Learn the Language of Nature – Ayurveda – which allows you to suit diet, herbs and treatments to the individual constitution and needs of the client. The Ayurveda for Midwives Course will transform you and your work with your clients.
Aims of the Ayurveda for Midwives Course – This course is for midwives, OBs and other professional birth workers.
- Understand the fundamentals of Ayurveda, a growing field of holistic health in the US and worldwide.
- Learn how to individualize your care to suit the person, not just the disease.
- Focus on Menstrual Health, Fertility Promotion, Healthy Pregnancy Practices, Concerns of Pregnancy, Labor and Birth, and Postpartum care with Ayurveda, going to the root of the problem energetically, as well as physically and emotionally.
Ayurveda for Midwives – Course Syllabus
Class #1 – Basic Principles of Ayurveda -Development of the elements; Sattva, Rajas, Tamas; Doshas- from the elements, qualities, how they move; Constitution/Condition; Subdoshas, a imbalance of doshas Practicing the doshas in everyday life; famous people, places & things as their dosha; what is your constitution; what is your condition ; Aama and Agni: principles of health;
Class #2 – Ayurveda – Anatomy & Physiology – Tissues- how they develop; balance and imbalance; , Channels – what they are, balance and imbalance, Subtle energies:Ojas/tejas/pran; Revisiting the mind – sattva, rajas, tamas
Class #3 – Simple Assessments with Ayurveda -Causes of disease; How disease develops; Daily check-ins; Recognizing problems using Ayurveda:, Weighing factors; Assessing Aama, Agni, Doshas, Tissues, Channels; Sattva, rajas, tamas; Questions to ask to determine what’s going on – Ayurveda intake and doing case presentation.
Class #4- Ayurvedic therapies, Part one: Calming the mind/ lifestyle – The mind: sattva, rajs, tamas/ vata, pitta , kapha; daily routine: self massage, energy pointsMarma points – balancing energy; Cleansing & renewing therapies;
Class #5 – Ayurvedic therapies, Part Two: Food as Medicine – ways food can be medicine; understanding dosha balancing diets- the 6 tastes; increasing digestive fire; herbs – key herbs to know and use; common herbs for women’s health
Class #6 – Female Cycles and Fertility – doshas in menstrual cycle; importance of rasa/rakta tissues and apana prana to female cycles; integrity of the female cycles, orgasm, childbirth & breast feeding; self care per Ayurveda for cycle and sexual health; – Addressing Cycle problems with Ayurveda: Addressing Female Fertility problems with Ayurveda
Class #7 – Healthy Pregnancy with Ayurveda- Basic Nourishment and Support of Pregnancy: Self care advise for pregnancy; Using herbs safely in pregnancy Special Nourishment According to months of pregnancy per Ayurveda; Doshas in pregnancy: Typical effects of doshas in pregnancy; Slide show of examples of different constitutions in pregnancy
Class #8 – Addressing Pregnancy problems with Ayurveda – Snapshots of Pregnancy; Ayurvedic Herbs for Pregnancy; Discomforts; First Trimester Concerns: Threatened miscarriage;Nausea & vomiting;Lack of appetite;Fever;Vaginal infections; Hypotension; Second Trimester Concerns:Abdominal discomforts;Bladder pressure; UTIs; Varicose veins; Hypertension;Intrauterine Growth Retardation;Blood sugar problems; Twins; Third Trimester Concerns: Maintaining Ojas; Anemia; Preeclampsia; Breech;Premature labor; Past term;Sleep problems; Pelvic pressure; Premature labor
Class #9 – Labor and Birth with Ayurveda – Ayurvedic Texts on labor & birth; preparation for labor; Birth Sutras; Labor support measures from Ayurveda; Snapshots of labor; Concerns of labor and birth ; Immediate postpartum; Case discussions – share your cases
Class #10 – Postpartum & Newborn with Ayurveda –Ayurvedic postpartum care: The Sacred Window; 9 Care Principles; Special dietary needs; PP depression and processing the birth; breastfeeding and promoting balanced, abundant breast milk; Newborn constitution and condition; Newborn exam from Ayurvedic point of view; Oil massage for the newborn; Jata Karma – Rite of birth in India; Care of newborn; Some newborn problems addressed
Format for learning:
- Reading assignments for each class in textbook & downloaded notes (350+ pages) (& optional texts also recommended); Brief questions? Email them to Terra answer. Or choose optional mentoring.
- 10 classes -3 hour audios/videos recordings – plus optional bonus on menstrual cramps
- 16 Slide show PDFs which expand on topics of recordings & notes
- Homework assignments to integrate learning.
- Certificate of Completion with homework submitted to Terra, completed throughout class.
Required Textbooks: I’ve listed when you need them by to keep up with the class
- Textbook: Ayurveda for the Childbearing Years by Terra Rafael. Available from amazon.com or lulu.com (pdf available here) – Get this ASAP
- If available in your country: Dispensing with Tradition- A Practitioner’s Guide to using Indian and Western Herbs the Ayurvedic Way by Anne McIntyre and Michelle Boudin. Handy to begin with for using herbs – western and Ayurvedic – have available before herbs – Class 5
- Touching Heaven, Tonic Postpartum Care and Recipes with Ayurveda, by Ysha Oakes, pdf download from www.sacredwindow.com online store – before postpartum -Class 10.
Optional Recommended Books for further study:
- Textbook of Ayurveda, Fundamental Principles Vol .1, by Vasant Lad, M.A.Sc. (Vol 2 – Diagnosis and Vol 3 – Treatments) An extensive series from renowned Ayurveda teacher.
- Ayurveda and Aromatherapy by Light & Bryan Miller. Good resource to use aromatherapy with Ayurvedic principles.
- Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners by Amadea Morningstar. More than a cookbook, it gives info on foods for the doshas and healing in general
If you are a midwife, or know one, I’ve resurrected and expanded this class on Ayurveda for Midwives from earlier years. While this version has some faults in the video recording, the audio AND the Ayurveda are full of worthwhile information. And because of this weakness I’m offering it for a reduced price. Check it out now!