On MeWe
On Pinterest
On Facebook
On Twitter
On WhatsApp
On Email
Digestion is relevant to many, if not all, your clients' lives. Why? Digestion nourishes blood, the blood that feeds your body. You can't nourish your organs without healthy blood. You can't nourish blood without healthy digestion and a healthy diet. On the other hand, indigestion and poor food choices create fermentation & toxicity which weakens your entire body. Poor quality food choices lead to poor quality blood and organ health. That's why, for over 5,000 years, Ayurveda has believed that diet and digestion is the first step to health.
Master Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition 500 Hour Certification Program |
This 1 year online program starts Oct 14th, 2025.
"As far as the course, it has been an eye opening experience for me, as a pediatric gastroenterologist...There is so much that I have been doing as an allopathic physician for the past 22 years and wished that I had stepped in to Ayurveda sooner. It's not too late however...As I grasp the Ayurvedic concept, understanding why, how and what should be done has become easier and I am enjoying that very much. Thank you!!"
Click here to apply for a partial scholarship. Financial aid is offered based on income. Scholarships may not be combined with other discounts.
For complete tuition & fee information, please see our course catalog. Application / registration fees are non-refundable unless your application is denied.
The Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda has provided advanced clinical training for Ayurvedic professionals since 2008. We are licensed to teach Ayurveda by the state of North Carolina Board of Community Colleges (not an accrediting agency), and accredited through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). We partner with the American Association of Biocharacteristics Clinicians (AABC) to support our graduates' clinical success in Ayurveda (Why AABC?). We are a member college of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG). Joyful Belly is also recognized by the National Association of Ayurveda Schools and Colleges (NAASC), and the Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America (AAPNA). Our founder, John Immel, is the current president of NAASC.
See why we are a leader in Ayurveda innovation.
Joyful Belly will issue you a 500 Hour Certificate of Completion as an Ayurvedic Nutrition & Digestive Health Coach. This certificate enables you to legally see clients as an Ayurvedic digestive health coach. Students are also eligible for certification through 1) AABC as a Ayurveda / Biocharacteristics Digestive Health Coach, 2) AADP as a health coach after passing their board level exam, and 3) AAPNA as an Ayurvedic Food & Nutrition Consultant (if you have an additional 500 hours of training in a health related field yoga, massage, nursing, etc.). You may be eligible for additional certifications depending on local laws.
* Laws vary by state and country. Ayurveda is an unlicensed profession in the United States, which means that Ayurveda is not regulated by any organization or agency. By the end of the program, you will be legally able to see clients in the United States. A certificate of completion is given to those graduates who successfully complete the program. This program does not give you a license to practice medicine. Please text John at 828-785-8213 if you have questions in this area.
This Ayurvedic course offers answers to seemingly baffling digestive disorders, such as IBS. Unlike other medical traditions, IBS offers a favorable prognosis in Ayurveda. The key to IBS is identifying the underlying imbalance, a skill you build each day in the program. You will learn how to penetrate through to the root of digestive tract disorders, from simple disorders such as constipation, to more complex problems such as how to restore appetite after chemotherapy.
As we explained above, when there is a problem with your intestines, it creates a problem in your whole body. Fortunately, your intestines are modified skin and just like skin, your gut has the capacity to heal quickly. However, even though healing digestion is theoretically easy, the reality can be tricky. Ayurveda has a 5,000 year old approach to navigate the tricky situations that arise in restoring gut health.
All live classes & discussions will be recorded for those who are unable to attend. You will also be invited to participate in an online Facebook discussion group, so that communication with the group and teachers is always at your fingertips.
"I can soon say I am a survivor of an online course. I was very skeptical! But the content was excellent. The basic format of weekly lecture and study group meetings was brilliant. I wish I could have done both study groups. The time to discuss with fellow students was great." - Cynthia Cox (Massage Therapist, Arkansas)
Expect to experience:
Student discounts are provided to encourage your learning & discovery from the moment you register.
John studied Ayurveda under Dr. Vasant Lad and is specialized in the advanced treatment of digestive tract pathology. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. He first discovered Ayurveda while working on a public health project in Bangladesh. John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel.
After witnessing Ayurveda's compelling efficiency and practical ease in treatment of his own digestive disorder, John was convinced he could help others. He sought a way introduce Ayurveda to his Appalachian mountain home and the broader American public. This was the genesis of Joyful Belly. Using ingredients familiar from his childhood, John created Joyful Belly to recast Ayurveda in the context of our American food traditions. Joyful Belly proves Ayurveda is accessible and necessary for everyday health & wellness. His simple, practical and familiar approach has helped thousands on their journey to health.
