Do you know
that Yoga and Ayurveda are mutually inclusive? 
That one is incomplete without the other? Any Yoga fitness
program needs to be supplemented with Ayurvedic diet
specifications to make it really work, and yogic exercises are
necessary to support herbal treatment. The standalone
perspective doesn’t work!
Because neither is Yoga limited to physical postures and
fitness routines, nor is Ayurveda limited to herbal remedies
curing physical disorders - both systems run into deeper
spiritual levels and if practiced properly, can lead to a
state of complete balance at the
physical, mental and spiritual levels
Ayurveda
and Yoga as Twin Healthcare Systems "Yoga" is a Sanskrit word which means ‘to join’
or ‘to link’ or ‘to combine’. Although the word Yoga
is used in different contexts, the primary connotation of the
word is to join or link the soul to the Supersoul.
The
process of "Yoga" (linking to the Supersoul)
involves a step-by-step preparation, which aims at balancing
the body, various physical postures, controlling the mind and
the senses through pranayama and finally realizing the
truth of soul being the real conscious energy.
Ayurveda
is a combination of two words, "Ayu" connoting
'body, mind and soul' and "Veda" meaning knowledge.
Although through different procedures, the ultimate goal of
Ayurveda too is to connect with God. Here the processes are
simple and involve a controlled diet and lifestyle regime that
keeps the body toxin-free, induces clarity of the mind and the
awakening of intelligence, leading to the realization that the
soul is the real conscious energy and needs to be taken care
of.
The
main processes both in Ayurveda and Yoga involve purifying of
the mind and the body, then controlling the mind and finally
linking the soul or consciousness with God. According to both
systems, connecting with God is the ultimate purpose of human
life, which leads to a state of eternal bliss, even while
living in this material world.
Neither
is Yoga limited to physical postures and fitness routines, nor
is Ayurveda limited to herbal remedies curing physical
disorders - both systems run into deeper spiritual levels and
if practiced properly, can lead to a state of complete balance
at the physical, mental and spiritual levels. Not only are
they similar, but also they actually supplement each other.
Those practicing Yoga need to follow specific Ayurvedic diet
programs and regimen according to their respective
constitutions. Similarly, those on an appropriate diet and
regimen need to practice yoga regularly to remain healthy.
Ayurvedic
healing or treatment does not merely cover physical ills –
it regards an individual as a whole, looking not just at the
body but also the mind, the senses and the soul. As Yoga
mainly deals with strengthening and controlling of the mind
and the senses, it is a supplement to Ayurveda – a sister
discipline. Since mental problems keep plaguing modern
society, yogic knowledge proves very helpful in providing
psychological help. As all techniques/treatments of Yoga are
natural and don’t involve synthetic or chemical drugs, its
approach is similar to Ayurveda and its basic principles.
Often,
people look at Yoga either as a fitness routine or a religious
cult. Yoga, like Ayurveda, is also a complete way of life that
can be practiced by anyone anywhere in the world. Yoga has
today has evolved beyond a form of spirituality and has come
to be known as:
- A
cure for mental tension
- A
treatment of psychosomatic disorders
- A
physical medicine
- An
alternative and better form of physical exercise to keep
the body in shape
Although
Yoga deals with the mind, the soul and the body, in modern
times Yoga has evolved as a branch of medical science. Most of
the research on Yoga evaluates its physiological effects –
at the endocrinological, metabolic, neuro-physiological and
psychological levels. Alongside, its effect on human behavior
too has been perceptible under different conditions.
The achara
rasayana (code of conduct) described in Ayurveda is the
same as yama and niyama in Yoga. Both Yoga and
Ayurveda proclaim moksha (liberation from material
bondage) to be the ultimate goal of human life. Both
systems believe that the subtle and gross elements make up the
body and collaborate to effect natural healing. Ayurveda takes
care of morbid dosha-dhatu-mala while yoga suggests how
to keep the mind balanced in different situations. Sattvavajay,
which signifies healing the mind by increasing its purity, is one of the three main types of treatments mentioned in
Ayurveda and there is mention of use of Yoga techniques and
meditation to retain the healthy state of mind.
The
obvious conclusion is that both Ayurveda and Yoga need to be
practiced side by side to attain a state of complete health
and happiness. During my travels around the world in the past
years, I have met people practicing Yoga without a clue about
Ayurveda and vice-versa. I have noticed that such people were
not able to derive the complete benefits of either discipline,
practiced in isolation. The state of complete health and
happiness still eludes them – and will continue to do so, I
believe, unless they give up perceiving either of these as a
standalone healthcare system and learn to integrate the two
supplementary disciplines of Ayurveda and Yoga. The two are
like twins conjoined at birth – one cannot survive without
the other.
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