The Yoga of Ayurveda

A Vedic story gives us an organization of the human as a being with 5 dimensions

An ayurvedic yoga practice considers the state of the 5 elements, the 20 gunas and the 3 doshas and applies opposites to balance.

This oneness, where the observer and the observed become one that is universal mind. That is universal consciousness.

Let the yogi perform ujjai to destroy death and decay”

Gheranda Samhita ch 4 sutras 71-72

Ayurveda emphasizes prevention by each individual learning their constitution (prakruti) and participating in balancing disorder (vikruti)

With prakruti, we can see what holds true over a longer period of time. Let’s look at Abraham Lincoln, Hillary Clinton and Oprah

We can always boil our complex things down to the basics of ayurveda. Determine what is out of balance and apply the idea: Like increases like and opposites balance.

The Pranic layer of the body is explained. We explore how the 5 pranas, the nadis and the chakras impact on our doshas.

We will relate each of the 5 pranas to each of the 5 elements and understand how their functioning impacts each other and can be used as medicine in yoga.

We will explore the nadis and chakras in more depth. We will see how maximum charges run through the 3 main nadis and they can impact the entire network instantly.

We will experience power of directing the prana with our attention, and see how it can be used to balance its associated element and dosha.

We will direct prana through ida, pingala and sushumna. These 3 follow the spinal column. They nadis require attention so that they are capable of distributing energy throughout the entire pranic network.

Bhramari pranayama induces a meditative state by harmonizing the mind and directing the awareness inwards. We will use brahmari more in practices to come.

Introduce your lesson with an optional, short summary. You can edit this excerpt in lesson settings.

Introduce your lesson with an optional, short summary. You can edit this excerpt in lesson settings.

Once you adopt an ayurvedic routine called dinacharya, you will experience stabilized energy, improved moods, better digestion and better sleep. Attention to the 5 senses through daily ritual is especially potent for the yogi as the senses heavily impact the mind.

Yoga and ayurveda act to purify the chakras, stabilize the prana and prepare us for our evolution. This practice can be done as means of understanding how your panic body operates as well as to purify it.

We will discuss Marmani, points on the body that are concentrated areas of energy and intelligence. We will explore how they work and how to apply them to our practices.

We will practice asana with attention to Marma. We will create currents of energy that leads to healing of our physical body and also our panic body with reference to the chakra.

We will practice asana with attention to Marma. We will create currents of energy that leads to healing of our physical body and also our panic body with reference to the chakra.

We will practice asana with attention to Marma. We will create currents of energy that leads to healing of our physical body and also our panic body with reference to the chakra.

We will practice asana with attention to Marma. We will create currents of energy that leads to healing of our physical body and also our panic body with reference to the chakra.

We will practice asana with attention to Marma. We will create currents of energy that leads to healing of our physical body and also our panic body with reference to the chakra.

We will practice asana with attention to Marma. We will create currents of energy that leads to healing of our physical body and also our panic body with reference to the chakra.

Introduce your lesson with an optional, short summary. You can edit this excerpt in lesson settings.

When Vata is high we must change the way that we approach asana. Attention to the poses we choose, the areas of the body to call attention to, arm placement, palm placement, gaze, intensity, pace and how we interact with the space around us are all important factors.

Take the time to analyze each dosha and its movements. Feel them in your body. Layer on the breathing for one of the pranas. Experiment with this, watching how your doshas respond.

When Pitta is high we must change the way that we approach asana. Attention to the poses we choose, the areas of the body to call attention to, arm placement, palm placement, gaze, intensity, pace and how we interact with the space around us are all important factors.

Take the time to analyze each dosha and its movements. Feel them in your body. Layer on the breathing for one of the pranas. Experiment with this, watching how your doshas respond.

When Kaphaa is high we must change the way that we approach asana. Attention to the poses we choose, the areas of the body to call attention to, arm placement, palm placement, gaze, intensity, pace and how we interact with the space around us are all important factors.

Take the time to analyze each dosha and its movements. Feel them in your body. Layer on the breathing for one of the pranas. Experiment with this, watching how your doshas respond.

When we understand the doshas, we can feel what energies a practice activates. When we apply “opposites balance” we can create medicine. Feel this practice and analyze how it leaves you feeling. In terms of doshas.

When we understand the doshas, we can feel what energies a practice activates. When we apply “opposites balance” we can create medicine. Feel this practice and analyze how it leaves you feeling. In terms of doshas.

When we understand the doshas, we can feel what energies a practice activates. When we apply “opposites balance” we can create medicine. Feel this practice and analyze how it leaves you feeling. In terms of doshas.

The accumulation of dosha in the body creates disease and is a direct result of the accumulation of guna. Each guna has a balancing guna, and when applied, will harmonize the mind/body. This can be very easily applied on the mat.

Specific anatomical adjustments for diagnosis of doshic imbalance and correction of imbalance.

Specific anatomical adjustments for diagnosis of doshic imbalance and correction of imbalance.

Specific anatomical adjustments for diagnosis of doshic imbalance and correction of imbalance.

Bandhas are like prana valves. When we think about our yoga practices as a means to maximize our ability to hold and circulate prana in a way that is appropriate for our constitution, using a valve to control that flow is essential.

Study of the mind is crucial. Yoga and ayurveda share the language of sattvic, rajasic and tamasic, when speaking on the predominating qualities of the mind. Ayurveda and yoga also share the same end goal, a sattvic mind. Yoga calls for chitta vritti nirodaha as a means to liberation. Ayurveda says the mind is the initiator of most all diseases and therefore the best preventative medicine, is a sattvic mind.

Ayurveda says that there are 3 primary causes of disease and 2 of them are of the mind: Misuse of the senses, Crimes against wisdom and Seasonal changes

Antahkarana, or the inner instrument, is our internal processor. It is the invisible workings of the mind that, when studied becomes a powerful tool for our evolution.

Amritabindhu Upanishad says: “Mind is the problem, mind is the solution.”

Just the understanding of the inner processor, purifies it. This creates a subtlety to your meditation, as you can start to discern what parts of the antahkarana are at play and study yourself from that knowledge.

We must tend our digestion with proper quantity of food and drink, proper timing, and the ideal fuel, in order for agni to burn optimally.

A balanced agni leads to optimal, strength, vitality and glow! Your mind will be clear, logical, unattached and meditation ready. If you worship agni, you will be blessed with perfect health.

Asana for Agni can be tailored to suit each dosha. It’s movements are focalized at the belly, at the nabhi marmani and at the solar plexus.

Creating a routine for yourself establishes a rhythm. This harmonizes you with not only the external environment but also grounds you more deeply into your inner world.

If you imagine your digestion as a camp fire, you can see the importance of tending the fire. If you put too little, too much, used bad timing, or tried to burn garbage, it would not burn optimally. Ayurveda offers simple tips for tending your fire.