Welcome to
the Ayurvedic Yoga Massage Institute UK
We have the honour to be the first school to introduce Ayurvedic Yoga Massage to the UK directly from India.
The AYM Institute teaches Ayurvedic Yoga Massage as Master Kusum Modak taught it to me in Pune: a full-body, floor-based treatment of deep tissue massage, assisted yoga stretches and coordinated breath. Our diploma is accredited by the IICT and CThA UK, and you don’t need any previous massage or yoga experience to join.
What is Ayurvedic Yoga Massage?
Ayurvedic Yoga Massage (AYM) is given on a mat on the floor. The therapist uses hands and feet to work deeply into the muscles, using a little herbal oil and calamus powder, then moves the client through assisted yoga stretches in time with their breath. A full treatment takes about 90 minutes and covers the whole body. It was developed by Master Kusum Modak, who combined the Ayurvedic massage she learned from her teacher, Lamaye Maharaj, with the assisted postures she learned from B.K.S. Iyengar.
Learning from the lineage
I studied with Master Kusum Modak in Pune, and in 2009 I set up the AYM Institute UK with fellow AYM student Simon Griggs, creating the first recognised and accredited AYM diploma. Before AYM I graduated in Massage Therapy from the Swedish Institute in New York and worked with medical doctors, acupuncturists and chiropractors. Today I teach alongside Nathan Synge, Steven Taylor and Ellie Foden.
WHO IS IT FOR
Whether you're totally new to massage or already a skilled therapist, this training is designed to meet you exactly where you are and help you level up to the professional standards of the AYM Institute. Together, we’ll build your confidence, strengths, and expertise as an AYM therapist. Join a growing community of empowered yoga teachers, doctors, physiotherapists, breathwork coaches, personal trainers, life coaches, nurses, and more—who have trained with us, even with zero prior experience!
The course is 99% practical. You spend the days giving and receiving massage in pairs, with anatomy, contraindications and body mechanics taught along the way. On the last day you give a full 90-minute treatment as your assessment. After that you can get insurance and start practising.
See our training courses and workshops below
Registration is open for our 2027 AYM therapist diploma trainings.
Registration is open for our 2027 AYM therapist diploma trainings.
Don’t just take our word for it,
click on the photos below to hear what our students say about training with us.
“The course material that was taught and presented by James Winstanley is brilliant in its simplicity, structure and execution.” — Julija
