Ayurveda Wellness Counselor Programs

Level 1: AWCP Foundation Training

Course Catalogue

James Bailey, LAc, Dipl OM, Dipl Ayu, MPH, ERYT500

Sevanti Institute 1522 Michael Lane Pacific Palisades, CA 310-393-4124 www.sevanti.com

James G. Bailey, LAc, Dipl OM, Dipl Ayu, E-RYT500

James inspires an awakening to authenticity as the highest expression of faith in oneself on the path of yoga and healing. His workshops and yoga teacher trainings are eclectic and entertainingly provocative. James is a third generation physician and Yoga educator who has been living yoga and ayurveda for 30 years. He teaches Yoga, Ayurveda and meditation workshops worldwide and is a contributing editor and columnist for Yoga Journal, Light on Ayurveda, LA Yoga magazine and other wellness magazines. He is founder of Sevanti Wellness. You'll find him at www.sevanti.com

Contact Information

James Bailey, LAc, Dipl OM, Dipl Ayu, E-RYT500 Sevanti Wellness 1522 Michael Lane Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Phone: (310) 393-4124 Email: james@sevanti.com Website: www.sevanti.com Facebook:    James Bailey

AWC 6: Optional Journey to India Retreat

The Sacred Sap Retreat: Kerala (South India) 7 nights accommodation at Somatheeram Ayurveda Health Resort on the beach

3 traditional Kerala cuisine or Ayurvedic meals per day: vegan, veg or fish options daily 90 minute Ayurveda healing oil massage + shirodhara + other treatments

daily restorative yoga practice overlooking the Arabian Sea daily lectures, meditations, naps, beach walks, local explorations, group fun

3 day trips: Hindu temples, Indian Forest Elephant reserve, tour of backwaters

Pricing: $2800 per person (double occupancy only)

Post-Retreat Tour: Varanasi & Taj Mahal (North India) 4-day private tour of the spiritual epicenters of Varanasi, Taj Mahal with guides

4-star accommodations at Radisson hotels breakfast buffet, high speed internet in rooms, transport from Agra to Delhi

Pricing: $1300 per person (double occupancy only)

The Journey to India RetreatThe Sacred Sap Retreat + Post-Retreat Tour

With James Bailey, LAc, Dipl Ayu, E-RYT500 and Guest Teachers

January 25 - February 4, 2016

Please visit sevantiadventures.com for full retreat detailsRegistration Deadline: Dec 18, 2015 | Pricing: $4100

Sevanti Institute

Ayurveda Wellness Counselor Program

Welcome AWCP Students,

The course you are about to embark upon may be viewed as a stepping stone towards something greater than appears on the surface. The path of healing another person is one of the most rewarding directions a person can take in life. Healing, not medicine, but true healing, is an extraordinarily vulnerable and authentic process that can only occur in light of an accurate understanding of ourselves. It is known in both yoga and ayurveda that a false view of reality (avidya) is the most common source of suffering, while an accurate view (vidya) can heal, uplift, and evolve us on the journey through life. Our work then is to rectify false views. 

What is exchanged between a skilled ayurvedic wellness counselor and client is life wisdom, the definition of ayurveda. The practitioner of this healing art transmits the universal form of this knowledge, from heart to heart, in such a way that it becomes authentic, personalized, self knowledge for the client. Self knowledge is the most powerful of all medicines. You know the old adage: you can give a man a fish, or teach him how to fish. In Ayurveda we say you can teach a man to fish or teach him about himself. Counseling doesn’t just teach, it enlightens.

While great diagnostic skill is needed, very little self knowledge is required to treat symptoms. Those on the path of self understanding will naturally remain healthier and heal faster when imbalance occurs. Those less connected to themselves, those more superficially oriented, will likely struggle more. The practice of self reflection, the self inquiry itself, is the bridge between self healing and self realization. We awaken our clients to their true nature - prakriti.

