Ever noticed how some foods alter your energy? How tired you feel a couple hours after eating a big meal, or how you “buzz” after a strong coffee?
As a yoga teacher, my diet is an essential aspect of my daily life. I’m not perfect & do occasionally go off the ‘healthy food’ radar but, over the years, I’ve noticed certain foods enhance my yoga practice, nourish my body and make me feel lighter & more energised whereas other foods can drain my energy, making me feel sluggish and heavy.
So, what does a yoga teacher eat? Read on ….
In order to fully experience all that life has to offer and to benefit from my regular Yoga practice, I need to nourish my mind and body to keep it alert & energized throughout the day.
According to Yogic philosophy, food has an energetic quality, and once you eat that food, you take on its energy form. These energy qualities are known as The Gunas.
There are Three Gunas – or energetic qualities.
Sattvic (or satva) – these foods are fresh, recently picked, laid or harvested and bursting with vitamins & minerals. Eating a diet these foods ensures my body has a good supply of nutrients in their optimum form. I aim to eat these foods raw whenever possible – or lightly cooked to ensure the maximum amount of nutrients are retained.
Tamasic (or tamas) – these foods are stale, over-ripe or sour, over cooked and also foods past their “best by” date. The goodness has literally seeped out of these foods. I avoid eating tamasic foods as I’ve found they make me feel dull, heavy, exhausted, under nourished and lacking energy. Tamasic foods include canned goods, old & wilting or over ripe fruits & veggies and foods that have been cooked, stored then re-heated at a later date.
Rajasic (or rajas) – these are highly spiced, overly sweet, salted, bitter or under ripe fruit & veg. Rajasic foods include black tea, coffee, salted & pickled foods, fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits, sweets. I keep my consumption of these to the very minimum (sorry if I sound goody two shoes!!).
I have found the healthiest diet for my body & mind and to maintain a constant source of energy, I thrive on a diet rich in sattvic foods – foods that are as pure, clean & fresh as possible. But that’s not all, I also:
- eat in moderation
- eat a wide & varied diet (to be honest, I eat no meat, very little fish and have predominantly followed a vegetarian diet for 17 years now)
- eat foods when they are in season – when they have the highest nutritional value
- keep active – my regular yoga asana practice really helps my energy levels & keeps me super healthy
- drink plenty of water, herbal teas or freshly made juices & smoothies
Essentially, if I eat a diet that is pure, light & fresh, I have all the energy I need to do the things I want & love in my life.
Hope this gives you a few ideas to help boost your energy!
Happy Shopping & Eating!
Nicole xx
