Ashtanga Yoga and food

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I am new to this group. I am an amateur and a beginner, so please bear

with me.

 

I want to know about the possible influence food habits of a Yogi could

have on his/her practice and the results. Food habits - Vegitarian or

otherwise - are to a certain extent a personal issue. I assume that

Yoga has no inhibitions about one's personal relegious beliefs.

Similarly, is any type of food encouraged in Ashtanga Yoga, or are

there any strict guidelines?

 

Mentoring on this topic is most welcome.

 

Om!

 

NC

[Guest guest]

i would recommend a light, nourishing, vegetable and fruit filled vegetarian diet. eat every three hours and chew food at least 32 times. aim to be donne eating by 6 or 6:30 at night (assuming you practice ashtanga in the morning.) cut out heavy foods or only eat little of them. no sodas and foolishness like that.

 

on_ninth_cloud <no_reply> wrote: Hi,

I am new to this group. I am an amateur and a beginner, so please bear

with me.

 

I want to know about the possible influence food habits of a Yogi could

have on his/her practice and the results. Food habits - Vegitarian or

otherwise - are to a certain extent a personal issue. I assume that

Yoga has no inhibitions about one's personal relegious beliefs.

Similarly, is any type of food encouraged in Ashtanga Yoga, or are

there any strict guidelines?

 

Mentoring on this topic is most welcome.

 

Om!

 

NC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

I started out being a carnivore, after about a year became a pesco vegetarian, another 3 years later have become more of a vegan. Did not make a direct decision to change my diet, rather a shift or benifit from The Astanga Practice, for me.

 

Good Luck,

 

Bob

---- on_ninth_cloud <no_reply> wrote:

> Hi,

> I am new to this group. I am an amateur and a beginner, so please bear

> with me.

>

> I want to know about the possible influence food habits of a Yogi could

> have on his/her practice and the results. Food habits - Vegitarian or

> otherwise - are to a certain extent a personal issue. I assume that

> Yoga has no inhibitions about one's personal relegious beliefs.

> Similarly, is any type of food encouraged in Ashtanga Yoga, or are

> there any strict guidelines?

>

> Mentoring on this topic is most welcome.

>

> Om!

>

> NC

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Guruji definitely encourages a vegetarian diet and

he seems to be very definite about it. No fish, no

eggs.

 

He does encourage drinking milk and copious amounts of

Ghee (clarified butter). I know it makes most vegan

yogis cringe but he definitely recommends lots of milk

(one liter, about 4 cups a day). He encourages

moderation in food intake, and recommends a very

light, if at all, dinner.

 

I took his advice of skipping dinner and only have

milk at night and was able to bind my hands for the

firt time in Marichiasana D, so definitely worth

trying that if you are having problems.

 

Hope this helps!

 

v

[Guest guest]

-NC

I think if you continue to practice regularly you will FEEL the

results of your diet. You may start to notice it in your asana

practice and you will naturally be drawn to more whole foods and a

vegitarian diet- just listen to your body, namaste teresa

-- In ashtanga yoga, <yogabob7 wrote:

>

> I started out being a carnivore, after about a year became a pesco

vegetarian, another 3 years later have become more of a vegan. Did

not make a direct decision to change my diet, rather a shift or

benifit from The Astanga Practice, for me.

>

> Good Luck,

>

> Bob

> ---- on_ninth_cloud <no_reply> wrote:

> > Hi,

> > I am new to this group. I am an amateur and a beginner, so

please bear

> > with me.

> >

> > I want to know about the possible influence food habits of a

Yogi could

> > have on his/her practice and the results. Food habits -

Vegitarian or

> > otherwise - are to a certain extent a personal issue. I assume

that

> > Yoga has no inhibitions about one's personal relegious beliefs.

> > Similarly, is any type of food encouraged in Ashtanga Yoga, or

are

> > there any strict guidelines?

> >

> > Mentoring on this topic is most welcome.

> >

> > Om!

> >

> > NC

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Desikachar, Krisnamacharya's son says, "Books or yoga classes give us the impression that

there are prerequisites for the study of yoga. We may be told that we should not smoke,

that we should eat a vegetarian diet, or that we should give away all of our worldly goods.

Such ways of behaving are admirable ONLY if they originate from within us - and they may

as a result of yoga - but not if they are imposed from the outside." ( The Heart of Yoga)

When I started this beautiful practice I drank, smoked and ate meat. Eight years later, I

don't smoke, or drink, and I'm a vegetarian. But all of these things happened gradually and

organically for me. Do what is best for you and your practice. Try practicing ahimsa (non-

violence) starting with yourself, then others. See where it takes you.

 

Yogababe

[Guest guest]

With the greatest of respect for Guruji, his recommendations may suit

him but will not suit everyone. Some meat or fish in some people's

diet is good for them, and to completely remove meat/fish or eggs can

be very detrimental to some people.

