瑜伽是一門很古老的科學，是一種身心靈的修煉法，包含生理、心理、精神等三個層次的訓練、控制與改變。瑜伽對於身心靈修煉的養生觀，主要是來自於古印度的吠陀養生學，著重以飲食、運動、生活習慣來預防疾病，或是以斷食、減食、特殊食物或藥草來恢復身體的平衡。直到今日，在現代的印度仍有很多人遵循這種傳統的養生觀及生活方式，而且盛行於全世界，形成一股瑜伽風潮。 但是，現代人誤以為瑜伽只是一種美容塑身的體位法，著重於生理方面的預防與治療，而較少提倡心理與精神方面的修煉。當今對於瑜伽的研究，主要在於瑜伽的運動功效，以及對於疾病的治療等，著重於瑜伽體位法的實踐部份。較少探討瑜伽基本理論的修煉觀、養生觀等。 本文嘗試從吠陀養生學的基本理論探討瑜伽的養生觀，以及瑜伽傳統派別與現代瑜伽之關係。全文主要分為五段：壹、前言：說明研究動機與目的；貳、瑜伽的意義與起源：說明瑜伽的字義、源流和體系；參、瑜伽的養生觀：探討瑜伽養生學的五大元素、經脈與氣輪、飲食法；肆、瑜伽的傳統派別與現代之發展：說明傳統瑜伽與現代瑜伽之差異；五、結論。

Yoga is an ancient science. It is a form of exercise for body, soul and mind and comprises exercise, control and making changes in all three areas: bodily life, spiritual life and psychology. Yoga’s theory of a healthy lifestyle draws on the ancient Indian practices of maintaining health set out in the Vedas. Through regulated food and drink, exercise and style of life illness is kept at bay, whilst fasting, dieting and the use of special foods or herbal medicines are employed to bring the body back to balance in the case of illness. Even today many people in India adhere to this traditional way of a healthy life, such that the practice has spread to the whole world and engendered a yoga craze. However, many people today mistakenly think that yoga is simply physical exercises for slimming and keeping in shape. They seek the prevention of disease and mere physical healing, and pay less attention to exercises for spiritual and psychological well-being. Most research on yoga looks at its role in physical exercise and healing illness and its practical effects. There is little concern for its basic theory of how to train and how to live. This thesis examines the healthy lifestyle promoted by yoga by first studying its fundamental theory of a healthy life outlined in the Vedas. It then looks at the relationship between traditional and modern yoga. The thesis is divided into five parts. The introduction explains the purpose and goal of my research. Then I discuss the significance and origin of yoga. Here I define the term ‘yoga’ and look at its origins and how it has developed. Part three ‘Yoga’s lifestyle’ looks at the five chief elements in yoga theory, the circulation of the arteries and veins and chakra and the way to eat and drink. Part four looks at the traditional schools and their modern development and explains the difference between the two. Finally I end with a conclusion.