{"id":27067,"date":"2025-01-06T22:15:57","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T02:15:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/srisrischoolofyoga.org\/na\/?p=27067"},"modified":"2025-01-06T22:18:27","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T02:18:27","slug":"ayurveda-to-enrich-yoga-practice-and-teachings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/srisrischoolofyoga.org\/na\/blog\/ayurveda-to-enrich-yoga-practice-and-teachings\/","title":{"rendered":"Ayurveda to Enrich Yoga Practice and Teachings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Art of Living Founder Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar relates a story about how Sages approached Lord Vishnu to tell him that people were still falling sick though he, incarnated as Lord\u00a0Dhanvanthari, gave them the means to cure illnesses through Ayurveda. They needed help, not merely with physical illnesses, but mental and emotional illnesses. Lord Vishnu was lying on a bed of snakes; the serpent\u00a0Adish\u00e9sha\u00a0with a thousand heads which is a symbol of awareness. He blessed them and Adish\u00e9sha was born in the world as Maharishi\u00a0Patanjali to propagate the knowledge of yoga.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Brief History of Yoga and Ayurveda in the West\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

This story illustrates how beautifully Ayurveda and yoga together address holistic health. The very definition of health is <\/span>Swasthya,<\/b> or to be \u2018established in the self.\u2019 We know yoga is not just about complex physical postures\u2014or asanas\u2014and Ayurveda is not merely about herbs and khichdi cleanses. These Vedic sciences originated in India over 5,000 years ago to preserve health and raise consciousness. Yoga provides support to the mind and spirit through practices like breathwork and meditation. Ayurveda is a natural, holistic \u2018science of life,\u2019 one of the most ancient forms of medicine that is personalized, preventive, and has robust disease management protocols.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Swami Vivekananda and Paramhansa Yogananda introduced yoga to the West in the 19<\/span>th<\/span> century. Its transmission was easier, as a daily practice of immigrants. Later, it became focused on physical fitness and asanas. However, people today are increasingly reverting to yoga’s original, pure intent for healing and practice with appreciation, not appropriation. Studying lineage traditions such as Sri Sri Yoga and embracing all eight limbs has become more important than new-age interpretations like hot yoga and aerobic pretzel-like postures irrespective of body type and fitness.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Invaders burnt down Vedic libraries like Nalanda and British colonizers banned the practice and teachings of Ayurveda in 1833. Lineages were broken and knowledge lost, but practitioners provided access to Ayurveda in many villages and Southern India. Ayurveda revived, and greater emphasis was placed on standardization and quality control after India\u2019s independence in 1947. Ayurveda, as a clinical practice, followed yoga to the West almost a hundred years later with Dr Vasant Lad, Deepak Chopra, and Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Today, it is a form of medicine in India and a complementary healing science in the US.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the words of Dr. David Frawley, esteemed Vedic scholar and director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies, \u201cUsing Ayurveda along with Yoga helps us gain complete harmony and balance in body and mind so that we can discover our true Self that is one with all. All Yoga teachers should learn the fundamentals of Ayurveda and all Yoga students should seek Ayurvedic guidance to enhance their Yoga practice\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ayurveda to Optimize Yoga Practice and Teaching<\/b><\/h2>\n

Yoga is an invaluable therapeutic tool in Ayurvedic practice. Yoga teachers learn the fundamentals of Ayurveda to aid their daily practice and make a comprehensive offering to their students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how Ayurveda can enhance yoga practice:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • The Guna\u2019s\u2014Orientations of the Mind<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Ayurveda and yoga both talk about the orientations of the mind.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

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    • Sattva (the clear, pure, balanced, natural state)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      • Rajas (ambition and restlessness)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n
        • Tamas\u00a0 (dullness and lethargy)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

           <\/p>\n

          The Guna\u2019s change constantly; and, as Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, we need all of them. We need Rajas to wake up and Tamas to sleep\u2014being a witness to these changes helps. Enhancing Sattva through meditation, a light diet, adequate sleep, and a healthy lifestyle helps manage mental disorders and enhances overall holistic health and immunity.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Incorporating Doshas, Constitution, and Imbalances\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Ayurveda helps you understand your constitution and imbalances, as well as that of your clients. Panchamahabhutas\u00a0(five great elements) combine to form doshas\u2014energy principles.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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            • Vata\u00a0(ether and air) is the principle of movement<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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              • Pitta\u00a0(fire and water) is the principle of transformation.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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                • Kapha\u00a0(water and earth) is the principle of cohesion<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Prakriti,<\/b>\u00a0or body constitution, is formed at conception as a combination of\u00a0doshas (V, P, K, VP, VK, PK, or VPK); that remains unchanged. This governs our structure, function, affinities, and tendencies. For instance, a typical Pitta is \u201cMy way or the highway.\u201d Vikriti,\u00a0or imbalances, occur when doshas\u00a0go out of balance. An important aspect of Ayurvedic assessment and management of imbalances is understanding the Agni, digestive and metabolic fire which yoga helps stabilize.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                  A typical vata is likely to have a creative idea for a startup, pitta would lead it successfully, and kapha would maintain it and keep it going.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

                   <\/p>\n

                  A knowledge of\u00a0doshas\u00a0helps us formulate routine, dietary, and lifestyle guidelines to support our health and that of our clients. Personalizing yoga guidelines helps with the unique constitution of clients, their imbalances and chronic ailments, and working with indications and contraindications of various practices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                  Consult an Ayurvedic practitioner before taking any herbs and formulations. In a state of health, this is how we can adapt practices for various doshas.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  Vata Dosha and Yoga Recommendations<\/b><\/h2>\n