 

My view is that everyone is different, so there is no diet plan which

suits everyone, except the maxims of moderation and only a little at

night.

 

For guidance on what suits you, check out the Robert Sveboda books on

Ayerveda, or the Ayevedic Cookbook by Morningstar, which is an

excellent primer.

 

 

ashtanga yoga, violetta barberis <violetta9

wrote:

>

> Hi, Guruji definitely encourages a vegetarian diet and

> he seems to be very definite about it. No fish, no

> eggs.

>

> He does encourage drinking milk and copious amounts of

> Ghee (clarified butter). I know it makes most vegan

> yogis cringe but he definitely recommends lots of milk

> (one liter, about 4 cups a day). He encourages

> moderation in food intake, and recommends a very

> light, if at all, dinner.

>

> I took his advice of skipping dinner and only have

> milk at night and was able to bind my hands for the

> firt time in Marichiasana D, so definitely worth

> trying that if you are having problems.

>

> Hope this helps!

>

> v

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the response.

 

Did you experience any benefit from your shift in food choice? Would

you recommend one over the other? If yes, which one?

 

Thanks.

 

NC

 

 

ashtanga yoga, <yogabob7 wrote:

>

> I started out being a carnivore, after about a year became a pesco

vegetarian, another 3 years later have become more of a vegan. Did

not make a direct decision to change my diet, rather a shift or

benifit from The Astanga Practice, for me.

>

> Good Luck,

>

> Bob

[Guest guest]

Hi Violetta,

That certainly helps. Thanks a ton!

 

Regards,

NC

 

ashtanga yoga, violetta barberis

<violetta9 wrote:

>

> Hi, Guruji definitely encourages a vegetarian diet and

> he seems to be very definite about it. No fish, no

> eggs.

>

> He does encourage drinking milk and copious amounts of

> Ghee (clarified butter). I know it makes most vegan

> yogis cringe but he definitely recommends lots of milk

> (one liter, about 4 cups a day). He encourages

> moderation in food intake, and recommends a very

> light, if at all, dinner.

>

> I took his advice of skipping dinner and only have

> milk at night and was able to bind my hands for the

> firt time in Marichiasana D, so definitely worth

> trying that if you are having problems.

>

> Hope this helps!

>

> v

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Violetta

 

It's possible that eggs are allowed in Mysore. I was informed

of this by a friend who has been spending 6 months practicing

there. I'm primarily vegan, but recently I made a dish that

had eggs in it and did not feel so well, so I asked my friend

to ask Guruji or Sharath if eating eggs was OK. The

answer was that consuming eggs is OK. I was already aware

regarding their position on milk. I'm allergic to milk anyway,

so I rarely consume dairy products, only once in a while.

 

The subject of proper nutrition for yoga and health interests

me a lot. I have corresponded with a yoga teacher in Los

Angeles on the subject. For example, another question is

when to eat in relationship to the time you practice. Since

the practice is usually in the morning, and it is recommended

that you don't eat solid food up to 2 hours before practice,

I get up long before practice and eat then. The teacher in

LA only eats a few nuts before her practice. To my

constitution, that is not enough, so I eat a half cup of berries

and a quarter cup of unsweetened granola and some

herbal tea. I consume this 3 and a half hours before

practice, so my stomach is empty before practice. However

realistically, most people don't wake up that early before

practice, so going to practice on an empty stomach works

for them. Going to practice on an empty stomach makes

me dizzy, so my customs are different.

 

Over the past 3 years, I have also observed a calorie

restricted diet, following guidelines of the calorie

restriction society. You can read about them here:

www.calorierestriction.org Several of the members

are vegetarian and some are yoga practitioners.

This has helped me lose a few extra pounds.

It has definitely helped me in binding in Marichiasana D.

 

Cheers

Arturo

 

Re: Ashtanga Yoga and food

Posted by: "violetta barberis" violetta9

 

Hi, Guruji definitely encourages a vegetarian diet and

he seems to be very definite about it. No fish, no

eggs.

 

He does encourage drinking milk and copious amounts of

Ghee (clarified butter). I know it makes most vegan

yogis cringe but he definitely recommends lots of milk

(one liter, about 4 cups a day). He encourages

moderation in food intake, and recommends a very

light, if at all, dinner.

 

I took his advice of skipping dinner and only have

milk at night and was able to bind my hands for the

firt time in Marichiasana D, so definitely worth

trying that if you are having problems.

 

Hope this helps!

 

v

[Guest guest]

Hi Arturo,

 

I am in Mysore at the moment and I just asked Guruji

this question two weeks ago.

 

He was very adamant about no eggs and no fish. I

understand some people are lactose intollerant and I

do believe that when it comes to nutrition it pays off

to listen to one's body and make informed choices.

