It is written that yogis used to fast. Does Ayurveda promote fasting? If so, what doshas are more compatible with the practice and under what circumstances?

In the Yoga Sutras, the ancient sage Patanjali outlined eight major limbs of yoga, the fifth of which is known as Pratyahara – a word that can be roughly translated as “sensory fasting.” Pratyahara is the process of temporarily withdrawing our senses from the world so that we can experience an inner state of silent awareness. Both yoga and Ayurveda recommend that we take time to disengage from the exterior world so that we can hear our inner voice more clearly. Meditation is a form of fasting since, in the space of restful awareness, we disengage from the outside environment.

Looking at fasting in terms of food and diet, it’s important to keep in mind that your body already knows how to cleanse and rejuvenate itself. Every night when you sleep, the body completes a “mini-fast” as you sleep. Your body is also constantly shedding toxins and waste through elimination.

However, this natural cleansing process may not be enough. The constant exposure to toxins found in water, air, food, and medications, as well as the fast pace and sensory overload of modern life, places a huge burden on your body. If you have a stressful lifestyle, seldom exercise, and eat a diet of refined foods, the toxic load on your body increases. Ayurveda refers to this toxic residue as ama – the undigested residue from the past that accumulates in the body and leads to imbalance and illness.

To prevent the build-up of stored toxins, Ayurveda recommends a detoxification program known as panchakarma, which includes a cleansing diet and daily massage treatments and heat therapies, followed by a gentle eliminative procedure that releases toxins from the digestive tract or nasal passages.

You can also do a gentle detoxification and “fast” at home by having only liquids or foods that are easy to digest – herbal teas, fruit and vegetable juices, and pureed vegetable soups can all be useful in giving the body time and space to metabolize whatever is left over from the past. If your mind-body type is Kapha, you can do a liquid fast for one day per week; if you are mainly a Pitta type, you can do this detox one day each month. In general, those who are predominantly Vata have more difficulty staying grounded, and fasting is not recommended unless supervised by a medical professional.

Love,
David