Fasting and Detox

A fasting retreat is a structured program where participants voluntarily abstain from food for a specified period while focusing on rejuvenation, detoxification, and self-care.

Fasting has always been an integral part of any spiritual practice of Indian culture and has been practiced commonly in ashrams. Every Sadhaka (practitioner) on the path of Tantra, Yoga and Meditation must undergo a strict discipline of cleansing/detoxing the body from all the toxins which is called “Saucha” (Cleanliness) in order to have a crystal clear mind, highly awakened senses, enormous attentiveness and sharpness for meditation. 

Once the physical body has depleted its energy reserves, a transition occurs where energy shifts from the outermost layer of the body; Annamaya Kosha to the subsequent layer; Pranamaya Kosha. This transition is easily felt and seen while fasting. 

In the west, Fasting gained limited attention until 2016 when Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Japanese researcher, was awarded the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding autophagy. The term “autophagy” stems from the fusion of “auto,” meaning self, and “phagy,” meaning eating, essentially referring to a self-consumption process. This biological phenomenon involves cells breaking down adipose tissues, fragmented protein structures, and surplus components within the body for energy during periods of fasting.  It plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and hence, overall health by removing damaged or dysfunctional cellular components. it also helps in recycling nutrients and can even serve as a defense mechanism against intracellular pathogens.

Fasting is one of the most well-known ways to stimulate autophagy in the body. When you fast, especially for extended periods, your body undergoes various metabolic changes that trigger autophagy as a survival mechanism. Dysregulation of autophagy has been linked to various diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic diseases.