COURSE

Samaga Ayurveda — Residential Ayurvedic Practitioner Course, Udupi

14 days· Udupi, Karnataka

Abhyanga training.

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The course

A two-week residential course at Samaga Ayurveda in Udupi, designed as an introduction to the practice of classical Ayurveda rather than a treatment holiday. Mornings are hands-on — abhyanga (oil massage), swedana (steam), and preparation work for panchakarma therapies. Afternoons are theory: Sanskrit terminology, dosha theory, the dravyaguṇa (properties of substances), and an introduction to classical texts. The course includes field visits to medicinal-plant gardens and the local herb suppliers that the centre works with. Accommodation is on site and meals are sattvic vegetarian, prepared according to Ayurvedic dietary principles.

Why this matters

Ayurveda is a five-thousand-year-old medical science with its own diagnostic and therapeutic system, and a working understanding of it requires time, vocabulary and supervised practice — not a one-day introductory talk. Two weeks at a residential Ayurvedic centre is the smallest unit at which the system begins to make sense as a whole.

Cultural background

Udupi is one of the historical centres of Ayurveda in coastal Karnataka, with a long lineage of vaidyas (practitioners) and traditional pharmacies. Samaga Ayurveda is a family-run centre that combines a residential treatment practice with teaching, working with the local medicinal-plant supply chain that has supported Ayurvedic practice in this region for generations.

Lead teacher

Residential Ayurvedic

Lead instructor

Day-by-day

Day 1Arrival · orientation · introduction to the centre and the syllabus
Days 2–4 morningHands-on training — abhyanga (oil massage) techniques
Days 2–4 afternoonTheory — Sanskrit terminology and dosha theory
Days 5–7 morningHands-on training — swedana (steam) and panchakarma preparation
Days 5–7 afternoonTheory — dravyaguṇa (properties of substances)
Day 8Field visit to a medicinal-plant garden and herb supplier
Days 9–11 morningIntegrated practice · supervised abhyanga / swedana sessions
Days 9–11 afternoonTheory — introduction to classical texts and case studies
Day 12Field visit to a local Ayurvedic pharmacy
Days 13–14Consolidation · open practice · closing ceremony

What to bring

●Wear comfortable, breathable, light-coloured cotton clothing
●Bring a notebook for theory sessions
●Disclose any prior Ayurvedic treatment / current medication at booking
●Vegetarian meals only — confirm dietary restrictions at booking

Practical details

Language: English

Cancellation policy

Full refund up to 30 days before start. 50% refund within 30 days. Non-refundable after start.

Includes

Two-week residential programme at the Samaga Ayurveda centre
Daily Ayurvedic theory lectures (Sanskrit terminology, dosha theory, dravyaguṇa)
Hands-on training in abhyanga, swedana, and basic panchakarma preparation
Field visits to medicinal-plant gardens and herb suppliers
Accommodation and vegetarian meals

Excludes

Flights to / from Karnataka
Personal expenses
Optional Ayurvedic treatments outside the curriculum
Travel insurance

Frequently asked

Is any Sanskrit required?

No prior Sanskrit is required. Key terminology is introduced from the first day and you'll leave with a working vocabulary, but the course is taught in plain language with the Sanskrit terms alongside.

Will I be qualified to practise Ayurveda after this course?

No. Two weeks is an introduction. To practise as an Ayurvedic practitioner in India you need a formal BAMS degree; internationally, the standards vary. This course is for understanding, not certification.

Can I receive Ayurvedic treatments during the course?

Yes, optional treatments can be arranged outside curriculum hours at additional cost.

Not a course to take. A practice to enter.

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