Ayurveda and Yoga School
The Health Institute Australia is an Ayurveda and Yoga School located on the beautiful Gold Coast of eastern Australia. We have developed numerous educational programs in the form of interactive community lectures, workshops, series, and seminars as well as diploma courses to meet the needs of the twenty-first century. The Health Institute Australia is Government Accredited as a registered training organisation offering flexible payment plans. Government subsidies such as Austudy and youth allowance are available for eligible domestic students.
Online Yoga Teacher Training
We offer the highest yoga qualification you can obtain not only in Australia but in the world.
We will introduce our advanced Yoga Teacher Training courses online in the near future (the Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching), so that you will be able to continue your studies online and gain your Diploma and Advanced Diploma online too.
We offer the highest yoga qualification you can obtain – not only in Australia, but in the world – with our Advanced Diploma course being 1800 hours.
Online Ayurveda Courses
We offer Certificate IV in Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultation by Distance Education to domestic (Australian) students. You will be required to do some components of the course on campus such as Ayurvedic cooking, massage etc. However, the majority of your units can be completed via distance education with the facilities of on-line Skype tutorials, fully comprehensive lecture notes unit by unit, resource materials, homework and assignments.
Company details: Health Institute Australia Pty.Ltd. ACN 141 696 264
Level 1/ 18 Rawlins Street,
Southport, QLD 4215, Australia

Our team is led by CEO Shanti Gowans, born in India. After completing her BA at the University of Mumbai, Shanti spent several years travelling around the world as an international guest speaker with global and cosmic perspectives. Whilst on the speakers’ circuit, Shanti taught and lectured with Deepak Chopra in Sydney, Australia.
Shanti also brought the concepts and practices of a healthy body and still mind to thousands of Australians through her Yoga and Meditation programs which appeared on Australian national television for 3½ years on channel 10.
Shanti Gowans is truly a remarkable and inspirational teacher and has developed life changing courses with true dedication and respect for the ancient and authentic science of yoga and ayurveda.
- Peter Gowans, Dip Ayurveda
- Financial director for The Health Institute Australia
- Director, Nirvana Wellness Retreat
- CEO One World Productions
Peter Gowans is the student financial director for The Health Institute Australia. He owns and operates the beautiful Nirvana Wellness Retreat in the hinterland of the Gold Coast. Peter Gowans holds a Diploma in Ayurveda from his studies with Prof. P.H. Kulkarni.
- Hilary Sullivan, Grad Dip Ed., B.A. Adv Dip Yoga, Cert IV Ayur. Cert IV TAS
- Vice Principal. Principal lecturer for Cert IV Ayurveda at the Health Institute Australia
Hilary has a background in teaching yoga and ayurveda. She is currently the Vice Principal of The Health Institute Australia and its public relations coordinator.
- Sonja Stauder, B.A. (Japanese and Law). Adv Dip Yoga. Adv. Dip Ayur, Cert IV in Business Studies
- Director of Education and Studies and Culinary Arts, The Health Institute Australia
- Ayurvedic Practitioner
Sonja Stauder is the director of Education and Studies and Culinary Arts at the Health Institute Australia. She is the current treasurer of AAPA, the Australasia Ayurvedic Practitioner’s Association.

- Dr. Manish Patwardhan, M.D. (Ayu), F.I.I.M
- Ayurvedic Studies Adviser @ the Health Institute Australia
- CEO Spa Consultants, India
- Joint Director: Institute of Indian Medicine
Dr. Manish Patwardhan, Ayurvedic Physician and Consultant, a postgraduate doctor in Ayurveda, who has undertaken studies in the medical school for 9 years has been teaching and consulting for The Health Institute Australia since 1996.
- Kamala Shakti, BA., Grad Dip Ed., Business Computing, Grad Dip. Library and Info. Studies
- Artistic Director, Padma-A step ahead
- Director, Indian Dance @ The Health Institute Australia
Kamala Shakti is the artistic director of Padma with innumerable performances and workshops, and implementing full length productions with Arts organisations, BEMAC, Arts Queensland, QUT, and other educational institutions. Kamala Shakti has been conducting Health Institute Australia’s Indian dance curriculum since 2007.
- Sue Green, Adv Dip Yoga, Cert IV TAS
- Lecturer for Cert IV Yoga and Life Education & Cert IV Workplace Assessment and Training
Sue Green hails from high level management in the hospitality industry, where she has worked for over 20 years. Sue has been teaching yoga for the Health Institute Australia since 2010.
- Choe Tenhave, Cert IV Yoga, currently studying Diploma of Yoga Teaching
- Office Administrator, the Health Institute Australia
Chloe was born and raised on the Gold Coast. She enjoyed many years of studying drama, dance and Rhythmic gymnastics (competing in nationals). A vegetarian her whole life, she has a deep love and respect for the furry & feathered creatures. She loves the beach, nature, dancing, experiencing new cultures, philosophy, SUP, Scuba diving, surfing, breathing, yoga, backpacking, drawing, travelling, life… and has recently spent 2 years travelling the world.
HIA’s background
Shanti Gowans developed Shanti Yoga when she first moved from India to Australia in 1972. In 1995, Shanti Gowans registered the educational faculty ’The Meditation Institute’ which later on in 2003 became a Registered Training Organisation offering accredited courses in Ayurveda and Yoga. In 2010 Shanti and the team decided to change the name to Health Institute Australia broadening the scope of study options for students.
Nationally Recognised Training
Developing Ayurvedic and Yoga Practitioners that comply with the rules, regulations and standards of the countries in which we operate has been a strong focus for The Health Institute. However, we have always known that just herbs and medicines or yoga postures are not enough for natural wellbeing. This is why we are fully dedicated to bring about Health and Wellness Training programs for both individuals for personal health and professionals. Our training and courses are fully compliant with the Australian Skills Quality Authority. This means that you can be assured of our commitment to the highest quality education available, and that your qualifications are recognised Australia wide and beyond.
With 4 decades of providing education in Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda, many of our graduates have established and successful yoga centres right across Australia and worldwide.
The purpose of education is to culture a person’s mind so that they can accomplish all their aims in life.
Studies at the Health Institute Australia provide a complete, in-depth education, with a curriculum that will enable you to become knowledgeable in your chosen field of study, together with personal development as a responsible human being, fully grown in all the values of life, and established in higher consciousness and understanding.
We wish you all success in your studies, your interest in full self-actualising and employing the Health Institute’s courses as a tool to grow, develop and reach your full potential. With these aims you must surely succeed in your aspirations to make a difference in your own and other people’s lives.
Take your life to the next level. We want you to be successful.
We look forward to having you on board at the Health Institute Australia.