Yoga Diet
“Yuktahara Viharasya Yuktacestasya karmasu, Yuktaswapnobhodhasya Yogo Bhavati dukhaha!”
Eating healthy food in limited quantity, right food and wisdom one can lead complete healthy life.
He who is temperate in his habits of eating, sleeping, working and recreation can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.
Following picture shows the healthy life style in day to day life. Every parent and family must understand this and consistently practice for the benefit of whole
Enjoy a healthy lifestyle & work towards a harmonious society!
Bhagavad Gita (17.8) defines Healthy food very clearly as follows:
ayuh-sattva-balarogya-sukha-priti-vivardhanah
rasyah snigdhah sthira hrdya aharah sattvika-priyah
Translation
Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fresh, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart.
Now a days most of the people confuse with plenty of options and doesn’t really understand what is healthy food. Many people consume viruddhaharas (negative food combinations), tamas (oily, salty, stored, spoiled and fermented) and rajas foods (spicy, non-vegetarian, which is causing several health problems.
Some people misinterpreting both scriptures and modern science also. For example, in “Sarkar” ward is used in scriptures for fresh sugar cane juice, which is defined as Satvic / healthy food. But people interprets “sarkar” as sugar, which is white poison with so many chemicals and it is unhealthy food.
Food plays a very important role in exciting the senses and passions.An aspirant should be very careful in the selection of articles of diet of sattvic nature in the beginning of his sadhana period.Later on drastic dietetic restrictions can be removed. Havis Annam,which is a mixture of boiled white rice and ghee,is very conducive to yogic practices.When white rice is boiled with ghee,white sugar and milk,it is called cheru.This is a wholesome combination suitable for sadhakas.
Trigunas (Satva, Rajas and Thamas):
| Food:Fatty,salty,stored,spoiled,not healthy | Extreme tastes,too spicy,Non-vegetarian | Nutritious,Natural,Fresh,Vegetarian,simple |
| Time:Night(dozy mind) | Day(confused mind) | Early Morning(Clarity of Mind) |
| Quality/Lifestyle: Oversleeping,Overeating,Indiscipline,Burden to other |
Anger,Greed,Lust,Materialistic,Over acting,Violent,Painful to others | Peaceful,Cheerful,Healthy,Happy,Harmonious,Helpful to others |
| Results:Illness,Laziness,Decease,Depression | Illness like BP,Diabetic,Mental stress,Sadness | Good health,Hapiness |
Concept of Yogic Diet
According to Hatha Yoga, it focuses on the nutrition obtained from the food and not the taste; it recommends moderation in anything one easts and drinks. A proper diet is essential for keeping good health. Most problems arise due to bad eating habits. Food strongly influences our mid. Impure food makes mind impure. Sattvic food is the best for a yoga practitioner, which comprise whole grains, fresh and dry fruits, raw or freshly cooked vegetables.