There are a lot of aspects of yoga practice, and surely they’re more than twisting, bending, and turning. Many yogis adopt yoga merely as another form of exercising, but many yogis study, adapt and practice the eight limbs of yoga for a healthy and meaningful life. The eight-limb path of yoga is an approach to make us teach how to manage and maintain mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health and energy. Along with these strategies, the one essential aspect of the yoga practice is feeding the body rightly.
Though not much emphasis was being put on the diet or habits, as the yogic scriptures were formed thousands-hundreds of years back. But today a lot has changed, especially the eating habits, and this makes way for the diet plan for yoga.
So here are some essential points to consider while going for a yoga diet plan, and how one needs to feed their body rightly.
Ground Rules to Consider and Follow
It is rightly said that we are what we eat, and to see a dramatic change in your body and life, adapt yoga along with yoga-inspired diet. One should eat the food or diet that keep the body light, mind active and focused, and provide sustainable energy.
You need to follow these general rules to start the diet plan for yoga:
- As per yoga and Ayurveda, a person should and need to consume three meals a day.
- Choose the food options that are dosha specific, should be light, and easily digested.
- Relish the goodness of food that can be gained with the lightly cooked or raw food.
- Smartly choose the additional stuff to cook your food like cooking oil and fats- the best ones are clarified butter and coconut oil.
- Similarly, one needs to be super conscious of the ingredient a person is choosing to put into the body.
- Practice mindful eating this makes you aware of your appetite, and stops you once you feel satisfied and not stuffed.
- Use the spice, herbs, and seasoning that balances the dosha, and pacifies the aggravation of them.
Vegetarian Diet is Must
There are yogis who follow the non-vegetarian diet while practicing yoga, but it is highly recommended to consume the vegetarian diet for the holistic yogic practice. There are people who do follow a vegan diet as well, but yoga ideally suggests eating Ayurvedic or Sattvic diet. The eight-path of yoga have a Niyama called Ahimsa means non-harming and keeping the directive of ahimsa eating animals is forbidden. The diet plan for yoga is sattvic that is liable to increase the sattva in the body as they’re light, simple, and loaded with nutrients. The food choices we have in the yoga diet plan increase the vitality of body and mind and bring lightness and peace.
How a Typical Day should be?
The constitution and belief of each yogi vary from other, so the same diet doesn’t work for everyone. Ensure that the food should include ingredients that provides higher energy, enhances digestion, and offers optimal nutrients.
One can consume food item including:
- Consume fresh green leafy veggies- chard, kale, spinach, watercress.
- Other fresh veggies- tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, broccoli
- Fresh fruits are a must- berries, melon, apples, citrus, and other water-based fruits
- Vegetarian or Vegan protein- Diary products, seitan, tofu, tempeh, plant-based milk
- Nuts and Seeds- almonds, walnut, figs, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
- Grains and Healthy fats- brown rice, quinoa, barley, coconut oil, avocado, flaxseeds oil
Sample Diet Plan for Yoga
Breakfast: You can consume from these options that include whole-grain bread, peanut butter, fresh berries, baked apples or pears, oatmeal, porridge, almond milk, nuts, or fruit salad.
Lunch: Lentils with chapatti, green salad with tofu, sunflower seeds, avocado and olive oil, cauliflower stew, coconut ginger curry, balled apple with ginger and cinnamon, rice and lentils, Kitchen, vegetable soup, or black beans.
Dinner: Dinner should be light and less so one can consume red lentils with rice, potato soup, split pigeon pea lentil soup, homemade trail, corn tortillas warp, or black beans.
Yoga diet plan can be taken by the Ayurveda expert, yoga trainer, or nutritionist. The diet plan for yoga surely helps you treating various issues, and makes you a mindful conscious eater.
Consumption of all right things builds a body that is not heavy but always remains energized and healthy. These small and simple insignificant changes help to transform your life for better.
To know more about the Diet Plan of Yoga in further details, explore our Yoga Teacher Training In India.
