Kerala Ayurveda Academy
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Holistic Ayurvedic Coach Certification (HAC)

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 experienced BAMS-trained faculty from Kerala, India, the program combines authentic Ayurvedic teachings with a practical, accessible learning experience. Available online or in person. The next cohort begins October 2026.

Length 6 months
Format Online or in-person
Start dates October 2026
Transfers to AHC First 6 modules
Pathway to NAMACB accreditation 80 years of Ayurvedic teaching Rooted in Kerala, India
An aspiring Ayurvedic coach studying at her laptop

I compared three programs before choosing Kerala Ayurveda Academy. The lineage was the deciding factor — and I felt it in the teaching from week one.

Alumni Name HAC graduate · City, State
First, the basics

So what is Ayurveda, really?

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.

01

It's a system, not a supplement

Ayurveda is a complete framework for understanding the body, the mind, and their relationship to food, sleep, stress, the seasons, and the different stages of life. Rather than focusing on isolated symptoms, it looks at patterns, balance, and the whole person.

02

It works through everyday choices

Many of Ayurveda's most powerful tools are already part of daily life: what we eat, when we sleep, how we move, and the routines we follow. Small, consistent choices, applied with awareness, can have a profound impact over time.

03

It's a living tradition

For thousands of years, Ayurveda has helped people understand digestion, sleep, energy, resilience, and overall wellbeing. The principles continue to be studied, practiced, and passed from teacher to student today, making Ayurveda both an ancient tradition and a living system of knowledge.

Why Kerala Ayurveda Academy

What makes this program  different

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.

01

Learn from Vaidyas who teach and practice

Our faculty includes BAMS-trained Vaidyas who bring both teaching and clinical experience to the classroom. In addition to guiding students, many continue to work directly with clients through Kerala Ayurveda Wellness Centers, bringing real-world perspective to the material they teach.

02

Learning that stays with you

Your access doesn't end when the program does. Graduates retain access to recorded sessions, course materials, and the eLearning library, making it easy to revisit concepts, refresh your understanding, and continue learning long after the cohort concludes.

03

Guided by mentors, not just coursework

Learning Ayurveda involves more than completing modules. Throughout the program, you'll have opportunities to learn directly from experienced faculty through group mentoring sessions designed to support questions, discussion, and practical application of the material.

04

A global community of learners

When you enroll, you become part of a growing community of students, alumni, practitioners, and faculty across the United States, India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and beyond. Through discussion boards, continuing education, events, and professional connections, the learning continues long after graduation.

Who HAC is built for

Students arrive here for different reasons

Some are exploring a new professional path. Others want deeper personal study. Many discover they're looking for both.

The Career Pivoter

You want to build a foundation in Ayurveda that supports your work

You work in wellness, healthcare, or coaching and want to expand your understanding through a structured Ayurvedic framework. Yoga teachers, health coaches, nurses, and integrative practitioners often choose HAC as the first step toward formal Ayurvedic study, with pathways that can continue into AHC and beyond.

The Tradition Reconnector

You’re reconnecting with Ayurveda as a living tradition

Many students in this group come from Indian or South Asian backgrounds and are choosing to study Ayurveda in a structured, formal way for the first time. HAC offers guidance from faculty trained in Kerala’s classical system, helping bring clarity and depth to something that already feels familiar.

The Self-Directed Learner

You’ve been exploring Ayurveda and want a more structured path

You’ve learned through books, podcasts, online teachings, or personal practice and are ready for a grounded foundation. HAC brings coherence to what you’ve been exploring while also supporting your daily wellbeing. Many students begin here for personal reasons and naturally find the learning expands into how they support family, friends, and community.

Not sure which fits?

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A few quick questions about your background and goals.
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From our graduates

People in this program look a lot like you.

Three recent HAC graduates, in their own words.

