Affordable Ayurveda Courses in India

Maa Yoga Ashram, Rishikesh

Maa Yoga Ashram - Rishikesh offers 2 weeks intensive beginners Ayurveda course and 4 weeks advanced Ayurveda practitioners course in India. If you already have a strong understanding of Ayurveda and have previously studied it, we can tailor your Ayurveda Course to fit your specific needs. Your Ayurveda Course will begin with a personal consultation with Dr. Amrit Raj and a basic Panchakarma. To dive into your own body enhances your expertise by including practices to help detoxify, cleanse and heal it with Ayurvedic Treatments combined with a yoga/meditation schedule. The fundamentals you learn in the Ayurveda Course can be incorporated into your lifestyle to live to your full potential: nourished, balanced and full of vitality.

If you already have a strong understanding of Ayurveda and have previously studied it, we can tailor your Ayurveda Course to fit your specific needs and interest. Our team includes Yogi Dr. Amrit Raj, a fourth generation Ayurvedic doctor, as well Dr. Rakesh Agarwal, Dr. Neelam Agarwal and Dr. Arjun Raj whom each have their own specialty and will bring a unique perspective to the course.

While big groups can be accommodated, we prefer to keep these Ayurveda courses intimate, maintaining a family-oriented environment conducive to individual growth and one on one attention with experts.

The Ayurvedic Philosophy

The Sanskrit word Ayurveda is derived from ‘Ayur’ – meaning Life – and ‘Veda’ – meaning Knowledge or Science. The basic Ayurvedic philosophy is that the whole universe consists of five elements: air, fire, water, earth and ether. Ayurveda believes that the well-being of human beings at any given moment has strong bearing on the quality, quantity, and configural pattern of these elements. An analysis of this pattern can give an accurate insight into the metabolism of the person and facilitate sooner recovery from ailments. The extended agenda of Ayurveda is to prevent the onset of imbalance altogether.
Ayurveda Course Syllabus
The content and topics included in the Ayurveda Course include, but are not limited to:

Foundations of Health Theory

In Ayurvedic philosophy, people are born with a specific constitution or prakriti. It is a combination of physical and psychological characteristics which are different for each person.

The prakriti is characterized by three qualities, or doshas. The Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas have specific impact on bodily functions. The doshas can experience imbalances, which produce different symptoms related to each specific dosha. These elements of the human physiology and psychology are affected by various internal, external and environmental factors.While an individual’s underlying prakriti remains unchanged throughout life, its surface can be swayed by things such as a poor diet, physical exertion, chemical or germs.

The Ayurvedic health theory encourages the prevention of illnesses by following a life style tailored to each person’s unique constitutional type. It recommends maintaining health through daily and seasonal regimes, meant to foster balance.

Health & Consciousness / Health & Nature

Ayurveda is the pathway to creating balance in order to attain perfect health. It helps us understand the interaction between body, mind and soul, thus enabling us to extend our life span and enhance our well-being. The purpose of Ayurveda is to know one’s true self. Ayurveda acknowledges that our mission on Earth is to remember who we are and to take care of our physical beings while we seek liberation. When harmony of body, mind and spirit is reached, we gain freedom.

Health, Disease & 3 Doshas (Kapha, Pitta, Vata)

In your Ayurveda Course, you will learn in depth about one of the most important parts of Ayurveda, the doshas. The Tridosha are the three biological units of the living body, which are responsible for its total functions. They are the result of a combination of the panchamahabhuta, or the five great elements that constitute the building blocks of life. The Tridosha control psychological and physiological bodily functions and, in equilibrium, uphold a person’s health. However, they are susceptible to imbalances, which cause disorders and illness. These vital elements of the cause, diagnosis and treatment of diseases are listed below:

Vata or wind:
Governs all motion in the body. It is composed of ether and air, which make it light, dry, mobile and cool. People with a predominance of vata in their body tend to exhibit these characteristics. When the Vata dosha is offset, it causes weight loss, constipation, arthritis, restlessness and digestive challenges.