John's love of life, his commitment to the health & dignity of the person, and his humanitarian pursuit of inexpensive health care comes from his Catholic roots and identity. His creativity in the kitchen, and absolute dedication to the epicurean delight of eating come from his Italian heritage. He is fluent in Bengali and French, and enjoys studying Sanskrit & Arabic. In addition to his passion for Ayurveda, John enjoys spending time with his family and studying scripture, two activities which he believes are essential to any health and wellness counselor.
Teaching has been a vocation for me since a very young age, and I have taught at various institutions from Harvard University to my home town. As a student of six languages, I am heavily invested in developing my communication and presentation skills, a core skill of any good teacher. Despite my ability to speak as an authority on the topic of Ayurveda & digestion, I approach the student teacher relationship as a colleague and facilitator, equal to my students, without any illusions of personal grandeur. My approach is not didactic, but inspirational and engaging. I enjoy asking questions as much as giving answers, and recognize that leadership often means giving you the space and freedom you need to draw your own conclusions, with guidance. As much as I love narrating a good story to an audience, I also strive learn from my students, and await full of suspense to hear your insights about Ayurveda!
On a more emotional level, I place a great deal of emphasis on empathy in every interaction I have with my students and my clients. The fundamental skill of empathy is the ability to walk in another's shoes. As a empathetic person, I always strive to appreciate and learn from your perspective and vantage point. I want to know you, and what makes you the person that you are.
Yet, the most important quality and teaching skill I possess is neither language nor empathy. Instead, it is my enthusiasm for Ayurveda, and for you. I am eager to give myself fully and passionately to the learning process. This enthusiasm is the true source of my confidence. Why am I so enthusiastic? Where does the boundless energy I offer for teaching come from? The bottomless well of energy I bring to our discussions springs from my great faith in each and every individual's capacity to learn and grow. Teaching is therefore a true celebration for me. This great hope I've invested in teaching is something I will never give up on, which means I will never give up on you!
"I feel so much more confident working with my healthy eating/living clients, and my cleanse programs have grown to incorporate more personalized plans and a focus on digestive health as the root of balanced health. Im excited to have more knowledge and tools to serve my clients!"
"I have a success story that I just had to share. Last week a man came to see me ready to change his diet. He has a history of excess alcohol/liver heat, excess weight (not a lot but more than he would like), a lot of cold in the GI tract, dry colon with inflammation, lincoln log stools which sometimes purge yellow stools after doing yoga. He also has a history of indigestion with acid reflux which the doctor gave him Nexim for.
The Nexium did not help at all which he told his doctor, but the doctor insisted he keep taking it.
I gave him a vata/kapha diet with no solid foods after 2pm. Lemon/honey/ginger drink in the morning plus CCF tea during the day, I asked him to use certain spices in his cooking and practice mula bhanda to help with the stress he has been feeling. That's all, no herbs.
I spoke with him today and he is feeling fabulous. He said that he is feeling a warm heat throughout his body that he hasn't felt in a very long time. His bowels started to regulate very quickly and his body is starting to sweat during yoga which doesn't usually happen. He has lost a lot of weight, is feeling much lighter, more energetic, and his ankle is starting to heal itself.
If I had not taken the joyful belly course I would not have known that acid reflux can be caused by indigestion/lack of fire. I would have assumed that with his liver being hot that his stomach was too acidic as well and I would not have understood why his bowel movements were alternating.
I would have been nervous to treat him and likely would have treated him similar to the doctor instead of treating his case as having too much cold.
I am in tears at having helped someone and hearing the excitement in this man's voice from how good he feels. He's coming back next week for another consultation"
"Thank you so much, for everything! This course has been one of the best learning experiences I have ever had. I am thankful for the challenge, it makes my success much sweeter! I am excited to continue my learning journey!"
"I found the anatomy and physiology parts and the self-study about digestion to be absolutely invaluable!"
"Everything that I have experienced made so much sense in my body and in my mind."
"Joyful belly is a treasure trove of information and resources to get you started on healthy eating and bring your body to balance, even better if you work alongside an Ayurvedic doctor. John is a very kind and attentive teacher, he makes himself available to address students' concerns via Telegram though he has a busy schedule."
"I would like just to leave my comment regarding the class given just now. The live consultation was amazing, full of new information and the thought process was very useful! I have been loving all the classes, but I would like to stand out this class today and share my gratitude with Jessica, it really made a big difference for me today."
