Knowledge and Skills Conveyed in this
Course
The Ayurvedic Associates Degree Course
should enable you to understand the
interaction of the bioenergies Kapha, Pitta
and Vata, to recognize the Ayurvedic
constitution of a patient, and to offer
advice for harmonizing the bioenergies and
the constitution. This includes proper
health consultation, such as diet,
chromatics, favorable time qualities, and
advises for life situation (selecting
profession, living place and partners).
Lesson
1: Elementary Knowledge of Ayurveda
Dealing essentially with the
structure of the human body according to
Ayurvedic understanding, this lesson
presents the three bodies of man: the gross
or physical and the two subtle bodies,
namely the astral body and the casual body.
Stress is put on the physical body.
As an introduction to the other lessons, the
following topics are explained:
- the five Mahabhutas, or great
creating elements: earth, fire, water,
air and space
- the three Doshas, or bioenergies
resulting from this: Vata, Pitta and
Kapha
- the Gunas, or qualities for
evaluating the Mahabhutas and Doshas and
their significance for the bodily
functions.
Lesson 2: Prakriti, or
Personality of Man
In Ayurveda, three constitutional types
are distinguished: Vata, Pitta and Kapha, as
well as mixed types.
In this lesson you will learn to know and
evaluate the different qualities of a Vata,
Pitta or Kapha type. With this knowledge you
will be able to offer consultation in this
regard.
This lesson also deals with the mental
constitution of man, the three Gunas, or
modes of the mind, and their effects on the
body.
Lesson 3: Ayurvedic Way of Life
The Ayurvedic way of life serves
prevention and health maintenance. Different
time qualities are observed. Topics in this
lesson are:
- the daily routine, the ideal daily
schedule according to one’s own time
qualities
- proper conduct according to the
seasons; influence of seasonal time
according to the bioenergies (Doshas)
- the human life phases
- the ideal profession and vocation
according to one’s constitution
- appropriate leisure activities and
suitable compensation means for Kapha,
Pitta and Vata types
Lesson 4: Hygienic and Body Care
The topics of this lesson are:
- the function of the skin, skin care
and the excretion products of the
tissues (Malas)
- Yoga Kriyas, six special cleaning
exercises and methods
- Abhyanga, oil massage
- inner hygienic, fasting and purging
- psycho hygienic and mental purity
Lesson 5: Yoga, a Practical
System for Bodily, Mental and Spiritual
Health
Each person needs his or her own
individual spiritual path. Following this
premise, four different Yoga paths are
presented in theory and practice:
- Karma Yoga, the path of selfless
acting
- Jnana Yoga, the path of study and
knowledge
- Bhakti Yoga, the path of religious
devotion to God
- Ashtanga Yoga, the Yoga in eight
steps
- Ashtanga Yoga includes bodily
exercise on the third level (Asanas),
breathing exercise on the fourth level (Pranayama),
and Raja Yoga, mental training,
concentration and detachment on the
further levels. The effects of the
different breathing exercises and Asanas
on the body and the constitution is
described.
Lesson 6: Ayurvedic Dietetics
A healthy diet according to one’s
constitution is essential in Ayurveda. First
we will deal with:
- the effects of the different basic
tastes (Rasas) on the constitution
- the role of the qualities (Gunas)
and elements of the food for
compensating the different constitutions
- the difference between ordinary food
and “living” nutrition: Which kind of
foodstuffs are rich in life force (Prana),
and which are not? How does food effect
the mind?#
- the ideal composition of a meal
- adverse combinations of different
food
- the role of the digestive power (Agni)
for creating digestive poisons (Ama)
- Dosha teas and spice blends
- food for children and aged persons
- treating of overweight
- a summary of eating culture and
Ayurvedic nutrition rules.
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