What is the ‘Yogic Diet’ All About and Should You Adopt It?
“The basic properties of a food must be that it should be nutritious, sustaining, and balanced. Balanced food is that food which can be digested without drawing on your health.”
Kundalini Yoga is a lifestyle that impacts every single part of your existence. When you decide to make this spiritual and impactful change, you need to prepare to adapt your lifestyle accordingly. The yogic diet is one that you can undertake as part of your journey going forward. Doing so will help to cleanse you and allow you to become at peace.
If you’re new to this notion, you’ve come to the right place. Within this guide, we will look at the rules of the yogic diet plan and how you can adopt it for yourself. Without further ado, here’s everything that you need to know along with some helpful advice to get you started.
What is the Yogic Diet?
“Simple food is very simple. The simpler you eat, the healthier you become. It is very difficult to eat simple food. Therefore, in therapy, there is always a mono diet. Have just one thing to eat.”
Starting your Kundalini Yoga journey means embracing a new lifestyle; one that is at once healthy and simplistic. While you may change a variety of aspects of your life, there’s one that you should not be overlooked. Revamping your diet to encompass the pillars of the yogic lifestyle will enable you to see real change in your health and wellness.
Yogi Bhajan encouraged his students to undertake the well-known yogic diet. Put simply, this way of eating is all about consuming fresh and nutritious whole foods, which gives your body what it needs on a daily basis. At the core of the diet, you will find vitamin-rich and healthful ingredients. Here are the staples of the yogic diet:
- Fruits and nuts
- Fresh vegetables
- Legumes and grains
One thing that you will notice immediately is that there is no fish, poultry, or other meats listed as part of the yogic diet. That is because eating meat means absorbing the energy of other beings into your body and soul; in effect taking on their suffering and pain. To maintain a clean mind, you should stick to a plant based diet. Moreover, you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need from non-meat products. Of course, everyone is an individual and following their own path in life. For that reason, you may also adapt this plan to suit your dietary and lifestyle needs. Figure out a wholesome diet that suits you.
Types of Yogic Diet Foods
“To begin with, all food was considered as human medicine. Food is the medicine which creates equilibrium.”
Within the realms of the yogic diet, various types of food serve different purposes. Yogi Bhajan taught that food was a form of human medicine and that, as such, each of the different ingredients could be used to enact a certain outcome.
Understanding the various types of yogic foods and how you may use them is essential to your learning. Sattvic and Rajasic foods are essential to your yogic diet while Tamasic foods should be avoided most of the time. Here’s a breakdown of the groups.
Sattvic Foods
The Sattvic foods serve the purpose of bringing both clarity and lightness into our lives. They are closely tied to feelings of intuition, grace, and peace. The most common Sattvic foods are fruits and vegetables. In simple terms, anything that is fresh and grown either above or below the earth is considered to be a Sattvic food.
Rajasic Foods
Next up, the Rajasic foods are those that induce high will-power and a sense of forcefulness. These foods are linked to the idea of power, demandingness, and a positive lifestyle overall. Rajasic foods are herbs and spices along with some earthy foods.
Tamasic Foods
Tamasic foods are mainly the things that you would eat or consume on impulse. They are not necessary as a part of a healthy lifestyle or within the world of Kundalini Yoga. These foods include alcohol, meat products, dairy products, and even drugs. You should avoid them.
Four Important Yogic Diet Rules
“Before a man eats, four conditions should exist in the environment. If these conditions are not met, then it is better for a man to remain hungry.”
Eating a meal is in itself an act that should be savored. In his teachings, Yogi Bhajan explained that there were four conditions that have to exist before a person can sit down to eat any meal or snack. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the elements that should be there before you dine. Taking note of these conditions will aid you when it comes to the yogic diet and help you to be more mindful when you’re consuming nourishing food.
1. Create a calm atmosphere
Before you dine, ensure that the environment around you is calm and relaxed. You may lead a busy life which makes this aspect of the yogic diet difficult. However, it’s important to remember that eating should be done in tranquility. If you’re in a hectic home, find a secluded room in which you can prepare and eat your meal in peace.
2. Release mental and physical pressure
Each day, we experience bouts of mental and physical pressure which can hold us back. Take a moment to release these shackles before you decide to sit down and eat. For instance, you may need to undertake a meditation or relaxation session before having your meal. Do whatever it takes to unwind ahead of this act.
3. Ensure the meal is well-cooked
Yogi Bhajan was clear that we should enjoy well-cooked food made from simple, yet nutritious foods. This rule of the yogic diet means that you should take care and prepare food that will support your wellness — both physical and spiritual. Moreover, you should also ensure that the meal you prepare aligns with the core ingredients of the diet.
4. Allow enough time to eat gracefully
While we’re all busy and have full schedules, eating your daily meals is something that you must never rush. Allowing enough time to eat slowly and gracefully is essential to the yogic diet and something that you should keep in mind each time that you eat. When you’re preparing a meal, consider how long you will need to relax and eat it without rushing.
Continue your yogic journey!
Now that you understand the basics of the yogic diet plan, you can continue your learning in this area. Creating a healthy diet that suits your needs could improve your wellness and mental state. Why not get started today and begin making positive changes?
See also: Demystifying Chinese Acupuncture: Everything You Need to Know
