Naturopathy is a distinct primary health care system that stresses upon the body’s self-healing mechanism. Naturopathy uses a wide range of therapies to support human wellness. The foundation of Naturopathy is based on the greatness of exercise, sunlight, freshwater, stress management, healthy diet, and so on. Naturopathy always advocates the importance of own health, minimizing symptoms of illness, balancing the entire human mechanism, and supporting the body’s own ability to heal.
According to the manifesto of the British Naturopathic Association, ‘’Naturopathy is a system of treatment which lays emphasis on the existence of the vital curative force within the body.’’ Hence, it aids the human system to remove the cause of disease, i.e. toxins by eliminating unwanted and unused matters from the human body for curing diseases. The treatment plans of Naturopathy also include some therapies like nutrition, herbal medicine, physical manipulation, colonic irrigation, fasting, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and so on.
Ayurveda means literally the 'science (Veda) of longevity'; because of its divine origins it can be called 'Medicine of the Gods'. Ayurveda means science of life. Ayu means life. Veda means knowledge or learning.
The term 'Ayurveda' is derived from two Sanskrit words 'Ayus' meaning life and 'Veda', meaning Science or knowledge. It is the ancient system of Indian medicine, discovered and developed through centuries long research, by the sages who were eminent scholars after ages of endless quest.
Ayurveda is referred to as "The Manthra of Niramaya' i.e. a state of perfect health and salubrity, in a world, free from the maladies of the body and the mind. "Niramaya" refers to the dream of the mortal man, from time immemorial and Ayurveda provides the mantra for the realization of that dream.
In the narrow sense, Ayurveda refers to India's system of traditional medicine, but in the broad sense, there is a deep spiritual basis for Ayurveda. The most famous verse from Ayurvedic texts, says, "Ayurveda Amritanam" i.e. Ayurveda is for immortality. The meaning is two fold. Ayurveda is for promoting longevity without limit and it does this, from a belief that life essentially is immortal.
According to Ayurveda, the Life Energy or 'Prana' is channeled throughout the human body by a 'wind' known as 'Vata'. This 'Vata' is responsible for movement of every kind. In the human body, it is divided into five parts.
All these five are controlled by the first as it brings 'Prana', the life force and distributes to the rest of the body. When Prana Vata is out of balance, it results in disruption of the body system and that should be avoided.
Ayurveda can be understood from five different angles, as given below:- Wisdom of the Gods: This myth of the Great Creator and his gracious gift to mankind implies that Ayurveda existed as sacrosanct knowledge from ageless times.
Science of the Soul: There is no substance in the world that has no medicinal value, provided one knows how to use it. Ayurveda is the supreme Symphony of Nature and knowledge, seeking to enhance the vitality of life, by drawing on the essence of Nature. Medicine of Nature: Ayurveda sees the human body, as a unique blend of the five basic elements: sky, water, earth, air and fire. In perfect equilibrium, the body contains the Universal Consciousness' and the harmony of nature. Lack of equilibrium in the union of elements derived from nature resulted in the form of Ayurvedic medicines and treatment.
Music of Mind & Matter: Ayurveda, the Veda of life, considers man as a holistic union of body, mind and soul. Ages before the advent of modern science, an ancient system of herbal therapy had catered to the most specialized health requirements of people.
The body of Ayurveda describes the eight branches of the system:
Elixir of Life: "Proper purging of the body bestows clarity to intellect, potency to organs, elemental stability and glow to the digestive fire and delays ageing" - states Vagbhata, the author of the Classical Text of Ayurveda, ASHTANGAHRIDAYA'. vegetables, metals, minerals and animal products that are available in nature. In other words, no artificial substance is used in Ayurveda.
Treatment varies from person to person. It is not the same for the same illness, for all. It is based on the age, sex, strength, constitution, condition of the disease etc, of the patient. Ayurveda believes that, the disease is gone, once the balance is restored. Great emphasis is laid on the principles of proper diet, proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper thinking and proper meditation.
Ayurveda was originally grounded in the idea that we can experience freedom from suffering by coming into harmony with the four pillars of health, which include:
We come into balance in these four areas of life by increasing sattva. This guide aims to provide information on ahar - eating sattvic foods that connect you with your higher consciousness. Sattvic foods are grown with mindful practices (organic, non-GMO, ideally from your own garden). They digest easily and provide the strength and vitality you are meant to naturally have.
