Course in Ayurveda College in Kannur or anywhere else, advice needed (Please! :D )

samantha

I'm going to India on my own this winter for 3 months (I might stay longer if it goes well). I'm really excited and can't wait, but at the same time I'm afraid of how I'm going to spend the very first weeks there (which I hear are the hardest).
So I came up with a plan, just don't know if it's going to be any useful for me and you have to help me to figure out
So I was thinking that I could spend the first month doing a course in one of ayurvedic colleges as I'm extremely interested in Indian medicine. Yes, yes, I know very well that I'm not going to become a therapist after the course as it's promised and I don't expect that. All I want is to gain some basic knowledge, learn yoga and meditation, get used to Indian culture, make some friends and then keep travelling on my own to other places. So I booked myself in for a course in Ayurveda College in Kannur (www.ayurvedacollege.net), but now I have some doubts about it. I hear that lots of people get disapointed after this kind of courses, so I'm afraid that it might be just a waste of money (which I wouldn't want, of course ). Do you think it's worth to do that? A month of Ayurveda basics, yoga and an accomodation will cost me about 67000 Rs. Has anyone heard anything about this particular place or any others?

I'd be very grateful if you could give me some advices. As I said, I don't expect anything magic there. But I want to learn as much as possible (even though it's a very very litle bit comparing to the whole ayurvedic thing) during the month and not to end up with a feeling that I have wasted my money for nothing.

Or maybe somebody could recommend a place which has been tried by someone they know? It would be fantastic

I really love this plan of mine and now I'm a bit upset that it might not work out
Hope you can help me.

Nick-H

I am glad to hear that your plans are moving forward

You obviously know that Ayurveda is as complex as Western medicine, and takes years to learn, so you don't need disillusioning on that score --- it'll be interesting to hear what people think of the course.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

vinod_varma01

Therapist Training Course

This is the detailed syllabus for a holistic therapist course in Ayurveda....


DURATION OF COURSE – 6 WEEKS

TOTAL HOURS: Theory – 72; Practical – 144

Contents
Philosophy, history & basic principles – 20 hours

1. INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN PHILOSOPHY & AYURVEDA
Study on Universe – Different schools of thought
Thiestic & atheistic philosophies
(Sankhyam, nyayam, yogam, vaiseshikam, purva meemamsa, uthara meemamsa)
Panchabhuta theory

2. HISTORY OF AYURVEDA
The divine origin, Classical texts

3. AYURVEDA IN KERALA
· Contributions of ancient Kerala physicians
· Texts on Kerala special treatments
· Specialty treatments in various diseases
· Special Treatments of Kerala
(Treatments evolved from the experience of Kerala Physicians.)

4. DIVISIONS OF AYURVEDA
Preventive and curative aspects

5. EIGHT BRANCHES OF AYURVEDA (ASHTANGAS)
Eight divisions of curative treatments
6. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF AYURVEDA
Study on functional Components of body (Dosha Vijnan)
Tridosha theory, Tri doshas and Trigunas, Relationship between doshas and bhootas, Components of body derived from panchabhutas, Tridoshas in relation to Day, Age and Digestion, Tridoshas, qualities and seats in human body, functions – normal and vitiated, five varieties of tridoshas – seats and functions

Prakruti – Body – mind constitution- Features of each prakruti, Personality assessment, life style routines for each prakruti

Study on structural Components of body (Dhatu - Mala Vijnan)
Seven structural Components (Dhatus), secondary products (Upadhatus), Three excretory products (Malas) – relationships, functions
The optimum effect of Dhatus - Ojus
Digestive and transmission power (Agni)
Varieties, functions, impairments
By-product of impaired metabolism (Ama), influence of ama on tridoshas
Sensory & Motor organs (INDRIYAS)
Sense organs (jnanendriyas), Motor organs (karmendriyas)
Mind (manas) - qualities

ATMA – soul

SROTHUS - Channels to Connect with out side environment.
Supply tissues, elimination of wastes, special system for female
Health – definition
7. THE FOUR FOLD PATH OF TREATMENT

Bhishak - Physician
Bheshajam – Medicines
Upasthatha – Paramedical staff
Rogi - Patient

BASICS OF AYURVEDIC PHARMACOLOGY (DRAVYAGUNA) – 6 hours
Matter (padarthas), drugs (dravya) – different classifications, qualities (guna), action(karma), tastes(rasa), six testes and properties, potency (veerya), post digestive tastes (vipaka), special actions (prabhava),
BASICS OF PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS (BHESHAJAKALPANAS) - 4 hours
Basic formulations, secondary formulations, form changes in tune with modern time, purification of metals & minerals based drugs

