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Kripalu School of Ayurveda Certification Options

Foundations of Ayurveda | Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist | Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant


A well-trained Ayurvedic practitioner may choose to enter into private practice, join other health-care practitioners at a wellness center, teach public education classes on Ayurvedic principles, or conduct workshops, seminars, and retreats. Health-care providers and yoga instructors with Ayurvedic training can enhance their current practice by offering their clients Ayurvedic services. Enjoy exploring your many options for Ayurvedic education at Kripalu Center.

Foundations of Ayurveda

Everyone with an interest in Ayurveda is welcome to attend this foundational training. Whether you want to practice as a lifestyle consultant or you simply want to learn the principles and practices of Ayurveda for yourself, this training will provide an amazing introduction to this ancient approach to health and well-being. This training sets the foundation for the other certification levels and is a prerequisite for them. Comprised of two 12-day sessions scheduled about two months apart you will learn

  • The history and philosophy of Ayurveda
  • Ayurveda through the Three Stages of Kripalu Yoga—practice, experience, and intuitive wisdom
  • The essential Ayurvedic maps—vayus, nadis, doshas, gunas, etc.
  • Dinacharya—routines for health and well-being, such as self-massage and daily cleansing of the other senses
  • The basics of an Ayurvedic approach to cooking, digestion, nutrition, and right eating
  • Introductory Sanskrit
  • Basics of reading your own pulse to manage your doshic imbalances
  • Mantras for improving health and longevity
  • How yoga practice compliments and supports an Ayurvedic lifestyle
  • Yogic psychology—the power of the mind in creating balance and health.

Teachers in this portion of the training may include
Scott Blossom
Partap Chauhan
Satya Narayana Das
John Douillard
David Frawley
Hilary Garivaltis
Devarshi Steven Hartman
Sudha Carolyn Lundeen
Rosy Mann
Cynthia Snodgrass
Robert Svoboda
Claudia Welch

Dates and Costs


Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist

This certification is available only to certified (200-hour minimum) yoga teachers. Comprised of Foundations of Ayurveda plus Advanced Studies in Yoga and Ayurveda (a 7-day intensive), the curriculum builds on existing knowledge of posture, pranayama, and other yogic techniques. You will learn to

  • Customize yoga classes for balancing the doshas
  • Teach one-on-one yoga sessions applying Ayurvedic principles
  • Use yoga, meditation, and pranayama to address imbalances
  • Teach seasonal flows, especially for the transitions between the seasons
  • Teach classes that are designed by time of day.

Dates and Costs


Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant

This level of certification is for those who want to practice Ayurveda as a healing profession. Comprised of Foundations of Ayurveda and four additional 9-day modules, students will be given in-depth knowledge of Ayurvedic diagnostic tools and healing protocols for the health and well-being of their clients. Training will include

  • How to work one-on-one with clients to develop an individual plan for health
  • Reading the pulse to determine doshic imbalances and other areas of concern
  • Exposure to many Ayurvedic therapies
  • Knowledge of pathologies and the disease process
  • The use of natural spices and herbs to improve overall health, digestion, assimilation, and elimination
  • Protocols for mitigating many of today’s chronic conditions
  • Lifestyle tips for longevity, vitality, and health
  • Stress-management techniques for yourself and your clients
  • How to best interface with modern health-care models and other health-care professionals
  • Creating community classes on health and vitality
  • Building a thriving holistic health practice.

Before certification at this level, students must complete a minimum of 100 hours of Western Anatomy and Physiology comparable to two semesters of college-level coursework. For information about approved on-line courses, contact professionaltraining@kripalu.org.

Dates and Costs


See curriculum details.

Specialized Ayurvedic Opportunities

Before You Apply
Important things you need to know before applying.

Download an Application
Download an application packet for the Kripalu School of Ayurveda.

Financial Aid
Find out about financial aid opportunities, including loans and scholarships.

For a paper copy of the application or for more information, contact us at 800-848-8702 or professionaltraining@kripalu.org.


The KSA curriculum is approved under the Kripalu School of Yoga, which is licensed as a Proprietary School by Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.