The Relation Between Yoga And Ayurveda

 

Yoga and Ayurveda are related to each other in so many ways since both are parts of the ancient Vedic system. Ayurveda, as one of the four secondary Vedic teachings, deals with healing. Meanwhile, Yoga, one of the six Vedic philosophy systems, deals with spiritual practice. Though both serve different purposes, Yoga and Ayurveda can be used as a combination to provide an even better holistic healing. In fact, most of the ayurvedic treatments incorporate Yoga to improve the efficacy of the treatment. Further, the connection between Yoga and Ayurveda can be well established through three aspects, their origin, fundamentals, and objectives.

Origin
Both Ayurveda and Yoga are of Indian origin and dates back thousands of years. Originated around the same time in the same region, both are based on the Vedic systems prevalent at the time. It is believed that Ayurveda and Yoga emerged in ancient India during the Indus valley civilization and the Vedic period. As a result, both follow almost similar principles though the end goals vary. Further, despite being thousands of years old, both are still widely practiced around the world.

Fundamentals
Ayurveda considers the various elements that make up the human body when performing treatments. Besides, the doshas Vata, Pitta, and Kapha present in the body are assessed for imbalances. According to Ayurveda, imbalances in the doshas are the primary reason for diseases. So it emphasizes balancing the doshas that led to a condition in the first place. Restoring dosha imbalance involves ayurvedic treatments as well as modifying diet and lifestyle. Since Ayurveda is a holistic medicine, it focuses on the mind and soul as well, apart from the body.

Likewise, Yoga also accounts for the same principles as Ayurveda, such as the holistic approach and balancing the doshas. However, Yoga is more of spirituality than healing as in Ayurveda. Practicing Yoga helps you establish a connection between your body, mind, and soul and thus improve consciousness in every aspect. Yoga consists of eight limbs Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, each with various goals. For instance, Asana and Pranayama are often used but not limited to along with ayurvedic treatments. Asana can be referred to as external medicine as it treats problems with the musculoskeletal system. And Pranayama is a kind of internal medicine since it deals with the respiratory system.

Objectives
Ultimately, the objective of Ayurveda as well as Yoga is to prevent diseases, balance doshas, and maintain a wholesome life. Both methods, through their holistic approaches, ensure that you are physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy. Still, individually the final goal of Yoga is spirituality, and Ayurveda is healing. Ayurveda without Yoga will be confined to just healing, and Yoga without Ayurveda will be limited to spirituality. Thus, integrating both the traditional methods aids in unleashing the full potential of Ayurveda and Yoga. To conclude, Ayurveda and Yoga together can be beneficial in treating so many illnesses naturally as both are interrelated and based on Vedic knowledge.