Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the oldest system of health- care, which traces its roots to the Vedas. It is considered as one of the best alternative system of medicine. The word Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Ayuh' meaning life and 'Veda' meaning 'Knowledge'. Hence Ayurveda is called 'The science of life'.
Ayurveda is the Vedic system of health care that developed in India over 5000 years ago. A gift of the Gods, it was codified by the sage-physician Charaka and the sage-surgeon Shushruta. This ancient science is health, not disease, specific and takes into account the patient's entire personality - body, mind and spirit.

History of AyurvedaThe true history of Ayurveda starts from the time of the Holy books, the Vedas. Ancient mythology contends that the concept and essence of Ayurveda was revealed by the creator of the world himself – Lord Brahma.
There are four Vedas. They are –
• Rigveda
• Yajurveda
• Samaveda
• Atharvaveda
The Vedas date back to about five thousand years. They preach the philosophy of life. The Atharvaveda contains the principles of healing on which Ayurveda is based. 'Ayur' means 'life' in Sanskrit. Ayurveda is the most ancient science of healing which enhances longevity. It has influenced many of the older traditional methods of healing including Tibetan, Chinese and Greek medicine. Hence, Ayurveda is considered by many as the 'mother of healing.'
The hymns, the mantras and the medical information contained in the Vedas were contributions of Rishis and munis or sages, over a period of time. Many of these sages were learned saints who devoted their life to understanding the world.
Astanga Ayurveda




Aryavarta, the native land of Aryans, covers a large area surrounding the Himalayas and is believed to be the place where the Rishis and Munis lived. At present it covers areas in countries like Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan and Tibet. The civilizations of these countries are deeply influenced by the unique intellectual contributions of these Rishis and Munis.

The practical tenets of Ayurveda are divided into eight sections or branches. These sections include:
• Internal medicine,
• Surgery,
• Organic medicine,
• Pediatrics,
• Toxicology,
• Rejuvenating remedy,
• Aphrodisiac remedies and
• Spiritual healing.
These eight sections are called "Astanga Ayurveda".

Ayurveda is a complete or holistic system that integrates the mind, body and spirit. For a few centuries, the tradition of Ayurveda was dimmed due to the natural and human calamities and also by the invasion of foreign cultures into India. The sacred texts were either destroyed or stolen. However there were many ‘Vaidyas’ or doctors in India who managed to preserve some of the knowledge available in these Holy Scriptures. Divine plants that sustain long life and good health are now being rediscovered. Many renowned families of Vaidyas, who are specialized in certain branches of Ayurveda, have started functioning again in India. Today there is a revival of the ancient culture and traditions inherent to Ayurveda, which is a true gift of the ancient civilization to the modern world.


Principles of Ayurveda

1. Panchamahabhutas


Charaka Samhita says that
The human body is made up of five elements namely Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. Man is the Microcosm in the Macrocosm- the universe.
The sun and moon control - the activities of the universe; likewise Agni (heat principle) and Soma (cold principle) control the physiological activities of the human body. This principle is called "Agnishomeeyam".
• Charaka says, a person is equal to a universe as earth is represented by shape, fluids represent water, fire represents temperature, air represents respiration and channels present in the body represent ether. Brahma is represented by consciousness. Hence Charaka refers to man as a microcosm.
• When these five elements are in balance, normalcy is maintained, when there is imbalance in the state of the 5 elements, disease is caused.
• Ayurveda aims in maintaining the balance of Panchamahabootha.

2. Tridosha


They are the basic concepts of Ayurveda. They are the three energetic forces that control the activities and govern the physical, mental and intellectual structure and functions in an individual. They are vata, pitta and Kapha

