Sanskrit: Why? | Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Retest | Format | Testimonials | FAQ
THE LANGUAGE
OF ĀYURVEDIC MEDICINE
Learn, comprehend and communicate the nuances of Āyurvedic medicine correctly with Essential Sanskrit.
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
FOR ĀYURVEDIC MEDICINE
What is Sanskrit and why is it required for Āyurvedic medicine?
CLINICAL EXPERTISE
STARTS WITH SANSKRIT LANGUAGE
30 hours total, over three workshops
Learn Essential Sanskrit in clear, concise English with the most direct and effective system to prepare for Āyurvedic medicine.
Without knowledge of Essential Sanskrit, students in Āyurvedic medicine will not be able to read, pronounce or understand clinical concepts correctly. The complex language of Sanskrit has served as the language of Āyurveda for thousands of years. Its intricate logical thought patterns are reflected through the language.
In India, professional Āyurvedic medical training requires a minimum of 18 months of full-time study of Sanskrit, including reading the script, advanced grammar rules, and basic conversation.
Outside of India, this requirement has unfortunately been perceived as "too difficult" for many schools to enforce. The lack of proper, basic Sanskrit training BEFORE studying Āyurvedic medicine has led to a great dilution of classical, medical knowledge and deviation from rigorous, scientific standards and practice.
In 2016, ĀYU Academy was the first school in the US to require comprehensive Sanskrit prerequisites for professional Āyurveda. Gradually, other schools and organizations are adopting similar standards.
The Essential Sanskrit workshop series provides serious students the ideal opportunity to learn the language of Āyurvedic medicine in an organized, accessible way.
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
IS IDEAL FOR
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All students and practitioners of Āyurveda who have questions about Sanskrit or want to improve their Sanskrit
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Anyone who wants to study Āyurveda
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Anyone who has ever wondered what the difference is between Āyurveda and Āyurved, or Yoga and Yog, and why
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Students of other Vedic sciences (Yoga, Jyotiṣha, and philosophy)
As a language, Sanskrit has the power to significantly expand one’s intellectual capacity. It structures and organizes memory banks, primes critical thinking skills and trains the mind to apply correct logic and analysis.
Essential Sanskrit prepares students to understand unique concepts in Āyurveda, think about them logically, and apply them in practice.
New students and seasoned practitioners will benefit from one-on-one instructor guidance with exercises in pronunciation, recitation and memorization.
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
PART ONE
Alphabet, phonetics and transliteration
10 hours, online
SOUNDS OF SANSKRIT
LISTEN AND LEARN ABOUT THE ALPHABET
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
PART TWO
Conjuncts, sandhi and word dissection
Prerequisite: Essential Sanskrit Part One
10 hours, online
VOWEL SANDHI
COMBINING WORDS THROUGH SOUND
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
PART THREE
Preparatory terms for Āyurvedic medicine, Prerequisite Part Two
10 hours, online
WRITTEN SCRIPT OF SANSKRIT
LEARN ABOUT THE DEVANĀGARĪ ALPHABET
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
SUPPLEMENTARY TESTING
Retake a live test or recertify for any workshop
1 hour, online
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
ONLINE WORKSHOP FORMAT
Prerequisites
None
Instructor
Dr. Jessica Vellela, BAMS is the instructor for the Essential Sanskrit Workshop Series in all pre-recorded videos. As the first American-born woman to become a Doctor of Āyurvedic medicine and practice independently in India, Jessica is a leading educator in Āyurveda today. Her teaching style, methodology and organization make the complexities of Āyurvedic medicine accessible to a Western audience.
Mark Kahler is the instructor for Essential Sanskrit Live Tests. He is currently in good standing in the 5.5 year, Bachelor of Āyurvedic Medicine and Surgery (First Professional Degree) program in Jamnagar, India, at the Gujarat Ayurved University. He is on track to graduate in 2026-2027 as a Doctor of Āyurvedic medicine.
Duration, 10 hours
Each workshop is 10 hours total with 9 hours of pre-recorded lectures, study and memorization. This is followed by a final hour of live testing with a qualified instructor.
100% online
The entire workshop is online and available to students globally. Time slots for Live tests are available for all time zones. If you cannot find a suitable time, contact us to arrange it.
Workbook
Order the Essential Sanskrit workbooks on Amazon to complete the practice lessons easily. Students may also access view-only digital copies via Google drive.
Preparatory lectures (6 hours)
Lessons 1 through 6 include an hour of pre-recorded lecture per lesson. Students must complete the entire lecture, read the workbook material and answer a five-question multiple choice quiz.
