Getting into shape is a tough mountain to trek, but there are different paths you can take to get to your destination. Fitness, diets, and various types of workouts go hand in hand when it comes to becoming a healthier, more wholesome individual.
Popular workouts include crossfit, weight lifting, and circuit training. You can add another option to that list, and that is yoga. This activity not only stretches your body out, but it also exercises all muscle groups, including the heart and mind.
Many may not realize that working out is not the end-all and be-all of getting into shape. Another important factor is the diet you choose. This is especially true when it comes to practicing yoga.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, which is basically the bible for yoga and its source for movements, lists what you should and should not eat. So, even though you may work out five times a week, you could still remain unhealthy if you don’t follow a proper diet.
For further study, it is also recommended to learn about the six tastes in Ayurveda, so that they can be used to better suit your temperament and help keep you in balance.
The Basics of Yoga
Practicing yoga does not just mean heading to your local gym and joining a class every Tuesday. A yogi is actually someone who practices all eight limbs of yoga. These are:
- Yama (or universal morality)
- Niyama (or personal discipline)
- Asanas (or poses)
- Pranayama (or breathwork)
- Pratyahara (or control of the senses)
- Dharana (or concentration)
- Dhyana (or meditation)
- Samadhi (or union with the divine)
Through these limbs, one can gain the ability to look into their true self or higher self. The practice goes beyond that mat as it is carried out in daily life. In short, yoga is a lifestyle.
To learn more about yoga, read up on it!
Yoga and Food
Yoga and food go hand-in-hand. Not only can food help you be healthier, but it also improves your mood, energy, and your overall everyday life in both the short and long run.
You may notice that many yogis practice veganism or are vegetarian. This is because yoga texts say practitioners must abstain from consuming meat and alcohol.
Why? Let’s find out.
Veganism, Vegetarianism, and Yoga
According to practitioners, partaking in animal flesh leads to negative thoughts and issues in life. This includes anger, fear, and even lust, which they view to be unwanted characteristics and feelings. Animal flesh is a driver of impurities that enter the mind and the nervous system.
It is also a factor when it comes to having a difficult time digesting food. The meat of animals tends to make the body feel heavy and dull because it blocks the prana flow, which is what yoga tries to release.
Ahimsa: The Act of Not Harming Anything or Anyone
Yogis also take part in two aspects: yama and ahimsa. Yama is what everyone knows about yoga from the mainstream perspective while ahimsa is the lesser-known aspect of the practice that pertains to non-harming creatures.
The principle is simple; Yogis should not cause harm in any possible way. This includes the food they consume. This is why they avoid meat since the slaughter of animals is thought to be inhumane in their context.
Yogis also choose to abstain from patronizing brands and companies that harm living beings to create their products. This is why you will see some yogis going vegan or becoming vegetarians.
Just to be clear, though, not all who practice yoga also practice veganism.
So, What Do Yogis Eat?
Besides the usual vegan diet they follow, many of those practicing yoga opt for organic food. These are beneficial for both the environment and health. Organic food is also free from strong pesticides that may harm plants, animals, and humans.
For vegan yogis, it may be hard to gain weight because of the kind of food they consume. This can be a big challenge for them. Many may want to gain muscle but still maintain their lifestyle. Fortunately, this is possible if they follow a bulking guide for vegans.
Isn’t It Difficult to Change Diets?
This is a question many have. It seems like such a challenge to change your diet completely even after a few years. For yogis, however, this is not the case.
Once a yogi starts practicing, their bodies feel lighter and more energetic. This is both true in the physical and internal sense. The lightness they feel carries over to their food of choice. A yogi will naturally feel the need to change what they eat to match how they feel on the inside. This is why it is not as difficult for a yogi to change their diet.
A Diet Is Personal
Yoga and the diet that comes with it is personal and should be tailor-made for every person. It is essential to remember to not pressure anyone or feel pressured by anyone to practice a certain way or eat in a specific manner.
With Love and goodwill from Auromere ♥