Yoga and Ayurveda for your Wellbeing
International Yoga Day,
Wednesday 21st June 2023.
“Yoga for Vasudheva Kutumbakam-One Family One Health” is the theme for this year’s International Yoga Day
What is the history of International Yoga Day?
Yoga is the universal ritual of exercise and meditation from India, which has transformed so many lives worldwide. It is the demand of 177 countries to celebrate and practice Yoga for their Nation's health and wellbeing.
On 27 September 2014, Mr Narendra Modi, the incumbent Prime Minister of India, when attending the annual congregation of the United Nations General Assembly, put forward the motion that the global community should acknowledge the importance of “Yoga as a precious asset of Indian Civilization”.
He also expressed that, “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well-being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”
(Indian PM Narendra Modi, at UNGA)
(27 September 2014)
Thus, PM Modi clearly demanded the designation of an International day of Yoga.
The Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Mr Ashok Mukherjee, introduced the draft resolution in the UNGA on December 11, 2014. It won the support of 177 Member States and marked history. Eventually, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/Res/69/131 on the same day and decided to proclaim 21 June the International Day of Yoga.
Mr Modi selected 21st June as it is the longest day in the Northern hemisphere and offered an opportunity for many countries to join.
Thus global history was made when the largest Yoga class took place on the occasion of the first International Yoga Day on 21 June 2015, where thousands of people participated.
The International Day was set for the first time and international recognition of Yoga as an Indian Tradition was established.
Did you enjoy reading about the history of International Yoga Day?
What is Yoga?
Yoga means “to join” the soul to the Creator. It is derived from the Sanskrit root “Yuj” – to join. It can also mean to join, higher mind or universal intelligence.
Actually, the correct name is Ashtanga Yoga as given by Patanjali rishi and taught by the two famous modern teachers B K S Iyengar and Swami Shivananda. You will find authentic details of Yoga and Pranayama in the book Light on Pranayama by BKS Iyenger.
Yoga is thought to have originated in the foothills of the Himalayas more than 6000 years ago, and is said to have been revealed by Lord Shiva who is called the Adi yogi -the original yogi.
Yoga then flourished as a traditional ritual as part of many religions, and later as a health science and practice for spiritual uplift.
Yoga is a unique ritual for personal spiritual upliftment and longevity, using natural techniques of PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXERCISES called Yogasana, breathing techniques called Pranayam and mental and Spiritual calming technique called Dhyan- meditation.
The ancient Indian Sage Patanjali Yogi is acknowledged as the Father of Modern Yoga as he formalised and documented the systematic treatise on Yoga called Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra , laying down each section in a coherent and rational format sometime around 200-300 BC or earlier.
Some ancient texts mention Rishi Patanjali as a contemporary of Lord Charak, the father of modern Ayurveda, just around the time of Lord Budha or before.
Yoga practice became an Integral part of many of the religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism for several thousand years. It kept changing and developing with time and came to the Western world in the 19th century. Swami Vivekananda was probably the first ambassador of Yoga who travelled to Europe and then the USA as a yoga teacher and brought awareness of the real Hindu philosophy of Sanatan Dharma – universal Religion.
How can Yoga help your wellbeing?
Yoga helps us to calm our mind, improve our mental function and mood, create a positive feeling in us, help us meditate, breathe better, improve our general wellbeing, prevent disease, improve the functioning of our inner organs, and most importantly enhance our immunity to prevent and fight infections.
The benefits of yoga include:
- Lessened anxiety
- Better digestion
- Improved balance
- Relieved menstrual discomfort
- Reduces headache and fatigue
- Helps asthma
- Relives symptoms of menopause
Yoga can help you stay motivated at home and adopt a healthy lifestyle by doing yoga exercise, breathing and meditation without having to go to gym or out to do exercise! Yoga also recommends going out in the fresh air and do walking, running, or yogasana exercises in natural surroundings, open air, parks, or by the sea as fresh clean air full of oxygen helps your body to be healthy.
So many people are suffering from anxiety and depression, gaining weight due to overeating and lack of motivation to do exercise.
Well, here is an easy way to prevent yourself from going into a downward spiral and picking yourself up with self-motivation.
How does Yoga and meditation improve your wellbeing?
Scientific and clinical studies clearly show that Yoga, meditation, and Pranayama breathing improves our immune system by making healthy white blood cells, improving the neuro-hormonal function.
You can improve your positive mood with this ritual as it calms the mind and triggers the brain to produce neurotransmitters like serotonin, which are the happy molecules in the brain. This helps us out of depression and anxiety.
Meditation has been shown to slow down the heart rate and the breathing thereby helping lower blood pressure.
Clinical studies have shown that meditation changes the structure of the brain to be more calm and conscious and the electric wave patterns in the brain from beta - active agitation to theta or delta waves - a calm sleep like state which promotes healing in the body, mind and emotions.
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Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a classic fifteenth-century text authored by Swami Svatmarama – considered to be the most influential text on Hatha Yoga, in verse 29 of chapter 4 defines the link between the body, mind and breath as:
“इन्द्रियाणां मनो नाथो मनोनाथस्तु मारुतः” (in Sanskrit)
The Mind (मन) is the master of Senses (इन्द्रि), and the Breath (मारुत) is the master of the Mind.
