SOWA RIGPA INSTITUTE's
FOUNDATIONS OF SOWA RIGPA (2025/26)
Self, Family & Community Care
One Year Hybrid Training in Tibetan Medicine
October 11 2025 - June 27 2026
First live class is Saturday October 18 2025(Self-paced videos available from October 11)
Write your awesome label here.
2025/26 Foundations will include a new dedicated Spanish language cohort! Learn more here
Self-Paced
Video Content
Approximately 100 hours of video content taught by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang to be watched at a pace of 3 hours per week
(not downloadable)
(not downloadable)
Weekly Live Online Sessions (ZOOM)
34 Weekly Sessions with SRI faculty and special guest teachers to review and discuss teachings.
SATURDAYS 8 - 9:30AM
(Los Angeles Time Zone)
SATURDAYS 8 - 9:30AM
(Los Angeles Time Zone)
Optional
In Person Sessions
New for 2025/26!
Optional in-person hands on practical classes fpr select modules offered at multiple locations internationally
Optional in-person hands on practical classes fpr select modules offered at multiple locations internationally
Course Materials
COURSE DETAILS
Foundations of Sowa Rigpa
October 11 2025 - June 27 2026
First live class is Saturday October 18 2025
Self-paced videos available from September 27
This one year training presents the fundamentals principles of Tibetan healing in order improve quality of life, and learn how to promote health and rejuvenation at home, for one's self and in one’s family and communities.
The course follows the main structure of the Root Tantra (tsa gyu), the first of the Four Tantras (gyu zhi), the principle medical texts of Sowa Rigpa, with supplementary information from the (2nd) Explanatory Tantra (shé gyu) and (4th) Final Tantra (chi mé gyu) and special emphasis on safe and practical applications at home.
As a standalone course, this program is open to all and is suitable for both new students, dharma practitioners, as well as practitioners of other medical traditions.
This course is also the first year of Sowa Rigpa Institute's multiyear professional programs, Sowa Rigpa Practitioner (4-year training), Sowa Rigpa Counselor (2-year training), and is a pre-requisite for Sowa Rigpa Yoga Practitioner program
Students wishing to continue on to Practitioner or Counselor programs are required to pass a comprehensive examination and complete a short written application and interview in the Spring of 2026
The course follows the main structure of the Root Tantra (tsa gyu), the first of the Four Tantras (gyu zhi), the principle medical texts of Sowa Rigpa, with supplementary information from the (2nd) Explanatory Tantra (shé gyu) and (4th) Final Tantra (chi mé gyu) and special emphasis on safe and practical applications at home.
As a standalone course, this program is open to all and is suitable for both new students, dharma practitioners, as well as practitioners of other medical traditions.
This course is also the first year of Sowa Rigpa Institute's multiyear professional programs, Sowa Rigpa Practitioner (4-year training), Sowa Rigpa Counselor (2-year training), and is a pre-requisite for Sowa Rigpa Yoga Practitioner program
Students wishing to continue on to Practitioner or Counselor programs are required to pass a comprehensive examination and complete a short written application and interview in the Spring of 2026
Write your awesome label here.
Tuition
Course Format and Schedule
This course is a hybrid (asynchronous + synchronous) learning program that combines self-paced video learning with live weekly online teaching and discussion sessions.
- Approximately 100 hours of video content taught by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang and other Sowa Rigpa doctors to be watched at a pace of 3 hours per week.
- 34 weekly live ZOOM sessions with SRI faculty to review and discuss the video teachings.
- Optional in-person hands on practical sessions accompany select modules in multiple locations
SCHEDULE OF WEEKLY ONLINE SESSIONS
October 18 2025 - June 27 2025
Saturdays 8 - 9:30am (Los Angeles/ Pacific Time Zome)
Self-paced video content is released one week prior to each weekly session
SRI PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS
At the conclusion of this course, students wishing to continue on with three more years of the Practitioner program or one more year of the Counselor program will apply to enter Year 2 with a written application; all professional track students will have an interview with SRI's Dean of Students Sarah Falkner, and Counselor candidates will also have an additional interview with Dr. Caroline Van Damme, in order to enter Counselor Year 2. Students must also pass a year-end comprehensive exam covering the material of Foundations.
SRI PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS
At the conclusion of this course, students wishing to continue on with three more years of the Practitioner program or one more year of the Counselor program will apply to enter Year 2 with a written application; all professional track students will have an interview with SRI's Dean of Students Sarah Falkner, and Counselor candidates will also have an additional interview with Dr. Caroline Van Damme, in order to enter Counselor Year 2. Students must also pass a year-end comprehensive exam covering the material of Foundations.
