Course "The art of reading the pulse" includes training at VIOA (Vasanta Institute of Ayurveda), Pune, India.

You will begin with an exploration into Vedic philosophy with special reference to the journey of consciousness into the pulse. You will then be introduced to the physics of pulse - the basic qualities and seven important characteristics that can be detected by bringing one’s full attention to the radial artery, including gati (movement), vega (rate), tāla (rhythm), bala (force), ākruti (tension and volume), tapamāna (temperature) and kāthinya (consistency of the blood vessel wall).

Conditions detected in the radial pulse can be confirmed by reading the pulse at different areas of the body. Vasant Lad will discuss other anatomical areas for pulse-taking such as the abdominal, axillary, brachial, carotid, femoral, orbital, temporal, and posterior tibial/dorsalis pedis pulses, and the significance of each.

You will then turn your attention to the seven levels of pulse taught by Vasant Lad - from prakṛti to vikruti, to the state of organs, subdoshas, dhatus (tissues); ojas, tejas, prāṇa — even the state of the mind and chakras can be detected by bringing awareness to each of these seven levels.

Expert: Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASC 

A native of India, he served for three years as Medical Director of the Ayurveda Hospital in Pune, India. He was Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Pune University College of Ayurvedic Medicine for 15 years. He holds a Bachelor’s of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAM&S) degree from the University of Pune and a Master’s of Ayurvedic Science (MASc) degree from Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya. Vasant Lad’s academic and practical training include the study of Allopathy (Western medicine) and surgery as well as traditional Ayurveda. Beginning in 1979, he has traveled throughout the United States sharing his knowledge of Ayurveda. In 1984 he came to Albuquerque as Director, principal instructor and founder of The Ayurvedic Institute. The author of numerous books, Vasant Lad is respected throughout the world for his knowledge of Ayurveda. Vasant Lad has written 11 books on Ayurveda as well as hundreds of articles and other writings. With over 500,000 copies of his books in print in the US, his work has been translated into more than 20 languages.