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You are here » Home / Faculties & Programs / School of Integrative Health / Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Program

Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program

Program Overview

The Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program (FAM) is a 252-hour (1-semester) program that introduces students to the philosophies, therapeutic principles and techniques of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy. It can be taken independently or as part of the Diploma of Eastern Therapies and Bodywork (ETB).

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 including diet, herbs, lifestyle, environment, spiritual practices and bodywork.

Ayurvedic Marmatherapy works with vital points (Marmas) in the body where there is a junction of tissues, 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.

The Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program is ideal 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, including the Marma points. Students also learn how to identify injuries, illnesses and imbalances in the Marma, including 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 techniques.

Curriculum

The following courses comprise the Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program. All courses must be completed for a student to be eligible for graduation. New students must complete the General Introduction component. Please see Study Options below for more information.

General Introduction		Total Requirements
Foundations in Eastern Therapies and Bodywork		1.2 credits	18 hours
	During this course, students learn the general background and cultural context for Eastern Therapies and Bodywork with specific attention to Indian, Chinese and T'ai indigenous medicines. This course offers an introduction to the theoretical principles and the history of spirituality and medicine. Both energy medicine and healing are defined, and basic energetic anatomy is explored, all through a comparative approach of Yogic, Ayurvedic, Thai and basic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) systems.


Total		1.2 credits	18 hours

Fundamentals of Ayurveda		Total Requirements
History of Ayurveda		0.6 credit	9 hours
	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		2.8 credits	41 hours
	This course explores basic energetic anatomy in the Ayurvedic medicine system. Students also begin the life-long journey of pulse diagnosis and are introduced to basic Ayurvedic theory of dosha (physiological forces) management and the location, names and functions of Marma.
Practical Ayurveda (i)		2.4 credits	36 hours
	Students integrate and deepen their basic Ayurvedic theoretical and practical knowledge through supervised peer practice and case studies.
Intermediate Ayurveda Theory		3.6 credits	54 hours
	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.
Practical Ayurveda (ii)		2.4 credits	36 hours
	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		2.6 credits	40 hours
	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 and poultices. Physical techniques are explored and include Pinda Sweda (one and two person massage) and Basti Deep Oil Well.
Practical Ayurveda (iii)		2.4 credits	36 hours
	This course allows students to practice and integrate theory and techniques from Vital Energies of Plants through supervised peer and client practice and case studies.
Total		16.8 credits	252 hours

Study Options

The Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program is a single semester program. Students may take this individually or as part of the Diploma of Eastern Therapies and Bodywork. All new students entering into FAM must complete the 18-hour General Introduction to Eastern Therapies and Bodywork.

Post-Graduation

Graduates of this program use knowledge and experience gained to work in community health centres, clinical settings, private practices and spa and fitness industries. Their therapeutic skills enable them to work in fields such as sports injury recovery, trauma rehabilitation and illness/disease recovery.

Graduates may also choose to enrol in other certificate programs at PRC or transfer into the Diploma of Eastern Therapies and Bodywork (ETB) to meet advanced standards of training. The ETB is a unique 4-semester program that integrates Ayurvedic Marmatherapy with Traditional Thai Massage and Yogatherapy.

FAM graduates are able to return and participate as interns in classes free of charge. Internships offer opportunities for further exploration and to deepen knowledge and skills for continuous practice. Interns may attend open lectures, and may be asked to help in the classroom. Workshops and some lectures are excluded, and space is limited. Advanced booking through the Program Director is necessary.

Admissions

Entering students into the Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program at Pacific Rim College must have a high school diploma or an equivalency test and all non-native English speaking applicants must demonstrate a mastery of written and spoken English. Any foreign applicant may be required to submit an official score report from an English proficiency exam such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Test System). Furthermore, applicants must be physically able to complete the movements and techniques taught in the program.

Pacific Rim College is determined to produce only the highest quality health practitioners. As a result, we reserve the right to admit and to retain only students who demonstrate the potential to achieve at the upper-most level. Applicants will be evaluated based on merits such as high academic achievement, emotional maturity, humanitarian activities, morality, community involvement and health-related experience.

All entering students into FAM must have completed the 18-hour General Introduction course Foundations in Eastern Therapies and Bodywork. This course is offered at the onset of the Certificate Program.

To apply for admission into the Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program, please click on the button below and complete an online or paper application. Applicants are encouraged to apply by July 15 for September enrolment. Applications will still be considered after this date, but enrolment space will be limited. Placement priority is given to students enrolled in the Diploma of Eastern Therapies and Bodywork program. Upon favourable review of your application by our admissions committee, you may be contacted for an interview, which can be carried out via telephone if a person-to-person interview is not possible.

All successful applicants must submit a non-refundable enrolment deposit of $500 within 2 weeks of acceptance or by the 15th of the month preceding enrolment, whichever comes first. This deposit is credited toward tuition fees. Should a student decide not to enrol for the specific semester of study as stated in the application or registration form, the fee is forfeited and cannot be used to offset any charges that the student may incur. Enrolment space will not be reserved without this deposit.

International Students

International students are welcome to attend Pacific Rim College and are encouraged to apply. Canadian law requires foreign students to have a valid study permit to study in Canada. Pacific Rim College provides international students with the necessary documentation to receive a valid study permit. In some cases students can apply for and obtain a permit upon entering Canada.

Academic Calendar

	Fall 2012 - FAM	Fall 2013 - FAM	Fall 2014 - FAM	Weekly Schedule
Orientation	August 29	TBA	TBA	FAM classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30am-5:30pm and on Fridays from 8:30am-12:45pm.
General Introduction	August 29-31	TBA	TBA
First Class Day	September 5	TBA	TBA
Holidays	September 3 (Labour Day) October 5-9 (Reading Break) November 16	TBA	TBA
Last Day of Class	December 5	TBA	TBA

Class Schedule

Please click below for the class schedule for the Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Marmatherapy Certificate Program. Upcoming schedules will be published as released.

Tuition and Fees

The total tuition per component is as follows. Full tuition payment is due by the end of the day of the "First Class Day" as indicated in the Academic Calendar above.

General Introduction	$280

Certificate Program	$3800

Please click here for a description of Academic Fees.

Financial Aid

This program is approved for Canada Student Loans. British Columbia residents can apply for student loans online through StudentAid BC by clicking here. Students can also pick up a paper application from PRC or any other academic institution registered with Canada Student Loans. For non-British Columbia residents, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca for information about Canada Student Loans.

For a list of all financial aid programs available to PRC students, please visit our Financial Aid page.