Pitta or fire:
Governs all processes related to conversion and transformation throughout the mind and body. Pitta is primarily composed by fire, which make it hot, light, sharp and fluid. It also contains water, and thus is not moist nor dry. People with a predominance of vata in their body exhibit these characteristics, often in the shape of a fiery personality and oily skin. Pitta imbalances commonly manifest in the shape of infection, inflammation, rashes, ulcers, heartburn and fever.

Kapha:
Governs growth in the body. It is composed of water and earth, hence why it is moist, heavy, static, soft, cold and sticky. People with a Kapha energy are generally thicker and have denser bones and skin. They also have moist, soft skin and full, thick hair. Kapha imbalances are related to obesity, some types of cancer, bronchitis, lung congestion and fluid retention syndromes, among others.

Food guidelines for basic constitutional types

Ayurveda is based on the belief that nothing suits everyone and everything suits someone. In short: everyone is biochemically different and unique; hence why it is impossible to develop a nutrition plan that suits us all.
People with a Vata nature typically require more grains, dairy, nuts oils, salt and spice in their diets. Vata types need nourishing foods, which does not often come from a vegetarian diet. They are also advised to avoid too many salads, fruits and beans.
Pitta types need more raw vegetables and mildly spied foods.
Furthermore, people with a Kapha nature benefit from lighter and hot foods, such as vegetables and spicy meals. Kapha types should avoid sweets, dairy, nuts, wheat and rice.
Finally, Ayurvedic medicine relies on the principle that all good health starts with proper digestion and nutrition. Therefore, in your Ayurveda Course, you will learn how to design a dietary plan tailored to you or your patient’s unique physiology. It also promotes a sattvic or life supporting routine, in order to achieve a happier, healthier and more vital life.

Herbal Remedies

Ayurvedic herbal medicine dates back thousands of years and has been refined through practical application and experience. It is based on the theory of the Tridoshas, which are dynamic combinations of the five great elements. As such, Ayurvedic herbal medicine does not seek to treat and alleviate specific diseases and disorders, rather, it is a comprehensive healthcare system that prescribes a way of life.

The purpose of an Ayurveda practitioner is to balance their patient’s unique body/mind constitution. Through your Ayurveda Course, you will be able to identify your patients’ Ayurvedic constitutional type, as well as diagnose the cause of the imbalance and decide on the herbal remedies which apply to their condition.

Knowledge of Herbs and Spices

In addition to the knowledge provided by the Tridoshas, the Ayurveda practitioner anchors themselves in the science of Herbal Energies. This system classifies herbs based on their therapeutic and biochemical properties, as well as their energies, tastes and the organs and channels affected. Each herb has therapeutic properties, based on its energy.

The Ayurveda practitioner prescribes herbal remedies based on their properties or energy/quality. These are determined based on the twenty attributes, which present themselves in ten pairs of opposites: slow/sharp, oily/dry, cold/hot, slimy/rough, dense/liquid, soft/hard, static/mobile, subtle/gross, cloudy/clear and heavy/light. Herbs are further divided according to six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Everyone needs the six tastes in their daily diet, however, one of them usually predominates.

Svasthya or health

In Ayurveda, health is not merely the absence of sickness, but the state in which mind, body and spirit live in a happy state. A healthy living being has a balance between the doshas, with adequate functioning of the dhatus (body tissues), agni (metabolic enzymes and digestive functions), mala (metabolic by-products and excretory functions) and gratifications or indriya (sensory modalities), manah (mental faculty) and atma (self).

Pancha Mahabhuta

According to Ayurveda, everything in the universe, and thus, in the human body, is comprised of five great elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth. They are mixed in a variety of proportions and make every part of matter unique. The five great elements create the dynamic flux that moves the universe and thus constitute the base for all diagnosis and treatment in Ayurveda.

Tridosha

They are the three essential components of the mind and make up the Manasa Prakriti or psychological constitution. The Triguna are: Satva, Rajas and Tamasa. Much akin to what happens with the Tridosha, the Triguna are mixed in an unique way for each person. Rajas and Tamas are susceptible to imbalances, caused by stress and negative desires.

Triguna

They are the three essential components of the mind and make up the Manasa Prakriti or psychological constitution. The Triguna are: Satva, Rajas and Tamasa. Much akin to what happens with the Tridosha, the Triguna are mixed in an unique way for each person. Rajas and Tamas are susceptible to imbalances, caused by stress and negative desires.

