5 Ways to Eat Like a Yogi

Guest post by Betty Milner

Yoga is more than just a physical activity, it’s a lifestyle. Rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, this practice does not only stay on the mat. Rather, it goes beyond by influencing every aspect of a practitioners’ life, including their diet.

A study on yoga conducted by Allison W. Watts, et al. reveals that the discipline supports healthy eating by motivating practitioners to practice mindfulness and proper management when it comes to their diet. The food that yogis choose to consume are actually based from different principles that encourage compassion, balance, and vitality. So if you want to switch to a healthier lifestyle, then you can start by eating like a yogi.

Base your Food Choices on Ahimsa

Since yoga is a practice that aims to unite man with nature, yogis are often encouraged to extend compassion to other living beings. This practice is called ahimsa, which is a teaching that is centered on compassion and non-violence.

Ahimsa serves as one of the foundational principles that yoga practitioners follow when choosing their diet, according to a study on the relationship of yoga and ahimsa written by Jenny L. Mace, et al. Yogis practice ahimsa, or non-violence, by limiting their food choices to plant-based substances. In this way, they can fuel their body with energy while also minimizing the suffering of other living beings.

Achieve Sattva through your Diet

Your food intake can influence your body’s natural state by causing an imbalance on your mental and physical health. A lot of yoga practitioners prevent this by consuming a high-fiber and low fat diet that brings their bodies into a balanced and harmonious state called sattva.

Firstpost’s guide to a sattvic diet emphasizes the importance of eliminating food that can affect our metabolism and nutritional levels. To achieve a balance within your body, you must consume food that can improve your body’s vitality, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, herbs, and spices.

Cleanse Yourself with a Detox

Yogis are advised to be mindful of their dosha, which are biological energies that govern our minds and bodies. To balance your dosha and restore your body’s health, you must undergo Ayurvedic cleansing by slowing down your food intake and eliminating the toxins in your body.

When going on a detox process, you might be interested in supplements that can support your diet. That said, Pretty Me’s honest review of Detoxi Slim Plus points out that supplements like these shouldn’t be used as a substitute for exercise and a nourishing diet. Detoxification is not about losing weight but more about eliminating harmful toxins from your body. That’s why Udara Bali recommends Healing Juice Cleanse or Raw Food Detox programs that can clear, restore, and reset your body by providing you with pure and nutritious food.

Improve your Prana with Fresh Food

Yoga practices help build up your prana, which is your life force. Since energy can be transferred from your food to your body, your prana can either be fortified or depleted by what you consume.

You can improve your life force by eating food at its most natural state. Foods with high prana are fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as minimally processed grains, legumes, and nuts. Processed, non-seasonal, and preserved food, on the other hand, will not nourish your vitality because they already have low prana.

Listen to Your Body’s Needs

During your yoga practice on the mat, you would often hear instructors encouraging you to listen to your own body. This consciousness can also be extended off the mat by observing your body’s reaction to different things, including your diet.

While it’s important to practice Ayurvedic principles, you must also consider your personal needs to achieve balance and harmony. A plant-based diet can be energizing and healthy to most people. However, if it makes you feel uncomfortable and fatigued, then extend compassion to yourself by finding a compromise.

The yogic diet is centered on nourishing and cleansing your body, which is why eating fresh vegetables and fruits are encouraged. However, if your body needs nutrients from other food sources, then listen to your body by striking a balance between the yogic diet and your needs.