Are you also one among those people who suffer from excess pounds and find it difficult to reach or maintain their feel-good weight? Then you are not alone!
The best way to leave failed diets and the yo-yo effect behind is to get a natural body feeling (back) and thereby bring the weight back into balance. We will show you how ayurvedic knowledge, tried and tested for thousands of years, can help you to reach and maintain your personal feel-good weight.
What is an ideal body weight?
According to ayurvedic understanding, an ideal body weight by no means depends on age, sex and height alone. Every human being is different, has his own stature, his individual metabolism, which must be taken into account. This is reflected in Ayurveda in the different dosha types.
A person with a very pronounced Vata dosha probably has a rather light physique and does not gain weight as easily. Such a person could be tall and slim, maybe even a little thin.
While a Pitta type tends to be of medium stature, someone with a pronounced Kapha dosha is rather on the husky side. Such a person may therefore by nature have a little more body weight without being overweight.
Knowing your own dosha type therefore gives a first orientation as to which body weight is ideal.
Balance as the key to your feel-good weight
The key to an ideal or balanced weight is balance, not weight control. To achieve this, you must first know yourself and your balance.
As a Kapha type and by nature with a rather sturdy stature you probably have a slightly higher feel-good weight and it may be acceptable for you to weigh a bit more. That is absolutely okay. On the contrary: If you apply weight loss measures against your own nature, it can disturb your metabolism, your physiology.
With a Vata type, on the other hand, some alertness is required in case of weight increase. Those who gain weight as a Vata type should therefore pay close attention to what they eat, which foods they combine and how they live. This way, weight can be easily brought back into balance and automatically regulated.
So it is less about weight control and more about balance - and always in accordance with our constitution or our dosha type.
How does body weight get out of balance?
Often the cause of an imbalance in our body weight can be found in our diet. We mostly eat too much or foods that are not good for us. Often also without knowing it.
In women it can be observed again and again how a changed hormonal regulation, e.g. after a pregnancy, throws body weight out of balance. A weak or stressed liver can also affect the hormonal system. Regular (pulse) diagnosis and medical check-ups can help uncover such things.
Also "pseudo hunger", i.e. "false" hunger, often leads to unwanted weight gain. "Pseudo hunger" is not physiological, i.e. there is no real need of our body for food behind it, but it has mostly psychological causes. Perhaps you know "pseudo-hunger" as a craving for sweets or a desire for chocolate... Especially snacking in the evening often leads to excess weight and makes weight loss unnecessarily difficult.
Stress plays an important role in connection with "pseudo hunger" and unfavourable eating habits. Many people consider chocolate to be a real stress killer. Coffee consumption also increases frequently when we are stressed. However, this slows down digestion and our metabolism and we gain weight more easily.
How do I reach my feel-good weight?
Follow the laws of nature! Your eating habits, daily routine, sleeping habits, mental state, rest and stress, etc. should be well balanced and aligned with your constitution. This is the best and easiest way to get back to your feel-good weight.
Nutrition
Eat at the right time and combine what you eat according to your constitution. Tips for the right diet for your dosha type and a large selection of ayurvedic recipes can be found on our website.
Drinking warm to hot water, which is of great importance in Ayurveda, has proven to be beneficial. Especially if you have consumed an unfavorable combination of foods, it is recommended to drink a cup of warm water in small sips about one hour after the meal. This supports your digestion, your metabolism and the cleansing of your body. This helps you to maintain your feel-good weight or to achieve it through gentle weight loss. You can find more information on how to prepare and drink the water on our website or watch a webinar recording.
Make sure not to eat too late. If you feel hungry at the time you go to bed, you may drink a cup of warm milk – but only if you tolerate it well. Many people find a warm cup of milk at bedtime to be beneficial, but others find it to cause bloating. In this case, you should avoid milk in the evening. It is thus very important to know your own body type.
Intermittent fasting or interval fasting (Langhanam), which is considered extremely effective in Ayurveda as well, has become very popular. Phases in which you do not eat (usually 16 hours) alternate with phases in which you eat a few meals. This rhythm helps the body cleanse itself and relieves the digestive organs – especially the liver and pancreas – and helps you lose weight. During interval fasting follow the daily rhythm and take your main meal at noon (around 12 o'clock). This is when the digestive power is strongest.
Daily routine
The ayurvedic daily routine takes into account the natural rhythms of nature and shows us the best times for waking up and going to bed, for cleansing and self-massage (Abhyanga), for eating, for exercising (e.g. Yoga asanas), activity and relaxation.
It is not only what we eat that matters, but also when we eat. If, contrary to the ayurvedic daily routine, we eat late in the evening or even at night and sleep until 10 a.m., we are basically acting against nature. This affects our body’s metabolism and that is when we start gaining weight. Studies have confirmed that people who turn night into day, go to bed very late or sleep very little, gain weight more easily.
On the other hand, if you follow the recommendations of the ayurvedic daily routine, experience shows that issues with an unbalanced weight easily disappear.
Stress balance
Stress can have a negative effect on your eating behaviour and weight. On the other hand, if your stress level is well balanced, you will feel hungry at the right time and eat nutritious food. A regular daily rhythm, yoga and relaxation techniques such as Transcendental Meditation form a good basis for a successful stress balance.
Hormonal regulation
Women with hormonal imbalance – more common after pregnancy and childbirth – should pay particular attention to good nutrition, fresh, warm food, exercise and a suitable daily routine. Absolutely recommended are special yoga asanas (body postures), which can stimulate and improve the hormone secretion of the ovaries and pituitary gland.
Liver & metabolism
People with an overburdened liver should support the body's own detoxification and also pay attention to good eating habits. In order to relieve the body, Ayurveda recommends drinking warm water over and over again. Fasting with liquids (soups, fruit and vegetable juices) – once or twice a week or every ten days – has also proven to be successful. In addition, the ayurvedic texts describe some traditional recipes using herbs and/or fruits.
| 6 Ayurveda tips for a successful weight balance |
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Helpful links
Dosha types
- Click here for the dosha test
- Click here for the webinar recording on YouTube (11:45 min)
Suitable nutrition for every dosha type
- Click here for the article
- Click here for the webinar recording on YouTube (11:50 min)
Fasting
Intermittent fasting from the Ayurveda perspective
- Click here for the webinar recording on YouTube (11:18 min)
Hot water in Ayurveda
- Click here for the article
- Click here for the webinar recording on YouTube (6:58 min)
Daily routine in Ayurveda
- Click here for the article
- Click here for the webinar recording on YouTube (17:36 min)
Abhyanga - Ayurvedic self massage
- Click here for the article
- Click here for the webinar recording on YouTube (15:04 min)
We wish you all the best and much success on your way to your personal feel-good weight.
Your Maharishi Ayurveda Europe team
Thank-you
Thank you to our Ayurveda experts Dr. Richa Shrivastava and Vaidya Dr. Saurabh Sharma for your expert support!
Dr. Richa Shrivastava
Vaidya Dr. Saurabh Sharma
