
Maharishi Aroma Therapy department announces first-ever online course
After 10 years giving the Maharishi Aroma Therapy Foundation Course in-residence at MERU, Nadine Thomas, head of the department at the Maharishi College of Perfect Health, has launched a new initiative in light of the need for distance learning.
For the first time, she’ll be offering the Maharishi Aroma Therapy Foundation Course in a completely online format – a fantastic development for those who have been unable to travel to the in-residence course in the past.
To discuss the fundamentals of Maharishi Aroma Therapy, learn about the offerings of the department, and hear more about how this online course will work, I spoke with Nadine. If you’re intrigued by the world of essential oils, the interview is a must read.
Editors’ Note: The Maharishi Aroma Therapy Foundation course is starting live online on 10 August. Apply by 28 July to reserve your place and to make sure your special kit of essential oils arrives on time!

Rebekah: Let’s start with a simple question. What is aromatherapy?
Nadine: In short, aromatherapy is the science and art of healing with the use of essential oils. It promotes better health and happiness, and in addition, helps us to progress comfortably on our spiritual path.
The use of medicinal plants and their essential oils to heal various disorders has a long history and has been an important part of all ancient cultures around the world. Thankfully, modern medicine is also beginning to recognise and document the therapeutic benefits of this marvelous field of knowledge.
‘Aromatherapy is the science and art of healing with the use of essential oils. It promotes better health and happiness, and in addition, helps us to progress comfortably on our spiritual path.‘
Why is Maharishi Aroma Therapy a unique approach to this area of knowledge?
Maharishi Aroma Therapy, or ‘MAT’ as we often abbreviate it, is aromatherapy based on consciousness and on the principles of Maharishi AyurVeda.
It gives the understanding that the ideal of perfect health and enlightenment is attained by handling health from the level from which it emerges — the field of immortality, pure consciousness.
‘Maharishi Aroma Therapy gives the understanding that the ideal of perfect health and enlightenment is attained by handling health from the level from which it emerges — the field of immortality, pure consciousness.‘
When studying Maharishi Aroma Therapy, you learn how to balance the three doshas (the three fundamental principles of Maharishi AyurVeda). This allows you to maintain a very strong immune system, the basis of good health and happiness.
Ultimately, MAT enlivens the self-healing mechanisms of the body and helps us regain the memory of our true nature, our cosmic nature, our divine nature, which is a state of eternal bliss.
I understand the Maharishi Aroma Therapy department has an interesting history. How did the department get started?
Yes, it does! 20 years ago, Maharishi asked Dr Rosie Geelvink to learn everything about plants and essential oils. Already then, Maharishi saw that this would be the natural health approach to help everyone regain their state of health and happiness in a very effective and pleasant way.
Under the guidance of Maharishi, Dr Rosie created the courses of MAT as part of Maharishi College of Perfect Health International, to support and complement our evolution towards perfect health, happiness, and enlightenment. Her work integrated the collective heritage of thousands of years of wisdom and observation with Maharishi AyurVeda, modern science, and systematic materials. It was a marvellous achievement.
‘Under the guidance of Maharishi, Dr Rosie created the courses of Maharishi Aroma Therapy as part of Maharishi College of Perfect Health International, to support and complement our evolution towards perfect health, happiness and enlightenment.‘
Dr Rosie is no longer with us, and because I trained with her for a number of years, I am now leading the department and giving these delightful courses all around the world. I’m honoured to be able to continue bringing this profound area of Maharishi’s knowledge to everyone who wishes to learn and be trained in this field.
What are the main courses you offer?
We offer three main courses – the Maharishi Aroma Therapy Foundation Course, the Maharishi Aroma Therapy Consultant Training Course, and the Maharishi Aroma Therapy Advanced Course.
The foundation course is a comprehensive introduction to the field of Maharishi Aroma Therapy. In this course, participants learn about the aromatic plants, extraction methods, some basics about the chemical compounds, and very importantly, the principles of Maharishi AyurVeda and how they relate to the essential oils. The biggest takeaway is learning how to select and safely apply the right essential oils for many different situations and health concerns.
In other words, it’s a very practical course, with many applications to improve your health and daily well-being. It is meant for all meditators who are interested in this practical knowledge, both for themselves and for their friends and family. The foundation course is also the first step toward becoming a Maharishi Aroma Therapy Consultant and is a wonderful way to see if you are interested in continuing further in the knowledge.
The next course we offer for those who have completed the foundation course is the Maharishi Aroma Therapy Consultant Training Course. In this course, participants gain a deeper knowledge of Maharishi AyurVeda and Maharishi Aroma Therapy and learn how to use the essential oils for each bodily system. They also enjoy an introduction to hydrolates and learn the steps of giving a consultation. After successful completion of this course, participants receive a certification as a Maharishi Aroma Therapy Consultant and are able to give consultations to their own clients, according to regulations in their country.
The third course we offer is the Maharishi Aroma Therapy Advanced Course. In this course, participants are able to review the steps of the consultation and gain deeper knowledge of Maharishi AyurVeda and Maharishi Aroma Therapy with the guidance of a medical aromatherapist guest teacher. They learn many other more advanced therapeutic aspects of the knowledge, and of course enjoy the fellowship of being with other Maharishi Aroma Therapy Consultants.
It’s truly a beautiful curriculum we have, and it’s such a delight to be able to offer this practical knowledge for the benefit of everyone.
In August, you will be offering the Maharishi Aroma Therapy Foundation course online through MERU, for the first time. Why is this significant?
It is significant because we will be able to reach so many people who have been waiting years for this knowledge, who have not been able to come due to travel and housing expenses.
It truly is a unique opportunity for everyone to receive this precious knowledge from the peace and quiet of their homes and to start managing their own health and happiness with essential oils.
Participants are always amazed at the scientific evidence supporting this beautiful area of knowledge. And indeed, there are now thousands of research studies on essential oils and their compounds that document their therapeutic effects and demonstrate their clinical application for a wide variety of physical and mental disorders. Just go to the website pubmed.gov and read some of the amazing studies there!
These effects are very real and very profound, and already on the foundation course you enjoy a taste of these powerful therapeutic effects. I cannot tell you how many course participants have taken this course and have reported beautiful transformations in their life after the course.
‘[With this online course,] we will be able to reach so many people who have been waiting years for this knowledge, who could not come due to travel and housing expenses.‘
Will participants be able to still smell the essential oils? How will this work?
Yes, they will. Once participants register for the course, we will send them a kit with several samples of essential oils that correspond to our lessons.
Just like the in-residence course, the online course is structured in 12 sessions of three parts each: knowledge, practice, and experience. The experience is an important part of the course, and during this part we will describe and smell the specific essential oil corresponding to the lesson of that day.
Do you plan to continue giving this course online in the future?
I expect we will. However, I encourage everyone interested to join this course now and to gain all the benefits mentioned without delay.
If you want to sleep better; improve your digestion; increase your energy, peace, and tranquility; improve your memory; take better decisions; improve your relationships; and feel a gentle feeling of love permeating your life at all time; do not wait!
Just join the course now, and let’s all enjoy the bliss together for a better life for all the years to come.
Join the online Maharishi Aroma Therapy Foundation Course this August
Apply by 28 July 2020 to join the online Maharishi Aroma Therapy Foundation Course, starting 10 August. After you register, a kit of essential oils will be delivered to your home to make for an enjoyable and profound course experience from your home.
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