Which ayurvedic herbs can help you enhance the benefits of Yoga for your wellbeing?
Ayurveda recommends that you take Rasayan herbs along with your Yoga ritual.
The most widely prescribed rejuvenators in Ayurveda are listed below:
Ashwagandha https://pavilionayurveda.com/collections/for-anxiety/products/ashwangandha-stress-defence
Brahmi https://pavilionayurveda.com/collections/for-anxiety/products/brahmi-mind-strength
Amla ,
Turmeric ( morning kick ),
A combined formula supplement of the Mind Body Rejuvenators includes Ashwagandha, brahmi, Shatavari and Holy basil
https://pavilionayurveda.com/collections/for-your-immunity/products/ashwagandha-brahmi-shatavari-co-powder#
https://pavilionayurveda.com/collections/for-your-immunity/products/ashwagandha-brahmi-shatavari-co-powder
Tulsi holy basil
Ginger,
Pipli (link Tulsi ginger pipli) .
Ashwagandha, Amla and Pipli – long pepper enhance the immune system. Ashwaganhda and brahmi are stress adaptogens which protect the brain against the harmful effects stress , anxiety and depression.
Herbal infusions are very popular in Ayurveda and using herbs like brahmi, Tulsi, chamomile, lemon verbena, ginger can help maintain our mind health. ( link vata balance tea).
Premium Herbal Tea Blends – Pavilion Ayurveda
The most powerful tonic for staying healthy, and maintaining our resistance to infection is Chyawanprash- made from Amla – fresh Indian Gooseberry and 26 rejuvenating herbs which include immunity boosters and herbs that help with respiration and healthy lungs.
Ever wondered how Yoga is connected with Ayurveda?
Yoga is a most powerful natural way to look after our wellbeing. Yoga is also an integral part of Ayurveda – the traditional Indian medicine and Natural science of living a healthy fulfilling life.
The aim of Yoga is to maintain a healthy body so we can meditate and achieve spiritual enlightenment.
The aim of Ayurveda is to live 100 years of healthy life with the right diet, lifestyle and herbs, to prevent illness, but also to treat illness with natural means. Both sciences help us to live longer and healthier and live a fulfilling life!
How does Ayurveda explain Yoga as the essential practice to maintain wellbeing in mind, body and spirit?
The Sloka from Charak Samhita says: ( abbreviated sloka)
Atmasye mansi sthire - When you still your mind in your Soul by meditation
Vishtwam ch upajayate sa sharirasya – a supernatural power is generated inside your body, which heals your body and mind, and creates wellbeing
Yoga gnastam, yogam rishiyo vidu hu!” That is what our great Yoga Rishis / Sages have told us!
So ultimately, we realise that doing Meditation and Yoga is the vital ritual to maintain equanimity, poise and wellbeing in mind, body, motions and spirit. This allows us to enjoy life and gives us positive strength to cope with difficult situations in life on a daily basis.
Why Yoga and Ayurveda?
Ashtanga Yoga gives us the techniques like wholesome thinking, personal and social discipline, simple yet powerful exercise postures- Asanas, breathing techniques like Pranayam, and explains meditation rituals.
Ayurveda shows us how to know our own BODY TYPE- PRAKRITI AND IMBALANCE - DOSHA, and the HOW TO MAINTAIN BALANCE for healthy long life.. and gives us herbal and physical therapies as a medical science too.
It is the Science of holistic health and is the overarching science which offers clear advice on natural ways to understand and maintain our inner body equilibrium called the Doshas.
Ayurveda offers a store house of useful herbs to heal us, improve digestion, detoxify our body, strengthen our mind, delay ageing, and build our immune system.
When practised together, Yoga and Ayurveda provide us with a powerful shield of protection against illness, and a simple system for our wellbeing and longevity.
How does Ayurveda work ?
Ayurveda teaches us a life of Balance. We can learn to understand our body better if we understand our unique body type- Prakriti (Whats your Dosha? – Pavilion Ayurveda and transform our healthy wellbeing by modifying our diet- Ahar , lifestyle- Vihar how to modify our diet according to or body types. We can easily learn correct rituals to remain healthy and happy, prevent disease, remove toxic waste build up in our body on a daily basis, be youthful and delay ageing.
Ayurveda offers a complete authentic natural medicine which has developed over more than 5000 years in the subcontinent of India. Today we want to share with you the common Ayurvedic herbs which people are using with great benefit to their daily wellbeing.
Ayurveda is a treasure trove of wonderful safe and effective herbs and mineral preparations which work as gentle yet powerful healers, rejuvenators, revitalisers, detoxifiers, and aphrodisiacs!
Some Ayurvedic herbs you could try in your daily wellbeing routine:
These are called MEDHYA Rasayan or MIND BODY REJUVENATORS IN AYURVEDA and OJAS PROMOTING HERBS - inner essence of vitality
Ashwagandha: Withania Somnifera-
A stress adaptogen called Medhya Rasayan- Rejuvenator of Higher consciousness an aphrodisiac and immunity booster.gandha strengthens the brain chemistry and brain cells, it helps revive and calm down from stress. Ashwagandha is said to stimulate INNER VITALITY- OJAS energy production and increase libido and sexual health in both men and women.
