Yoga has always been a key contributor towards the happiness and well being of a person. It is the most natural way of relieving stress and staying fit. Modern Yoga has always been defined mainly as a practice consisting of asanas or physical postures. But the truth is that it is based on the learning of Ayurveda. Yoga and Ayurveda are always depicted as the two sides of a coin.
Both are considered “sister practices” that were originated many years ago in India. But we people are familiar with Yoga and show less interest in Ayurveda. But actually, both Yoga and Ayurveda go hand in hand. If Ayurveda is the science, Yoga is the practice of that science. One is incomplete without the other.
If you practice yoga, then you will understand the science of Ayurveda and on the other side if you learn Ayurveda, then you will get inspiration to practice yoga. If Ayurveda is defined as the healing aspect, then Yoga is called the practical or spiritual side of Vedic learnings. When practiced together, they result in a complete balance of mind, body, and soul. Both Yoga and Ayurveda originate from Vedic literature and scholarships.
Yoga is originated from Yajur Veda while Atharva Veda and Rig Veda gave rise to Ayurveda. Yoga Ayurveda is based on the principle of trigunas (rajas, sattva, and tamas) and of the panchamahabhutas (earth, air, water, fire, space). They also define the working principle of the body that is Dosha-Dhatu-Mala/humor-tissue-waste material.
They also tell us about tells us about the effects of food and medicines on our body that is rasa-Veerya-Vipaka/taste-after effects of digestion. Both Ayurveda and Yoga have eight branches of science called Ashtanga Ayurveda and Ashtanga Yoga, respectively. They consist of the same physiology and metaphysical anatomy, i.e., they have 72000 nadis (subchannels), seven vital chakras (energy centers), the kundalini shakti (energy) and five bodily sheaths.
For any treatment of a disease or physical problems, along with practices of yoga such as pranayama, the body is also provided with herbs, purification procedure, chanting mantras, and even good food habits. Both support the fact that keeping our body sound and healthy, we can successfully achieve four targets of life- dharma (duty), kama (desire), Artha (wealth), Moksha (liberation).
Yoga and Ayurveda connection is a connection which can provide you spiritual enlightenment. Both have a same underlying principle that is to give balance and well being to body and mind as well as to help the person get re-connected to their pure nature by personal or direct experience (pratyeksha).
While yoga strengthens mind and body to get liberation and enlightenment, Ayurveda explains the various procedures to keep mind and body healthy. Both understand the importance of our connection with the environment and hence help us in making a harmonious relationship with our inner nature. While doing yoga, you will come across different doubts and questions regarding the effect of yoga on your body and mind.
Ayurveda is the answer to all these questions. According to Ayurvedic principles, each one of our bodies has a unique constitution and procedure and is governed by the different level of emotional and physical makeup. These constitutions are termed as doshas- Vata (air and ether), pitta (fire and water), and Kapha (earth and water). These are called life energies, and their combination for a specific individual is called Prakriti.
The levels of Doshas always change depending on the physical environment, eating habits, and health condition of the individual. If doshas are imbalanced, then the person attains Vikuiti or imbalance. All these life energies are interconnected to the human body. An imbalance in them leads to various diseases and affects different systems of the body.
So, ayurvedic science, along with Yoga practices, helps us to fight with these diseases and makes the body balanced and ensures that the three forms of energy remain proportional. Understanding the relationship between Yoga and Ayurveda is a must if we want a healthy and prosperous lifestyle. Yoga seems to be physical from outside, but actually, it heals the inner body and mind and helps in providing better mind-body awareness.
Ayurveda provides us with all the knowledge and step by step process to keep our body healthy, and it relates to an individual’s spiritual journey. Ayurveda takes each uniquely, studies their mind and body, and accordingly decides which Yoga poses they need to follow and which they don’t need to do. So, Yoga and Ayurveda are inseparable, and their connection is immortal.