The Yoga Diet

Yoga Practitioners believe that food contains a combination of three primal qualities known as gunas. These are pure or sattva, inert or tamas, and active or rajas.

Gunas are qualities which exist together and are present at all times in all things, not just food.

Ideally the main part of your diet needs to be made up of sattvic foods, pure foods in their natural state unprocessed and preferably organic to bring your mind and body into a balanced and healthy state of being.

FOOD GROUPS                                                          

Sattvic Foods Pure, unprocessed,simple and fresh. These foods are preservative free (Organic), non-addictive and non-harming. They create balance, clarity and vitality on a mental, physical and spiritual level as they are clean foods free of mood-altering chemicals.

Sources Fresh Vegetables and Salads. Fresh Fruit and Juices, and Dried Fruit. Pulses such as Beans and Lentils, Tofu. Wholemeal cereals and Bread, Milk, Butter and Cheese. Nuts, Seeds and Sprouted Seeds. Herbs, Herbal Teas, Honey and Water.

Rajasic Foods These spicy, pungent, bitter and hot foods. They over stimulate the body and mind and can cause restlessness, anxiety and stress. Eating quickly is also considered rajasic.

Meats, Fish and Eggs.Peppers and Salt.Strong Spices like Chillies. Tea, Coffee and other Caffeine-Laden Foods like Chocolate and Cola. Refined Sugar.

Tasmasic Foods Old, Stale, Aged, Fermented, Cold and Dry. These foods drain the body's energy, causing fatigue and dulling of the mind. (Meat and Caffeine are both rajasic and tamasic as they initially stimulate the body then cause energy levels to drop.)

Meats.Mushrooms, because they grow in the dark.Onions and Garlic.Tabacco and Alcohol.Fermented Vinegar.Coffee and Tea.

The practice of Yoga Postures is just one aspect of Yoga. To gain the full benefits we need to take care of the other basics Diet, sleep , Rest and Play.

Yoga promotes a Vegetarian diet based on natural, unprocessed foods. These foods come from the soil and are believed to carry unadulterated life force. Whislt practising Yoga you may notice a change in tastes. Perhaps eating less, or wanting to eat differently, or not wanting to drink so much alcohol or giving up smoking.

You can listen to and trust these messages from your body: eat when you feel hungry, dont if you dont! When you feel tired, sleep or at least rest. And Play - it is important to kick back and have fun.

Yoga is personal journey: each one person must decide how deeply they wish to bring it into their lives.