OVERWEIGHT
The Ayurvedic Perspective on Weight
According to Ayurveda, being overweight involves an inherent excess in kapha dosha.
While kapha may not be the only factor at play in your struggle with excess weight, it is certainly an important player.
One of the foundational principles of Ayurveda is that like increases like and that opposites balance. Kapha and excess weight share many of the same qualities; they are both heavy, slow, cool, oily, smooth, dense, soft, stable, and substantive.
Therefore, being overweight can provoke kapha in the body, and excess kapha in the body can lead to being overweight. Conversely, a return to balance requires an increase in opposing influences—those that are light, sharp, hot, dry, rough, liquid, mobile, and subtle. The benefits of this approach are available to each of us, no matter how quickly (or slowly) we make the journey.
What’s more, using the wisdom of Ayurveda for weight management is an approach that does not focus on short-term gains, only to fail us later, so you won’t need to starve yourself, or unrealistically limit the variety of foods that you can enjoy.
Nor will you quickly lose a few pounds only to see them creep back on. Instead, you will be following a clear and time-tested path toward optimal health.
While it’s entirely possible that you will require a bit of discipline in the beginning, it won’t be long before the body’s natural intelligence begins to resurface-replacing unhealthy cravings with more balanced urges.
As this occurs, maintaining these commitments becomes easier and easier, until the routine becomes second nature.