The staff of the Ayurvedic Institute, particularly the Education Administrator and the Institute Administrator, are available to talk with and assist students in various matters. These include applying to the Institute, questions or problems regarding the course, the status of Ayurveda in the U.S., opportunities and problems with practicing Ayurveda, studying Ayurveda elsewhere, and any other topic or situation a student wishes to discuss, including personal matters.
 

The Institute does not have student lodging or cooking facilities, but there are many homes, apartments, motels, hotels and restaurants within a few miles. Rental cars, the public bus system, taxis, car pooling, bicycles and walking are all transportation options.

It is possible to live without a car in Albuquerque, as there is plenty of housing within walking and biking distance of the Institute as well as health food and grocery stores, a library, and restaurants. However, for those who are accustomed to larger cities with extensive public transportation, the systems in Albuquerque will seem somewhat limited.

It is approximately a 25 minute drive from the Institute to the Albuquerque airport.

Rental Housing. In Albuquerque, it is possible to rent a one-bedroom austere, unfurnished apartment for about $795 per month, though there are a limited number that are close to the Institute. The average two-bedroom unfurnished apartment begins at $895 per month, and a three-bedroom house is from $1000 to $1,400 per month, and up. There are several apartment complexes within walking distance of the Institute. A limited number of area homes rent an extra bedroom to students. We would be happy to mail our list of available housing to any applicant upon request.

Living Expenses. Our estimation of $1,000 US per month (including your housing) that needs to be available to international students to obtain your visa is just that: an estimation. Please allow for the possibility that your amount may be much higher or lower (rare) than you are accustomed to spending in one month. If you have any questions about estimated living expenses, please contact the Education Administrator or email Registrar.

Tuition. Students should be aware that the tuition for the Ayurvedic Studies Programs, Levels 1 and 2 does not include the optional yoga teaching program, extra weekend seminars that you may want to take, nor does it include the Summer Intensive courses that occur within the month after school ends. Many international students like to use the grace period offered by the student visa (this extends for one month from the last day of school) to attend the Summer Intensives. Please allow for this extra tuition in planning your budget if you think you might be interested in these additional courses.

Textbooks and Materials. You may expect to pay approximately $500 for required textbooks. In addition to books, you may want to purchase notebooks or other organization materials.

Albuquerque is at an elevation of 5,000 feet and has a high desert climate. In recent years weather has proven unpredictable. Historically, it is not uncommon for it to snow in town a few times a month from November to March. In winter, the air is cold but direct sunlight is often warm. In the city, winter temperatures range from 20 at night to 50s on sunny days. The beautiful Sandia mountain range immediately to the east has snow cover much of the winter. In fact, there is a small ski resort on the eastern side, approximately 30 minutes drive from the city. The summer temperatures are usually in the 80s and 90s but with the low humidity, it does not seem as hot. The summer temperatures also bring frequent afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

Santa Fe, with all of its art and culture, is a one-hour drive to the north. Taos is about 3 hours away and southern Colorado is approximately a 4 to 5 hour drive to the north. There are various hiking, boating and skiing opportunities available within just a few hours drive.

 

Students without cars should live within walking or biking distance of the Institute because the buses do not run after the evening classes are dismissed. Albuquerque is a sprawling city and students who wish to go downtown, near the University area or to the major shopping malls must plan bus trips within the limited hours of the bus system. It is possible to walk from the Institute's general area to a variety of grocery stores and restaurants and to a limited number of trails in the Sandia mountain range, but the bus system or a car is needed for access to a wider variety of shopping and recreational locations. Buses generally run from the early morning until around 7:00 PM on weekdays, with more limited hours on weekends for all but the busiest bus lines.

In Albuquerque there are many good restaurants, but vegetarians need to select carefully from each restaurant's menu. The area around the University of New Mexico definitely has a "university" feel and the "old town" areas of Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos offer many choices for shopping and sightseeing.

We recommend students not work while attending the program. At most, a student will need to keep working hours to a 12-15 hour week. Albuquerque is the largest city in New Mexico. Probably the biggest employers are the hundreds, if not thousands, of small businesses.  

If you are from either coast, the wages here will be much less than what you are accustomed to. A small compensating factor is that the cost of living is also somewhat less. The pinch comes because the cost of living is not as low as the wage scale is in relation to the coastal areas. On the balancing side, there doesn't seem to be as much to spend your money on. So, most people find that they can make do with less money.
 

Students often ask how they might apply their education from the Ayurvedic Institute upon graduation.

Graduates of the Ayurvedic Studies Program, Level I have a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of Ayurveda and can apply lifestyle principles to their own lives as well as those of family and friends to restore and 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 from the Ayurvedic Studies Program, Level 1 who desire to provide individualized professional health care should be able to do so as long as they maintain a consultant relationship with their clients, educate them in understanding their own constitution, any imbalances and about making lifestyle choices for restoring and maintaining a healthy life. Management of specific diseases should be referred to other healthcare professionals.

Graduates from the Ayurvedic Studies Program, Level 2 possess a deeper understanding of the medical science of Ayurveda. They are able to consult with clients from the perspective of constitutional imbalance using Ayurvedic principles to restore balance, including lifestyle management, basic Ayurvedic herbology and yoga. They are also able to begin integrating Ayurveda into other healthcare disciplines.
The Ayurvedic Institute does not at this time offer recognized medical programs in preparation for state licensure. Graduates in a clinical setting will need to personally have

formal training in another healthcare discipline or to team up with someone who does. It is important to understand that Ayurvedic physicians graduating from recognized Ayurvedic medical universities in India go through an average of 4 to 5 years of medical school and hospital internship before taking on the responsibility of being a primary health care provider.

If you plan to utilize Ayurveda in a professional practice, you will want to seriously consider continuing with the Ayurvedic Studies Program, Level 2 and the Pune Gurukula Programs to deepen your understanding through advanced classes and observing clinical practice. We offer numerous opportunities for continuing education including weekend seminars and weeklong summer intensives that focus on specific areas of study, many taught by Vasant Lad, such as Pulse Practicum, Ayurvedic Herbology and Panchakarma.

Based on our legal research and current understanding of state laws governing what is defined to be the practice of medicine, we feel the full practice of Ayurvedic medicine as one’s sole medical discipline could be determined to be “the practice of medicine” and therefore fall under all state laws governing medical practice. It is because of these state laws, in addition to the necessity of an appropriate level of education and training, that we feel it is particularly important to be well informed and conservative in the creation of an Ayurvedic professional practice.