ABOUT JOYFUL BELLY |
In 2008, the Joyful Belly College of Natural Health Sciences introduced tasty, healthy Ayurvedic recipes to dinner tables across the world. Founded by Ayurvedic Practitioner, John Immel, Joyful Belly translates this classical metabolic approach to medicine in easy-to-understand and practical terms that can be used in every-day life. As a result of these efforts, our website has developed into a vast hub of Ayurvedic resources, from recipes and ingredients to online clinical tools and novel tools. We chose to make the vast majority of this information free to allow as many people as possible to reap the health and wellness benefits of Ayurveda.
To see the foods and recipes that are healthy for your body type, start with the free body type quiz. Our recipes are designed to support digestion, correct imbalances, and restore health and wellness, one meal at a time. Sign up for our newsletter to receive weekly articles in Ayurvedic diet & digestion.
Are you interested in studying Ayurveda to support your health, your family or your community? Check out our Guide to Choosing the Right Ayurveda School. See our certification courses.
Joyful Belly's mission is wholesomeness and the fullness of life for all. We serve this purpose by nurturing the body, beautifully and naturally made in the image of God. Our techniques include the practical food, diet & lifestyle principles of Ayurveda. Expect to find simple explanations, delicious recipes, and insightful ideas for your daily life throughout the website. But Ayurveda isn't just practical, it is also spiritual. Here are our spiritual values:
"Ayurveda's practical, rational, and nurturing approach to health is embodied, stable, and fruitful.
Even as Ayurveda was helping me physically, I realized my spiritual life was lacking this stability and embodiment.
Ayurveda inspired my return to the Catholic church which has been essential to my development as an Ayurvedic practitioner - as a
caretaker of life.
Ayurveda has truly given me a unique opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus was always breaking bread and healing people. At Joyful Belly, we aim to do the same."
-John Immel (about our founder)
HEAL YOUR COMMUNITYCLINICAL DIGESTION & NUTRITION HEALTH COACH500HR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM |
One of the distinguishing characteristics of Joyful Belly is our focus on accurate assessment, arguably the most challenging aspect of any health & wellness practice. Our college is a trailblazer in this area, with a strong emphasis on helping students accurately determine the root cause and development of Ayurvedic imbalances. We teach you not only to identify remedies but to ensure that your pathogenesis is accurate. This approach underscores the importance of precision in Ayurvedic practice.
Acid Reflux H pylori infection Mucus on stool High Blood Pressure Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) Nervous stomach / butterflies Candida / Yeast Infection / Thrush Frequent Burping Hypothyroid Frequent Leftovers Stomach Ulcer Duodenal Ulcer Worm / Parasite Sinus Infection Many cracks on tongue Ate Too Much Pizza Sensitive to Poison Ivy Gas, irregular digestion Leaky Gut Syndrome Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Emotional eating Thalassemia Minor Frequent Nausea Dry Mouth / Tongue Cancer Gastritis Teeth marks on tongue edges Enlarged Spleen Shiny / oily / fatty stools Yellow stool Epilepsy Food allergy Malabsorption Feel overweight Aches & Pains - General Migraines Incomplete Chewing Bored easily Large portions Ear pain/infection Eat when lonely / depressed Gallstones / Attack Strong hunger Anger, irritable, ambitious, analytical Tired after eating Headache Prostate Cancer Constipation Limited sense of taste Uneasy when food unavailable
John specializes in the natural, metabolic approach to complex digestive disorders. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Harvard University and completed formal Ayurvedic training and certification in 2008. His clinical interests were shaped in part by his own recovery from a complex digestive disorder developed during years of international travel.
The Joyful Belly website and clinic translate traditional constitutional medicine into practical tools for everyday health. Drawing on ingredients familiar to Western kitchens, John developed thousands of recipes designed to make constitutional eating approachable for the household.
Today, Joyful Belly serves both the public and a growing community of practitioners through its educational programs and clinic. John’s work continues to focus on making the principles of classical medicine clear, practical, and relevant for modern health challenges. His straightforward teaching style and practical approach have helped thousands of people better understand their bodies and take an active role in their own health.
John's accomplishments include:
John's Style
Unlike other traditions, Ayurveda practitioners have to be great teachers so that clients can learn how to self-heal. As a teacher, I strive not only to communicate the basic principles of Ayurveda, but to bring Ayurveda to life by sharing my personal healing journey, and the healing I have personally experienced as a practitioner. When I am at my best, you will find that my presentations are rich with anecdotes. Despite the seriousness of the topic, you will find I maintain a sense of humor as we discuss the blood and guts of health. This humor often comes at my own expense, which I hope you will enjoy!I place a great deal of emphasis on assessment in the interactions I have with my students and my clients. The fundamental skills of assessment are the ability to listen, ask pointed questions, and provide clear analysis that gets down to essentials. I have a zeal for gettings down to the roots of the problem.
Yet, the most important quality and teaching skill I possess is neither language nor analysis. Instead, it is my enthusiasm for Ayurveda, and for you. I am eager to give myself fully and passionately to your learning process. This enthusiasm is the true source of my confidence. Why am I so enthusiastic? Where does the boundless energy I offer to teach others how to heal come from? The bottomless well of energy I bring to our discussions springs from my great faith in each and every individual's capacity to learn, grow and improve their quality of life. Teaching is therefore a true celebration for me. This great hope I've invested in teaching is something I will never give up on, which means I will never give up on you!
Clinical Specialties
While my clinical practice spans a range of health problems, my clinical focus is in:John's Personal Background
John is married to Natalie Immel, also an Ayurveda practitioner, and a father of eight (6 girls and 2 boys). His family is located in the Southern Appalachians of Asheville, NC, where they live in a cozy cottage home close to downtown that is perfect for keeping a large family together. His entire yard is an herb garden with fruit trees - which he affectionately calls God's garden. His garden also shelters several bunnies and one ground hog. Early mornings he can be found studying Medieval scholastic philosophy.
As a Catholic, John brings a unique perspective to Ayurveda.
Jesus' primary ministry was to feed and heal the sick.
His ministry is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots,
and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church.
He is fluent in Bengali and French, and enjoys studying Sanskrit, Arabic, and more recently, Swedish. In addition to his passion for Ayurveda, John enjoys spending time with his family and praying, two activities which he believes are essential to any health and wellness counselor. Faith and family come first in John's life. He also enjoys soccer, frisbee, cooking and dancing in the kitchen with his wife & kids. John grew up on the East End of Long Island, and spent much of his childhood in commercial fishing with his beloved father on the bays of the South Shore.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