Ayurveda and Yoga are built on the philosophy of the three gunas: sattva, rajas and tamas. These concepts represent the qualities that are present in food, nature and actions, as well as our body and mind.
Tamas is inertia, darkness and dullness. When a seed is resting inert in the darkness of the earth, it is in a state of tamas. When we sleep, it is tamas.
When tamas is dominant in our lives, there is heaviness, sleeping too much and eating leftovers, meat and deep-fried foods. It leads to lethargy, lack of purpose and depression.
Rajas is activity and movement. When a seedling cracks through the endosperm and pushes through the earth to reach the sun, it is in a state of rajas.
When rajas is dominant in our lives, it looks like stimulation, stress and overexcitement. Too much rajas imbalances the body and mind, leading to anxiety, disturbed sleep and overindulgence.
Sattva is balance and harmony. When a seedling has turned into a beautiful flower, unfurling its petals to soak in the beauty of the sun, it is in a state of sattva.
When sattva is present, it looks like lightness and grounding, peace and serenity in the body and mind. This is our ideal state, one that defines true health.
Sattvic foods are balancing and harmonious, and they are plentiful; this is only a partial list to have you think about the qualities and how they make you feel. Sattvic foods can be loosely categorized as most fresh fruits and vegetables, most whole grains, legumes and nuts. How they are eaten, for example cooked versus raw, can make a difference in whether they add sattva or rajas to the mind and body. A vegetable may have all of the possibility of sattva but if it is eaten raw then it may be rajas for the body and mind. Many fruits are also sattva for the body and mind when cooked lightly with ghee and spices. In all cases we are assuming food that is fresh, not genetically modified and without chemicals in the process of growing and delivery.
Yoga is an everlasting contribution of Vedic Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) to the world. Yoga is a Sanskrit word and is derived from the root ‘Yuj’, which means ‘to yoke’. At the individual level, yoga enables one to realize the indwelling soul through discipline at physical, mental and spiritual levels. In the universal level, yoga enables one to realize the union of individual self with universal self.
So Yoga refers to a process and its origin is found in the Upanishads of the Vedas and the universally known Bhagavad-Gita, which are the foundational literature of Sanatana Dharma or popularly known as Hinduism. The process of Yoga involves all the three domains of a human being namely physical, mental and spiritual. So the there are several answers given for the question “what is Yoga?”
Some of the answers are :
(1) Yoga is the union of the individual self with Universal Self,
(2) Yoga is the restraint of mental process,
(3) Yoga is balance or harmony in life,
(4) Yoga is the disconnection of connection with suffering.
Thus Yoga has global relevance and is useful to all human beings as the goal of human life is to seek peace and happiness and become free from miseries and suffering. Yoga originated by the sages of ancient Vedic tradition, has become a global phenomenon because any human being can follow the yoga process for spiritual fulfillment. It is noted that in an address made September 27, 2014 at the United Nations by Mr. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India describes below the universal relevance of Yoga.
“Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; 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 life style and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.” It is pleasing to know that the United Nations influenced by the universal impact and relevance declared June 21 of every year as the International Yoga Day. A statement below by UN secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, highlights the universal relevance of Yoga. “By proclaiming 21 June as the International Day of Yoga, the General Assembly has recognized the holistic benefits of this timeless practice and its inherent compatibility with the principles and values of the United Nations.
Yoga offers a simple, accessible and inclusive means to promote physical and spiritual health and well-being. It promotes respect for one’s fellow human beings and for the planet we share. And yoga does not discriminate; to varying degrees, all people can practice, regardless of their relative strength, age or ability.” It is very important to remember that Yoga can take a sincere seeker to realize the ultimate purpose of human life namely spiritual enlightenment. In the vision and words of yogi-seer Sriranga Sadguru, founder of Ashtanga Yoga Vijnana Mandiram, Mysore, India, “The chief aim of Yoga is to experience the inner spiritual world having realized the truths through the knowledge of process of manifestation of self, senses and body and based on one’s own full spiritual development by tuning the outward looking self (mind) inwards through the path of Sushumna (the central naadi channel in the spine)” Yoga in Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita Yoga has existed from Vedic times and its importance is described in several scriptures.
In Upanishads such as Shvetashvataropanishat and Kathopanishat, yoga is referred as an essential means to achieve happiness. In Kathopanishat, for example, in the statement below it is clearly advised that the union (yoga) of the senses, mind and intellect of the person directed towards spiritual goal is essential in realizing the purpose of life namely achievement of both peace and spiritual bliss. “Treat the self as the person seated in the body as the chariot. Then, treat the intellect as the driver (charioteer), the mind as the reins and the senses as the horses. The one who has control of mind directed by intellect thereby controlling the senses leads the person to the spiritual goal. Otherwise a person’s life will be as of a chariot driven by uncontrolled horses.”
