Yoga and Ayurveda for Therapy
According to Yoga and Ayurveda, the purpose of therapy is to act against illness or disease so that the human system is restored to balance. There is no doubt that the human system is a complex one, and thus, by its nature,the subject of therapy is often complex. As humans, our inner balance is influenced by six variable factors—diet,lifestyle, environment, body work, breathing techniques,and our thought processes. These factors are interdependent and the connections between them have been analyzed and discussed in the classical texts on Yoga and Ayurveda. Although they place a slightly different emphasis on each of these factors in terms of their relevance to maintaining or restoring health, Yoga and Ayurveda both recognize that we can only alter our state of health or restore our balance by addressing these six factors and the connections between them. Therefore, to approach any therapeutic situation effectively, both Yoga and Ayurveda must be considered. Depending on the nature of the imbalance being treated, one of them will often play a primary role in the treatment and the other will act as a support.