Course Content
MODULE ONE:
Introduction to Sowa Rigpa: Four Tantras and Tanaduk
MODULE TWO:
Health/ balance according to Sowa Rigpa
MODULE THREE:
Disease/ imbalance according to Sowa Rigpa
MODULES FOUR & FIVE (with optional in-person practice):
Sowa Rigpa Diagnostic Techniques
- Observation: Tongue and Urine
- Palpation: Pulse
- Questioning
MODULE SIX:
Method of Treatment One: Diet
MODULE SEVEN (with optional in-person practice):
Method of Treatment Two: Lifestyle
MODULE EIGHT:
Method of Treatment Three: Herbs
MODULE NINE (with optional in-person practice):Method of Treatment Four: External Therapies
MODULE TEN:
Psychology
CONCLUSION (with optional in person retreat):
Spiritual Healing Methods
+ Bonus Videos: Map of the Gyuzhi
MODULE TEN:
Psychology
CONCLUSION (with optional in person retreat):
Spiritual Healing Methods
+ Bonus Videos: Map of the Gyuzhi
Topics and locations of optional in-person hands-on practical sessions
Meet your Teachers
Dr. Nida Chenagtsang
The majority of the self-paced video content of this training are taught by Sowa Rigpa Institute's founder and medical director Dr. Nida Chenagtsang. Dr. Nida brings both rigor and humor to the study of Sowa Rigpa, encouraging students to engage with the material in a practical and experiential way so that Sowa Rigpa becomes alive and relevant, at all stages of one's education.
Select videos are taught by SRI senior faculty members: Dr. Lhakpa Dolma, Dr. Ed Coughlin, Dr. Ben Joffe, Dr. Anastazja Holecko, and Dr. Caroline Van Damme.
Faculty
Tsu Ching Yu
Graduate of Sowa Rigpa Institute Practitioner program and host of this course
Amchi Sangay Tenzin
Graduate of Sowa Rigpa International College Nepal and Bhutan Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences in Bhutan
Amchi Dolma Tsering
Graduate of Sowa Rigpa International Nepal and practitioner at Phende Sowa Rigpa Medical Center Kathmandu
Amchi Yeshi Dorjee
Graduate of Sowa Rigpa International Nepal and Secretary in Charge at SRIC
Amchi Thinlay Wangmo
Graduate of Sowa Rigpa International Nepal and practitioner at Sowa Rigpa Wellness Centre Kathmandu
Dr. Bryan Watrous
Graduate of Sowa Rigpa Institute Practitioner program and Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Required Reading
Foundations of Sowa Rigpa, by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, published by Sky Press
Digital text book included in this course. Print copies can be purchased from Sky Press
Coming Fall 2025 in Spanish!
For centuries, Sowa Rigpa has preserved its authentic teachings through unbroken lineage transmission. One of the most important textbooks of lineage-based Sowa Rigpa instructions is the Gyü Zhi or ‘Four Medical Tantras’, compiled by Yuthok Yönten Gönpo the Younger (1126-1202). In Foundations of Sowa Rigpa, experienced Tibetan physician and teacher Dr Nida Chenagtsang offers a comprehensive commentary on the first volume or Root Tantra of the Gyü Zhi which provides an essential distillation and roadmap of Sowa Rigpa theory and practice. With characteristic humor, clarity, and openness, and motivated by a deep love for medicine and his patients, Dr. Nida invites us on an inner journey, guiding us through the core principles of Sowa Rigpa and revealing how they can enrich our lives today.
Digital text book included in this course. Print copies can be purchased from Sky Press
Coming Fall 2025 in Spanish!
For centuries, Sowa Rigpa has preserved its authentic teachings through unbroken lineage transmission. One of the most important textbooks of lineage-based Sowa Rigpa instructions is the Gyü Zhi or ‘Four Medical Tantras’, compiled by Yuthok Yönten Gönpo the Younger (1126-1202). In Foundations of Sowa Rigpa, experienced Tibetan physician and teacher Dr Nida Chenagtsang offers a comprehensive commentary on the first volume or Root Tantra of the Gyü Zhi which provides an essential distillation and roadmap of Sowa Rigpa theory and practice. With characteristic humor, clarity, and openness, and motivated by a deep love for medicine and his patients, Dr. Nida invites us on an inner journey, guiding us through the core principles of Sowa Rigpa and revealing how they can enrich our lives today.
