Positive Health Online

A common concern that begins to occupy the minds of most people in their 30s and 40s is the struggle of not putting on weight. As age progresses, metabolism slows down and physical activity diminishes. In such a state, one who remains absorbed in sensory pleasures and material pursuits often begins to accumulate excess weight, inviting with it a host of lifestyle diseases. Out of desperation, people begin cutting down on certain foods arbitrarily or seek help from dieticians who, more often than not, treat only the physical aspect of the body and recommend reducing fats. Yet, this is a superficial approach, for Ayurveda looks far deeper into the constitution of man.

Ayurveda, the ancient Vedic science of life, does not look at disease in isolation. The Vedic seers defined the body or annamaya kosha as “dosha dhatu mala mool hi shariram” – the body is composed of doshas (vata, pitta, kapha), dhatus (tissues) and malas (waste). They identified one’s mool prakriti – basic constitution – at birth, determined by the dominant doshas of the parents at the time of conception.

These three govern the physical manifestation of the body, which is the vessel through which consciousness expresses itself. The body itself is made of the panchamahabhuta – the five elements. Interestingly, fat (medas) is one of the seven dhatus – the seven fundamental tissues that sustain life. Hence, to eliminate fat completely from one’s diet is to disturb a delicate balance. This leads to imbalances that ripple through the system, resulting in premature ageing and disease. Ayurveda does not merely treat symptoms; it restores harmony. It is not a medicinal therapy aimed at fighting disease but a way of life that aligns the human system with nature, which itself is balance.

Health, therefore, is not the absence of illness but a state of equilibrium – samyavastha. Disease arises when this equilibrium is lost. An increase or decrease in any dosha disturbs the balance. Of the three, vata is responsible for about eighty diseases owing to its mobile nature, pitta for around forty, and kapha for about twenty. These imbalances manifest in countless combinations, giving rise to varied ailments – both physical and mental.

For instance, Mental disturbances stem from rajas and tamas – the pathogenic factors of the mind. These cannot be corrected by medicine but only through Yog and Sanatan Kriya, under the guidance of a Guru. Physical imbalances, on the other hand, arise from disturbances in the doshas. For instance, ginger is beneficial for some constitutions but harmful for those with excess pitta. Thus, no food or habit is universally good or bad – it depends on one’s unique constitution.

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Health, therefore, is not the absence of illness but a state of equilibrium – samyavastha.

Ayurveda identifies three main causes for the disturbance of equilibrium — atiyoga (overuse), ayoga (non-use), and mithyayoga (wrong use) of time, senses, and mind. Sleeping during the day, eating at irregular hours, or excessive stimulation of the senses through sound, taste, and sight all lead to imbalance. Even ignoring natural urges such as hunger or sleep can transform into disease. The abuse of mental faculties – overthinking, fear, anger – directly translates into psychosomatic disorders.

In the Ayurvedic view, health is maintained not by medicines but by disciplined living. It prescribes dinacharya (daily routine), ritucharya (seasonal regimen), proper diet, rest, and mental composure as the foundation of wellness. The three pillars of good health are brahmacharya (celibacy or moderation), nidra (proper rest), and ahar (balanced diet). These sustain vitality and slow down the natural process of decay – shiryate iti shariram – for ageing is nothing but an acceleration of imbalance.

Ahara, or food, plays a vital role in this process as well. The food we eat is not just fuel; it is prana – life-force. Ayurveda says, “Samanya vriddhi karanam” – similar substances increase similar tissues. Thus, fat nourishes medas dhatu, milk and pulses replenish the body’s tissues, cereals and sugar provide heat, and ghee from desi cow’s milk enhances vitality and glow. In an effort to lose body fat, a person eliminates certain foods from their diet, but this only worsens the existing imbalances in their body.

If you want to reduce excessive fat in the body, drinking two glasses of hot water with a little lime juice and old honey, first thing in the morning for a period of three months at a stretch cleans the intestines of ama. Old honey aids in the removal of accumulated non-essential fats from the body. The same preparation if had after all meals is a known formula for reducing fat.

Food, when taken at the right time, in the right quantity, and suited to one’s prakriti, becomes medicine. Lord Krishna in the Shreemad Bhagavad Gita describes sattvik bhojan – food that is juicy, unctuous, nourishing, easily digestible, and liked by the individual. Such food brings steadiness of mind and clarity of thought. Ayurveda upholds this as the ideal diet – one that sustains both body and consciousness.

Ayurveda, therefore, is not merely about herbs and treatments; it is a conscious way of living in harmony with one’s nature and surroundings. It teaches that health is the natural state of the being, restored not by resistance but by alignment. When one lives in awareness, in tune with the laws of nature, balance prevails – and in that balance lies beauty, vitality, and longevity.

If you are ready to experience this transformation – through Sanatan Kriya and advanced Vedic Practices under the guidance of the Guru – I invite you to visit a Dhyan Foundation center or explore www.dhyanfoundation.com . Step into a life where longevity is no longer something you chase, but something that naturally radiates from within you.

Further Information

Ashwini Guru ji is the guiding light of Dhyan Ashram and an authority on Vedic Sciences. His book, ‘Sanatan Kriya: The Ageless Dimension is an acclaimed thesis on anti-ageing. For more information, please log onto www.dhyanfoundation.com or mail to dhyan@dhyanfoundation.com