One of my early teachers in the natural healing arts once said to me, “If you wish to heal people, become a sage; if you wish to treat symptoms, become a doctor. As did my teacher, I suggest you become a sage.”  Those words would forever effect my work. I no longer distinguish between my work as a yoga educator and an ayurvedic physician. The lines between these two disciplines are blurred, as they should be. The father of modern yoga, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, was such a sage. He understood the nature of the individual from the Ayurvedic view, and the yogic view. He was an enlightened teacher with a complete view on humanity.

It is a natural step then for a teacher of yoga to become a guide to wellness - with training of course. The gap is intuitively quite small. Krishnamacharya was a master of both.  Only a few principles, a few techniques to assess, and a few tools to heal need be taught. Yoga teachers have become the new role model of wellness in our modern community. We are asked daily what we eat, how we take care of ourselves, and for psychological and spiritual advice to life’s challenges. We are in a unique position to help many people. 

The Ayurveda Wellness Counselor Program (AWCP) was designed to bring Ayurveda wellness skills specifically to the yoga community, with an understanding of what yoga teachers do for people, what you have already spent hundreds of hours learning, and what little is missing to create a complete wellness practice. We’ve streamlined the Ayurveda practitioner curriculum to exclude treatment based practices (anything involving a treatment table) and we’re focusing on the profound act of counseling people’s lives: foods, eating habits, lifestyle behaviors, sleep patterns, cleansing, fasts, herbal medicines, and subtle therapies. Simple tools that heal huge issues in people’s lives. Tools that would empty hospitals if universally applied.

While western medicine is a disease management system, Ayurveda wellness practices are health creating systems. Remember, our work is to rectify false views of ourselves and our nature. Go and transform the untrue to the true, and hold people’s hands as you guide them from the unknown to the known.  Blessings on your journey. Be brave, vulnerable, compassionate, and stay true to yourself along the way.

James Bailey, LAc, Dipl OM, Dipl Ayu, MATCM, ERYT500

Sevanti Institute

Ayurveda Wellness Counselor Programs

Two Training Levels

Level 1: AWCP Foundation Training

• Open to all. Learn the fundamentals of Ayurveda Wellness Counseling for life, for family, friends and community. Open to anyone interested in a living practice of Ayurveda and a long life of natural health. To heal others we must heal ourselves.

• Ideal for yoga teachers, teachers in training, YTT schools interested in offering classroom and lifestyle ayurveda training at the 300 & 500-hr YTT level (qualifies as YA elective hours), or as Continuing Education for certified yoga teachers and health care practitioners.

• Required for Level 2: AWCP Advanced Certification Training

• Format: 12 days, 4 classroom contact modules AWC 1-4 (120 hrs), and AWC 5 home study and case report (80 hrs).

• AWC 6: optional 2 week journey to India to experience Ayurveda at its source! (50 hrs credit available)

• Instruction Time: 200 hrs (+ 50 hrs for optional India trip)

Level 2: AWCP Advanced Certification Training

• Become a certified Ayurveda Wellness Counselor recognized by the National Ayurveda Medical Association (NAMA).

• Prerequisite: Level 1 AWCP Foundation Training

• Who is this program for? Anyone interested in becoming a NAMA recognized Ayurveda Wellness Counselor.

• Format: advanced modules (30-50 hrs each) designed to deepen your counseling skills: advanced herbology, advanced nutrition and ayurvedic cooking, advanced counseling methods, advanced pathology, advanced pulse reading and practice, essential oils, subtle therapies, therapeutic meditation, ayurveda and yogic psychology, etc.

• More details coming soon . . .

• Instruction Time: 400 hrs

Sevanti Institute

Ayurveda Wellness Counselor Program

Level 1: AWCP Foundation Training

Course Description

The Ayurveda Wellness Counselor Program (AWCP) is a two tiered approach to Ayurveda Wellness education: (1) Level 1: AWCP Foundation Training and (2) Level 2: AWCP Advanced Certification Training.

Level 1: AWCP Foundations is open to all as a lifestyle and counseling immersion into the Ayurvedic view of life, health, and healing. AWCP Foundations begins the journey of healing others with the journey of healing ourselves and those closest to us.

