Why only 100 steps and not more is recommended after a meal according to Ayurveda

Shatapavali – 100 (Shata) Steps (Pavali) walk after meal is recommended as per Charaka Samhitha Sutra Sthana, said Dr Arun Pillai, wellness director at Dharana at Shillim

Here's what to know about walking post meals (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Taking a walk post a meal is a recommendation you must have come across. While taking ‘shatapavali’ or 100 steps is recommended, experts urge not to overdo it. Shalini Santhosh Kumar, founder of Early Foods, a premium organic food company for children and mothers said, “Don’t overdo anything. I still remember after a heavy meal either lunch or dinner, I used to walk with my colleagues for 30 minutes around the office. It not only was tiring but I have now realised that the food was also not digested well because all the blood flow and energy was given to legs and our hands instead of focusing on the stomach,” expressed Shalini.

She then recalled that she heard about this first in an Ayurvedic Course that she took a couple of years ago. “We had a great laugh after comparing the reality vs. what our scripts recommend. A simple Vajrasan or a walk of 100 steps is more than enough. But we walk for km together or sometimes even an hour. A lot of this is because of lack of awareness,” she added.

She even mentioned that even for kids, after a meal, don’t allow them to go play or jump too much. “Sit with them to play board games, write, read, storytelling anything that involves very very mild activity not a lot of movements,” said Shalini.

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Here’s how your digestion gets affected (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Taking a cue, we decided to ask our in-house experts.

Shatapavali – 100 (Shata) Steps (Pavali) walk after meal is a recommended as per Charaka Samhitha Sutra Sthana, said Dr Arun Pillai, wellness director at Dharana at Shillim. “The same has also been in practice in the Western world called Thermal walks. Number 100 is significant in Ayurveda as the human age was always capped as Shataayu (100 years). Walking 100 steps is precisely needed to kick start the Jataragni (gastric fire) which is responsible for metabolising the food,” he mentioned.

According to Dr Pillai, it would also be worth considering the research-based benefits of short walking after food, which would vary from the enhancement of the thermic rate of metabolism thus aiding digestion and mood elevation, reducing – bloating, gastritis, and glucose levels.

It also enhances oligo mineral absorption from the food, added Dr Pillai.

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