Yoga and Ayurveda – two sister sciences

Both teachings – yoga and Ayruveda – are Vedic, or Old Indian, teachings. They are elements of a larger value system that points out that using both sciences simultaneously is the way to fully benefit life.

For many years, yoga and Ayurveda were regarded in Poland as a niche fad that could be compared to the practice of tai chi or Chinese medicine. An ancient system of life sciences, probably originated 4000 – 6000 BC, passed down from generation to generation and written down in the ancient Hindu Vedas , now forms the basis of the knowledge of the Ayurvedic way of caring for health in all aspects of human life: at the level of the physical body, the senses, the mind and the soul. These four aspects sustain the flow of the life force – prana – in the body.
IThe essence of Ayurveda is to impart knowledge on how to maintain the balance between body, mind, senses and soul, and to describe the adverse and beneficial ways of living that lead to happiness. This concept, based largely on understanding of the principles on which the universe and the human organism function, implies an awareness of human responsibility for one’s own life and health. It brings with it the opportunity to become one’s own healer.
In times of health care crisis and limitations of modern western medicine – invaluable ???? .
CThe aim of Ayurveda is first and foremost prevention i.e. making those who are healthy stay healthy. Here, the holistic approach to health manifests itself in recommendations on diet and nutrition, hygiene, lifestyle, selection of exercise and relaxation techniques and other tips to ensure increased vitality. If an illness already happens to us – Ayurveda will address its causes, diagnosis, treatment and measures that could be taken to prevent relapses, taking into consideration all the individual characteristics of the patient’s nature on a physical, mental and emotional level.
Zdrowie definiuje się jako stan, w którym zachowana jest równowaga dosha (indywidualnej, właściwej każdemu człowiekowi konsytucji), metabolizmu, tkanek, wydalania oraz jest zrównoważony stan duszy, zmysłów i umysłu. W sensie ajurwedyjskim bycie zdrowym to nie tylko bycie wolnym od bólu fizycznego czy objawów chorobowych. Prócz fizycznej równowagi bardzo ważne jest to, w jakim stanie znajduje się Health is defined as a state in which there is a balance of dosha (each person’s individual inherent constitution), metabolism, tissues, excretion and there is a balanced state of soul, senses and mind. In the Ayurvedic sense, being healthy is not only about being free from physical pain or disease symptoms. In addition to physical balance, the state of mind is also very important. It should be clear, calm and balanced. Feeling unhappy, depressed, lacking purpose of life, inner jitteriness, nervousness, unfulfilment or insomnia caused by stress are all signs of illness. Perfect physical condition, measured by muscle mass, strength, weight or momentary sense gratification is not the way to achieve health. The mind and soul must also be taken care of. This is how Ayurveda is different from Western medicine. Spirituality and harmony at the mental level are just as important as the state of the physical body. In Ayurveda, spiritual development is achieved through meditation, the practice of yoga and adherence to ethical values.

WAccording to Ayurveda, there are three pillars of good health. These are as follows:

1. Food, i.e. the right diet, individually selected for each constitutional type or dosha (Ayurveda distinguishes three types: vata, pitta, kapha. Most people are a mixture of doshas in different proportions). According to ayurveda, the most important dietary indications are:

• appropriate amount of food,
• taking into consideration digestive fire,
• sattvic food.
  
  a/ The amount of food is related to the volume of the stomach – 1/3 should be filled with solid food (vegetables, rice , porridge, bread), the other 1/3 with liquid food (juices, soup, water), the third 1/3 should remain empty to allow air and the three doshes to move around. It is better to eat less than to overeat.
  Continuous undereating results in a disturbance of the vata dosha, but frequent overeating leads to a disturbance of all three doshas.
  
  b/ The power of the digestive fire is the power of the digestive juices. Whatever we eat should be completely digested so that no toxins (ama) are formed. If the digestive fire is too weak or we provide the body with too many portions to digest in too short period of time, the new portions of food cannot be transformed into nutrients and metabolic waste and become toxins lingering in the body.
  c/ Sattwic food is food that is fresh, clean and vegetarian: fresh fruit and vegetables, grains, brown bread, cereals, nuts, seeds and salads, rice, wheat, millet, honey, milk, herbal teas and water. Food grown organically, free of pesticides, preservatives or chemicals is the best.
  Alcohol, caffeinated beverages (coffee, chocolate, tea, coca-cola) and meat should be excluded from the diet or their consumption must be limited. Eating mushrooms, onions, garlic and excessive use of spices is not recommended.
  
