Become an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist!

To study ayurveda is to study how our mind, body, and spirit are interconnected to nature and the world around us. Ayurveda is the sister science of yoga and focuses primarily on ayurvedic lifestyle practices that support health, balance, and self-transformation. Our unique four-unit Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist certification program incorporates a holistic understanding of the science of yoga as the foundation for the study of ayurveda. It is split into four, four-day modules that can be taken in any order.

In our Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist training program, you will learn the core concepts of ayurveda, including clinical, psychological, lifestyle, and philosophical applications of this ancient wisdom. You’ll learn how simple implementations of ayurvedic nutrition, diet, and routine can create profound transformations in your life and the lives of others. You’ll experience first-hand the healing power that comes from balancing the doshas through aligning your actions with the seasons. Immerse yourself in ayurvedic study at our 400-acre campus, nestled in the rolling hills of the Poconos, away from external distractions. Add a new dimension to your yoga teaching and personal practice and become an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist!

When you enroll in this exciting ayurveda program, you will learn the knowledge and skills needed to:

• Design dosha balancing asana sequences for different seasons, times of day, and specific ages
• Use ayurvedic recipes and food and spice combinations to address imbalances and promote health and vitality
• Create a practical lifestyle plan for yourself and your students based upon specific needs and goals
• Offer one-on-one ayurvedic consultations with a diet and lifestyle focus
• Confidently teach ayurvedic principles of wellness in the classroom
• Understand how the practices of yoga are supported by ayurvedic diet and lifestyle principles

Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist training program topics include:

• How prana (life force) and ojas (deep vitality) can be cultivated to regulate and support agni (digestive fire) for optimal health
• A deeper knowledge of doshas (constitutions), gunas (psychological tendencies), vayus (winds or movement of prana), and koshas (sheaths)
• How to teach asana and pranayama to kindle agni and circulate prana for optimal energy management
• The alchemy of yoga and ayurveda
• Diet and lifestyle adjustments for daily, seasonal, and stage-of-life changes
• How to identify and address vikriti (constitutional imbalances) using asana, pranayama, deep relaxation, and meditation

Unit One: The Macrocosm and Microcosm of Ayurveda and Yoga

Unit one of the Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist Program is the introduction to ayurveda, the ancient science of life. One of the oldest medical sciences in the world, ayurveda is rich with simple methods to restore your health. This session is for anyone interested in learning about the foundations of ayurveda, how ayurveda is related to yoga philosophy and practice, and how it can make you feel more at home within yourself. You will begin learning the basics of creating sustainable daily practices that support the balance of an individual’s constitution—the physical body, mental body, and sense of purpose. Yoga teachers and practitioners alike will discover how to work with asana, pranayama, relaxation, and meditation practices to support balance and overall well-being from an ayurvedic perspective.

Using interactive group work, lecture, and time for practice, you will:

• Learn more about the philosophical and spiritual foundations of ayurveda
• Discover how yoga and ayurveda support and complement each other
• Become more familiar with the tri-doshic theory of ayurveda (vata, pitta, kapha)
• Know the difference between prakriti (unique elemental nature) and vikriti (current state of imbalance)
• Begin to understand how to use the yogic practices of asana, pranayama, relaxation, and meditation to move toward greater wellness and balance
• Identify how your personal yoga practice supports your health and overall sense of well-being as you move through the different seasons of life
• Be able to practically implement ayurvedic and yogic concepts into daily routine, diet, and lifestyle management plans for clients and students, or for personal use

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

This is the only ayurvedic training program that requires a 200-hour yoga certification from an accredited yoga school to receive Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist Certification, ensuring our graduates understand a deeper knowledge of yoga. All dedicated yoga students and teachers are invited to take this training, and a letter of completion will be provided for those who do not wish to pursue a 200-hour yoga teacher certification.

Suggested Reading: Textbook of Ayurveda, Volume 1: Fundamental Principles, by Dr. Vasant Lad; Yoga & Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization, by David Frawley

This training is the foundation for our advanced ayurvedic training programs of Ayurvedic Health Counselor and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist, and must be completed before moving on to the next level. Sessions 1 to 3 can be taken as independent workshops and must be completed before registering for Unit 4. Unit 2 may be taken as an online course or in person only at the Himalayan Institute. All four sessions are required for certification.