In the article Healthy Ayurveda Diet to Lose Weight & Burn Fat,
we discussed what constitutes a healthy weight loss diet based on Ayurveda’s
model of Vata, Pitta & Kapha body types. In that article we indicated
that the Kapha Dosha (humour) is primarily responsible for fat and adipose
tissue and by reducing Kapha we reduce fat and excess weight. To get a quick
overview of Ayurveda and the 3 doshas please read the following article: Introducing Ayurveda – Alternative Medicine for Self
Healing.
Continuing on the war path against
excess weight, Ayurveda proposes the following weight loss tips to help reduce
Kapha Dosha and thus battle obesity and being overweight. Of the 4
dimensions of our being, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, in this
article I will cover the Physical Dimension which is most important for the
reduction of Kapha and the correlating reduction in weight. In future
articles I will cover the other dimensions.
Weight Loss Tips from
Ayurveda for The Physical Dimension:
1. Ayurvedic
Diet for Weight Loss:
The Healthy Ayurveda Diet article already detailed this most important
food aspect for reducing Kapha and burning fat so I wont repeat that here, but,
please note that diet is a very key aspect in this battle against being
overweight.
2. Exercise for
Weight Loss:
The following Ayurvedic guidelines
should be followed for proper exercise with regard to weight loss:
·
More Exercise the
Better: Kapha’s
qualities of fixed, dull, heavy, soft and cold are all negated via
exercise. In other words, the more exercise you do the more you reduce
Kapha and therefore fat in your body.
·
Exercise Without
Excessive Strain: According to
Ayurveda, Kapha individuals need the most vigorous exercise, but at the same
time, the exercise should never be extreme. Find a good balance between
doing too little and over doing it. Breaking a nice sweat is good, but
being totally breathless is probably too much.
·
Be Consistent: A Kapha body type has a propensity towards weight
gain so you need to make exercise a daily part of you life. The hardest
part will be to get the exercise program underway. Once this is done
Kapha people tend to be very determined and steady, so they will be able to
adhere to it long term. Getting started though is another matter for
Kapha types and usually requires shock treatment. In the spirit of shock
treatment, understand that by NOT exercising and NOT losing the weight you are
putting your longevity and quality of life at risk. Enough said, start
today!
·
Yoga for Weight Loss: In the article Online Yoga Exercises for Healthy Weigh Loss I have provided a potent yoga set to
help you burn fat and lose weight. Feel free to incorporate that into
your exercise regiment.
·
Post Exercise Diet: After exercises do not drink cold liquids.
This period is key as you are trying to increase the metabolic fire in your
cells so they burn more calories and drinking cold liquids at this time will
negate this important benefit which exercise bestows.
3. Hard Physical Work
to Burn Calories:
According to Ayurveda reduction of
Kapha is promoted by living a physical, active lifestyle. In today’s age
of technology, computers, TVs, TiVO, internet, etc. manual labor is getting
more rare for people to do. So you need to consciously incorporate
physical work into your life. Whether that be mowing the lawn, tending to
the garden or shoveling snow, it is important to not live a sedentary live of
watching TV and eating twinkies.
4. Massage Therapy to
Reduce Fat:
There are many treatment modalities in
Ayurveda of which massage is highly recommended. In the context of weight
loss and reducing Kapha, strong massage with light oils such as mustard or
flaxseed is helpful.
5. Sleep Guidelines
for Weight Loss:
No napping or going to bed
early. Yes, a recommendation from a Meditation and Yoga website to
actually not retire to bed early :-). If you want to reduce Kapha and
weight remember you burn more calories when you are awake and being active,
than when you are happily snuggled under the blanket.
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