Food for healing
IMPORTANCE OF SATTVIK FOOD IN YOGIC JOURNEY
A famous Ayurvedic Proverb goes.
When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use.
When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.
Our blog talks about the importance of the Sattvic diet during our yogic journey on this International Yoga Day.
We enter a Yoga class looking for a toned body to keep ourselves healthy, fit, and flexible. With regular practice of yoga asanas, we get our toned body, a strong core, and limbs that are flexible and agile.
Just as we try to achieve perfection with the correct posture for the asanas, it is essential to remember that we should give a healthy diet equal weightage. If we complement our Yogic journey with healthy eating habits, it can create wonders in our life. The food we eat influences our physical well-being and creates an impact on our emotions and thoughts.
Food has mainly three components – Protein, Carbohydrates, and fats. In Yogic practice, food is classified into three types depending on their effect on our body and mind.
Sattvic Food
Sattvic food nourishes the body and calms the mind. It is considered as the purest form of diet. Cooked food consumed within 3-4 hours is regarded as sattvic in nature. Fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, nuts, grains, fresh milk, certain spices are Sattvic food. Eating Sattvic food makes one feel light and energetic.
Rajasic Food
Rajasic food nourishes the body; however, it also brings about restlessness in our system. They overstimulate the mind, thus causing anger, irritability, and, at times, sleeplessness. Overly tasty foods, prepacked food, oily food, or heavy food loaded with cream and food containing artificial preservatives fall under this category.
Tamasic Food
Tamasic food makes us lazy. These kinds of food dull the mind and bring about inertia within us. Tamasic food is difficult to digest, thus compromising the digestive system. Overeating is considered a Tamasic habit. Meat, Alcohol, fermented food, garlic are some of the Tamasic food.
Keeping in mind the principles of Ahimsa, Prana, a good yoga diet should be:
Sattvic… Sattvic food is considered the purest form and most suitable for the body and mind for a yogic body. Food should be fresh and organic. It should include plenty of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Maintain regular intervals. One should consume food at regular intervals. One must avoid eating food two hours before yoga practice and sleep. Giving a two-hour gap after meals gives one enough power to carry out the asanas correctly.
Fasting for at least one day in a week… Select one day to fast every week. A diet of fruits and salads is ideal for fasting days. It will help to rejuvenate and assist in cleansing the system.
Conscious Eating… Mindfulness is an essential practice during meal times. Some food can cause indigestion, fatigue, bloating depending on each body. One must try to avoid that food. Food choices should support our health and age.
Ultimately, we are what we eat. A well-balanced Sattvic diet has a significant impact on our physical and emotional well-being. However, it might not be possible to follow the strict regime due to several reasons. Always listen to the needs of the body, adjust the food choices, and happy eating.
NAMASTE From
Lifestyle Yoga Family
Unhealthy diet should not be taken, that which is reheated after becoming cold, which is dry (devoid of natural oil), which is excessively salty or acidic, stale or has too many (mixed) vegetables.