Ayurveda and Yoga

Ayurveda and Yoga :
Ayurveda and Yoga have a common history and vedic origin, and are the sister practices in the pursuit of physical and mental well being. Yoga is on the practical side of Vedic teachings, while Ayurveda is on the healing side and both shares a common goal which is attaining union with the Self and they complement and embrace each other
YOGA:Yoga includes a set of ethical imperatives and moral precepts, including diet, exercises and meditative aspects. It assumes that the mind is more subtle than the body, when both are brought into balance and health, the individual will be able to perceive his true nature which will allow life to be lived through him more freely and spontaneously. The aim of yoga is union with higher self, and can be achieved through its Eight Stages which are Yama - Right conduct towards others.Niyama - Right conduct towards oneself.Asana - Physical Postures.Pranayama - Control of the Breath.Pratyahara - Control of the Mind and Sense Organs.Dharana - Concentration and Control of the Attention.Dhyana – Meditation.Samadhi - Perfect Balance and Unification.
AYURVEDA :Ayurveda , the science of life is not only the ancient science of preventative health and healing but also a philosophy of living. It helps maintain health in a person by using the inherent principles of nature to bring the individual back into equilibrium with their true self. It believes that all of life are combinations of three energy-elements (doshas) - air (Vata), fire (Pitta), and water (Kapha). Imbalance of these doshas leads of illness and ayurveda treats each individual as a unique makeup of the three doshas and suggest cleansing process (panchakarma) specific lifestyle, nutritional guidelines, yoga, herbal supplement, to assist the individual in restoring the balance of the doshas
There are many commonalities in Ayurveda and Yoga, to mention fewa) Both are ancient Vedic teachings. Yoga originates in the Yajur Veda, while Ayurveda originates in the Atharva Veda and Rig Veda.b) Both recognize that keeping the body healthy is important for fulfilling the four aims of life: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).c) Both recognize that the balance of doshas (humors), dhatus (tissues), and malas (waste products) is essential for maintaining good health.d) They share virtually the same metaphysical anatomy and physiology, which consists of 72,000 nadis (subtle channels), 7 main chakras (energy centers), 5 bodily sheaths, and the Kundalini Shakti (energy).e) Both advocate the use of diet, herbs, asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, astrology, prayer, puja, and rituals for healing the entire being.f) Both encourage physical health as a good foundation for mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.g) Both share the same view on psychology. They both understand that the attachment to the body-mind complex is the root cause of all suffering and that the ultimate state of health is experienced when we abide in our true nature, which is total peace, regardless of the state of the physical body.h) Both use cleansing methods for the body, all of which encourage the removal of waste products and toxins through their natural routes of elimination.Ayurveda has panchakarma (five cleansing actions) and yoga uses Shat Karma (six purification measures)i) Ayurveda and Yoga both emphasize cleansing of the body for health and support of spiritual practices. Their methods are similar and work by expelling excess dosha and ama, or toxins, using the body's natural routes of elimination.
Modern yoga practitioners would most certainly benefit from a basic knowledge of Ayurveda to help establish a healthy daily routine and adjust their practice according to the constitution, dosha imbalance, season to prevent disease and promote longevity.
In a Nutshell - Yoga is part of Ayurveda. Yoga is important for dissolving physical stress and calming the mind before meditation, and is the ideal ayurvedic exercise, because it rejuvenates the body, improves digestion, and removes stress.Ayurveda is part of Yoga , At the same time, yoga practitioners can benefit from the ayurvedic daily routine as part of their yoga practice. For instance, abhyanga (ayurvedic massage) helps remove toxins from the body and relaxes the muscles for yoga practice.
And it is obvious that Ayurveda and Yoga share similarities and fundamental principles on many levels and should be practiced in a combined manner to achieve optimal health, peace and to develop the capacity to love and accept all as Divine.