Ayurveda and Yoga – An approach to a complete healing at OM-AND-BEYOND
Ayurveda is one of the four Upavedas or secondary Vedic texts. It’s primary concern is the healing the Body & Mind. It caters to the health and well being through a complete system of treatments that begins with a very detailed and thorough diagnosis of an individual’s Physiological, Psychological and Pathological characteristics. The Body, Mind, Emotions states of a person, the health of his organs, the cause of his ailments and the symptoms are all studied in detail.
GOOD HEALTH COMES FROM ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS
Our diagnostic system of Nadi Pariksha has followed through a lineage and has been perfected over time. It is a very deep analysis of a person’s Physical & Mental constitutions at birth and what it is at present. Ascertaining these details is a primary requisite to form a thorough understanding of the treatment process that has to be adopted for his well being.
Nadi Pariksha also thoroughly examines the Doshas (biological humors) such as Vata (Air), Pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Water) and their subtypes. This detailed examination helps in establishing the 6 stage pathogenesis or “Samprapti”. The stages of a disease process and the current stage of the disease in the body helps in establishing the kind of therapy that needs to be administered.
The examination of the 7 biological tissues or Dhatus helps in understanding the metabolic process of the body. Dhatus make up our body. Also, the health of the channels that help in transporting nutrition and other fluids as well as eliminating toxins is studied to ascertain the lymphatic circulation and also of other essential fluids in the body.
A PERFECT VEDIC SYSTEM OF WHOLESOME LIVING
Ayurveda is the original Vedic system of knowledge. It is the most holistic and total system of healing. It comprises of a complete system of diagnosis, psychology, dietetics, right living, detoxification and rejuvenation, treatments, medication and longevity based on the principles of Spiritual living.
Ayurveda incorporates a complete Yogic system of medication. It talks of healing the Mind and the Body as it believes most of the problems we face bodily are psychosomatic in nature. By altering our thoughts and perceptions, we bring in an element of peace and befriend our environment within and outside of us too. This harmony creates a very harmonious balance in our environment and promotes healing.
THE FOUR STAGE HEALING PROGRAMME
Ayurveda believes in a 4 step healing process. The first is a systematic reduction of our toxins and bringing in a equilibrium in the 3 doshas or bodily humors called Vata (Air), Pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Water). It is the aim of Ayurveda is to balance these 3 humors and correct the biorhythm by actuating pathological changes to restore a person’s Prakruti.
The above balance is managed by altered lifestyle practices, Dietary changes that suit the constitution to promote healthy digestion, use of herbs as an effective catalyst to empower the healing of the body from within and of course therapies which can be both invasive or non invasive to to reduce or eliminate the cause of the disease to restore body’s health.
The second stage is mainly psychological therapy. From the 3 Gunas of the mind namely Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, Sattva instills a state of mental tranquility, clarity and purity. Rajas and Tamas increase the suffering in the mind and this in turn causes suffering in the body as a psychosomatic reaction.
A person’s self esteem and self respect is restored in a Sattvic mental state. A person’s need to honourably seek truth in every walk of life helps one to vibrate in a much higher frequency. Though this may sound very idealistic and impractical in today’s world, it is our natural inner desire to awaken our Spiritual quotient that helps us to be happy and joyful from within.
Our cells and tissues are nourished constantly with positive and radiating energy that is so important to promote good health and longevity in a human being. Effectively, the disease processes that manifest on the mental plane are eliminated successfully.
The third stage is Yogic discipline. Yoga is encouraged as an activity to help bring in a balance approach to life by performing psycho physiological postures and alter breathing patterns by scientifically regulating breathing patterns to energise our body, heal our internal organs by directing energy to them and give them strength to increase immunity sustained good health.
Both Ayurveda and Yoga work on our Pranic forces only. Balancing the five Vayus such as Prana, Apana, Udana, Samana and Vyana and their subtypes in Vata, Pitta and Kapha have profound healing effects on the pathological conditioning of the body. Regulating the energy in the five Vayus and their sub types in Pitta and Kapha help in treating imbalances at a subtle level and prevent their manifestation as ailments in the physical body.
Ayurveda provides guidelines to life all the four stages of life such as Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. While Dharma is righteous living, Artha is performing actions honourably and justly with an intention to earn a livelihood. Kama is enjoying the pleasures of life and Moksha is the successful culmination of all duties and retiring from life to live a healthy life, seeking liberation.
The fourth step is Meditation. The ultimate goal of Ayurveda, being a upa-Veda is Self Realisation. With sound health, following a proper lifestyle regimen, eating sattvic food and rejuvenation oneself with therapies to stay healthy and disease free, Ayurveda envisages for a person, a life of fulfilment and joy