Ayurveda and yoga are sister Vedic sciences that have been united for thousands of years in order to heal the body, mind and consciousness. Generally speaking, Ayurveda is more concerned with the health of the body, while yoga is concerned with purifying the mind and consciousness, but they actually complement and embrace each other.
The ancient rishis (seers) were the original teachers of all Vedic sciences. They understood that good health is a great asset on the path to self-realization. If the body is neglected, it can easily become an obstacle to spiritual practice. Anyone who has practiced meditation for any length of time would agree how difficult it can be to sit for long periods of time without feeling discomfort or fatigue. Both yoga and Ayurveda are mutually supportive and offer many ways to prevent and cure various disorders, as well as to cleanse and rejuvenate the body.
In addition to sharing a philosophical foundation, both systems have many similarities regarding attitude, nutrition, diet, hygiene, exercise, cleanliness practices, as well as spiritual practices. Traditionally, a yoga student would first live near the guru and serve him for many years, during which time he would learn healthy habits. Basic Ayurvedic principles for health and longevity were passed down the lineage orally to serve as the foundation for a life of sadhana (spiritual practice).
Today, the teachings of yoga are readily available to everyone, and whether we are prepared or not, we can jump headfirst into its practice. This has its blessings, in that more people can turn to the teachings, although much is often lost without the parampara, or close guidance at the feet of an accomplished teacher. With this in mind, modern yoga practitioners would surely benefit from a basic understanding of Ayurveda to help establish a healthy daily routine and adjust their practice according to constitution, dosha imbalance, season, etc., to prevent diseases and promote longevity.
First, let’s take a look at the similarities between yoga and Ayurveda:
* Both are ancient Vedic teachings. Yoga originates from the Yajur Veda, while Ayurveda originates from the Atharva Veda and the Rig Veda.
* Both recognize that keeping the body healthy is vital to fulfilling the four goals of life: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).
* Both recognize that the balance of doshas (humours), dhatus (tissues), and malas (waste products) is essential to maintaining good health.
* Both share virtually the same metaphysical anatomy and physiology, consisting of 72,000 nadis (subtle channels), 7 major chakras (energy centers), 5 body sheaths, and the Kundalini Shakti (energy).
* Both advocate the use of diet, herbs, asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, astrology, prayer, puja, and rituals to heal the whole being.
* Both promote physical health as a good foundation for mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
* Both share the same vision about psychology. Ayurveda encompasses all six major schools of philosophy, including the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Vedanta (a non-dual philosophical and spiritual path). They both understand that attachment to the body-mind complex is the root of all suffering and that the ultimate state of health is experienced when we remain in our true nature, which is total peace, regardless of the state of the physical body.
* Both use cleansing methods for the body, all of which encourage the elimination of waste products and toxins through their natural elimination routes. Ayurveda has panchakarma (five cleansing actions) and yoga uses Shat Karma (six cleansing actions).
Ayurvedic approach to asana practice
The use of asana, pranayama and meditation for healing is known as Yoga Chikitsa or Yoga Therapy and has been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic and Yogic adepts. In Yoga Chikitsa, a group of yogic exercises that will best support the individual are chosen and practiced on a daily basis. This can be done over an extended period of time in conjunction with an Ayurvedic regimen and dietary and herbal therapies. Yoga Chikitsa also plays an integral role in the Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation process known as panchakarma.
For a well-balanced personal yoga practice, it is important to take into account the individual’s body structure, prakruti (original constitution), and vikruti (current constitutional imbalance). The following are general recommendations according to the predominant dosha.
Vata-dominant people should remember to focus on calming, grounding, stillness, strengthening, and balancing while doing their practice.
Cautions for vata:
* Vinyasa or flow styles of yoga tend to move too quickly from one pose to the next and can aggravate vata’s hypermobile quality over time. Flow sequences can be made more vata-pacifying if they are not excessively long, the time the poses are held is extended, and transitions are made slowly and consciously.
* People with lower back problems may find that bending the knees when leaning forward can prevent discomfort.
* Backbends should be done slowly, carefully, and within your limits.
Pitta people should maintain a calm, cool and relaxed intention while doing asanas. Pitta types can benefit from trying to cultivate an attitude of forgiveness and surrender or offer the fruits of their practice to the divine or those in need of positive healing energy. Because the practice of asanas tends to generate heat in the body, they are best done in the cooler times of the day, such as dawn or dusk. Also, it’s helpful to emphasize poses that help release excess heat from the body, such as those that compress the solar plexus and those that open the chest.
