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| The Ayurvedic Studies Program,
Level 1 |
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The Ayurvedic Studies Program Level 1 (ASP 1) is the foundation of the educational programs offered at the Ayurvedic Institute. Students acquire a thorough understanding of the principles and practices of Ayurveda, Sanskrit, AyurYoga, and Anatomy and Physiology.
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Graduates can apply lifestyle principles and practices to their own lives as well as those of family and friends to maintain a healthy life. They will also be able to teach the introductory theory and principles of Ayurveda to others in a community or group lecture setting. Graduates who desire to offer individualized professional health care should be able to do so as long as they educate them in understanding their own constitution and any imbalances they experience, and consult with them in making non-medical lifestyle choices for restoring and maintaining a healthy life.
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General Program Information
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The academic year is divided into three,
10-week quarters,
each followed by a break.
The school year begins October 6, 2008 with Orientation Week (required). Classes end May 29, 2009, with oral exams over the following two weeks and graduation on Friday, June 12, 2009.
This
program is limited to 45 full-time students.
All of the ASP Level 1 programs include lectures, breakout sessions and an emphasis on practical exercises.
Students earn 665 hours total of classroom time.
Students spend 21-25 hours per week in class (as compared to 16 hours per week for a full university class load).
Each week, a student can expect to spend a minimum of 1 hour on outside assignments and homework for each hour of class time. Anticipate spending 45-50 hours per week focused on school, including class time and outside homework. This is a somewhat conservative estimate.
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While it is possible to work part-time, the time students have available beyond class time and study is very limited. We recommend you not depend on an extensive workload for your living expenses.
Classes are primarily offered Monday through Thursday in the afternoons and evenings. Yoga course sessions are two mornings a week and an optional course of Ayurvedic Review is offered on Fridays.
While it is not required, students with no experience with hatha yoga may want to take a class in beginner’s hatha yoga in their home community prior to beginning our program.
Special Ayurvedic Weekend Seminars and Intensives that offer in-depth study of special areas of Ayurveda are available at an additional fee. While not required, these often-requested topics have included aromatherapy, subtle therapies, panchakarma, pulse assessment and more. Vasant Lad’s seminars may repeat some information included in the regular curriculum, as well as present new information. (Refer
to our Event Calendar.)
The Ayurvedic Institute reserves the right to make adjustments to the curriculum without prior notification to students. |
Certificate Options
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Students may choose to participate in the Ayurvedic Studies Program Level 1 with one of two options:
Certificate of Completion
Students develop knowledge and skill through individual and progressive group work, interactive exercises, projects, presentations and supervised practice with staff and students to develop clinical competencies. Each student is individually evaluated by faculty and the Education Administrator as being qualified prior to receiving permission to work with community clients.
Continued participation in all courses, requires that students meet all attendance requirements, successfully complete all mandatory homework and exams, pass the oral exam at the end of the academic year, be a student in good standing, and have paid all tuition in full. Successful completion of the program includes: full participation in all courses, evaluation by course instructors on the student’s ability to apply Ayurvedic principles clinically during all client consultations, approval to work with community clients, and to interact professionally with clients, their fellow students and faculty.
Students interested in applying for the Ayurvedic Studies Level 2 program, must successfully graduate from Level 1 and meet additional requirements. Applications are reviewed by faculty and administration. Students must demonstrate a high level of participation, commitment and understanding in the classroom, and interaction with clients which is indicative of an Ayurvedic clinical professional. |
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Audit
The choice to audit is made every year by students who wish to learn Ayurveda for self-healing or for their own personal practice, yet have no desire to earn a certificate. Students who begin the year as certificate students may choose to change to audit status at any time with the exception of international students, who are required to participate on a certificate basis.
Auditing is permitted for the full program only. Due to the inter-related course content, auditing is not permitted for individual courses.
Auditing students are required to follow all attendance, tardy and session participation requirements but are not required to complete quizzes or exams. They do not consult with public clients but observe consultation reviews. They are not required to take the oral exam at the end of the academic year, but may do so if they wish. Full program audit students pay the same tuition as certificate students. Applicants wishing to audit only the evening Ayurvedic Lectures may contact the office and, if room is available, may be approved to audit on a session-by-session basis or for full quarters. |
Textbooks
and materials
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Most courses require textbooks or workbooks.
Additional books may be recommended but not required. These
are available in our student library and may be used on our
premises.
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Books are available from our bookstore.
Cost of required textbooks and
materials is approximately $500
and is in addition to tuition.
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Work
Study Opportunities
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Work study jobs are available in
limited numbers; however, they do not
provide a substantial amount of
earnings and cannot be counted upon
to support the student’s endeavors to
any great degree. Work study students
earn credit toward future tuition for
classes or special weekend and weeklong
seminars.
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All students are given
an equal chance to sign up for available
positions during Orientation
Week and, based upon student
availability and experience, jobs are
distributed on as fair a basis as
possible.
