European Institute of Vedic Studies

EIVS Team

Atreya — 2023-11-08T09:20:23Z

This page shows the whole EIVS team that is working towards excellence in Ayurvedic education.

Board of directors:
– Ms. Girija DULAC
– Mr. Cédric SMITH-DULAC
– Dr. Sunil V. JOSHI

Director of the Institute:
– Vaidya Atreya SMITH

Director of Clinical Studies:
– Dr. Sunil V. JOSHI

Director of Communications:
– Roger

Director of Publications - Editions Turiya:
– Ms. Girija DULAC

Director of Technology / Internet:
– Mr. François WATEL

Education Advisory Board:
– Dr. Sunil V. JOSHI, MD (ayu)
– Vaidya Atreya SMITH, BSc, MA (ayu)

Teaching staff:
– Ms. Dr. Shalmali JOSHI, BAMS
– Dr. Sunil V. JOSHI, MD (ayu)
– Vaidya Atreya SMITH, BSc, MA (ayu)
– Ms Gayatri Linda Bengaouer

Disclaimer

Training in Ayurvedic medicine with a validated diploma of 3376 hours – Nidana – Chikitsa – Dravyaguna – herbal medicine according to Ayurveda – trainings in Ayurveda since 1998 – Dr. Sunil V. Joshi, MD(ayu) – Vaidya Atreya Smith, BSc MA – all these courses are taught in English.

Accreditation and professional group membership of EIVS:

The Teachers

Atreya — 2023-01-21T11:16:08Z

Here is a list of the teachers for the Institute.

Vaidya Atreya Smith, BSc, MA (ayu)
Director and teacher of the Institute

Vaidya Atreya Smith became interested in studying the Upanishads and Vedanta from the age of 19. This growing passion led him to India where he lived for many years and chose to dedicate his life to Vedanta in his twenties. Since 1987, he has been practicing alternative medicines, Ayurveda and continues to study, teach and train practitioners in Europe.

He founded the European Institute of Vedic Studies, Switzerland in 1998. Through his research and teaching, he hopes to give as many people as possible access to this science, while adapting them to today's Western way of life. Atreya has a Master's degree in Ayurveda (MA) and a Bachelor's degree in Biology (BSc). In 2005, his teachers in Vanarasi (India) awarded him the title of Vaidya or traditional doctor, etymologically: "who knows Ayurveda". Vaidya Atreya has been practicing Ayurveda for over 32 years.

He has worked with Professor K.C. Chunekar and Dr. Sunil V. Joshi to develop a comprehensive training for Westerners in Ayurvedic medicine. This work has resulted in a series of textbooks entitled "Ayurveda for Westerners". Atreya is the author of 16 books on Ayurveda and Jyotish and has been teaching Ayurveda for over 25 years.

Dr. Sunil V. Joshi, MD ayu
Teacher of Clinical Studies

Dr Sunil Joshi is a world-renowned expert on Panchakarma and is the author of Ayurveda and Panchakarma, USA, 1997. Dr. Sunil V. Joshi graduated from Government College of Ayurveda, Nagpur University, Nagpur, India in 1983 with a BMAS. In in 1988 he completed his MD(ayu) in the Clinical Aplication of Panchakarma from the Shree Ayurveda College and Research Institute, Nagpur University, Nagpur, India. He began his clinical practice in 1983. He established the Vinayak Panchakarma Chikitsalaya in 1985. Due to his outstanding accomplishments in the field of Ayurveda, Dr. Joshi was honored as the youngest recipient of the Maharshi Annasaheb Patwardhan award by the Vaidya Khadiwale Samshodhan Foundation, Pune in 1993.

Dr. Joshi began traveling to North America in 1989 to help propagate Ayurveda in the West. In 1997 he was invited to South Africa to help establish the first licensing program for Ayurvedic practitioners outside of India with the help of the South African Ayurvedic Medical Association. This experience encouraged him to develop a more extensive program for foreign practitioners of Ayurveda.

The Vinayak Ayurveda and Panchakarma Research Foundation was established in 2002 by Dr Joshi. The goal of the Foundation is to train prospective students to become qualified Ayurvedic practitioners dedicated to bringing Ayurveda to the world. Dr. Joshi feels that it is crucial for Ayurveda to become established in the West and that this program will be an initial step towards accomplishing that goal.

He has been the clinical adviser for the European Institute of Vedic Studies since 2005. Dr. Joshi has also taught a number of courses in Europe for EIVS in Switzerland, the United Kingdom and France and since 2006 runs the Clinical Studies Program in Nagpur, India for EIVS students. Dr. Sunil V. Joshi has over 36 years of clinical experience and has been the direct disciple of the greatest living Vaidya in his area of India during his youth.

