Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy: Standards & Scope of Practice
Prior to the institutionalization of
Ayurvedic Medicine in universities and hospitals, Vaidyas (Ayurvedic
experts) were well versed, trained and initiated yogis as well as
qualified physicians.
The systematization of the education system veered away from the traditional yogic practices in Ayurvedic medicine education, offering only an introduction to yoga to graduates of Ayurvedic medicine doctorate programs. As such, most Ayurvedic doctors and practitioners, unless they have completed additional specializations, are not well qualified to teach yoga or offer yoga therapy.
In North America, there is no implemented educational standard which applies to Ayurvedic Practitioners. There is also no standard which applies to Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists.
As such, there is a wide range of quality in practice and lack thereof when it come to Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy programs.
Generally, most Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists are yoga instructors (200hr or 500hr level) who have completed additional certifications programs in Ayurveda or Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy ranging from 30-600hrs.
The generally recognized standard of education (though not mandatory for practice) for Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists is the one established by the Association of Ayurvedic Practitioners of North America as follows:
1000 hours of Ayurvedic yoga training with clinical internship (or)
500 hours of Ayurvedic training with clinical internship + 500 hours yoga training (or)
500 hours of Ayurvedic training with clinical internship + 200 hours yoga training + 3 years of active Ayurvedic yoga practice.
Samya Ayurveda Yoga Therapists exceed these standards by years of education and active practice. See more about us.
Samya Ayurveda Yoga Therapists are Registered Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioners who have also completed a 200-500hr Yoga therapy certification and have had over 10 years of active yoga teaching practice.
Scope of Practice:
Samya Ayurveda Yoga Therapists have the competency to design, implement, demonstrate, instruct and teach an individual a yoga therapy program to help with their healing process based on their Ayurvedic constitution & the Ayurvedic definition of health.
This includes the following skills:
-Ability to assess Prakruti, Vikriti, Status of Agni, Ama, Dhatu, Mala, Srotas, Kosha, Chakra and pathogenesis of a disease and maintain in depth knowledge of the effects of different yoga practices on the same.
-Competency to design, implement and provide instruction to clients regarding various yoga practices including Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Meditation, Mudra, Bandha, Shatkriya, as any of these practices can be effectively utilized for therapeutic purpose.
-Competency to discuss the implications of Yama and Niyama on achieving balance and advising appropriate diet and lifestyle to achieve balance.
-Working knowledge of diagnoses & diseases with western medical nomenclature to be viewed through the Ayurvedic understanding of Dosha and pathogenesis of the disease process and hence applying Ayurvedic yoga therapy techniques.
-Being able to interact with western healthcare providers.
-Competency to refer clients for additional therapeutic interventions like the use of herbs, Panchakarma, Ayurvedic massage, etc.
-Understanding of indications and contraindications of different yoga practices for therapeutic purposes.
-Being familiar with different paths of Yoga: Bhakti, Karma, Raja, Jnana.
-Basic knowledge of implications of different paths of yoga so as to be able to guide clients appropriately to achieve their desired goals, be them physiological, psycho-emotional or spiritual.
-Completion of extensive internships and direct hands on experience in dealing with clients.
The systematization of the education system veered away from the traditional yogic practices in Ayurvedic medicine education, offering only an introduction to yoga to graduates of Ayurvedic medicine doctorate programs. As such, most Ayurvedic doctors and practitioners, unless they have completed additional specializations, are not well qualified to teach yoga or offer yoga therapy.
In North America, there is no implemented educational standard which applies to Ayurvedic Practitioners. There is also no standard which applies to Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists.
As such, there is a wide range of quality in practice and lack thereof when it come to Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy programs.
Generally, most Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists are yoga instructors (200hr or 500hr level) who have completed additional certifications programs in Ayurveda or Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy ranging from 30-600hrs.
The generally recognized standard of education (though not mandatory for practice) for Ayurvedic Yoga Therapists is the one established by the Association of Ayurvedic Practitioners of North America as follows:
1000 hours of Ayurvedic yoga training with clinical internship (or)
500 hours of Ayurvedic training with clinical internship + 500 hours yoga training (or)
500 hours of Ayurvedic training with clinical internship + 200 hours yoga training + 3 years of active Ayurvedic yoga practice.
Samya Ayurveda Yoga Therapists exceed these standards by years of education and active practice. See more about us.
Samya Ayurveda Yoga Therapists are Registered Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioners who have also completed a 200-500hr Yoga therapy certification and have had over 10 years of active yoga teaching practice.
Scope of Practice:
Samya Ayurveda Yoga Therapists have the competency to design, implement, demonstrate, instruct and teach an individual a yoga therapy program to help with their healing process based on their Ayurvedic constitution & the Ayurvedic definition of health.
This includes the following skills:
-Ability to assess Prakruti, Vikriti, Status of Agni, Ama, Dhatu, Mala, Srotas, Kosha, Chakra and pathogenesis of a disease and maintain in depth knowledge of the effects of different yoga practices on the same.
-Competency to design, implement and provide instruction to clients regarding various yoga practices including Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Meditation, Mudra, Bandha, Shatkriya, as any of these practices can be effectively utilized for therapeutic purpose.
-Competency to discuss the implications of Yama and Niyama on achieving balance and advising appropriate diet and lifestyle to achieve balance.
-Working knowledge of diagnoses & diseases with western medical nomenclature to be viewed through the Ayurvedic understanding of Dosha and pathogenesis of the disease process and hence applying Ayurvedic yoga therapy techniques.
-Being able to interact with western healthcare providers.
-Competency to refer clients for additional therapeutic interventions like the use of herbs, Panchakarma, Ayurvedic massage, etc.
-Understanding of indications and contraindications of different yoga practices for therapeutic purposes.
-Being familiar with different paths of Yoga: Bhakti, Karma, Raja, Jnana.
-Basic knowledge of implications of different paths of yoga so as to be able to guide clients appropriately to achieve their desired goals, be them physiological, psycho-emotional or spiritual.
-Completion of extensive internships and direct hands on experience in dealing with clients.
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