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Orientation
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Students are required to attend the Orientation Week beginning Monday, October 6, 2008. Students will attend daytime and evening sessions, and will have occasional free time during the day and weekend to settle into their new homes in Albuquerque.
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When arriving in Albuquerque, students are requested to check in at the Institute and to pick up a copy of the Orientation Week schedule.
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Curriculum

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| Ayurvedic
Studies Program, Level 1 |
Quarter
1
Ayurvedic Lectures
Lifestyle Practices
Integrated lab
Sanskrit
AyurYoga
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology |
Quarter
2
Ayurvedic Lectures
Lifestyle Practices
Integrated lab
Sanskrit
AyurYoga
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology |
Quarter
3
Ayurvedic Lectures
Lifestyle Practices
Integrated lab
Sanskrit
AyurYoga
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology |
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Ayurvedic Lectures, Level 1
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This course is the foundation
for the educational programs offered at the Ayurvedic Institute
and provides a thorough understanding of the basic principles
and practices of Ayurveda. It includes philosophy, theory,
and assessment and management.
The first quarter includes a series of
videotape lectures by Vasant Lad facilitated by our instructors.
In the second and third quarters Vasant Lad personally teaches
based on his extensive understanding of the ancient texts
as well as his long years of experience as an Ayurvedic physician.
This course is mostly lecture format with some exercises and
practicums. Material is presented from Dr. Lad’s knowledge and minimal printed material is available in quarters two and three. Students will need to depend upon their personal notes. Most of the practical application of this course's material occurs in the other courses.

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Content, Quarter 1
Introduction to Ayurvedic Theory
(Video Series Facilitated by Instructor)
Introduction
to Sankhya theory and the roots of Vedic philosophy.
Spirituality
in daily life and the aims of life; dharma, artha, kama
and moksha.
Gunas
(universal qualities).
Pancha
mahabhuta (the five basic elements of creation).
Doshic
theory (functional principles in biological systems).
Dinacharya
(daily routine).
Vata
dosha (the air principle), its subtypes, and the effects
when increased and decreased.
Pitta
dosha (the fire principle), its subtypes, and the effects
when increased and decreased.
Kapha
dosha (the earth principle), its subtypes, and the effects
when increased and decreased.
Prakruti
(constitution).
Vikruti
(constitutional disorders).
The
mind; manas prakruti and manas vikruti.
The
concept of agni (transformation).
The
six tastes and the process of digestion.
Introduction
to dhatus (body tissues).
Introduction
to the concept of srotas (functional systems in the
body).
Introduction
to ojas, tejas and prana.
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Ayurvedic Lectures, Level 1
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Basic Principles of
Ayurvedic Physiology, Health and Imbalance
The
Ayurvedic understanding of and inter-relationship of the body,
mind and spirit.
Structure
andfunction of the body: five elements, three doshas, nadis,
srotamsi, vayus, etc.
Mind:
antakaran (the inner equipment of mind), prana (vital air),
manas (sensory mind), chitta (mind), buddhi (intellect), dhruti
(retention), smruti (memory) andahamkara (ego).
Spirit:
jiva (soul), karma, samskaras, koshas (sheaths): anna (physical
body), prana (vital air), mano (sensory mind), jnana (mind),
vijnana (intellect), ananda (bliss sheath). Chakra system
and kundalini (vital energy).
The
Ayurvedic concept of health and disease.
Prakruti
and vikruti.
Ayurvedic
concept of digestion, assimilation and elimination.
Agni
(jathara agni, bhuta agni, dhatu agni, cellular agni) and
the clinical assessment of agni.
Rasa
(taste), virya (energy), vipaka (post-digestive effect), and
prabhava.
The
relationship of taste to the elements and the effect of the
gunas.
Time
and organ function.
Nutrition
and the functional relationship between srotas, dhatu, upadhatu,
dhatu mala, agni, and ojas, tejas and prana (the subtle refined
essences of the tissues).
Overview
of Ayurvedic etiology and pathogenesis: Nidana-panchakam.
Nidana:
an in-depth look at etiological factors of imbalance.
Purva-rupa
(prodromal symptoms), rupa (cardinal signs and symptoms),
upashaya (therapeutic trial).
Samprapti
(pathogenesis) and dosha gati.
Clinical
determination of the stage of samprapti.
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Opening the Doors to Ayurvedic Assessment
Methods
of acquiring information: academic, direct perception, and
inference
Trividha
pariksha (the three-fold examination): darshana (observation),
sparshana (tactile perception), prashna (questioning)
Ashtavidha
pariksha (the eight-fold examination): nadi (pulse), mutra
(urine), mala (feces), jihva (tongue), shabda (voice), sparsha
(palpation), drig (eyes), akruti (form)
Marmas
(Ayurvedic energy points)
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Ayurvedic Lectures, Level 1
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Basic Principles of
Ayurvedic Management
Using
the rugna patrakam and the dosha assessment forms for prakruti
/ vikruti, and manas prakruti / vikruti.
