Eating can also be considered a practice in which you seek balance. Like yoga, eating is a highly personal activity-you learn to adapt your needs to the many popular nutritional systems and diets. Developing a mindful eating practice can provide a ground that truly supports and nurtures your yoga. But in developing this kind of supportive nutritional practice, one of the joys and challenges is understanding that there is no easy solution for finding the right foods.
For better or worse, within the yoga community there are endless myths asserting what foods help your yoga practice. You’ve probably heard at least some of this yogic eating folklore before: “Feeling stiff? Eat more sweets, have only fruit before you practice. Remember that if you’re practicing in the morning, don’t eat dinner before you go to bed!” To understand the truth that may lie at the heart of these and other food myths which are so prevalent in yoga communities, we could begin by tracing their roots. Many theories stem from yogic scriptures, and others are theories found in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of preventative health and healing. To understand the relevancy of these yogic food myths to your diet, it’s essential to examine them in their original context.
Yoga from its earliest inception has been integrally tied with Ayurveda. Central to Ayurveda is the concept of varying body types, each of which thrives on different kinds of foods. Vata types, for example, need grounding foods like oils and grains. Pitta types are supported by cooling foods, such as salads and sweet fruits. Kapha types benefit from heating and invigorating foods, such as hot peppers. A classic premise of Ayurveda is that few people are strictly one type, and most in fact are a blend of at least two types. Each individual must therefore find a personal balance of foods to fit his or her own unique consitution.
Just as certain yoga poses are appropriate for certain people or at particular times, so it is with what you choose to eat. Food should provide energy and clarity. A “good” diet may appear very different from one person to the next, but you will know your diet is working well for you when you feel healthy, sleep well, have strong digestion, and feel your system is supported rather than depleted by your yoga practice.
Do you feel like you create balance through your yoga practice? Which body type do you believe you have?
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