Jennifer Maklan
Āyurvedic PractitionerProfessional Bio
Jennifer Maklan is the founder of Chattanooga Ayurveda, a classical Āyurveda practice. She guides busy, over-worked professionals in holistic methods that improve their digestion and overall health, so they can live strong, travel easily, socialize comfortably and build meaningful relationships. She is not a medical provider.
Jennifer completed the Samudra Ayurvedic Physicians Program in March of 2023 and the Svastha Ācārya Certificate Program from ĀYU Academy in 2018, two leading Āyurveda education programs specializing in classical Āyurveda. She is trained in various Āyurvedic body therapies and has seen over 200 clients. Her undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of New Hampshire, 1999, lends perception, creativity and vision to her practice.
Jennifer has been living an Āyurvedic lifestyle since 1999. Professionally, she has been immersed in the field of Āyurveda since 2014. She founded and directed AyurvedaNextDoor.com which was later acquired by Transformative Learning Solutions, Pvt. Ltd., an international Āyurvedic skincare giant. At Transformative, she was promoted to Senior Manager of U.S. Operations to direct various online and offline Āyurveda projects.
Training
- Samudra Ayurvedic Physicians Program, Albuquerque, NM, January 2022 – January 2023
- Arogya Ayurveda, Dravyaguna Vigyan Intensive (Ayurvedic Pharmacology), Albuquerque, NM
- Arogya Ayurveda, Mano Vikaras Intensive (Mental Health), Albuquerque, NM
- Arogya Ayurveda, Stri Roga Intensive (Womens’ Health), Albuquerque, NM
- AYU.Academy Svastha Acarya Program (602 hours, 28.5 credits), Kalispell, MT, May 2018 – May 2019
- Sacred Stone School, Shirodhara Training, Newport, RI, 2009
- University of New Hampshire, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Sculpture, Durham, NH, 1999
My Story
After graduating college, I experienced digestive issues daily, occasional panic attacks, and periodic insomnia. I felt totally unprepared for life and had a mountain of debt that was unfathomable to my twenty-two year old eyes. I did not know how to cook, how to keep a budget, or how to make money as a young artist.
I knew pharmaceuticals would only suppress the problem, create uncomfortable side-effects and make me feel that I was not at my best. So I sought out natural approaches. I tried Macrobiotics, fasting, The Master Cleanse, supplements, as well as talk therapy. I started a regular yoga practice and experimented with meditation. But things got worse before they got better.
Periodically I ended up on the floor, shaking with fear. Old traumas surfaced and I didn’t know what to do to feel better.
I finally found relief from an Āyurvedic Practitioner. Personalized Āyurvedic treatments quickly healed my panic attacks and calmed my nerves. I learned that my diet and lifestyle, though socially accepted as ‘healthy’, did not align with my Āyurvedic body type. I was contributing to imbalance instead of health.
“Knowing my body type gave me a new acceptance of myself and others. My relationships, as a result, became more rich. Body types are a tool for building wonderful relationships through deeper understanding of others.”
I subsequently became obsessed with the body types and what was recommended for me. This approach to health I would not have found elsewhere because none of the modern health viewpoints would have picked up on my errors.
I literally credit Āyurveda (and yoga) with saving my life.
The Āyurvedic protocol and treatments I was given were quite unusual. Yoga was and continues to be a great tool for creating balance and vibrancy, when done properly. In Āyurveda, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Everything is personalized to each individual.
What was I doing wrong? In hindsight, I was creating problems for myself with an excessive yoga and meditation practice, a diet that was too light and too drying (though conventionally accepted as ‘healthy’), and a daily routine that didn’t support my own unique needs.
“Health is not associated with a particular image. Some are healthy at a generous weight. Others are healthy at a lean weight.
Āyurveda helps you see how you are unique, what your natural state of health is like, and how you need to care for yourself.”
I worked in Āyurveda for many years before becoming a practitioner. Though this was satisfying work, my friends, family and coworkers (average healthy people), were suffering with problems like low energy, poor digestion and altered moods. I lost my boyfriend to suicide in 2018 and decided then to study it formally. I needed to learn Āyurveda so I could use my understanding and experience to help others with their health.
I studied classical Āyurveda with the first Western woman to graduate from an Āyurvedic university in India, Jessica Vellela, BAMS. That training was vastly different than typical Āyurveda training in the U.S., which has a watered-down, New Age approach. In my experience, classical Āyurveda is far more effective in practice.
The positive results I see from Āyurveda continue to amaze me. Schedule a free consultation to see how it applies to you.
What is Āyurveda?
Āyurveda is India's traditional medical system. It is a holistic approach that uses temporary dietary adjustments, lifestyle recommendations, therapeutic treatments and cleanses to restore health. It is also preventative in nature. Health must be cultivated and created each day. Āyurveda offers a wealth of sound knowledge to maintain health throughout every season and every stage of life.
I've tried changing my diet and lifestyle and it didn't work. How is Āyurveda different?
Āyurveda is a complete holistic health system. Āyurvedic herbo-mineral formulations are selected for you based on your state of health. Formulations along with appropriate changes to your diet and lifestyle ensure that you get back to your natural state of health. Improved health cannot happen without changing your diet and lifestyle.
Is Āyurveda a licensed profession?
Āyurveda is not a licensed profession in the U.S. That being said, when selecting an Āyurvedic Practitioner, it's important to choose someone that is practicing classical Āyurveda. Classical Āyurveda adheres to the framework as it is taught and practiced in India.
Jennifer Maklan, ĀP, practices classical Āyurveda and has trained in programs that exceed educational standards for Āyurveda in the U.S.
How is Āyurveda practiced online? Isn't pulse assessment needed?
Āyurveda is quite conducive to online practice. In classical Āyurvedic assessment, questioning and visual clues provide a wealth of information. Pulse assessment is actually a somewhat modern addition to classical assessment methods. It is not a necessary component for a quality assessment.
How is Āyurveda different than other holistic healing methods?
Āyurveda is time-tested. It's speculated to be thousands of years old and probably the oldest health system known to man. Though much has changed, the classical practice of Āyurveda holds to the time-tested methods that existed thousands of years ago.
Unlike other modern approaches to holistic medicine, Āyurveda utilizes a detailed framework for the measurement, assessment and management of health. It is an extensive practice that is studied rigorously and is effective when applied with precision.
Unlike Western approaches to care, Āyurveda is personalized to each individual. Your day, diet, health history and so much more are taken into consideration to create your Care Plan.
What if I don't see results?
Sometimes results can be seen immediately and sometimes results can be subtle but nevertheless impactful.
If you're not seeing results, it's important to speak up. This is helpful information and may indicate that the wrong remedy was selected for you. Don't hesitate to communicate your experience so we can ensure you are on the right track.