Principles of Ayurveda
COURSES > Short
Discover the ancient life science of Ayurveda straight from the root texts
SELF-PACED | 8 lessons
Guided by a master clinician, you’ll study the basic principles of Ayurveda including the elements, Doshas, nutrition, and other fundamentals for optimal wellbeing.
- Build a solid foundation in Ayurvedic principles to implement in your daily life
- Discover the power of knowing your individual constitution
- Learn about the elements and Doshas
- Practice a mind-body-spirit approach to wellbeing
- Study an ancient 5,000-year-old knowledge system, never watered down
- Be inspired to live your life to the fullest by aligning with natural rhythms
- Earn continuing education credits as a Yoga professional
Start learning now
$95
What's included
- 8 in-depth lessons with 15 hours of expert-led video instruction
- Quiz to test your knowledge
- Access to our elearning system
- Certification of completion*
Bonus: Apply your full course tuition as credit toward the Holistic Ayurvedic Coach program upon completion of Principles of Ayurveda
Course Information
- Schedule: Self-paced
- Estimated Time: 2 Days
- Hours: 15 Hours
- Format: Online
Earn Continuing Education Credits: Students are encouraged to submit their program to the National Ayurvedic Medical Association for PACE credits upon completion.
Who should take this course?
Prerequisites
This course is designed for all levels. There is no prerequisite to join.
Student stories
How can I apply Principles of Ayurveda?
- The foundational principles of Ayurveda in this program can support your wellbeing and daily life.
- Use this knowledge to better understand how to live in harmony with natural rhythms and make daily healthy choices.
- Share this knowledge with friends, family or clients.
- Use this foundation of Ayurvedic knowledge as a basis for continued study.
Ayurveda is not only a science of human life. Ayurveda is a science for each and every living being.
VAIDYA. JAYARAJAN KODIKANNATH
Format
VIDEO TUTORIALS
Your course content is video-based including 15 hours of recorded lectures. Each lesson is delivered by master faculty, Vaidya. Jayarajan Kodikannath (BSc, BAMS).
SELF-PACED STUDY
During your learning process, you can start and stop the videos at any point and rewatch them throughout your course access.
6 months access
You’ll receive immediate access to your course upon purchase and enjoy continued access for 6 months. This will be ample time to view and complete your initial study of the 15 hours of course video content, with the option to review them anytime throughout your remaining access period.
Learn at your unique pace
This program can be taken 100% online and is entirely self-paced. Upon registration, you'll gain access to our elearning portal where all your course materials, videos and resources are located.
Elearning
Our courses are powered by a robust elearning system that connects our global community of students and faculty. The elearning portal is where students may access all of their course information, materials and curriculum, including: course syllabus, schedule, course manual PDFs, class slide decks, class notes and links to live streaming class sessions. The elearning portal is also where tests and assignments are conducted, and where students may submit questions.
Curriculum
This course is based on the core foundational concepts and practices of Ayurveda. Our curriculum is based on the ancient, indigenous wisdom of the Vedic texts — a body of knowledge spanning thousands of years. These root Ayurvedic texts set the standards for modern-day Ayurvedic practice and are still utilized today by universities in India, where Ayurveda is a licensed medical system.
Principles of Ayurveda draws upon this ancient wisdom, translated into relatable applications for your daily health. We like to call it deep roots, modern voice.
Lessons
Foundations of Ayurveda
Ayurveda is an ancient science of life that offers powerful holistic tools for lasting well-being. It honors each person’s uniqueness while recognizing the deep interconnectedness of all life. Understanding Ayurvedic principles can empower you to live more fully, prevent disease, and manage chronic conditions. In Part 1 of this course, you’ll explore the origins, background, and core philosophies of Ayurveda.
The Five Elements and Tridoshas
According to Ayurveda, everything in the universe—including your body, food, plants, animals, and even your thoughts—is made up of five essential elements. By tuning into these elements, you gain insight into how your environment and daily choices influence your physical and mental well-being.
These five elements combine to form the three primary energies in the body, known as the Doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The concept of the Tridoshas explains your unique physical and psychological constitution, which is established at birth. It helps you understand your natural tendencies, habits, and the imbalances you’re more likely to experience. With this knowledge, you can make lifestyle choices that promote lasting balance and health.
Tridoshas, Subdoshas, and Introduction to the Body’s Tissues
Ayurvedic physiology is based on the Tridoshas—three functional energies that govern all bodily processes. Vata controls movement, Pitta manages transformation (such as digestion and metabolism), and Kapha provides cohesion, structure, and nourishment. Each Dosha is further divided into five Subdoshas, which regulate specific functions of the body and mind.
Ayurveda also describes seven tissues, or Dhatus, which represent the structural foundation of the body. Each Dhatu has a distinct structure and role, contributing to overall health and vitality.
