Deepen your knowledge of the science of ayurveda and become an Ayurvedic Health Counselor! In this exciting and comprehensive ayurvedic training program, you will expand upon the foundational ayurvedic knowledge you gained in the Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist program. You will explore more complex concepts of the vast and engaging science of ayurveda and broaden your scope of practice.

Nationally recognized and certified by NAMA, the Ayurvedic Health Counselor program is only available to those who have completed the Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist training program or an approved comparable program. If you are looking to make ayurveda into a career or feel your dharma is in the supportive health care industry, this program is for you! As an Ayurvedic Health Counselor you will be able to work with preventative healthcare and the promotion of health, primarily through the suggestions of diet and lifestyle changes. The Ayurvedic Health Counselor program is a nationally recognized professional certification program that will open up new doors for your holistic health and wellness career.

Ayurvedic Health Counselor Unit 5: Etiology and Pathology

This unit is our comprehensive exploration of the ayurvedic perspective on disease. According to the Charaka Samhita (ancient ayurvedic text), the aim of ayurveda is twofold: “to prolong life and promote perfect health,” and “to completely eradicate the disease and dysfunction of the body.” There is as much importance given to the maintenance of health as to the treatment of disease, and its focus on identifying the root cause is what sets ayurveda apart from western medicine. Together, we will explore the concept of vikriti (doshic imbalance) as the root of disease, and how identifying this imbalance can halt the disease process and support a return to health and balance.

In this session you will:

• Take a deeper look at vikriti (doshic imbalance) as the root cause of disease
• Become familiar with roga nidana (causes of disease) and its three categories
• Consider abnormal states of the doshas, dhatus (tissues), and malas (waste products) in relation to disease
• Revisit the importance of healthy and stable flow through the srotamsi (channels in the body) in terms of supporting health and preventing disease, and what causes excessive flow or blockage in these channels
• Apply your knowledge of shamana (pacifying) and shodhana (detoxification) to decide how to most effectively balance the doshas
• Learn about nidan panchak (the five causes of disease)
• Use samprapti/kriyakala (the six stages of disease) to further understand the disease process according to ayurveda
• Contemplate the role of agni (digestive fire) and ama (toxins) in the development and progression of disease

Discover the concept of ashtavidha pariksha (eightfold examination) as a set of tools for identifying the current state of health

Go deeper into ayurvedic anatomy and continue your in depth study of agni (digestive fire) as the root of a healthy life, including its properties, 13 main forms, and signs of healthy and impaired agni. We will explore the relationship between agni, the dhatus (tissues), and the balanced or imbalanced flow through the srotamsi (channels) and overall health and well being.

You are now more than halfway through your journey toward an advanced career in ayurveda as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor!

*To fulfill the requirements for professional membership with NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association) as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, 50 supervised client contact hours are required.

Requirements for Ayurvedic Health Counselor Certification:

• Completion of all four units of the Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist program, or comparable foundational program
• Completion of the Torchbearer Program: 10 supervised case study phone calls
• Completion of all eight units of the Ayurvedic Health Counselor program
• 50 supervised client contact hours obtained through the Torchbearer phone calls, on-site supervision, and Ayurvedic Health Counselor supervision phone calls
• 200-hour yoga teacher certification from a Yoga Alliance recognized yoga school (participation in the program without this prerequisite is permitted, however 200-hour certification must be obtained before Ayurvedic Health Counselor certification may be issued)

This program has been recognized by and is registered with NAMA (National Ayurvedic Medical Association).

Please contact our certifications department for more information about this and other recognized programs at [email protected].

*Accommodations are not included in the tuition price.