diet and practice

[Guest guest]

I'm glad we're talking about diet, a subject

that's fascinated me since I began doing yoga. Daily

sadhana definitely makes you more aware of your body and

what you put into it. <br> My diet is slowly moving

toward macrobiotics, from being a pretty strict vegan. I

believe macro is the best way to go, even though it's

pretty restrictive. I've also looked at what I eat from

the Ayurvedic angle, i.e. eating food that is

balancing and harmonizing for your constitution. Both

schools of thought emphasize eating cooked food. Only a

small amounts of raw foods are recommended since they

are difficult for the body to digest. A raw food diet

should especially be avoided by Vata people (like

myself) b/c they tend to have weaker digestion. I find

that the occasional raw salad doesn't bother me

though, neither does raw fruit.<br> From what I've read,

the traditional Yogic diet is basically raw. I'll

briefly plagiarize from my book on yoga and ayurveda to

explain: <br>"Raw foods increase the air and ether

elements in the body and mind, the vata components, and

cooked foods are better for increasing the earth and

water elements, as well as the pitta (fire) element.

Cooked food is easier to digest and better to build the

body, but raw food better for promoting our subtle

sensitivities of prana and mind. A yogic diet emphasizes the

development of air and either elements, not only for detox.

but also for opening the mind, whose nature is mainly

air and ether. For this reason it recommends raw

foods as well as fasting."<br> It goes on to say how

adept yogis have very strong digestive systems due to

their intense practice of asana and pranayama. This

makes it easier for them to digest and assimilate raw

foods. Then there's also the stories of yogic masters

who are able to live on air or prana

alone...fascinating! I believe that it's possible, since what we

consume and call food is just a less subtle, more easily

attainable form of energy. This way of life is probably a

little out of reach for most of us, however!<br> In

summary, my take on diet goes somewhat like this:<br>

Avoid meat and all forms of sugar. Look into

macrobiotics to find out why...cutting these things out of my

diet has made a great difference in how I feel and can

practice yoga. Also try to eliminate dairy as much as

possible - there's nothing our bodies can't acquire from

plant sources. Whole, organic foods are the best.

Experiment with your diet to see what amount of raw food is

the best for you, since we're all unique. <br> I

think that the more energy you put into finding out

what best nourishes your body (and soul, and not just

from a dietary standpoint) the happier, more well

balanced and more fullfilled you will be.<br><br>Amrita