• Doshas are derived from Panchmahabhutas.
• Doshas cannot be detected by our senses.
• Each dosha is a combination of two of the five Panchamahabhutas with the predominance of any one
• When the doshas are balanced we remain healthy as they support and sustain the dhatus (structural units o the body).
• When they are imbalanced, they disturb the structure and cause disease.
• They are the sole responsible functional units for health and disease.
• These three doshas are forces, not substances.
• The doshas within any person keep changing constantly due to lifestyle, foods and environment.
Vata Dosha
• Vata is a Sanskrit word that means "wind" or "that which moves".
• It is the dosha of movement or change.
• Vata Combination of Vayu (Air) + Jala (Water)
• When imbalanced it produces pain in various parts of the body. They have inability to sleep through the night, inability to concentrate and stay on task.
• A balanced person with Vata dosha can be very creative.
• It is the leader of doshas, so it is very important to keep it in balance
• Vata is very powerful among the three doshas because:
• It produces more diseases in the body
• It imbalances other doshas
• It is the only doshas, which has movement while pitta and kapha cannot move on their own
• It is fast -acting
• It spreads all over the body
• It produces chronic diseases
Pitta Dosha
Pitta is often translated as "Fire" or "Heat". It is responsible for transformation, metabolism. Pitta is a combination of Agni (Fire) + Jal (Water).
This functional unit is often characterized by heat, temperature and digestion in the body when it is out of balance, it makes a person sarcastic, sharp tongue and fidgety. When in balance, a person shows signs of being competitive, assertive, and self-confident. bin balance, it has power and energy to transform the life of an individual and also lives of others. This dosha sustains the body when it is in balance, but creates many diseases when imbalanced.
Kapha Dosha
It is one of the three doshas, which can be translated as "that which holds things together". This is made of earth and water in our body and is characterized by fluidity, strength and nourishment. When imbalanced, it produces heaviness and phlegm in the body.
When Kapha dosha is in balance, a person tends to be slow and stable and excel in jobs and situation that require logical analysis. When out of balance, a person can't sleep and gets easily intimidated.

Yoga

Yoga:
Achieve mental & physical sanity

Yoga is an ancient Indian body of knowledge that dates back more than 5000 years ago. The word "Yoga" came from the Sanskrit word "yuj" which means "to unite or integrate." Yoga then is about the union of a person's own consciousness and the universal consciousness. Yoga helps an individual to achieve the ultimate goal of human life. In fact, all our activities are targeted towards the realization of this supreme mission.
Yoga is the spiritual path through which one will have to reach one’s destination. And, to reach that goal, obviously one will have to dedicatedly follow the road signs. Here, the three indicators are hygienic lifestyle, ethical regulation and moral self-control.
Their combined effect is fascinating, to say the least! A person who has observed all these regulations will also have sure control over his mind. That, in turn, will reinforce his spiritual faculty. Once his mind and spirit are in harmony, his physical body will also be within their purview.
Ancient Yogis had a belief that in order for man to be in harmony with himself and his environment, he has to integrate the body, the mind, and the spirit. For these three to be integrated, emotion, action, and intelligence must be in balance. The Yogis formulated a way to achieve and maintain this balance and it is done through exercise, breathing, and Meditation - the three main Yoga structures. In Yoga, the body is treated with care and respect for it is the primary instrument in man's work and growth. Yoga Exercises improve circulation, stimulate the abdominal organs, and put pressure on the glandular system of the body, which can generally result to better health. Breathing techniques were developed based on the concept that breath is the source of life. In Yoga, students gain breathing control as they slowly increase their breathing. By focusing on their breathing, they prepare their minds for the next step - Meditation. There is a general misconception that in Meditation, your mind has to go blank. It doesn't have to be so. In Meditation, students bring the activities of the mind into focus resulting in a 'quiet' mind. By designing physical poses and Breathing Techniques that develop awareness of our body, Yoga helps us focus and relieves us from our everyday stress.

