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Yoga and Food

Have you heard of a book by this title yet?  If not, surely one is in production (no, I’m not writing it;)

Of all the things that can be said on this topic — and there are SO MANY things to say on it — the yoga practitioner understands her body (on most days and times) well enough such that she knows how and when to nourish herself. In other words: a yoga practitioner knows WHAT and WHEN to eat.

Often times new students will ask me as the teacher what to eat and when to eat it. I know that, with experience, the student will learn his or her body better than I could ever know. However, as a baseline, I usually recommend not to have had a large meal within two hours of coming to class. And I ALWAYS suggest before coming to a morning vigorous class to have had a little something: some fruit juice or smoothie, a banana — something light.

As for coffee, I’ve heard that … well I don’t want to get into that right now: that’s political! 

My understanding of many styles of yoga and meditation is that they can be practiced on an empty stomach. The idea here is to wake up, practice yoga and meditation and then to eat.

What have you learned about your yoga practice and HOW, WHEN and WHAT to eat?

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P.S. Why is food so much like sports? Everything is TRIPLE and DOUBLE!
Photos by  Dan Schwartzman

The Great Commitment of the Yogi

“Patanjali's Raja Yoga (Royal Yoga) is the foundation of Hatha Yoga.

It leads to the higher spiritual components on the path of yoga. The first step is Yama, it is based on ethical and moral practices. These practices are important to develop pure and good human beings. I have noticed that many yoga teachers and practitioners talk a lot about this component of yoga but, they have a hard time applying it into their on life and behavior. Yama forms the very foundation of the spiritual discipline.

The five basic yamas are: non-harming (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), chastity (bramacarya) and overcoming greed (aparigraha). They constitute the great commitment of the yogi and yogini and are to be practiced at all levels irrespective of time, place or circumstance. If, we commit our selves and practice these basic live giving principles we will begin to heal the world.”

*from Tony Sanchez July 24 FB posting