Ayurveda and Yoga are two holistic healing systems with over a century’s gathered knowledge for balancing the human mind, spirit and body; which will be discussed in this essay. Ayurveda is a whole and complete healing system which examines a person’s dosha constitution, to help identify potential causes of illness and imbalance. Yoga is an older practice, which aims to still the mind and create awareness of the body through postures known as asanas. Ayurvedic medicine incorporates Yoga as one of the methods used for cleansing, balancing and maintaining the body’s natural health. Each system is powerful as a stand-alone technique in manifesting optimum health, and due to their similar philosophies on health and disease they are effective when used together.
Ayurvedic Medicine has its beginnings marked over 3000 years ago (Vyas & Warren, 2000, p.12). Knowledge was passed down from 52 Indian sages, known as the Rishis, who wished to bring about the end of illness on the earth (Vyas & Warren, 2000, p.4-5). Their knowledge was transmitted verbally from teacher to student for thousands of years, until it was transcribed in Sanskrit as poetry (Lad, 1990, p.21). The first text created, recorded the principles of the Ayurvedic system and is known as the ‘Charaka Samhitta’ (Godagama, 2001, p.19). In 1500BC, nomads traveling from Central Asia brought Yoga, a practise involving knowledge on how to still the mind and control the body with them to the Indian sub-continent. That’s boasting approximately 3500 years of knowledge. (Schops, 2010, p.6-12).
Considering that both of these ancient therapies have survived history and continue to be practiced today is a testimony to their effectiveness. Time has only embellished the evolution of the practices through innovative technology and philosophies. Ayurvedic medicine is presently considered “complementary” medicine in most Western countries however; it is still widespread in India, with an estimated 80 percent of the population using it exclusively, or analogous to western medicine (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2009). The Indian government continues to fund research in the area with access to modern techniques and equipment (Dash, 1975, p.18). However, it is Yoga that has truly undergone rapid transformation. Yogi’s have developed different styles and methods of practicing Yoga, promising to rapidly develop specific benefits. Hatha Yoga developed (800-1200AD) helps one achieve enlightenment through training the body (Schops, 2010, p.13). Kundalini Yoga (1930-2004) aims to target the snake energy resting in a person’s base chakra, helping it to rise and eliminate blocks in the body. Bikram Yoga (1946) is done in a heated room briskly detoxing the body.
Ayurveda is a way of living (Ayu) meaning living and (Veda) meaning science or knowledge. Together the words mean “The Science of life” (Dash, 1975, p.v). It is a holistic healing system that treats the mind, body and spirit as one. Ayurveda’s philosophy on health, is the oldest example of “prevention is better than cure”. Instead of focusing on illness, Ayurveda prevents the body from falling out of balance through treatments such as detoxification (Panchakarma), and purification (Rasayana). This spirited balance allows development of trust in the body’s natural intelligence, aiding interpretation of symptoms to develop an evolved sense natural vitality (Vyas & Warren, 2000, p.6). Ayurveda and Yoga both employ this philosophy, which is why Yoga is stressed as part of the Ayurvedic way of life. Yoga focuses on bringing the mind body and spirit into balance, through asanas, controlled breathing and meditation. Once all stress is relieved and poses can be held with ease all obstacles in the way of achieving peace of mind have been removed (Schops, 2010, p.6).
Universal consciousness is the very heart of Ayurvedic medicine, its manifestation through the elements should work together in balance within the body to generate optimum health and vitality. Yoga also adopts a similar view, teaching that well-being results in clear perception, and conscious (Schops, 2010, p.6). Ayurveda communicates that, accumulated toxins (ama) are the root of all disease (Lad, 1990, p.40). Allowing the body to naturally heal by producing and excreting waste products: such as urine, feces, and sweat at normal levels prevent this accumulation (Lad, 1990, p.37) Yoga speeds up the process of eliminating toxins from the physical and energetic body, allowing energy to run freely through the energy channels and major energy centres (chakras) (Schops, 2010, p.33). This is why Ayurvedic medicine and Yoga are effective alternatives to pharmacological cures, because they prevent the build-up of toxins that lead to disease in the first place (Dash, 1975, p.viii)
Yoga is one of the many modalities harnessed in Ayurvedic medicine to bring about balance, unity and purity of the body. Their similar philosophies on balance, and unity make them ideal in working together to establish a sense of well-being. Both Ayurveda and Yoga acknowledge the energy centres in our body. They also testify to the fact that our bodies cannot run as smoothly when there is energy centres that are blocked, or have built up (ama) within them. Through their own methods, they both decrease the body’s toxins; providing an ideal way of living that prevents unrest.
Health is the body’s natural state, and should not be difficult to maintain, or impossible to achieve without the intervention of drugs that we have only recently created. We are entitled to health; it is our natural state where we encompass abundant energy to bring our ideas and dreams into full actualised reality despite all the negativity and hardships we may encounter along the way. When a balance of energy is maintained in our body, we have the mental clarity to rid old, and unwanted patterns in our life that no longer serve our life purpose; allowing for the new to enter. It is only when we become unbalanced and blocked that we allow disease to take over the bodies systems that are innately equipped to deal with most bacteria and infections.
Ayurveda and Yoga are one of the many holistic healing systems that allow a person to keep their own mental, spiritual and physical health in check. When the self is known, Ayurveda and Yoga certainly provide the tools to apply to ourselves in a way that increases vitality, well-being, motivation while decreasing your likelihood of falling into a state of low energy and negativity. Using Ayurvedic methods to calculate your own constitution, allows you to placate the over or underactive energies in your body. Yoga will aid in releasing emotional blocks through breath and postures; eventually leading to a quiet mind that is capable of great intelligence and quality of thought. By balancing yourself through incorporating these techniques into your regime, you will bring about your natural charisma eventually awakening your innate potential.
References
Dash, V.B1975, Ayurveda For Mother & Child, Dehli Diary, New Dehli.Godagama, S 2001, The Handbook of Ayurveda, Kyle Cathe Limited, London.
Lad, V 1990, Ayurveda: The science of Self-Healing, Lotus Press, WI
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 1998, Ayurvedic Medicine: An Introduction 2009, viewed 24 January 2013
<http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ayurveda/introduction.htm>.
Schops, I 2010, Yoga, Paragon Books, United Kingdom.
Vyas, B & Warren, J 2000, Simply Ayurveda: Discover Your Type to Transform Your Life, Harper Collins, London.
Join my new Facebook page for frequent posts and updates
on my journey towards becoming a healer.
Enjoy updates on healthy food, positive-living,
energy medicine, books to read, and style
Enjoy updates on healthy food, positive-living,
energy medicine, books to read, and style
0 comments:
Post a Comment