STUDY OF DISEASE – 10 hours
Definitions, Classifications, Study of diseases – Five factors
Diagnostic techniques - Three fold Examination, Ten fold Examination, Eight fold Examination
Nadi - Different types according to the predominance of tridoshas
STUDY OF TREATMENT – 20 hours
Definitions, Classifications
A. Promoting health – Rrasayana (Rejuanation); Vajeekarana(Reproductive health)
B. Curing diseases
Invoking the grace of God (Daiva vyapasraya)
Intelligent use of drugs (Yukti vyapasraya)
Controlling the mind (Satva avajaya)

Purification treatments (Panchakarmas)
Emetics (Vamana)
Purgation (Virechana)
Nasal applications (Nasya)
Per rectal applications (Vasthi)
Blood letting (Raktamoksha)

Kerala special treatments
Modifications in panchakarma
15 types of medicated oil applications and sudation treatments
Post Panchakarma regimen
Practical

PREVENTIVE HEALTH (SWASTHA VRUTHAM) – 12 hours
Diet & regimen (padhya)
Triads of healthy living
Food: Living body- the product of food, food and health, selection- quality preparation, serving, intake – time, quantity & other eating guide lines.
Incompatible food (Virudha ahara), food stuffs for daily & seasonal use, food for different body mind constitution

Sleep: Healthy sleeping habits, compensating inadequate sleep, sleep & seasons
Sex: Healthy sex, tips for healthy sex life
Daily regimen
Time for waking up, sharpness of sense organs, exercise, massage & variations, bath, noble works
Awareness on sins, moral codes for healthy social life
Seasonal regimen
The six seasons, changes according seasons, chance for diseases, prevention of
seasonal diseases
Yoga &Ayurveda
Definition and scope, Role of Yoga in health care, Yogic exercises (Yoga Asanas), Elements of Yoga in Ayurveda

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Travel manic... I have visited a good number of place in ma 30 yrs of age

kullukid

Why not land in India first, then decide. IMHO it seems a lot of money to commit to a course that you may not enjoy,or even quit after a few days. Many people love India after the first day & don't find it "Hard" at all,You may be one of those??? KK

samantha

kullukid,

sure, I would like to do that - go to India first and then to decide if want to do a course in some place or no. but the problem is that it might be booked out by then. winter is a busy season in India, isn't it? the place where I'm planning to go to had no available vacancies for January.
hm, not so easy...


vinod_varma01,

thanks which school is that?
have you been there or heard anything about it?

Nick-H

I think my advice for the first few days is to relax!

mazha

Never heard of this place, but it may be one of those speciality centres that cater only/mostly to foreigners. The staff looks certified, which, for Ayurveda, doesn't necessarily mean knowledgeable. Why don't you mail some of the ex-students saying nice things on their site?


The best Ayurveda institution in Kerala, probably anywhere in India, is Kottakkal. They have a college, not sure whether they offer short-term courses.

Bigzero

67K for a month's course looks steep to me!

And wondering what can be picked in a month - from what I know Ayurveda is a multi-year course in most colleges in Kerala. The leading one being Kottakkal, as Mazha mentioned.

I had a look at the site - a collection of courses ranging from 1 week to 6 months . And the student section consists mostly of foreigners. Perhaps that is their model. From the courses offered they seem to focus mostly on massages, panchakarma, etc with a bit of yoga thrown in. What I would call as the "tourist version" of Ayurveda. No harm in going and doing one, as long as you know what to expect.

Definitely not for someone who wants to really get into depth, I guess.

To understand the difference, Kottakkal AVS offers multi-year undergraduate and post-graduate courses affiliated to the Calicut university.

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miles to go....

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Nick-H

I think Samantha understands very well that she is not going to get into any depth.

But it is going to be a month spent not finding your way around. You don't have to be rushing all over the country; I'm a great believer in staying in one place, discovering the local streets, then the next district, then the next.

amatt

I'd been interested in doing a similar 1 month class and when visiting Kerala, I visited this place called Kerala Ayurvedic Health Care which is in the suburbs of Trivandrum, see http://www.keralaayurvedichealthcare...htm#pr ogram2

I'd been referred there by someone who had gone to university and worked as an Ayurvedic therapist. The same class is offered concurrently in New Delhi, which where I'm currently based and plan to take it, probably starting this week. It does cost a lot less *Inr 30k than the one that was mentioned earlier in this thread and also is certified by one of the Central Govt institutes. I talked to one of the people who teaches the class in Trivandrum and was pretty impressed by him. I was told that what they had over others was that they taught a little bit of the massage with feet which is done standing over the patient (Chawitti thirumma) and that they offered practice sessions with real people who would be at the mercy of your hands.
I was also told of 6 month classes that were cheaper for a comparable duration offered at another reputed treatment centre called Vasudeva Vilasam which was in the Fort area of Trivandrum.