National Ayurvedic Medical Association
Encyclopedia
The National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), founded in 2000 is the largest association
of Ayurvedic practitioners in the United States
. It is charged with representing and supporting the profession of Ayurveda
in the United States. Some of its activities include: Holding an annual conference; Lobbying to create national standards for Ayurvedic colleges and practitioners; Lobbying to create standards for a state license for Ayurvedic practitioners; Making sure that Ayurvedic medicines used in the United States
are safe; Promoting the availability of professional liability insurance
coverage for Ayurvedic practitioners; Supporting research into the study of Ayurveda.
in different cities for Ayurvedic practitioners and the general public. The conference offers continuing education programs, practicums and case study presentations. The conference is also a chance for businesses, colleges, retreat facilities and other vendors to share their Ayurvedic offerings. Notable speakers include: Vasant Lad
, Robert Svoboda
, David Frawley
, Yogini Shambhavi, Sarita Shrestha
, David Simon, John Douillard
and Marc Halpern.
, Ayurvedic practitioners, corporations, educational institutions and donors.
that meet the basic academic standards by NAMA for Ayurvedic practitioners. These standards include a minimum of 500 total education hours, including a minimum of 50 clinical internship hours. Colleges that meet these requirements include: Alandi Ashram (Boulder, CO), The Ayurvedic Institute
(Albuquerque, NM), The California College of Ayurveda
(Nevada City, CA), Florida College of Integrative Health (Sarasota, FL), Kanyakumari Ayurveda Education (Milwaukee, WI), Kerala Ayurveda (Foster City, CA), Kripalu School of Ayurveda (Stockbridge, MA), Mount Madonna Institute
College of Ayurveda (Watsonville, CA), New World Ayurveda (Santa Barbara, CA) Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda (Boulder, CO), Sai Ayurvedic College (Miami, FL), Wise Earth School of Ayurveda Ltd. (Candler, NC)
Voluntary association
A voluntary association or union is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement as volunteers to form a body to accomplish a purpose.Strictly speaking, in many jurisdictions no formalities are necessary to start an association...
of Ayurvedic practitioners in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is charged with representing and supporting the profession of Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
in the United States. Some of its activities include: Holding an annual conference; Lobbying to create national standards for Ayurvedic colleges and practitioners; Lobbying to create standards for a state license for Ayurvedic practitioners; Making sure that Ayurvedic medicines used in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
are safe; Promoting the availability of professional liability insurance
Professional liability insurance
Professional liability insurance , also called professional indemnity insurance but more commonly known as errors & omissions in the US, is a form of liability insurance that helps protect professional advice- and service-providing individuals and companies from bearing the full cost of defending...
coverage for Ayurvedic practitioners; Supporting research into the study of Ayurveda.
Conferences
Since 2003 NAMA has held annual conferences on AyurvedaAyurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
in different cities for Ayurvedic practitioners and the general public. The conference offers continuing education programs, practicums and case study presentations. The conference is also a chance for businesses, colleges, retreat facilities and other vendors to share their Ayurvedic offerings. Notable speakers include: Vasant Lad
Vasant Lad
Dr Vasant Dattatray Lad B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc., is an Indian-born American author, Ayurvedic physician, professor and director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lad is the author of numerous articles and many books on the subject of Ayurvedic Medicine. He is considered one of the...
, Robert Svoboda
Robert Svoboda
Robert Edwin Svoboda is an American author and ayurvedic doctor who gives lectures and courses around the world, related to the subjects of ayurveda, jyotish, tantra and Eastern religion...
, David Frawley
David Frawley
David Frawley is an American Hindu author, publishing on topics such as Hinduism, Yoga and Ayurveda. He is the founder and director of the American Institute for Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which offers courses on Yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, and Hindu astrology...
, Yogini Shambhavi, Sarita Shrestha
Sarita Shrestha
Sarita Shrestha MD, OBGYN, BAMS, is an Ayurvedic physician, professor, writer, founder and medical director of the Devi Ma Kunja Ayurvedic Hospital in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Shrestha is considered one of the foremost experts on the subject of Ayurveda in the United States and the authority in Ayurvedic...
, David Simon, John Douillard
John Douillard
John Douillard D.C. is an Ayurvedic physician, writer, professor and chiropractor specializing in sports medicine. Douillard has been teaching Ayurvedic medicine for over 22 years, has written many books on the subject and is considered a leading expert in the United States...
and Marc Halpern.
Membership
The National Ayurvedic Medical Association is open to everyone who supports the mission, purposes and goals of NAMA. There are different levels of membership for the general public, students of AyurvedaAyurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
, Ayurvedic practitioners, corporations, educational institutions and donors.
Ayurvedic Colleges Recognized By NAMA
There are currently 12 colleges in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that meet the basic academic standards by NAMA for Ayurvedic practitioners. These standards include a minimum of 500 total education hours, including a minimum of 50 clinical internship hours. Colleges that meet these requirements include: Alandi Ashram (Boulder, CO), The Ayurvedic Institute
Ayurvedic Institute
The Ayurvedic Institute is a Ayurvedic school and Ayurveda health spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was established in 1984 by Vasant Lad as a non-profit 5013 organization to teach the traditional Ayurvedic medicine of India and to provide these ancient therapies...
(Albuquerque, NM), The California College of Ayurveda
California College of Ayurveda
California College of Ayurveda is a college specializing in the field of Ayurvedic medicine. Founded in 1995 by Marc Halpern, the California College of Ayurveda says it was the first official college outside of India to train practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine.-Curriculum:CCA offers a...
(Nevada City, CA), Florida College of Integrative Health (Sarasota, FL), Kanyakumari Ayurveda Education (Milwaukee, WI), Kerala Ayurveda (Foster City, CA), Kripalu School of Ayurveda (Stockbridge, MA), Mount Madonna Institute
Mount Madonna Institute
Mount Madonna Institute is a non-profit college specializing in the field of Yoga, Ayurvedic medicine, massage and community studies. The Institute is hosted by the Mount Madonna Center inspired by Baba Hari Dass.-Ayurveda School:...
College of Ayurveda (Watsonville, CA), New World Ayurveda (Santa Barbara, CA) Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda (Boulder, CO), Sai Ayurvedic College (Miami, FL), Wise Earth School of Ayurveda Ltd. (Candler, NC)