Two of the most ancient Indian concepts, Yoga and Ayurveda, have a rich history of working hand in hand for generations. Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest healing systems, with over 5000 years of Vedic knowledge.
In addition to basic medicines and healing rituals, Yoga is also heavily detailed in Ayurveda as one of the most healing practices for the mind, body, and soul. While Yoga is the science of spiritualization and self-realization, Ayurveda is the science of healing, the facilitator of Yoga.
History of Yoga
Over 5,000 years ago, the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India created the very first variations of Yoga. Yoga was first mentioned in the Rig Veda, the oldest sacred text. The Vedas were a collection of texts that included songs, mantras, and rituals for use by Brahmans, or Vedic priests, and Yoga Asanas were a major aspect of them.
Over a thousand years ago, the banks of the Himalayan lake Kantisarovar first saw the inception of Yoga as the first Yogi Adiyogi imparted his profound knowledge to the legendary Saptarishis, or “seven sages.”
This knowledge of potent yogic science and Asanas that have the ability to heal the mind and body, was spread by the sages throughout the world, including Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa, and South America.
Yoga or Ayurveda, What came first ?
When you look at the ancient Vedas, both Ayurveda and Yoga seem to have originated around the same time, among the same set of teachings.
Ayurveda and Yoga work together, yet are two very distinct sciences that have the same Vedic roots.
Although some people believe that Yoga originated before Ayurveda, and Ayurveda simply adopted Yoga into itself, it is more likely that these two sciences originated as two different branches in the same set of teachings in the Vedas.
What is the Relationship Between Yoga and Ayurveda?
Although they are two distinct sciences, Ayurveda and Yoga have shared the same Vedic roots for thousands of years and have been intertwined in promoting a healthier mind, body, and soul.
Ayurveda and Yoga have a symbiotic relationship, each helping the other to enhance its own benefits. Ayurveda is the science of healing and Yoga is the science of spirituality.
Together, Ayurveda and Yoga form a super combination of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. Ayurveda has adopted a number of Yoga Asanas that have a variety of medical benefits, while Yoga has adopted Ayurveda to enhance the benefits of each asana.
Together, Yoga and Ayurveda work by diet and exercise, nutrition, attitudes, lifestyle changes, and hygiene. Both these sciences advocate and promote a healthier way of life, and use each other in almost every aspect.
Benefits of Ayurveda
“Life (aayu) is the combination (samyoga) of body, senses, mind, and reincarnating soul. Ayurveda is the most sacred science of life, beneficial to humans both in this world and the world beyond”. – CHARKA
The lines by CHARKA explain Ayurveda is holistic. It focuses on three main personality characteristics and body types of an individual namely Vatta, Pitta, and Kapha. It diagnoses your body type and then works on it. The sattvic approach recommended by Ayurveda nurtures the mind, body, and soul. It is recognized for the natural healing ways that work on the illness and enhance the general wellness of body and mind.
Some Lifelong Benefits of Adopting Ayurveda Include
below are some major benefits that you will see once you adopt Ayurveda in your daily life
1. Weight Loss
Ayurveda focuses on eating habits. Correct dietary restrictions allow the body to detox which sheds the excess weight. It fulfills your nutritional needs along with providing a toned body.
2. Lively And Vibrant Skin & Hair
Consumption of fresh and organic food help you achieve glowing skin and healthy hair without spending on expensive clinical treatments. A balanced meal, toning exercises, and ayurvedic supplements together provide you with healthy skin and scalp.
3. Adieu To Stress
In this fast-paced lifestyle, a little time for Ayurveda will promise you reduced stress and anxiety. Regular practice of meditation, yoga, herbal treatments, massages, and breathing exercises allows you to calm down, detoxify, and rejuvenate your body.
4. Reduce Inflammation
Unhealthy eating habits, irregular sleep patterns, bad digestion can lead to inflammation. When you begin to eat as per your dosha type, the digestive system strengthens. The right food at right time reduces toxins in the blood. This results in increased vitality, high energy, and a decrease in mood swings and lethargy.
5. Cleanse The Body
Oil massages, body letting, purgation, enemas, and oral administration are panchakarma that eliminates all toxins from the body. The cleansed body is the first step towards overall healthy living.
6. Fewer Diseases
Ayurveda offers a multitude of herbs, vitamins, minerals, and proteins which reduces plaque buildup. Plaque is the root cause of Blood pressure, Cholesterol, and fat in arteries. Ayurveda helps to overcome these and boost your immunity.
