NY Times posted an article recently where students enjoy a full meal with soup, pasta, wine, and chocolate immediately following their yoga asana practice. The instructor leads them to fully enjoy the food on their sweaty mats and truly taste and enjoy everything... on the floor.
Now the article also discusses the predictable debate on food (and the types of food, meat, alcohol, etc) and its place at a yoga class. Is it "yoga" if you are eating meat when the first aspect of yoga is ahimsa or non-violence/compassion? Where do we draw the line? Are you a yogi if you put "toxins" like alcohol in your body? Just how "perfect" can you be to be considered a yogi. Or is just breathing, meditation, and an asana practice enough? Personally, I'm not particularly a "foodie," but I don't eat meat. You'll see me eat seafood, prepared food, and non-organic food too! Does not eating a purely organic and/or raw foods diet make me less of a yogi/yoga instructor and take me farther from "enlightenment?" I sure hope not. Now, will I invite my class to a full fledged meal after spending 60 minutes in asana practice? Most likely not... I hate to cook! (sorry Club H-ers and Dixon Mills residents)
As yogis and eaters, is it our place to judge those who may eat differently? Of course, most yogis strive to fill ourselves with healthy and sustainable foods, but how far can we go? The article notes: if you are eating a "perfect" vegan organic meal... what if the farmers were in negative spirits when planting and harvesting? Can we say yoga instructors who eat meat, fish, and/or dairy are worse instructors than their vegan counterparts? Does having spices, oil, and garlic block your path to enlightenment? Be realistic! I want my paneer!
In all seriousness, it's nearly impossible to eat perfectly, and its human to be imperfect. My suggestion to you: Eat the healthier, better choice of food YOU want at that time. If that means having some chocolate, or enjoying drinks in moderation, do it! Just remember that the foods you consume directly affect everything about you and environment. (Please don't eat 2 hours before a class, yoga on a full stomach... not so fun)
...and at the end of the day; don't we all have CHOICES?
Now the article also discusses the predictable debate on food (and the types of food, meat, alcohol, etc) and its place at a yoga class. Is it "yoga" if you are eating meat when the first aspect of yoga is ahimsa or non-violence/compassion? Where do we draw the line? Are you a yogi if you put "toxins" like alcohol in your body? Just how "perfect" can you be to be considered a yogi. Or is just breathing, meditation, and an asana practice enough? Personally, I'm not particularly a "foodie," but I don't eat meat. You'll see me eat seafood, prepared food, and non-organic food too! Does not eating a purely organic and/or raw foods diet make me less of a yogi/yoga instructor and take me farther from "enlightenment?" I sure hope not. Now, will I invite my class to a full fledged meal after spending 60 minutes in asana practice? Most likely not... I hate to cook! (sorry Club H-ers and Dixon Mills residents)
As yogis and eaters, is it our place to judge those who may eat differently? Of course, most yogis strive to fill ourselves with healthy and sustainable foods, but how far can we go? The article notes: if you are eating a "perfect" vegan organic meal... what if the farmers were in negative spirits when planting and harvesting? Can we say yoga instructors who eat meat, fish, and/or dairy are worse instructors than their vegan counterparts? Does having spices, oil, and garlic block your path to enlightenment? Be realistic! I want my paneer!
In all seriousness, it's nearly impossible to eat perfectly, and its human to be imperfect. My suggestion to you: Eat the healthier, better choice of food YOU want at that time. If that means having some chocolate, or enjoying drinks in moderation, do it! Just remember that the foods you consume directly affect everything about you and environment. (Please don't eat 2 hours before a class, yoga on a full stomach... not so fun)
...and at the end of the day; don't we all have CHOICES?
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