Curriculum and Schedule

Program Descriptions

Diploma – Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor (21 credits, 210 hours) prepares the student for a career as an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor, integrating body/mind assessment, nutrition, use of herbs, and lifestyle counseling.  Graduates of the Diploma Program may practice independently as Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselors under the provisions and conditions of the California Health Freedom Act, join the staffs of Yoga studios or spas, or become licensed as massage therapists and work in health resorts. The Diploma is a prerequisite for the Certificate – Ayurvedic Practitioner Program, a 740-hour (total) certificate program featuring on-site, supervised clinical internship in Ayurvedic Medicine.
Prerequisites:  High School graduation or equivalent.
Required Courses :  AY 100, AY 100A, AY 101, AY 102, AY 103, AY 104, AY 106, AY 107, and AY 108. 

Certificate – Ayurvedic Practitioner (49 credits, 490 hours, prerequisites: Diploma – Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor, and satisfaction of the Anatomy and Physiology requirement*) prepares the student for a career as an Ayurvedic Practitioner, integrating body/mind assessment, nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle counseling. Graduates of the Certificate Program may practice independently as Ayurvedic Practitioners under the California Health Freedom Act, join the staffs of some hospitals offering complementary modalities, or become licensed as massage therapists and work in upscale health resorts. The Certificate program offers on-site, supervised clinical internship in Ayurvedic Medicine in our Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center as well as externships offsite. Total hours including required Diploma are 740.
Prerequisite:  Diploma – Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor, and satisfaction of the Anatomy and Physiology requirement*.  Required Courses: AY109A and B, AY 201, AY 202, AY 203, AY 204, AY 304, AY 305, AY 306, AY 307, AY 308, AY 309, AY 310, AY 311, AY 312,  AY 314, AY 316, AY400, and AY406. 
            * The Anatomy and Physiology requirement can be satisfied by providing a transcript of an A&P course taken at a Junior College or equivalent, or by passing the A&P 2-weekend program provided by the Institute.

 

Master of Arts -- Ayurveda (48 credits, Certificate – Ayurvedic Practitioner pre-requisite) offers comprehensive education and training in this traditional form of medicine from India.  It combines classroom education and clinical training with an emphasis on creating a skilled Ayurvedic Practitioner. The Master’s program provides education and training in Ayurvedic medical theory, diagnosis, philosophy and treatment modalities.  Students learn herbal medicine, constitutional analysis, nutrition, Yoga, and rejuvenation therapies in the clinic and classroom. The Master of Arts – Ayurveda program offers clinical internship in Ayurvedic Medicine, externships offsite and a required Masters’ Thesis.
Prerequisite:  B.A. or B.S. and Certificate – Ayurvedic Practitioner.
Required Courses: AY 500, AY 501, AY 505, AY 510, AY 511, AY 515, AY 520, AY 525, AY 530, AY 535, AY 540, AY 560, AY 560, and AY 561.

 

2008 CURRICULUM, FACULTY AND SCHEDULE

AY 109A - Western Anatomy & Physiology

Instructor: Tom Sourisseau, M.Sc Biology,   D.C.
November 30 – December 2, 2007

AY 109B - Western Anatomy & Physiology

Instructor: Tom Sourisseau, M.Sc Biology,   D.C.
December 7-9, 2007

AY 100 - Yoga and Meditation Practicum I

Saturday, 7:30-9:30 am (on program weekends)
Instructor: MMI Staff.
This course introduces the practice of Yoga. Students will be required to perform Yoga postures and breathing practices. This course is taken concurrently with AY 101, AY 102, AY 103, AY 104, AY 106, AY 107, AY 108. Credits:  1.8. Prerequisites: None.

AY 100A - Sanskrit

Instructor:   Bhavani A. Siegel, RYT500
This course introduces the student to the ancient Vedic language of Sanskrit. Students
learn to read, write and chant Sanskrit. This course is taken concurrent with AY 101, AY
102, AY 103, AY 104, AY 106, AY 107, AY 108

AY 101 - Introduction to Ayurveda

January 17-20, 2008

Instructor: Vasant D. Lad, B.A.M.S., MASc.
This course introduces students to the 5,000 year old tradition of Ayurveda, its aims and objectives, basic principles, concepts of health and disease, methods of examining patients, and treatment methods. Students will gain a solid foundation in the science, history, and philosophy of Ayurveda. They will be introduced to the concepts of individual nature and dosha imbalance as the basis for diagnosis of health and disease, as well as the five- element theory. Credits: 2.8

AY 102 - Introduction to Pathophysiology and Diagnosis I

February 21-24, 2008

Instructor: R.H. Singh, B.A.M.S., Ph.D.
This course examines the disease process in Ayurvedic medicine, including Ayurvedic anatomy and physiology, the cause of disease, formation of tissues, and stages and classification of disease. Students will learn the process of constitutional analysis. Credits: 2.8. Prerequisites: AY 101.

