Yoga: An Essential Part of Ayurveda
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Vedic culture, from across time, continues to pervade through our modern way of life in a multitude of ways. Whether in yoga classes across the globe or on your dinner plate with its delicate concoctions, the ancient Indian way of life seems to inform even the most contemporary of choices. Of these, Yoga- the ancient Indian discipline of mental and physical exercises aimed at gaining spiritual enlightenment- and Ayurveda- the ancient Indian system of natural medicine are especially popular with Yogis and Ayurvedic doctors found in abundance in pretty much every corner of the world. The wisdom of these two streams of ancient wisdom and consciousness have survived centuries of change, discovery and evolution to find their place in our lives even today. While we revel in the gifts these two streams bring however, we might miss out on even greater reality at play- that both Yoga and Ayurveda are like two facets of a singular diamond and are deeply interconnected. Infact you could say that Yoga is an essential part of Ayurveda, while the latter is the ideal companion to complement the former. Both Yoga and Ayurveda, while emanating from and credited to different authors (or sages), are based on common ancient Vedic philosophies. As such therefore, they both seek to bring a common goal- a connection and balance between the individual and the universe they inhabit, not merely in a physical sense, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. Infact these two streams stand testament to the most fascinating aspect of ancient Vedic wisdom and lifestyle. The Vedic system, unlike many others, celebrates differences instead of preaching a singular doctrine. While recognizing universal truths, the Vedic system recognizes that these truths
may translate into different purposes, temperaments, lifestyles and paths, varying thus from one person to another in expression. Therefore instead of creating just one way to access balance, inner harmony, peace or enlightenment, the Vedic system dwells in multiplicity, offering many a pathway to the same goal. This makes for a holistic and all-encompassing strategy and way of living, where each step and aspect is in alignment with a singular philosophy. Whether it came to food, exercise, education, music or medicine- a singular truth gave birth to a number of different works and volumes of information. Thus, whether we realize it or not, Yoga and Ayurveda are deeply interlinked. Both these systems align with Sankhya philosophy and align in their understanding of the relationship between mind, body and spirit. Both accept the premise of the five elements and recommend periodic detoxification and cleansing. Infact there are overlaps too to be found here. Ayurveda recommends certain Yoga postures, breathing exercises and meditations as supportive treatments, while Yoga prescribes the fasting methods and preventive medicine extolled by Ayurveda. To think of and practice one without the other would thus limit the benefits one observes. Exercising and following both may not always be possible in the modern age in your part of the world, but an awareness of the basic principles too can go a long way to helping you further integrate the core philosophies into your life.