Brahmi : Bacopa Monierri or Centella Asiatica: Another Medhya Rasayan – The word Brahmi denotes an enhanced awareness of higher consciousness. Practically, Brahmi has been shown to help memory and concentration, relieves BRAIN FOG , anxiety, improve learning and help sleep.
Shatavari : Asparagus Racemosus: is a general Rasayan rejuvenator which cools the body down, soothing, and healing the tissues . It is also considered to improve reproductive and sexual health.It is a Womans Tonic and helps with hormonal Balance in both women and men.
Amla: Indian Gooseberry- for IMMUNITY, INNER HEALING AND DETOX are the richest source of Vitamin C, fibre, and Gallic acid – a polyphenol antioxidant which helps clear free radicals in the body, thereby helping prevent diseases like heart disease, cholesterol, skin problems,
Trifala- three myrobalan fruit berries - INNER BODY DETOX- are shown to cleanse our body with the rich antioxidant nutrients. They improve Gut health, and enhance life span- longevity
Turmeric: Curcuma longa is now a popular health supplement, which is extensively recommended in Ayurveda as a multi-function healing agent as one of the richest sources of antioxidants called curcuminoids.
Tulsi Holy basil- is called holy because of its multiple miraculous healing powers – to soothe emotions, calm the mind, fight viral infections, improve breathing and heal the skin! Tulsi is worshipped in India specially by Yoga Practitioners- as it has multiple theraoeutic actions - Promotes Spiritual Uplift, positive emotional balnce.
Chyawanprash- Amla Indian gooseberry preserve: It is said that the ancient Ayurvedic Celestial physicians made this formula for an old sage Chavan and revived his youthfulness!
The amla and other herbs in Chyawanprash are used for preventing and treating respiratory infections, warding off infections, delaying ageing process, and healing the tissues after infection.
Can you see why we are so passionate about Yoga and Ayurveda?
Taking these simple herbs as part of your daily ritual with yoga, breathing and meditation can provide you with regular protection and wellbeing!
Ever wondered how you could start doing Yoga, Pranayam and Meditation?
Everyone can start learning simple yoga postures to start with. While You need to practice Yoga properly, it can be fun to start at home with the family. Young children as old as 2 years specially love to show off the simple postures! This can motivate parents to do it with them.
There are many Yoga teachers you will find locally. The British Wheel of Yoga, Shivananda Yoga, Dru Yoga, The Brighton Yoga Foundation are some authentic yoga teachers you can look up! Many independent yoga teachers run online tutorials during the lockdown.
FIVE YOGA POSTURES YOU CAN LEARN TODAY:
1. Warrior pose above: Vir Badhrasana -spinal and pelvic stretch- arm strech over head, forward lunge balance, self confidence, positive energy
1. Surya Namaskar- a set of 12 postures in one- all postures symmetrical opposite sytretching of all limbs, Balances ALL SIX CHAKRAS for normalphysiological functioning of our neuro-endocrine system.
2. Padmasan - sitting squatitng with erect spine to generate spiritual awakening and back care.Meditation pose
4. Cobra pose: for spine posture- prevents curvature
5. Shavasana -Corpse pose- calming and relaxing wind down pose
Once you have learned some basic postures like Surya namaskar- sun salute which is a combination of 12 postures, Padmasan-Lotus position for meditation and breathing ritual, and shavasana or corpse pose for relaxing the mind and body as a run up to good peaceful sleep, you are on your way to wellbeing!
You can consider the following ideas to celebrate International Yoga Day with your friends and family. It is good to socialise, with distancing and safety measures of course.
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- How about arranging a Yoga class with your family members at home if you cannot go outside due to the COVID-19 pandemic?.
- You will enjoy doing the ritual while watching a live yoga class by your local yoga teacher, or a on the videos on YouTube.
- Better still , how about joining one of the yoga groups who are running a session in the Park – meeting in open air for exercise is much safer than indoors, allowed by WHO and essential to maintain good mental health during this pandemic. Maintaining a distance of 2 meters should offer safety. You do not need to wear a mask in the open air with distancing as the air disperses and drives away any droplets with viruses.
- Two households could meet in your garden if you have one and enjoy a yoga, breathing and meditation followed by a garden party! With social distancing of course.
- You could promote on your social media platforms:
Here are some International Yoga Day Hashtags
#InternationalYogaDay, #InternationalDayOfYoga2023, #YogaBenefits, #YogaInIndia, #WorldYogaDay2021
In summary, practising your daily ritual of Yoga asana, Pranayam breathing and meditation daily, taking Ashwagandha-Brahmi Rasayan and Chyawanprash daily, doing a daily massage with Mahanarayan oil will keep you living a happy, healthy, joyful life!
Conclusion
If you follow our tips above, you will remain positive, maintain your wellbeing and enjoy a Happy Living with positive energy with enhanced immunity to infection.
Which of the above do you find most useful? Do send us your comments and feedback. on www.pavilionayurveda.com
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