Learn Ayurveda, an ancient system of natural healing

Monica B Groover
5 days ago
3 min read

Narayana Institute of Vedic Arts teacher during an Ayurveda workshop

Studying Ayurveda in Florida

Ayurveda, an ancient system of natural healing, is part of the Vedas, the four ancient Hindu texts. I have been teaching Ayurveda for nearly 20 years. Together with my husband, Pandit Atul Krishna, I established the San Diego College of Ayurveda in San Diego, California. Later, we relocated to Texas and founded Narayana Ayurveda, maintaining the same teachers and curriculum under a different name. After 16 years of teaching, we decided to delve deeper into the ritualistic, practical, and Vedic roots of Ayurveda.

In 2024, we moved to Florida and founded the Narayana Institute of Vedic Arts. Students ask me why I use the word Vedic instead of Ayurveda in your school name, and the answer is simple. While we continue to teach Ayurveda, our focus has shifted to plant-based Vedic Ayurveda, which is deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and Vedic rituals, providing a more experiential approach rather than being just a part of the modality.

Instead of simply instructing on how to blend Ayurvedic herbs to address an imbalance, I focus on teaching about the origins of these herbs, the spirit guides and deities associated with them, and the mantras and rituals for offering the herbs to enhance their effectiveness—not just for physical imbalances, but also for spiritual benefits. Consider an herb that aids in alleviating our karmic debt. This is the true essence of utilizing Vedic Ayurveda.

While I teach all aspects of Ayurveda, my primary focus is on women. Many women seek flexible, authentic training that respects the ancient Vedic science while accommodating modern lifestyles. This is why I am offering a 10-week Vedic Women's Coach program. Numerous sisters, friends, and community members have shown interest in a dedicated women's support program. Therefore, I also conduct some webinars.

If you feel the call to become an Ayurvedic practitioner, women’s health guide, or Vedic lifestyle coach — but you can’t relocate to India or pause your family/career for two years — an accredited online Ayurveda school is now the smartest, most respected path. However, if you would like to take the NAMA CB exam and recieve a national certification, they require you to take 40-50 hours of in-person training. I also offer that. For example, I have an in-person workshop on Nadi (Art of Pulse reading in Ayurveda) and Trividha Pariksha (threefold art of Vedic assessment and feedback) on January 31, 2026.

Then I am offering a women's workshop in person in either April or July.

What Makes a Truly Great Online Ayurveda School?

Not all programs are created equal. Here’s what you want to look for

Live mentorship & real client practice (not just pre-recorded videos or Zoom classes)- You want to be able to come in person and get practicum training
NAMA-recognized curriculum and Ayurveda Accredited School, so your certification is respecte,d and you are able to take the NAMA certification exam.
Specializations that actually get clients — I focus on Vedic coaching for seasons, meal plans in the first term for our Vedic Ayurveda Counselor Student, and Term 2 focuses on Vedic plant-based diet, herbs, rituals, mantras, and yoga to support women-their menstrual cycles, postpartum, and perimenopause.
Vedic spirituality woven in — mantras, moon-cycle sadhanas, yoni wisdom, and ritual (this is what most Western schools completely miss)
Hands-on practicum you can complete from home (supervised Zoom clinics, case studies, marma + tuning-fork training)

Narayana Institute of Vedic Arts and Sciences is a Leading Vedic Ayurveda School for Women-Centered & Vedic Training

I have personally trained thousands of students, primarily women, and hundreds of women globally. I have developed the precise programs that students and women desired, wished for, and provided feedback on. The world has changed after Covid, and this is what's necessary to assist ourselves and others.

• 10-week Signature Women’s Transitions Specialization: Moon cycles → postpartum → perimenopause → menopause | Vedic Herbs and Diet, Yoni protocols, sacred rituals, Ayurveda-inspired practices | The only online program of its kind with an optional in-person weekend- Starts April 2026

• 12-Week Vedic Ayurveda Lifestyle Coach Certification: Ideal first step | Dosha mastery, daily routines, kitchen sadhanas, Vedic rituals | Graduates can immediately coach paying clients with an optional in-person weekend, Starts Jan 2026, and Aug 2026

• 12-Month Ayurvedic Health Counselor (AHC): NAMA-aligned, Ayurveda Accreditation Commission-aligned*, comprehensive foundation | 600 hours, live Vedic clinics, marma, vastu, yoga, nadi, and Vedic plant-based meal plan training | Eligible to sit for the NAMACB board exam with a hybrid of in-person and online mentorship

Starts Jan 2026 and Aug 2026

*Our college is a candidate for accreditation with the Ayurveda Accreditation Commission