AY 103 - Introduction to Ayurvedic Lifestyle Management

March 6-9, 2008

Instructor: Jay Apte, B.A.M.S., M.S.
This course introduces the student to Ayurvedic recommendations for creating healthy lifestyles, daily and seasonal routines, yogic cleansing practices and self-care. Students will also learn therapies focusing on the five senses. Credits 2.8. Prerequisites: AY 102

 

AY 104 - Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Disease

April 3-6, 2008

Instructor: MMI Faculty
This course teaches Yoga philosophy and practice and its benefits in health and disease. Students will learn the effects of different styles of yoga practice, yogic cleansing for disease prevention, & meditation and breathing practices to restore healthy balance. Credits: 2.8. Prerequisites: AY 103.

AY 107 - Ayurvedic Nutrition I

May 8-11, 2008

Instructor: Sarita Shrestha, , B.A.M.S. (MD-Ayur), OB/GYN,
This course introduces the principles of Ayurvedic nutrition and digestion. Students will learn the use of diet and nutrition programs in health and disease, individual guidelines for diet, a balanced diet for the seasons, and explore the Ayurvedic approach to the energetics of food. Credits: 2.8 Prerequisites: AY 104

AY 106 - Ayurvedic Psychology

June 19-22, 2008

Instructor: R.H. Singh, B.A.M.S., Ph.D.
This course introduces the student to the energetics of consciousness, the Ayurvedic description of the mind and therapies to treat the mind. Credits: 2.8 Prerequisites: AY 107.

 

AY 108 – Ayurvedic  Nutrition  II

July 17-20, 2008

Instructors: NAMA certified Ayurvedic Practitioners Ambika Cynthia Copple, B.A.,, CMT,  Pratibha Sharon, B.A., C.A.S., R.Y.T., Della Davis, MA
Students will learn the therapeutic use of food and spices, using food as medicine. It introduces Ayurvedic cooking and foods to balance the doshas and maintain health. Students will learn hands-on to prepare Ayurvedic meals. Credits: 2.8. Prerequisites: AY 107.

Graduation:  July 20, 2008

 

CERTIFICATE

AY 200 - Yoga and Meditation Practicum II

This course further deepens the practice of Yoga. Students will be required to perform Yoga postures and breathing practices. This course is taken concurrent with AY 201, AY 202, AY 203, AY 204, AY 304, AY 305, AY 306, AY 307, AY 308, AY 309, AY 310. AY 311. AY 312, AY 314. Credits: 2.8. Prerequisites: AY 108.

AY 200A - Sanskrit

Instructor:  Instructor:   Bhavani A. Siegel, RYT500
This course introduces the student to the ancient Vedic language of Sanskrit. Students
learn to read, write and chant Sanskrit. This course is taken concurrent with  AY 108, 
AY 202,  AY 203, AY 204, AY 304

AY 201 - Introduction to Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine I

August 21-24, 2008

Instructor: Vivek Shambhag, N.D., M.D. (Ayurveda), B.A.M.S., C.Y.Ed.
This course teaches the traditional use of herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. Students will study Ayurvedic herbal philosophy and practices, the Herbal Materia Medica, and the terminology of herbal actions. They will begin to understand the use of Ayurvedic herbs to restore physical and psychological balance. Credits: 2.8. Prerequisites: AY 108.

AY 202 - Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine II

September 18-21, 2008

Instructor: Shambhag, N.D., M.D. (Ayurveda), B.A.M.S., C.Y.Ed.
Building on Introduction to Herbal Medicine I, students will learn how to combine herbs into formulas to restore physio/mental equilibrium and treat specific imbalances. Credits: 2.8. Prerequisites: AY 201.

AY 203 - Introduction to Pathophysiology

October 16-19, 2008

Instructor:  Avinash Lele, B.A.M.S., MASc
This course introduces the six stages of disease, causes of disease, digestion, assimilation and elimination. Students are introduced to physical history, exam and doshic diagnosis. Credits: 2.8. Prerequisites: AY 202.

AY 204 - Ayurvedic Diagnosis II

November 20-23, 2008

Instructor: John Douillard, PhD., D.C.
Students are introduced to modes of diagnosis including pulse reading, tongue diagnosis and assessing the mental state and dhatus, malas and srotas. Students will begin to practice these modes as homework and internship after completing the course. Credits: 2.8 Prerequisites: AY 203.

AY 300 - Internship I: Observation and Clinical Discussion

Students will have the opportunity to observe Master Ayurvedic Practitioners in a clinical setting and discuss diagnostic methods and treatments. They will begin to develop diagnostic skills under the supervision of the supervision of skilled Ayurvedic Practitioners. Taken concurrently with AY 304, AY 306, AY 307. AY 308, AY 309, and AY 310. Credits: 3.

AY 304 - Disease Management: Digestive System

December 11-14, 2008

Instructor: Aparna Bapat, B.A.M.S. (tentative)
This course is an introduction to the digestive system in Ayurvedic Medicine, including the assessment of digestive health and diso