Sanapurna Therapy Team
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Poonam Stecher Sharma
Yoga was most natural thing to happen for Poonam. She was born and brought up in a family of Yoga teachers. After she finished her Masters in Sociology, Poonam enrolled in a four month residential certificate course at the world’s first Yoga University, Bihar Yoga Bharati (Bihar School of Yoga), followed by a one-year residential postgraduate Diploma in Yogic Studies.
Poonam is following a Yoga tradition that combines ancient wisdom and modern science. Since 2001, she has been teaching Yoga professionally in India and Switzerland. In 2011, together with Thomas Stecher, Poonam founded Sanapurna, Center for Yoga & Naturopathy Medicine in Zurich. For over a decade now, Poonam has taught Yoga to senior to junior professionals in different UN organizations, some corporates like P&G, and the students and teachers at Webster University. Poonam was the Yoga advisor for the Hollywood film “Eat Pray Love” with Julia Roberts. Recently, she has been involved as a Yoga teacher in the Solar Impulse project. Poonam has also been featured in many Yoga programs on Indian television.
Poonam brings a calm clarity to her Yoga classes. With her gentle coaching, she heightens an inner awareness to listen to oneself. She understands the needs of the students and is able to encourage a person to go to the highest level of his or her ability, often far beyond expectation. She helps the students to connect positively with their body, spirituality and the world.
- Association Membership: Yoga Schweiz
- Language : English
Thomas Stecher Sharma
Thomas Stecher Sharma, Master of Science in Ayurveda Medicine, dipl. Naturopath (TEN) & Ayurveda Specialist. Founder and Director of Sanapurna Center for Complementary Medicine.
Personal Statement: The daily intensive contact with people in our center is very enriching for me. Again and again I am touched, challenged and inspired by the life stories of my patients and the associated symptoms. Guided by life experience, expertise and belief in the power of life, I coach, accompany and treat people according to the principle of bringing together what belongs together.
Main focus: Psychosomatic issues, gynaecology and pediatrics, allergies & nutrition.
Teaching : Ayurveda & Yoga Anatomy
Forms of Therapy: Initial counselling, herbal medicine, nutrition coaching, psychological counselling according to Ayurveda. Languages: GE/EN/IT
Health Insurance Recognition: EMR, ASCA, EGK, VISANA
Association Membership: VSAMT, VEAT, SGE, ABC- Languages GE/EN/IT
Alexandra Krahl (Therapis - Ayurvedic Nutrition & Massage)
What does Ayurveda mean for me in my daily life?
The holistic and preventive Ayurveda supports me to strengthen my resources and to live a healthy and content life.
Focus
If the stresses get out of hand, many people can no longer easily compensate for the consumption of resources due to private and professional stress factors. For over 20 years, Alexandra has been helping people find and strengthen their resources.
Relevant education
Alexandra Krahl is a complementary therapist OdAKT , nutritionist, massage practitioner and Ayurvedic cook with further training in Ayurvedic and Western medicine.
Certifications Ayurveda Complementary Therapist in the Association of European Ayurveda
Medical Therapists Member of the Association of Swiss Ayurveda
Medical Therapists EMR Certification
Consultation language: DE, EN- Languages English, German
Ana Vilar
Ana Vilar, Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (2000+ hours, 3 years) from the Campus Docent Sant Joan de Déu, a school attached to the Universidad of Barcelona (Spain). Panchakarma Specialist Certified from the Patanjali Ayurved College and Hospital in Haridwar /India. Ashtanga yoga long-time practitioner and student of Sharath Jois. Associate Professor at Master in Ayurvedic Therapy / Campus Docent Sant Joan de Déu - Spain
Personal Statement: Ayurveda makes us understand that health is built on a daily basis. In essence, it means a conscious self-care routine, integration of beneficial habits that help you maintain your body’s homeostasis, also it means understanding that you are not what you eat but what you can digest. Yoga practice brings harmony in our lives, unites body, mind, and spirit through body movements, breathing work, and mindfulness. In addition, it creates a strong, balanced, and stable body.
These two sciences, when worked together, offer practical tools to promote health and vitality. For Ayurveda, being healthy means being happy!
I am here to help you on your journey towards health and well-being.
Through careful guidance and support, I want to help you be able to reconnect to the cycles of nature and your own ability to Self-healing.
Main Focus: My main focus is to bring balance to the body and mind. Also, my treatments can help in conditions like stress, pain, musculoskeletal disorders, weight-loss, sleep disorders, fatigue, and anxiety.
Forms of Therapy: Traditional Ayurvedic therapies such as Abhyanga, Shirodhara, Basti, Pinda Sweda, Udvartana, Swedana, yogic purifications and yoga therapy (asana, pranayamas, kriyas, meditation). Ayurvedic consulting with a focus on diet and lifestyle.
