For more information on Ayurveda and Yoga visit our websitehttp://vedamayurherba

ls.com or contact us at info@vedamayurherbals.com SYNERGY AYURYOGA Although Yoga

and Ayurveda are two different Vedic traditions, one is incomplete without the
other. If Ayurveda heals the physical body, Yoga heals and purifying the mind an
d the consciousness. Both the sciences complement and embrace each other. The an
cient rishis (seers) were the original masters of all Vedic sciences. They reali
zed that good health is an asset on the path of Self-realization. If the physica
l body is neglected it can easily become an obstacle to spiritual practice. One
cannot sit still for long time to perform meditation if his physical body is not
healthy. So both Yoga and Ayurveda works in a synergistic way where ayurveda pr
events and heals various disorders and cleanse and rejuvenate the body, yoga int
roduces him with his inner self. Not only their philosophies are same but they p
ropound some similar practices too. Both the systems require same kind of attitu
de. They practice similar rules of nutrition, hygiene, exercise, cleansing and s
piritual teaching. Both the sciences were being taught in the Gurukul System whe
re a deciple was required to take care of entire premises and does all the work
of his Guru (The Teacher).Guru used to teach him all the lessons of life, health
and spirituality according to his caliber, while performing their daily works.
Life was very strict and disciplined inside a Gurukula.Later these disciplines a
nd hardships of life used to serve as a foundation for a life of Sadhana (spirit
ual practices). Nowadays, the teachings of Yoga are easily available to all. Peo
ple start practicing it without proper preparation, discipline and even without
checking their caliber. This has some positives, in the sense that more people c
an be turned on to its teachings, although much is often lost without the paramp
ara, or close guidance of an accomplished master. Knowledge of ayurveda can solv
e this problem. The principles of ayurveda if propagated and practiced as a dail
y routine, will bring the required disciplines among followers .Knowledge of the
ir basic body constitution and doshic dominance will tell them their needs and c
apabilities. First, let s take a look at the similarities between Yoga and Ayurveda:
* Both are ancient Vedic teachings and cultural and spiritual heritage of India
. * Both recognize that keeping the body healthy is vital for fulfilling the fou
r aims of life: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (libera
tion). * Both recognize that the balance of doshas (humors), dhatus (tissues), a
nd malas (waste products) is essential for maintaining a good health. * Both sha
re virtually the same metaphysical anatomy and physiology, which consists of 72,
864 nadis (subtle channels), 7 main chakras (energy centers), 5 bodily sheaths,
and the Kundalini Shakti (energy). * Both advocate the use of diet, herbs, asana
, pranayama, meditation, mantra, astrology, prayer, puja, and rituals for healin
g the entire being. * Both encourage physical health as a good foundation for me
ntal, emotional, and

spiritual well-being. * Both share the same view on psychology. Ayurveda embrace
s all six of the main schools of philosophy including the Yoga Sutras of Patanja
li and Vedanta (a nondual philosophical and spiritual path). They both understan
d that the attachment to the body-mind complex is the root cause of all sufferin
g and that the ultimate state of health is experienced when we abide in our true
nature, which is total peace, regardless of the state of the physical body. * B
oth use cleansing methods for the body, all of which encourage the removal of wa
ste products and toxins through their natural routes of elimination. Ayurveda ha
s Panchakarma (five cleansing actions) and Yoga uses Shat Karma (six purificatio
n measures). Cleansing in Yoga and Ayurveda Ayurveda and Yoga both emphasize cle
ansing of the body for health and support of spiritual practices. Their methods
are similar and work by expelling excess dosha and ama or toxins, using the body
's natural routes of elimination. The yogic method as known in the Ashtanga trad
ition is Shat Karma, or six cleansing measures. These are: 1. Neti (nasal cleans
ing) Jala neti (salt water flushing of the sinuses) Sutra neti (nasal cleaning w
ith string) 2. Dhauti (washing the GI tract) Teeth, tongue, eyes, ears and foreh
ead Agnisara Dhauti Vamana Dhauti (vomiting salt water) Vastra Dhauti (washing w
ith a cloth) Varisara Dhauti (washing with water for purgation) 3. Basti (enema)
4. Trataka (forehead wash, gazing into a candle flame) 5. Nauli (intestinal was
hing, abdominal rolling) 6. Kapala Bhati (skull shining)
The Ayurvedic method for cleansing and rejuvenation is known as Panchakarma, or
five cleansing actions. This program is usually done for a week or two, but can
also be done for longer periods depending on the case. The five actions of this
method are: 1. Anuvasana Basti (Enema) 2. Asthapana Basti 3. Nasya (Nasal applic
ation of herbs and herbal oils) 4. Vamana (Therapeutic vomiting) 5. Virechana (P
urgation)

