At its foundation, Ayurveda is about wellness in body, mind and spirit; and how we can avoid disease, achieve longevity and fulfill our highest potential.
That’s why if you’re struggling to lose weight, you should consider Ayurveda. Embracing an Ayurveda lifestyle won’t just offer weight loss solutions, it’ll help you achieve a vibrant and fulfilled life.
The following are a few Ayurveda tips that also help with weight loss.
Know Your Dosha Type (and Eat Accordingly)
Although you probably know that the food you eat has a major impact on your weight, what you might not realize is that the ideal diet for one person may not be ideal for you. It’s important to know your dosha type when planning a diet.
Your dosha is essentially your Ayurvedic body type. When you know what it is, you’ll know which foods support your weight loss efforts, and which interfere with them.
Exercise in the Morning
You also likely know that exercise helps you lose weight. What you might not realize is that exercising in the morning is more likely to help you lose weight than exercising any other time of day.
That’s because the energy of the early morning tends to be slow and cool. This can result in a feeling of sluggishness you may carry with you throughout the day. However, if you exercise in the morning, you’ll guard against this slowness, helping you stay more active (and thus lose more weight) throughout the day.
Exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous. In fact, it shouldn’t be too demanding. Consider yoga in the morning, as it’s gentle, and supports the flow of prana. You can also perform a yoga routine virtually anywhere.
Meditate
Meditation is another important practice in Ayurveda. It offers many benefits, but it can be particularly helpful if you’re trying to lose weight.
People who struggle with weight gain often find it difficult to resist the urge to snack. When you meditate mindfully, you learn to recognize your urges, without feeling the need to give in to them. Meditation simply helps you develop the discipline you need to live a healthy life.
Sleep with the Sun
In many ways, Ayurveda is about tuning into the natural rhythms of the universe. That’s why so many Ayurvedic treatments involve the use of natural ingredients.
This same principle should be applied to your sleep patterns. Ayurvedic experts specifically recommend making a point of going to sleep when the sun sets, and waking up when the sun rises.
This recommendation isn’t based purely on Ayurvedic wisdom. Scientists have long-known that establishing a regular, healthy, and consistent sleep pattern ensures your circadian rhythm is also consistent. When your circadian rhythm is inconsistent, hormonal changes may make it difficult to lose weight, and make you more prone to cravings. This is less likely to happen when you sleep with the sun.
What’s most important is that you put these Ayurvedic weight loss solutions into regular practice. Ayurveda isn’t a quick fix. Instead, it’s a lifestyle, one which yields dramatic health improvements.
Reviewed by Dr. Jayant Lokhande, MD (Botanical Drugs), MBA (Biotechnology)