Chikitsa:
the Ayurvedic approach to management of imbalance and disease:
Determine prakruti.
Determine vikruti (the present altered state of doshas in
the body).
Determine the cause or causes of illness, such as diet,
lifestyle, emotional patterns, quality of relationships,
genetic predisposition.
Remove the cause.
Provide the proper regimen (diet, exercise, pranayama) according
to the person's prakruti, vikruti, seasons, climate, age,
and so on.
Provide a detoxification procedure: either shamana (palliation)
or shodana (elimination), such as panchakarma.
Provide therapies that are (a) antagonistic to the provoked
dosha or (b) antagonistic to the disease, based on the principle
that opposite qualities balance.
Provide rasayana (rejuvenation) for the body in general,
to increase immunity, to strengthen specific organs and
tissues.
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Sapta
shamanam (seven palliative measures).
Shodhana
(cleansing measures): purvakarma, pradhanakarma (panchakarma),
paschyatakarma, rasayana.
General
management of vata, pitta, kapha (utilizing appropriate lifestyle
practices).
Practicum
and individual cases:
With special reference to lifestyle
recommendations in order to maintain and restore constitutional
balance.
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Lifestyle Practices, Level 1
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This course begins with educating and preparing
students to develop and practice their own unique Ayurvedic
lifestyle plan. This includes daily routine, self-massage,
diet, cooking and eating practices, meditation, yamas and
niyamas (spiritual restraints and intentional practices) to
mention only a few.
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As the course progresses, students
learn more in-depth practical applications of Ayurvedic principles,
which continue to support their personal practices and prepare
them for educating and consulting with others. |
Integrated Lab, Level 1
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This course consists of progressive group work, interactive exercises, projects, presentations and client consultations building on and integrating the knowledge and skill sets acquired in the other courses. Prior to receiving permission to work with community clients, each student is individually evaluated and approved by faculty and the education administrator as being qualified. In order to work with clients, students are required to maintain passing grades in all other courses where they are monitored for understanding, participation and successful testing.
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Successful completion of Integrated Lab includes evaluation by course instructors on the student’s ability to apply Ayurvedic principles clinically during client consultations, and to interact professionally with the client and their fellow student and faculty. Students are monitored for the quality of their consultations through their paperwork reviews, class reports, and class participation. Any student not demonstrating sufficient understanding of any course material or applying it correctly with clients will be offered academic or supervised support until this is remedied. In the event instructors and the education administrator determine the student is still not able to work with clients successfully, that student may no longer do so, and will be automatically placed on full program audit status.
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Sanskrit, Level 1
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Students learn to read, write and chant the Sanskrit alphabet,
Ayurvedic sutras, and related Ayurvedic vocabulary.
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This course
is not intended to teach Sanskrit as a second language and
does not include extensive grammar.
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AyurYoga, Level 1
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AyurYoga applies the principles and understanding of Ayurveda to the practice of yoga. Through individual practice students gain a personally experiential understanding of the effect yoga has on the gunas, constitutional balance and how to restore and maintain that balance. Class participation is focused on understanding Ayurvedic applications and is not intended as a personal yoga routine.
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Students are required and responsible for establishing personal yoga routines outside of the curriculum. Concepts taught are supportive of all Ayurvedic constitutions and students are required to learn and practice in the class sessions what is taught regardless of their prior or personal yoga preferences.
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Anatomy and Physiology, Introduction, Level 1
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This course provides a basic introduction to
anatomy and physiology that supports the ASP 1 program. The
material is presented primarily from the Western point of
view and will not necessarily be associated with an Ayurvedic perspective.
All Ayurvedic Studies Program students who
are working toward a certificate are required to know the
material presented. However, any student who has a working knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology may request to be examined for exemption from attendance of class. There will be a $50 fee for this examination. In addition to passing the exam, this student will need to provide official written proof of: 1) current professional work in a medical discipline actively using knowledge of A&P and 2) a college level course of a minimum of 60 class hours in A&P taken within the last two years.
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Requests for examination must be received during the first two weeks of Quarter 1. All requests must be accompanied by the official documentation of your previous education and training in Anatomy and Physiology. If approved, an exemption will waive your attendance and course requirements.
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Ayurvedic Studies Program Level 1 Calendar

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Quarter 1, Fall 2008
October 6 - First day of Orientation Week
October 13 - First day of class
November 27-30 - Thanksgiving break
December 18 - Last day of class
December 19 - January 4 - Winter Break
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Quarter 2, Winter 2009
January 5 - First day of class
March 13 - Last day of class
March 14-22 - Spring Break
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Quarter 3, Spring 2009
March 23 - First day of class
May 25 - Closed for Memorial Day
May 29 - Last day of class
June 1-11 - Oral exams
June 12 - Friday afternoon graduation
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