Learn Ayurveda. Support others. Deepen your path.
The Holistic Ayurvedic Coach (HAC) certification is a 300-hour program designed for students who want to deepen their understanding of Ayurveda and begin supporting others through education, lifestyle guidance, and wellness coaching. Guided by classically trained Ayurvedic experts (Vaidyas) from Kerala, India, the home of authentic Ayurveda, the program combines time-honored teachings with a practical, accessible learning experience. Available online or in person. The next cohort begins October 2026.
Pathway to NAMACB accreditation
80 years of Ayurvedic teaching
Rooted in Kerala, India
My experience with the KAA program has been truly transformative. The classes were well-structured, the instructors deeply knowledgeable, and the community very supportive. I feel confident and inspired to carry this wisdom forward.
Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest systems of health and wellbeing. More than a collection of remedies, it offers a practical framework for understanding how food, lifestyle, environment, and daily habits influence our physical, mental, and emotional health.
Authentic lineage, experienced faculty, meaningful mentorship, and a global community of students and alumni. These are the foundations that shape the learning experience at Kerala Ayurveda Academy.
Some are exploring a new professional path. Others want deeper personal study. Many discover they're looking for both.
Three recent HAC graduates, in their own words.
This program focuses on understanding Ayurveda through direct application. Each concept is designed to be usable in your daily routine and personal wellbeing.
Read the body's signals through the foundational principles of Ayurveda.
Understand your own constitution and how it influences energy, digestion, sleep, and emotions.
Build daily routines that support balance and help prevent recurring imbalances over time.
Use food, herbs, and lifestyle adjustments as foundational tools for supporting wellbeing.
Apply Ayurvedic principles to support friends, family, or clients using a structured framework for guidance.
Students come to HAC with different goals, and the learning often unfolds in different ways. Some focus on personal wellbeing, some bring Ayurveda into their existing work, and others continue into professional training.
Through six interconnected modules, you'll build a strong foundation in Ayurvedic principles, lifestyle practices, assessment, coaching skills, and practical application. Learning is supported through weekend intensives, virtual classes, group mentoring, recorded lessons, and guided assignments throughout the program.
Begin your education with an introduction to the 5,000-year-old history and philosophy of Ayurveda. The three universal energies (Doshas) and five fundamental elements (Mahabhutas) are the starting point for any Ayurvedic student. This leads to an understanding of the 20 foundational qualities of life (Gunas), the key to health. The application of these guiding principles will also be covered as it relates to the concepts of physiological disposition (Prakruti), imbalance (Vikruti) and Dynamic Balance.
Additional topics include:
Ayurvedic Physiology is designed to describe the subtle energies and foundational structures of the human body. Ayurveda explains the formation and structure of the seven tissues of the body in detail. This course will cover the details of these seven tissues and offer a deeper look into how they work cohesively to form the structure and function of the human body.
Additional topics include:
Ayurvedic Psychology offers a fascinating look into the psychology of the human being from a cosmological and energetic perspective. This course will cover the three Gunas and how they are fundamental for understanding the mind and emotions. Additionally, the Ayurvedic study of how energy moves through the body is powerful and important to fully understand holistic human health. This course will cover the chakras and how to keep them healthy as well as the physical energy centers (Marmas) and their role in health and disease.
Additional topics include:
Ayurvedic Nutrition & Cooking places an emphasis on foods that ground the soul, nourish the body and delight the senses. This is a fun course with in-person cooking demonstrations teaching how to prepare simple, nutritious and sensually gratifying meals. Ayurvedic cooking is aimed at pleasing all five senses and experiencing all six tastes. This course will also review techniques for maximum nutrient absorption and explain how that relates to a balanced digestive system.
Additional topics include:
Ayurvedic Prevention Science provides a comprehensive blueprint for daily and seasonal living to maintain optimal health, year-round. This can be done by learning the ideal Ayurvedic daily routine (Dinacharya) to live a balanced life and maximize effectiveness of your efforts.
Additional topics include:
Ayurveda and Yoga will focus on understanding the principles of Yoga in connection with the Ayurvedic concepts. The course will begin with a detailed understanding of the eight limbs of Yoga and the koshas in connection with Yoga and Ayurveda. This course will also teach students how to customize each yoga practice based on the individual’s constitution.
Additional topics include:
Plus on-demand recorded lectures and assignments through the eLearning portal — 24/7 access, self-paced, all live sessions recorded for replay.
Kerala Ayurveda Academy is guided by BAMS-trained Ayurvedic Vaidyas who come from India’s traditional system of Ayurvedic education and practice. They help shape the curriculum, oversee the academic experience, and teach core Weekend Intensives alongside an experienced faculty of practitioners, mentors, and educators.
BAMS is the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, India's accredited university degree spanning Ayurvedic theory, classical texts, anatomy, pharmacology, and clinical training.
BAMS from Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala. Trained clinically in India's traditional Ayurvedic wellness system. Former board member of NAMA and CAAM, and on Bastyr University's Expert Curriculum Committee for the Master's in Ayurveda program. Builds and oversees the HAC curriculum.