"On a personal health level, my eating habits and beliefs about food changed drastically. I learned to better understand my unique needs. I also learned to separate the overwhelming amount of online health information for the general population and narrow it down to what I actually needed for my body. As a result, my weight is lower then ever. My digestion is the best I can recall it being in my life. I also see my husband and children benefiting now and in the future from all the knowledge I have gained."
"I pushed myself to familiarize myself not only with herbal remedies and their many uses, dhatus, srotas and many other Ayurvedic concepts but also with brand colours, fonts or how to write my own bio when it came to business planning. John doesn't leave anything to chance but believes in giving you the best foundation when starting out as an Ayurvedic digestive health coach. Trust him"
"Just wanted to say that today's teacher was amazing! She did such a great job interviewing the client, explaining pathogenesis, breaking down the treatment plan, and answering questions. It was very organized, thorough, and informative. Would love to see more classes like this!"
"The Dosha composition quiz is one of the most comprehensive tests you can find on the internet and the website has a huge collection of recipes for all the seasons. The recipes are nourishing, tasty and leave you satisfied."
"HI! I miss you! I want you to know from the bottom of my heart how grateful and appreciative of all the knowledge, time, energy, and compassion you gave to me during the MID program. I'm honored to have been in this class. I have learned so much! My mind, body and spirit is still processing and slowly assimilating. I have decided to find my way by incorporating more in-depth digestion lessons of Ayurveda into the existing 5 sense programs/classes I offer, therapies etc. I will add this knowledge to my cooking classes, creating more balancing recipes and lectures on weight loss etc..
I'm compounding my herbal and essential oil blends for my patient's with new insight, along with tweaking some of my existing formularies. As a clinical aromatherapist I'll able to add so much more for my patient when formulating and to my aromatherapy teachings for my students this knowledge will give my students another lens to view all of the precious oils and carriers I discuss in lecture. I'm able to supercharge my nature walk/talks and outdoor lectures, and outdoor yoga classes with even more renewed- exuberance!
I'm using the Ayurvedic knowledge on dosha to create an even more personalized sound therapy session along with an even greater for detail for massotherapy, marma-tcm-accupressure point therapy, hypnosis, ect..
I will be FOREVER grateful!"
"My diet is completely changed, Ive lost 35#, I have a much healthier view of life and my place in it.."
"I've been meaning to e-mail since we graduated to say thank you SO much for all your support on the course, organizing everything, giving us amazing insightful lectures and everything that you've done behind the scenes since I can imagine it must be a mammoth task!"
"Dear John,
My friend asked me what online school is like, I responded and said I think it depends on the teachers because despite having never met my teachers or the other students, I never feel as if I'm alone. With whatever concern we have we're heard, and we're heard quickly.
Much gratitude to this wonderful program you've created."
Ayurveda is still an unlicensed field in most U.S. states. Even those of who have practitioner status are still only educators in the eyes of the law. Only a qualified, licensed medical doctor can diagnose, prescribe or treat disease. Legally, you will be able listen to people's health concerns and educate them on the Ayurvedic perspective and approach to those concerns including diet, lifestyle and herbs. Please seek legal advice if you have questions about your scope of practice after graduating.
You will be bound by any existing licenses you have. For example, massage practitioners will not be able to offer Ayurvedic wellness tips during a massage session as this will violate their massage license. Instead, your client will have to sign up for a separate, Ayurvedic session. Please check with your certifying body and state on limitations of using your certification in your existing practice.
The thesis writing process is broken down into 5 phases so that your paper evolves step by step throughout the course. Initially you choose a topic, then you develop an outline, then you follow through by submitting your paper in stages. Each stage is a bite size chunk of the whole project so that your thesis develops organically - allbeit with hard work and focus.
While writing a thesis may sound daunting, but it's really an exercise of delving into what excites you most. It's an opportunity to personalize the course as well. You will be able to choose a topic relevant to your personal health, the health of a loved one, or your family. Writing a thesis helps you specialize in some aspect of digestive health, which makes your skills more marketable.
Some professional experience in a health and wellness related field is required. Your field could be massage therapy, yoga, herbalism, a medical degree, or perhaps you are an Ayurveda practitioner. If you do not have professional experience, you may still be accepted if you can demonstrate your commitment to earnest self study prior to enrollment. Although we welcome students who have demonstrated academic excellence, we also value body awareness, emotional intelligence, and sharp instincts along with book knowledge.
Currently, we are still accepting applications for this year's program. There is no deadline for application, however we expect the program will be filled to capacity, and applications are considered on a first come, first served basis.
Please text John at 828-785-8213 or e-mail us any questions/concerns by clicking the MAYBE button below.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
