Yoga & Ayurveda
By Beverley Segel & Don Scheumann
Yoga and Ayurveda have long been linked together as two complimentary systems of human development. They grew up organically intertwined through their common ancient Vedic roots – the legacy of the legendary Himalayan rishis who understood the laws of the universe and the inner process of cosmogenesis that holds the keys to all transformations. The two systems have maintained a long and intimate history, interacting upon and enhancing one another up to the present day. Ayurveda is the “second phase” of interest in Yoga, which builds upon the first phase of interest in Yoga as an exercise system.
Yoga is seen as a popular exercise trend, an alternative medical therapy, a profound spiritual path, but to put Yoga in the proper perspective we must look at it anew, particularly with regard to individual adaptation.
Yoga in Sanskrit means “to unite, coordinate, or energize”. It refers to the proper integration of body, mind and spirit to unfold our higher potential in life. Classical Yoga takes our ordinary capacities and extends them exponentially to help us develop an awareness that goes beyond our ordinary personal and human limitations. Yoga uses the foundations of the body, its secret energies and natural intelligence to reach the summits of the spirit.
Classical Yoga is much more than a great exercise system, it has extraordinary healing potential for both body and mind, it addresses the structural imbalances in the body, like bone and joint problems, as well as organic dysfunctions, including hormonal and immune system disorders, particularly through meditation methods. Yoga treats nervous system disorders, emotional tension and psychological difficulties from stress to psychosis.
For its healing purpose, classical Yoga is closely aligned with traditional Ayurveda “the science of life”, which can also be called Yogic medicine. Ayurveda uses diet, herbs, bodywork, pranayama, and meditation as part of a holistic system of healing that parallels the practices of Yoga relative to the body, mind and spirit. They both reflect a dharmic approach to life, a seeking to keep all beings in harmony with the benefic laws of the universe.
As Yogic healing becomes emphasized we must naturally turn our attention to Ayurveda as well.
Ayurveda is primarily a science of Self-healing aimed at relieving diseases of the body and mind. This does not mean that Ayurveda is merely a method of personal healing which doesn’t require help from therapists or doctors. In fact, Ayurveda says that medical practitioners are indispensable in dealing with the complexities of disease and the variabilities of health requirements. Ayurveda as Self-healing means that it is concerned with restoring wholeness, with our inner Self as its ultimate goal, which is spiritual healing.
Ayurveda’s concern is alleviating both bodily and mental diseases and promoting both physical and psychological well-being. Yet the ultimate goal of classical Ayurveda, like classical Yoga, is Self-realization – the highest form of Self-healing. Ayurveda shows us how to attain optimal health not for outer enjoyment but to provide a wholesome foundation and sufficient energy to pursue the yogic quest.
The link between yoga and ayurveda is prana, or the life-force. Yoga is the intelligence of prana seeking greater evolutionary transformations, while Ayurveda is its healing power. Together Ayurveda and yoga afford a complete discipline, one, which can transform our existence from the physical to the deepest spiritual levels of our being with extraordinary vitality and creativity on all levels.
Atlantans now have a local doorway to this profound realm of Yoga and Ayurveda as described in Vedic wisdom, an ancient philosophy originating in India. The Sattva Yoga & Healing center, conveniently located at 1620 LaVista Road, educates students on how to employ these time tested natural concepts in their own creative and intuitive light, for greater personal healing.
As a means of integrating these two powerful sciences of self-knowledge and healing, a new approach, called the Sattva Yoga System is being offered at the center;
Sattva – a harmonious state of being achieved through reconciliation of the polar opposite qualities of activity (rajas) and inertia (tamas). The Sattva Yoga System offers a unique approach to yoga through an innovative synthesis of ancient and modern tools for the development of body, mind, and spirit. The classical precepts of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga and Ayurveda are complemented by teachings from Taoism, Zen, Science of Mind, structural alignment modalities, movement studies, and the creative arts.
Utilizing the body as the vehicle for exploration, chronic tension patterns, limiting beliefs and behaviors, and unhealthy habits are gradually eliminated. They are supplanted by activation of the universal life force within (prana) as the guiding principle in one’s actions. This results in a healthy, strong body, a clear, focused mind, and a balanced emotional nature.
Beverley Segel (R.Y.T., C.M.T.) is an Ayurvedic Health Educator certified through the American Institute of Vedic Studies (director being renowned author and Vedic expert Dr. David Frawley).
Donald Scheumann, a Certified Yoga Teacher has 30 years experience teaching and practicing yoga and he is the author of The Balanced Body: A Guide to Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Therapy, an internationally recognized textbook for training professional massage therapists.
Beverley Segel
This article was posted by Beverley Segel