Dr. Shalmali Joshi, BAMS
Teacher of Gynecology and Paediatrics

Mrs. Dr. Shalmali Joshi opened the Vinayak Panchakarma Chikitsalaya clinic with her husband Dr. Sunil V. Joshi in 1985 in Nagpur, India. Since 1985 she is a specialist in woman's health issues at the Nagpur clinic. Dr Shalmali is responsible for gynecology and pediatrics. She is specialized in Ayurvedic nutrition and dietary therapies. She has a broad knowledge of plants and has specialized in Namarupa Vijnana in Dravyaguna.

Dr Shalmali Joshi knowledge is well known in the USA where she has been going since 1989 to practice and teach Ayurveda. Her students include the nutrition author Amadea Morningstar among others. She is a valuable resource to this course and brings over 34 years of clinical experience to her teaching.

Gayatri-Linda BENGAOUER
Massage teacher

Gayatri-Linda Bengaouer encountered Ayurveda and Yoga on her life path, first for her own healing, and then very quickly studied and accompanied others on the path of healing the different planes of the being. She has studied Ayurveda, nutrition, health, psychology, physical therapies, DLM Vodder, Foot Reflexology, Anatomy & Physiology and in energy healing from different traditions. In the early 2000's, she practiced in the canton of Geneva where she worked with an endocrinologist. Then she focused on her own center in neighboring France (Centre Sattva - Sciez) where she teaches Yoga & Ayurveda. Her journey led her to obtain two Yoga Teacher Diplomas (Sivananda & Kriya Yoga) and to become an Acharya (advanced teacher) in the lineage she has followed for many years.

Trained personally by Vaidya Atreya Smith, Gayatri has also followed other teachings with different vaidyas and since 2005, she has become a member of the team of the EIVS, for which she conducts various courses and a certified therapist training. She has also taught for EIVS in England, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Disclaimer

Training in Ayurvedic medicine with a validated diploma of 3376 hours – Nidana – Chikitsa – Dravyaguna – herbal medicine according to Ayurveda – trainings in Ayurveda since 1998 – Dr. Sunil V. Joshi, MD (ayu) – Vaidya Atreya Smith, BSc MA – all these courses are taught in English.

Accreditation and professional group membership of EIVS:

Education Advisory Board

Atreya — 2023-01-21T11:16:05Z

The members of the Education Advisory Board are responsible for the establishment of the teaching curriculum of the European Institute of Vedic Studies, Switzerland

Vaidya Atreya Smith, BSc, MA (ayu)
Director of the Institute

He founded the European Institute of Vedic Studies, Switzerland in 1998. Through his research and teaching, he hopes to give as many people as possible access to this science, while adapting them to today's Western way of life. Atreya has a Master's degree in Ayurveda (MA) and a Bachelor's degree in Biology (BSc). In 2005, his teachers in Vanarasi (India) awarded him the title of Vaidya or traditional doctor, etymologically: "who knows Ayurveda".

Dr. Sunil V. Joshi, MD (Ayu)
Director of clinical studies

In 1988, Dr. Joshi received his MD (Ayu) from Shree Ayurved College and Research Institute, Nagpur University, Nagpur, India. Dr. Joshi opened his private clinic, the Vinayak Panchakarma Chikitsalaya, in 1985 in Nagpur, India. The focus of his practice is the Ayurvedic treatments known as panchakarma and the use of herbal supplements. Dr. Joshi feels that Ayurveda is most successful when it is practically applied in conjunction with a strong educational foundation and it is with this intention that the Vinayak Ayurveda and Panchakarma Foundation was established in 2002.

Dr. Sunil V. Joshi is the receipient of Maharshi Annasaheb Patwardhan Award in the name of famous Panchakarma Physician Vaidya Lavgankar Shastri for outstanding work in the field of Panchakarma; he being the youngest recipient of this award in India. Since 1997 to the present, he is a clinical advisory and faculty member of Dr. Deepak Chopra Wellness Center, USA.

He is also the author of the acclaimed book, Ayurveda and Panchakarma, published in 1998. This book has been translated into five languages. Dr Joshi has taught at a number of prestigious places throughout the world including Colombia University, New York, USA; Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio; Wright State Medical University, Ohio, USA; as well as internationally at Johansburg, South Africa, Costa Rica, London, UK, France and Switzerland.

Dr. Joshi is responsible for the development and teaching of the clinical studies in India and Europe for EIVS.