Sapta-dhatu

In Ayurveda, there are seven bodily tissues which compose the human body. They are: sukra (reproductive tissues), majja (bone marrow and nervous tissues), asthi (bone), meda (fatty tissues), mamsha (muscle tissue), rakta (formed blood cells) and rasa (plasma). Each body tissue is formed from the previous tissue in ascending order of complexity. When food is ingested, it is digested until it becomes a liquid in the small intestines and becomes ahara rasa, or food essence. It then is transformed into rasa dhatu, then into rakta dhatu and so on, until it is finally transformed into sukra dhatu.

Malas

They are the waste products of food and the dhatus produced during the normal digestive and metabolical process. The three primary malas are purisa (faeces), mutra (urine) and sveda (sweat).

5 Elements

In Ayurveda, there are five elements which form the building blocks of life. These are Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth and are listed from the subtle, light and intangible to the heavy, dense and gross.

Ether or Akasha:
It is the space in which everything happens. Ether is the source of all matter and the space in which it exists. Its chief characteristic is sound, which represents the entire spectrum of vibration.

Air or Vayu:
It is existence without form. Air is the gaseous form of matter, which is mobile and dynamic.

Fire or Agni:
It possesses the power to transform the state of any substance. It creates the impulses of our nervous reactions, our feelings and thought processes. It is a form without substance.

Water or Jala:
Represents the liquid state and defines change. It is also necessary for the survival of all living things. Water is a substance without stability.

Earth or Prithvi:
Represents the solid state of the matter. It characterizes stability, permanence and rigidity. Earth is considered a stable substance, represented by body parts such as bones, teeth and tissues.
According to Ayurveda, humans are the union of the five great elements and the immaterial self. Hence why, by understanding the dominant elements in an individual, one can anticipate the factors that will influence their mind and body.

Panchkarma (Detox)

Panchakarma —”five treatments” in Sanskrit— is a detoxification program for the mind, body and consciousness. It strengthens the immune system and restores balance and wellbeing by cleansing the body from vitiated Doshas and a toxic substance called Ama, left by disease and poor nutrition. Panchakarma therapy is typically performed in three stages:

Purvakarma:
It is a preparatory step which helps the bod discard toxins by removing them from the stomach and tissue and guiding them to the alimentary canal.

Pradhanakarma:
It is a highly individualized treatment, based on the needs of the patient, depending on their Ayurvedic constitutional type, doshic imbalances, age, among others. The specialized Ayurveda Practitioner decides if the patient requires all or only parts of the therapy.

Paschatkarma:
Post treatment care, which includes the diet regime and general guidelines to live a healthy life. Pradhanakarma involves the five treatments which make up the core of Panchakarma:

Vamana

It is a painless, drug-induced emesis. Vamana is especially used in Kapha-related illnesses, such as diabetes, arthritis, asthma, psoriasis, etc.

Virechana It is a medicated purgation therapy. Virechana removes Pitta toxins from the colon and gallbladder, where they accumulate. It is useful in treating illnesses such as vitiligo, headache, elephantiasis, herpes, etc.

Vasti It cleanses all three accumulated Doshas: Kapha, Pitta and Vata. Vasti consists in cleansing the patient’s colon with a herbal enema decoction. It helps alleviate spleen disorders, colic, kidney stones and other Vata disorders, as well as low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, among others.

Nasya It is the administration of medial oils or powders through the nose, in order to clean Kapha toxins from the head and neck. Nasya is excellent for chronic sinusitis, headaches, throat diseases, epilepsy, migraine, etc.

Rakthamokshana It is only used in rare conditions and excluded from general Panchakarma. Rakthamokshana removes impurities from the blood through leech therapy and other methods.

Depending on your level of knowledge and the other students in your course, Dr. Amrit will adjust the information covered and course material so that it is most beneficial for everyone.

Holistic Approach

Ayurveda is prevention-oriented, free from harmful side-effects and capable of treating disease at its source. It can legitimately claim to be both scientific and truly holistic, employing 20 systematic approaches to health from the angles of mind, body, behaviour and environment. These therapies do not conflict with either conventional or complementary methods, so they can be successfully employed alongside other systems of healing, if desired.

