Fasting With A Holistic Perspective
Many of us take to fasting in these auspicious days, do you? Fasting during this period would by and large be attached to religious values! Yet, it is also true that during these days of seasonal transition; you could effortlessly take to holistic healing through Fasting! Sounds good?
Our ancient Indian therapeutic sciences of Ayurveda and Naturopathy have emphasized greatly on the virtues of ‘Holistic’ fasting. Going by the exact meaning of the word ‘Holistic’ would mean absolute; therefore in other words, fasting is essentially an asset that would put your entity in equilibrium with your physical well being, mental tranquility as well as spiritual growth!
Does Fasting Heal?
In my article, I have referred to fasting for holistic healing, which means it makes you sound and balanced on all levels of physical, mental as well as spiritual well being. But how can we be so sure? If you have ever kept a fast, then you would have observed that as and when you are on fast you find some natural positive implications in your basic persona. Your body undergoes comprehensive cleansing and self-healing mechanism. Also, you will find that your mind actually obeys you and can be controlled better and you normally do not submit to the superfluous inducements. And have you tried to meditate when you take to fasting? Try this out even for a few minutes and you would be amazed to come out with such positivism both in areas of spirituality as well as liberation!
The Need Of Fasting For Holistic Health
Owing to the slavery to our taste buds, it seems that nowadays we are pushing more ‘tasty’ foods loaded with fats and sweets into our system. This may be supported by the ascend of so many lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension et al.
Not only this, somehow today we are losing our fundamental values and getting all the more attached and enticed to avariciousness. We are into the wrong habit of eating not to satisfy our appetite, but more often to feed the fallacy of our taste buds! This takes the form of a vicious circle and there is actually no escape. We fall prey to our own senses and forget the basics of managing our own senses and mind for our indispensable upliftment!
Fasting for Physical Health
When you take to fasting, you are definitely doing a favor to your physical being. Our ancient healing wisdom texts strongly emphasize that the ‘Healer’ lies within. When you are depriving your body from unwanted provisions, you are actually arousing the physician within you. While fasting, we give our bodies the opportunity to balance itself!
Fasting for Mental Tranquility
Fasting or Upavas literally means ‘Living near the divine’. During the process of fasting, our mind is as pure as our body which is naturally chaste! This is because fasting brings a well deserved break both for the body as well as mind. You are in full potential to train your mind along with the senses and hampered emotions. And in the process, this comes to be a therapy which helps to detach and also heal your past. This state of mental tranquility that can be easily achieved during fasting enables you to start afresh in a new positive arena in your life. Fasting heightens the awareness towards your intellectual status as well as makes you tough enough to proceed with reverence.
Fasting for Spiritual Growth
“Spirituality dawns when individuality vanishes.” ~Swami Rama.
When we are able to let go, we get to salvation. One of the best possible techniques to make this happen is by practicing any form of virtual detachment. And here come the role and implications of fasting. When you are on fasts, you virtually lose hold of your worldly desires, and submerge deeper within your own vacuity. At this stage, you tend to lose the union with your own self and magnificently make a connection with the divinity!
What Ayurveda Conveys
In accordance with Ayurvedic science of healing, you need to take to fasting so as to keep your Jathar agni or the gastric fire invigorated. This is mainly because when Agni is not functioning properly, whatever you are eating would not be digested and there would be impairment of metabolism in the body. This defective Agni produces Ama or the un-digested food which further causes fermentation and putrefaction in the stomach and consequently results in formation of diseases.
Naturopathy Counsels Fasting
Naturopathy deems fasting to be equivalent to consuming life-saving nectar. The basic belief is that fasting helps you gain the Ether element or Aakasha tatva which is highly subtle and significant among all the five basic natural elements, other four being water, fire, water and earth. Although the merits and beliefs of Upvaas therapy are plenty-
- When you are refraining from food, this gives your system adequate respite and the body naturally works upon removing toxins from the body.
- When the various organs of the body take rest by the virtue of fasting, they tend to focus on cleansing, energizing and rejuvenating every small component of the physical body.
- Naturopathy considers fasting as the best possible way of flushing unwanted impurities from the body and integrating healing, immunity and natural awakening for your individual growth and well being.
Watch Video: Why Fasting Is Essential For Holistic Health & Balance (HD) Video
About the Author:
Dr Sonica Krishan is Author and Speaker in the areas of Healthy and Joyous Living through Ayurveda, Meditation, Yoga and other Contemplative practices. She is a leading Ayurveda Professional in India. She is also Health Writer, Columnist, Editor, Ayurveda Consultant and Holistic Healing Coach. Dr Sonica is open for National as well as International Collaborations with interested people / institutions in fields of Ayurveda, Meditation and Yoga.
Dr Sonica Krishan’s Books are available at Amazon
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