Among the many physical and mental benefits of yoga, many are attributed to changes in lifestyle that tend to occur when a student commits fully to the practice of yoga. Some of these lifestyle changes provide significant health benefits, particularly changes related to food choices. These changes are sometimes referred to as a “Yoga Diet”.
What is a yoga diet? Although it may sound like a specific diet, there is no single diet that must be followed. Rather than a strict program, a yoga diet involves using mindfulness in selecting, preparing and consuming foods.
Food choices are the main thing to consider when bringing mindfulness off the mat and into the kitchen. You instinctively know which foods will nourish your body and which make it feel sluggish and sick. Fill the shopping cart with healthful foods that provide the nutrients your body requires without the additives, preservatives, salt and sugar that plague the modern diet.
Many yoga practitioners feel a connection to the environment and make food choices accordingly. For some, this can mean a vegetarian, vegan or organic diet. Choosing natural, locally grown whole foods is a sustainable method of eating that is good for your body and the planet.
Periodic fasting is an integral part of a yoga diet for many people. Fasting has been used by people of all civilizations throughout history to cleanse the body, rejuvenate the mind and body, rid the body of toxins and attain a higher level of spiritual connection. If you have a health condition that requires regular eating or are pregnant or nursing, fasting should not be part of your yoga diet.
In addition to feeling better, many people find that the combination of regular physical exercise in their yoga practice combined with the changes in diet naturally lead to weight loss. Rather than a cycle of deprivation and failure, you can embrace healthy and mindful eating for long term results.
Like most aspects of yoga, there is no pressure and each person is able to take the concepts and use them in the way that suits their individual needs. Rather than trying to completely change your diet in one day, gradually add aspects of the yoga diet to your life, such as incorporating more whole foods and organic foods in place of processed, fast food or junk.