Yoga and Ayurveda--Same Goal

Yoga has taken America by storm. Yoga teaching has become one of the fastest growing professions in North America. As many as 30 million people practice yoga in the United States alone. NAMASTA, the North American Studio Alliance, the organization for mind-body professionals, nowestimates that there are 70,000 yoga teachers in North America. Most fitness clubs offer yoga classes, and yoga is the fastest growing segment of the exercise industry. Unfortunately, many equate Yoga to an exercise class like Pilates or step aerobics and this is the model much of the Yoga industry promotes.

While many view yoga(hatha yoga is the traditional term for the physical postures and cleansing practices) as an alternative way to exercise, most long-time practitioners realize that hatha yoga is not just physical -- it creates balance in mind, emotions and consciousness as well. As one practices Yoga one starts to realize that it offers so much more than just physical conditioning--one through experience sees that physical health is directly tied to emotional health and spiritual progress.

Yoga shares the same origin and goal as ayurveda, the traditional Vedic system of health care. Same origin and goal. Both yoga and ayurveda have their origin in the Vedic tradition of India, and both are a means to gain better health.

A verse from the Yoga Sutra, yogas chitta vritti nirodhaha, describes yoga as the settled state of the mind. Patanjali compares it to a verse from ayurvedic texts, svasmin dishati iti svasthah, which states that one who always remains united with the true self, the Universal Consciousness is a healthy person. These verses show that both yoga and ayurveda have the same goal which is attaining union with the Universal or Big Self, instead of identification with the little self (this body and senses along with the mind or "manas").

Other verses from the ayurvedic texts also point to this self-referral state of the mind as the basis of health. A verse from the Sushruta Samhita, for instance, says, "He (she) whose doshas are in balance, whose appetite is good, whose dhatus are functioning normally, whose malas are in balance and whose Consciousness(big self), mind and senses remain full of bliss, is called a healthy person. Modern medicine refers to ill health arising from mental causes as Psychosomatic illnesses. It is estimated that as much as 90% of lower back pain may have a mental component. Attaining union of individual consciusness, the self (Atman or Purusha) with the Universal consciusness reduces the suffering that leads to imbalance, both mental and physical and thus illness.

This experience of unity is the aim of Ayurveda. For instance, the word "ayurveda" is derived from the Sanskrit word ayu. While one common meaning of ayu is "life" or "lifespan," and thus ayurveda is "the science of life and longevity," another meaning of ayu is mentioned in Charaka Samhita, sharirendriya sattvatma sanyogo . . . ayu. This verse defines ayu as the state where the physical body, senses, mind, and soul are integrated. So you see that whether you are talking about yoga or ayu, it is a state of unity -- or complete integration of mind, body and consciousness -- that is the goal--Yoga or union.

Yoga balances all three doshas, and different poses have different effects. Forward bending postures cool Pitta dosha. Twists are good for Kapha because they stimulate digestion. Backward bends are heating, and thus balancing to Vata types. Yoga postures tone every area of the body, and cleanse the internal organs of toxins, which is one of the goals of ayurveda.

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). If someone is attending a yoga class on a regular basis, he or she is starting to dislodge ama (digestive impurities) in the body. But if they are still maintaining a lifestyle and diet that creates ama, all they are really doing is moving their sludge around. The yoga practitioner needs to know how to detoxify through the dietary, lifestyle, and purification practices of Ayurveda.

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) and Tantra. 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.

The use of asana, pranayama, and meditation for healing is known as Yoga Chikitsa(This is also the name of the 1st series of Astanga Vinyasa Yoga), 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.

Remember that the goal of yoga practice and ayurveda is the ultimate joy that comes from the union of individual consciusness, the self (Atman or Purusha) with the Universal Consciousness. The fact that one moves the body this way or that, or does some breathing practice does not, unto itself constitute Yoga. Yoga is the journey (Yatra) towards Yoga, which is the union being sought. To be a miner of diamonds, take care of your picks and shovels. To be a miner of your spiritual Self, take care of your body, breath, and mind. But don't confuse the tools and the goals. The destination of yoga and ayurveda is Yoga.

Om tat tvam asi, Steve Galindo.

June Monthly Theme: Ayurveda

Ayurveda, which literally means the knowledge and wisdom of life, is the traditional healing system of India. Often called the mother of all healing, it originated in India over 5000 years ago.

Ayurveda views health and disease as the end result of how we interact with the world, in terms of our beliefs, perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, which then ultimately determine our actions. Actions in harmony with our inner nature create health, while those dis-harmonious with our inner nature create disease. Ayurveda is the science of developing greater harmony with our environment through all of our senses.

Ayurveda assists the body in journeying back to optimal health by balancing the five elements in the body and mind through the use of herbs, diet, colors, aromas, lifestyle changes, yoga, and meditation along with other five sense therapies. The rejuvenative and cleansing therapies (Pancha Karma) described within help nourish our bodies while calming our minds from the stresses of modern daily life.

