The Sanskrit word vyayama means specific activity. Generally, it denotes physical exercise which impart strength and firmness. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana-7/31] Vyayama is benificial to healthy and unhealthy individuals, with an added clause of due caution and supervision. Vyayama in healthy people improves and maintains health: whereas, it is preventive as well as therapeutic tool for various diseases (e.g.: lifestyle disorders, joint dislocation etc.). In fact, vyayama is a cost-effective means for a disease-free generation. This chapter describes concept of vyayama and its application in healthcare management.
| Section/Chapter/topic | Concepts/Vyayama |
|---|---|
| Authors |
Anupama Krishnan1, Blessymol EV 2 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.3 |
| Editor | Deole Y.S.4 |
| Affiliations |
1Associate Professor, Department of Swasthavritta, VPSV Ayurveda College, Kottakkal, Kerala, India 2Medical Content Writer,Smriti Meditation Practioner 3 Rheumatologist, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 4 Department of Kayachikitsa, G. J. Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence emails |
dr.anupamakrishnan@gmail.com, carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India |
| Date of publication: | January 05, 2023 |
| DOI | 10.47468/CSNE.2023.e01.s09.126 |
Importance
Vyayama is a desirable health behavior for primordial, primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention. Lack of vyayama is the major reason for lifestyle disorders/ non-communicable diseases and also paves way to the infectious diseases by hampering the immune power.
Vyayama includes all the exertional activities, which impart stretching of different body parts [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-11/11- Dalhana commentary]. Vyayama, is the best tool for improving firmness/ fitness [A.S.Sutra Sthana-13/2; Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-25/40], and is reflected as the ultimate for stability [A.H.Uttara Sthana-40/55]. In fact, it is the best way to get rid of obesity.[1]
However, vyayama endorses only the physical activities; thereby excluding mental and verbal exertion in this domain. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-7/31 Chakrapani]. Therefore, vyayama plays a vital role in preservation of health and management of disease.
Vyayama includes all the exertional activities, which impart stretching of different body parts [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-11/11- Dalhana commentary]. Vyayama, is the best tool for improving firmness/ fitness [A.S.Sutra Sthana-13/2; Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-25/40], and is reflected as the ultimate for stability [A.H.Uttara Sthana-40/55]. In fact, it is the best way to get rid of obesity.[1]
However, vyayama endorses only the physical activities; thereby excluding mental and verbal exertion in this domain. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-7/31 Chakrapani]. Therefore, vyayama plays a vital role in preservation of health and management of disease.
Etymology and derivation
The nirukti (origin) of the term vyayama is Vi + Aa + Yam+ Ghan (वि+आ+यम+घञ् | पौरुषः) [Shabdakalpadrumam]. It means specific stretching.
Types
Sushruta categorizes vyayama as physical (sharira), verbal (vak), and mental (manas). Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana- 35/40 Dalhana].
Features of optimal vyayama
Profuse sweating, increased respiration, feeling lightness of body and tightness in cardiac region are signs of optimal vyayama. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-7/32-33]
Vyayama is one among the best practices for preservation of health (ekanta pathyatama). [Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana-20/6] For a healthy person, right amount of vyayama at right time is wholesome. [Dalhana on Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/6]
Extent of exercise is determined by one’s own capacity. One should stop exercise before getting tired. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-8/18] Strong persons, and those habituated to fat rich diet can daily practice vyayama up to half of their capacity in cold seasons like hemanta & shishira (winter), and in vasanta ritu (spring). During rest of the seasons, vyayama can be executed with mild to moderate strength. [A.H.Sutra Sthana-2/11-12] [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-24/45-46]
Vyayama shakti or strength of performing physical exercise is an important patient examination tool in Ayurveda. [Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/94] A healthy individual can withstand exercise or any physical activity [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-21/18]. Whereas, lean or emaciated person is deprived of the ability to perform exercise [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-21/13].
Vyayama is one among the best practices for preservation of health (ekanta pathyatama). [Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana-20/6] For a healthy person, right amount of vyayama at right time is wholesome. [Dalhana on Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 20/6]
Extent of exercise is determined by one’s own capacity. One should stop exercise before getting tired. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-8/18] Strong persons, and those habituated to fat rich diet can daily practice vyayama up to half of their capacity in cold seasons like hemanta & shishira (winter), and in vasanta ritu (spring). During rest of the seasons, vyayama can be executed with mild to moderate strength. [A.H.Sutra Sthana-2/11-12] [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-24/45-46]
Vyayama shakti or strength of performing physical exercise is an important patient examination tool in Ayurveda. [Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/94] A healthy individual can withstand exercise or any physical activity [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-21/18]. Whereas, lean or emaciated person is deprived of the ability to perform exercise [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-21/13].