Professor K.C. Chunekar
A.M.S, Ph.D, Fellow of National Academy of Ayurveda, National Professor of Dravyaguna, Head of Dravyaguna Department Benaras Hindu University (BHU)

The late Prof. K.C. Chunekar was born in August 1928. Professor Chunekar learned Ayurveda at a young age from his illustrious father Vaidya Srinivas Shastri who was the chosen student of the illustrious and famous Vaidya of Benaras, Vaidya Trayambakam Shastri.

Professor Chunekar also had the great privilege of learning Ayurveda directly from Vaidya Trayambakam Shastri. He had more than 50 years of practical and clinical experience of Ayurveda to his credit. He was a visiting professor to many reputed Ayurvedic Institutions in India. To his credit, he had trained and guided many research scholars in Ayurveda throughout India.

Professor Chunekar was perhaps the most outstanding authority on Dravyaguna and botanical identification of Ayurvedic herbs during his lifetime. He was nominated as Guru to carry on the Guru-Shishya Parampara (one to one teacher student contact tradition) by the Indian government. Even as a retired professor of Dravyaguna from BHU (Banaras Hindu University) he was the Indian governments expert on the botanical identification of Ayurvedic medicinal plants. He is the author of numerous technical books on Ayurveda.

Professor K.C. Chunekar was Vaidya Atreya Smith's Ayurveda guru and served as a mentor for twelve years during the development of the institute program in Dravyaguna. Professor Chunekar helped Atreya to classify more than 150 Western medicinal plants. He has had a major influence on the development of the EIVS program and on the teaching of Vaidya Atreya Smith.

Disclaimer

Accreditation and professional group membership of EIVS:

Purpose and Values of EIVS

Atreya — 2020-07-29T15:04:46Z

1. Purpose of EIVS (why our school exists)
EIVS has the goal to provide a broad presentation of Vedic / Hindu culture through various branches of traditional knowledge such as philosophy, Jyotish, and Ayurveda by courses and extended trainings with Vaidya Atreya Smith. and other teachers.

The purpose of EIVS is to offer a high level of andragogic education in Switzerland and the European community. EIVS is an educational and research facility that shares its mission with a number of other institutions and is not affiliated with any one group, ideology, teacher, or teaching.

For Ayurveda Medicine specifically, the aim of EIVS is to train top Ayurveda Medicine practitioners and Ayurveda therapists which are qualified to work professionally with clients and Ayurveda.

2. EIVS values (how faculty and students are expected to behave)

– Practical: The focus is on providing a practical approach and tools combined with close, personal supervision by the teachers that enable students to practice Ayurveda professionally with clients. This method allows for a gradual transition from learning to practice of Ayurveda medicine.

– Authentic: EIVS is teaching authentic Ayurvedic medicine based on the classical texts of Ayurveda and many decades of clinical experience with patients

– Relevant: EIVS is enabling students to make Ayurveda Medicine relevant and practicable in today's Western way of life

– High-quality: EIVS trainings are challenging and set high standards for the students

– Modern : EIVS creates a state-of-the art andragogic learning environment that meets students' needs with a variety of modern, interactive teaching and learning methods (mixed learning) to achieve maximum flexibility and optimal learning outcomes for Ayurveda Medicine practitioners and Ayurveda therapists

– Non-ideological: EIVS is not affiliated with any one group, ideology, teacher, or teaching

3. EIVS's USP (what is special or different about EIVS)

– EIVS is the world's leading boutique school for Ayurveda medicine: The classes are small (10 to 16 students in English), as only a small class size allows the teacher to give individual guidance and feedback to each student. EIVS has market leadership in terms of quality of teaching, cost-benefit ratio, optimized duration of the training courses, and sustainability

– Top class faculty with extensive clinical experience in Ayurveda medicine and focus on practical work: Vaidya Atreya Smith is an internationally recognized clinician, expert and teacher in Ayurvedic medicine. He teaches together with Dr. Sunil V. Joshi and his wife Dr. Shalmali, who are both also internationally recognized clinicians, experts and teachers in Ayurvedic medicine, especially in Panchakarma treatments and Ayurvedic gynaecology. Although the school is domiciled in Switzerland, the reputation of the school and the geographical origin of the students extends far beyond Switzerland. The extensive clinical experience of the teachers is key to train top Ayurveda Medicine practitioners and Ayurveda therapists which are qualified to work professionally with clients and Ayurveda.