Six Branches of Yoga
· Hatha Yoga or Yoga of PosturesHatha Yoga is perhaps the path of Yoga you are most familiar with since this is the most popular branch of Yoga in the West. This branch of Yoga uses physical poses or Asana, Breathing Techniques or Pranayama, and Meditation to achieve better health, as well as spirituality. There are many styles within this path - Iyengar, Integral, Astanga, Kripalu, and Jiva Mukti to name a few.
· Bhakti Yoga or Yoga of DevotionBhakti Yoga is the path most followed in India. This is the path of the heart and devotion. Yogis who practice this branch sees the "One" or the Divine in everyone and everything. Bhakti Yoga teaches a person to have devotion to the "One" or to Brahma by developing a person's love and acceptance for all things.
· Raja Yoga or Yoga of Self-ControlRaja means "royal". This path is considered to be the King of Yoga and this may be due to the fact that most of its practitioners are members of religious and spiritual orders. Raja Yoga is based on the teachings of the Eight Limbs of Yoga found in the Yoga sutras. A Raja Yogi sees the self as central, and as such, respect to oneself and for all creation are vital to this path. They achieve self-respect by first learning to be masters of themselves. If you wish to learn discipline, then Raja Yoga would perfectly suit that need.
· Jnana Yoga or Yoga of the MindJnana Yoga is the path of Yoga that basically deals with the mind, and as such, it focuses on man's intelligence. Jnana Yogis consider wisdom and intellect as important and they aim to unify the two to surpass limitations. Since they wish to gain knowledge, they are open to other philosophies and religion for they believe that an open and rational mind is crucial in knowing the spirit.
· Karma Yoga or Yoga of ServiceKarma Yoga is the path of service for in this path, it is believed that your present situation is based on your past actions. So by doing selfless service now, you are choosing a future that is free from negativity and selfishness. Karma Yogis change their attitude towards the good and in the process, change their souls, which leads to a change in their destiny.
· Tantra Yoga or Yoga of RitualsPerhaps the most misunderstood of all the paths, Tantra Yoga is about using rituals to experience what is sacred. Although sex is a part of it, sex is not the whole of it since this path aims to find what is sacred in everything we do. Tantra Yogis must possess certain qualities like purity, humility, devotion, dedication to his Guru, cosmic love, and truthfulness among other things. There are still a lot of misconceptions about Yoga, for instance, Yoga being a religion. Yoga is not a religion. It is more of a set of techniques for us to find spirituality. In fact, Yoga is being practiced by a lot of people from different religions like Christians, Jewish, Buddhists, and Muslims. Another misconception is that Yoga is an exercise, a way for us to keep fit. It is partly true, but if you think that Yoga is just that then you are greatly mistaken. Yoga develops the body since a weak one is a hindrance to spiritual growth. It does not simply focus on the physical but on the mental and spiritual aspects as well.

Yoga in Your Life
Yoga is for anyone who is willing to learn its ways and ideas. It does not actually require any special equipment or clothing. What it requires is your will to have a healthier, stress-free self. You may first approach Yoga as a way to achieve a great body or to keep fit and that is perfectly alright. Yoga really does help in improving your health for stretching can tone your muscles and exercise your spine and your entire skeletal system. Do not just take advantage of what Yoga can offer. Yoga encourages you to reflect on yourself and to find your inner peace. It exercises not just your body but your mind as well. With a healthy body and mind, you're on your way to a more fulfilling life.
If you are seeking for a guaranteed proven means to attain a healthy body in a healthy mind, then YOGA is for you! Yoga is an authentic time-tested system to attain peace of mind and physical wellbeing. Yoga has been intensively researched and molded into a composite system by the Indian sages down the ages. Yoga can be practiced by anybody at any age to gain discipline – be it spiritual, mental or physical.

Yoga Benefits
The Yoga person will be able to divert blood from within his body to the gland or organ that is in need of this life-saving fluid. And, that too without putting undue pressure on the heart. Yoga has stood the test of time. It is now a globally acclaimed system for body and mind rejuvenation. Children, youth and even elderly people can savor the fruits from the evergreen versatile tree of yoga.

HOW DOES YOGA MOULD YOUR BODY ?
A yoga practitioner conscientiously controls his breath. Though we breathe in and out every second, how many among us do deliberate acts to control the breath? Very few! But, gain mastery over breathing, and hold the reins of power over your own body.
Yoga breathing exercises or the Pranayamas cleanse your vital organs of the toxic substances. The other exercises – Asanas – stimulate all your important glands and thus insulate your physical being from the strikes of various ailments. Simultaneously, yoga trains the practitioner to concentrate. In simple words, yoga gives you the mind controlling magic wand free of cost.

WHAT IS MIND CONTROL?
We’ve all heard of telepathy. It is a traditional mind control strategy to converse with a person and also have veritable control over subsequent developments – and that too physical as well as mental – that may happen during the course of your interaction with that acquaintance or buddy! Sounds strange; but it’s true. For, these influencing powers are yours for free. All they need is your full-time devotion and a deliberate attempt on your part to master them.