Level 2: AWCP Advanced Certification Training takes the process deeper into the advanced world of counseling others as a professional career. Both programs provide the needed traditional ayurvedic principles, client assessment and wellness management skills.

Though open to all, both programs are ideal for yoga teachers, teachers in training, and health care professionals. The course can also be offered as Continued Education to certified yoga teachers, and to other healthcare practitioners interested in applying ayurveda in their practices.

Level 1 is divided into six modules (AWC 1-6). The first four modules (AWC 1-4) are taught over 12 days in the classroom environment hosted by yoga schools.

AWC 1 covers the essential theories and principles of Ayurveda and wellness counseling including the 20 tatwas, 5 elements, tridosha philosophies, the 7 dhatus (tissues), 15 subdoshas, agni, ama, mala, etc.

AWC 2 covers Ayurveda wellness counseling methods such as lifestyle counseling, nutrition, herbology, cleansing, oil therapies, etc. These are the health generating tools you will give to your clients following the assessment phase of the counseling visit. The module will teach counselors how to customize these tools to each unique client.

AWC 3 covers the art and science of Ayurvedic pathology, dosha assessment, and all the tools needed to create wellness plans for your clients. The module will focus on pulse diagnosis, dosha assessments, tissue assessment, distinguishing physical and mental constitutions, etc.

AWC 4 is a practicum module where we will perform six 3-hr assessments on six volunteer clients. James will direct the assessments and students will co-assess and co-counsel, learning from the live practical teaching style.

AWC 5 is a take home assignment where each student will conduct 1-3 private assessments, and write up one 5-8 page case report.

AWC 6 is an optional trip to India to experience Ayurveda at it’s source!

Skills taught include constitutional (prakriti) and conditional (vikriti) dosha assessment, pulse and tongue analysis, tissue analysis, lifestyle counseling, Ayurvedic nutritional therapy, customized home cleanse management, functional herbology, oil therapies, subtle therapies, ayurveda in asana practice, client rapport, ayurveda psychology, and business management. 

In our modern communities, yoga teachers hold the highest mantle of health, vitality and consciousness. Students, friends and family come to us for advice in matters of diet, lifestyle, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing. Without practical assessment skills, the advice given is more often trending (fad) information or practices the teacher personally employs for her own wellness, than genuinely skilled support useful to the individual. 

The AWCP is unique in that it provides yoga teachers and practitioners both skills in the classroom as well as a secondary revenue stream outside the classroom. Teachers can give more accurately informed advice, guided by the wisdom of yoga and ayurveda, and get paid for it. As we all know, resourceful teachers stand out above those less resourceful. Practitioners will be able to establish themselves in the community as Ayurvedic Wellness Counselors (AWC) with all of the skills and capacities of any non-clinical Ayurvedic practitioner. 

Course Sections

AWC 1Principles of Ayurveda Wellness  30 hrs

The AWC 1 principles course will explore the basic elements of Ayurveda, particularly the lifestyle inner teachings of Ayurveda as a grounding for those living a yogic life. The fundamentals of the Vedic 5 Element and Tri Dosha Theories will be used throughout the proceeding courses. The focus of this course is enlightened self knowledge and self care (swasthavritta), self study (svadhyaya), yogic lifestyle and yoga teachers as healing resources, pure sattvic living, living true to ourselves (sadvritta), and the uniqueness of our own constitutional nature (prakriti).

- We Begin with Self Knowledge and Self Care - Ayurveda History, Definitions, Philosophy, and Classic Texts - Ayurveda and the Vedas - Swasthavritta (Enlightened Self Care, Wellness, Non-Clinical) Branch of Ayurveda - Sadvritta: Living True to Ourselves in Yoga and Ayurveda - Ayurveda: The Wisdom of Life - Ayurvedic Definition of Health - Three Pillars of Health - Tatwas: The Twenty Attributes of Nature - Pancha Mahabhuta: 5 Element Theory and the Body - Tridosha Theory: Vata, Pitta, Kapha - Subdoshas - Doshas and Personality - Prakriti: The Seven Constitutions - Prakriti Body Types - Prakriti Personality Types - Agni: Metabolism and Transformation in Health - Ama: Endogenous and Exogenous Toxicity - Sapta Dhatus: The Seven Tissues and Signs of Imbalance - Upadhatu: Secondary Tissues - Mala: Understanding and Maintaining Healthy Elimination - Digestion and It’s Care: The Core of our Well Being - Stages of Digestion - Ojas: Reservoir of Life - Rasayana: Longevity, Anti-Aging, Rejuvenation

