Ayurveda and Yoga, Ancient Sister Sciences

Ayurveda and yoga are sister Vedic sciences that have been united for thousands of years for the sake of healing body, mind, and consciousness. Generally speaking, Ayurveda deals more with the health of the body, while yoga deals with purifying the mind and consciousness, but in reality they complement and embrace each other.

The ancient rishis (seers) were the original masters of all Vedic sciences. They understood that good health is a great asset on the path toward Self-realization. If the body is neglected it can easily become an obstacle to spiritual practice. Anyone who has practiced meditation for any length of time would agree to how difficult it can be to sit still for long periods of time without feeling discomfort and fatigue. Both yoga and Ayurveda are mutually supportive and offer many ways to prevent and heal various disorders as well as to cleanse and rejuvenate the body.

Besides sharing a philosophical foundation, both systems have many similarities in relation to attitude, nutrition, diet, hygiene, exercise, cleansing practices, as well as spiritual practices. Traditionally, a student of yoga would first live close to and serve the guru for many years, during which time he would learn healthy habits. The basic Ayurvedic principles for health and longevity were past on in the lineage in oral form to serve as a foundation for a life of sadhana (spiritual practice).

Nowadays, the teachings of yoga are easily available to all, and whether prepared or not we can leap headlong into its practice. This has its blessings, in the sense that more people can be turned on to the teachings, although much is often lost without the parampara, or close guidance at the feet of an accomplished master. With this in mind, 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, and so on, to prevent disease and promote longevity.

First, lets take a look at the similarities between yoga and Ayurveda:

* Both are ancient Vedic teachings. yoga originates in the Yajur Veda, while Ayurveda originates in the Atharva Veda and Rig Veda.

* Both recognize that keeping the body healthy is vital for fulfilling the four aims of life: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation).

* Both recognize that the balance of doshas (humors), dhatus (tissues), and malas (waste products) is essential for maintaining good health.

* Both 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).

* Both advocate the use of diet, herbs, asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, astrology, prayer, puja, and rituals for healing the entire being.

* Both encourage physical health as a good foundation for mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

* Both share the same view on psychology. Ayurveda embraces all six of the main schools of philosophy including the yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Vedanta (a non-dual philosophical and spiritual path). 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.

* 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).

Ayurvedic approach to asana practice

The use of asana, pranayama, and meditation for healing is known as yoga Chikitsa, or yoga Therapy and has been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic and yogic adepts. In yoga Chikitsa, a group of yogic exercises are chosen that will best support the individual and are practiced daily. This can be done over an extended period of time in conjunction with an Ayurvedic regime and herbal and dietary therapies. yoga Chikitsa also plays an integral role in the Ayurvedic cleansing and rejuvenation process known as panchakarma.

For a well balanced personal yoga practice, it is important to take into consideration the individuals body structure, prakruti (original constitution), and vikruti (present constitutional imbalance). The following are general recommendations according to the predominant dosha.

Vata predominant individuals should remember to focus on calming, grounding, stillness, strengthening, and balancing while doing their practice.

Precautions for vata:

* Vinyasa or flow styles of yoga tend to move too quickly from one pose to the next and can aggravate the hyper-mobile quality of vata over time. Flow sequences can be made to be more vata pacifying if they are not excessively long, the length of time poses are held is extended, and transitions are done slowly and consciously.

* Those with lower back problems may find that bending the knees in standing forward bends can prevent discomfort.

* Back bends should be done slowly, carefully and within one's own limits.

Pitta individuals should maintain a calm, cool, and relaxed intention while doing asanas. Pitta types may benefit from trying to cultivate an attitude of forgiveness, and of surrendering or offering the fruits of their practice to the divine of to those in need of positive healing energy. Because asana practice tends to generate heat in the body, it is best to do them at cooling times of the day, such as dawn or dusk. Also, it is useful to place some emphasis on poses that help to release excess heat from the body, such as poses that compress the solar plexus and poses that open the chest like.

Kapha types tend to be sedentary and often dislike vigorous exercise. For this reason, their practice should be energetic, warming, lightening, and stimulating, providing they are physically capable. Vinyasa or flow style yoga is good for kapha because it is dynamic and moves quickly from one pose to the next, it induces sweating and gets the heart pumping.

yoga poses that address specific doshic problems can be easily added to an Ayurvedic regime and integrated into an existing yoga routine, or they can be organized as a small session with the help of an Ayurvedic clinician who knows each individual case well and can help set up a well balanced program according to the needs of each client.

Ayurveda also offers yoga Chikitsa, or yoga Therapy, for specific doshic disorders. It is advised to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for an individualized regime.

Ayurvedic Approach to Pranayama (breathing techniques).

The ultimate goal of pranayama is to calm the mind and prepare it for meditation. It also has a therapeutic effect on the physical body as well. It is not essential to do a pranayama practice according to dosha, but knowing its effects on the body is a valuable tool for management of the doshas. Below is a general list of pranayama and bandha exercises according to dosha.

