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The Best Ayurveda School in America

At The Ayurvedic Institute, we teach traditional Ayurvedic medicine in full-time educational courses that encourage the exploration of this ancient health and wellness system. Through our academically rigorous programs, our students learn how to apply the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda, within a modern context, to support themselves and others in regaining their personal balance between mind, body, spirit, and their environment.

It is our goal to provide aspiring practitioners and teachers with the knowledge and experience required to practice the rich and personal living wisdom of Ayurveda – to promote physical and mental well-being within themselves and their communities.

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Find Your Path

Foundations of Ayurveda

Take your first step into the world of Ayurveda with our Foundations of Ayurveda course. Learn how to understand your unique constitution, balance your doshas, and live in harmony with nature.

Ayurvedic Studies Programs

Looking to begin a career in Ayurveda, or enhance your existing practice? Join our Ayurvedic Studies Program to get certified as an Ayurvedic Counselor or Practitioner, or gain an Ayurvedic Doctorate certificate.

Seminars & Masterclasses

Grow your personal knowledge of Ayurveda with our seminar series taught by Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc, the founder of The Ayurvedic Institute. Or, enhance your wellness practice with our advanced masterclass series.

What Makes The Ayurvedic Institute Unique?

The Ayurvedic Institute was initially established by Vasant Lad (BAM&S, MASc) in 1984 as a nonprofit in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It then moved to Albuquerque, where it thrived for nearly four decades. In 2022 the Institute relocated to its new home in Asheville, North Carolina to further the advancement of Ayurvedic studies and continue to grow its vibrant healing community and campus.

The Ayurvedic Institute draws students from around the world to study with Vasant Lad (BAMS, MASc) – one of the world’s foremost Ayurvedic Physicians, authors, and teachers with more than 40 years of experience. Vasant Lad lovingly and expertly transmits the ancient science of Ayurveda in a modern context imbued with deep wisdom and joy.

We understand that not everyone can take 1-2 years off from life and commit to a full-time program. Our first year program is offered in both full-time and part-time formats, including hybrid onsite/online options as well. 

Our institution holds a deep reverence for Ayurvedic tradition, leading aspiring practitioners and teachers along an educational journey rich with this living wisdom. The systems of Ayurvedic science are woven into the curriculum multifold through the study of Sanskrit, Vedic texts, Yoga philosophies, all in harmony with the teachings and rhythms of nature.  

Our students study and live closely with one another, enabling them to truly embody the principles of Ayurveda while also building connections that guide and support well beyond the duration of the program. That sense of community radiates throughout our campus, which we share with our sister organizations:  Asheville Yoga Center, AyurPrana, AyurPrana Listening Room, and SoHum Mountain Healing Resort. This unique partnership enriches the student experience. Read more about our Village.

Download Our Academic Catalog​

Enter your details below and download our catalog filled with useful information. We look forward to supporting you on your journey to studying Ayurveda!

Founded by World-renowned Ayurvedic Physician, Author, Teacher, and Visionary

Study under Vasant Lad, BAM&S MASc, Director of the Ayurvedic Institute

A dream, to heal all beings through Ayurveda

Vasant Lad’s passion for Ayurvedic healing and his compassion for people have led to him becoming one of the most highly celebrated Ayurvedic Physicians, authors, and teachers in the world.

Vasant Lad predates the yoga and wellness boom, coming to the United States to teach Ayurveda in 1982 – and starting The Ayurvedic Institute in 1984. He is recognized by his associates and friends, such as Deepak Chopra and Sadguru, as playing a key role in the resurgence of Ayurveda, not just here in the West but back in his native India too.

Vasant Lad’s approach to Ayurvedic training synthesizes Western medical research with ancient Ayurvedic knowledge and insight. His gentle disposition, coupled with his academically inclined intellect and rigorous approach to training and practice means that every student who studies with Vasant Lad, comes away feeling as if they have spent time with a true master of the healing arts.

 

“Dr. Lad opened my eyes to the wisdom of Ayurveda and the potential it has to help people proactively manage their health and well-being. Being in his presence on a regular basis was illuminating and transformative. My time at the Ayurvedic Institute was instrumental in my own healing process and has deeply inspired my work in service to the ever-growing Ayurvedic community.”

– Keven Casey, Co-Founder of Banyan Botanicals

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a 5,000 year-old lifestyle science that promotes proactive and preemptive approaches to personal health and wellness

Originating in the Indus Valley, what is now modern-day India, Ayurveda is a science of self-healing, and encompasses diet and nutrition, lifestyle, meditation, postures, breathing exercises and medical herbs along with cleansing and rejuvenation programs for healing body, mind, and spirit. It is truly a holistic approach to wellness and as a lifestyle medicine it works! There’s a reason it has survived for 5,000 across generations, and we’re part of this generation’s movement to translate this ancient science into today’s living and pass on this knowledge to future generations.

According to Ayurveda, everything in the cosmos is reflected and mirrored in the microcosm of the human being. The universe is composed of five elements: ether, air, fire, water, and earth. These five elements combine in varying proportions to create the three doshas: Vata, the principle of movement, Pitta, the principle of transformation, and Kapha, the principle of cohesion or building block material. These elements and doshas that comprise the macrocosm also make up our individual constitutions. The purpose of Ayurveda is to bring balance to these doshas and elements amidst the changing times of day, seasons, and phases of our lives, in order to promote and maintain quality and longevity of life. Optimal health isn’t found in a pill or an herbal compound – it’s rooted in our day to day routines and choices – how we eat, breathe, move, sleep, interact, and connect with one another. It is a dynamic way of living in tune with nature and our own unique constitution.

Start your application

Applications are due on August 10. But why wait? Apply now and start your journey

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Have questions?

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