Conceptual Foundations of Yoga
Dr. Samidha Sharma
M.D.(Ay.)
Specialization: Svasthavṛtta & Yoga
Know Your Editor
Dr. Samidha Sharma, MD (Ayurveda) is an accomplished Ayurvedic physician, academician, researcher, and public health advocate with over 14 years of dedicated service in the AYUSH sector. Currently serving as an Ayurvedic Medical Officer in Ambala, she specializes in Svasthavṛtta, Yoga, preventive healthcare, and women’s health, with a strong clinical focus on integrative and evidence-based Āyurveda. A postgraduate from the prestigious National Institute of Ayurveda, she secured Second Rank with Distinction. Her clinical expertise particularly extends to female health, lifestyle disorders, preventive medicine, and holistic wellness.
Dr. Sharma is also an accomplished author and academician. She has written two books on women’s health, particularly adolescence and menopause, and has published research articles in national and international journals. She has been honored with several Best Paper Presentation awards at national and international seminars. A respected speaker, educator, and resourceful academic, she has delivered lectures on Āyurveda, Yoga, and preventive health across various professional and public platforms, motivating students in multiple Ayurvedic colleges. She has also received numerous recognitions, including the prestigious “Viśva Āyurveda Ratna Award” at the Second Ayurveda World Summit in December 2025.
Along with her clinical and academic engagements, Dr. Samidha Sharma continues to contribute to research, scholarly writing, and public health advocacy, striving to strengthen the relevance of Āyurveda in modern healthcare systems.
About the book
Conceptual Foundations of Yoga presents a systematic and scholarly exploration of Yoga as a science of holistic health, self-regulation, and higher consciousness. The volume examines the philosophical roots of Yoga in Sāṅkhya and allied Darśanas, and elaborates the principles of Citta, Guṇa, Kleśa, and the path toward Citta-vṛtti-nirodha.
The book provides a structured discussion of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga—Yama, Niyama, Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, Pratyāhāra, Dhāraṇā, Dhyāna, and Samādhi—highlighting their theoretical basis, practical applications, and physiological and psychological effects. Special emphasis is laid on Yoga in preventive health, stress management, psychosomatic disorders, lifestyle diseases, and integrative clinical practice. By integrating classical Yogic wisdom with contemporary scientific insights and evidence-based perspectives, this volume aims to offer a clear conceptual and applied understanding of Yoga for students, academicians, healthcare professionals, and researchers in holistic and integrative health sciences.
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