Some add Rakta Mokshana (Blood letting) as one more cleansing procedure.
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 tho
usands of years by Ayurvedic and yogic adepts. In Yoga Chikitsa, a group of yogi
c exercises are chosen that will best support the individual and are practiced d
aily. This can be done over an extended period of time in conjunction with an Ay
urvedic regime and herbal and dietary therapies. Yoga Chikitsa also plays an int
egral role in the Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation process known as panchaka
rma. For a well balanced personal yoga practice, it is important to take into co
nsideration the individual s body structure, prakruti (original constitution), and v
ikruti (present constitutional imbalance). The following are general recommendat
ions according to the predominant dosha. Vata predominant individuals should rem
ember to focus on calming, grounding, stillness, strengthening, and balancing wh
ile doing their practice. Precautions for vata: * Flowing postures (not to stay
in one posture for long instead doing quickly and repeatedly to initiate) tend t
o move too quickly from one pose to the next and can aggravate the hyper-mobile
quality of vata over time. Flowing sequences can be made to be more vata pacifyi
ng if they are not excessively long, the duration of time, poses are held is ext
ended and transitions are done slowly and consciously. Pitta individuals should
maintain a calm, cool, and relaxed intention while doing asanas. Pitta types may
benefit from trying to cultivate an attitude of forgiveness, and of surrenderin
g or offering the fruits of their practice to the divine or to those who are in
need of a positive healing energy. Because asana practice tends to generate heat
in the body, it is best to do them at cooling times of the day, such as dawn or
dusk. Also, it is useful to place some emphasis on poses that help to release e
xcess heat from the body, such as poses that compress the solar plexus and poses
that open the chest like. Kapha types tend to be sedentary and often dislike vi
gorous yogic practices. For this reason, their practice should be energetic, war
ming, lightening, and stimulating, providing they are physically capable. Flow s
tyle posture is good for Kapha because it is dynamic and moves quickly from one
pose to the next, it induces sweating and gets the heart pumping. Yoga poses tha
t address specific doshic problems can be easily added to an Ayurvedic regime an
d integrated into an existing yoga routine, or they can be organized as a small
session with the help of an Ayurvedic clinician who knows each individual case w
ell and can help set up a well balanced program according to the needs of each c
lient. Ayurveda also offers Yoga Chikitsa, or Yoga Therapy, for specific doshic
disorders. It is advised to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for an individuali
zed regime. Ayurvedic Approach to Pranayama, Bandha and Mudra (breathing techniq
ues, locks and mudra)

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 as well. It is not essen
tial to do a pranayama practice according to dosha, but knowing its effects on t
he body, is a valuable tool for management of the doshas. Below is a general lis
t of pranayama and bandha exercises according to dosha. Vata: Nadi Shodhana, Kap
ala Bhati, Agnisara Dhauti, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra. Pitta: Sheetali or S
itkari, Nadi Shodhana. Kapha: Bastrika, Agnisara Dhauti, Kapala Bhati, Ashvini M
udra (contracting and releasing Mula Bandha), Ashvini Mudra, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha,
Maha Mudra. Furthermore, the Six Purifications (Shatkarma) told earlier is an a
ncient method from the Hath Yoga for purifying the gross and subtle body in orde
r to prepare it for more advanced practices. They are tridoshic and safe for eve
ryone, provided they are performed correctly. Meditation According to Dosha Thes
e spiritual paths and their meditation techniques can be practiced by anyone, re
gardless of their prakriti. This list is only intended to give an idea of how do
sha can support or influence one s spiritual practice. Many traditions of Yoga blend
various aspects of the paths listed here. * Vata: Kriya Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga a
nd other structured techniques help to keep vata stabilized and focused. * Pitta
: Jnana Yoga and Vedanta are good for pitta types because they often have sharp
intellects and have a keen interest in self-study (Atma-vichara). * Kapha: Bhakt
i Yoga is natural for Kapha types because they are often loving and devotional b
y nature. Ayurvedic and Yogic Diet Ayurveda is more concerned with food being co
nstitutionally balanced, while Yoga promotes a diet that is satvik (light and pu
re). A combination of both aspects is the best choice for a yogi or anyone wanti
ng to make real progress on a spiritual path. Ayurvedic diet: * According to dos
ha. * Primarily vegetarian (meat is used as medicine, mainly for extreme deficie
ncies). * Primarily cooked (raw food in moderation, especially for vata types).
* Containing six tastes. Yogic diet: * * * * * Satvik vegetarian diet. Easy to d
igest. Simple meals (to limit desire). Both cooked and raw. Foods recommended in
the Hatha Yoga Pradipika consist of rejuvenating substances

such as wheat, whole grain, white basmati, corn, raw milk, raw sugar, butter, gh
ee, honey, dried ginger, mung, beans, pure water, and vegetables. * Fruits, root
s and nuts. * Avoiding excessive hot, sour, salty, fermented, and fried foods. *
Avoiding tamasic (dulling) foods like meat, onions, garlic and mushrooms as a r
egular part of the daily diet. It is obvious that Ayurveda and Yoga not only com
plement each other but both sciences actually embrace each other as they share s
imilarities of fundamental principles on many levels. Ayurveda and Yoga should g
o hand in hand if we want to achieve optimal health, peace, and longevity. For m
ore information on Ayurveda and Yoga visit our websitehttp://vedamayurherbals.co
m or contact us at info@vedamayurherbals.com