Intermittent Fasting And Yoga
Here’s my story of intermittent fasting and yoga, including intermittent fasting results via so-called intermittent fasting 18 6. By the way, terms like 186 intermittent fasting, and similar jargon, mean 18 hours of fasting, and 6 hours where I could eat. It includes how I started via intermittent fasting 16/8, and even with a 12 hour eating window. I’ll also talk about how yoga, breath meditation, and the mindfulness I got from it, made it all much easier. The intermittent fasting benefits I got included my shape, mental performance, strength, toning, health, and more.
What I got is all available to anyone via mixing intermittent fasting with in-studio yoga, as well as online yoga classes from anywhere.
Some of my yoga students may remember when I had some middle age spread.
When I reduced to my current size, some were worried that I had cancer or other illness.
In fact, my health, yoga practice, and mind are the best they’ve ever been.
It’s at least partly due to intermittent fasting. I started it a couple of years ago.
Before I tell you more about my fasting journey, and its outcomes, I want to mention online yoga.
Many find online yoga more convenient, safe, and at a better price than in-studio yoga.
That’s why Flametree, where I am the accredited Senior Yoga Teacher, offers many online yoga classes each week. Check them out, including the many options, at the Flametree Yoga timetable. (Under the main timetable grid, you’ll also see times in your own local time zone).
In the timetable, the options include Gentle Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Backcare Yoga, Yoga For Heart Health, Yoga For Immune System, and Female Health Yoga.
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I thought intermittent fasting was not possible
Prior to fasting, I’d banished the thought of ever doing it.
I thought of course that fasting would make me hungry. But worse, I thought that being hungry would make me irritable and angry!
In Ayurvedic terms, I have a so-called Pitta personality. It’s a sort of A-type personality, typical of achiever, impatient types.
I knew that more anger would not be kind to those around me!
Even though it is an issue for some, I was not worried about having the will power to fast. As I mention below, yoga had already built my self-discipline and mindfulness to a point where I knew I could do it if I chose.
But I did think about whether fasting would interfere with my mental focus, or capacity for work.
I now know that all of those thoughts were wrong.
My fasting journey
I found that intermittent fasting, where I don’t eat for at least 12 or more hours a day, or more, is fairly easy to do. In addition, it actually increases my mental and physical performance.
Obviously, seven to nine of those hours are when I’m sleeping, so that makes fasting even easier to achieve.
Your capacity for intermittent fasting also grows steadily as you do it over months and years.
If you are going to try it, I definitely suggest getting into it in stages.
For example, I started with fasting for 12 hours a day. Then I progressively increased it to 14, 16 and 18 hours (or more) a day.
In other words, I now only eat in a 6 hour “window”. In my case, because I teach in the evening, I skip dinner. But many others skip breakfast.
In short, that’s my story of intermittent fasting and yoga, including intermittent fasting results via so-called intermittent fasting 18 6, or 186 intermittent fasting.
You can see how I got to intermittent fasting 16/8, or 14/10 and less. In other words, I started at a much lower number of hours of fasting.
Below I’ll tell you more about how yoga, breath meditation, and the mindfulness I got from it, made it all much easier.
Below, I’ll also talk more about the intermittent fasting benefits that I got.
This type of intermittent fasting is usefully discussed in this new book book by Dr Peter Diamandis (at page 284 onwards). As well as medical evidence, it outlines how others are building fasting into their life.
Another maybe even better discussion is by Dr Fung, that I discuss in a later section.
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Gentle yoga, or restorative yoga, have many benefits. They can also work well as pregnancy yoga options (as long as you do it with a suitably trained teacher). Flametree’s online or in-studio classes are taught in many easy, preparatory stages. You get all the benefits of yoga, but at a pace that you can manage. If you’re just starting yoga, programs like power flow, or highly active classes, are unlikely to be the best place to start. Build slowly with steps.
I didn’t fast to reduce size
Before I continue, let me say that I did not start intermittent fasting to reduce my size.
I’m small anyway. And I enjoyed ice-creams!
I also have no issue with whatever size people are. It’s clear that people of all sizes and ages can do yoga very well.
I got into intermittent fasting because of the many other health and longevity benefits it has.
In the process, to my surprise, it helped me do yoga better, and it reduced my size.
But neither of these reasons were what led me to any type of fasting in the first place.
It was the intermittent fasting benefits that kept showing up, that encouraged me to keep doing it.
Intermittent fasting, yoga & human growth hormone
Yoga has at least these connections with intermittent fasting.
First, the mindfulness that I get from yoga makes it easier to control my eating. This is confirmed by Dr Tim McCall, a medical doctor who has, for decades, reviewed all the studies on these matters. He’s an expert on about easy restorative yoga for weight control, stress reduction, and much more. I’ve also written about Dr Tim McCall on Flametree’s blog.
Second, intermittent fasting causes the body to produce more human growth hormone. In turn, this hormone increases your muscle tone. This is just one of the major benefits of intermittent fasting. (Please note that in order to get such benefits, Dr Fung, a expert on intermittent fasting, says that every week or two, you need a period of more than 24 hours of fasting. Again, as I’ve steadily got into fasting, this has become do-able).
