2026 Speaker Aparna Ramaswamy PhD, EdD

Presentation:
This presentation explores Yoga darśana: an indigenous conceptual framework that integrates cognitive, behavioral and meditative therapeutic modalities grounded in Eastern existential beliefs that view existence as spanning multiple lifetimes (in contrast to single-life theory in Western theologies.

Aparna Ramaswamy is a counselor, educator and community leader in the Washington, DC metro area. She holds 2 earned doctorates: her first PhD in 2012 linked the practices of Indian classical dance to yoga, connecting the texts of Natyasastra and Yogasutra; her second EdD in 2017 explored how meditation and mindfulness cultivated multicultural competence in counselors and counselor educators.

She serves at Saybrook University as a counseling faculty in both Master & PhD programs infusing cultural humility in integrating indigenous healing traditions with modern counseling approaches. She is a Spiritual care provider at Georgetown University & an active community leader showcasing indigenous wisdom traditions as a valuable resource in modern times. Her research focus is on exploring healing traditions of dance, music, yoga meditation & spirituality.