  Sattwic cuisine recommendations:
  Food that is hot and freshly prepared, tasty, easily digestible and in the right amount is the best. Eat when hungry, in a relaxed atmosphere. Meals should be chewed at the right pace (not too fast and not too slow) and individually selected taking into account the body constitution.

1. Sleeping
   It is very important because it takes up 1/3 of our lives Sleep is a natural method of restoring vitality and is considered a treatment “for the mind”. It rejuvenates the body and restores strength. During sleep, our body is rebuilt and repaired. A regulated and healthy sleep is necessary for the body to be full of energy and the mind to be healthy. During sleep, the mind disconnects from sensory and physical experiences. Lack of sleep disrupts dosha vata and leads to poor concentration, dullness, lack of clarity of thought, headaches or nervous system disorders. The best hours of sleep are 11 p.m.-6 a.m. One should avoid sleeping during the day and sleep a minimum of 6 hours at night. Sleep should also be matched to the seasons of a year (getting up before sunrise is recommended). It is important to align circadian rhythm, it affect the quality of sleep, Any disruption of the cycle (caused by e.g.: trips to different time zones, night work or insomnia) disrupts the balance of dosha.
   Sex is an instinctive desire and a natural manifestation of human activity. This activity, along with eating or sleeping, should be governed by ethical and moral principles and should not be too engaging. And just like eating or sleeping – sex should not be just a pleasure.
   According to Ayurveda, people who are emotionally attached to each other and live in monogamous relationships can have sex in order to have children. The importance of sex as an expression of mutual love between spouses is emphasised. A person who has disciplined and controlled sexual activity has a good memory, intellect, determination and a strong immune system. The preservation of reproductive fluids is considered necessary for the mental, physical and spiritual development of the individual as their level determines the amount of vital energy.
   The three pillars of health described above play key role in maintaining the balance of the three doshas.
   In addition to these, the maintenance of health is influenced by:

• regular physical exercise (e.g. yoga)
• satisfying natural needs (e.g. breathing, hunger, thirst, urination, defecation), including not stopping natural reflexes such as sneezing, burping, yawning, gas expelling, belching, vomiting or crying, and controlling negative emotional impulses such as anger, wrath, envy, jealousy, fear, shame, grief, sadness, helplessness, etc….
• hygiene
  Ayurveda recommends yoga as the most suitable form of exercise. Yoga asanas engage all muscle groups, do not make you feel tired; instead they tone and strengthen muscles, give flexibility to the body, support the internal organs and give clarity of mind. Yoga balances the nervous and endocrine systems affecting the functioning of all organs and systems in the body. Practicing yoga harmonises the doshes, refreshes and relaxes.
  However, yoga is not just about physical exercise. As a sister science to Ayurveda (their common Vedic origin explains the symbiotic relationship between them), it is, first and foremost, a science of self-realisation.
  It was created so that man, through spiritual practice, is able to transcend the suffering experienced by beings living unconsciously. Yoga provides the means for spiritual development, which – according to the Vedic understanding – consists in gaining knowledge of the true nature of man.

The ultimate goal of yoga is self-discovery, attaining peace of mind and independence from external influences. As a system, yoga consists of eight steps, physical exercise being one of them.
Each step brings one closer to achieving this goal. The asanas are meant to free the body from illness, strengthen it and increase immunity to enable spiritual development. In addition to the practice of asanas, a specific lifestyle is recommended to help balance mind and achieve good health.
The eight degrees of yoga are:

