Yoga, Nutrition and You - How They All Work Together

For the people, getting the full benefits of the not onlywith the performance of the health benefits of yoga,
involves the exercises and stress-relieving meditationsSatvik foods are considered an important part of a
of yoga, but also developing a nutrition plan that followswell-conditioned mind and body.
some of the same principles.Within the Satvik plan are basic nutritional theories that
This combination of yoga and nutrition is not new -are useful even if one is not a regular practitioner of
yogis have been focusing on proper nutrition foryoga.
centuries - but it has taken on a new awareness inAmong the primary beliefs of a nutritious diet,
recent years, due to scientific reports on nutrition andaccording to yoga instructors, is that food be
healthy foods that back up the ideas and tenets ofconsumed in as fresh a state as possible. Fresh
yoga instructors who have included nutrition in theirvegetables and fruits contain healthy enzymes and
quest for harmony between the mind, body and spirit.vitamins that frozen or canned foods do not, since the
As stated, yoga and its focus on nutrition is nothingpackaging process often times removed many of the
new. There is, in fact, an entire discipline of yoga calledhealth benefits of the foods. In addition, some
Anna Yoga that concerns food and its influence oninstructors recommend eating a large portion of the
health and fitness. Yet while some of the specificfruits and vegetables raw to absorbe more of their
details about what constitutes healthy eating may varynutritional value.
among the different branches of yoga, many of theGreen vegetables are held in special regard by many
most important aspects are the same: modest,yogis, who consider vegetables such as broccoli,
reasonable portions of foods that are high in nutrientsspinach, lettuce and cabbage to have the highest
and low in toxins is the way to go. These include lotsnutrients and "life force". Yogis also consider fruit to be
of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It is a diet thatfull of the "life force" and highly nutritious. The natural
has existed among practitioners of yoga for decadessugars in fruit, they say, can provide a fast and nutrition
but today's doctors have only recently begun tosources of energy minus the harmful toxins.
understand and encourage.While many involved in yoga (and even others who
In yoga, there are three classifications of food: Rajasik,are not) do not consume meat, fish or poultry, there
Tamsik and Satvik. Rajaski, which translates to "foodare many who participate in yoga who do eat these
of the king" is heavily processed or has a lot offoods. However, yoga instructors recommend
seasonings. Candy, highly processed packaged foodsmoderation in taking in meat as it may contain toxins
and sugary beverages and/or alcoholo are consideredsuch as lactic acid, fat, cholesterol and other chemicals
Rajaski foods. Tamsik foods are elaborately preparedthat can slow the growth of muscles gained from the
foods that are high in sodium and usually highly spiced.practice of yoga.
Lastly, Satvik foods are consumed in as close to theirFinally, the way in which the food is prepared for
original state as possible - fresh vegetables and freshconsumption is also one of the keys to nutrition for
fruit that, if they are cooked, are done so with only ayoga practitioners. Instructors and practitioners suggest
light coating of seasoning to keep most or all of theireating meals slowly to permit your body to extract all
nutritional value. Satvik food is considered the basis ofof the contained nutrients. And the exercises in the
an ideal diet by yoga practitioners.practice of yoga, many yoga experts believe, actually
Satvik foods are, therefore, easily digested and havehelps the body absorb more of the nutrients from the
exceptional nutritional value. When eaten in conjunctionfood you consume.