Grew up in a family where her grandfather was a well-known Ayurvedic physician. Ran her own clinic in Bangalore for 12 years as an authorized Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala dealer. Specializes in allergic, skin, digestive, joint, and autoimmune disorders.
Former faculty in the Ophthalmology and ENT departments at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. AWP-certified through Kerala Ayurveda Academy. She specializes in preventive care, autoimmune disorders, skin and joint health, and pediatric nutrition.
Master's in Ayurvedic Surgery, with PhD research at Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar. A decade in Indian Government Hospitals and 5 years as a Lecturer in Ayurveda (UG and PG). Subject editor for the International Journal for AYUSH Case Reports. Specializes in orthopaedic management and para-surgical procedures.
Whether you prefer to pay in full or spread tuition across the program, flexible payment plans are available.
Not sure yet? Book an advisor call before you enroll.
Ayurveda is a vast and complete system of health, offering a depth of knowledge that can be explored at many levels. HAC provides a strong foundation in its principles and practical application. Some students find that foundation meets their goals. Others feel called to continue their studies through AHC and beyond. Because foundational coursework transfers directly, you can begin your journey without needing to map out every step ahead.
Many Ayurveda programs offer valuable learning experiences. What makes HAC at Kerala Ayurveda Academy distinctive is the combination of lineage, faculty, and learning environment.
First, lineage: Kerala Ayurveda Academy is part of Kerala Ayurveda Limited, an 80-year Ayurvedic organization with roots in Kerala, India, where Ayurveda has been continuously preserved and practiced for generations. Students learn within a living tradition rather than a modern interpretation developed outside of India.
Second, teaching: The program is guided by BAMS-trained Ayurvedic doctors from India who help shape the curriculum and teach key portions of the program alongside an experienced team of educators, mentors, and practitioners.
Third, integration: Kerala Ayurveda Academy and the Wellness Center operate under one roof in Milpitas, California. Students learn within an organization where Ayurveda is actively practiced, creating a close connection between study and real-world application.
HAC is the foundational 300-hour program. The full NAMACB Ayurvedic Health Counselor exam requires the 600-hour AHC level. HAC graduates who continue into AHC qualify to sit for NAMACB at exam time. We're an Organizational Member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), and our programs are designed to NAMA's competency standards in the U.S.
The program is structured around six weekend intensives (one per module, in person or live streamed), twelve Tuesday evening virtual classes, five group mentoring sessions, and a one-day clinical practicum, plus self-paced recorded lectures and assignments through the eLearning portal. All live sessions are recorded for replay. Time per week varies by where you are in the program — peak weeks are weekend intensives, quieter weeks are self-paced. Plan accordingly with school, work, or family schedules.
Probably not, but for an unexpected reason. Even students with health backgrounds tell us that the first module recasts what they thought they knew about the body — because Ayurveda's framework is fundamentally different from Western functional or biomedical models. The early modules aren't repetitive; they're foundational to a different way of seeing. By Module 3 you're applying it to your existing practice.
As an HAC graduate you can offer Ayurvedic coaching — supporting clients with diet, daily and seasonal routines, lifestyle adjustments, and basic herbal recommendations within scope. You cannot diagnose, treat disease, or practice medicine. Most graduates use it three ways: for self and family, as a supplement to an existing wellness practice, or as the entry point to deeper clinical work via AHC and AP. If clinical practice is your end goal, HAC is step one of four.
The first 6 modules of HAC are transferable directly into our Level I AHC (Ayurvedic Health Counselor) program, so you don't repeat foundational coursework. From there, each certification is a prerequisite for the next: AHC is required before AP (Level II), and AP is required before AAP (Level III). The credit ladder is the structural backbone of how Kerala Ayurveda Academy is built — you can pause, return, and continue at your own pace.
Both. Live online sessions (Tuesday virtual classes, weekend intensives, group mentoring) are scheduled in real time with faculty and the cohort. All live sessions are recorded and available through the eLearning portal for replay, so you can stay on track if you miss one. Many students do a hybrid — attend live when possible, watch recordings during busy weeks. The cohort community itself is one of the things graduates mention most.
Kerala Ayurveda Academy is a California-registered institution, and refund and withdrawal policies are detailed in the enrollment agreement and current course catalog. An advisor walks you through the full policy on the advising call, before you commit. Sabbaticals between cohorts are also available if life circumstances require a pause.
Yes. International students enroll in HAC each cohort and study alongside U.S.-based peers. Live sessions are held on a U.S. Pacific Time schedule (8:00 AM to 6:00 PM local), and recordings are available through the eLearning portal to cover any time-zone gaps. The program is fully remote, so location is not a barrier.
A high school diploma or equivalent is required for HAC. No prior knowledge of Ayurveda, no medical background, and no other certifications are required. We begin with the fundamentals of Ayurveda and build from there. Students arrive from teaching, parenting, tech, healthcare, design, and dozens of other fields. Curiosity and a willingness to study consistently are the most reliable predictors of who finishes well.
You've done the comparison work. Now talk to someone who can answer the specific questions your research raised — about cohorts, scholarships, transfer credits, your career goals, or whether HAC is the right starting point for you.
