Is there any relationship between Yoga and Ayurveda?
Ayur means life, and Veda is science. Ayurveda, therefore, is the science of life. In other words, Ayurveda is the art of living daily life in harmony with the laws of nature.
In this article, I invite you to learn about the principles of Ayurveda and how this science relates to Yoga Practice.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a holistic healing system. It includes nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, rest, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, medicinal herbs, massages, etc. Complementary therapies such as aromatherapy, color, and sound, can also be used.
The objectives of this science are, on the one hand, to maintain the health of the person on all four levels (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual). On the other hand, to cure sickness. In their treatments, both prevention and healing, are carried out by natural means.
However, according to this medicine, each individual is a unique phenomenon, a unique personality.
Each of us has a specific constitution that determines our individual psychobiological characteristics. From the moment of conception, the universal energies of ether, air, fire, water, and earth are in charge of creating this individual constitution of each person.
These five elements combine with each other to generate the three fundamental energies or doshas.
Doshas are derived from the Five Elements and their related properties:
-Ether and air form Vata, which is the energy of movement.
-Fire and water form Pitta, the principle of digestion or metabolism, the transformation of matter into energy.
-Water and earth form Kapha, structured energy and lubrication. It provides the body with the physical form, structure, and proper functioning of all its parts.
Each individual has his own constitution or Prakriti. It will remain as it is throughout life. This is our own individual energy pattern, our combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics, and predispositions.
Now, with Ayurveda, health is the perfect state of balance between the three fundamental energies (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) of the organism and the equal and vital balance of the body, mind, and soul.
What is the relationship between Yoga and Ayurveda?
There is a direct correlation between Ayurveda and Yoga. The word Yoga means union. The principles of Yoga and Ayurveda are the same and have similar ways of healing the body, soul, and mind. Patanjali, who gave us the yoga sutras, was competent in Ayurveda.
Ayurveda and yoga are disciplines that seek harmony between our nature and the world around us. Both sciences born from the same philosophy, strive to achieve a common goal: Create balance for perfect health through direct experience.
In addition, yoga is perfect for Ayurveda. It calms the mind, rejuvenates the body, improves digestion, dissolves stress, tones all areas of the body, and cleanses internal organs of toxins.
In conclusion, for balanced yoga practice, it is convenient that it should be personalized. Both asanas and food, mantras, pranayama, and so on. For example, most asanas balance the three doshas, but some asanas practiced in-depth, can balance some doshas more than others.