In the Bhagavad-Gita, which is known as Yoga Shastra i.e. a scripture on Yoga, is a handbook of Yoga for leading a life with balance and harmony. Successful people in all walks of life have read and applied the principles of Yoga from Bhagavad-Gita. Each of the 18 chapters of Bhagavad-Gita not only has Yoga in its title but also ends by calling it as a Yoga Shastra. Lord Krishna emphasizes that the goal of everyone should be to achieve yoga, or state of equanimity. He beautifully describes the blissful state of a yogi (i.e. one that has achieved yoga). Then through Arjuna, He advises everyone to become a yogi. Lord Krishna says “Tasmat yogi bhava Arjuna” (therefore, become a yogi). Several forms of Yoga have been identified, described and prescribed in Bhagavad-Gita. The three common ones are
(1) Karma Yoga,
(2) Jnana Yoga and
(3) Bhakti Yoga.
In addition there is Ashtanga Yoga (the Yoga with eight-limbs) formulated by Sage Patanjali Ashtanga Yoga and Hatha Yoga can be seen within Karma Yoga. The Raja Yoga and Laya Yoga can be seen within Jnana Yoga and Mantra Yoga and Japa Yoga can be seen within Bhakti Yoga. However all these are inter-related given one as a predominant Yoga path for a given person based on the person’s inclination and abilities
A gym, short form of gymnasium is an indoor venue for exercise and sports. The word is derived from the ancient Greek term "gymnasion". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centers, and as activity and learning spaces in educational institutions. "Gym" is also slang for "fitness centre", which is often an area for indoor recreation. A "gym" may include or describe adjacent open air areas as well. In Western countries, "gyms" often describe places with indoor or outdoor courts for basketball, hockey, tennis, boxing or wrestling, and with equipment and machines used for physical development training, or to do exercises. In many European countries, Gymnasium (and variations of the word) also can describe a secondary school that prepares students for higher education at a university, with the presence of athletic courts, fields, or equipment.
Gymnasium apparatus like barbells, jumping boards, running paths, tennis-balls, cricket fields, and fencing areas are used for exercises. In safe weather, outdoor locations are the most conducive to health. Gyms were popular in ancient Greece. Their curricula included self-defense, gymnastics physical therapy to help the sick and injured, and for physical fitness and sports, from boxing to dancing to skipping rope. Gymnasiums also had teachers of wisdom and philosophy. Community gymnastic events were done as part of the celebrations during various village festivals. In ancient Greece there was a phrase of contempt, "He can neither swim nor write." After a while, however, Olympic athletes began training in buildings specifically designed for them. Community sports never became as popular among ancient Romans as it had among the ancient Greeks. Gyms were used more as a preparation for military service or spectator sports. During the Roman Empire, the gymnastic art was forgotten. In the Dark Ages there were sword fighting tournaments and of chivalry; and after gunpowder was invented sword fighting began to be replaced by the sport of fencing, as well as schools of dagger fighting and wrestling and boxing.
In the 18th century, Salzmann, a German clergyman, opened a gym in Thuringia teaching bodily exercises, including running and swimming. Clias and Volker established gyms in London, and in 1825, Doctor Charles Beck, a German immigrant, established the first gymnasium in the United States. It was found that gym pupils lose interest in doing the same exercises, partly because of age. Variety in exercises included skating, dancing, and swimming. Some gym activities can be done by 6 to 8-year-olds, while age 16 has been considered mature enough for boxing and horseback riding.
In Ancient Greece, the gymnasion was a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men. The latter meaning of intellectual education persisted in Greek, German and other languages to denote a certain type of school providing secondary education, the gymnasium, whereas in English the meaning of physical education pertained to the word 'gym'. The Greek word gymnasion, which means "school for naked exercise," was used to designate a locality for the education of young men, including physical education (gymnastics, for example, exercise) which was customarily performed naked, as well as bathing, and studies. For the Greeks, physical education was considered as important as cognitive learning. Most Greek gymnasia had libraries for use after relaxing in the baths
Nowadays, it represents a common area where people, from all ranges of experience, exercise and work out their muscles. You can also usually find people doing cardio exercises or Pilates.
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