Marma Chikitsa: The Inner Pharmacy

“The entire Vedic tradition is composed of highly spiritual wisdom and pure knowledge revealed through the hearts of enlightened rishis (seers). It is not a creation made by the mind of man but rather a revelation from the hearts of meditative sages.” – Vasant Lad, Ayurvedic Physician The Ayurvedic Institute welcomes newcomers, students and practitioners alike to join Vasant Lad in a week-long immersion into Ayurveda’s Ancient Sister Sciences: Yoga (physical postures), Pranayama (control of the body’s vital force through the breath), Jyotish (astrology), Vastu (understanding the arrangement of objects) and hastha samudrika shastra (palmistry). These Sister Sciences have deep roots in the Vedas of India and have been taught and practiced for thousands of years. Just as mind, body, and consciousness are integrated in Ayurveda, the well-being of an individual is a complex tapestry of interwoven factors and experiences. What indications of balance and imbalance are revealed in an astrological chart? What secrets of the mind can be unearthed amidst the contours and lines of the palm? What knowledge can be gained by discerning the impact of a home’s arrangement on physical and energetic health? An adept Ayurvedic physician can gain a vast perspective by using the integration of these powerful traditional systems for individual and universal well-being. Whether you plan to incorporate the Sister Sciences as therapeutic guides, potent diagnostic tools, or simply to gain a better understanding of yourself and your place in the universe, prepare to be introduced to their living wisdom from an Ayurvedic perspective over the course of this Intensive week. Our exploration, including both lecture and hands-on practicum experience with Vasant Lad, will inspire a lifetime of investigation into the spiritual wisdom and pure knowledge revealed through these ancient modalities.