Role of Ashtang Yoga in Mental and Spiritual Health: An Ayurvedic Perspective
Sampada Sanjay Kulkarni, Manoj Nimbalkar
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences October 27, 2026 DOI: 10.21760/jaims.11.9.59 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that while pharmacological and psychological interventions dominate contemporary mental health care, holistic approaches such as Ayurveda and Ashtanga Yoga should receive greater attention for promoting overall well-being, with Ayurveda framing health as harmony of body, mind, and consciousness and Ashtanga Yoga offering a systematic path to physical, psychological, and spiritual equilibrium. |
Abstract
Mental health disorders have emerged as one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease, adversely affecting emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and social functioning. Rapid urbanization, changing lifestyles, psychosocial stressors, and unhealthy behavioural patterns have contributed to a rising prevalence of anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders. Contemporary management primarily emphasizes pharmacological and psychological interventions; however, increasing attention is being directed toward holistic approaches that promote overall well-being. Ayurveda considers health as a harmonious state of the body, mind, and consciousness, while Ashtanga Yoga, as described by Maharshi Patanjali, provides a systematic pathway for attaining physical, psychological, and spiritual equilibrium.