Languages: EN/Spanish/Portuguese
Health Insurance Recognition: In Preparation
Association Membership: VSAMT (soon)
- Languages EN/Spanish/Portuguese
Nicoleta Gosoniu
Nicoleta grew up in the cosmopolite city of Bucharest and has lived in Zurich since 2002. Working in the corporate world, she found yoga as a way to balance the fast-paced rhythm of the city life.
Following a deep calling and wanting to learn more about yoga, she came across Sanapurna in 2012. She immediately felt at home in the welcoming presence of Poonam and of the studio. For her, Sanapurna is a peaceful, warm space in the heart of Zurich where one can simply be, recharge and connect with beautiful souls. This is where she completed her 200h Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC) in 2013.
Currently she is part of the teachers team for the yearly TTCs at Sanapurna.
Nicoleta is certified in Antastha Yoga – Yoga with Blindfolds (100h) by its founder Sanjeev Bhanot and is trained in Yin Yoga (50h) with Joe Barnett. She is also certified Thai Yoga Massage practitioner with teachers from the Sunshine Network such as Krishnataki, Thierry Bienfaisant, Zoltan Gyorgyovics and others. She also gives thai yoga massages at the studio.
Nicoleta is passionate about sharing the practices of Yoga and Thai Yoga Massage to promote well-being, self-discovery and get in touch with the natural state of being. Breath awareness, alignment and therapeutic cues, hands-on adjustments and self-reflection are integral parts of her classes.
Nicoleta teaches Hatha Yoga based classes for all levels in English (also German if needed).
What inspires Nicoleta: ‘I am inspired by my teachers and students, my own practice, mystical poetry and life itself in its infinite expressions in nature, sounds, colours…‘
- Languages English, German
Patricia Braga
Meet Patricia, a dedicated and passionate therapist who discovered her calling at Sanapurna in 2021, where Thai Yoga Massage became the catalyst for a new chapter in her life. Patricia pursued her journey in the art of Thai Yoga Massage at Sunshine House in Greece and at Lulyani School in France.
In parallel to her Thai Massage training, Patricia decided to venture into the realm of Yoga, realizing the incredible synergy between the two disciplines. She completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC) at Sanapurna in 2022, and then embarked on a 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC) journey.
Patricia is not only active in the world of well-being but also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). The delicate balance she finds between her professional career and her dedication to yoga and Thai Yoga Massage enriches her life, and this sense of balance emanates through her treatments and classes.
- Languages English, German
Rajesh Ramachandra Kurup
As a young boy, Rajesh started to learn Yoga from his uncle A.N. Krishna Kurup and later on studied with Yogacharyan Sisiran, Trivandrum. In 1988 got best Yoga demonstrator award from Pegwavar Mat in Mangalore. He has a bachelor Degree in Economics, Siddha Marma System Medicine Certificate and Diploma in Yoga Annamalai University.
For the past 21 years he has been teaching yoga in India and abroad. At Sanapurna, Rajesh also offers Ayurvedic massage treatments (Marma massages).- Languages English, German
Vani Devi
VaniDevi completed a multi annual Yoga training at Yoga Vidya in the tradition of Swami Sivananda.
Her classes are suitable for all levels and including not only classical Hatha Yoga but also restorative sequences and aspects of Bhakti Yoga.
Her spiritual name is „Madhur Vani Devi», which means „sweet voice “- derived from her love for music. Since two decades Vanidevi have been working for a major label.She discovered yoga after a severe back injury in the mid-90s as a healing therapy. This allowed her to again live painless and stable as well as increase and improve body tension and posture.
What to expect: Essential oils, little massages, impulses with cosmic tuning forks, sound und energy- healing, hot stones, essential oil journeys, mantra singing, Hatha and Restorative Yoga VaniDevi continues to deepen her practice, learning from various teachers such as Stephen Thomas, Christine May, Julie Martin, Jodi Boone, Raghunath Cappo, Radhanath Swami and Sripad Sadhu Maharaj.
- Languages English, German
Vikash Chitrasen Ramsurn
Vikash C. Ramsurn, born and raised in Mauritius with Indian roots, is a dedicated Holistic Massage Therapist specializing in Traditional Ayurvedic Massage. With over 18 years of professional experience, Vikash integrates his profound knowledge of Ayurveda into his practice, offering a holistic approach to health and wellness. His work, driven by passion and a deep sense of vocation, reflects his commitment to fostering well-being and balance in his clients' lives.
- Languages English
Join Our Team
Are you a Yoga teacher or an Ayurveda therapist? We are looking forward to exploring the possibility of having you as our team member! Get in touch with us for more information!
We also welcome Volunteers who wish to help us with Sanapurna activities and can benefit from our Yoga classes in exchange for their service. Contact yoga@sanapurna.ch for more details on our Volunteer Program.