Neena McIlwaine

Neena McIlwaine

Neena’s role within Boston Ayurveda School as the Social Media Manager is to help spread the wisdom of Ayurveda. 

Neena graduated from Ohio University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies. She has several years of experience conducting both field and lab research on animal diversity, genetics and wildlife conservation. Her dream was to become a wildlife veterinarian helping to save marine mammals from loose fishing gear and support their feeding grounds by helping create marine sanctuaries. As this path unfolded, she realized her deeper desires were to help people find appreciation and interconnectedness of human life and the natural world. She found this personal responsibility to be an example of what she desires to see in the world. She started with her basic cooking skills and elevated them significantly with practice, focusing on a whole food plant-based diet as she became aware of the impacts of animal agriculture. By thrifting her clothes and reducing the amount of plastic she uses, she began lowering her ecological footprint. Practicing yoga and meditation enlightened her life in a way she was not expecting. 

She then found Ayurveda and felt deeply connected to the principles of living in harmony with the rhythms of nature. By bringing awareness to what she consumes physically and emotionally, this led her down a spiritual path that she previously had no desire to have, and found a connection to something much larger than herself. As she began sharing Ayurveda and plant-based nutrition with her own personal social media platforms, she received great support to further her path in the direction of educating and inspiring others to enjoy the individuality of Ayurveda’s approach to your own body's composition and its emphasis on the impact of seasons, environment and diet on your health.

Neena was drawn to Boston Ayurveda School after moving from Ohio in 2019 with her partner who landed a job in Boston. She thought moving closer to the ocean was a step in the right direction. She craved a like-minded community and found that there was a NAMA certified Ayurveda Health Counselor school right here in Boston. She joined the AHC cohort of Fall 2021 and plans to continue her Ayurvedic education onto the Practitioner level. Her passion for plant-based cooking and the healing properties of herbs is what fuels her to dive deeper into nature’s offerings and tie modern science with ancient wisdom to help others create a fulfilling life.

Neena spends her time soaking in the South Boston beaches, enjoying the bountiful landscapes of New England through camping and hiking, and spending time with her one-eyed tabby cat and 4ft ball python.

Rebecca Donato

“People can flourish at any age if they remain proactive in self-care, cultivate an inner life, and become a friend to their own mind.”

Rebecca is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor and certified Health & Wellness Coach. She supports clients in pursing optimal health and vibrant living by discovering a deeper understanding of their true nature, tapping personal strengths, and gaining clarity around purpose in life. She knows from experience that the sister sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga are potent tools for this endeavor, as they offer a rich array of transformative, healing and life-affirming practices.

Rebecca partners with clients to unpack who they are, clarify what they need, and develop personal self-care strategies that emphasize body, mind and spirit in equal measure. She uses knowledge and intuition cultivated through years of practice and study of asana, meditation, Vedic philosophy, positive psychology, and of course, Ayurveda.

From an early age, Rebecca was fascinated by the gift of longevity and what leads to a vibrant life. This led her to a 20 year career working with older adults, where she has witnessed first-hand that people can flourish at any age if they remain proactive about self-care, cultivate an inner life, and become a friend to their own mind. She currently serves as a consultant and trainer for Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, and helps other non-profit senior living organizations empower older adults through life coaching services and multidimensional wellness programming.

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Music Business & Technology from NYU and a MBA from Georgetown University. She is a 200-RYT yoga teacher and is currently pursuing her 300-RYT certification with Down Under School of Yoga.

Tessa Brackett

Tessa Brackett

Tessa, a native of England, began taking Shadow Yoga classes and learning about Ayurveda 20 years ago while recovering from a car accident. She felt an immediate curiosity and affinity to both Yoga and Ayurveda, and since that time, both have been foundational in her daily life.

From her own injuries and recovery journey, Tessa learned that physical health and mental well-being are intrinsically linked. She retrained as a Complimentary Massage Therapist and opened her own holistic massage business in London. Through her work and her own experience, Tessa understood the importance of the one-to-one healing relationship and also witnessed the profound impact of a holistic approach to health. She discovered a passion for caring for people by nurturing their connection to their bodies, which fostered wider and more integrated benefits.

In 2011, Tessa and her husband moved to the USA to adopt three siblings. Since then she has widened her understanding of whole health healing and vitality practices with formal trainings in Ayurveda (AHC) and Yoga (YTT500).

Tessa’s mission is to convey the wisdom of Ayurveda to enhance self-awareness, empower health, to enrich each individual life and the lives of those around them.