Yoga Diet, Modern Life: Part 1

How relevant is the yoga diet to today’s lifestyle?

“To keep the body in good health is a duty…otherwise, we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”

Buddha

Yoga is a philosophy and a science, thousands of years old and with its origins in South Asia. It has been intertwined with Indian philosophy and interlinked with many elements of the Hindu and Bhuddist faiths due to its origins. However, yoga itself is not a religion – these links are as a result of its geographical origins and surrounding culture.

The ancient teachings of yoga, such as the Bhagavad Gita, talk about three qualities of nature, called the three Gunas (strands or ropes), which apply to all of nature including our diet. They are Sattva (pure), Rajas (overstimulating) and Tamas (putrified). We are all different and so have a natural preference for different foods, however by changing the foods we consume we can increase our mental and spiritual purity. Sattvic foods are the basis for the yogic diet.

The foremost text of Hatha Yoga, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, describes how by practicing Hatha Yoga we can strengthen the body and mind to protect us from the pain of external influences within the greater environment. In today’s modern life, we are often surrounded by these factors, both positive and negative, some of which we can’t control but many of which we can.

One of the negative factors listed is “overeating” and today’s Western populations are certainly proof that this has had a detrimental effect on overall health. A recent NHS report found that in England:

• 58% of women and 68% of men were overweight or obese (2015)
• Obesity prevalence increased from 15% in 1993 to 27% (2015)
• Over 1 in 5 children in Reception and over 1 in 3 children in Year 6 were measured as obese or overweight (2015/16)
• There were 525 thousand admissions in NHS hospitals where obesity was recorded as a factor (2015/16)
• Only 26% of adults ate the recommended 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day (2015)

Unfortunately obesity is an increasing issue which does not look like it is going to decline any time soon. So could following a yoga diet with its emphasis on fresh, nutritious, vegetarian foods be a healthy option?

Over my next few blogs, I will explore the three Gunas and how they relate to food, diet and lifestyle today.

Find out about Sattvic foods in Yoga Diet, Modern Life: Part 2