Have you ever seen how your yoga practice is affected by the food you eat? Some foods cause more internal turmoil than others in terms of bloating and other digestive issues. It can be intriguing to observe, nevertheless, how some foods have more subdued effects on your emotions and mental state. The sister science of yoga, Ayurveda, gives us a detailed understanding of how our diets impact our physical and mental health, as well as our spiritual vigor.
What does Ayurveda say about our diet?
Ayurveda teaches us that the Satvik diet, which consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, plays a crucial role in enhancing our yoga practice. This diet is known for its lightness and purity, promoting clarity of mind and a calm state of being. By nourishing our bodies with Satvik foods, we can experience improved focus, increased energy levels, and a deeper connection to our spiritual selves during yoga sessions.
Every food has a unique flavor (rasa), energy for heating or cooling (virya), and an after-digestive impact. Overcombining these effects might cause the body to accumulate toxins (ama) and cause additional imbalances. For instance, milk and fruit—especially sour fruits—should not be combined. Yoga says that the simplest diet is the healthiest for both the body and the mind. For this reason, individuals who practice yoga are advised to adhere to a sattvic diet.
Understanding Sattvik Diet:
A clean vegetarian diet known as sattvik bhojan consists of entire grains, legumes, sprouts, fresh fruit in season, a lot of fresh vegetables, dried nuts, seeds, honey, fresh herbs, milk, and dairy products free of animal products. These meals elevate our consciousness or sattva. Cooked and consumed with love, gratitude, and mindfulness is Sattvic Bhojan. A Sattvik has a balanced personality, is calm, tranquil, serene, friendly, and full of vitality, enthusiasm, health, hope, and aspirations. Sattvic bhojan also has the added benefit of being a very successful weight loss technique and helping to maintain a healthy weight. When sattvic bhojan is deep-fried, overprocessed, or stored for an extended length of time, it turns tamasic.
A sattvic diet generally consists of:
● fresh, organic fruit and vegetables
● whole grains and nuts
● dairy products such as milk and ghee
● beans and lentils
● plant-based oils
● mildly sweet foods (natural, unrefined sugars), honey, molasses
● spices such as cinnamon, basil, coriander, ginger and turmeric
What makes rajasic and tamasic foods bad for your body?
Foods like eggs, tea, coffee, bread products, and alcohol that are highly flavorful and cause excessive excitation are known as Rajasic foods. These foods are all rajasic in nature since they all excite the nervous system. This diet prohibits the consumption of foods originating from animals. Foods that have been chemically or biologically
modified, processed foods, or dead foods (meat, fish, etc.) are not allowed in a vegetarian diet. Foods that are reheated, stale, or overcooked are categorized as tamasic. Apart from that, since packaged food loses some of its freshness and nutritional value, it is not advised.
To sum up, the unheard importance of a Satvik diet in yoga lies in its ability to create a pure environment for physical, mental, and spiritual growth. As we tackle the complexities of modern life, the ancient wisdom rooted in a Satvik diet beckons us to rediscover the profound connection between what we consume and the path to overall well-being. Understand the unheard, and let the purity of Satvik living harmonize your journey toward a more balanced and enlightened existence.
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