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Shilpa Sankaran

Founder

Shilpa’s journey to wellness springs from her belief that all people are connected to each other and the world around us. This means we have a responsibility to create and maintain balance and health – whether for a sustainable planet, harmony among our communities, or within our bodies.

Shilpa was born in India and immigrated to the U.S.A. as a toddler. As a child, in her home, healing spice aromas filled the kitchen, while personal care rituals and mindfulness were a normal part of everyday life.

Over the years, she noticed friends and loved ones were burdened with health issues – from allergies and skin problems, to digestive disorders and cancer, to anxiety and depression. Most of these were managed with medicine, and addressed the disease rather than enabling people to maintain their wellness for the long-term. Shilpa realized, the solutions were available all along, embedded into her cultural roots with Ayurveda.

Shilpa and her husband dreamed of creating a place of healing where people can proactively address their health concerns, while providing a space to cultivate happiness. They envisioned a space for quiet retreat and community, where one can find their inner voice and reconnect with others who share in this journey.

A sustainability leader and social entrepreneur working across the globe, 25 years later, Shilpa has returned to her home town of Madison. Here, the stars aligned at Garver, and she can share these values with the community through Kosa.

You are invited to join Shilpa on this journey of wellness, to learn about your true nature, and once reconnected, to learn how to tend to your needs with Ayurveda as a guide.

Learn more about Shilpa's Journey

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Lalita Sankaran

KOSA Kitchen Founder

Lalita Sankaran is a licensed Occupational Therapist and founder of the Kosa Kitchen. As a first generation immigrant from India, Lalita has practiced her cultural heritage of Ayurveda throughout her life. In addition, with a culinary education in India, Ayurvedic principles are inherently a part of her cooking techniques.

Lalita was born and raised in India. She grew up and was educated in the coastal city of Bombay (now Mumbai), India, located by the Arabian Sea. Growing up, the Indian cultural lifestyle included Ayurvedic principles. Inherently assessing one's own individual biological and constitutional make-up, the family used only the purest form of foods and spices to stimulate the senses and digestive system, ensured use of simple nature's plants and minerals for cleansing the skin and hair, and also participated in daily practices of prayer, meditation, hygiene, walks & exposure to fresh air to promote a good balance between work, rest and nutrition. Mindful eating at the dining table was considered a way of life to ensure proper digestion and elimination. In addition, whole body & head massage, beginning with infant massage were standard components of self-care and proactive wellness. These traditions have been handed down to her daughters and grandchildren.

In Bombay, after completing High School, Lalita attended the Culinary Institute and received her culinary certification after 2 years of study.

In the early 70's, Lalita's husband Narayan secured a job in marketing and management, and the family immigrated to the U.S. After bringing up 3 daughters, she returned to school to receive her degree in Kinesiology, as a certified Occupational Therapist. Lalita worked at some of the leading hospitals in Madison, and is now retired and devoting her time to re-establishing her roots, deepening her understanding of Ayurveda. She recently completed Dr. Vasant Lad's course in "Food as Consciousness" at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico.