Ayurvedic Health Counselor Level-1 Education
Next Program Begins September 7th, 2023
Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) Program
The Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) program prepares students to educate clients on appropriate diet and lifestyle choices. The curriculum is the foundation for further studies, including Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy or a Masters Degree in Ayurveda.
YOU WILL LEARN:
- Constitutional Assessment
- Yoga and Meditation
- Sanskrit
- Ayurvedic Anatomy, Physiology and Biology
- Ayurvedic Nutrition and Herbology
- Ayurvedic Psychology
- Ethics, Counseling, and Western Interface
- Ayurvedic Therapies
- Jyotish: Vedic Astrology
- ENT and Sense Therapies
- Women's and Children's Health
- Clinical Internship
“Ayurveda is for freeing the mind which is trapped in the body. Yoga is for freeing the soul which is trapped in the mind.” - Baba Hari Dass -
Outcome of the Program
Ayurvedic Health Counselors motivate, educate, and support clients to be successful in implementing Ayurvedic practices into their lives.
Graduates of the AHC program have gone on to:
- start a clinical practice
- join integrative healthcare practices as diet and lifestyle counselors
- work as a personal chef
- offer Ayurvedic bodywork in their massage practice
- integrate Ayurveda into their yoga instruction
- corporate coaching
- develop products
- write books on Ayurveda
Program Highlights
This 633 hour program combines in-person and online learning coursework to prepare students for a professional career as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor. Total program length is 12 months.
AHC Pre-requisite:
- 4 college level credits of Anatomy and Physiology (required to be completed prior to submitting an application)
- Applicants unable to complete A&P before the application deadline may join our Foundations program and complete A&P concurrently with the Foundations modules. Enroll in the program upon successful completion of both by April 1st.
Classes are held in the following format:
- Extended weekend intensive runs Thursday evening through Sunday evening and includes yoga, Sanskrit, and coursework. Classes also meet weekly online on Tuesday nights from 5:00-7:00 pm.
- For 2023 we will be hosting in-person classes with a remote option for attendance from January-April. Starting in May, all weekend courses must be attended in-person. (Tuesday evening classes are online for the duration of the program.)
Here is the typical daily schedule (subject to change)
Per Month | Course | Time (PST/PDT) | Hrs. |
Thursday | Integration | 6:00 - 8:00pm | 2 |
Friday | Yoga | 7:00 - 8:30am | 1.5 |
Sanskrit | 9:30 - 11:00am | 1.5 | |
Course 1 | 11:00am - 12:30pm | 1.5 | |
Course 1 | 1:30-5:30 pm | 4 | |
Saturday | Course 1 | 8:00 - 10:00am | 2 |
Course 1 | 11:00am - 1:00pm | 2 | |
Yoga | 1:00 - 2:30pm | 1.5 | |
Course 2 | 3:00 - 5:30pm | 2.5 | |
Sunday | Yoga | 7:00 - 8:30am | 1.5 |
Course 2 | 9:30am - 12:30pm | 3 | |
Course 2 | 1:30 - 5:30pm | 4 | |
Tuesday evenings (weekly online) | Integration, Courses 1 & 2 | 5:00 - 7:00pm | 8/month |
1 Friday morning monthly (online) | Sanskrit | 8:30-10:00am | 1.5 |
Total Synchronous Meetings | 36.5 hours | ||
Asynchronous Requirement (approximate per month | 30 hours | ||
Total Course Hours | 66.5 hours |
Most students spend 8-10 hours per week completing homework.
Why study at MMI?
- Accredited by WASC
- NAMA approved program
- BAMS & MA-Ayurveda trained faculty
- Convenient online meeting schedule
- In person clinical internship and practicum
- Small class sizes allow students to interact with faculty
- Payment plans to facilitate tuition
- Ready to practice as an AHC in 1 year
Mount Madonna Institute is accredited by:
Academic Programs Calendar for 2023 Cohort
Course dates:
- Next Program Begins September 7th, 2023
- Full schedule TBA
Classes begin Thursday evenings at 6:00pm and end Sunday evenings at 5:30pm.
Each weekend includes two courses, yoga, integration, and Sanskrit.

For questions, please contact the registrar at 408-846-4060.
Additional Resources
This program is NAMAC Recognized.
The National Ayurvedic Medical Accreditation Council (NAMAC) provides oversight over all recognized professional Ayurvedic educational programs. NAMAC recognition status indicates that programs administer an approved course of study, thus ensuring well-trained professionals, and provides greater transparency for consumers and the general public. Graduates of this program qualify to sit for NAMACB Certification Exams. For more information on NAMAC program recognition, please visit: https://www.ayurvedicaccredita...
Make your dream of studying Ayurveda affordable
Mount Madonna offers the following ways to support you in financing your education:
- Scholarship: check the scholarship box on your AHC application
- Discounted Meals and Lodging: this is available to all MMI students
- Payment Plans Available
Talk to an admissions counselor for more information!
Request Information
We would love to hear from you.
Our 2022 cohort is underway. The next cohort starts in September 2023
Please contact us for more assistance at 408-846-4060.