Kapha types tend to be sedentary and often dislike vigorous exercise. For this reason, their practice should be energetic, comforting, light and stimulating, as long as they are physically able. Vinyasa or flow style of yoga is good for kapha because it is dynamic and moves quickly from one pose to the next, induces sweating and gets the heart pumping.
Yoga poses that address specific doshic problems can be easily added to an Ayurvedic regimen and integrated into an existing yoga routine, or organized as a small session with the help of an Ayurvedic practitioner who knows each individual case well and can help. to configure a well-balanced program according to the needs of each client.
Ayurveda also offers Yoga Chikitsa, or Yoga Therapy, for specific doshic disorders. It is recommended to consult an Ayurvedic doctor for an individualized regimen.
Ayurvedic approach to Pranayama (breathing techniques).
The ultimate goal of pranayama is to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. It also has a therapeutic effect on the physical body. It is not essential to practice pranayama according to dosha, but knowing its effects on the body is a valuable tool for managing the doshas. Below is a general list of pranayama and bandha exercises according to dosha.
Vata: Nadi Shodhana, Kapala Bhati, Agnisara Dhauti, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.
Pitta: Sheetali or Sitkari, Nadi shodhana.
Kapha: Bastrika, Agnisara Dhauti, Kapala Bhati, Ashvini Mudra (contract and release Mula Bandha), Ashvini Mudra, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.
Furthermore, the Four Purifications taught in our workshops is an ancient Ashtanga Yoga method of purifying the gross and subtle body in order to prepare it for more advanced practices. They are tridoshic and safe for everyone, as long as they are done correctly.
Meditation according to Dosha.
These spiritual paths and their meditation techniques can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their prakruti. This list is only meant to give an idea of how dosha can support or influence one’s spiritual practice. Many yoga traditions combine various aspects of the paths listed here.
* Vata: Kriya Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga and other structured techniques help keep vata stabilized and focused.
*Pitta: Jnana Yoga and Vedanta are good for pitta types because they often have keen intellects and have a keen interest in self-study (Atma-vichara).
* Kapha: Bhakti yoga is natural for kapha types because they are often loving and devoted by nature.
Ayurvedic and yogic diet.
Ayurveda is more concerned with food being constitutionally balanced, while yoga promotes a sattvic (light and pure) diet. A combination of both aspects is the best option for a yogi or anyone who wants to make real progress on a spiritual path.
Ayurvedic diet:
* According to dosha.
*Mainly vegetarian (meat is used as medicine, mainly for extreme deficiencies).
* Mostly cooked (raw foods in moderation, especially for vata types).
* Containing six tastes.
Yogic diet:
* Sattwi vegetarian diet.
* Easy to digest.
* Simple meals (to limit desire).
* Both cooked and raw.
* Recommended foods in Hatha Yoga Pradipika consist of rejuvenating substances like wheat, whole grain, white basmati, corn, raw milk, raw sugar, butter, ghee, honey, dried ginger, mung bean, pure water, vegetables.
* Fruits, roots and nuts.
* Avoid excess hot, acidic, salty, fermented and fried foods.
* Avoid tamasic (opaque) foods such as meat, onions, garlic and mushrooms as a regular part of the daily diet.
Cleaning in Yoga and Ayurveda.
Ayurveda and Yoga emphasize cleansing the body for health and the support of spiritual practices. Their methods are similar and work by expelling excess dosha and ama, or toxins, using the body’s natural elimination routes.
The yogic method is known in the Ashtanga tradition as Shat Karma, or six cleansing steps. These are:
1. Neti (nasal cleansing):
Jala neti (salt water wash of the sinuses).
Sutra neti (nasal cleaning with thread).
2. Dhauti (GI tract lavage).
Teeth, tongue, eyes, ears and forehead.
Agnisara Dhauti.
Vamana Dhauti (vomiting of salt water).
Vastra Dhauti (washed with a cloth).
Varisara Dhauti (washing with water to purge).
3. Basti (enema).
4. Trataka (washing forehead, contemplating the flame of a candle).
5. Nauli (bowel lavage, abdominal rolling).
6. Kapala Bhati (shining skull).
The Ayurvedic method of cleansing and rejuvenation is known as panchakarma (pancha karma), or five cleansing actions. This program is usually done for a week or two, but can also be done for longer periods on a case-by-case basis. The five actions of this method are:
1. Basti (Enema).
2. Nasya (nasal application of herbs and herbal oils).
3. Vamana (therapeutic vomiting).
4. Virechana (Purge).
5. Rakta Moksha (perfusion of blood).
It is obvious that Ayurveda and yoga are not only complementary. Both sciences actually embrace each other as they share similarities and fundamental principles on many levels. Ayurveda and yoga must go hand in hand if we want to achieve optimal health, peace and longevity.
