Yoga and Nutrition

It is known that yoga is a combination of physical, mental and spiritual exercises. which provides practitioners with enlightenment as highly feasible. Breathing, the intricate postures and chanting (singing of mantras with and without meaning to reach ‘ a higher consciousness ‘). Food is an important part of it. What and how we eat can improve this journey from/to consciousness and increase our vitality on the way.

A quote from Yogi Bhajan * reads: ‘ The physical body is a temple. Make sure. The spirit is energy. Rule it. The soul is the projection. Represent it. All knowledge is incorrect if the soul is not experienced in the body ‘.

* A key Master in Kundalini Yoga. Born in Pakistan. He brought Kundalini Yoga to America in the Seventies. (1929-2004).

The yogic Food and food categories

We humans (mammals) need food to survive and it is important for our overall well-being. We strive for healthy choices. A good start can be to avoid, for example, desserts and processed foods. While a diet with lots of vegetables, fruits and cereals serve your body and mind in a beautiful way. Naturally in combination with yoga practice.

Yogi Bhajan encouraged his students to ​​to embrace a diet, including complete, simple and fresh food, without consuming meat and eggs. He suggested that someone can get enough protein by eating the right combination of vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and cereals. According to Yogi Bhajan you can enjoy dairy in moderation, because it increases the mucus, which is beneficial for many yoga breathing exercises, especially the ‘ breathing of Fire ‘: Kapalabhati.

Yogic vegetarians believe that this style of eating can lead to increased energy without causing a heavy feeling. Fats and meats are more difficult to process and without these in our diet we experience better digestion and metabolism.

Yogic food can be broken down into three main groups. Followers who want to focus on grace, rest, discipline, intuition, or being more sensitive should follow a more Sattvic diet. For people who have an active or demanding lifestyle, with a healthy dose of attention, a combination of Sattvic and Rajastic food could be considered. Yoga experts strongly recommend avoiding Tamastic food for all lifestyles. For those of us who embrace disciplines that are demanding, such as Kundalini Yoga, we need a combination of Rajastic and Sattvic food.

The 3 most important Yogi food groups

Sattvic. Sattvic foods contain vegetables, ghee (clarified butter), fruits, legume, and whole grains. These foods are used to stimulate clarity and lightness.

Rajastic. Rajastic Foods promote willpower and strength with stimulant herbs and spices such as hot peppers, s, lt and coffee.

Tamastic. These foods are usually associated with impulsiveness, dullness or anger. Meat, fish, alcohol and eggs are part of this group.

6 easy ‘ Yogi-diet ‘ tips for beginners

Eating healthy foods is a nice starting point, but it’s often easier said than done. Give yourself time to investigate this and make it your own. And aside from what you eat, the way you eat also makes a big difference. To help you with your new yogic food trip, here are some tips to get you started right away.

1. take the time to “bless” food. Take some time to relax and close your eyes to spiritually recognizing the blessing of the food. Again a beautiful spell of Yogi Bhajan: ‘ The attitude of gratitude is the highest Yoga ‘.

2. Avoid distractions during your meal times. Don’t be distracted by television and put your phone on silent so you can concentrate on your food.

3. Skip the sugar. Sugar is also compared to poison. It could damage your body. Do you need sweets; Go for naturally sweet fruit and avoid sugar and artificial sweeteners.

4. Keep it simple. Search in the beginning for foods, which contain many vitamins and minerals. Choose vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans and cereals that are easy to prepare. And which you can keep longer.

5. Eat slowly. Take the time to chew well while eating. Use this time to meditate-as well. Research has shown that more chewing extends meal times, which supports digestion and weight retention.

6. Eat your meal in combination with a meditation. And after dinner, sit down to think about the process: digesting food in energy. As if you can visualize it. Followed by a short nap of 11 minutes on your right side. This to initiate digestion. And if this is not feasible (which is very logical on a working day;), then sit in Vajrasana (on your knees, sitting on your heels with your hands in your lap) or enjoy a cup of (Yogi) tea.