Living food and yoga

The practice of yoga, whether it involves the practice of postures, Meditation, breathing exercises, or other similar practices primarily aim to maintain a calm mind. Diet plays a major role in the health of the body, but also in our mental well-being. It is now recognized that our brain and digestive system are connected.

Each person must find their own balance based on their own life path, experiences, health, environment, culture, and health... All these parameters highlight the complexity of establishing a general ideal diet for everyone. Here, we will simply detail some recommendations; it is up to you to experiment and conduct your own self-observation to determine what is best for you.

Diet according to yoga

According to Ayurveda (ancient Indian medicine), diseases originate from poor digestion of food.

The definition of living food is primarily to eat raw foods, not processed by cooking or industrial methods. The fruits and theraw vegetables"allow for a better intake of nutrients and micronutrients.".  

In the philosophy of yoga, There are three qualities in nature (called "Gunas"). These three qualities are also qualities of our mind and behavior:

• Sattva: purity, lightness, harmony

• Rajas: passion, anger, agitation

• Tamas: laziness, inertia, ignorance

"Sattvic" food is lighter, calming, full of energy, and it corresponds quite well to living food, ...that is to say, food that is fresh, light, and rich in vital energy. In yoga, this vital energy is called "prana"; it consists of vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients that nourish our body. Vegetables that grow above the ground (green vegetables, eggplants, squashes/zucchinis, salads, etc.) are sattvic in nature and should be prioritized.

Rajasic food brings aggression, anger, passion, ego... These are stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, chocolate, salmon, tuna, eggs, sugar.

Tamasic food should be avoided as much as possible: these are the most processed foods. An unbalanced "tamasic" diet, with too much meat, dairy products (cheese, yogurt, etc.), or industrial products will make a person lethargic, tired, and ignorant.

In the tradition of yoga, as in living food, the diet is vegetarian for several reasons.

Eating an animal that has had emotions, memory, and feelings is contrary to the principle of non-violence. Meat is difficult to digest, unbalances the body, and is devoid of life, of prana.

Incorporating a raw food diet also allows for a more flexible, lighter body, a clearer mind, and a better awareness of one's body.

How to incorporate raw food into daily life

1 – The juices

One of the first things to incorporate is the consumption of vegetable/fruit juices (with a higher proportion of vegetables) obtained through cold extraction. These juices are highly assimilable by the body and quickly provide all the vitamins and minerals. Easy to integrate into daily life, they can complement a balanced diet. Perfect before a yoga session, juices give you the energy you need.

2-Raw vegetables

Perfectly suited for the summer season, starting with raw food diet can easily be done as soon as the first warm days arrive. Salads, melons, and raw vegetables perfectly meet the body's needs to get through the summer. It's the ideal time to replenish your vitality. Children will appreciate it even more because the varied colors make the plates look appetizing.

3-Fruits as snacks

An ideal snack for both young and old, fresh fruits can be a delightful addition to your table in a pretty basket. Having fruits readily available encourages children to develop a healthy habit when they feel hungry.

Attention to quantities and frequency

In our modern societies, overabundance and cultural codes encourage overconsumption of food, particularly with the development of online applications for ordering from home. Consuming too much food, and too frequently, slows down digestion. From the perspective of yoga and Ayurveda, digestion is due to the combustion of food, a sort of inner fire. Digestion consumes a significant amount of energy in the body, so eating too much will therefore tire the body.

Furthermore, when one eats too frequently, the partially digested and undigested food gets mixed in the stomach. This leads to undigested food passing directly into the colon, making it difficult to assimilate.

Conclusion

To adopt the best diet that suits you, try to introduce as much living food as possible and observe how your body reacts. This principle of observation in yoga allows you to connect with yourself, to know yourself, and to be more in harmony. A good knowledge of oneself makes us better towards others, more understanding, and allows us to live in a more peaceful society.

 Valerie Allibe