certification. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help others on their journeys to wellness.
larissa kozij
Larissa Kozij holds a degree in Biochemistry and was previously a director at an educational publishing company. Her journey in meditation led her to travel through Japan, Hong Kong, Nepal, and India, and to live in Thailand and Indonesia, where she deepened her practice. She is writing a book and designing a game to share the benefits of meditation.
Larissa blends scientific knowledge with profound meditative experience. This teacher includes a variety of meditation practices to help you connect with your inner self. She believes that everyone has the power to find tranquility and develop the insight that will enable them to pursue their best life.
Jennica jackson
Jennica Jackson is the Master Chef at Rasayana Cove, where she blends her culinary expertise with a deep connection to nature. Holding a degree in Hospitality from the University of South Florida in Tampa/Sarasota, she has over a decade of experience working in restaurants and catering across the country, from Florida to Oregon.
Jennica specializes in creating garden-to-table cuisine, passionately sourcing local, organic, and in-season ingredients to craft dishes that celebrate harmony with the natural world. Her culinary approach integrates the principles of Ayurveda, thoughtfully tailoring meals to individual doshas to support balance and well-being.
Whether catering a bespoke event or preparing nourishing retreat menus, Jennica's dedication to wholesome, nature-inspired cuisine continues to delight and inspire those she serves.
Yamesun night bey
Yamesun Night Bey is the Master Gardener and Herbalist of Rasayana Cove. With 13 years of farming and gardening experience, he is dedicated to sustainable agriculture and fostering harmony with nature. Yamesun specializes in biodynamic farming, following lunar cycles to cultivate thriving farms that align with the rhythms of the Earth. He enjoys building food forests, transforming landscapes into lush, edible ecosystems brimming with fruit trees and nourishing plants.
As the co-founder of Wild Soul Herb Farm, Yamesun crafts seed-to-product herbal remedies, including tinctures, teas, salves, and custom formulations. Rooted in a village-community mindset, he aims to create resilient, interconnected communities that celebrate abundance and coexistence with the natural world.