Why You Should Consider Fasting & 4 Tips to Prepare for Your First Fast
By Ram Jain People have been practicing fasting for many years for religious, spiritual or health reasons. Yogic philosophy also approves of fasting as a way to cleanse the body and to control both mind and body. When you practice fasting you learn to control the senses and not to react on the tendency to eat food out of habit or routine. Fasting allows the intestines to take a rest. They always work and because we keep eating, they never get to rest. While fasting, the intestines get the chance to digest all the food, to clean itself and to rest. Fasting has always been a consistent part my lifestyle and has proven to be very beneficial, both physically and mentally. Fasting can be done in many different ways. There are differences in length of fasting:
A 1-day fast is the best way for beginners to experience fasting for the first time and to see how the body reacts. Several weeks of fasting should never be done without experience and supervision. There are also differences in types of fasting:
You can choose which type of fasting you want to do, depending on the situation and your experience. It is important that you always listen to your body and that you do it step by step. So don’t start with a 10-day water fast if you have never fasted before! Remember: All of these fasts have the same goal: to give the body the opportunity to cleanse and detoxify itself. For those who don’t have experience in fasting, here are four tips on how you can prepare yourself and how you can make your first fast a success:
Fasting will be the most comfortable and beneficial if you are completely devoted to do it. Make sure you know why you want to do it (for health, spiritual or religious reason) and truly believe you are doing something good for your body. Only then your mind will calm down and accept it and you won’t crave for food so much.
Before you fast there should be a transition period where you eat less and light. This transition period is generally half of the fasting period. So if you do a 1-week fast, you should start eating light and less 3.5 days before. This way your body can already prepare itself and the transition from little to no food is easier than if you have a big heavy meal the evening before you start fasting the next day.
Each body reacts different to fasting, depending on the constitution of your body, your eating habits, your mental state, etc. Some people might feel weak, tired, get a headache, or have mood swings. Be prepared for some physical reaction but if the reaction is too strong and too uncomfortable, you should slowly stop the fasting and try a lighter form the next time. It is important to always keep listening to your body. The first times are usually the hardest, but it gets easier as your body gets more used to the fasting.
Try to plan your fasting period so that it fits in your personal lifestyle. Don’t start fasting in a very stressful period where you keep running here and there. If possible don’t do too many physically intensive activities. They can make your body more tired and make you feel weaker and hungrier. Those who are more used to fasting will have less problems with this. ——————– Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Ram Jain, the Founding Director of the Arhanta Yoga Ashrams in India and the Netherlands. Within the last 10 years, the Arhanta Yoga Ashrams have become renowned internationally for their professional yoga teacher training course in India and various other yoga certification and have up to present trained over 4,000 yoga teachers from all over the world. Born in New Delhi, India, in a traditional and spiritual family, Ram’s yoga and Vedic philosophy education started at the age of eight years as a part of his primary school education. He has in-depth knowledge of various ancient scriptures like Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika as well as anatomy and physiology. He is also the author of the book Hatha Yoga for Teachers & Practitioners: A Comprehensive Guide to Holistic Sequencing Website: https://www.arhantayoga.org via Blogger http://wellieperrie.blogspot.com/2019/11/why-you-should-consider-fasting-4-tips.html November 09, 2019 at 02:35PM
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5 Foods to Incorporate into Your Yogic Diet
By Simone de Villiers Travelling from Australia to India for my first 200hr yoga teacher training course, I felt nervous about my belly. So I drank all the kombucha before I left and stocked my bags with probiotics and Imodium to make sure I’d be able to cure any “Delhi Belly” I may encounter. Who knew that I was going to leave my school, Gyan Yog Breath in Rishikesh, feeling healthier (and fuller) than ever. In the town of Rishikesh, the birthplace of yoga, everything is vegetarian. Previously a meat-eater, I was uneasy about the idea of just eating veggies and carbs for a month. I thought that having a meatless diet would leave me less energetic than usual. But the total opposite happened. I noticed that my mood improved, I was less bloated, I slept better and I was more energized. The school had chefs dedicated to feeding us two vegetarian meals each day that incorporated Ayurvedic ingredients. Each meal was freshly prepared with the intention of calming the functions of the mind and filling the body with life force energy, prana. They had taught us that the ideal yogic diet is one that does as little harm as possible and makes you feel good physically and emotionally. Eating right is an essential activity for your yoga practice, so here are a few tips on the types of foods and Ayurvedic principles that you can bring to the table as a yogi.
Always try to prepare a fresh meal with fresh, locally sourced fruit and veggies. Be sure to take note of what foods are in season where you’re living. Having a healthy mix of vegetables and fruits in your diet gives you all the healthy antioxidants and immune boosting nutrients your body needs for your yoga practice.
Herbal teas tend to contain herbs such as black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and turmeric, which all help boost the body’s immune system and improve metabolism. Some popular ones to try before or after your practice are peppermint, chamomile, green, and ginger and lemon tea.