Kerala Ayurveda Academy provides students with a well-rounded, deeply educational, and inspiring curriculum. The Vaidyas are extremely knowledgeable, professional, and patient in their instruction. After every weekend intensive I am left with the same feeling I have after a healthy meal: satisfied, well-balanced, and ready for what's next!

Kim G HAC graduate

Studying with the teachers at Kerala Ayurveda Academy was a truly meaningful experience. The curriculum is very well structured, and I was able to immediately apply what I learned in my own life and begin supporting a few people with their lifestyle and dietary habits. The mentorship was excellent—I felt well supported, and my mentor was always prompt and thoughtful in answering my questions.

Susanne J HAC graduate

Overall, sincere and heartfelt gratitude to Dr Jay for bringing this ancient science to regular folks like us, from the comfort of our homes. You and all the Vaidyas' experiences in India– as recognized Ayurvedic medical providers– made the information all the more valuable. Thank you Kerala Ayurveda team!

Dhanashri K HAC graduate ·
What you'll learn

Practical Ayurveda you can apply in everyday life.

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. 
Where this can lead

There isn't just one way to use Ayurveda.

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.

Personal & family wellbeing

Many students enroll primarily for themselves. They use Ayurveda to better understand their own digestion, sleep, energy, stress, and daily routines, and often find the knowledge naturally extends to supporting family and loved ones. You don't need professional goals for this training to be meaningful.

Support others through Ayurvedic coaching

Some graduates go on to offer Ayurvedic lifestyle and wellness coaching. They work with clients around daily routines, food, stress management, sleep, seasonal living, and habit change through an Ayurvedic lens. This is a coaching scope, not clinical practice.

Bring Ayurveda into your existing work

Yoga teachers, health coaches, nurses, therapists, bodyworkers, and other wellness professionals often use HAC to deepen what they already offer. Ayurvedic principles can complement existing skills while remaining within the scope of your current profession.

Continue your Ayurvedic education

HAC can also serve as the starting point for deeper professional study. The first six modules transfer directly into our Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC) program, creating a pathway into advanced Ayurvedic education for students who wish to continue.

The curriculum

A comprehensive introduction to Ayurvedic study, taught for modern life.

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.

01

The History of Ayurvedic Science

Foundational topic
+
Explore the origins and evolution of Ayurveda, one of the world's oldest continuously practiced systems of health and wellbeing. You'll gain an understanding of the tradition's historical roots, core philosophy, and enduring relevance in modern life.
02

Core Principles of Ayurveda

Foundational topic
+
Build a strong foundation in Ayurveda's essential concepts, including Sankhya philosophy, the five elements, the three doshas, constitution (Prakriti), and Ayurveda's understanding of health, balance, and wellbeing.
03

Ayurvedic Physiology and Psychology

Theory + application
+
Discover how Ayurveda understands the relationship between body, mind, and consciousness. You'll explore the energetic principles that influence health, behavior, and wellbeing, while developing a deeper awareness of your own patterns and tendencies.
04

Seasonal and Preventive Care

Practical application
+
Learn how Ayurveda helps us live in harmony with nature's rhythms. Through seasonal routines, diet, and lifestyle practices, you'll explore practical ways to maintain balance throughout the year and support long-term wellbeing.
05

Yoga and the Mind

Sister science
+
Ayurveda and Yoga are sister sciences that support physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Explore movement, breathwork, meditation, and foundational yogic principles that help cultivate resilience, focus, and inner balance.
06

Ayurvedic Coaching

Capstone
+
Bring everything together through practical coaching skills and applied learning. You'll practice observation, assessment, communication, and lifestyle guidance while learning how to support others using foundational Ayurvedic principles.
How class is delivered
6
Weekend intensives
In person or live streamed
12
Virtual classes
Live streamed
5
Group mentoring sessions
Live streamed
1
Clinical practicum day
In person or live streamed

Plus on-demand recorded lectures and assignments through the eLearning portal — 24/7 access, self-paced, all live sessions recorded for replay.

