Foundations of Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Yoga Training Program

Established 2026

Sarasvati Institute of Ayurveda & Yoga Therapy

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Purpose

Our Level 1: Foundations of Ayurveda & Ayurvedic Yoga 300-hour program is for all levels. You’ll establish a strong foundation in core Ayurvedic Principles and learn Ayurvedic self-assessment tools.

What to expect

What You’ll Learn:

Foundations of Ayurveda & Ayurvedic Yoga is about learning the foundational principles and applying them in all facets of life. Our approach is to fully embrace both the sacred traditions, and modern science.

Ayurvedic philosophy, history, and practice.
The Dinacharya, or the Ayurvedic Daily Routine.
In-depth physiology of the digestive process.
Ayurvedic informed yoga routines.
How to create a balanced state at a cellular level.
The Three Guna's of Nature (Rajas, Tamas, Saatva), the 10 pairs of opposites in nature, and how to use them to cultivate overall balance.
The 5 elements of Nature (Pancha Maha Bhutas) and how to use them in self-assessment.
How to identify a person’s primary Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), and their primary areas of imbalance.
The sub-doshas for specific self-assessment of areas of imbalance.
Self-assessment tools of Ayurveda including pulse, tongue, and eyes.
Specific lifestyle guidance in each month & season.
Recommendations for setting up a healthy home and how to support client’s in setting up a healthy home.

Style/Lineage

The Ayurvedic approach to Nutrition, Digestion, Detoxification, the Tridoshic theory, and how to successfully bridge and integrate Yoga with Ayurveda

Additional Information

Core competencies

By the end of this program, graduates will be able to…

Teaching Skills	Analyze the benefits and contraindications of abhyanga for different dosha types, health conditions, and seasonal contexts. Assess a client's readiness for gentle detox support by reviewing their digestive strength, lifestyle stability, and overall health status. Explain how mental dosha imbalances show up as anxiety, irritability, or mental fog, and how these patterns connect to physical health in Ayurveda.
Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics	Assess the state of a client's agni using classical indicators such as tongue quality, appetite patterns, and elimination regularity. Apply knowledge of physical health to recommend supportive foods, herbs, or lifestyle habits that strengthen a weakened tissue layer.
Practice Skills	Identify the classical Ayurvedic assessment methods, including pulse reading, tongue examination, and intake questioning. Examine which dinacharya practices are most impactful for different dosha types and explain why timing and sequence matter. Describe how seasonal changes in the external environment affect internal dosha balance and why seasonal adjustment supports health. Identify the six tastes (rasas), their elemental makeup, and the effect each taste has on the three doshas. Identify commonly used Ayurvedic herbs and rasayana formulas, including their primary qualities, tastes, and classical therapeutic actions. Identify the main pranayama techniques described in Ayurvedic and yogic texts and match each technique to its primary effect on the doshas. Describe how specific movement qualities—such as pace, intensity, and joint loading—affect each dosha and support or challenge balance.
Yoga History & Theory	Describe how Ayurvedic philosophy connects health, nature, and the individual by explaining the relationship between the five elements and daily life. Examine the connections between the gunas (tamas, rajas, sattva) and how imbalances in these qualities affect physical and mental health. Analyze how shifts in elemental balance within seasons, climates, or life stages affect a person's overall constitution and health. Apply dosha theory to suggest appropriate diet, movement, and lifestyle adjustments for a person showing signs of dosha imbalance.
Lifestyle & Ethics	Explain the ethical responsibilities of an Ayurvedic wellness educator, including confidentiality, informed consent, and appropriate referral. Identify the core areas of Ayurvedic lifestyle counseling, including sleep, movement, stress management, and sense care.
Business Skills	Identify the key components of a professional Ayurvedic wellness practice, including intake forms, session structure, and documentation standards. Identify the foundational elements of a wellness educator's professional presence, including bio, offerings, and community positioning. Identify the core components of a well-structured Ayurvedic protocol, including first steps and next steps, main goals and desired outcomes.

AYC allows each school to state and evaluate the competencies each student acquires. Students rate how well the program delivered them.

Program Emphasis

Evaluation methods

Program evaluations

Solo Project Or Presentation
Oral Exam
Written Submission
Graded Skill Demonstration

Learning Ayurveda is not like learning subjects in school. It’s not about memorizing and regurgitating facts and information. It’s about embodying the principles and applying them to all facets of life. First and foremost, this program is about establishing true embodiment in the principles of Ayurveda.

AYC Evaluations

AYC also requires the following experience for Level 2 Yoga Teacher badges:

4+ years teaching experience
sessions taught per year

More about AYC levels

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Program Faculty

Featured Faculty

susan bass

aka Susan Hiera Bass

Founder, Director and lead instructor at the Sarasvati Institute of Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy which is an IAYT accredited program. I am a National Ayurvedic Medical Association certified Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist as well as Ayurvedic Doctor level certified.

sarasvatiayurveda.com/

Portland, OR, US

Policies

AYC Policies

Progam Code of Conduct

Refund Policy

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American Yoga Council