Ayurvedic Perspective of Yoga for Physical and Emotional Well-Being

Ayurveda is ancient Indian medical science. Apart from physical disorders, many psychological disorders are mentioned in Ayurveda. As per Ayurveda, incompatible contact of sensory organs with their senses and intellectual transgression (pragyaparadha) are the causes for psychological disorders. Similarly, bad mental qualities like jealousy, fear, anger, greed, conceit are also responsible for the development of mental disorders. As per Ayurveda, thinking, reasoning, conceptualizing, perceiving are the functions of the mind. As per Ayurveda, Yoga is a powerful tool to overcome the psychological pain. By virtue of Yoga, the mind is unified with the soul and detached from the materialistic sensory pains and pleasures. Atmagyan (knowing the self) has been mentioned as the part of treating the mental disorders. There are many psychosomatic disorders like Bhayaj and Shokaj Jwara and Atisara (anxiety and depression related fever and diarrhea), Manas Arochaka (anorexia nervosa), Dwishta Chhardi (psychological vomiting) etc which can be treated with meditation and mood elevating measures and sadvritta palana (noble code of conduct). It is concluded that role of Yoga in treating the psychological disorders is very well documented in Ayurveda.