Amount of vyayama
One should practice vyayama at half his/her capacity (ardhashakti) which is denoted by sweating of axillae, temples, nose, joints coupled with dry mouth.[2] Other sign of ardhashakti vyayama is dislodgement of vata located in chest region to mouth. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 24/47]
Benefits
People who indulge in daily vyayama will be endowed with light, proportionate and compact body, increased appetite, reduced body fat, enthusiasm and endurance. [A.H.Sutra Sthana 2/11; Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-7/32] They can easily digest even the incompatible food. [A.H.Sutra Sthana-7/47; Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 5/6; Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-26/106].Vyayama relieves sleepiness [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-21/55-57]. And wedges the tri-dosha (basic bodily humors) from koshtha / central body to shakha/ peripheral body. [A.H.Sutra Sthana-13/17; A.S.Sutra Sthana-19/23; Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-28/31]
Kleda (moisture or interstitial fluid) does not accumulate in tissues by virtue of regular exercise. [A.S.Sutra Sthana-11/56; Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-15/239] Obesity can be checked by regular vyayama as it endows well-built musculature to the person. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-24/39-42] Well-built compact physique, charming appearance, and tolerance to cold/ heat/ hunger/ thirst are the revered qualities .The exercise generated robust digestive fire can properly digest food items even if they are incompatible, heavy to digest and causing burning sensation in stomach.[3]
Kleda (moisture or interstitial fluid) does not accumulate in tissues by virtue of regular exercise. [A.S.Sutra Sthana-11/56; Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-15/239] Obesity can be checked by regular vyayama as it endows well-built musculature to the person. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-24/39-42] Well-built compact physique, charming appearance, and tolerance to cold/ heat/ hunger/ thirst are the revered qualities .The exercise generated robust digestive fire can properly digest food items even if they are incompatible, heavy to digest and causing burning sensation in stomach.[3]
Recommendations for those who practice daily vyayama
Oleation therapy is beneficial, for those who are accustomed to regular exercise. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-13/52; A.S.Sutra Sthana-25/9; A.H.Sutra Sthana-16/5] Vasa (animal fat) and majja (bone marrow) are the ideal materials for this. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-13/16; A.S.Sutra Sthana-25/11; A.H.Sutra Sthana-16/10-11]. Anuvasana basti (Unctuous enema) with lipid formulation of drugs, on a daily basis is also recommended. [A.H.Sutra Sthana-19/34; A.S.Sutra Sthana-27/34; Cha.Sa.Siddhi Sthana-4/23]. Vyayama without prior oil massage causing vatika gulma (development of abnormal masses), due to vata reinforces this schedule. [Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-5/21] Nasya (nasal instillation of medicine) to be given after vyayama as it relieves fatigue, arduousness, sweat and stiffness [A.S.Sutra Sthana-29/21] and pratimarsha nasya (nasya at a smaller dose) after vyayama alleviates fatigue. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-40/52] One who is fond of vyayama is eligible for matra basti ( retention of small dose of lipid formulation of medicine) in rectum always. [A.H.Sutra Sthana 19/68; A.S.Sutra Sthana-28/8; Cha.Sa.Siddhi Sthana-4/5]
Post- vyayama procedures
Whole body oil massage following vyayama, increases the exercise endurance. [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana-5/86] After performing vyayama, one should gently massage the whole body. [A.H.Sutra Sthana-2/13; Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-24/38] Powder massage of feet after exercise prevents diseases and offers appealing looks, which can surpass age. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-24/43-44]
Forbidden activities/ behaviors after vyayama
Strenuous physical activities after vyayama is harmful to health. [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-8/22] Person who consumes alcohol after indulging in vyayama succumbs to health hazards. [Madhava Nidana-18/13] Therapeutic emesis (vamana) [A.S.Sutra Sthana-27/6; Cha.Sa.Siddhi Sthana-2/8] and Nasal administration (nasya) [Cha.Sa.Siddhi Sthana-2/20] are contraindicated for those who are exhausted by vyayama.
Indications
Vyayama is indicated for healthy individual (swastha) [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-30/8], strong person with good immunity (balavan) [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-25/51], people who are accustomed to unctuous diet (snigdhabhoji) [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-25/51], person with excess kapha and fat deposition in body (kapha medanvita) [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-32/15]; health issues like diabetes (prameha) [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-11/11; Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-6/61] and obesity (sthaulya) [Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-23/25; Su.Sa.Sutra Sthana-15/32]; and in winter (hemanta and shishira ritu) [A.S.Sutra Sthana-4/10-13], as well as spring season (vasanta rtu) [A.H.Sutra Sthana-3/11; Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana-6/24].Vyayama is most conducive in winter and spring season. [Su.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana-24/46]
References
- ↑ Rajavallabha Nighantu; Chapter 2; sloka 12; NIIMH-National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage. e-Samhita [Internet]. Available from: http://niimh.nic.in.
- ↑ Kaiyadeva Nighantu; Chapter 8; sloka 153; NIIMH-National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage. e-Samhita [Internet]. Available from: http://niimh.nic.in.
- ↑ Kaiyadeva Nighantu; Chapter 8; sloka 246-248; NIIMH-National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage. e-Samhita [Internet]. Available from: http://niimh.nic.in.