300
Total hours
6
Topic areas
6 mo
Duration
1945
Lineage in Kerala
Program format

Structured learning with flexibility built in

1

6 months, online or in-person

Choose the learning format that works best for you. Attend in person at our Milpitas Academy & Wellness Center or join live online from anywhere. New sessions begin each Spring and Fall.

2

Live instruction with recorded access

Learning takes place through Weekend Intensives, Tuesday Virtual Classes, group mentoring sessions, and a Clinical Practicum. All live sessions are recorded and available for replay.

3

Learn alongside a community

Study with fellow students from diverse backgrounds who share an interest in Ayurveda. Discussion, mentorship, and shared learning are woven throughout the program experience.

4

Graduate with a HAC certification

Upon successful completion, you'll receive Kerala Ayurveda Academy's Holistic Ayurvedic Coach (HAC) certification and become part of our growing community of students and alumni.

Meet your Vaidyas

Learn from experienced Ayurvedic doctors from Kerala.

Kerala Ayurveda Academy is guided by BAMS-trained Ayurvedic doctors 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.

What is BAMS?

BAMS is the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, India's accredited university degree spanning Ayurvedic theory, classical texts, anatomy, pharmacology, and clinical training.

Vaidya Sheena Sooraj, Chief Clinical Officer
Chief Clinical Officer

Vaidya Sheena Sooraj

BAMS  ·  Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala

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.

Vaidya Kamya Pillai, Academy Faculty and Wellness Center Consultant
Faculty & Wellness Center

Vaidya Kamya Pillai

BAMS, AWP  ·  Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala

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.

Vaidya Princy Prasad, Academy Faculty and Wellness Center Consultant
Faculty & Wellness Center

Vaidya Princy Prasad

BAMS, MS (Ayu)  ·  Kerala University of Health Sciences

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.

Graduate reflections

Three things our graduates don't often expect.

01

The learning becomes personal

Many students enroll because they want to help others. What often surprises them is how quickly they begin applying Ayurveda to their own lives. As the program unfolds, students frequently find themselves rethinking daily routines, food choices, sleep habits, and the rhythms that shape their wellbeing.

02

The community matters as much as the curriculum

Students come from a wide range of backgrounds, but a shared interest in Ayurveda creates meaningful connections. Through classes, mentoring, discussion, and continued learning opportunities, many graduates remain connected long after the program ends.

03

One step often leads to another

For some students, HAC is a complete and fulfilling course of study. Others discover a desire to continue learning and choose to pursue Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC), Practitioner (AP), or Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner (AAP) training. The path unfolds differently for everyone.

Tuition & payment plans

Choose the payment option that's right for you.

Whether you prefer to pay in full or spread tuition across the program, flexible payment plans are available.

6-month payment plan

From
$667/mo
6 low monthly payments

Want the full course catalog?

Get the complete curriculum, learning objectives, faculty bios, and tuition options in one PDF. No call required.

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Looking ahead

There's no need to decide your entire path today

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.

Step 1
HAC
300 hours · Coach
6 months · Online or in-person
Step 2
AHC
600 hours · Counselor
1 year · Online + 1 practicum
Step 3
AP
900 hours · Practitioner
Partial in-person required
Step 4
AAP
2,500 hours · Advanced
Partial in-person required
Common questions

What makes this learning experience distinct.

How does HAC compare to other Ayurvedic institutions?
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.
Is HAC NAMACB-aligned? Can I sit for the certification exam after?
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.
What's the actual time commitment per week?
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.
I already do health coaching / yoga / nursing. Will I be bored at the start?
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.
What can I do with HAC professionally? What's the scope?
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.
How do hours transfer to AHC, AP, and AAP?
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.
Can I attend live sessions, or is it self-paced?
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.
What's the refund and withdrawal policy?
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.
Are international students welcome?
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.
What are the admissions requirements?
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.
Next cohort

Our next cohort starts October 2026.

Cohort start: October 2026
Enrollment: It's not too late to join
Format: 6 months · Online + optional in-person
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Decide with the right information

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