Power of Pausing

I got to have a colonoscopy this week. The prep felt like a good “spring cleaning” ;) It was also a good mental practice in creating pause in the action. My unconscious habit is to eat several small meals throughout the day and fit in food around my random schedule. The 24-hour fast before the procedure was illuminating in observing my impulse to eat, even when I wasn’t particularly hungry. I felt like I had many benefits from this effort.

Research on fasting has found that intermittent fasting can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, reduce inflammation, and improve heart health. This pause in eating provides the body with the opportunity to reset, to flush out toxins, and to rest from the constant process of digestion. This physical detoxification often leads to clearer thinking, heightened energy, and emotional balance.

The yoga tradition supports the practice of fasting. By abstaining from food for a period of time, we are practicing self-control (tapas). From a yoga/ayurvedic perspective, fasting gives the body time to process accumulated toxins (ama). allow the fire of our digestion (agni) time and space to digest not only food, but also thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

The practice of fasting can be done in a verity of ways, it’s not just complete abstinence. You can try skipping one meal or shorten the window of eating time, starting later in the day or finishing earlier for (time restricted feeding). You could intentionally remove one kind of food from your diet for a period of time (like giving up something for lent). The goal is to be intentional and take the opportunity to pause in your usual habits to become more mindful. 

One of the most beautiful aspects of yoga is the balance it offers between action and stillness. When we give ourselves time to pause, we allow for a deeper connection to our own health and vitality. Maybe attempting a fast will create too much resistance for you – it doesn’t just have to be about food. Think about areas in your life you’d like to increase your awareness/mindfulness and try a pause to build the heat of your attention.