At The Raj, personalized Ayurvedic care is guided by an experienced team of Ayurvedic physicians, health experts, researchers, and medical professionals with extensive training in Maharishi Ayurveda, Panchakarma, and Ayurvedic Pulse Assessment.
Our experts bring together traditional Ayurvedic knowledge, decades of clinical experience, education and research, and a shared commitment to individualized care. Each guest’s recommendations are based on their unique constitution, current state of balance, health concerns, strength, and wellness goals.
Vaidya / Ayurvedic Health Expert
Mark Toomey has more than 30 years of experience in Maharishi Ayurveda and has worked with leading Ayurvedic experts in India, Australia, and the United States. Since 2005, he has served as Director of Maharishi Ayurveda at The Raj, where he provides consultations, collaborates with visiting Ayurvedic physicians from India, and oversees The Raj’s Panchakarma programs.
Mark holds a Diploma in Ayurveda Consulting, a master’s degree in Maharishi Ayurveda, and a PhD in Physiology from Maharishi International University. His studies included clinical training in Maharishi Ayurveda and research conducted through the university’s Center for Natural Medicine and Prevention.
His extensive experience in Ayurvedic Pulse Assessment helps him develop highly personalized recommendations for each guest. These may include treatments, diet, herbal support, daily routine, and lifestyle practices based on the individual’s unique state of balance and imbalance.
Vaidya / Ayurvedic Health Expert
Vaidya Manohar Palakurthi is an Ayurvedic physician, educator, and internationally experienced expert in Maharishi Ayurveda and Maharishi Nadi Vigyan, the Ayurvedic science of pulse assessment. He trained with several of India’s most respected Ayurvedic authorities, including experts in herbal medicine, pulse diagnosis, and traditional Kerala Panchakarma practices.
Throughout his career, Vaidya Manohar has helped establish Panchakarma centers in the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia. He has worked as a clinical consultant, teacher, curriculum developer, and advisor to Ayurvedic institutions and product organizations in several countries. He has also presented lectures and professional seminars on Maharishi Ayurveda throughout the world.
His additional training includes Maharishi Aroma Therapy in France and Ayurvedic ophthalmology in Kerala. He was also one of the principal developers of the Maharishi Ayurveda Mother-Baby Program and has taught Ayurveda, physiology, and integrated health sciences at the university level.
Vaidya / Ayurvedic Health Expert
Śankari Wegman has been part of The Raj’s team of Ayurvedic experts since 2003. Her extensive experience in Ayurvedic Pulse Assessment provides the foundation for personalized wellness recommendations that may include Ayurvedic treatments, herbal support, nutrition, daily routine, and lifestyle practices.
Śankari has a lifelong interest in helping people understand their physiology and make choices that support greater balance, resilience, and wellbeing. Her multidisciplinary education includes studies in biology and pre-medical sciences, women’s studies, philosophy and bioethics, Maharishi Ayurveda, and physiology. This broad background allows her to consider both traditional Ayurvedic principles and contemporary perspectives on health.
She has also taught the Transcendental Meditation® technique for many years and has lectured on Ayurveda in educational settings throughout the United States. Her approach combines deep knowledge with practical guidance, helping guests apply the principles of Ayurveda in ways that are meaningful and sustainable in daily life.
Vaidya / Ayurvedic Health Expert
Amrita Shrivastava brings together modern medical science, Maharishi Ayurveda, and Consciousness-Based health care in her work as an Ayurvedic Health Expert at The Raj. Her academic background includes advanced study in medical biotechnology, molecular biology, human genetics, Maharishi Ayurveda, and integrative medicine.
In addition to her work with guests at The Raj, Amrita serves as Program Director for Ayurveda at Maharishi International University. Her experience in both modern science and Maharishi Vedic Science allows her to communicate the principles of Ayurveda with clarity while honoring the depth of its traditional knowledge.
Amrita comes from a family tradition of teachers of the Transcendental Meditation® technique and is herself a certified TM teacher. She has also completed advanced training in additional Maharishi Vedic technologies. Through her consultations, teaching, and research, she is dedicated to making Ayurveda practical, accessible, and relevant for people seeking greater balance and wellbeing in modern life.
Medical Director
Dr. Robert Schneider is Medical Director of The Raj’s Ayurvedic treatment programs and an internationally recognized physician-scientist, educator, and leader in integrative and preventive medicine. He has been involved in the clinical practice, teaching, and scientific study of Maharishi Ayurveda since 1984 and was among the first physicians in the United States to practice and research its comprehensive approach to health.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Schneider has directed or co-directed more than $25 million in grant-supported clinical research, including studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and other government agencies. His work has explored integrative and mind-body approaches to cardiovascular health, healthy aging, and chronic disease prevention, contributing to approximately 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
His research and expertise have been featured by major medical organizations and national media, including the American Heart Association, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, CNN, ABC News, and the Discovery Channel. He is also the author of Total Heart Health: How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease with the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health.
Dr. Schneider received his medical degree from Rutgers University Medical School and completed postgraduate training in internal medicine and hypertension at the University of Michigan. He is a specialist in preventive medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
Every Panchakarma retreat begins with an individualized Ayurvedic assessment and a program designed around your unique needs.