AWC 2Ayurveda Wellness Counseling Methods 30 hrs

Many of the wellness methods taught in the AWC 2 section are considered routine lifestyle practices in yogic and ayurvedic life. Efficacy of these methods lay in making them authentic, ie customized, to the individual’s unique constitution (prakriti) and condition (vikriti). The course will focus on the healing modalities that are shared between the ayurveda wellness counselor and client. These include lifestyle counseling, nutrition, basic herbology and use of culinary spices for healing, topical oil therapies, and how to create a customized ayurveda cleanse for each client. Our bodies are designed by nature to heal on their own, they have the built in intelligence to do so, and a set of instructions to guide the process, known as svabhavoparamavadha. Healing results lay in the objective assessment of truth, the authenticity of our healing needs, and embracing the matter of factness of change. These are the tools of our healing work.

- Lifestyle: Addressing the Nidan, Moving Towards our Nature - Assessing Mental Prakriti and Vikriti - Ayurvedic and Yogic Nutrition: Foods as Medicine - Healing with Spices - Dosha Balancing Teas - Herbology: Common Herbs, Culinary Spices, and Formulas - Rasayana: Rejuvenation and Anti-Aging - Thailam: Medicated and Essential Oils for Internal and Topical Use - Topical Therapies: Abhyanga, Lepa, Ointments - Ayurvedic and Yogic Fasting / Cleansing: Custom Kitchari Cleanses - Swasthavritta Daily Routines: Dinacharya, Ritucharya, Ratricharya, and Ritusandhi - Women’s Health, Yoga and Ayurveda - Asana for Prakriti Types and as Ayurvedic Therapy - Joint Health in Yoga and Ayurveda - Subtle Therapies: Pranayam, Meditation, and Mantra Therapies

AWC 3Ayurveda Wellness Assessment Theory and Practice 30 hrs

This course will cover assessment theory and practice of Ayurveda as used in wellness counseling. Students will learn how to measure the dosha’s dynamic movements through the bodymind, what signs and symptoms reflect their presence, and the deduction of doshic patterns. Basic pulse, tongue and tissue analysis will be covered. This is the practical application of assessment intake and diagnostics, where students determine the appropriate method of healing, as taught in AWC 3. Students will practice all assessment methods on themselves and other students in small groups. This material is the heart of the assessment skills that generates deep insights into the workings of life and life force (prana) from the ayurvedic perspective.

- Authenticity as our Healing Path - Diagnostic Use of the Mahabhutas and the Senses - Assessing Doshas: Subjective Self Testing vs Objective Assessments - Ayurveda Training and Standards: Palliative vs Shodhana - Manas Prakriti: Our Mental Constitution: The Trigunas - Rogakaarana, Gunas, and Ayurveda Psychology - Manas Prakriti Self Test in Groups - Parinam: The Natural Cycle of the Doshas - Parinam Discussion in Groups - Samprapti: The Six Stages of Pathology - Khavaigunya: Inviting Pathology - External Factors Affecting the Flow of the Doshas - The Three Disease Pathways - Diagnostics - Vikriti: Dosha Imbalances and Common Vikriti - Functional and Structural History - Dosha Assessment - Dhatu Assessment - Ama Assessment - Deduction of Patterns - Roga Pariksha: Condition Assessment - Pulse Analysis Introduction and Practice - Tongue Analysis Introduction and Practice - Practice Assessments on Other Students - Krishnamacharya: Applying Swasthavritta Ayurveda to Yoga Asana Practice - Asana Analysis: Reading Doshas in Asana Practice