7. Provides A Full Circle Philosophy
Its health benefits will positively impact your mind, body, and soul. It will make you feel how healing begins from within. The human body, the beautiful creation of nature has immense potential to regenerate cells. The light and energy within you will make you realize that you are much deeper than your skin.
8. Improves The Quality Of Life
Ayurveda when adopted in its entirety brings a wave of general well-being in your life. The blend of exercise, meditation, adequate sun exposure, active lifestyle, healthy diet as a holistic approach results in a healthy body, and a happier soul.
Benefits of Yoga
“Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. The better you practice the brighter you flame.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
Yoga our very own origin is a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that heal our body and soul. Yoga is not just an exercise. Its a move towards experiential reality to know the ultimate nature of existence.
The Numerous Benefits of Yoga Include
Benefits of Yoga are well-known. Yoga provides you with a healthy lifestyle, boosts the immune system, calms the mind, and heals the soul.
1. Flexibility
Regular yoga practice makes your body flexible. Stretching brings a greater range of motion to tighter areas. The difficult yoga poses to become a child’s play when yoga becomes a part of your routine.
2. Muscle Strength
When you bear your body weight on arms, balance on one leg, and holding pose for several breathes strengthens your muscles. Strong muscles protect us from arthritis and back pain. With yoga when muscle strength is built with flexibility, the long-term results are obvious.
3. Stress Buster
The concentration required in yoga keeps your troubles at a distance. Yoga eases stress and promotes relaxation by reducing the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol. Reduced stress improves the quality of life and mental health.
4. Improved Stamina
Respiratory and cardiovascular functions are revamped by regular yoga practice. It pumps a huge amount of energy flow in the body. This increases the overall stamina.
5. Energizes Your Body
Improved blood circulation and increased inhalation of oxygen boost the energy level in the body. It removes fatigue, dizziness, and soreness in the body.
6.Healthy Lifestyle
Pranayam, meditation, asanas get you moving and burning calories. When one observes changes in the body, the healthy eating habits emerge automatically. Better sleep improved mental health and a nutritional diet head you to a healthy lifestyle.
7. Delay Aging
Muscle strength, flexibility along with proper blood circulation, and detoxification of the body delay aging. You tend to be more energetic and active.
8. Better Breathing
Breathing is something we never focus on. During pranayams, our breathing capacity extends which benefits the entire body. The increased flow of oxygen in the body clears the nasal passages, clam nervous system which is beneficial on and off the mat.
9. Improves Posture
Improved body posture is the result of regular yoga. Different asanas strengthen the spine and tones muscles. You tend to feel more confident with improved body postures.
FAQS
1. What Can I Drink At Night Ayurveda?
According to Ayurveda, the best thing to drink at night before going to bed is a glass of Milk. It is also termed as ‘Moon Milk’, to signify that it should be taken at night.
Drinking a glass of warm milk at night alleviates stress, anxiety, and insomnia. For added benefits, you can add Ayurvedic herbs like Ashwagandha for improved memory and sleep quality.
2. How many types of food are there in Ayurveda?
There are three major food groups and six major tastes in Ayurveda. The three major food groups are Sattvic food, Rajasic food, and Tamasic food. The six major tastes are sweet, salt, astringent, pungent, bitter, and sour.
Sattvic food is eaten for calmness and longevity. Rajasic food is for people who require energy and drive. Tamasic food is eaten for peace of mind and essential energy.
3. Can Ayurveda Help you Lose Weight?
For thousands of years, Ayurveda has targeted weight loss and has been successful due to its thoroughness.
In Ayurveda, obesity is referred to as Sthoulyam. According to Ayurveda, there is an imbalance in digestive fire (Agni) and toxins (Ama), which disrupts fatty tissue metabolism (Medo Dhatu).
For thousands of years, Ayurveda and Yoga have formed the foundation of Indian culture, imparting a vast amount of knowledge to facilitate the growth, development and healing of the spiritual, mental, and physical aspects of the human body. Forming a symbiotic relationship of healing and spirituality, Yoga and Ayurveda are intertwined to form the ultimate combination of medicinal and spiritual values.
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Let’s Make Yoga a Routine & Ayurveda a Habit
Bring Yoga and Ayurveda into your life and discover a new you. Adopt these healing disciplines and it will lead you to the state of self-realization and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. So tap into the power of Yoga and Ayurveda and get rooted in healthy and everlasting habits of overall wellbeing.