SVASTHA ĀCHĀRYA (SA)
ĀYURVEDIC HEALTH COACH

What is a Svastha Āchārya, and why is it different?

ROOT CAUSE RESOLUTION
TARGETED DIET & LIFESTYLE CORRECTIONS

617 hours (28 credits), 12 months

The Svastha Āchārya (Āyurvedic Health Coach) Certificate Program is an accelerated, career-focused program to practice Āyurvedic Medicine internationally. The SA Program is for students who intend to practice Āyurveda professionally in a clinical setting or continue with advanced, professional training.

Learn extensive core principles of Āyurvedic Medicine and their application methods for multicultural environments. Develop assessment skills to identify risk factors, individual constitution, deviation, external and internal factors that impact holistic health. Perform root cause analysis for individuals, confirm with scientific testing methods and correct deviations using diet, lifestyle, targeted single herbal protocols and self-care treatments.

Read key portions of four, major classical Āyurvedic medical texts and correlate knowledge with current scientific developments. Students review the Charaka Saṁhitā, Suśhruta Saṁhitā, Aṣhṭāṅga Hṛdaya and Bhāva Prakāśha in detail, well beyond any other Āyurvedic programs outside of India.

Graduates work independently and collaboratively to identify appropriate clients, assess and quantify health, identify potential causative factors, create a custom health improvement plan and follow-up with patients and clients to maximize positive results.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE SA PROGRAM

Review minimum and preferred requirements, plus pre-requisites

STEP ONE
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

WHEN: Confirm by May

STEP TWO
PRE-REQUISITES

WHEN: Complete by August

PROGRAM SCHEDULE
FOR 2022 - 2023

Prerequisites, Fall Semester, Spring Semester, Clinical Term

PRE-REQUISITES
HUMAN A&P, AYU-100, ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT

WHEN: Complete by August 15th

Preparatory Study

• Start early

• Complete by August 15th

• College-level Human Anatomy & Physiology, I and II

• 30 hours of Essential Sanskrit, in three workshops, additional study

• 30 hours of AYU-100 (Introduction to professional Āyurveda), additional study

• Watch lectures, read, attend live class, complete homework and exams

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Optional early start

• Students who enroll early can access all recorded lectures and begin studying.

• Highly recommended for all students who want to complete the program successfully on time

ORIENTATION
ONLINE CLASSROOM & RESOURCES

WHEN: August, third week

Welcome and Orientation

• Wednesday August 24th, 2022 at regular class time

• With Dr. Jessica Vellela, BAMS

SEMESTERS ONE & TWO
ACADEMIC TRAINING 

WHEN: Sept to Dec 2022 (SEM1), Jan to Apr 2023 (SEM2) 

Semester Format

• 15 weeks per semester

• Each week

  • 6 hours recorded lecture

  • 50-minute Mentoring Session with Katerina Nestorovska, SA

    • Monday or Tuesday

    • Morning or evening, recurring schedule

  • 120-minute Live Class with Dr. Jessica Vellela, BAMS

    • ​Wednesdays

    • ​US Eastern, 10am to 12pm​

    • US Central, 9am to 11am

    • US Mountain, 8am to 10am

    • US Pacific, 7am to 9am

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Semester One Timeline

• Monday, August 29th to Saturday, December 10th, 2022

• Midterms, Sunday, October 16th to Saturday, October 23rd, 2022

• Finals, Sunday, December 4th to Saturday, December 10th, 2022

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Semester Two Timeline

• Monday, January 2nd to Saturday, April 15th, 2023

• Midterms, Sunday, February 12nd to Saturday, February 18th, 2023

• Finals, Sunday April 9th to Saturday, April 15th, 2023

CLINICAL TERM
SUPERVISED CLINICAL TRAINING 

WHEN: Apr to Jun 2023

Clinical Term, Internship

• 10 weeks total

• 27+ hours/week

• Monday, April 17th to Friday, June 23rd, 2023

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First week: Clinical Orientation

• Monday, April 17th to Friday, April 21st, 2023

• One hour mentoring at regular time

• Two hour class at regular class time​

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Second week: Intake Sessions

• Monday, April 24th to Friday, April 29th, 2023

• Live class, 6 - 7 hours daily, with breaks

• Class schedules will be announced during Spring 2023

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Third week to end: Clinical Practice

• Monday, May 1st to Friday, June 23rd, 2023

• 27+ hours per week

• Flexible schedule​s for SA client sessions, documentation, research

• Live class, twice per week for case presentations

  • Wednesdays and Fridays, at regular class time

CURRICULUM
ACADEMIC & CLINICAL

345 hours of academic instruction, 272 hours of clinical training

ACADEMIC, PRE-REQUISITES, 60 HOURS
SANSKRIT & AYU-100

ACADEMIC, SEMESTER ONE, 135 HOURS
FOUNDATIONS OF ĀYURVEDA

ACADEMIC, SEMESTER TWO, 150 HOURS
FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL ĀYURVEDA

CLINICAL TERM, 272+ HOURS
SUPERVISED PRACTICE, ĀYURVEDIC MEDICINE

INSTRUCTORS
INSTRUCTION & MENTORING

Exceptional academic and clinical instruction and one-on-one mentoring

PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR
ACADEMIC & CLINICAL INSTRUCTION

Vaidya (Dr.) Jessica Vellela, BAMS is the first American-born woman to become a Doctor of Āyurvedic medicine and practice independently in India. Since graduating at the top of her class in 2012, she has been working with patients, clients and students in 10+ countries.

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Jessica teaches the principles of Āyurvedic medicine clearly and deeply to help students grasp the complexity of the full science.

