Sanskrit: Why? | Part One | Part Two | Part Three | 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
6 HRS (PREP) + 4 HRS (LIVE CLASS)
SOUNDS OF SANSKRIT
LISTEN AND LEARN ABOUT THE ALPHABET
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
PART TWO
Conjuncts, sandhi and word dissection, Prerequisite Part One
10 hours, online
6 HRS (PREP) + 4 HRS (LIVE CLASS)
VOWEL SANDHI
COMBINING WORDS THROUGH SOUND
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
PART THREE
Preparatory terms for Āyurvedic medicine, Prerequisite Part Two
10 hours, online
6 HRS (PREP) + 4 HRS (LIVE CLASS)
WRITTEN SCRIPT OF SANSKRIT
LEARN ABOUT THE DEVANĀGARĪ ALPHABET
ESSENTIAL SANSKRIT
ONLINE WORKSHOP FORMAT
Prerequisites
None
Instructor
Dr. Jessica Vellela, BAMS is the instructor for all Essential Sanskrit workshops and live classes. 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.
Length
Each workshop is 10 hours total with 6 hours of prep study and lectures, and 4 hours of group classes.
100% online
The entire workshop is online with schedules convenient for Asia Pacific regions, and Europe and the Americas.
Workbook
We recommend that you order the Essential Sanskrit workbooks on Amazon if you want a physical copy. View-only digital copies are available with the workshop and included in the workshop cost.
Prep study (6 hours)
Within 48 hours of registering, you'll gain access to the 6 hours of prep study and lectures on Google Drive. Each lesson includes a 45 to 60-minute, pre-recorded lecture, workbook reading material and a five-question multiple choice quiz. Students must complete each lesson, including the recorded lecture and quiz, to participate in live classes.
Live classes (4 hours)
Join four live, group classes to practice what you’ve learned and gain confidence in your skills. Each class is one hour long at the same time, four days in a row.
Completion requirements
Students will receive an electronic Certificate of Completion by successfully finishing all prep study and attending at least three out of four live classes.
Students who cannot attend at least three live classes can re-enroll in the next workshop, at no cost. If unable to complete the workshop after two rescheduled attempts, the student must re-enroll at the regular price.
Workshop access
Ongoing access to lectures and live class recordings is included in the cost of the workshop.
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
Will live classes be recorded?
Yes, all live classes are recorded and available for replay generally within 24 hours.
What if I can’t attend all of the live classes?
Ask permission from your instructor to watch the recording. You may be required to submit additional work for the missed class in order to receive the final Certificate of Completion.
How long after the live class will the recording become available?
Recordings will be available within 6 hours after the end of the live class.
Do I have to attend all live classes?
You must attend at least three live classes to receive the final Certificate of Completion. If unable to attend live classes, you can re-enroll twice at no additional cost.
How long will I have access to the workshop material?
You will have access to the online workshop materials for 90 days after the final live class. Students who continue on to higher studies in the ĀYU Academy Svastha Āchārya (Āyurvedic Health Coach) program, will have access to all of the workshop material until the end of the Svastha Āchārya program.
Do I need to purchase the printed text?
No, the printed workbook is not required for this workshop, but it is highly recommended. 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 complex 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 at this time as 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?
Students may re-enroll in a workshop at any time and receive 50% off the regular workshop price. Send us an email and let us know when you’re ready to start.