AWC 4Ayurveda Wellness Counseling Practicum 30 hrs

In the AWC 4 practicum, we will assess six volunteer individuals who will share their lives and stories with the class. Under the guidance of Ayurveda practitioner, James Bailey, the group will collectively assess each individual’s doshic constitution and conditional imbalances. Live time analysis of each individual’s condition and health patterns will be demonstrated. Lifestyle and wellness methods will be recommended by the teacher and group. Afterwards, Q&A time will be allowed for each assessment to clarify questions and ambiguities in the assessment process. Rapport building and business management skills will be explored. We’ll also look at yoga asana classroom dynamics for patterns that effect the doshas of individuals in the room.

- Practical Ayurveda Wellness Counseling - Taking an Ayurvedic Case History - Client Rapport and Healing States - Practice Assessments on Other Students - In-class live assessments of 4 volunteer clients with Q&A (3 hrs each) - James Bailey will lead the assessments, students will listen, take notes, and ask questions - Bridging Ayurveda and Yoga Asana: Classroom Dynamics and Privates - The Wisdom of Referral: Knowing One’s Scope and Limits - Business Management

AWC 5At-Home Case Assessments and Online Presentation Conference 80 hrs

AWC 5 is an at home project and final exam. Students are asked to conduct 1-3 ayurveda wellness assessments on 1-3 separate individuals (one family member only). Students will write one 5-8 page, single-space, paper on their most interesting assessment, including case history, symptoms, constitutional assessment notes, wellness and lifestyle patterns, recommendations, and a followup session noting the results of the recommendations on the individual’s health and wellbeing.

AWC 6Optional: The Journey to India Retreat 50 hrs

Join James on an optional trip to Kerala (south India) for 8 days of Ayurveda studies and self healing through treatments and classes with Ayurveda doctors at the world famous Somatheeram Ayurveda Health Center. Go to the source and receive treatments by practitioners of a 5000 year old lineage of healers. Many of these practitioners come from 30+ generation families practicing Ayurveda. 500-hr students will receive 50-hrs of credit for this once in a lifetime journey. Experience one of the deepest and most traditional styles of ayurveda in India. A four day post-retreat tour of Varanasi and Taj Mahal in north India is included to experience some of the best of northern India.

- Kerala Ayurveda Retreat and Study January 25 - February 1, 2016 - Post Retreat Tour of Varanasi and Taj Mahal January 1-4, 2016

For more details see: www.sevanti.com

Ayurveda Wellness Counselor Program

Reading List

The reading list is not required to read prior to Level 1 training. Required readings are expected to be read during Level 2 training. No advanced reading is required to start Level 1.

Yoga and Ayurveda:Yoga for Your Type: Ayurvedic Approach to Asana Practice, D. Frawley and S. Kozak - Required Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy, M. Stiles Yoga and Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization, D. Frawley

Ayurveda for Women:The Path of Practice: A Woman’s Book of Ayurvedic Healing, Bri Maya Tiwari - Required Ayurveda for Women, R. Svoboda

Ayurveda Theory and Principles:Prakriti: Your Ayurveda Constitution, R. Svoboda - Required The Textbook of Ayurveda Vol 1: Fundamental Principles, V. Lad - Required The Textbook of Ayurveda Vol 2: Clinical Assessment, V. Lad - Required The Textbook of Ayurveda, Vol 3: Principles of Management and Treatment, V. Lad Caraka Samhita, P. Atreya (Translator: P. V. Sharma)

Ayurveda Pathology:Ayurvedic Perspectives on Selective Pathologies, V. Lad - Required Concept of Pathology in Ayurveda (Vikruti Vijnyan), S. Ranade

Ayurveda Nutrition and Cooking:Eat-Taste-Heal: An Ayurvedic Cookbook for Modern Living, T. Yarema - Required Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing, V. Lad

Pulse Analysis:Secrets of the Pulse: The Ancient Art of Ayurvedic Pulse Analysis, V. Lad - Required

Ayurveda Herbology:The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, D. Frawley - Required Materia Medica of Ayurveda, B. Dash