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She restructured the BAMS curriculum into an efficient, thorough and comprehensive training program starting at Level 1: SA.

PRIMARY MENTOR
ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING

Katerina Nestorovska is a graduate of the Svastha Āchārya Program (2021). She holds double Bachelor degrees in Health Sciences (Homeopathy), along with a double major in Criminology and Psychology. Katerina has an extensive background in diagnostics, assessment and holistic counseling through allied healthcare practices.

Katerina provides students with highly personalized support in the rigorous training of the SA program. She helps students maximize their efforts to learn efficiently and correctly.

COSTS & BOOKS
FOR THE PROGRAM

Ongoing access to training materials, lectures and resources included

International students (outside the US) are encouraged to apply and request a tuition rate conversion to their local currency. We cannot guarantee that all requests will be approved, but we always work with serious students to make the knowledge and training accessible.

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Additional costs that are the responsibility of the student include
 

• Personal computer equipment

• Internet and connectivity costs

• Books and other learning tools not listed above

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Credits and Refund Policy

• Payments made can be credited toward future education

• No refunds for any payments

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Admissions interview fee

• Pay in advance to schedule the interview appointment

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Essential Sanskrit Workshops

• Paid separately, prior to enrollment

  • Essential Sanskrit, Part One​

  • Essential Sanskrit, Part Two

  • Essential Sanskrit, Part Three

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Introduction to professional Ayurveda (AYU-100)

• Paid separately, prior to enrollment

  • AYU-100​

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Program Tuition

• Includes Semester 1, Semester 2 and Clinical tuition (if applicable)

• Semester 1 tuition is due at the beginning of the semester

• Semester 2 tuition is due at the beginning of the semester

• Clinical term tuition is due at the beginning of the term

• Students can withdraw from the program at any time

• Paid tuition can be applied to any future program if unable to complete in the registered year

• Students maintain access to all program materials including lectures, digital media and more until completion of the program, or three years of inactivity.

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Books and equipment, Variable

Textbooks, computer equipment, internet connectivity and other study materials are the sole responsibility of the student.

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Multiyear fee, $300 per year

Students who complete the program over multiple years pay tuition once. From the second year onward, an additional $300 annual administrative fee is required to continue enrollment.

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Late fee, $100 per incident

Late tuition payments for any portion of the program (beyond the grace period) are subject to a $100 late fee. Students can email in advance to request a payment extension and waive the late fee.

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Special circumstances and options

• Students can request alternate payment plans

• International students can request tuition conversion to local currency

PAYMENTS
FOR THE PROGRAM

Electronic payments only, single or payment plan in USD

Total program cost, $6,877

Interview fee, Sanskrit, AYU-100, paid separately

FAQ
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Contact us if you have additional questions.

Question: How many hours of study are required each week?
Answer: This can vary widely, but usually is no less than 12 hours per week. It depends on the speed of memorization, reading, comprehension and research skills. Additional time for review and synthesis of knowledge only strengthens the student's grasp of the science. In previous years, students over the age of 50 required 25+ hours per week.

Question: I completed Ayurvedic education at another school. Does that count towards the SA program?
Answer: Education from New Age Ayurveda programs is often insufficient to count towards the SA program. Candidates who have thoroughly studied and memorized classical foundations and theory so they are confident to apply them clinically will likely be at a similar level as an SA.

Question: After completing the SA program, will I be able to practice? If so, how?
Answer: The SA program prepares graduates to practice competently and confidently in the scope of diet and lifestyle interventions for healthy and unhealthy individuals with a single, predominant diagnosis. Cases with multiple, chronic pathologies are best supported by an SA in collaborative practice under a PC or AA. Graduates are able to practice according to their local laws and regulations.

Question: Does the SA program cover how to practice Ayurveda legally?
Answer: The SA program introduces students to common regulatory and legal issues in the practice of Ayurveda in the United States. International students are encouraged to research and learn about regulations affecting practice outside of the US as part of this portion of the program. In both cases, students learn clear boundaries for scope of practice and expectations at this level of practice. AYU Academy is the only professional training institution with advanced definitions for professional Ayurveda and scopes of practice based on classical standards.

Question: Does the SA program include training to setup my own business, business taxes, liability and insurance?
Answer: Yes, the SA program does include basic training on establishing, developing and running a business. Additionally, students should seek professional advice for this in their local area. During the SA program, students research business requirements and create an actionable business plan.

Question: I want to include classical herbal formulations in my Ayurvedic practice. What training do I need to do that competently and ethically?
Answer: Classical herbal formulations are introduced in Level 2: Paricharaka (Ayurvedic Doctor's Assistant) for use in shamana management only. At the SA level, students learn the mechanics of therapeutic substances and major examples in common foods which often overlap as common single herbs. The goal of the SA program is to be competent and confident with scientific dietary and lifestyle interventions in any geographical area and culture.

Question: Can I train to work at a Panchakarma center? If so, where?
Answer: At the SA level, all clinical training during the program is currently online. This training prepares students to work in clinical environments, including Panchakarma centers, Integrative healthcare facilities, and other healthcare settings. Students who have the ability to travel and live at a Panchakarma center can request special arrangements for onsite study during the Clinical Term of the SA program.

Question: Does the SA program train students to do Nadi Pariksha (pulse diagnosis), Jihva Pariksha (tongue diagnosis) or any other specialty form of assessment?
Answer: The SA program does not focus on advanced, specialized assessment methods like pulse and tongue diagnosis. These are not primary, classical assessment methods, but are supplementary to the foundations of symptomatology through direct assessment of doshas, dhatus, malas, agni and other factors. The SA program focuses on mastering the fundamentals so graduates have a solid foundation for advanced training.

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