The Yogic Diet
There is a natural instinct within all of us
to follow a healthy balanced diet. Deep down inside we know
what is good and what is not good for us but we chose to ignore
the body and mind. Regular practice of yoga helps to stimulate
these natural instincts. Yoga changes the habits and is a process
of normalization.
The purpose of food should be looked at before
choosing what to eat. Why do we need to eat? To give energy
to the body and mind, increase the resistance power of the body
and to develop the mind. Fresh food gives lightness, happiness,
joyfulness and increases intelligence. The food should be suitable
for the mind, body, intelligence and soul.
There are no special dietary rules for asana
practitioners although there are many recommendations with the
main ones being to eat natural foods and eat in moderation.
Yoga advises a vegetarian diet, particularly as it is preparation
for the higher forms of yoga. Vegetarianism has been found to
promote inner calmness and harmony between the body and mind,
whilst eating meat has been linked with inner tension, anger,
disharmony and an increase in desires. Vegetarianism is the
basis of a sattvic diet.
A yogic diet ideally follows a sattvic or pure
food diet. A balance of fresh fruit, vegetables, cooked whole
grains, milk, legumes, nuts and seeds, using a combination of
both raw and cooked foods. These foods increase sattwa in the
body because they are light, simple and supply all the necessary
nutrients. They increase our physical and mental vitality making
it easier to experience clarity, lightness and peace of mind.
Rajasic foods are prepared with much oil and spice. They create
heaviness and restlessness in the mind. Meat and fish are classified
under these. Onion and garlic are also under this group as they
increase desire. Tamasic foods are foods that are old and stale.
They lower the energy and cause laziness. They include foods
that are not cooked properly or chewed well and processed foods.
Stale, processed and frozen foods have lost their pranic energy.
If we try to eat only sattvic foods as much as possible we can
slowly change the body chemistry, renewing the digestive system
and taking away any strain. Ideally we should eat foods that
take minimum energy to digest, so that the remaining energy
can be used for more productive uses.
When eating it is important to fill the stomach
half full with food. A quarter should be left for water or liquids.
The last quarter should be left empty for digestion to take
place. This space is necessary for the stomach to churn the
food with the digestive juices. It is also said in Hindu culture
that this last quarter should be left for Lord Shiva.
Eat to satisfy hunger without getting any feelings
of heaviness or laziness. It is said that you should eat only
what is needed. To find out how much you need to eat do an experiment.
One time eat until you have a feeling of fullness, being aware
of how much you are eating. From there half the amount of food,
this is your requirement. There should be enough space in the
stomach so that if somebody asked you to eat a meal with them
after you had already finished your meal you could do it without
any ill effects.
The timing of meals should be fixed. In this
way the body begins to release digestive secretions at a certain
time. It is important not to skip meals so that the body doesn’t
keep going into panic mode and decide to store excess fat. Change
the diet according to the seasons. Don’t eat imported
foods. Always try to eat what is local and fresh. If you know
your dosha/prakriti then make your food choices accordingly.
Don’t eat when negative, angry or depressed. How you are
thinking effects your digestion. You should only eat when you
are happy and peaceful. When you eat focus, feel and appreciate
every mouthful, eating slowly and being thankful for the food
that has been given to you. Remember, eat to live, don’t
eat to live.
We must start with the basics, the essentials
for our survival, if we wish to achieve anything in yoga. Diet
and food are among these. We can only really begin to live the
full yogic lifestyle when we have gone through the first layers
of our needs, desires, intuitions and instincts, preparing us
for the physical, mental, psychic and spiritual levels.
The digestive system is one of the most important
systems in the body and links all the other systems together.
A poor digestive system is the core problem to many health conditions.
It is affected not just by what we eat but also by our emotions.
An awareness of the digestive processes and the choices we make
in eating can help to achieve both physical and mental balance,
bringing peace and well being.
Recipe Book on yogapoint.com
Kate
Woodworth
