While many people explore yoga for better health, a calmer mind, and a stronger body, is it possible to extend the principles of yoga to the dinner table? Eating like a yogi is not about following a specific diet or fasting. The goal is to tune into your own needs to find a way of eating that nourishes your body, mind, and spirit.
Importance of Yogic diet
Yogic diet plays an important role in the success of Yogic practices. For success in yogic practices at the time of beginning right food choices are indispensable. A yogic diet is also an essential prerequisite before practicing pranayama.
Begin with Mindfulness
One of the core teachings of yoga is being mindful of living in the moment. Many yogis find that their compulsion to overeat subsides over time, simply because they are more in tune with what their body requires. This finding is now more than just anecdotal. Recent research published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that people who practice yoga regularly tend to eat more mindfully and maintain healthier body weight over time, independent of the effect of the exercise itself. But you don’t have to be a yogi to explore this. Before rushing off to eat, take a moment, and ask yourself,
“Am I really hungry? What does my body need right now?”
These simple questions may be enough to awaken mindful eating.
Feel Your Food
I don’t mean that you have to grope or massage it. I mean, when you put it in your mouth, what does it feel like? Eating is a sensory experience so step into that. Take the time to feel the textures, the temperature, and the weight of your food. Smell it, see it, behold its glory. This is about being mindful and connecting to what you’re doing.
Your diet should be free from chemicals
Another prevalent belief is that a yogic diet should be free from stimulants and chemicals. You must refrain from alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and artificial and processed sweeteners. These foods have the ability to divert your attention and may hinder your yoga regime.
A yogic diet should be vegetarian
The lion is a great meat-eater, and he is called the king of the jungle. But no animal can match the elephant, a complete vegetarian, for pure strength.
~Yogi Bhajan
It is believed that yogis should eat a vegetarian diet. This is because animal protein contains too much uric acid and other toxins. Some get eliminated but the rest gets deposited in the tissues and joints. This can lead to arthritis and cancer. Hence, they prefer eating high-quality protein, which is obtained from legumes, green leafy vegetables, and dairy products. They do not pollute your internal system and are easily digestible.
Eating two hours before asana and sleeping
You must avoid eating foods two hours before exercising. The same rule applies when you go off to sleep. This is because they believe that energy should not be given for digestion. When you perform yoga, you must spend energy in performing the right postures. Also, you must ensure that before sleeping, food is properly digested.
Take time to fast
The yogis recommend choosing one day each week to fast. A fast can be strict, not allowing anything to enter the body. Or, it can include water and fruit juices. Whatever you choose, keep in mind that the goal of your fast is to purify the body and mind.
So, what is the correct yogic diet?
At the end of the day, being vegan is a great idea. It is absolutely the simplest way to practice ahimsa in your life, it’s filled with highly pranic, and sattvic foods – we really can’t deny that – but, it may not be right for everyone, and that’s ok. While eating a whole-food, plant-based diet is generally good for most people, there is some variance that needs to be accounted for.
In my opinion, the correct yogic diet is the one that does as little harm as possible, builds your prana and sattva, and makes you feel good physically and emotionally. I invite you to find these characteristics in your diet and lifestyle on your yogic journey.