Vata: Nadi Shodhana, Kapala Bhati, Agnisara Dhauti, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.

Pitta: Sheetali or Sitkari, Nadi shodhana.

Kapha: Bastrika, Agnisara Dhauti, Kapala Bhati, Ashvini Mudra (contracting and releasing Mula Bandha), Ashvini Mudra, Ujjayi, Tri Bandha, Maha Mudra.

Furthermore, the Four Purifications taught in our workshops is an ancient method from the Ashtanga yoga for purifying the gross and subtle body in order to prepare it for more advanced practices. They are tridoshic and safe for everyone, providing they are performed correctly.

Meditation According to Dosha.

These spiritual paths and their meditation techniques can be practiced by anyone, regardless of their prakruti. This list is only intended to give an idea on how dosha can support or influence ones spiritual practice. Many traditions of yoga blend various aspects of the paths listed here.

* Vata: Kriya yoga or Ashtanga yoga and other structured techniques help to keep vata stabilized and focused.

* Pitta: Jnana yoga and Vedanta are good for pitta types because they often have sharp intellects and have a keen interest in self-study (Atma-vichara).

* Kapha: Bhakti yoga is natural for kapha types because they are often loving and devotional by nature.

Ayurvedic and Yogic Diet.

Ayurveda is more concerned with food being constitutionally balanced, while yoga promotes a diet that is sattwic (light and pure). A combination of both aspects is the best choice for a yogi or anyone wanting to make real progress on a spiritual path.

Ayurvedic diet:

* According to dosha.

* Primarily vegetarian (meat is used as medicine, mainly for extreme deficiencies).

* Primarily cooked (raw food in moderation, especially for vata types).

* Containing six tastes.

Yogic diet:

* Sattwic vegetarian diet.

* Easy to digest.

* Simple meals (to limit desire).

* Both cooked and raw.

* Foods recommended in the Hatha yoga Pradipika consist of rejuvenating substances such as wheat, whole grain, white basmati, corn, raw milk, raw sugar, butter, ghee, honey, dried ginger, mung beans, pure water, vegetables.

* Fruits, roots and nuts.

* Avoiding excessive hot, sour, salty, fermented, and fried foods.

* Avoiding tamasic (dulling) foods like meat, onions, garlic and mushrooms as a regular part of the daily diet.

Cleansing in yoga and Ayurveda.

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.

The yogic method is known in the Ashtanga tradition as Shat Karma, or six cleansing measures. These are:

1. Neti (nasal cleansing):
Jala neti (salt water flushing of the sinuses).
Sutra neti (nasal cleaning with string).

2. Dhauti (washing the GI tract).
Teeth, tongue, eyes, ears and forehead.
Agnisara Dhauti.
Vamana Dhauti (vomiting salt water).
Vastra Dhauti (washing with a cloth).
Varisara Dhauti (washing with water for purgation).

3. Basti (enema).
4. Trataka (forehead wash, gazing into a candle flame).
5. Nauli (intestinal washing, abdominal rolling).
6. Kapala Bhati (skull shining).

The Ayurvedic method for cleansing and rejuvenation is known as panchakarma (pancha karma), or five cleansing actions. This program is usually done for a week or two, but can also be done for longer periods depending on the case. The five actions of this method are:

1. Basti (Enema).
2. Nasya (Nasal application of herbs and herbal oils).
3. Vamana (Therapeutic vomiting).
4. Virechana (Purgation).
5. Rakta Moksha (Blood letting).

It is obvious that Ayurveda and yoga not only complement each other. Both sciences actually embrace each other as they share similarities and fundamental principles on many levels. Ayurveda and yoga should go hand in hand if we want to achieve optimal health, peace, and longevity.

Vishnu Dass, NTS, LMT, CAyu, is an Ayurvedic practitioner and educator and the Director of Blue Lotus Ayurveda - Natural Health & Rejuvenation - an Ayurvedic clinic in Asheville, NC, that offers holistic health care, panchakarma (for deep detox and rejuvenation), rejuvenating therapies, diet and lifestyle counseling, yoga and yoga therapy, therapeutic massage & bodywork, workshops, and more. For more information, articles and products, visit: http://www.bluelotusayurveda.com and http://ayurvedayogashop.com

Free Yoga Online

Shocking Weight Loss with Green Tea

Green tea and black tea are not much different - they come from the same plant. The difference lies in the method of processing - black tea is allowed to ferment and is oxidizes, whereas green tea has not been allowed to ferment. Depending on how the green tea is processed (roasted or steamed) and where geographically it comes from, green tea could either be partially fermented or not fermented at all.

Green Tea retains much of its tannic acid content, as compared to black tea, where the tannic acid decomposes and forms more caffeine. This extra tannic acid in green tea has many significant characteristics and health benefits such as:

* There is a lower amount of caffeine. And of whatever caffeine there is, this caffeine is still in a linked chain (unbroken), so the caffeine is released at a much slower and gentler rate into the body than either black tea or even coffee.

