Ayurveda and Physical exercise(Vyayama)

Definition of Physical Exercise(Vyayama in Ayurveda)

The kind of Physical activity which produces firmness and strength is known as physical exercise or Vyayama.(Charaka samhita,Sutra,7:31)

According to WHO(World health organisation),    Physical activity or Exercise is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure.

Physical exercise produce following effects in body (Charaka samhita,Sutra,7:32)

• Felling of lightness
• Capacity to work
• Firmness 
• Tolerance of difficulties
• Diminution of impurity 
• Increase the Agni (A force behind Digestion and metabolism)

According to Sushruta,Vyayama(Physical exercise)is the best thing which cure obesity and it helps in achieving best healthy status of individuals and a person will have good muscular strength.He also says that those who perform regular Vyayama(Physical exercise)will not attain old age. 

There is a simile given By Acharya Sushruta that, a person who perform regular physical exercise will not come in contact with any kind of disease like a deer will not go infront of Lion.

Sign of proper Physical exercise

• Apperence of perspiration 
• Increased respiratory rate
• Felling of lightness of organs 
• Felling of obstruction in chest region

When a person gets above sign than he must stop doing physical Excercise. (Commentary By Acharya Yogendranath sen on charak samhita)

Acharya Sushruta and Acharya Vagbhatta mentioned that a Person should only do a physical exercise till his half physical strength only(अर्धव्यायामशक्ति) not more than this as it will invite a disease.
Click here to follow us on Twitter
Click here to connect with us on Facebook
Click here for info on skin Diseases and Ayurveda treatment

How to conform individuals half strength (अर्धव्यायामशक्ति)??

When a person do expiration through mouth while doing physical Excercise, it is a sign of individuals half strength. (Sushruta samhita,Chikitsa,24)

Sweating in armpit and forhead is also considered a sign of half strength(Dalhana commentary on shushruta).

Felling of dryness in mouth and perspiration or breathing difficulties may be considered as half strength.

Contraindications of Physical Exercise:-

• A person who is emaciated due to excessive sexual activities
• Weight carrying person 
• Person travelling by walking
• Person who is in anger,Grief,Fear and Exertion
• Perosn who speaks too much and loudly
• Hungry and thirsty person 
• Children and old people 
• Perosn who has increased Vata dosha
• Patient of Rakta pitta(Hemorrhage)
• After having food
• Shwas rogi ( patients of Asthma)
• Emaciated person

Too much physical exercise is also prohibited. For this,there is a simile given in charaka samhita that, one who perform excessive physical exercise will die suddenly like a Lion dies while dragging an elephant.

In Ayurveda we find that proper function of  Agni(Force behind the Digestion and metabolism of food) is responsible for good health of individuals and any Imbalance in Agni will cause disease and It is also mentioned in Classical Ayurvedic Texts that each and every disease is caused by Imbalance in agni.

Acharya charka says,vyayam(physical exercise)will improve the strength of Agni and it will make agni to work properly.

If agni of any person is vitiated,than whole metabolism in his body will be disturbed.(Charka samhita,Chikitsa:15)

WHO (World health organisation) also says that,there is a direct relationship between Physical activity and metabolic health including reduction of risk of diabetes and other metabolic syndrome.(1)

Diabetes Mellitus(DM) is a major metabolic Disorders people are suffering  worldwide and In Charaka samhita,Chikitsa sthana for Prameha chikitsa there is a reference given that a different types of Physical Exercise(Vyayama) is good for Prameha rogi (patients of diabetes mellitus)
Click here to subscribe our youtube channel

In present times the number of metabolic Disorders are increasing day by day including Diabetes mellitus(DM) and according to official data from WHO,India tops the list of most diabetes patients in the world.The main reason behind this is sedentary lifestyle.So if people do regular physical exercise than we can overcome to such metabolic Disorders and stay healthy both physically and mentally.



Reference:-
1- Global recommendation on physical activity for health By WHO,Page no. 24


For any query please feel free to write us on Kachhadiyarajnikant@gmail.com