Instinctively, all species on Earth except humans fast during specific occasions including low health condition or seasonal shifts. Animals naturally stop eating when they get sick and expose themselves to more of fresh air, light and much resting to recover back their health, energy & vitality.
Fasting inherently has been a part of ancient traditions for its ability to help restore energy and heal by depriving body of food and activating body’s internal healing mechanism. Methodical fasting considering season, condition & the constitution of an individual helps strengthen & purify the body & mind.
On the path of Yoga & Ayurveda, fasting is often practiced as a lifestyle to be incorporated during specific times of the year. Even intermittent fasting inherently is a part of Ayurveda lifestyle, and suggestive of limited hours of eating window. Fasting according to Ayurveda helps enhance the health quality of an individual while elevating the spiritual pursuits. No wonder yogis have practiced fasting since ages. Physiologically, fasting gets the body rid of perished cells and other toxins out of the body.
Importance of Fasting in Yoga Practice
Yoga and Ayurveda are the sister sciences and most of the lifestyle practices in Yoga are inherited from the understanding of life in Ayurveda. One of the phrases in Ayurveda mentions, “langhanam paramam aushadham” which means “Fasting is the supreme medicine”. Ayurveda recommends that our diet must vary according to the cycles of natures and there are times in nature which ask for slow down specifically during seasonal transitions or during a state of stress or health concerns. Those times according to Ayurveda are the times of fasting. Most Yoga practitioners fast specifically on Ekadashi, that falls twice a month on 11th day after new moon amp; full moon. On this day, Yogic fast to match the energetic qualities in nature based on the planetary conditions.
In Yoga, fasting supports the practice drastically by enhancing the purification capability of the body. Scientifically, it is known fact that about 70% of our internal energy is consumed by the digestive processes. By giving our digestive system a break, we spare that 70% energy towards body’s inner healing reserves, detoxification, eliminating dead cells and toxins out of the body, thereby freeing-up our tissues for better strength, flexibility, and optimal state of tissue health. However, the relevance of fasting in yoga transcends beyond the body to the balanced state of mind. Fasting teaches us self-control and to refrain from temptations while staying strong.
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