Ancient’s Best is owned and operated by Vaidyar Mani Veerappan and Nicola Hewett. More about us below!
Profile for ‘Vaidyar’ Mani Maran Nadesan Veerappan
Classical Ayurvedic Practitioner
Mani is a Singaporean national and undertook his training in Ayurveda as an initiate and disciple in an ashram in a small village called Chalakudi, Kerala, in South West India. He went to India soon after completing the then Cambridge School Certificate in Raffles Institution, Singapore in 1966. He was in India for a number of years and was most fortunate to be studying at a place renowned for its orthodoxy and traditions in many things of Ancient India, foremost being that of the Indian Martial arts and Ayurveda.
Mani carries the title of Vaidyar, a title bestowed on those who practice Ayurveda in its traditional and authentic form. In addition to his time of study in India, the traditions were passed down from his father through practical daily lessons in his childhood and through the inheritance of his great-grandfather and his two grandfathers, who were all renowned Vaidyars.
This traditional training and rare exposure over the years provided him with a solid foundation in the Ancient Art of Self-healing of Ayurveda and Yoga. This put him on the path to becoming an Ayurvedic physician and teacher today. He has been continuously practicing this Ancient science, using this knowledge to assist others, and gaining greater insights through continuous self-study and introspection. Mani retired from all other duties some years ago to begin his full-time Ayurvedic practice of Yogic Healing and first registered his business, ‘Ancient’s Best – Clinic and Study Centre of Ayurveda & Yoga’ in 1988.
He attained from ‘The National Institute of Ayurveda & Medicine’, one of America’s foremost Ayurvedic Institutes, a Certificate of Achievement in the highest honors, in recognition of his excellence in the study of Ayurvedic Medical principles and his research contributions in this field.
In recent years Mani was invited and was subsequently received as a full-fledged affiliate with the ‘International Academy of Ayurveda’, Pune, India, an internationally recognized Ayurvedic institute of higher learning and research. Eminent and prominent Ayurvedic scholars and doctors are affiliates to this same Institute as well. Mani has been requested by Prof. Dr. Subhas Ranade of the above institute to prepare and submit a doctoral thesis.
Over the years, Mani M Veerappan has been invited to give seminars on Ayurveda to various private and public organizations; appeared and interviewed on TV by Channel News Asia; Channel 5; participated in Radio ‘live-talk-show’; featured in a number of popular and international magazines and papers and was featured in T.C.S. Five’s ‘On The Pulse’ television program.
Mani has given workshops on topics such as ‘Ayurvedic Life-style Management’, ‘Yoga and Meditation’, and ‘Ayurvedic Cooking’, and has given seminars introducing traditional Ayurveda in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia. He has conducted training in Ayurvedic massage to groups of therapists at resorts in Asia, and guides a number of individual students as they learn and develop their knowledge of Ayurveda in its most classical form under his tutelage.
In early 2008 Mani travelled to Adelaide, Australia, to introduce traditional Ayurveda via seminars and individual consultations to clients of ‘Aspects of Healing’ Integrative Health Centre. Mani provides ongoing advice, training, and support to staff and management at the centre. ‘Aspects of Healing’ is part of the Equals Group of Companies, and Mani is Program Advisor and Visiting Lecturer to Equals Institute of Integrated Therapies Ayurveda program.
Mani’s ability to teach and to provide such considerable support to others comes from his strict adherence to the fundamentals of traditional Ayurveda, and the simple, yet thorough (and often humorous) way in which he explains its principles. His focus is very much on the practical application of Ayurveda, understanding and explaining how each person is different and guiding each individual towards a life-style that is compatible and appropriate for them. Emphasis is given to correcting subtle underlying disturbances rather than treating symptoms. The directness and honesty of his teachings brings Ayurveda to life for those who are ready to learn. Even those who thought they understood Ayurveda before often find they are shaken and awakened!
The purpose of his work is to retain and propagate the inheritance of this great tradition and to share it with others, and to help correct the often-misrepresented world-view of Ayurveda and Yoga. As a practitioner and teacher, the spiritual aspects of Ayurveda and Siddha are his primary interest and responsibility. Under his guidance and support, patients and students develop their awareness and stability, so that the true goal of this practice is understood. That is, the realization of the Self through the instruments of the Body and Mind to attain to the state of Yoga (other synonyms for this state are Truth, Nirvana, or Moksham).
In the future Mani plans to focus increasingly on training and education; sharing his knowledge and experiences through writing, workshops and seminars; and teaching others so they can continue this work and uphold the traditions.
Ancient’s Best, Clinic & Center of Ayurveda & Yoga, Singapore
E-mail: sg@ancientsbest.com
Website: www.ancientsbest.com
Profile for Nicola Hewett (Nicky)
Ayurvedic Life-Style Consultant and Yoga for Dosha Therapy Instructor
Nicky is a New Zealander and lives in Blenheim, Marlborough (returning to New Zealand in 2007 after living in Thailand for 11 years) and focuses primarily on the development of Ancient’s Best product lines. She also manages all business aspects of Ancient’s Best and assists Vaidyar Mani in his teaching and training. She provides Life-Style consultations and support to those who are under treatment. This can include guidance on dietetics, daily routines, and providing therapy such as Ayurvedic massage and Yoga for Dosha classes. An important part of her work is to record Mani’s extensive teachings on the traditions of Ayurveda and Yoga. These will eventually be compiled in small booklets or manuals for students to use as practical guides.
Nicky has been practising and studying Yoga as a dedicated discipline since 2001 and is a yoga teacher certified by the International Kundalini Yoga Teacher’s Association, USA (2003). She has studied Ayurveda with Vaidyar Mani since 2004 and was certified as an Ayurvedic Life-Style Consultant and ‘Yoga for Dosha’ Therapist in 2006. The apprenticeship program included both theory and practice and covered all aspects of traditional Ayurvedic practice including diagnosis (traditional form of Ayurvedic Pulse Reading – naadi parikshai), Ayurvedic treatments, herbal preparations, yoga therapy etc. Nicky has also studied Thai traditional massage at Buntautuk Tradit Traditional Medicine Hospital, Chiang Mai and Wat Po Traditional Medical School, Bangkok.
Ancient’s Best Ltd, New Zealand
E-mail: nz@ancientsbest.com
Website: www.ancientsbest.com
