Ayurveda and Yoga

can be called sister sciences of 'self-healing and self-realization'. Both evolved from a Vedic background in ancient India, based on the same philosophy, sharing many practices. Ayurveda, the 'yogic form of healing', is aimed at bringing us back into synchronization with our true Self or Atman. Charak Samhita defines Ayurveda as the harmony of body, prana, mind and soul. Patanjali defines yoga as controlling the mind in order to realize the Purusha.

Ayurveda

deals more with the health of the body, while yoga deals with purifying the mind and consciousness, but in reality they complement and embrace each other.

Yoga and Ayurveda

are mutually sympathetic and offer many ways to prevent and heal various disorders as well as to cleanse and revitalize the body.

Yoga and Ayurveda are so closely related they are often looked at as two sides of one coin. In fact, Ayurveda is the healing side of Yoga, and Yoga is the spiritual side of Ayurveda. Together they encompass a complete approach to the well being of the body, the mind, and the spirit.

We say in Ayurveda that where there is harmony there is health, where there is disharmony there is ailment. Ayurveda and Yoga combine to lead a person on the path to perfect harmony and finest health.

The similarities between yoga and Ayurveda:

1. Both are ancient Vedic teachings. Yoga originates in the Yajur Veda, while Ayurveda originates in the Atharva Veda and Rig Veda.

2. Both recognize that keeping the body healthy is essential for satisfying the four aims of life: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).

3. Both recognize that the balance of doshas (tri doshas), dhatus (tissues), and malas (waste products) is vital for maintaining good health.
4. Both advocate the use of diet, herbs, asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, astrology, prayer and rituals for healing the entire being.

5. Both encourage physical health as a good foundation for mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

6. They both understand that the attachment to the body-mind complex is the root cause of all suffering 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.

7. Both use cleansing methods for the body, all of which encourage the removal of waste products and toxins through their natural routes of elimination. Ayurveda has panchakarma (five cleansing actions) and yoga uses Shat Karma (six purification measures).