Yoga is the sacred art of uniting your mind, body, and spirit. It has a rich history spanning 5000 years with the Indian culture. With time, this ancient art has transitioned into a global phenomenon, not to forget the numerous yoga styles like Hatha, Vinyasa, Kundalini, and Ashtanga among others. An equally important part of living the yogic lifestyle is following a clean yogic diet plan.
No matter whether you are a beginner or want to take your practice to the next level, following the right diet helps you practice yoga without any hiccups. However, there is a lot more you need to understand about this new lifestyle choice before making the decision.
Yoga Diet – A Brief Introduction
Yoga Diet is basically a Sattvic diet which means you should not consume the flesh of another living beings or foods that contain high energy like onion and garlic. The main focus of a yogic diet plan is to promote moderate eating and choose foods that are pure in nature and help you progress on the yogic path.
But, you might wonder –
What Exactly Is A Yogic Diet?
Yoga Diet is a vegetarian diet, which excludes food prepared using onion and garlic. It is also known as a ‘lacto-vegetarian’ diet. This means the diet is not comprised of meat, fish, or any dairy products.
Keep in mind, yogic diet belongs to the sattva guna as it creates a healthy balance in your body and mind.
Yoga experts have come up with what comprises of a yogic diet plan. Pay attention to the information below;
Foods To Eat In Yogic Diet Plan
If you decide to walk the path of a yogi, remember you should never consume foods that fall under the Rajasic or Tamasic category.
With that said, given below are the food items you can make a part of the yoga lifestyle.
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Peas
- Cauliflower
- Apples
- Papaya
- Mangoes
- Wild Rice
- Quinoa
- Walnut
- Sunflower Seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Olive Oil
- Red Palm Oil
- Coconut Milk
- Cashew Milk
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Lentils
- Mung Beans
- Chickpeas
- Bean Sprouts
- Fruit Juice
- Water
- Nutmeg
- Fenugreek
- Jaggery
- Honey
- Do you know the wonderful benefits a yogic diet plan offers? Yoga experts have come up with a list of perks you receive while following a yogic diet.
Benefits Of Yogic Diet
1) Start your day with a glass of warm water and lemon juice mixed in it. This cleanses your body by removing all toxins. With regular detoxification, your body functions properly which keeps it away from numerous health issues.
2) A yogic diet plan balances your mind, body, and soul; which results in more longevity of your life.
3) Including green vegetables and natural fruits in your diet are easy on the digestive system. It does not take your body’s much efforts and time to digest these which improves bowel movement and promotes a healthy skin.
4) Consuming ghee and coconut oil in your daily diet make your everyday food tastier. These contain good fats which sharpen your mental ability.
However, for you to have all the benefits, there are some basics which you must follow.
Basics Of Yoga Diet
Given below are the basics of a yogic diet plan which you should follow to reap all its benefits.
1. Food Must Be Sattvic
Keep in mind, for a yogic diet to work its magic – the diet you consume must be fresh and pure. You should prefer foods that keep you mentally and physically healthy and balanced.
2. Ingredients Should Be Organic
As stated above, your food has to be pure, which means it has to be free of harmful chemicals. For this, yoga experts recommend you choose organic products to follow the yogic diet plan without any hiccups.
3. Set A Time For Eating
If you want to benefit from a yogic diet, make sure you consume them at the same time every day. For example, if you eat lunch at 2pm, stick to that time. It helps your body expect food during that particular hour of the day. In the long run, this helps your body function better.
4. Eat 2 Hours Before Yoga Practice
Food needs time for proper digestion as it effects the bowel movements and other body organs. Therefore, yoga experts recommend that you eat two hours before going to yoga practice or sleeping.
There it is! Everything you should know about the yogic diet plan as a beginner.
Also Read: Kriya Yoga
Conclusion
Yoga is the ancient art of uniting your mind, body, and spirit. Whether it is a headache or Insomnia, there is a yoga technique to help you get out of it. However, for yoga to work its magic you should learn about the yogic diet plan from certified yoga teachers.
