ARTISTS & PRACTITIONERS

Hi, I’m Kim, an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Veterinary Technician, and Death Doula located on Long Island, New York. I offer sacred, holistic care for people and animals at every stage of life, from healing and transformation to grief and the end of life.

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My journey into this work didn’t begin in a classroom, it began in a hospital bed. I spent much of my early life navigating chronic illness, invasive medical procedures, and emotional trauma. For years, I felt like I was constantly being treated, but never truly seen. That changed when I found Ayurveda. For the first time, I was met with compassion, slowness, and a belief that healing was possible, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually too.

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I studied with the YogaVeda Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine, a program accredited by the Ayurvedic Accreditation Commission (AAC), and earned my title as a Board-Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner through the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). Alongside my formal training, I have received specialized advanced training from Wahneta Trotter in classical Ayurvedic therapies including Abhyanga (therapeutic oil massage), Shirodhara (oil streaming therapy), Nasya (nasal therapy), and external Basti treatments. My Ayurvedic practice is grounded in making healing accessible and personal. I don’t believe in strict, one size fits all protocols. I believe in creating rituals and rhythms that actually fit your life. Whether we’re working on digestion, sleep, trauma, or energy, I always aim to meet you where you are, without shame or overwhelm.

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Before Ayurveda, I worked in veterinary medicine. I’m a Licensed Veterinary Technician. I graduated and received my degree from Purdue University, accredited through the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). I’ve been in the field since 2008, and I am also Human-Animal Bond Certified through the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI). My clinical background taught me not just how to care for animals, but how to notice the quiet, the subtle changes, the sacred unspoken. I still bring that skill into everything I do, especially in my work with companion animals during end of life transitions.

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I’m also a trained Death Doula through International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA), supporting both humans and animals through the sacred process of dying. This work is close to my heart. I know what it means to sit in the in between, to hold someone’s hand as they let go, or to say goodbye to a beloved pet. Whether I’m offering legacy work, gentle oiling, vigil support, or post-death ritual, I approach death the same way I approach life: with tenderness, presence, and trust in the wisdom of the body. Alongside my formal training as a Death Doula, I am currently deepening my studies in Tibetan death practices and the bardos, including bardo yoga. An ancient contemplative lineage that guides practitioners through the transitional states between life and death. The bardos refer to the “in between” states of consciousness, not only after death but throughout life’s many thresholds. These teachings offer profound insight into how we can meet dying with awareness and presence, and how the moments of transition themselves hold the potential for profound transformation and liberation. Through this study, I’m weaving together Ayurvedic presence with Tibetan contemplative practices to support more conscious, compassionate accompaniment in the threshold spaces where life, loss, and meaning unfold.

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In addition, I am a facilitator of Death Over Dinner and a trained facilitator for the Death Over Dinner Jewish Edition through the Shomer Collective, helping individuals and communities gather in meaningful conversation around mortality, remembrance, and what it means to live well until the end.

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My practice blends all of these paths, Ayurveda, veterinary care, and death work, into something deeply personal and ceremonial. I don’t see this as separate work. It’s all connected. It’s about remembering who we are, listening closely, and honoring each threshold we cross, in illness, in healing, and in letting go.

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Alongside my work in Ayurveda, veterinary care, and end of life support, I am the Founding President of NYAYA (New York Ayurveda & Yoga Association). An organization committed to building community, education, and connection within the fields of Ayurveda and Yoga across New York State.

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Wherever you are on your path, I’m here to walk with you.