* Tannic acid's healthy effects are accentuated, these effects include reducing the risk of cancer and inflammations, as well as soothing and calming the gastro-intestinal system.

* There is more Vitamin C in green tea, as there is less or no fermentation. Vitamin C is easily destroyed during the fermentation process.

* There is more Vitamin B and thiamine in green tea. This ensures that the cells of our brain do not lack energy, and also protects the nervous system from being over stimulated.

The various active substances in green tea have been attributed to produce various effects on the body, most of them good. Green tea's potent combination of Vitamin C and flavanoids can help to protect us from bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Green tea can help diabetics as it slows down the processing of complex carbohydrates into sugar, thus maintaining the blood sugar levels at a healthier level. It however, does not and cannot help with refined sugars, which are found in sweets, cakes and chocolates. So if you are a diabetic, it makes plenty of sense to include it into your regular diet.

If you substitute green tea instead of drinking your coffee with milk and black tea with milk, then you can sale a lot of calories from the milk and sugar used. Because green tea is best drunk plain, there are very little calories in it, almost zero. This is in contrast to the 80 or so calories in coffee with milk and sugar.

Some people simply dislike the taste of green tea, and for these people, they can also derive the health benefits of green tea without having to drink it. This is made possible by the introduction of green tea pills which make the task of consuming green tea more manageable.

Get your exclusive free report on Weight Loss at http://www.Weight-Loss-Secrets-Revealed.net

There are many supplements and pills available that can help you to lose weight quicker. To get a no fluff diet pill review click on the link.

Shafir Ahmad is an Infopreneur bringing you the best information.

Yoga Pilates In Darmstadt

5 Essential Golf Swing Basics - Cut 7-10 Strokes By Mastering The Basic Golf Swing Secrets

Golf is one of the most technical sports in terms of player technique. However, it isn't as complicated as some players make it out to be. In fact, in order to improve your game, all you have to do is learn and implement the basics correctly.

As any experienced golfer will tell you, the key to having the lowest score in golf is to get your golf swing right. Once you have a decent golf swing, you can hit the ball in whichever direction and for whatever distance you want 8 times out of 10. If you've ever marveled at how easily great golfers like Tiger woods or Vijay Singh get the golf ball to do their bidding, then you should probably know that these players first spent years perfecting their golf swing basics to reach the top of their game.

Here is a brief look at the important golf swing basics:

Golf Swing Basic #1:

The golf swing begins at the time before you are about to tee off. This is where a lot of amateur golfers lose focus and end up hitting the ball into the pond or woods instead of the fairway. Here, it is important to make a mental map in your head and chart out a specific area where you would like for the golf ball to land and concentrate on hitting it there. Once you do this, you should be able to hit your target without much problem. The key to this is mental focus.

Golf Swing basic #2:

Next, you need to take care of how well you grip the handle of your golf club. If your grip is too relaxed you are likely to end up slicing the ball and if you grip the club handle too tight, you will probably hook the shot instead of hitting it where you want to. The solution is to find the right grip level that you are comfortable with before the back-swing. Speaking of which, another important golf swing basic is the back-swing.

Golf Swing basic #3:

It is a common mistake for rookie golfers to raise the club somewhat casually during the back-swing. If you make this error, it means that you won't be able to hit the ball very far. This is because, the downswing is where, as you begin to twist your body and energy from your muscles is stored as potential energy, which is then converted into kinetic energy during the downswing and all that energy is transferred to the golf ball at the point of impact. To put it simply, you need to be like a tightly wound up spring in order to generate enough momentum and the best way to achieve that is by executing the back-swing in one motion moving only your arms and not your hands or wrists!

Golf Swing basic #4:

After the back-swing comes the all important downswing. The secret to getting this right is to make sure that you have a smooth and gradual back-swing to begin with and then bring down the head of the club at least 30-35% faster than the speed of your back-swing.

Golf Swing basic #5:

One of the most important basics for a good swing is the pivot movement during the back-swing. For right-handers, it is pertinent to get the left shoulder and hips properly into correct alignment while transferring weight slightly to the inside of the right foot. At the same time, it's equally important to keep this movement as natural as possible without overdoing it.

To conclude, apart from the above-mentioned golf swing basics, the best way to start a day of golf is to step up to the tee with a positive mindset, since a nervous golfer is a poor golfer. So just be confident, stick to the basics and you should comfortably find your way around the golf course better than most!

Master the golf swing basics, and cut 7+ strokes from your game in the next 2 weeks! Learn the simple golf swing, and have fun with golf again. Learn how to dominate your friends and have more fun than ever with golf because of one simple thing you may be missing here:

http://www.perfectgolf.org/simplegolfswingreview

Funny Yoga Mat