Sowa Rigpa Institute
of Tibetan Medicine

Sowa Rigpa Institute (SRI), founded by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, offers comprehensive professional practitioner trainings in Traditional Tibetan Medicine, public workshops and short courses, as well as guided retreats and practices in Yuthok Nyingthig, the Vajrayana lineage of the Medicine Buddha.
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Areas of Study

SOWA RIGPA
Multi-year professional and short term public courses in Traditional Tibetan Medicine

YUTHOK NYINGTHIG
Dharma teachings and guided meditation practices amd retreats

TIBETAN YOGA
Nejang, Lujong, and Tummo Yoga courses and trainings

COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES
Mantra healing, Sache Geomancy, Tibetan language, and more
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Sowa Rigpa Certificate Programs

Our three professional certificate trainings share the same pre-requisite, Foundations of Sowa Rigpa (150+ hour/ 1 year online training). 
Foundations of Sowa Rigpa begins every Autumn and enrollment is open to all.
(Foundations of Sowa Rigpa can also be attended as a standalone non-professional program.)

Students wishing to continue after Foundations of Sowa Rigpa on to a professional track will complete a comprehensive exam and a formal application process before year 2.

If you have questions about our programs, e-mail info@sowarigpainstitute.org or book free office hours HERE

SOWA RIGPA PRACTITIONER
Professional Training
Foundations Year + 3 Years SRP | 800+ hours
Hybrid course with self-paced videos, live online weekly sessions and in-person intensives

TO BEGIN THIS PROGRAM, ENROLL IN FOUNDATIONS YEAR 1 WHICH IS OPEN TO ALL:

A four-year professional training in Sowa Rigpa based on the Gyud Zhi རྒྱུད་བཞི། (Four Medical Tantras)

Year 1 is open to all.
Year 2 entry is by application, interview, and having passed a comprehensive exam for Year 1 material.

  • Approximately 200 hours of class time each year (Year One = Foundations of Sowa Rigpa + Practitioner cohort supplementary videos and monthly mentorship meetings)
  • Combination of self-paced video learning with live online meetings
  • Weekly sessions with group mentor and assessment.
  • Annual opportunities for in-person practical intensives at Pure Land Farms in California and Italy, as well as Kathmandu, Nepal. Completion of two anytime during the four year program is mandatory. A personal research project is also the capstone for Year 4 studies.
  • Opportunities for optional clinical internship and study abroad in Nepal 

    Tuition: $3000/ year or $250/ month

SOWA RIGPA COUNSELOR
Professional Training
Foundations Year + 1 Year SRC | 400+ hours
Hybrid course with self-paced videos, live online weekly sessions and in-person retreat

TO BEGIN THIS PROGRAM, ENROLL IN FOUNDATIONS YEAR 1 WHICH IS OPEN TO ALL: 

A two-year professional training in a unique and dynamic form of counseling grounded in Sowa Rigpa, Yuthok Nyingthig, and contemporary psychotherapeutic theories and practices.

Year 1 is open to all.
Year 2 entry is by application, interview, and having passed a comprehensive exam for Year 1 material.

  • Approximately 200 hours of class time each year (Year One = Foundations of Sowa Rigpa + Counselor cohort supplementary videos and monthly mentorship meetings)
  • Combination of self-paced video learning with select live online modules and weekly online discussions and practical sessions 
  • Intervision sessions to discuss case studies
  • Optional in-person intensive
  • Final Project on topic of student's choice


Tuition: $3000/ year or $250/ month

SOWA RIGPA YOGA PRACTITIONER
Professional Training
Foundations Year + 3 100-day Modules
Hybrid training with in-person retreats + live online weekly sessions

MODULE ONE BEGINS MARCH 13 2025:

A three-part Tibetan yoga immersion on Nejang, Lujong, and Tummo Yogas informed by the healing principles of Sowa Rigpa.

  • Module One: 100 day Nejang Immersion and Teacher Training that supports dedicated yoga practitioners to deepen their own practice while learning how to safely teach and share methods either in a group setting or in a one on one therapeutic context.
  • Module Two: 100-day Lujong Yoga Immersion.
  • Module Three: 100-day Tummo Yoga Immersion.

Each module contains one in-person retreat at Pure Land Farms followed by weekly online sessions.

Modules must be completed consecutively but it is not required to complete the modules within the same calendar year. (Only Module 1/ Nejang offers teacher certification.)

Pre-requisite: Minimum 100 Hours of Sowa Rigpa education (Foundations of Sowa Rigpa or equivalent)

Tuition: $1500/ module

Foundations of Sowa Rigpa

Next cohort begins in September 2025
1 Year/ 150 hours

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.

This course is open to all and is suitable for both new students, dharma practitioners, as well as practitioners of other medical traditions.

After completing this course and all requirements, interested students will have the option to apply to continue on to one of our professional programs.
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$3000 or $250/ month includes:
- 100 hours of video content taught by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang and other Sowa Rigpa doctors
- 36 weekly 90-minute online discussion and QnA sessions (ZOOM)

Learn more, view the schedule, and sign up:

Current Courses Open to All

You may continue to access your past courses at www.sowarigpaonline.org
View all our courses HERE
Next Mirror of Light One Year Training begins January 2025

Dr. Nida Chenagtsang

Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, founder of the Sowa Rigpa Institute: School of Traditional Tibetan Medicine, is a traditional Tibetan physician and international teacher of Tibetan Medicine (Sowa Rigpa), Buddhism, and yogic practices.

Born in Amdo, in North Eastern Tibet, Dr. Nida completed his medical studies in Lhasa, while training in all lineages of Vajrayana Buddhism, especially in the Longchen Nyingthig, Dudjom Tersar, and the Yuthok Nyingthig, the unique spiritual tradition of Tibetan Medicine. His extensive research and revival of ancient Tibetan healing methods has gained him high acclaim in the East and West.

In addition to his work as a physician, he trains students in Sowa Rigpa and the Yuthok Nyingthig tradition in over forty countries around the world.

LEARN MORE
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Sowa Rigpa Institute is an NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) Professional Development Provider.
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