Rice, chickpeas, lentils, beans, peas and so many more. Legumes and grains are easy to digest and provide your body with a great source of protein alternative to meat. 4. Water Hydration before, during and after yoga practice will make you perform better, increasing strength and flexibility. It is great for helping us to detox our bodies and provides us with the oxygen we need to maintain clarity and focus throughout our practice. 5. All the spices like ginger, cumin, turmeric and fresh herbs Herbs and spices directly support the mind and also make your food taste delicious. According to Ayurveda, spices act as healing foods that support a healthy body and stimulate its repair and rejuvenation. Our nutrition works the same way as our asana practice, and it’s just as important. The same way that each of our individual practices differs, so do our dietary requirements and our individual idea’s about what is right and wrong when it comes to food. There is no specific diet that is suitable for all of us; however, incorporating the foods above will help to make you feel good, physically and emotionally. As long as you have a healthy relationship with food, and not overly restrictive in giving your body what it needs, your mind, body and spirit can all positively function together. ——————-- Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Simone de Villiers. Inspired by her education, experiences and travels, Simone is passionate about all things well-being. Her passion for yoga, Ayurveda and wellness led her to Gyan Yog Breath in India (www.gyanyogbreath.com), where she became enthusiastic about promoting holistic health. Alongside freelancing, she has recently started teaching yoga in Sydney. Via Wellness http://www.rssmix.com/via Blogger http://wellieperrie.blogspot.com/2019/11/5-foods-to-incorporate-into-your-yogic.html November 02, 2019 at 06:25PM
3 Mantras to Build Your Self-Love
Self-love. We all need more of it. The teachings of yoga are big on self-love because of one spiritual truth: you cannot fully love others until you fully love yourself. And why should we love ourselves? That’s what our ego so often asks. So much of the time we have very little self-compassion for our own vulnerabilities and fears. But, these “negative” aspects of ourselves are merely part of being human. We come into this world as little innocents, afraid of nothing and curious about everything. It’s the experiences and traumas of life that create our fears and vulnerabilities. We can use yoga and mantra meditation to see them for what they are, and cultivate self-love for ourselves so that we can live from our souls—our place of truth—free from fear and full of unconditional love. Then we can help others do the same, by seeing them for who they are—spiritual beings in a physical body, riding the ups and downs of this roller coaster called life. All that said, how do we cultivate more self-love? One effective way is through the profound practice of mantra meditation. Mantras specifically designed to cultivate self-love are some of the most effective yogic tools for creating lasting grooves in our minds and hearts. Grooves that tell us we’re beautiful, lovable, and enough--just as we are. A little time spent each day practicing mantras to build your self-love will work wonders! Not only will you come to know that you’re innately lovable, you’ll also see the exact same love in everyone you meet. Why Do Mantras Work? Mantras are healing tools for the mind, and when you repeat a mantra, you shift your brain state and transform your state of awareness. When you still the mind during mantra meditation, you open up space for the mantra to plant its seeds within your consciousness. The more you do it, the stronger those seeds grow. And eventually, your mind becomes a beautiful garden of loving thoughts. This is the power of mantras. 3 Mantras to Build Your Self-love No two people will ever live the same life story. This makes each and every one of us unique. You are a collection of unique talents, and no one on the entire planet is exactly like you. Only you have that special something to offer the world that no one else has. When you truly understand this truth within your heart, then you can come to cherish the beauty in yourself (and others) in every moment. We’re going to explore three mantras to embed this sense of knowing deep into our state of awareness. 1. Aieem namah– “My true nature is love and joy.” This mantra opens your awareness to the true essence of who you are. You are the source of all strength, love, and joy. Let this mantra sink in, as you prepare yourself to sit in meditation. As you sit, repeat the mantra over and over—out loud, or in your mind’s eye. You can repeat the mantra in Sanskrit, or in English—whichever resonates in the moment. Every moment is different. Some days, you may prefer English, others Sanskrit. Listen to what you want, and let your soul be your guide. 2. Aham brahmasmi– “I am wholeness.” You are whole—just as you are. Nothing needs to be added. Nothing needs to be taken away. Build your self-love by meditating with this mantra for a few minutes each day. With time, you’ll come to rest in this state of inner knowing and self-love. As you repeat the aham brahmasmi mantra, allow each repetition to guide you into an expanded state of awareness. With time, you’ll understand just how whole and complete you truly are. 3. Aham prema– “I am love.” We’re all on this planet to express every aspect of love that exists. All it takes is a tiny shift in the way we see ourselves in order to live from a state of pure love. And this is what happens when you repeat aham prema. You shift the way you see yourself on a profound level—from your state of deep awareness. Unlock your kind, open, and generous heart with this mantra for self-love. The poet Tagore wrote that love is the only reality, and the only truth that lies at the very heart of creation. This mantra takes us to our true Self, our source, which is divine love. To connect with love as the quality of your true spirit, repeat this mantra in Sanskrit or English for a few minutes each day. Supercharge with a Mala To supercharge these mantras, get yourself a beautiful set of mala beads and use them to practice your mantra 108 times whenever you sit. This is the holy number, the one that’s said to be sacred and auspicious. If your mind wanders, simply bring it back to the mantra, and to the beads. This is yourpractice. Allow it to fill you with profound states of peace, compassion, and of course—self-love. ————- Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Aimee Hughes, an advanced yogi (21 years) and mindfulness enthusiast. She earned her B.A. in French from Tulane University and then Doctor of Naturopathy (ND) credentials from Clayton College. She is a primary writer for Yogapedia.com, and she has gone on to pen more than 500 holistic health and spirituality articles for a number of worldwide publications, including Gaia TV, DOYOUYOGA, “The South African Journal of Natural Medicine,” “OnFitness” magazine, “Longevity Times,” and more. Aimee has also authored a self-published vegan cookbook titled, “The Sexy Vegan Kitchen: Culinary Adventures in Love & Sex.” Via Wellness http://www.rssmix.com/via Blogger http://wellieperrie.blogspot.com/2019/08/3-mantras-to-build-your-self-love.html August 01, 2019 at 09:36PM
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