For the people, getting the full benefits of the not only involves the exercises and stress-relieving meditations of yoga, but also developing a nutrition plan that follows some of the same principles.
This combination of yoga and nutrition is not new - yogis have been focusing on proper nutrition for centuries - but it has taken on a new awareness in recent years, due to scientific reports on nutrition and healthy foods that back up the ideas and tenets of yoga instructors who have included nutrition in their quest for harmony between the mind, body and spirit.
As stated, yoga and its focus on nutrition is nothing new. There is, in fact, an entire discipline of yoga called Anna Yoga that concerns food and its influence on health and fitness. Yet while some of the specific details about what constitutes healthy eating may vary among the different branches of yoga, many of the most important aspects are the same: modest, reasonable portions of foods that are high in nutrients and low in toxins is the way to go. These include lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It is a diet that has existed among practitioners of yoga for decades but today's doctors have only recently begun to understand and encourage.
In yoga, there are three classifications of food: Rajasik, Tamsik and Satvik. Rajaski, which translates to "food of the king" is heavily processed or has a lot of seasonings. Candy, highly processed packaged foods and sugary beverages and/or alcoholo are considered Rajaski foods. Tamsik foods are elaborately prepared foods that are high in sodium and usually highly spiced. Lastly, Satvik foods are consumed in as close to their original state as possible - fresh vegetables and fresh fruit that, if they are cooked, are done so with only a light coating of seasoning to keep most or all of their nutritional value. Satvik food is considered the basis of an ideal diet by yoga practitioners.
Satvik foods are, therefore, easily digested and have exceptional nutritional value. When eaten in conjunction with the performance of the health benefits of yoga, Satvik foods are considered an important part of a well-conditioned mind and body.
Within the Satvik plan are basic nutritional theories that are useful even if one is not a regular practitioner of yoga.
Among the primary beliefs of a nutritious diet, according to yoga instructors, is that food be consumed in as fresh a state as possible. Fresh vegetables and fruits contain healthy enzymes and vitamins that frozen or canned foods do not, since the packaging process often times removed many of the health benefits of the foods. In addition, some instructors recommend eating a large portion of the fruits and vegetables raw to absorbe more of their nutritional value.
Green vegetables are held in special regard by many yogis, who consider vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, lettuce and cabbage to have the highest nutrients and "life force". Yogis also consider fruit to be full of the "life force" and highly nutritious. The natural sugars in fruit, they say, can provide a fast and nutrition sources of energy minus the harmful toxins.
While many involved in yoga (and even others who are not) do not consume meat, fish or poultry, there are many who participate in yoga who do eat these foods. However, yoga instructors recommend moderation in taking in meat as it may contain toxins such as lactic acid, fat, cholesterol and other chemicals that can slow the growth of muscles gained from the practice of yoga.
Finally, the way in which the food is prepared for consumption is also one of the keys to nutrition for yoga practitioners. Instructors and practitioners suggest eating meals slowly to permit your body to extract all of the contained nutrients. And the exercises in the practice of yoga, many yoga experts believe, actually helps the body absorb more of the nutrients from the food you consume.
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