Exploring the Yoga-Ayurveda Connection

Yoga and Ayurveda are two sides of the same coin, sister sciences that share their origin in Vedic knowledge. The two are synonymous with the Indian culture, but their influence has spread all over the world.

With an enduring presence of over 5,000 years and counting, one may wonder, what has brought them this far and why they remain so deeply inter-connected?

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Yoga today is largely identified as a form of exercise composed of different asanas or physical postures. What differentiates it from other physical activities is its strong connection with spiritual well-being.

Yoga’s influence transcends the physical and extends into the mental and emotional realms. Ultimately, it's a practice that focuses on unifying our mind, body, and spirit to come closer to our true ‘self’ (aatma) and live a happy, meaningful life.

Ayurveda, our system of natural medicine also places a strong emphasis on inner happiness. A healthy mind and body are together believed to create a sense of purpose and balance. It’s also interesting to note that the meaning of ‘ayu’ in Ayurveda can be interpreted in two ways. Ayu means life, which means Ayurveda can be considered to be the ‘science of life.’

However, in the ancient Ayurvedic text of Charaka Samhita, ayu is defined as a state of complete harmony between the mind, body, and consciousness. In that sense, Yoga and Ayurveda share another common goal – to know oneself at a profound level.

Yoga finds prominent mention in dinacharya – the Ayurvedic daily routine. It is recommended as a way of improving digestion, dealing with stress, eliminating toxins and rejuvenating the body on the whole. Yoga is also known to have a balancing effect on the three doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Similarly, Ayurveda supports and enhances the benefits reaped from yoga. At its core, yoga aims to eliminate the blockages from our nadis (channels). Through the use of different postures, it induces a feeling of lightness and fulfillment. This falls in line with Ayurveda’s emphasis on removing amas (digestive impurities) from the body. The two processes are strongly interdependent; in fact, they complete each other.

India, the birthplace of both Ayurveda and Yoga, offers wisdom that is true to its roots. One such Indian brand draws on traditional learning to create herbal beauty products that embody the essence of Ayurveda in all its forms.

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