Three Winds Academy - Yanumoja Yoga * Thai Massage * Ayurveda

~ Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program ~ @ Pacific Rim College

The Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy is a 4-month college certificate program designed and offered by Nikki Manzie at Pacific Rim College. This in-depth training includes philosophy, therapeutic principles and techniques of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy with supervised practice and client-clinic hours.

The foundation of Ayurveda rests in the principles, energies, rhythms and movements of life and nature. As a science, Ayurveda is a study of life in its wholeness – observing living beings in their interactions with their environment. Ayurveda draws on natural therapies and lifestyle practices to return you to a state of balance and harmony. Many of these practices are explored in depth throughout the courses (diet, herbs, lifestyle, environment, daily health and spiritual practices, bodywork).

One such therapy works with Marma – vital points in the body where there is a junction of tissue, vessels, systems, and subtle yet potent life-energies. Marmas are stimulated with acupressure, oil massage and energy-work to affect a healing response in their associated organs, tissues and energy channels. Students of this program will attain a basic foundation in the practice of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy.

Program Objectives and Outcomes

The Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program is a wonderful stand-alone program for students who have an interest in offering hands-on healing as an augment to current skills in bodywork, or as a profession on its own. Students gain a working knowledge of Ayurveda at the basic and intermediate levels. They learn the physical and energy systems according to the Ayurvedic model, which include the marma points. They also learn how to identify injuries, illnesses and imbalances in the marma and their associated systems, and organs and have a working knowledge of the various ways to treat the marma using massage, energy healing, external application of herbs, hot and cold therapies, compress therapies, oil therapies, and subtle therapies.

Graduates of this program use knowledge and experience gained to work in community health centres, clinical settings as well as private practice. Graduates easily find work in the spa and health & fitness industry, as well as in clinic settings and private practice. Their therapeutic skills enables them to work in fields such as sports injury/recovery, injury recovery (structural and soft tissue injuries), trauma recovery, and general support for illness/disease recovery.

Graduates can combine their certificate with Foundations in Yogatherapy to meet advanced standards of training as deemed by the International Association of Yoga Therapists, or combine studies with Thai Massage for more expanded skills in massage and bodywork. They can also matriculate into the Diploma of Eastern Therapeutic Bodywork.

Program Structure and Course Descriptions

- Foundations in Eastern Therapies and Bodywork
During this course, students learn the general background and cultural context for Eastern Therapeutic Bodywork with specific attention to Indian, Chinese and T’ai indigenous medicines. This course offers an introduction to the base theoretical principles, as well as the history of spirituality and medicine. Both energy medicine and healing are defined, and basic energetic anatomy – all through a comparative approach of Yogic, Ayurvedic, Thai and some basic TCM systems – are explored.

- History of Ayurveda
Students deepen their knowledge of history and learn the general background and cultural context for Ayurvedic Marmatherapy. In particular, this course focuses on the associations of Ayurveda and Marma healing to classic texts of Charaka, Shushruta, and the Vedas.

- Basic Ayurveda
Basic energetic anatomy in the Ayurvedic medicine system is the focus of this course. Students also begin the life-long journey of pulse diagnosis. This course introduces basic Ayurvedic theory of dosha (physiological forces) management and well as the location, names and functions of Marma.

- Ayurvedic Practicum (i)
Students integrate and deepen their basic Ayurvedic theoretical and practical knowledge through supervised peer and case studies.

- Intermediate Ayurveda Theory
Intermediate Ayurvedic anatomy and physiology (sub-doshas, tissues, channels, marma) are explored in this course. Concepts behind cleansing and rejuvenation therapy are introduced, and students learn the practical techniques of Marmatherapy oil massage.

- Ayurvedic Practicum (ii)
This course allows students to practice and integrate theory and techniques from Intermediate Ayurveda Theory through supervised peer practice and case studies.

- Vital Energies of Plants
Students learn the theory of plants as they relate to Ayurvedic energy medicine, and the application of plants in diet as well as external therapies. Students wild-craft plants and prepare medicated oils, pastes, poultices. Students further learn compress theory and application. Techniques studied include Pinda Sweda (one and two person massage) and Basti Deep Oil Well.

- Ayurvedic Practicum (iii)
This course allows student to practice and integrate theory and techniques from Vital Energies of Plants through supervised peer and client practice, as well as case studies.

Curriculum Hours

Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program

Requirements

Foundations in Eastern Therapies and Bodywork
History of Ayurveda
Basic Ayurveda
Ayurvedic Practicum (i)
Intermediate Ayurveda Theory
Ayurvedic Practicum (ii)
Vital Energies of Plants
Ayurvedic Practicum (iii)

18 hours
9 hours
41 hours
36 hours
54 hours
36 hours
40 hours
36 hours

Total

270 hours

Dates

Program begins September 2010. (Details will be posted prior to the program start.)

Cost

Total: $4002

Contact

Pacific Rim College
www.pacificrimecollege.ca
250-482-2119

Teacher

Nikki Manzie, Director, Diploma of Eastern Therapies and Bodywork program

NOTE: All Information is as of November 2009. Please require Pacific Rim College for the latest information.