THE YOGA BENEFIT LIST
Yoga works in a two-pronged manner: Yoga generates and assimilates the life energy. Thus, yoga prolongs youth by slowing down the ageing process. The body becomes light and resilient. There is better neuro-muscular coordination and metabolic efficiency. The senses work better as well.
Yoga tones up your nervous, lymphatic systems including the respiratory and other muscles. Above all, yoga clears the respiratory passage of all impurities.
You will be able to improve your blood circulation, make your endocrine glands and the reproductive system function at their peak, and keep the vital organs supple, vigorous and efficient.

Yoga physical benefits: Here’s a list of the yoga physical benefits: You can
Stop teeth loss;
Arrest tissue decay;
Rectify poor vision;
Remove age ravages;
Improve food assimilation;
Prevent many old age ailments;
Bring back the color of your grey hair;
Promptly eliminate waste products;
Reshape the spinal cord and makes it more flexible;
Hold the abdominal organs in place & ensure that they work efficiently;
Check reduced mobility, joint stiffness, artery hardening as well as skin wrinkling.
Yogic spiritual benefits: Yoga awakens a new consciousness. It makes one humble enough to do introspection. Consequently, there is an integration of personality.
Have a look at the lifetime spiritual benefits arising from regular yogic exercises:
Mental poise;
better awareness;
Unruffled serenity;
Mind turns inwards;
Inner peace is achieved;
Control over emotions;
Hallucinations disappear;
Increased control over mind;
Augmented concentration faculty;
Mind freed from the yoke of senses;
Baser instincts roped; Craving for the animal passions dies out;
Your deeds, thoughts and words become logical and meaningful.




Meditation & Health
Repetitive Strain Injury, stress, burnout, hernia, rheumatism, insomnia, headache, and fears are ailments that affect 4 out of 10 people in the Western world. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that Meditating can aid in the healing process very well and effectively. More energy, a lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, muscle tension and heart beat, a better ability to cope with stress, and better breathing are just a few of the many benefits that Meditating brings you.

StressA lot of people are affected by a host of illnesses that can be traced back to Stress.
BurnoutBurnout is a case of extreme mental exhaustion. It involves a bleak outlook at one's life and bitterness towards others. You can recover it from by practicing Meditation.
RSIRepetitive Strain Injury (RSI) occurs when your hands do the same pattern of movements repeatedly. People like guitarists are prone to this condition.
InsomniaInsomnia is a condition that robs you sleep and thus prevents your body from recuperating from all the day's work. Good thing Meditation can help you get a good night's sleep.
Being OverweightBeing overweight can cause a host of problems which sometimes include an excessive amount of self-conciousness. Learn in this section how Meditation relates to one's being overweight.
HeadacheA Headache can be caused by a number of factors which include Stress, migrane, among others.
FearsIt is normal for everyone to fear one thing or another. But when it gets out of control and prevents us from living normally then the problem arises.
RehabilitationWhen recovering from a traumatic injury, Meditating can help you through the physical pain and the frustration of not being able to do the activity that you usually do because of your condition.
PainDiscover how the power of the mind can help you alleviate the pain that you are going through.
AddictionAddictions can be difficult to remove from one's system. Meditation can help in one's gradual recovery from Addiction that a person has.

