Yoga and Ayurveda together form a complete approach for optimal health, vitality and higher awareness. They are both closely connected spiritual sciences deeply rooted in the Vedic tradition of India. Ayurveda is the Vedic science of healing for both body and mind. Yoga is the Vedic science of self-realisation that depends on a well-functioning body and mind. Both disciplines developed together and have always been used together. Therefore, those who are interested in one would greatly benefit from studying the other.

If you question this, try meditating with a toothache or while feeling sick in your stomach! It can be done, of course, but presupposes considerable skill in concentration. Somatic imbalances give rise to mental disturbances, and vice versa. Therefore, cultivating a strong, healthy body and training the mind should go hand in hand, and both pursuits should ideally be powered by a desire for self-realisation.

An understanding of Ayurveda, particularly your constitution type, will assist you in choosing the right kind of yogic postural or meditation practice. The yogic path is intrinsically challenging, and wise practitioners welcome any information that will be of benefit to them. Thus, the typological knowledge of Ayurveda is one of the best-kept secrets of Yoga. If you make little progress on the yogic path, it is perhaps because you are on the wrong track. Understanding your constitution type is important not only when determining your diet or a course of medical treatment, but also when embarking on a journey of spiritual practice.