Fasting and slimming at the European Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof

A gentle fast and holistic detox with European Ayurveda® combined with a Panchakarma treatment programme or any other detoxifying Ayurveda therapy offered by the pioneers of European Ayurveda®. The European Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof in Tyrol takes into account the requirements of Europeans and our climate. This form of holistic fasting is great for weight loss, but what’s even better is that it can help bring about a healthier and happier life!

Ayurveda has been practised for over 5,000 years – that’s five millennia of holistic medicine and experience! The teachings’ many healing methods include fasting and weight loss, and the holistic approach undertaken during an Ayurvedic cleanse is varied and profound. ‘When you undergo a fast, the body is rested so that it can purify itself, detoxify and reenergise,’ explains Christina Mauracher, the mastermind behind European Ayurveda®. ‘The energy that is usually expended on digesting and on the metabolism is made available for cleansing and regeneration. You gain time, which can be used for meditation, so your fast will have a spiritual benefit too,’ says the Ayurveda specialist. In today’s fast-paced society, our spirituality is something we all too often neglect, which is why European Ayurveda® gives mental and emotional wellbeing high priority.

‘Fasting in the Ayurvedic sense doesn’t mean starving yourself – it just means cutting calories and quantities for a reduced, needs-based diet. Ayurvedic fasting is a limited fast that doesn’t result in rapid weight loss, but gently detoxifies the body,’ explains Gaurav Sharma, one of the Ayurvedic physicians at the European Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof. ‘This gentle way of fasting is an effective alternative for people who are not comfortable with total food abstinence. Ayurvedic fasting gives the practitioner breathing space and frees the mind from disturbances. The results often include enhanced physical performance and radiant skin,’ says Sharma.

A major advantage of Ayurvedic fasting is its understanding of the benefits of herbs and spices which, in Ayurveda, are used therapeutically as well as to flavour food. ‘Herbs and spices are used in Ayurvedic soups and vegetable curries to kindle the digestive fire (Agni) and stimulate the metabolism. This is how food becomes curative and cooks in the Ayurvedic tradition are also known as “alchemists of vital energy”,’ says Ayurvedic doctor Gaurav Sharma.

European Ayurveda® ensures that fasting is gentle and works for western digestions, lifestyles and requirements with specially devised vegetarian recipes: ‘All food grown in Europe contains active ingredients that suit European living conditions. To ensure that Ayurvedic nutrition is gently and easily processed by our bodies, European Ayurveda® has developed its own recipes based on local foods and herbs,’ says Christina Mauracher. ‘We source most of these from our own European Ayurveda farm, the Lindhof. It’s an old farm in Thiersee where we grow heritage fruit and vegetable varieties using traditional methods.’

Ayurvedic doctor Dr Sharma recommends a detoxifying morning drink of hot water, the juice of half a lemon and a teaspoon of forest honey. But wait until the water is cool enough to drink before adding the honey. Water should be boiled for 15 minutes to increase the detoxifying effect. Benefits of drinking hot water regularly include:

Elisabeth Mauracher, Mental Detox coach and the Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof’s General Manager, explains the principles of Ayurvedic fasting.