The Birla Kerala Vaidyashala (BKV), which has recently launched an ayurveda academy 'Birla Ayurveda Academy' at Nerul in Mumbai for teaching various authentic traditional ayurveda therapies, is planning to open 200 BKV centres across the country with an investment of Rs 5 billion over a period of five years.

Currently the BKV has 29 centres across India including nine centres in Mumbai. Theses centres were initially started as spa centres, but now these centres also offer training courses also.

BKV was originated in 1993 as Kerala Vaidyashala Pvt Ltd. In the year 2008, Yash Birla Group joined hands with the Kerala Vaidyashala Pvt Ltd, renaming it as Birla Kerala Vaidyashala.

“Ayurveda has a bright future. These traditional healing therapies were given less important during the last few decades. Now once again, it is gaining popularity and trust because of serious side effects found in allopathic medicines. Our academic centre aims to spread the knowledge of Ayurveda and to enhance upgradation of therapies among the practitioners,” Harshajeet Kuroop, managing director, Birla Kerala Vaidyashala, said.

“Ayurveda has a scope of providing employment to the unemployed, but one needs to be educated and needs to have knowledge of these therapies to be employed. There are ayurvedic doctors who want to enhance their knowledge in this field but are restricted due to limited academies available. Thus this academy will help them to gain knowledge in this field and attain their future prospects," Harshajeet said.

Birla Ayurveda Academy offers basic and specialized courses for authentic ayurvedic therapies. The expertise of the well trained and experienced doctors will help the students to be more aware about the facts. Birla Ayurveda Academy is offering an Ayurvedic Therapist Course that provides theoretical and practical introduction in the Indian traditional way to various ayurvedic therapies and a brief exposure to fundamental principles of Ayurveda.

The academy would be soon offering a specialized course on Panchakarma Ayurvedic Therapies specially designed for ayurvedic doctors who want to gain an in-depth knowledge in Panchakarma therapies. The duration of the course would be three months and is being offered in different batches to make it more feasible for students. There are part time courses as well as weekend batches for the ones who are working. The students will also get an opportunity to work with Birla Kerala Vaidyashala once they complete the course satisfactorily.