The power of this Ayurveda Course is Yogi Dr. Amrit Raj’s approach to health, that it looks beyond the changing physical structure of the human body to the value of intelligence that directs and orchestrates this continuous flow of matter.

Parallels Between Ayurveda and Science

In your Ayurveda Course you will learn, according to Yogi Dr. Amrit Raj, that the origin of all aspects of existence —mental and physical– is the field of pure intelligence or pure consciousness. Although unusual at first sight, this view is remarkably parallel to the position that modem science has now reached. The latest theories of quantum physics locate the basis of the physical universe in a single unified field, the properties of which are identical to those of intelligence. In biology, the package of intelligence we call genetic information is known to underlie and govern the development and maintenance of the entire physiology. The mind-body interface is another very important example of how our intelligence becomes matter in the human body. Impulses of our own intelligence — our thinking and emotions — are constantly being translated into chemicals produced by our brains which, in turn, regulate all bodily processes. Thoughts and feelings — happy or depressed, harmonious or conflicting — are projected all over the body as our nervous systems produce the corresponding regulatory molecules. A familiar example is the way stress affects our health.

Maa Yoga Ashram, Rishikesh offers yoga retreats, Ayurveda retreats, Yoga Teacher Training and Panchakarma treatments under the guidance of Yogi Dr. Amrit Raj. 

The ashram was founded in 2012 by Yogi Dr. Amrit Raj, who is a fourth generation qualified Ayurvedic doctor and a 500-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance, USA. His unique and holistic approach to wellness comprises elements of Yoga, Ayurveda and Panchakarma. They practice a holistic, non-invasive, natural manner, utilizing the principles of Ayurvedic Science and Yogic Sciences. 

Key Highlights

1. Daily yoga, meditation sessions
2. Yoga Alliance USA 200- hour Yoga Teacher Training certification course 
3. Efficient team of well- experienced Yoga instructors
4. Optimal health and happiness
5. Learn 100 & 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training 
6. Learn 300 & 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training
7. Experienced English-speaking instructors
8. Organic meals 3 times a day
9. Experience Ganga Aarti at its best
10. Location: Tapovan, Rishikesh. 
11. Accommodation: Single, double and Suite
12. Climate: Cooler Tropical climate and
13. Temperature: 20-24º C (cross check on changing weather conditions)
14. Nearest International Airport: Jollygrant International Airport, Dehradun

Range of Yoga practise, treatments and therapies

1. Asanas, Pranayama
2. Kriyas, Anatomy
3. Adjustment, alignment, mantra chanting
4. Meditation and many more traditional Yoga techniques.
5. Hands-on training program on classical yoga studies in the very land where Yoga originated.
6. Theory & practical for all the above are practised
7. Stress, Anxiety
8. Depression, Tension and Psychological problems
9. Joints pains, Arthritis, Backache, Spondylitis and Rheumatic problems
10. Asthma, Allergy, Chronic Cough, Flu, Sinusitis and Respiratory problems
11. Sexual dysfunctions like Premature Ejaculation and lack of Libido
12. Diabetes, Hypertension, Hypo or Hyper Thyroid and Hormonal problems
13. Obesity and Metabolic disorders
14. Headache, Migraine, Acidity and Digestion problems
15. Sleep disorders
16. Chronic Fatigue syndrome
17. Skin, Nail and Hair problems
18. Paediatric and Gynaecological problems

Inclusion:

1. Yoga Teacher Training
2. Yoga Books
3. Patanjali Yoga Sutras. 
4. Anatomy of Yoga and Physiology
5. Delicious Ayurvedic meals
6. Access to splash pool

Exclusion:

1. Air Fares
2. Airport transfers
3. Personal expenses

Check in: Flexible
Check out: Flexible

Local Attractions:

- Pashmina shopping
- Triveni Ghat
- White water rafting
- Beatles Ashram
- Ganga Arti
- Local temples
- Rajaji National Park
- Neer Garh Waterfall
- Shopping local spices
- Adventure sports
- Trekking Himalayas
- Flavour of rural life at the foothills of Himalayas