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Ayurveda and Yoga – Two Approaches To Life
Anu Marie Paavola on 19 August, 2010 | 
Ayurveda and yoga have a long history together. The Vedic culture, dating back thousands of years, gave birth to a set of sciences including (in addition to ayurveda and yoga) music, architecture and astrology. All these sciences share the same philosophical background and understanding of the cosmos; where the universe is understood as being one Self and the key to salvation is to find this Self within our hearts. Ayurveda and yoga provide us with the tools to let this happen. They are based on the world view provided by Samkhya philosophy, one of the shad darshanas (six philosophical systems) of the Hindu culture.
According to Samkhya philosophy ‘Reality’ is not what we experience in our daily life through our senses and minds. Instead, true reality is the Self, and the life/experience that we live is Maya (illusion). This illusion consists of the misunderstanding that each of us is a separate entity. Samkhya philosophy teaches us that we are all part of the one Self (called Brahman) and that the soul inside us, Atman, is the True Self. Atman is the part in us that exists beyond our life from birth to death. It is the most important component of our existence that provides us with consciousness. It is not different from the Self/Brahman, but is the Self lodging in our physical bodies throughout our physical existence. It is a part of the universal consciousness individualised in each of us. When the physical body dies the soul continues to live, taking another form depending on the karmic baggage the human being has accumulated during this and other lifetimes. All this means that the physical existence looses importance as being only a transitory stage in the cycle of rebirths.
The intention of our existence is to get out of this karmic cycle and achieve emancipation - the union with the Self. This liberation can be attained through training our minds to withdraw from the slavery of the senses and by stopping the fluctuations of the mind. Yoga has been designed for this purpose. It is a practical application of the Samkhya philosophy and shows precisely how to transcend the worldly existence and attain the true understanding of reality. With yoga the body, mind and senses are trained in a way to allow emancipation to occur. However, it is mostly the mind that yoga concentrates on. Theoretically, the liberation can be achieved without physical training of the body.
Even though physical postures and exercises are regarded as less important with regards to enlightenment, they are a much easier way to start up in the path of yoga. This is simply because they provide a more concrete way of starting to gain knowledge of our true Self. The connection between the body and mind is very intimate and they are constantly influencing one another. The healthier the body the healthier the mind, and vice versa. For many people, physical exercise is a more convenient starting point in the path of yoga than concentration; not to mention meditation, which can prove to be far too difficult for an untrained mind. This is why yoga asanas are the most well-known part of the yogic practices.
The practices of yoga are transcendental in character, and therefore spiritual. Of the three aspects of our existence (i.e. physical, mental and spiritual) the last two gain more importance. The aim of ayurveda is ultimately the same as that of yoga - the finding of our true Self. However, in ayurveda the main focus is on improving and prolonging our worldly life. Disease prevention, healing from disease and improving the resistance to disease are given precedence in ayurveda. It is therefore the physical and mental aspects that are more central. They give a solid basis for further spiritual growth. In contrast, the main focus of yoga is self-realisation; finding the true nature of our beings through spiritual practices. This is easier when the body is in an optimal condition, but is not an absolute prerequisite for emancipation.
The physical and mental aspects are more significant when it comes to practicing ayurveda. Out of the physical, mental and spiritual spheres the second is decisively the most important as all activities of the body are controlled by the mind which is ultimately the cause for all the misery we experience in our lives.
Ayurveda states that the cause of all disease is in the wrong use of the intellect, senses and time. The first two are under the influence of our mind. But time is something that cannot be controlled and to which the body has to submit to and eventually perish. Mind on the other hand can be controlled and, as it is responsible for most of our misfortunes, mental healing is considered to be the most important aspect in both the fields of yoga and ayurveda.
The two sister sciences are very compatible in nature. Whichever in mind, be it emancipation or physical healing, yoga and ayurveda can be applied together for better and faster results. Yoga shares all the notions of anatomy and physiology with ayurveda and is ayurvedic both in practice and theory. Ayurveda recognises the yamas and niyamas (the first two limbs of ashtanga yoga, which are the rules for social and personal conduct) as general guidelines for correct living. Ayurvedic lifestyle provides a healthy body and mind that are essential for spiritual growth. When healing from an ailment, yogic practices can be introduced along with the ayurvedic lines of treatment. In this way, yoga asanas and other techniques can be used for therapeutic purposes instead of spiritual growth. Caraka, Sushruta and other authorities of ayurveda often recommend yogic practices as part of the line of treatment. The eight limbs of yoga compliment well the ayurvedic healing or prevention therapies.
Due to the strong effect on the mind, the integration of yoga and ayurveda is beneficial especially when psychosomatic conditions are in question (e.g. chronic functional abdominal diseases like irritable bowel syndrome). The bowel is a part of the gastro-intestinal system, which is extremely sensitive to the functioning of the mind (brain-gut axis). Integrating ayurveda and yoga in the healing process can be extremely beneficial as they both regard a stable mind as a prerequisite for health; while at the same time emphasising different ends of the body-mind-spirit triad.
By Anu Marie Paavola
Anu is a qualified practitioner of ayurvedic medicine (B.Sc. Hons) in London. She gained practical experience while working in India in two ayurvedic hospitals and a private clinic of her teacher in the state of Karnataka. Anu came to Ayurveda through her yoga practice, which spanned over ten years of practicing and teaching Ashtanga yoga. Moreover she has studied yoga therapy in detail. Anu is able to harness yoga as a form of healing and integrates many yogic practices into patient treatment. Anu receives patients in Kensal Rise, West London, in her private clinic called Jivita Ayurveda. She also works as a therapist in Ayurveda Retreat in Reading. Anu writes on a regular basis articles on yoga and Ayurveda in a website in Finland and is active in the Ayurvedic Practitioners’ Association in UK.