Fasting has been the subject of controversy for years, most often we hear about the dangers of it without any mention of the tremendous benefits it can bring to your mind, body and soul. Fasting is a tradition that was incorporated into many ancient cultures, from ancient Vedic traditions to Buddhist traditions and more.
Fasting is not to be confused with starvation, it’s the process of restrain and control from the sensorial experience of eating and at the same time making sure you are hydrated with good, clean fluoride/ chlorine free water. Our senses here are a deception and cloud the inner voice. If one can maintain control and discipline that’s great, at the same time one can be overcome by their senses and live completely from the mind.
It’s December 2012 and the planet is going through a large shift in consciousness. Human beings are starting to see behind the curtain that has been blinding the masses for years. We are waking up to the fact that all the worlds resources and major industries lie in the hands of a small group of multinational organizations. Much of what we’ve learned about health and our bodies has been completely fabricated and false. The health and pharmaceutical industries are funded by the same families, they go hand in hand. Once we take something on as truth, it becomes truth and we create that reality for ourselves. We are not really resonating with the current state of the planet, many of us have a desire to see change and are waking up to the solution we all hold inside of us. Fasting helps absorb the high frequency energy that is currently hitting the planet, staying clean and light is a tremendous help and can assist you in raising your frequency and vibration. We are not our senses, and we need to feed our soul too. Our ancient civilizations new many things we are currently learning and have yet to understanding, their knowledge didn’t stop with astronomy. Truth is, there are too many benefits of fasting to count!
If you want to understand the secrets of the universe, think in terms in energy, vibration and frequency – Nikola Tesla
Fasting is the strongest appeal to the human being’s natural powers of healing and self-rejuvenation, on both a spiritual and corporeal level – Heinz Fahrner, M.D.
The body’s wondrous ability to autolyze (or self-digest) and destroy needless tissue such as fat, tumors, blood vessel plaque, and other nonessential and diseased tissues, while conserving essential tissues, gives the fast the ability to restore physiologic youth to the system. By removing or lessening the burden of diseased tissue, including the fatty tissue narrowing the blood vessels, fasting increases the blood flow and subsequent oxygenation and nutrient delivery to vital organs throughout the body- Joel Fuhrman, M.D
Due to [the] effects of fasting, a fast can help you heal with greater speed; cleanse your liver, kidneys, and colon; purify your blood; help you loose excess weight and water; flush out toxins; clear the eyes and tongue; and cleanse the breath.” – James F. Balch, M.D
1. Fasting helps protect against brain disease:
Researchers at the at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore have found evidence that fasting for one or two days a week can prevent the effects of Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease. Research also found that cutting the daily intake to 500 calories a day for two days out of the seven can show clear beneficial effects for the brain.
2. Fasting cuts your risk of heart disease and diabetes:
Regularly going a day without food reduces your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Studies show that fasting releases a significant surge in human growth hormone, which is associated with speeding up metabolism and burning off fat. Shedding fat is known to cut the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Doctors are even starting to consider fasting as a treatment.
3. Fasting effectively treats cancer in human cells:
A study from the scientific journal of aging found that cancer patients who included fasting into their therapy perceived fewer side effects from chemotherapy. All test conducted so far show that fasting improves survival, slow tumor growth and limit the spread of tumors. The National Institute on Aging has also studied one type of breast cancer in detail to further understand the effects of fasting on cancer. As a result of fasting, the cancer cells tried to make new proteins and took other steps to keep growing and dividing. As a result of these steps, which in turn led to a number of other steps, damaging free radical molecules were created which broke down the cancer cells own DNA and caused their destruction! It’s cellular suicide, the cancer cell is trying to replace all of the stuff missing in the bloodstream it needs to survive after a period of fasting, but can’t. In turn it tries to create them and this leads to it’s own destruction.
A way to beat cancer cells may not be to try to find drugs that kill them specifically but to confuse them by generating extreme environments, such as fasting that only normal cells can quickly respond to – Valter Longo, Professor of Gerontology and biological sciences at the University of Southern
Man is the only ‘animal’ who persists in eating when he is sick, even though he may have no appetite and food makes him nauseous – Alan Cott, M.D
Sources:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=new-year-new-understanding http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208152254.htm http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1373164/Regular-fasting-lower-risk-heart-disease-diabetes.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/18/fasting-protect-brain-diseases-scientists
http://www.nia.nih.gov/newsroom/announcements/2011/07/study-finds-fasting-may-help-reduce-negative- side-effects
Seane Corn is an internationally celebrated yoga teacher known for her impassioned activism, unique self-expression, and inspirational style of teaching that incorporates both the physical and mystical aspects of the practice of yoga. Her classes integrate dynamic vinyasa flow asana (linking movement with breath) with the application of precise alignment, meditation, visualization, intention and prayer to create an inner journey towards healing and empowerment.
Shiva Rea, M.A. is a yogini firekeeper, sacred activist, global adventurer and leading innovator in the evolution of prana flow yoga, transformational vinyasa flow integrating the tantric bhakti roots of yoga, Krishnamacharya’s teachings and a universal, quantum approach to the body. Shiva is known for bringing the roots of yoga alive for modern practitioners in creative, dynamic and life-transforming ways and for offering the synthesis form of prana flow out in the world. Shiva is the creator of Prana Flow Yoga, Yogadventure Retreats, Yoga Trance Dance for Life, Moving Activism for 1,008,000 Trees, the worldwide Global Mala Project, Yogini Conferences and E2: The Evolutionary Edge Tour. She writes for Yoga Journal, Yoga Plus Joyful Living, is the author of award-winning CD’s and DVD’s, and contributor to many publications and features.
David’s introduction to Ashtanga came in 1973 when he met David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff in Encinitas, California. In 1975 David and Nancy brought K. Pattabhi Jois to the U.S. for the first time and Swenson was fortunate enough to be there. He then initiated studies directly with the master. Swenson made his first trip to Mysore in 1977 and learned the full Ashtanga system as it was originally taught by K. Pattabhi Jois.
The practice of Ashtanga Yoga is an ancient and powerful discipline for cultivating physical, mental and spiritual health. Progressive techniques of breath, posture and movement, cleanse, stretch and strengthen the body as well as focus and calm the mind. A deeper experience of the self becomes possible through consistent practice.