 

I was merely relating Guruji's answer to me in

conference two weeks ago. And he very clearly said no

eggs and no fish. One liter of milk a day. No dinner.

 

It might not work for everyone, but I have tried this

regimen since then with great results in my practice

(bind in Mari D, generally feeling of well-being).

 

Again, I am not inmplying everyone should do this, and

I will probably will go back to eating eggs, but for

the time being I am following Guruji's dietary advice.

 

Om shanti

 

Violetta

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

 

I'm writing in response to Yogababe and Anniegurton's views on this

subject. And I can't agree more with what's been said by both of you.

 

In Chinese, there's a saying, "A similar grain of rice feeds hundred

types of beings". Yoga is like the grain, which feeds on us,

nourishing us in many aspects; physical, spiritual and mental, etc.

We all come from different walks of life and come to yoga for

different reasons. Because our backgrounds are vastly different, we

possess varying levels of intellectual understanding and

mental/spiritual maturity. But the essence of yoga remains the same,

as it has been for thousands of years. It's up to us to find the

suitable path which leads us to it.

 

A yoga teacher ever described yoga as the tip of a mountain, which

promises the best of views in the whole world. There are however,

lots of different paths, which followers choose to pursue. These

paths offer different views; some paths may be tougher and rockier,

while others may take a longer journey to reach the end. Hopefully,

most, if not all of us, will reach the top in the end. The views at

the top are still as promising, but it's the paths (interpretations)

that we choose that make us believe what the views should be. We are

conditioned and prepared differently during the process.

 

Similarly, how and when we become a vegetarian (or not), what diet

to follow and the effects of it, all vary with different types of

people. Guruji was raised in a Brahmin tradition and he would highly

recommend a strict vegetarian diet. Indeed, as a practitioner, we

should follow this path. But that is not to say we HAVE to do so

just because we 'DO' yoga. That would be purely blind faith and

unsustainable. Time will make this change in us, in a very subtle,

yet powerful way. Through the practice, we become aware of what we

eat, the sources of these food, how we eat and to eat better. I

believe it is the practice that gradually makes us vegetarian, as in

having respect for all forms of lives. A diet is a by-product of

this practice as such. I thus agree with Yoggbabe that this has to

come from within us. Let nature take its own course.

 

I am a Buddhist by religion. I had been a vegetarian for 11 years

before I broke my vow due to personal reasons. I then came to yoga,

which highly encourages vegetarian lifestyle. How ironical, my

friends teased me many times. It's also been said probably that's

why I am unable to go into Marichyasana D. Mmm.... maybe. Maybe not.

I do not wish to impose such punishment on myself and start feeling

guilty. In fact, I noticed that as I increased my practice over the

last year, my body and mentality gradually opens up. Physcially, I

actually witness some changes. There are also less stress and pain

in the asana practice. More importantly, the mental development in

my attitude towards food, it's sources, ways to consume them, has

been tremendous. I'm still not a vegetarian today, but at least I am

starting to appreciate the realms of life, and not taking things for

granted. It just happened to me over time.

 

Yoga encourages people to practice daily and adopt a vegetarian

lifestyle. We take this as a yard-stick and follow faithfully. But

we should approach the matter within our means. If we are not

conditioned physically and mentally, we will still be an unhappy

soul, even if we can perfect our asana practice or be a vegetarian.

The experience is only going to be short-lived. The practice is a

life-long commitment and certainly it is not Guruji's wish to see us

giving up this beautiful practice along the way.

 

Bliss & peace to all.

 

Zonkie

[Guest guest]

I agree! I have not eaten egg nor drinking milk for 15+ years by now &

feeling great! Ashtange Yoga naturally makes me change toward a complete

vegetarian giving up seafood as well 3-4 years ago & I found that some asana

poses, especially the more challenging ones like Mari D, Supta Kurmasana are

all becoming easier! I have not succeeded on ŒNo dinner¹ yet...

 

Amy

 

 

On 11/30/06 3:53 PM, "violetta barberis" <violetta9 > wrote:

 

>

>

>

>

> Hi Arturo,

>

> I am in Mysore at the moment and I just asked Guruji

> this question two weeks ago.

>

> He was very adamant about no eggs and no fish. I

> understand some people are lactose intollerant and I

> do believe that when it comes to nutrition it pays off

> to listen to one's body and make informed choices.

>

> I was merely relating Guruji's answer to me in

> conference two weeks ago. And he very clearly said no

> eggs and no fish. One liter of milk a day. No dinner.

>

> It might not work for everyone, but I have tried this

> regimen since then with great results in my practice

> (bind in Mari D, generally feeling of well-being).

>

> Again, I am not inmplying everyone should do this, and

> I will probably will go back to eating eggs, but for

> the time being I am following Guruji's dietary advice.

>

> Om shanti

>

> Violetta