The Body’s Tissues and Immunity
In Ayurveda, Dhatus, or bodily tissues, are considered the foundational building blocks of the body. They serve as the sites where the more subtle energies of the Doshas carry out their functions. When the Doshas become imbalanced, they can disturb the Dhatus, leading to various health issues.
Ayurveda identifies seven primary tissues:
Rasa (plasma, lymph)
Rakta (blood)
Māṃsa (muscle)
Meda (fat)
Asthi (bone)
Majja (nerve and marrow)
and Śukra (reproductive tissue).
Maintaining the proper balance of these tissues is essential for preventing disease and sustaining overall health.
The essence of all seven Dhatus is known as Ojas, which represents your vitality and immune strength. Ojas can only be cultivated when all the tissues are nourished and functioning optimally. It protects the body from disease and supports strength, resilience, and clarity of mind—allowing you to thrive at your fullest potential.
Individual Constitution and the Mind
You have a unique Ayurvedic constitution, or Prakriti—the specific combination of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha Doshas you were born with. Understanding your Prakriti helps you recognize your natural tendencies and the choices that best support your health and well-being. From diet and exercise to relationships and career, this self-knowledge can guide you in making decisions that align with your true nature.
Ayurveda also offers a profound understanding of the mind-body connection. Just as the Doshas govern the physical body, the three Guṇas—Sattva (clarity), Rajas (activity), and Tamas (inertia)—describe the qualities of the mind. By learning how these forces influence your thoughts and emotions, you’ll gain tools to cultivate mental balance and navigate life’s stressors with greater ease.
Ayurvedic Nutrition
Diet is one of the primary pillars of health and vitality in Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic approach to nutrition begins with the concept of Ahara, or life’s inputs—not just food, but everything you take in through your senses, including what you see, hear, and experience. What you digest physically and mentally shapes your overall well-being.
Ayurvedic eating is not only about what you eat, but how you eat and the environment you eat in. Meals should be nourishing to the body, mind, and senses. Food should be appealing, taste delicious, and offer a variety of the six tastes (Shad Rasa)—sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent—to ensure balanced nutrition and satisfaction.
Digestion and Food Guidelines
According to Ayurveda, you are not just what you eat—you are what you digest. At the heart of this system is the concept of Agni, your digestive fire. When Agni is strong, your body is able to absorb nutrients efficiently and eliminate toxins that cause imbalance and disease.
Ayurveda doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all diet. Instead, it offers personalized guidance based on your constitution and current state. Still, there are universal principles—like eating fresh, seasonal, and organic foods rich in prana, or life force—that support health and vitality for everyone.
Preventative Practices
The first goal of Ayurveda is to “preserve the health of the healthy.” This is achieved through preventive care rooted in daily, nightly, weekly, and seasonal routines that align your body and mind with nature’s rhythms. By following these time-tested rituals, you can experience more energy, stronger digestion, improved immunity, and a deeper sense of joy and balance in your life.
Faculty
Vaidya Jayarajan Kodikannath (BSc, BAMS)
Vaidya Jayarajan Kodikannath is a classically trained Ayurvedic Doctor and an accomplished teacher representing a lineage of Ayurveda practitioners from Kerala, India currently working as the Executive Vice President of KAL India and CEO of Kerala Ayurveda (USA).
Suffused with expertise in Traditional Indian Medicine (Ayurveda) practices especially Panchakarma (Ayurvedic detoxification), a specialty of Kerala Ayurveda tradition, Vaidya Jayarajan worked as the Chief Medical Officer of the award-winning Ayurvedic Health Resort, Ayurvedagram in Bangalore, India for more than 10 years before relocating to the U.S. in 2010.
He is currently the President of the National Ayurveda Medical Association (NAMA). He is an accomplished teacher for the advanced courses in Ayurveda and the resource person for various training programs conducted in traditional Ayurvedic therapies and medicine. He was on the Board of Directors of California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine (CAAM) and on the Curriculum Board of Bastyr University to create the Masters in Ayurveda program. His corporate sessions and workshops on applications of Ayurveda in daily life, stress management and BMS (Body, Mind & Soul) are immensely popular.
Vaidya Jayarajan is actively involved in various research projects of Kerala Ayurveda. He has presented several papers on Ayurveda in national and international seminars. His debut publication The Parent’s Complete Guide to Ayurveda can be found wherever books are sold.
Frequently asked questions
+1 (510) 257 6640
support@keralaayurveda.us
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm Pacific
Please note that we are closed on most U.S. holidays and weekends.
If you access your course, or your course was purchased more than 30 days prior, your sale is considered final and not eligible for a refund.
To inquire about a refund, contact Student Support Services at:
+1 (510) 257 6640
support@keralaayurveda.us
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm Pacific
Please note that we are closed on most U.S. holidays and weekends.
Start learning now
$95
What's included
- 8 lessons totaling 15 hours of video coursework
- Quiz to test your knowledge
- Access to our elearning system
- Certification of completion