Your inner nature is called your constitution or prakruti, and is an individual blend of the three doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Your unique balance of these three energies was determined at the moment of conception and is with you the rest of your life. It determines what is in harmony with your nature and what will cause you to become out of balance, sick, and diseased. Knowledge of your constitution is essential to developing optimal health. Your constitution determines how you react to various foods, colors, aromas, and general life habits.

Recently, Ayurveda has had a profound impact upon the world of health care. Popular books by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and others have called attention to the potential of this ancient healing system. Along with the potential to heal chronic diseases, Ayurveda promises to improve health and increase longevity.

Ayurveda is considered the healing side of Yoga. Likewise, Yoga is the spiritual side of Ayurveda. Both Ayurveda and Yoga strive to help a person re-connect to their true nature through direct experience. Together, they encompass a complete approach to the well being of the body, the mind, and the spirit.

May Monthly Theme: Chakra System

Anodea Judith, author of Eastern Body, Western Mind, says:

A chakra is a center of activity that receives, assimilates, and expresses life force energy. The word chakra literally translates as wheel or disk and refers to a spinning sphere of bioenergetic activity emanating from the major nerve ganglia branching forward from the spinal column. There are six of these wheels stacked in a column of energy that spans from the base of the spine to the middle of the forehead. And the seventh which is beyond the physical region. It is the six major chakras that correlate with basic states of consciousness...

Chakras are commonly described, as above, as energy centers in the spine located at major branchings of the human nervous system, beginning at the base of the spinal column and moving upward to the top of the skull. Chakras are considered to be a point or nexus of metaphysical and/or biophysical energy of the human body. Each chakra is also associated with a specific color, gem, and mantra/sound. Through asana practice, pranayama, meditation, chanting, massage techniques, and color therapy we are able to open the chakras and increase flow of energy up the sushumna (similar to the spinal column).

Sahasrara

Sahasrara or the crown chakra is generally considered to be the chakra of consciousness. Its role may be envisioned somewhat similarly to that of the pituitary gland, which secretes hormones to communicate to the rest of the endocrine system and also connects to the central nervous system via the hypothalamus. The thalamus is thought to have a key role in the physical basis of consciousness. Symbolised by a lotus with one thousand petals, it is located on the crown of the head. Color Violet

Ajna

Ajna (along with Bindu, either or both are considered to correspond to the third eye) is linked to the pineal gland which may inform a model of its envisioning. Ajna is held as the chakra of time, awareness and of light. The pineal gland is a light sensitive gland that produces the hormone melatonin which regulates sleep and awakening. Symbolised by a lotus with two petals. Color Indigo

Vishuddha

Vishuddha (also Vishuddhi) or the throat chakra may be envisioned as relating to communication and growth, growth being a form of expression. This chakra is paralleled to the thyroid, a gland that is also in the throat and which produces thyroid hormone, responsible for growth and maturation. Symbolised by a lotus with sixteen petals. Color Blue

Anahata

Anahata or the heart chakra is related to complex emotion, compassion, love, equilibrium and well-being. It is related to the thymus, located in the chest. The thymus is an element of the immune system as well as being part of the endocrine system. It produces T cells responsible for fending off disease and may be adversely affected by stress. Symbolised by a lotus with twelve petals. Color Green

Manipura

Manipura or the solar plexus chakra is related to the transition from simple or base to complex emotion, energy, assimilation and digestion, and is held to correspond to the roles played by the pancreas and the outer adrenal glands, the adrenal cortex. These play a valuable role in digestion, the conversion of food matter into energy for the body. Symbolised by a lotus with ten petals. Color Yellow

Swadhistana

Swadhisthana or the sacral chakra is located in the sacrum (hence the name) and is related to base emotion, sexuality and creativity. This chakra is considered to correspond to the testicles or the ovaries that produce the various sex hormones involved in the reproductive cycle which may cause dramatic mood swings. Symbolized by a lotus with six petals. Color Orange

Muladhara

Muladhara or the base or root chakra is related to instinct, security, survival and also to basic human potentiality. This centre is located in the region between the genitals and the anus. Although no endocrine organ is placed here, it is said to relate to the inner adrenal glands, the adrenal medulla, responsible for the fight and flight response when survival is under threat. In this region is located a muscle that controls ejaculation in the sexual act in the human male. A parallel is charted between the sperm cell and the ovum where the genetic code lies coiled and the kundalini. Symbolised by a lotus with four petals. Color Red

Practicing Life

When we practice asana we often focus on telling our body what to do. We then carry this mindset into our days and do the same with others. The result--conflict in our lives and on our yoga mats. Have we really acheived Yoga? The next time you practice asana, try to let go of desire to force your body to do something or to attain some kind of idealized shape. Listen to your body, embrace the intelligence that is there in every cell and practice from that. Then when you are working, playing, interacting with others do the same. Really listen or just be and and absorb the beauty and intelligence of others. Now find the peace and happiness that not only comes to you, but to those around you. Namaste. Steve Galindo.

