Indians – here is the reason why you need to become aware of yoga and natural diets

Yoga is an ancient practice of physical and mental discipline that helps one reach the state of true self-realization where mind, body, and spirit work in perfect unison. Yoga has recently gained immense popularity all across the globe primarily as a widely accepted means of keeping body & mind fit and healthy. To many, these practices have proven life-transforming over the years.

Classical yoga includes a variety of elements, such as pranayama/breathwork, Asanas/postures, and Dhyana/meditation to mention a few. Yoga has been proven to yield a host of benefits, such as relieving stress, anxiety, physical body pain, improving overall physical fitness, organ functioning, and retaining hormonal balance resulting in a more holistic happy and healthy lifestyle.

The practise is known to cure problems of the root, be it any physical pain such as that of the neck and lower back or menopausal after-effects. Yoga has also been proven to reduce and manage weight-related disorders.

Yoga does way more than just burning calories and toning muscles; it works out your mind and body so that they can achieve a state of synchronicity. 

There are many forms of yoga – they can be fast-paced and intense, or gentle and relaxing.

1. Hatha

The syllable “ha” translates to the sun and “ta”, the moon. Combining those implies finding a balance between the sun, the moon, and your body. It understands the mechanics of the body and creates a certain environment so that there are no barriers to the flow of energies.

2. Vinyasa

This type of yoga often employs breathing techniques and is also known as “flow” yoga. It links together various physical postures through which you move seamlessly using your breath. This type of yoga prevents repetitive motion injuries and helps develop a more balanced body. Vinyasa yoga recognizes the temporariness of nature – and displays it through the fact that we enter a particular posture for a while and then leave it.

3. Power

Power yoga is the term used to describe a vigorous, fitness-based form of yoga that incorporates athleticism, flexibility, and strength. Experts say that this form of yoga enhances stamina and mental focus. It also helps relieve tension, burns calories, and releases toxins through sweat. It is associated with weight-loss, as well. 

4. Ashtanga

Ashtanga literally translates to “eight-limbed”. It aims to have better control over the mind and strengthening the internal organs. There is a lot of breathing incorporated with the movements, which in turn warms the blood and makes it circulate more freely. This helps release toxins and relieve joint pain – making the body healthier, lighter, and stronger.

5. Bikram

There is a dialogue between the instructor and the student, almost like a script, instead of the instructor demonstrating the moves. There is a precise 26-move sequence that is to be performed at a slightly higher temperature, undoubtedly making you sweat profusely. Apart from teaching discipline and tolerance, this form of yoga can potentially heal chronic pain like arthritis, back pains, knee injuries, etc.

6. Iyengar

Iyengar yoga pays close attention to the details of the anatomy and postural alignments, it helps practice precision. The poses in this form of yoga are held for a relatively longer duration, often with the help of certain props. It helps establish strength, flexibility, stability, and awareness. 

What are yogic/natural diets?

Early yogis would believe in consuming the most natural form of nourishment that would cleanse, enhance, and unify our physical, mental, and spiritual parts. 

It is Lacto-vegetarian, which means that it comprises mainly plant-based food products and dairy and honey. It adds to the thought of compassion for other living beings and reducing the dependency on animal-based foods. 

Plant-based food is said to be pure, or “Sattvic”. These foods are easily digested, keep your body nourished, and can help you attain a higher level of spirituality by generating positive energy.

It is believed to help achieve a similar energized and light feeling that practising yoga imparts. 

This kind of diet can help generate new energy and bring clarity and calmness to our minds. This enables us to fully use our mental, physical and spiritual abilities.

“Sattvic” foods include fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, cereals, whole grains, vegetables, rice, milk, butter, and honey. It is also of utmost importance to keep yourself hydrated. 

Yogic diets often avoid processed, pungent, spicy, or artificially sweetened foods.

Bhookha Haathi aims at doing away with harmful artificial additives that go on to create unwanted side effects later in life. It offers 100% natural compositions based on dried fruits, nuts, herbs, spices, seeds, grains, and honey, among other whole and natural ingredients. 

This makes them an appropriate example of Sattvic foods that can be added to a natural yogic diet.

Written by: Jahnabee Adhikari
Jahnabee is a part-time blogger, full-time dog lover. She believes that writing actually possesses the potential to change the world. She can be often found fantasizing about poetry or buried nose-deep in a Sudha Murthy novel.