In today’s fast-paced and stressful world, maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle has become more crucial than ever. Ayurveda and Yoga, two ancient practices rooted in our
culture, offer a holistic approach to wellness that encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Delving into the principles of Ayurveda and Yoga can be transformative, leading to improved health and overall happiness. This article aims to introduce these practices and
shedding light on their fundamental principles and benefits.
Ayurveda, translated as “The Science of Life,” is an ancient holistic system of medicine that originated thousands of years ago. It revolves around the belief that good health is achieved through a balance of three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Each dosha represents different elements and governs specific bodily functions. The unique constitution of an individual,
known as their Prakriti, determines their dominant dosha.
Definition of health as per Sushruta Samhita Ayurveda’s ancient texts which was written in 600 B.C.
समदोषः समाग्निश्च समधातुमलक्रि
(शुद्ध) हों उसे स्वस्थ समझिा चाहहए।
This sloka or Sanskrit verse is quoted from one of, ,
On a physical level, it defines a healthy person as someone whose doshas (mind-body constitution) are all in equilibrium, the (digestive) fire (agni) is in a balanced state, in addition to the body’s tissues (dhatus) and waste products (mala) being in balance. The quote also Inclides mental & spiritual wellbeing as it states that the mind (mana), sense organs (indriyas), and the person’s soul (atma) must be also in a pleasant state (prasanna).
When a person is balanced in all of those areas, he or she is considered healthy by Ayurvedic standards.
Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmony between the doshas to
promote overall health. Through diet, lifestyle modifications, herbal remedies, and therapies, Ayurveda aims to bring the imbalanced doshas back into equilibrium. Understanding one’s Prakriti and Vikriti (current doshic state) is vital for devising a personalized wellness plan.
The Ayurvedic approach to nutrition focuses on individualized diets that suit a person’s dosha and seasonal changes. The six tastes- sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent- play a significant role in balancing the doshas and promoting proper digestion.
Ayurveda encompasses various lifestyle practices, including daily routines (dinacharya) and seasonal regimens (ritucharya).
Whatever there is in the environment is also there in the human body.
These practices aim to sync an individual’s life with nature’s rhythms, fostering physical and mental well-being
Yoga is the union of mind, body, and spirit. The classical form of yoga described in the Yoga Sutras is Ashtanga Yoga. As the Sanskrit term “ashtanga” indicates, Patanjali envisioned an eight-fold path within the yogic discipline, these eight steps are Yama, Niyama, Asana,
Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.
