Grappled by many diseases, our generation has finally realized the importance of holistic living. Not only are people resorting to age-old techniques like yoga and tai chi to stay fit, but also they are ditching the quick ways to lose weight. While seeking ways to lose weight fast, understand that weight loss is a journey, and anything that gives you quick results comes with risk. It is best to let the weight loss process take its course without rushing the results and the best way to lose weight naturally is the spiritual way. That’s because spirituality unifies your mind and body, thereby helping the mind direct the body and keep it alert when it’s going through a transformation.
“The goal of spirituality is to bring such happiness, which nobody can take away from you.”
-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
How to Lose Weight Spiritually?
Control your mind
Do you know the science of hunger? It does not actually start from the stomach; in fact, it’s the mind that triggers hunger and cravings when you see food (of course not always). Controlling your mind is the spiritual way to deal with frequent hunger pangs. Meditation and mindfulness help bring self-awareness into perspective and make you conscious of your food choices.
“An uncommitted mind is miserable. A committed mind may at times experience rough weather but it will reap the fruits of its toll.”
-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Be grateful
How do you feel when you see unfortunate people around you? Extremely grateful, right? Remember that the biggest blessing is your life and be thankful for your body and mind. This humility will encourage you to think about your body before you indulge in unhealthy habits.
“Spiritual blossoming simply means blossoming in life in all dimensions- being happy, at ease with yourself and everybody around you.”
-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Awaken your chakras
We have seven chakras or energy centres in our bodies. These spiritual connectors unify our minds, organs and intellect when we work on them. Sudarshan Kriya, meditation and yoga facilitate a gradual and safe awakening of our chakras, transforming us, both physically and emotionally. The urge to overeat drops, and we start losing weight in no time.
“In meditation, healing can happen. When the mind is calm, alert and totally content, then it is like a laser beam. It is very powerful and healing can happen.”
-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Intermittent Fasting
Fasting is considered a spiritual discipline in many traditions. Intermittent fasting involves switching between fasting and non-fasting over a period. The eating pattern here is of small and regular fasts, or in between periods of less or no food consumption. Studies have shown that intermittent fasting results in weight loss with time.
Eating Moderate and Consciously
Eating slowly and consciously can aid digestion, helping us lose weight naturally. It also cultivates the habit of knowing what we are about to put into our body and how healthy it is. It makes us appreciate food. Eating light and allowing your stomach to be empty before bedtime also improves the sleep cycle and purifies the body. With better awareness, we also tend to avoid unnecessary snacking, which ultimately boosts our metabolism and helps us lose weight effectively.
Yoga Postures and Mudras
Yoga, which started almost 7,000 years ago, is a wonderful way to lose weight. Yoga not only relaxes our bodies and minds but also checks our weight. Some of the yoga asanas that help lose weight are sun salutation (Surya namaskar), bow pose (Dhanurasana), chair pose (Utkatasana), etc. However, yoga leads to gradual weight loss. Yoga mudras activate the energy levels within the body, contribute in healing and facilitate the weight loss process. Each mudra has a separate function such as the adi mudra improves lung capacity and oxygen flow in the body, chinmaya mudra relaxes the mind and improves self awareness, chin mudra improves concentration etc.
Also, yoga teaches us to follow satvik food (that is a combination of vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts), which are great energy sources, and at the same time prove a better diet plan to lose weight. How to do Yoga for weight loss?
“Those who are moderate in eating and recreation, balanced in work, and regulated in sleep, and remain awake will attain yoga, the destroyer of suffering.”
-Bhagavad Gita
Believe in the Process
As we try the many spiritual ways to lose weight, it is crucial to have faith in the discipline and then follow the process. Self-belief motivates you to keep going without keeping irrational expectations. Weight loss visualization also encourages us to let go of unhealthy food habits
“When you are in control of your mind and behavior, that is liberation and you can achieve this by knowing the big self.”
-Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
If you are willing to reduce emotional and binge eating habits, join us for a meditation and breath workshop and get better control over your mind.
