How Yoga and Ayurveda combination can help you achieve near perfect health

Yoga and Ayurveda insist that we are an integral part of nature, anything that happens in the play of nature affects us. They state that health of an individual is not just the state of his/her physical body but an aggregate of the body, senses, mind and soul. When these various entities are in harmony, it translates into health and when they are in disequilibrium they cause disorders.

Your body is merely the seat of your consciousness. If your consciousness is afflicted, it will surely result in physical disorders too. Mental afflictions create diseases in the physical body and physical diseases, in turn, disturb the state of mind. It’s never too late to take control of your wellbeing and no matter what your genetic disposition is, you can attain near-perfect health. Yogic and Ayurvedic wisdom helps you gain complete physical wellbeing and mental equilibrium.

Yoga and Ayurveda divided the primary aspects of our wellness into the physical and mental. Ayurveda covered the physical aspects and yogic scriptures expounded the mental aspects. The four key physical ones are – Panchaboota (the five elements), sapta-dhatu(the seven tissues), tri-dosha (the three humours) and Chastush-agni (the four fires). The four key mental aspects are – Pancha Kosha (the five sheaths), tri-guna (the three mental states), tri-kaya (the three bodies) and dasavayu (the ten energies).

Whether you want to lose or gain weight, whether you want to look younger or be more virile, remain free of diseases and afflictions or just be physically stronger, a complete understanding of your body is the starting point.

Things to do for your complete well-being:

Physical Cleansing:

Ayurveda understood five thousand years ago that the body is a vessel. It must be clean to protect its substance. Physical cleansing comprises a set of Ayurvedic and Yogic exercises to keep your system squeaky clean and free of obstructions. It is a method of detoxification. These exercises strengthen the vital energy channels, gastrointestinal system and the seven dhatus.

Respiratory Cleansing:

Respiratory Cleansing purifies your entire body. It consists of breathing techniques which strengthens your respiratory system, nervous system and your whole body. It pacifies the three doshas and strengthens the seven dhatus. It flushes your lungs and blood with fresh and abundant oxygen, boosting your immune system and improving your overall well-being.

Mental detoxification:

Most people carry enormous baggage of negative and suppressed emotions, thoughts, expectations and grudges. These will change their thinking pattern which are at the core of automatic responses and habits. Meditation is one of the finest methods of mental detoxification. It is the art of understanding, stilling and calming your mind. It helps you realize the full potential of your capabilities and puts you in control of your thoughts and emotions.

Strengthening and balancing:

Yogic postures (Asanas) are perfect tools to strengthen and balance your entire system. Intense practice of set of postures helps in strengthening your cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, digestive system and bringing nervous and hormonal balance. Mindful practice of postures in synch with breath (prana) creates mental and emotional balance along with enormous spiritual benefits.

Sattvic diet:

Your physical health is almost entirely dependent on how your body accepts and processes food, which in turn is affected by your mental and emotional state. How your body accepts and processes food and how much you benefit from this processing depends on your attitude towards food, towards life, towards yourself and towards others. The yogis figured a calm mind is infinitely more powerful than a restless mind. They considered food the most important factor for a calm mind and good physical health.

Created from the word sattva, food full of goodness is called Sattvic. The Bhagvadgita lists the ten characteristics of sattvic food. Sattvic food supports the seven dhatus and pacifies three doshas in our body by providing nutrition at each of the four stages of the foods processing by the body. Due to its natural tendency of light and goodness, it strengthens body, boosts our physical health and calms the mind. Further it promotes overall well-being and ensures longevity.