I have certainly found that the increase in strength and toning that I have already experienced, has certainly allowed me to do better yoga poses, and some entirely new yoga poses. On the Flametree Facebook page, you can follow my steady progress with the advanced yoga poses that are part and parcel of being a certified Senior Yoga Teacher.
I’m making the point because about yoga pose progress because most would see it as surprising that anyone in their so-called mature years can still be getting better at advanced yoga poses. So do I! But I love the ability to do so.
Third, the reduction in the size of my waist, and especially the loss of fat on my back, has made some yoga poses, such as twists, easier to do well.
Sometimes, when I grasp my waist with both hands, or reach around it to grab other limbs, I’m surprised at how easy it is. It’s a constant surprise to see there is less of me!
I hasten to add that my actual weight is now not dropping further. The kilo measure is constant.
As I steadily shed some abdominal fat, I’m also replacing it with mainly internal, abdominal muscle.
As you probably know, muscle weighs more than fat. So the weight is constant, but my middle looks more trim due to the a more muscular core, and less fat surrounding it.
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Beginner yoga, including Iyengar yoga at Flametree, uses props to help alignment, & make it easier to get started. Use online yoga to make your own online yoga for anywhere. In particular, be careful about not getting thrown into something like strong vinyasa flow before you’re ready for it.
Medical doctor on why fasting works
Dr Jason Fung is one of the world’s experts on intermittent fasting. He uses it himself, and in his medical treatment, including for a range of conditions.
Dr. Fung is the site Chief of Medicine at Scarborough General Hospital; scientific editor of the Journal of Insulin Resistance; and a kidney specialist in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
He outlines how intermittent fasting causes the body to turn to your stores of fat, access ketones, generate human growth hormone, and make your mind sharper.
For example, that’s exactly what I found. Again, it’s a key part of the benefits of intermittent fasting
There’s much more it does as well, but I’ll leave you to read his books, or watch Dr Fung’s YouTube videos, if you wish. (At the moment, I only discuss specific intermittent fasting issues in some of the special classes I do).
Dr Fung’s very accessible, recent book on intermittent fasting is “Life In The Fasting Lane“.
He’s also written a new book on cancer. Among other things, I was surprised to hear that weight is now connected with some cancers, including breast cancer.
In mid-April, 2021, he summarised a lot of his work in a podcast on fasting on Bulletproof radio.
(Personally, I prefer Dr Fung’s approach to that of Dr Michel Mosely on intermittent fasting. You’ll find more about Mosely approach in the book I by Dr Diamandis that I mention above).
Fasting, inflammation & COVID
The latest research on intermittent fasting benefits also shows it also reduces inflammation.
In turn, the research suggests that reducing inflammation also reduces the fatality risk of the biggest health challenge of our time.
I discussed this research in another post about Dr Merad and inflammation.
That post also outlines more about how and why intermittent fasting works.
Sadly, I see far too much of the ruddy skin and bloating that is typical of inflammation.
Any good yoga program, whether it is Iyengar yoga, yin yoga, or slow flow yoga, would help people with this condition. But the better the yoga you do, the better it works. That’s why I prefer Iyengar yoga.
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Do resting yoga poses like this, or child’s pose, between more active poses. Its works for resting, as well as calming your nervous system. Use the Flametree free trials to get a top online yoga instructor. Flametree’s knowledgeable teachers will help you make the best version of yourself. If you have special issues, or are just not sure about yoga, try Flametree’s online private yoga classes, or in-studio.
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A private session, or private classes, are also excellent ways to start or re-start your yoga journey.
With Flametree’s range of classes, and large timetable, you’ll always be able to find the best level classes for you. Whatever your skills, you’ll be able to find a beautiful way to pursue your practice of yoga.
Get a pass via one of the many top value deals below, and then reserve a class.
In addition, if you have questions, reach out to us via the Customer Contacts, or our email address and phone at the bottom of this page.
Teacher training, with a Senior Yoga Teacher, is also available via a online program with short in-person workshops.
Moreover, Flametree’s social media pages also have the latest news about our deals, upcoming events, wellness retreats, and more.
For instance, Flametree’s blog also outlines how connective tissue, like fascia, are used and nourished by yoga. It’s another reason why every class at Flametree, is a beautiful class to build into your week.
Let’s know how you go?
So that’s my story of intermittent fasting and yoga, including intermittent fasting results via intermittent fasting 18 6, or 186 intermittent fasting.
You can see how I started via intermittent fasting 16/8, and in fact much lower (in terms of the period of fasting).
And you’ve heard how yoga, breath meditation, and the mindfulness I got from it, made it all much easier.
If you give it a go, or have already tried it, I’d love to hear about the intermittent fasting benefits that you get (or have already).
For more about my intermittent fasting journey, check out more of my story with fasting.
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Use Flametree Yoga’s deals to get all the physical benefits, mental wellness, and emotional health that high quality yoga offers. Once you’ve done six weeks of beginner yoga, try breath meditation classes with ten free pranayama classes. Use Flametree’s online supportive space to build your fitness levels, as well as address matters like sleep issues, or whatever. Try your first class today.