April Monthly Theme: Klesas

The April theme of the month highlights the Klesas, or the obstacles that get in the way of us reaching Samadhi, or enlightenment. The idea is to minimize the five Klesas. They are with us always but we want to weaken them.

The Five Klesas are:

Avidya – Ignorance or better yet… lack of awareness

Asmita – The feeling of individuality which limits a person and distinguishes him from a group and which may be physical, mental, intellectual or emotional: EGO

Raga – Attachment or passion

Dvesa – Aversion or repulsion

Abhinivesa – Love or thirst for life, the instinctive clinging to life and bodily enjoyment and fear that one may be cut off from all by death.

An Introduction toSeasonal Detox and Cleansing

Almost everyone needs to detoxify and rest their body from time to time. Some of us need to cleanse more frequently or work more continually to rebalance our body. There are many types of cleanses that restore the body by eliminating toxins, thereby improving our ability to absorb nutrients. After cleansing, people usually find their digestion improves, resulting in clear skin, more energy and a healthier weight. Additionally, cleanses can balance moods and improve mental clarity, making you feel clear headed and present. Common toxicity symptoms include headache, fatigue, congestion, backaches, aching or swollen joints, digestive problems, allergy symptoms, and sensitivity to environmental agents. Dietary changes or avoidance of symptom causing agents is usually beneficial. It is advisable to do a cleanse 1 to 4 times a year.

Most importantly, cleansing is a form of yoga or union… and presence with what you are doing is fundamental. You will want to be aware of doing something kind for yourself, preparing foods lovingly, and making sure they are thoroughly savored and enjoyed.
Be creative when preparing a cleansing menu. Discover a variety of fruits and vegetables and make your salads colorful and adventurous. Eat only organic or local.

Cleanses can last on average 3-12 days and even longer if need be. Some people may choose a raw cleanse, an ayurvedic cleanse or even a juice fast. First you must decide the right level and length of cleanse for you, commit to it and move forward with mindful awareness. Listed below are a few recommendations:

1. Eliminate meat, chicken, seafood, eggs. Substitute with beans, nuts, tofu, tempeh. Eat Kitcheree (mung beans and rice).
   
2. Eliminate all foods including leftovers; foods with preservatives, additives or chemicals; and canned, frozen or processed foods.
   
3. Eliminate heavy desserts, cheeses, fried foods, candy and chocolate, white sugar, carbonated drinks, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
   
4. Drink lots of warm water with lemon.
   
5. Consider eliminating dairy products.
   
6. Eat only whole grains and non-yeasted breads: brown rice, quinoa, barley, millet, Ezekial bread.
   
7. Eliminate simple sugars. Substitute with brown rice syrup or agave nectar.
   
8. Eliminate alcohol, caffeine, nicotine.
   
9. Drink herbal teas such as Licorice, Red Clover, or Dandelion which are blood cleansers & detoxifiers; or teas with coriander, cumin and fennel which are digestion enhancing spices.
   
10. Cook with digestion-enhancing, detoxifying spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, clove, ginger, fennel.
    
11. Consider taking food enzymes and drinking Emergen C packets each day.
    
12. Use only natural soaps and oils on your body
    
13. Neti daily.
    
14. Do yoga, pranayama, and meditation daily.
    
15. Take warm baths and get adequate sleep.

Enjoy!

March Monthly Theme:Dhyana & Samadhi

The monthly theme for March brings us to the last two limbs of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga, Dhyana and Samadhi.

From the previous limb or Dharana, we learned the importance of single pointed concentration. It is the foundation for the next limb, Dhyana, or meditation. It is at this point that there is uninterrupted flow of concentration. It is a fine distinction but at this point the mind has quieted and in the stillness it produces few or no thoughts at all. One is aware without focus. One has actually merged with the object of concentration. It has often been compared to rain drops falling. The rain drops themselves represent, dharana, or intermittent moments of focused attention. When they fall to Earth and create a river, there is a merging of the individual raindrops into one stream, like dhyana, or meditation.

The final limb is Samadhi, or enlightenment or super consciousness. Here we lose all attachment and are one with the meditation. Samadhi is the state in which we no longer experience reality through our own filters. Instead we experience reality directly. It is the state in which you are aware on a cellular level of the underlying oneness of the universe. Judith Lasater says ” Samadhi is a state of being intensely present without a point of view.” It is believed that we can achieve this in our everyday lives but is seems we need the journey of yoga to discover what was present inside us all along.