Venue - Glasgow's West End, Sunday 10.30 - 12.30am,  Sunday 19/2, 3/3, 4/3  +4/3 (pm), 11/3,  8/4 2012,

Theme - Developing the Rishi (or knower) quality of consciousness in the student, ‘know that by which all else is known’.

Knowledge - The Ayurvedic system of medicine, its Vedic history, philosophies, main classic texts, and view of health. An introduction to the basic principles and terminology; Purusha, Pakriti, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, the Panchamahbhutas, and Vata (movement), Pitta (transformation or metabolism) and Kapha (structure), as well as gaining an understanding the basic structure of our physiology, dhatus shrotas, malas  and our own individual prakriti (mind/body type) and vikruti, or our individual imbalances.

Skills -  Learning self referral techniques, such as a very basic method to enable the student to settle down and experience their least excited state of their consciousness, learning to take the basic Ayurvedic pulse, ‘nadi vigyan’ in order to develop some insight into their own natures, and learning self referral skill in order to distinguish their own level of hunger.

Structure of each session - Introduction to the course and course leader and other participants. Practice of techniques learnt so far and discussion about how these have progressed at home discovering how these basic principles of Vata Pitta and Kapha can operate not only in our environment but more specifically in our body. This is followed by a knowledge session allowing time for student questions and answers.

Venue - Glasgow's West End,  6 Sundays 10.30am -12.30pm to 15/4, 29/4, 13/5, 27/5, 3/6, 17/6 2012      

Theme - Developing the ‘devata’ quality of transformation and metabolism in the student.

Knowledge - Agni, the digestive power in the body, gaining an understanding of the four functional states of agni and the 40 different agnis which function in the body’s metabolism. Understanding how these build up the dhatuts and ojas and eliminate kitta. How the student can enhance their own efficient functioning of agni by maintaining efficient dinacharya and seasonal routines as well as dietary considerations. Eating for health by balancing Vata/Pitta/Kapha elements in the diet and also the Rasa, taste and Virya – post digestive effect and how to use food charts in one’s own life to create balance.  Knowledge of individual diets for different constitutional types will be considered in this section of the course. The student will learn how to avoid factors which contribute towards imbalances and initiate the disease process; the concept of ama, and supprssion natural urges and their role in disease process. Gaining a deeper understanding of how imbalances happen and toxins become established in the body, and what can be done to eliminate them.  Different digestive imbalances such as dyspepsia (manadagni), indigestion (ajirna), constipation (anaha), and colic (shula), acid gastritis/ reflux (amlapitta) and malabsorption (sprue) will also be covered.

Skills - Learn techniques to increase the sensitivity of awareness of hunger levels and tools to use whilst shopping etc to increase sensitivity to those qualities that the body is 'asking' for to create balance. Daily regimes and oil massage instruction.

Structure of each session - Practice of the relaxation and other techniques and reports and discussions of how these progressed at home. This is followed by a knowledge session before allowing times for student questions and answers.

Venue - Glasgow’s West End, Sunday 10.30am - 12.30pm, 24/6 + 24/6 (pm), 29/9 +29/9(pm) 30/9  2012 , dates to be confirmed.

Theme - Enlivening the chhandhas quality, that quality that hides the true nature of the object of perception, or the outer world of the student or the interaction between the Self and the environment.

Knowledge - Introduction to the stages of (kriyakalas) of the disease process.  An introduction to the medicinal Ayurvedic herbs, their uses with a particular focus on Triphala, Trikatu and other common herbs and spices. Nature’s rhythms; the importance of the routine of rest and activity, and the role of this in dinacharya as well as seasonal rhythms and routines, balancing seasonal factors with diet and lifestyle. A consideration of Ayurveda’s view of different exercise for prakritis types will be included, including yoga and pranayama and their role for creating health and reducing stress.  Instruction in very simple Yoga instruction will be given, which can be done at home including special postures for PMT and dysmenorrhoea.  More massage instruction as time allows including a consideration of the role of marmas and chakras particularly in massage. Additional instruction will be given in the use of breathing techniques (pranayamas) to counteract panic, anxiety attacks and stress. Discovering the relationship between the environment and ourselves and how we 'metabolise’ our environment' from the effects of TV to the company we keep and the importance of 'good conduct' for health - behavioural rasayanas. Simple cures and home prepared remedies for the family’s ailments, flu, coughs and colds; hints for tackling addictions such as smoking/ alcohol and weight control/ anorexia and hints for ensuring a blissful sleep for all the family.

Skills - Yoga, pranayamas, more about pulse diagnosis and massage as well as other therapeutic skills in an addition session for trained therapists with the College of Ayurveda Certificate.

Structure of each session - Practical session going over some of the procedures learnt so far. This is followed by a knowledge session including occasional pre-recorded lecture portions and question and answer sessions.

• For trained therapists wishing to attain a Certificate of Attendance from the College of Ayurveda (UK) counting towards 50 hours of continuing professional development, in addition to the above the students are required to produce an essay or projects and an unseen written paper and pay the required additional fee of £50.