Practise yoga and follow 'sattvic' diet

Often referred to as sattvic diet by the seasoned yoga practitioners, yogic diet basically means 'eating like a yogi'. 

In order to follow yogic diet you may not need to be a seasoned yoga practitioner - all you need is a desire to live a better life by following a diet that has been proven over thousands of years to build strong bodies and minds. The yoga diet is also a known and trusted path to longevity and enlightenment.

Sattva is defined as the quality of purity and goodness. Sattvic food is that which is pure, clean and wholesome. A sattvic diet is food that gives life, strength, energy, courage and self-determination. In other words, sattvic food gives us 'something' more than a balanced blend of proteins, carbs, fats and fibres. It provides us the subtle nourishment necessary for vitality and consciousness.

Food is seen as a carrier of the life force called prana and is judged by the quality of its prana and by the effect it has on our consciousness.

Eating foods first-hand from nature, grown in fertile soil (preferably organic, free from chemicals and pesticides) will help ensure a better supply of these nutritional needs. Processing, refining and overcooking destroy much food value.

Yoga is defined as those practices that lead to anushasanam, which means the governing of one's subtle nature.  (Yoga Sutras 1:1). The goal of yoga is described as chitta vritti nirodha, the quieting of the mind-field(YS 1:2). Yoga practitioners advocate the use of the sattvic diet to support these subtle goals, says Chicago-based yoga guru Gary Gran.

A beginning practice in both ayurveda and yoga is to simply observe the effect of each food choice we make and, from our experience and awareness, begin to make small changes. As we progress in this practice we can recognise three broad categories called the gunas.

Some foods leave us feeling tired and sluggish. This is called the tamasic effect. Other foods leave us feeling agitated or over-stimulated - the rajasic effect. The third category belongs to foods that leave us feeling calm, alert and refreshed. This is the sattvic effect and the basis of the sattvic diet.

Broadly, Yogic philosophy preaches to avoid meats, overly processed foods, animal fats, margarine and poor quality oils, over-spiced and fried food, white sugar, white or fine flours, stale and reheated food, alcohol, tobacco, preserved beverages and genetically modified foods.

What kind of diet do you follow along with practising yogic exercises? Write back to me at
    tfc.amdavad@gmail.com.