Yoga & Ayurveda Integration: A Holistic System

Yoga - the physical exercise, and Ayurveda- the science of life, are two branches of the same tree. They are two significant approaches that can lead to an overall state of physical and mental well-being. Both mainly focus on wellness as a way of life.
The practices of Yoga and Ayurveda are more than just physical poses and the use of medicinal plants. They encompass all aspects of your life, including the mind, body, and spirit. Both have developed in tandem with each other since ancient times.

However, in modern days, the two disciplines have evolved separately, particularly in the West, where Yoga has been practiced religiously without much focus on Ayurveda for a long time. Despite their essential unity, modern approaches often ignore their interrelationships.

Ayurvedic concepts, combined with Yoga, could provide a valid framework for personalized interventions to restore health. You know that Yoga is good for you, but how about the complementary healing discipline of Ayurveda? Let's discuss the two and how they can work together to promote optimal health and wellness.

Yoga and Ayurveda - the Connection

Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words - Ayur, meaning life, and Veda, which means science or knowledge. Therefore, Ayurveda is the study of life sciences. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word Yuj, which means union. This word refers to the union of body and mind for a healthy lifestyle.

Ayurveda promotes healing of both body and mind. Yoga helps you realize your true potential, which depends on a well-functioning body and mind. 

Ayurveda identifies three unique body types, known as doshas. Each of us has a unique combination of doshas that determines our Prakriti. When our doshas are out of balance—known as Vikriti—we can use yoga postures, Ayurvedic daily practices, and herbal formulations to correct this imbalance. 

Western medicine primarily focuses on symptoms rather than addressing their underlying cause. However, Ayurveda when combined with Yoga correct the cause and relieve the symptoms; this is true healing.

Bringing together Ayurveda and yoga practices can make it easier for you to find inner peace.

Holistic Approach

The philosophy of Ayurveda centers around knowing your body's constitution and making lifestyle changes accordingly. No one is the same, so each person has a unique constitution governed by physical and emotional makeup and lifestyle patterns. The practice of Ayurveda aims to achieve personlized approach to health and wellness.

Yoga uses a range of body movements, such as the execution of yoga asanas and pranayama, to calm the mind and reunite us with nature. Yoga helps us become more mindful, spend time with self and tune our minds to be less chaotic. It allows us to be healthier by mastering our breathing techniques and body movements.

Also some yoga poses addresses your dosha and helps balance them. For example, forward-bending yoga positions help calm your Pitta dosha. Backbend and twisting positions aid in balancing the Kapha dosha. Diverse yoga poses have different effects on the body and support maintaining a balance among the doshas and surrounding nature. 

Yoga when practiced along with Ayurveda, stress the importance of being in tune with your body and using natural remedies to achieve health.

When you combine both disciplines, it will take your sense of well-being to another level.

Why Your Practice of Yoga should Begin Along with Ayurveda?

Both Yoga and Ayurveda are a part of the Indic wisdom, which promotes holistic wellness. But, over time, Yoga has evolved into a discipline, while Ayurveda had become fringe science reduced to ancient herbology.

We all have different needs, so addressing each person's unique situation is essential. We can't just follow a one-size-fits-all approach—we have to consider the specific needs of each individual.

According to Ayurveda, the three doshas that make up our bodies are Vata (air and ether), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water and earth). These determine our "mind-body type," or dosha Prakriti, related to our specific requirements for food, herbs, exercise, and lifestyle.

The Ayurvedic perspective on disease is that sometimes the cause lies in the mind. When you remove the factors of mental activity you can achieve emotional happiness and peace of mind. Yoga similarly emphasizes spiritual development as a foundation for meditation.

Ayurveda is one of the most earliest form of personlized wellness and a system of natural healing. A strong understanding of Ayurveda can help you determine the best yoga practices for yourself and put your practice on a firm footing. You can take better care of yourself by addressing the three doshas and their variations within and around you. 

Ayurveda embraces all aspects of yoga and meditation, particularly its psychological therapies.

Using Ayurveda and Yoga can help you understand how your body and mind work so that you can live in harmony with yourself and the world.

Ayurveda and Yoga as a Complete Lifestyle

In modern times, most of you are under stress due to the demands of a fast-paced lifestyle. Stress can harm your health, happiness, and inner sense of well-being. Additionally, increased pollution and the use of chemicals in everyday products also contribute to degenerative diseases that reduce your lifespan.

Hence, Ayurveda therapies and yoga poses become necessary to rejuvenate the complete body system. It is believed to help in preventing various lifestyle diseases.

In order to lead a healthy and disease-free life, one should follow the dos and don'ts of yoga and Ayurveda. The panchakarma therapy in Ayurveda and Shat karma of yoga can be great ways to cleanse our body channels, heal damaged tissue, and maintain the body's subtle energy flow.

Closing Thoughts

The ultimate goal in Ayurveda is to balance the doshas. Ayurveda and Yoga are complementary philosophies that are meant to work together. Combining them with one another will help you notice your body's needs and understand your mind's thoughts better, so you can meet all of the needs within yourself. Yoga & Ayurveda as a holistic system ultimately benefit you with a more fulfilling life, and harmony with nature, the universe, and your spirit.

Click here to watch our "Rejuvenate and Recharge yourself with Yoga" playlist on Youtube, where we present some simple and basic Yoga Poses that may help serve some common health issues.