Vedantic Wisdom and Somatic Healing for Emotional Freedom

Join spiritual teacher Ananta Ripa Ajmera with Emotion Code practitioner Cheryl Montanez for an experiential workshop weaving together eastern spiritual philosophy, western somatic science, and expressive arts to discover emotional freedom, spiritual clarity, and authentic self-expression.

Through the framework of the ancient Indian spiritual philosophy called Vedanta, participants gain a working understanding of samskaras—impressions and past experiences stored in the subconscious—and vasanas—subconscious desires that shape our behavior. Both samskaras and vasanas manifest as emotional and somatic patterns in everyday life. Through guided reflective inquiry on the nature and origins of their desires, participants can discern which desires to release and which desires to consciously cultivate.

Participants are then guided through somatic and energy-based tools for subconscious and somatic emotional release using the Emotion Code and Body Code methodology, a contemporary energy-based emotional release approach developed by Dr. Bradley Nelson. These gentle techniques recognize that unresolved emotional experiences leave imprints across the body and energy field, showing up as physical tension, emotional triggers, chronic stress, and repeating life patterns. Through applied kinesiology and focused intention, the subconscious mind is queried to surface trapped emotions and energetic imbalances that are ready to be released. No painful memories need to be revisited. The body releases only what it is ready to let go of, safely and at its own pace.

Once the releasing work is complete, participants are led through Sandhya Vandanam—a traditional Vedantic water-based purification ritual and daily spiritual practice rooted in living oral lineage traditions—offered as a guided experiential practice supporting purification and release of deeply held impressions across the gross, subtle, and causal bodies.

Finally, participants engage in a sacred expressive arts practice which includes contemplative writing and medicinal storytelling as tools for integration and authentic self-expression. Ananta closes the workshop by sharing daily spiritual practices and self-inquiry tools to help participants develop their own daily spiritual integration practice to carry forward beyond the workshop.

This offering is for anyone seeking tools for working with subconscious patterns in personal healing, as well as in the professional contexts of therapists, coaches, and healers. No prior experience in Vedanta, somatic healing, or expressive arts is required.

Ananta Ripa Ajmera is the Co-founder and Director of The Ancient Way, and a 10-time award-winning bestselling author of The Ayurveda Way and The Way of the Goddess. She lived a monastic lifestyle for 15 years, studying in two living oral lineage traditions of Vedanta spiritual philosophy, yoga, and Ayurveda lifestyle medicine — formations rooted in a long family lineage stemming back to ancient India. This depth of embodied training is the philosophical and spiritual backbone of all her work as an integrative practitioner.

Ananta was part of the founding team of integrative healers at THE WELL NYC — a pioneering wellness center bringing together practitioners of functional medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, modern health coaching, vibrational energy healing, yoga, sports medicine, and massage therapy. THE WELL now includes residential wellness programs in Miami, Florida, where Ananta serves as Advisor of Ayurveda. She has brought her integrated wisdom to Stanford, NYU, UNICEF, and Endeavor, and her Circle of Life Community was recognized in 2026 with the Global Health & Pharma Award for Best Healing & Wellness Practitioners Spiritual Community.

Cheryl Montanez is a certified Emotion Code, Body Code and Belief Code practitioner, a Reiki Level 3 attuned healer with a background spanning real estate, business, finance, and holistic wellness. She helps clients release emotional blocks, clear limiting beliefs, and restore energetic harmony — supporting them in coming home to themselves and reconnecting with a deeper sense of alignment and purpose. Her work blends modern energy-based healing with timeless spiritual wisdom, drawing on years of experience walking alongside people through some of life's most challenging transitions. A graduate of The Ancient Way's Become the Hero of Your Own Journey and Take Health Into Your Own Hands programs, she is currently enrolled in The Ancient Way's self-paced Ayurveda Lifestyle Coach Training under Ananta's direct mentorship.

Accessibility Information 
If you need to request accessibility accommodations, please email publicprograms@ciis.edu at least one week prior to the event. For more information, explore our Accessibility web page.

Recording Policy 
Portions of this workshop will be recorded, and limited access to a recording will be made available to all ticket buyers.

Attending as a Prospective Student? 
Contact Admissions at admissions@ciis.edu to learn about complimentary tickets.

Refund Policy 
Tickets for this event are fully refundable up to 7 days prior to the event. No refunds are available within 7 days of the event except for CIIS Public Programs Members, who can get a full refund up to 24 hours before the event. Read our full refund policy on our Frequently Asked Questions web page.