Meditation and Yoga

In our western culture people practice yoga asanas in order to make their body flexible and strong. In fact, one could hardly find any better method to achieve this end. However, these postures traditionally form part of a long spiritual way.

Yoga is the perfect science of purifying our mind. A clear mind is resistant to stress and healthy consciousness is the key to a healthy body. The direct connection of our health to a calm, peaceful mind is undeniable, and if your mind is clear, you are able to recognize the nature of your own self. According to Ayurveda, every disease results from the fact that we have forgotten that we are actually spiritual beings. Ayurveda and yoga help us gain direct experiences through which we can recognize our real nature.

Ayurveda and yoga are closely connected. In fact, they constitute two sides of the same coin Ayurveda being the healing aspect of yoga, while yoga being the spiritual path of Ayurveda. The two together present a perfect way for the coexistence of body, soul and mind.

If you do Hatha yoga, the practical application of even a little Ayurvedic knowledge might help you achieve inner balance and harmony. On the other hand, combining certain asanas with a particular diet, herbs and scents may have different effects on people. What is good for you may be harmful to others leading to more serious problems regarding the state of your energies.

The knowledge of your physical constitution (the Ayurvedic balance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas) may help you choose and practice yoga asanas that have beneficent effects on your health and general condition.

People with an imbalanced Vata-dosha constitution are often quite agile and unruly. They are prone to suffer from losing weight and problems resulting from the insufficient functioning of their immune system. Their feet and hands are often cold, they have constipation and they are also threatened by various forms of neurosis and restlessness. The most suitable relaxing and static asanas they should practice include the Tree pose (Vrksasana) and the Mountain pose Tadasana), which help them decrease their anxiety.

Asanas contracting the muscles (such as Paschimottanasana) help you get rid of constipation while asanas requiring strength (e.g. Bakasana) stimulate blood circulation. On the other hand, postures consisting of rapid changes (e.g. the repetition of Surya-namaskar, the Sun Salutation pose) may reinforce neurosis and could even lead to a torn ligament unless you do it with proper concentration paying attention to small details. So the asanas suited to your individual needs restore balance, while unsuitable ones may increase imbalance.

Those with an imbalanced Pitta-dosha constitution usually suffer from an inner fire predominant in their body. They cannot stand heat and develop skin problems including acnes and psoriasis. They often have diarrhoea, conjunctivitis and liver problems. To restore their balance they need asanas that calm and relax the eyes and reduce the strength of the sun while they should avoid postures that increase the strength of the sun since they might raise the temperature of their body. The Cobra pose (Bhuyangasana) and the Bow pose (Dhanurasana) for example are asanas that disperse heat.

Imbalanced Pitta people should try not to get too hot while doing yoga. Moreover, they should not do aerobics or asanas that require a reversed pose since they might lead to a stroke.

People with a dominant Kapha-dosha constitution are usually overweight, slow and they sweat too much. They suffer from obesity, stagnation, accumulated mucus and they feel held back. Their bodies require stimulating and warming exercises, so dynamic sports activities are good for them but whatever form of exercise they choose, they have to make sure that they start it slowly only gradually increasing their load.

As we have mentioned above, the Sun Salutation pose is a warming posture and its regular practice is most suitable for people with an imbalanced Kapha constitution. This complex set of poses brings relief and fosters weight-loss. Asanas widening the chest improve breathing and decrease stagnation. They include the Upward Bow pose (Urdvha Dhanurasana) and the Bridge pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana). Meditative asanas may stimulate Kapha-imbalance, therefore practice active postures to avoid sleepiness.

Yoga asanas in themselves do not make a complete healing programme, they are only a part of the healing process. In order to achieve the balance of body and mind you need to apply the whole inventory of ancient Indian healing science including a proper diet, herbal treatments, aromatherapy, colour therapy, meditation, the cleansing of the body of waste matter, rejuvenation and a harmonic lifestyle.

By following the principles of Ayurveda, you create ideal conditions for the body to recover. Under such circumstances our body reveals its full potential. Ancient Indian science claims that harmony and health go hand in hand, while disharmony and ailments are inseparable. Ayurveda and yoga are your allies on your way to a healthy and harmonic life.

The author of Yoga Sutra, Patanjali presented yoga to us as a way to enlightenment. ‘We have to gradually proceed through all levels of yoga practice’, he said. Yoga asanas are only the very first step in the preparation of the body teaching you how to direct energies appearing in the spiritual exercises.

If you have a proper life style (including the right diet, the necessary discipline and restrictions), asanas constitute the basis for the development of your mind and soul. The more solid this basis is the deeper spiritual practice it brings.

Among the methods used by both yoga and Ayurveda we find meditation and breathing exercises as well. Meditation leads to physical recovery the same way as it leads to a healthy consciousness. While Ayurvedic techniques concentrate on the healing effects of meditation, yoga focuses on its spiritual aspects.

Meditation cleans our consciousness and relaxes the body, which brings about recovery and enlightenment. Meditation has a lot of different forms, each being an instrument that helps achieve the desired individual result. Different people need different meditation techniques but in their own way each of them may prove to be useful and valuable depending on the person using them.

Recovery with the help of Ayurveda and yoga is a long process since they are not cure-all pills with immediate effect. They heal our inner self and that kind of healing is achieved through the transformation of our consciousness.

The teaching of life is to be in harmony with nature. The person who pursues this practice will grow and develop. As a result, stress disappears, harmful emotions pass away, there is no more sorrow and joy returns to our life. Our inner energy grows and our eyes become shiny and radiant like life itself.

‘The one who rejoices at and grieves for the joy and sorrow of each living being I consider to be the greatest yogi of all’ (Bhagavad-Gita translated by Swami Pravhavanadi).