Yoga BLOG

Yoga and healthy eating Anyone who practices yoga intensively will sooner or later consider the topic of nutrition. This is not only because it quickly becomes clear that one should avoid heavy meals about two hours before a yoga class, as a full stomach interferes with the execution of the asanas . Regular yoga practice changes the body and the awareness of one's own needs. Yogis therefore live more mindfully, attentively, and healthily than many of their peers who do not practice yoga. What should be considered in a yogic diet? Which foods do yoga teachers recommend, and which supposedly indulgent foods should be avoided? The three-part food system In the philosophy of yoga , three types of food are distinguished based on their specific properties: tamasic food (represents inertia), rajasic food (represents restlessness) and sattvic food (provides lightness). Tamasic food is characterized by a lack of important vital nutrients. Instead of providing energy, it drains the body and also causes the mind to become sluggish. Tamasic foods include unripe fruit, overcooked food, and convenience foods. Meat and fish are also considered tamasic and should be avoided according to yoga teachings. Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs are also tamasic. Rajasic food causes a restless mind and body. Rajasic foods include foods containing caffeine, as well as very spicy foods, sugar, and white flour. Foods eaten too quickly and not chewed thoroughly are also rajasic and should be kept to a minimum. Sattvic food is considered the ideal diet in yoga. Sattvic foods provide new energy, calm the mind, and contain many vital nutrients. Fresh produce, preferably raw, contains the most vital energy, known as "prana." Whole grain products, vegetables, nuts, fruit, milk, potatoes, and legumes are sattvic and are essential to a yogi's diet. Diversity instead of one-sidedness Yogic nutrition is not a diet that involves following a fixed menu as precisely as possible. The teachings of yoga recognize that every body is unique and that people need different amounts of energy in varying amounts at different stages of life. Just as yoga practitioners gradually learn to gently ease into their asanas and perform them correctly and mindfully, yogis develop a deeper awareness of their body and become increasingly aware of which diets are beneficial to their health and spiritual well-being. Over time, sattvic foods will naturally take a central place in their daily diet. Drink plenty and eat peacefully Yogis should drink around three liters of water or herbal tea per day. Those who prefer more flavorful drinks can flavor plain water with a few fresh mint leaves, lemon slices, some ginger, or fresh cucumber slices. When choosing food, natural and fresh foods are preferable. Occasional fasting helps healthy people detoxify and relax the body and mind. Even though there are no rigid rules for a healthy yoga diet, many yogis find the following rule of thumb helpful: Fill your stomach halfway with food, a quarter with water, and leave the other quarter empty. This activates mind and body. In yoga, abstaining from meat is connected to the ideal of a non-violent life. However, a diet without meat and fish also has health benefits, as studies repeatedly confirm. Those interested in learning more about healthy eating and yoga can ask their yoga teacher for specific tips. Since there are some parallels to Ayurvedic nutrition, attending an Ayurvedic cooking class is also recommended. Some holiday hotels and private clinics offer Ayurvedic and yogic dishes. Those who want to fundamentally change their diet can take a relaxing yoga retreat as an opportunity to experience the benefits of healthy eating for themselves in an energizing atmosphere. ©iStock.com/maramicado