Core tenets Ayurveda derives its core tenets from principles of ancient Hindu philosophy. According to the Hindu worldview, everything in the universe is made of the five elements of the ‘panchamahabhuta’: earth, water, air, fire and ether. The elements group together in your body to create the three basic life energies which dictate the functioning of the body. These are called doshas- the vata (ether with air), pitta(fire with water), and kapha(water with earth). While the three doshas are present in all bodies, one or the other dosha will be predominant which varies form person to person. When the three doshas are in imbalance, you become sick. Harmonize them and you attain wellness. Vata Considered the most important dosha, vata controls everything from your breathing to the beating of your heart to your intestinal functions. If your vata dosha is disrupted then it could result in ailments including skin diseases, anxiety and asthma. To keep your vata in balance, it is believed you should avoid sleeping late or having excess fear or sadness. Pitta Pitta is responsible for controlling your digestion. If you consume too much spice or if you spend inordinate times out under the sun, pitta may get the upper-hand over the other two doshas; in which case your blood pressure may go up and you can get heart ailments. Kapha Largely in charge of controlling the strength of your body and also the growth of muscles, kapha can be kept in balance if you limit your consumption of sweets or foods with high salt or water content. It’s advisable not to sleep during the daytime as well. If kapha triumphs the other two doshas, you may end up getting diabetes, obesity and breathing troubles.

In the modern world, yoga is largely understood as a series of physical exercises aimed at improving one’s physique. But there is more to yoga than meets the eye- literally. For yoga is meant to harmonize your mind, body and spirit, much like ayurveda. You could thus say that ayurveda and yoga are both branches which flow off the same stream. 

Origins 

The origin of yoga could be traced back to more than five thousand years ago. This system of physical and mental discipline originated in the northern parts of ancient India, largely as part of practices followed by ascetics. The practices include but is not limited to physical postures, mental focus and breath control. The word yoga was first mentioned in a written text in the Rig Veda- a canonical text of ancient Hindu wisdom. The word is derived from the Sanskrit- yuj. Yuj means union, and yoga thereby denotes a union of mind, body and spirit. 

Benefits 

Different people practice yoga for various reasons. This points to the idea of yoga giving multiple benefits to its practitioners depending on the type of yoga one follows. Among the benefits are improved flexibility of the body, improved muscle strength, improved mental health and better quality of sleep. 

The branches of yoga 

Yoga has six branches, each having its own objectives and features. 

Hatha yoga- This type of yoga is principally concerned with keeping the body and mind in harmony. 

Raja yoga- With an especial focus on mediation practices, this is one of the more rigorously disciplinary branches of yoga. 

Karma yoga- Performing services to others is the key tenet of karma yoga, which aims to expunge selfishness and egoistic attitudes from the mind. 

Bhakti yoga- Bhakti means devotion, and bhakti yoga aims to guide the practitioner along a path of loving kindness while being in the world. 

Jnana yoga- This is a largely intellectual discipline where the practitioner is seen as a lifelong student in the pursuit of wisdom. 

Tantra yoga- Arguably, the most esoteric branch of yoga, it is concerned with ceremonies and rituals. 

Types of yoga 

Different master practitioners, or ‘gurus’ have evolved different styles of yogas down the centuries. Here are some of the most common types that are practiced. 

Ashtanga yoga- This type of yoga is primarily focused on physical postures which connect every movement of your body with your breath. 

Hatha yoga- Generally considered as a basic from of yoga, hatha yoga is concerned with body postures. 

Iyengar yoga- Among the more evolved styles of yoga, Iyengar yoga teaches postures both basic and advanced, some of which take months or years to master. 

Kripalu yoga- This is a type of yoga with a personalized element. For it urges one to learn the limits of your own body and practice accordingly. It expounds breathing practices and bodily postures. 

Kundalini yoga- Body postures or asanas are part of the kundalini yoga. But so is meditation. The basic aim of the yoga is to help release unwanted or negative energy from your body. 

Sivananda yoga- A highly systemized form of yoga, Sivananda yoga is also among the most popular types of yoga in the contemporary world. It is based on five basic elements- the right kind of breathing, a relaxed mind, proper diet, sound exercise and keeping a positive mindset. It is believed that if these five principles are part of your life, you can lead a holistically healthy life. Twelve basic postures or asanas are used in the Shivananda yoga. But that’s in addition to the ‘suryanamaskar’ or sun salutation which itself is an amalgamation of multiple postures. 

Yin yoga -A type of yoga meant not for impatient people, yin yoga demands that you strike and then maintain a posture or asana for extended periods of time. But there is a strong rationale for this demand as yin yoga is meant specifically to help strengthen or heal your joints, bones and muscle ligaments.