The following points fall within the concept of yoga therapy: 1. Designing tailor-made yogic practices according to the individual’s body type and lifestyle 2. Effectively addressing and treating an individual’s physical and mental ailments through such tailored practices 3. Planning a nutritious yogic diet programme, making lifestyle changes and treating addictions through yogic mindful living and meditative practices 4. Understanding and applying the practices and philosophy of yoga in our daily lives, as well as advocating their therapeutic benefits to family and friends 5. Being in connection with nature’s five elements, adapting a healthy and environmentally-conscious lifestyle and truly understanding our responsibility as human beings on all levels and stages

About the course Yoga therapy and Ayurveda may be worlds apart, but through this specially-designed course, participants will be given a good introduction to the two sciences as well as a solid foundation on which to build their knowledge. The course is a good starting point for those interested in learning more about these two subjects. Explore the principles of yoga therapy and Ayurveda and their various applications in our daily lives. Understand the body, its functions and how to address common ailments through various yogic practice and Ayurvedic diet principles.

Ayurveda Ayurveda, in Sanskrit, is coined from the words ‘ayus,’ which means ‘life,’ and ‘veda,’ for ‘knowledge’ - referring to the ‘science of life.’ The earliest known recording of Ayurveda was written by Veda Vyasa, the famous sage and shaktavesha avatar of Vishnu, Dhanvantari in Atharvaveda, one of the four most ancient books on Indian history, wisdom and culture. According to Ayurveda, life is considered a union of the body and its senses, mind and soul. The living human being is an accumulation of three humours, Vata, Pitta and Kapha; seven basic tissues: Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Majja and Shukra; as well as the body’s waste products: faeces, urine and sweat. These compose the total body matrix, whose constituents - and their growth and decay - revolve around food. Ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and metabolism all interconnect in health and disease, and are also significantly affected by psychological mechanisms and bio-fire, or Agni. Ayurveda’s benefits include: • Eliminating toxins from the body • Reinstating one’s constitutional balance by improving health and enhancing wellness • Strengthening the immune system; improving resistance to illness • Reversing the negative effects of stress on the body and mind • Slowing the aging process • Enhancing one’s self-reliance, strength, energy, vitality and mental clarity • Bringing about deep relaxation and a sense of well-being • The capacity to implement positive lifestyle changes