Skinny doesn’t mean healthy. (It doesn’t mean unhealthy either, if it’s in your DNA to be thin!)
Unfortunately we have been brain washed by the media to value bodies that are Vata imbalanced, OR, people who naturally have very very strong Vata nature in their Prakruti (original Dosha/most balanced state) If you are a person who naturally doesn’t gain weight, naturally has long limbs etc., then that’s your body type. And that’s beautiful because it’s YOU!! We all deserve to love our bodies the way they are. But most of us have a variation from that. In Ayurveda we learn that everyone has their own unique % of the doshas, with our own unique body type and shape. I’m going to be honest with you. I had an eating disorder for years, with disordered eating bleeding into almost a decade of my life. Why? To attain the thin look that’s not natural for my body. When I’m at my previously disordered eating ideal weight, I fit the mold of skinny, size zero. But at what cost? Irregular periods verging on infertility, imbalanced digestion and malabsorption, low immune system, and so on. Now at almost 30 I have let my body normalize, feeding it food for my Dosha, eating when I’m hungry, enjoying treats and special occasions. And guess what? I’m at a healthy weight for ME! My body has stabilized. I feel so much better. If you are of pitta nature you will have lots of medium features, medium and moderate physique, with an ability to gain muscle and be strong. That’s me. And I’m proud of it. People with Kapha nature have strong bones, muscle, and have sturdy body structure that is considered the strongest of the doshas. Water and earth elements are present in a way that allows the individual to be strong through and through. They have the healthiest pregnancies and strong immune systems. Ayurveda is a system that works. You have to apply the system methodically. You can help your body to find it’s stable point, it’s happy place, where you feel the strongest and healthiest. But here’s the secret: your healthy is going to look different than everyone else. To lose weight with Ayurveda: 1) Eat according to digestive strength & your Dosha 2) Follow the Ayurvedic Healthy Eating Guidelines including chewing food fully 3) Support digestion and elimination with herbal medicine
5 Comments
Northern Lotus Ayurveda is pleased to announce our grand opening! We are so excited to provide you with the support you need to optimize your health. Check out our first blog post! 1. Learning on a deep level why everyone is different and the compassion that comes with it A common benefit to learning Ayurveda is that the puzzle pieces of life start to fit together. Why does this person act this way towards me? Why do my knee jerk reactions look like this? Why am I attracted to these foods? Why can't I digest these foods? Why am I "this" way? Once you learn about the different constitutions and how they break down, what they look like in balance vs. out of balance, and the connection between all things, you see people as they are, and you see yourself as you are. You are a human being, navigating your way through the experiences that inherently shape us. Blame is removed, compassion moves in. 2. Becoming mentally and physically empowered Have you ever tried to lose weight, on a diet that worked for someone else? Or have you ever tried a workout program that someone else loved, but the workout feels like torture to you? Ayurveda takes out the guesswork, as well as the "it worked for them so why didn't it work for me?" Now you will know! You will know why it worked for them and why it didn't work for you. You will be able to understand what DOES work for you, and apply it in all areas of your life. People ask all the time if they can lose weight with Ayurveda. And the answer is yes - when you apply the healthy eating guidelines and eat foods and exercise in a way that is specific to you! Remember - there are no blanket solutions in Ayurveda! 3. By addressing digestive health, you peel back the layers of your imbalance Ayurvedic theory states that the root cause of dis-ease is in the digestive tract. It really is amazing what happens to people's symptoms when they create an optimal environment in their gut. Many people are not in the current mindset of understanding how their food affects them on a deeper level than "just" nutrition. When proper diet is implemented, we are able to see what lies beneath the surface of the most uncomfortable imbalances. For example when someone with anxiety cuts back on caffeine, they are able to see what parts of their anxiety were really theirs, and which parts were brought on by the caffeine. In this way by removing the coffee the individual gains clarity on what causes their anxiety when the caffeine isn't there to exacerbate the symptom. Caffeine is an easy example to use, but in this same fashion all of the foods we eat affect us on deep levels that we are not always aware of. By removing disharmonious aspects of our diet, we get to the root cause of dis-ease. Either the food was causing it, or masking the truth behind the imbalance. 4. Becoming more in tune with the cycles of nature As humans we have developed ways to get around and to be disconnected from the cycles of nature. We have electricity and therefore, lights, heating, refrigeration, etc, which allow us to go to bed after dark, and eat frozen foods from the previous season or from somewhere else on the planet. We have forgotten that we are animals too - who generally sleep and wake with the sun and eat seasonal foods. Ayurveda not only tailors diet, herbs, and lifestyle to the individual but also by the season and time of day. Just as us humans have our constitutional makeup, so does our environment. Learning how to compensate for your environment and climate are especially important in your ability to maintain health. Do you get sick when the seasons change? Or struggle with seasonal allergies? Gain weight in the winter? Turn red in the summer? Can't stay warm or maybe you get too hot? The list could go on forever about how our climate affects us. Being able to understand that your body needs different things to stay healthy at different times of year will help you compensate for these tendencies instead of expecting and succumbing to, for example, your usual winter sniffles. 5. Reap the benefits of non judgment: finding the motivation within At the core of Ayurveda is a judgment-free approach. Your current state of being is seen purely as an amalgamation of actions and reactions which have brought you here. Having certain thoughts or behaviours does not make you a "bad" person just as having certain thoughts or behaviours doesn't make you "good" either. When people experience this judgment-free environment, the motivation to be healthy no longer stems from an external feeling of judgment. Instead, the motivation comes from within, which creates a strong foundation to successfully sustain a healthy lifestyle. Ayurveda literally translates to "Life Knowledge," which can be applied to anyone's life, anywhere in the world. Everyone will have different experiences which are special and transformative for them, which is the beauty of it all. No matter where you are on your journey, I sincerely wish you the best in your healing. Remember- it's in your hands! Nadia Miller Ayurvedic Health Counsellor Intern, Owner of Northern Lotus Ayurveda Looking for ayurveda in Edmonton? Click here |
780-868-9065
Ayurveda Edmonton, AB
Ayurveda Edmonton, AB
The information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
For more information pertaining to your personal needs please refer to a qualified medical healthcare professional.
© 2019 Northern Lotus Ayurveda. Website by Revolution Digital Marketing.
For more information pertaining to your personal needs please refer to a qualified medical healthcare professional.
© 2019 Northern Lotus Ayurveda. Website by Revolution Digital Marketing.