– Pioneer in online/mixed training of Ayurveda Medicine: EIVS is a pioneer in providing mixed learning programs in Ayurveda Medicine, offering a combination of online training with practical training in India since 2006. Mixed learning approaches meet the educational needs of the target groups in an optimal way and is key to achieve the learning success of different types of learners

4. Strategic priorities (what EIVS is going to focus on over the next few years to improve students' experience (goals and targets) and how EIVS is going to do this (key improvement strategies and actions)

EIVS aims to remain the leading boutique school for Ayurveda Medicine in the West. To this end, the following strategic priorities will be pursued:

a) Quality leadership
EIVS aims to staff the Faculty of Trainers by the world's leading Ayurveda teachers with decades of successful clinical practice. The focus of the trainings is not only on the academic transfer of knowledge, but primarily on the empowerment of the students to practically work with clients and Ayurveda, and to lead a successful Ayurveda practice

b) Best cost-benefit ratio
EIVS aims to improve the access to Ayurveda medicine training for interested prospective Ayurveda Medicine practicioners and therapists through affordable, high-quality training with the best cost-benefit ratio in the market

c) Optimized duration of the training courses
EIVS strives to offer a training for the Federal Diploma in Ayurveda Medicine, which can be completed in 3 years. This is by far the most time efficient training available on the market

d) Leading in sustainability
EIVS will continue to focus on providing online learnings, this will help to save our planet, and students' time and budgets

e) Accredited by Oda-AM as Ayurveda Medicine School in Switzerland
EIVS received government accreditation in June 2021 from Oda-AM.

5. Strategic actions (actions EIVS will undertake to implement key improvement strategies and milestones that will be used to identify the progress in their implementation)

a) Strategic actions to further expand EIVS' market leadership in terms of quality, cost-benefit and sustainability: At the moment Ayurveda is not an attractive and valid career perspective for many interested people due to the high costs and duration of the training, and the outdated learning methods (requirement for 100% class-room attendance). EVIS offers an efficient and attractive alternative with its mixed learning approach. This will significantly increase the range of courses offered at Ayurveda schools in Switzerland and thus create real alternatives for students.

b) online learning: EIVS advocates with industry associations and regulatory bodies that the requirements for Ayurveda medicine training courses are improved in such a way that substantial time and cost reductions can be achieved, a core need for future prospective. Ayurveda medicine practitioners and therapists. EIVS will continue to focus on providing mixed learning with many online segments, this will help to save our planet, and students' time and budgets. Digital learning methods help to save the planet by reducing CO2 emissions from travel by studying from home: no fuel consumption, less air pollution, less wear and tear on vehicles. No expenses on travel and accommodation, and no time wasted in transport.

c) Student-centric further development of the curriculum that is designed with the aim to train excellent Ayurveda Medicine practitioners and Ayurveda therapists: the curriculum has evolved continuously over the last 27 years, based on student feedback and student evaluation. EIVS investigates changing or new (unmet) needs of students (current and prospective) through continuous biannual student surveys and participation in the board of Ayurveda associations. The weekly learning review with homework and tests shows also shows what students have understood and what they have not. EIVS uses these findings to continually improve the learning content, methodologies and curricula to continue to be the leading provider of high quality Ayurvedic education with the best cost-benefit ratio and sustainability. At the core of the EIVS curriculum are trainings to prepare students for their practical work with clients, and to lead a successful Ayurveda practice

d) A key strategic action of EIVS is to offer additional trainings which better enable students to operate a successful Ayurveda practice: Recent market research has shown that many Ayurveda Medicine practitioners / therapists are overwhelmed with the practice management and struggle to make a living. EVIS will develop more training offerings which better prepare students for practical work with clients/patients and for running a successful practice, e.g. with classes on customer relations, stock, accounting, management of practice, etc. For the students, this will be a great bridge between the theory and practice

Disclaimer

Accreditation and professional group membership of EIVS:

The Mission of the Institute

Atreya — 2019-12-09T10:40:26Z

Founded in 1998 the mission of the European Institute of Vedic Studies (EIVS) is to promote ancient Indian culture and to teach Ayurvedic medicine.

EIVS has the goal to provide a broad presentation of Vedic / Hindu culture through various branches of traditional knowledge such as philosophy, Jyotish, and Ayurveda by courses and extended trainings with Vaidya Atreya Smith.

The purpose of EIVS is to offer a high level of andragogic education in Switzerland and the European community. EIVS is an educational and research facility that shares its mission with a number of other institutions and is not affiliated with any one group, ideology, teacher, or teaching.

EIVS is directly affiliated with the Vinayak Ayurveda and Panchakarma Research Foundation in Nagpur, India for the purpose of broader education in Ayurveda.

Disclaimer

Accreditation and professional group membership of EIVS: