In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores Langhana, the Ayurvedic practice of creating lightness through fasting and conscious restraint.

Langhana is usually translated as fasting, but literally it means to make an individual more Laghu. Laghu means light, not heavy. One practical way to make yourself lighter or reduce the amount of your body mass is to eat less, specifically in some kind of intentional and structured way.

I have been thinking about this because yesterday was Easter, so happy belated Easter to everyone. For Catholics, Easter marks the end of Lent, a period during which dietary restrictions have been observed for many centuries. Many religions have traditions involving dietary restriction. Muslims observe Ramadan, and many Hindus observe Shravana, the lunar month that usually falls in July or August. These practices have many purposes, often connected with health.

In the case of Lent, it was traditionally observed in northern Europe, where during winter people were less active, ate preserved foods, and accumulated a certain amount of heaviness in the body. The restrictions of Lent helped purify the body as people moved into spring, because Ayurveda teaches that what accumulates during winter often creates difficulties during spring.

Shravana occurs during the rainy season in India, which is also a time when health can be challenged. Rain and humidity can weaken digestive fire and encourage the growth of bacteria. Restricting the diet during this period can help maintain balance.

Many traditions, especially within India, also understand fasting as a form of Niyama, a practice of self-restraint that lightens not only the physical body but also the Pranic body, the mental body, and even the Karana Sharira, the causal body.

Anything that we become overly dependent upon can become a weight. Today, many people are dependent on screens and constant connection. Therefore, fasting from screens, even for a few hours each day, or taking an entire day without screens once a week or once every few weeks, can be a valuable way to create lightness.

There are also newer forms of fasting, such as eating one’s normal diet for five days and reducing intake significantly for two days, or intermittent fasting, where food is consumed during a limited period of the day and avoided for the remaining hours. These methods can encourage healthy restraint and benefit both body and mind.

Traditionally, fasting has also been used as a form of worship for different Devatas. Ganesha is worshipped on Chaturthi, the fourth day of both lunar fortnights. Vishnu is worshipped on Ekadashi, the eleventh day of both fortnights. People often fast for Shiva on Mondays, Devi on Fridays, Saturn or Hanuman on Saturdays, and Hanuman or Mars on Tuesdays.

Whatever method of fasting you choose, and whatever schedule you establish, continue it for a meaningful period of time so that you can understand its effects on yourself. Some people find benefit from complete fasting without food or water for a day or longer, while for others this may create imbalance. The purpose is not to create difficulty or harm the body. The purpose is to encourage balance.

For some people, water fasting is appropriate. Others may benefit from fasting on milk, soup, fruit juice, or another nourishing liquid. Some may prefer eating only one fruit or one vegetable throughout the day. Others may find that even this is too restrictive. In such cases, a traditional option is Khichdi, a simple preparation of mung beans and rice cooked together in a soft, soupy form, which can be eaten as the only food during a fasting day.

The principle of Langhana is to create lightness. We do not want to damage the organism. We want to support balance. The digestive fire itself has the quality of being light, Laghu, so creating lightness in the body supports digestion, encourages Prana to circulate properly, and helps reduce the burdens created by our attachments and dependencies.

In this way, Langhana can help lighten not only the physical body but also the accumulated burdens that have contributed to bringing us to our current condition. Please consider Langhana and have an excellent and rewarding experience of reality.