According to Ayurveda and yoga, food is responsible for an individual’s physical, mental, spiritual development. Since it is the source of vitality, errors in a diet will cause disorders. That is why we should be well aware of the properties of the food we eat.
Yoga places food in three main categories:
1) Satvik - A Satvik diet means food that is abundant in prana, which is a universal life-giving force. These foods are the one responsible for maintenance of good health, gives the body strength and vitality, increases immunity against illness and creates a physical, mental and spiritual balance.
It nourishes the body to provide physical strength, a good mind, good health, longevity and is considered the best diet. It calms and purifies the mind, enabling it to function at an optimum level. Such foods are light, soothing, easily digestible and do not cause accumulation of toxins in the body. By consuming Satvik food, one might preserve one’s strength to a very great age without suffering from illness. So Satvik food preserves the body and mind in peace and perfect equilibrium. Foods that are part of this diet: Fruits, vegetables, green salads, lentils, sprouted grains, nuts like almond, walnuts hazelnuts, dried fruits, honey, whole flour and herbal teas. Satvik food is always fresh and one has to eat moderate portions.
2) Rajasik - Rajas signifies a “can do” kind of energy. It’s the energy that we need to accomplish, create and achieve. Most people’s diet comes under this category. Rajasik food is for those who aspire to have a meditative mind (calm and in control of oneself) but to live and work in today’s world with all the pressures. It includes vegetarian and partly non-vegetarian foods. This essentially means Satvik food made with lots of butter, sugar and oil. These varieties of food are cooked in oil and are greasy. They are usually fried and over spiced. Very hot, very spicy and salty food come under this category. This kind of preparation method destroys the Satvik (pure) element along with other food values. So this food might cause illness. People who consume this diet also consume lots of tea and coffee. If food is boiled or fried, necessary vital elements contained in them are destroyed. Therefore steaming is essential. This method preserve the maximum nutrients.
3) Tamasik - This diet doesn’t benefit the mind or body. Such food decreases the body’s resistance to diseases, and the mind is always filled with emotions like anger, jealousy and greed. In the Tamasik category, we find food which is stale, unclean and contaminated. This food has a lot of preservatives, are grown using fertilizers and hormones. All fast food comes under this category. This kind of food has an adverse effect on the human body. Tobacco, alcohol, intoxicating drugs come under this category - over-eating is also considered Tamasik. This is the unhealthiest diet of all.
What we eat makes our personalities. The way a diet is divided into three groups, in the same way personality is also classified into three groups.
Satvik personality - The person who follows Satvik way of eating is always clear minded, balanced, and spiritually aware. They avoid alcohol, tobacco, stimulants like tea and coffee and are mostly vegetarian. They are satisfied with their life and they aim to achieve.
Rajasik personality - This food creates delusions, egoism and fantasies in the mind. They are interested in power, prestige, position and prosperity. But at the same time, they are not obsessed. They are go-getters and enjoy life to the fullest. They are very fond of food and will go to any length to satisfy their palate.
Tamasik personality - These people are always suffering from chronic fatigue, and their health is always deteriorating. They have intense mood swings, insecurities, greed and are jealous. They have little regards for others and are very self-centered. Their nervous system and heart do not function optimally, and they age fast.
We all know that all the organs and the smallest cell of the body receives nourishment and vitality from what we eat. It reaches to them through the blood stream.
According to Ayurveda, human food is divided into two groups.
1) Alkaline
2) Acidic
As the name suggest, the alkaline group produces alkaline blood and the acidic group produces acidic blood. Acidic blood provides the body with energy, while alkaline blood nourishes the organs, such as nerves, glands and bone marrow. It maintains the human machine in working order, both mentally and physically. It also destroys germs and protects the body from illness.
So that way both the food groups are important for the human body.
The ideal ratio according to Ayurveda is 70 per cent alkaline and 30 per cent acidic in our meals. In this case, Ayurveda calls the blood Satvik. If alkaline food percentage falls below 60 then the blood is called Rajasik. And if the alkaline percentage in the blood goes below 50 per cent, it’s called Tamasik blood.
So Tamasik blood is more acidic and that will invite a lot of illness.
That is why we should take great care to keep the equilibrium of the blood by regulating our diet and acquire knowledge of the foods that contain predominantly alkaline elements.
Foods like sweet and sour fruits, green vegetables, and various kind of lentils, milk, yogurt and honey are alkaline foods.
Fish, meat, eggs, oily, greasy food, butter and margarine belongs to the acid category.
The liver and pancreas are glands of the digestive system. When overcharged with rich foods, they weaken and cannot perform their function, and that leads to illness. Therefore attention is required when you select foods to ensure good health and a happy life.
Editor’s Note: The blogger is a homeopath, lifelong vegetarian and high level yoga practitioner.
Ardha Bheka Kapotasana or Half Frog Pigeon Pose
How to do the pose:
This Pigeon Pose has elements of Bhekasana the Frog pose, hence the combined name.
• Bend the back leg and place the hand over the toes or foot to help lever the lower leg down. Push down on the foot to stretch the quadriceps. Twist your torso to face sideways.
• If skill allows, tuck the back toe through the crook of the arm lifted on the same side.
• For an easier version of this pose place the arm down on the mat instead of forward or up.
• This posture should not be done without proper supervision of an instructor.
Benefits
This yoga posture stretches the hip, knees and quadriceps.
Risks
The knee is very vulnerable. If the knee and hip are not flexible, keep the hand on the mat supporting the knee joint and reducing the pressure. There should be no sudden movements, otherwise that will lead to injury.
