Care should be taken in creating affiliations, as this shapes the political landscape. Other alternative health professions developed these steps which can help us avoid obstacles. Early informal education begins for self-healing, which is unregulated and people may practice. Short formal training programs begin as academic schools open. Associations form to advocate for the profession and open up internal dialogue.
Education improves and expands.
The government sets up formal scope of practice and licensing of practitioners. In the United States of America today, our profession is in the middle stages, depending on the state and the institution. Only at the last stage does real official regulation exist. I believe the Ayurvedic profession will develop naturally as interest continues to grow, as schools compete for students, and more practitioners bring Ayurveda to their communities. The opinion of some Ayurvedic physicians from India is that we should exclusively have five and one-half year training programs in America.