Yoga History
We might already have an idea of what Yoga is but to understand it better, we have to know what it has become as well as its roots and beginnings. A quick look at the history of Yoga will help us appreciate its rich tradition and who knows, it might help us incorporate Yoga into our lives. Although Yoga is said to be as old as civilization, there is no physical evidence to support this claim. Earliest archaeological evidence of Yoga's existence could be found in stone seals which depict figures of Yoga poses. The stone seals place Yoga's existence around 3000 B.C. Scholars, however, have a reason to believe that Yoga existed long before that and traced its beginnings in Stone Age Shamanism. Both Shamanism and Yoga have similar characteristics particularly in their efforts to improve the human condition at that time. Also, they aim to heal community members and the practitioners act as religious mediators. Though we know Yoga as focusing more on the self, it started out as community-oriented before it turned inward. For a better discussion of the history of Yoga, we could divide it into four periods: the Vedic Period, Pre-Classical Period, Classical Period, and Post-Classical Period.
Vedic Period
The existence of the Vedas marks this period. The Vedas is the sacred scripture of Brahmanism that is the basis of modern-day Hinduism. It is a collection of hymns which praise a divine power. The Vedas contains the oldest known Yogic teachings and as such, teachings found in the Vedas are called Vedic Yoga. This is characterized by rituals and ceremonies that strive to surpass the limitations of the mind. During this time, the Vedic people relied on rishis or dedicated Vedic Yogis to teach them how to live in divine harmony. Rishis were also gifted with the ability to see the ultimate reality through their intensive spiritual practice. It was also during this time that Yogis living in seclusion (in forests) were recorded.
Pre-Classical Yoga
The creation of the Upanishads marks the Pre-Classical Yoga. The 200 scriptures of the Upanishads (the conclusion of the revealed literature) describe the inner vision of reality resulting from devotion to Brahman. These explain three subjects: the ultimate reality (Brahman), the transcendental self (atman), and the relationship between the two. The Upanishads further explain the teachings of the Vedas. Yoga shares some characteristics not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism that we can trace in its history. During the sixth century B.C., Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which stresses the importance of Meditation and the practice of physical postures. Siddharta Gautama, the first Buddhist to study Yoga, achieved enlightenment at the age of 35. Later, around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Lord's Song was created and this is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture. It is devoted entirely to Yoga and has confirmed that it has been an old practice for some time. However, it doesn't point to a specific time wherein Yoga could have started. The central point to the Gita is that - to be alive means to be active and in order to avoid difficulties in our lives and in others, our actions have to benign and have to exceed our egos. Just as the Upanishads further the Vedas, the Gita builds on and incorporates the doctrines found in the Upanishads. In the Gita, three facets must be brought together in our lifestyle: Bhakti or loving devotion, Jnana which is knowledge or contemplation, and Karma which is about selfless actions. The Gita then tried to unify Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga and it is because of this that it has gained importance. The Gita was a conversation between Prince Arjuna and God-man Krishna and it basically stresses the importance of opposing evil.
Classical Period
The Classical Period is marked by another creation - the Yoga Sutra. Written by Patanjali around the second century, it was an attempt to define and standardize Classical Yoga. It is composed of 195 aphorisms or sutras (from the Sanskrit word which means thread) that expound upon the Raja Yoga and its underlying principle, Patanjali's Eightfold path of Yoga (also called Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga). These are:
1. Yama, which means social restraints or ethical values;
2. Niyama, which is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study;
3. Asanas or physical exercises;
4. Pranayama, which means breath control or regulation;
5. Pratyahara or sense withdrawal in preparation for Meditation;
6. Dharana, which is about concentration;
7. Dhyana, which means Meditation; and
8. Samadhi, which means ecstasy.
Patanjali believed that each individual is a composite of matter (prakriti) and spirit (purusha). He further believed that the two must be separated in order to cleanse the spirit - a stark contrast to Vedic and Pre-Classical Yoga that signify the union of body and spirit. Patanjali's concept was dominant for some centuries that some Yogis focused exclusively on Meditation and neglected their Asanas. It was only later that the belief of the body as a temple was rekindled and attention to the importance of the Asana was revived. This time, Yogis attempted to use Yoga techniques to change the body and make it immortal.
Post-Classical Yoga
At this point, we see a proliferation of literature as well as the practice of Yoga. Post-classical Yoga differs from the first three since its focus is more on the present. It no longer strives to liberate a person from reality but rather teaches one to accept it and live at the moment. Yoga was introduced in the West during the early 19th century. It was first studied as part of Eastern Philosophy and began as a movement for health and vegetarianism around the 1930's. By the 1960's, there was an influx of Indian teachers who expounded on Yoga. One of them was Maharishi Mahesh, the Yogi who popularized Transcendental Meditation. Another one is a prominent Yoga Guru Swami Sivananda. Sivananda was a doctor in Malaysia and he later opened schools in America and Europe. The most prominent of his works is his modified Five Principles of Yoga which are:
1. Savasana or proper relaxation;
2. Asanas or proper exercise;
3. Pranayama or proper breathing;
4. Proper diet; and
5. Dhyana or positive thinking and Meditation
Sivananda wrote more than 200 books on Yoga and Philosophy and had many disciples who furthered Yoga. Some of them were Swami Satchitananda who introduced chanting and Yoga to Woodstock; Swami Sivananada Radha who explored the connection between psychology and Yoga, and Yogi Bhajan who started teaching Kundalini Yoga in the 70's. Up to this day, Yoga continues to proliferate and spread its teachings, crossing the boundaries of culture and language.