Study and memorization (3 hours)
Lessons 7 through 9 include practice exercises to memorize the Devanāgarī alphabet. Practice writing the transliterated alphabet, pronouncing the complete alphabet in order, and memorize both forms.
Live test (1 hour)
Meet one-on-one with a qualified instructor for live testing. Demonstrate memorization and competency online via Google meet with a qualified instructor.
Requirements for successful completion include:
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Complete, correct recitation of the Devanāgarī alphabet
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Explanation of pronunciation, alphabet mechanics, transliteration, etc
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Reading all simple terms in Lesson ten
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Any additional requirements as determined by the instructor
Completion requirements
Students will receive an electronic Certificate of Completion by successfully finishing all ten hours of the workshop.
Workshop access
Ongoing access to workshop resources is included in the cost.
Supplementary testing and Recertification, testing fee $75
Students who do not pass the live test can retake it by paying the testing fee. Students who complete the workshop and want to retest at a later date can access the resources and schedule a Recertification test by paying the testing fee.
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
STUDENT EXPERIENCES
“This workshop series should be a mandatory prerequisite for all professional Āyurvedic training.”
- Katerina Nestorovska (2020)
"This is a clear and very organized system to learn Sanskrit, making it accessible and possible. After successfully finishing this first book and workshop, I am excited to move right on to the second!!"
- Krista Matison (2021)
“I wish I had learned Sanskrit first. The terms and concepts make so much more sense now.”
- Karol Chin (2020)
"The Essential Sanskrit workbooks one, two and three are very well structured. I have made several attempts at getting a basic understanding of how Sanskrit works and this is the first time that I feel I am getting a glimpse of the logic. I would suggest this series to anyone who wishes to do the same."
- Chris (2021)
"ĀYU academy is an excellent place to look for training as an Āyurvedic Practitioner. This series of Sanskrit workbooks provides the building blocks to explore the language and the science of Āyurveda. It is the starting point for one of the best education offerings for Āyurvedic medicine. If you plan to study Āyurveda seriously, check out ĀYU Academy with Jessica Vellela."
- Andre Frank (2021)
"The Sanskrit workshops at ĀYU Academy were a wonderful introduction to a fascinating language. They were well-organized, methodical and super effective at laying the groundwork for understanding Ayurveda in its own terms. Dr. Vellela is an incredible teacher!"
- Iman Sheybani-Nezhad (2019)
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
WORKSHOP FAQS
How do I submit my homework?
After registering, you will receive a Google drive folder for the Essential Sanskrit workshop. All homework for each workshop should be uploaded here.
Will the live test be recorded?
Yes, your live test will be recorded. The recording will be available in your Google drive folder withing two business days following the test.
How long will I have access to the workshop material?
You will have ongoing access to the online workshop materials.
Do I need to purchase the printed text?
If the printed textbooks are available where you live, we highly recommend that you purchase them. Check Amazon to see if it’s available where you live.
I enrolled at the last minute and can’t get the printed workbook in time. What should I do?
The PDF for each lesson is available in view-only format for the duration of the workshop. You can view each lesson until your printed workbook arrives.
Why should I learn Sanskrit?
Students of Āyurveda, Yoga or any Vedic sciences are encouraged to learn Sanskrit to advance their basic understanding of the field. Sanskrit improves students’ abilities to learn classical theory and apply knowledge practically. Sanskrit is a requirement for study of all Vedic sciences in India.
My Āyurveda school said I don’t need Sanskrit to learn Āyurveda. Is that true?
Sanskrit is the language of Āyurvedic medicine and has served to maintain this practice for at least 2,500 years in documented history. It is the key to understanding Āyurvedic concepts and applying logical thought in clinical practice. The more one understands Sanskrit, the better they can learn and practice Āyurveda.
Will I learn how to read and write Devanāgarī script?
No, Essential Sanskrit does not include Devanāgarī script. This level of study is beyond what is required for Āyurvedic medicine outside of India. It generally requires about 100 hours of study and practice to reach a basic, working level (equivalent to 1st or 2nd grade level). Instead, Essential Sanskrit teaches the language using transliteration which allows the language to be represented accurately and accessible quickly to a Western audience.
What is ĀYUT?
The Āyurvedic Universal Transliteration Scheme (ĀYUT) is a method that allows Sanskrit Devanāgarī script to be expressed accurately in Roman letters with easy pronunciation for new students.
Can I take a workshop again?
Yes, students who complete the workshop and want to retest at a later date can access the resources and schedule a Recertification test by paying the testing fee ($75).