• yama – principles of moral and ethical conduct,
• niyama – self-control and discipline,
• asana – the positions the body adopts during exercise,
• pranayama – breathing exercises,
• pratyahara – withdrawal of sensesl,
• dharana – concentration,
• dhayana – meditation,
• samadhi – identification with pure consciousness.
  All these elements are evident in ayurveda in the form of systematic habits associated with the daily routine. The daytime routine, evening routine and matching with the seasons are designed to keep the doshas in balance, ensure internal harmony and reduce stress in the body and mind. The daily routine is not rules but practical guidelines. It consists of:
• waking up before sunrise (usually at 5-6am). This is the time of the highest concentration – so use it to develop an activity plan for the day. If you have time, you can start the day with a short meditation.
• Washing the face – after getting up, wash the face, eyes, nose and mouth with water. It is recommended to fill the mouth with water and hold it for 30 seconds. Meanwhile, we should splash our eyes with water. Then spit out the water and gently massage the eyelids.
• excretion – after washing the face, it is advisable to drink a glass of water (in winter it should be warm).
  Coffee and tea should be avoided as they contain caffeine that increases heat (pitta), which causes constipation. Water and moving around (walking quickly across the room) will help induce a bowel movement. Having a bowel movement in the morning is important because metabolic waste should not remain in the body for too long in the body. They are toxic and cause gas production and subsequent headaches, leg pain, loss of appetite, nausea or indigestion.
• brushing teeth and cleaning the tongue of toxins preferably with a metal scraper (made of copper, gold or silver). This procedure removes coating, enhances taste and refreshes the breath. If you do not have a scraper, you can use a toothbrush to clean your tongue. After that, you can chew on mint and parsley for a while. They improve the sense of taste and stop bad breath.
• After chewing the herbs, you can rinse your throat two or three times with warm water, sesame oil or coconut oil. This cleanses and refreshes the mouth.
• physical exercises – should take 15-20 minutes in the morning. Their aim is to increase strength, improve motor coordination and relax the body. Yoga strengthens physical and mental fitness and improves performance, while simple breathing techniques (pranayama) maintain correct vital energy levels. If you are short of time, it is recommended that you perform the ‘Sun Salutation’ yoga asana sequence.
• oil massage (abhyanga) – recommended after exercise, a full-body massage preferably with sesame oil, which has detoxifying properties (helps remove toxins from the body). This oil can be substituted for coconut oil or olive oil. We start by massaging the head for a few minutes. We put a drop of the oil into the nose and ear. We do not apply it eyes.When you have finished the head massage, which prevents headaches, graying, insomnia, hair loss and nervous system diseases, massage the whole body for 5- 10 minutes, at least two to three times a week. At the weekend, do a self-massage that lasts 20-30 minutes and ends with 15 minutes of relaxation.
• bath – after the massage, take a shower or bath using natural soaps and shampoos . It is better to take a shower in the morning to refresh yourself after sleep, rather than in the evening. Depending on the season, the daily number of baths may be higher (especially in hot summer). The clothes you put on after bathing should be clean and comfortable, also appropriate to weather conditions.
• Meditation – 5-10 minutes of meditation before breakfast brightens the mind and releases tension. Quiet your mind and concentrate on the syllable OM or another mantra that has spiritual energy, calms mind, expands awareness and brings harmony
• Breakfast and other meals of the day – according to the principles of Ayurveda- sattwic. Have dinner before sunset, no later than two hours before bedtime. Avoid food that is heavy, deep-fried, cold as well as dairy and sweets. The perfect evening meal includes salads, boiled or steamed vegetables , vegetable soups and brown bread.
• Work – if you work long hours take breaks to rest and relax.
  Those who get into the habits related to daily routines and the basic pillars of health, quickly become convinced of their beneficial effects on daily functioning. In spite of certain difficulties that may arise at first, one should continue to put these principles into practice, as we can easily achieve balance on all levels of existence. The interpenetration of yoga and Ayurveda is best reflected in the pursuit of self-realisation and liberation (moksha), through which a person achieves a state of happiness. This is reached when you understand that you are not your physical body but your soul. Therefore, the soul, for which the body is an earthly shell, must actually be nourished and cared for. According to Ayurveda and yoga, the such universal principles as truth, helping others, not taking advantage of others, gentleness, non-aggression, living in love, beauty and harmony are food for the soul. The soul is nourished by the practice of yoga.
  Both sciences – yoga and ayurveda give people the guidance needed to achieve happiness through the application of sattwic activities. This leads to an increased control of the body, senses and mind by learning to distinguish between what is good and what is bad, and the conclusion that only by practicing the principles of yoga and ayurveda , the soul can remain a pure consciousness free from the passions (rajas) and ignorance (tamas) characteristic of the other components of the human being: body, senses and mind, which are material by nature. Therefore, true happiness is a process of integrating the personality and connecting the human being with the universal consciousness of the universe, supported by yoga and Ayurveda . DEVA Harmony