Ayurveda and Yoga – The ultimate connection

India is often called the land of Ayurveda. It is also referred to as the land of yoga. Ayurveda and yoga are both ancient concepts that aim at delivering a better standard of living by incorporating natural offerings into our day-to-day lives. Although different in meaning and function, both Ayurveda and yoga strive to attain a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for people who choose to follow them religiously.

Ayurveda is a doctrine that uses natural elements in our daily lives right from diet to curing illnesses. While many consider it as an alternative medicine to allopathy, Ayurveda is not just restricted to medicine. It consists of a variety of principles whose end goal is to be better at living life. With ‘ayur’ being Sanskrit for life and ‘Veda’ meaning knowledge, Ayurveda translates to the knowledge of life. Herbs and other natural resources are often used to treat illnesses using Ayurveda. Thus, it is believed that Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicines don’t have any long-term or short-term side effects. When compared to allopathy, which has shown long-term side effects, more and more people are accepting this traditional science and are preferring to get treated the ayurvedic way.

Similar to Ayurveda in age, Yoga also has its roots that go way back in time. Yoga takes a more physical route towards spiritualism as it adds various poses and breathing techniques that help calm the mind and achieve a balance between the body and mind. There are a lot of variations of the famous ancient art like the power yoga, which is gaining a lot of popularity. Power yoga not only brings physiological balance but also increases physical strength. Yoga is recommended across the globe as one of the finest methods of getting a fitter body. Also known as yogis, people who practice yoga regularly swear by the fact that doing yoga daily has had a positive impact on their lives and they’ve felt significant upliftment in their mood and overall energy. In contrast to other physical exercises like hitting the gym where there is a lot of noise and music, yoga is done in a much calmer and quieter environment (however, it is not restricted to it).

Now that we have a brief idea of what Ayurveda and yoga are, we look into the prospect of how these two ancient sciences come together as one to help us lead a balanced and healthy life. Ayurveda and yoga both believe that our mind plays a vital role in the functioning of our bodies. A calmer mind will be able to make better decisions, work smoothly without distractions, and eventually lead to better output both mentally and physically. The three doshas in Ayurveda, namely Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, are believed to be the elements from which we are constructed. A problem in these doshas will result in physiological, mental, or emotional uneasiness. An imbalance in the Vata dosha leads to the development of anxiety and stress. As a cure, Ayurveda advises herbal oil massage of the head. Along with a head massage, meditation and Anulom Vilom (breathing techniques in yoga) have proven calming effects on the brain and the body. This is how Ayurveda and yoga come together to alleviate anxiety and stress. Another problem that is faced by the majority of the population is high blood pressure. This is due to the unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle that people follow because of their sitting jobs. Ayurveda recommends drinking gooseberry (Amla) juice on an empty stomach in the morning. Combining this natural remedy with yoga poses like Uttanasana (Standing forward bend pose) and Viparita Karani (Legs-up-the-wall pose) reduces elevated blood pressure. Notice that the whole ayurvedic and yogic process is completely natural, and the patient does not need to consume any artificial medication. This also ensures that there is no side-effect of the remedy, which ensures positive, long-lasting effects.

Just like any other science, Ayurveda and yoga also require a certain level of expertise to practice them properly. After all, they are one of the oldest forms of natural therapy that are there. Therefore, it makes sense to learn it in a proper way and from some of the most learned minds in the country. Many institutes impart knowledge about Ayurveda in India. However, one of the most prominent names in the education sector for Ayurveda is Mansarovar Ayurvedic Medical College situated in Bhopal. Touted as one of the best in the country for a Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery degree. The MAMC boasts of highly skilled and educated staff, that provides an all-around learning experience. The college has been approved by Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy or AYUSH, which is a governing body in India for courses related to Ayurveda. MAMC is among the top-ranked ayurvedic studies institutions in the country and the best ayurvedic college in Bhopal. Besides being a recognized learning institution, MAMC also serves as an ayurvedic college and hospital. Graduates of the MAMC have excelled in the field of ayurvedic medicine and have taken this indigenous science to various corners of the world. With the growing affinity that the world has shown towards Ayurveda and away from allopathy, this is a great time to pursue a degree like BAMS from a reputed organization such as MAMC.

Ayurveda and yoga have been gaining rapid popularity mainly because of the simplicity with which they operate. And also, the practitioners of these sciences don’t have to worry about ill effects like patients do in the case of allopathy. It is a matter of pride for India that our ancient sciences have gained enormous acceptance and are being followed all around the globe. Huge amounts of people are seeing the benefits of Ayurveda and yoga and the force of wellness that they offer when they are combined. To improve the overall living quality of us humans, we can start incorporating these ancient elixirs into our daily lives. The peace that is obtained after a fulfilling yoga session is transcendental. And the assurance that no side-effect will take place after consuming all-natural ayurvedic medicine is the cherry on the cake. Also, yoga and Ayurveda don’t have to be followed only when one is ill. In fact, following yoga and Ayurveda together will make sure that we lead a healthy and prolonged life, free from any illnesses.