The Importance of Diet in Practice

With classes offerings at Asheville Culture project ended, I have been able to attend more classes. While I do a do a morning practice at home everyday, I can't stress enough the importance of practicing with a teacher. The simple fact that you don't know whats coming next perhaps more accurately describes our experience of right now. A good teacher will inspire you to find your highest expression, rather than just going through the motions. While common wisdom dictates that you should leave 2 hours between your last meal and your Hatha practice, I have found that leaving even more time is beneficial. This has practical value, as if your body is trying to digest food, it will not have the same energy to devote to Yoga. Energetically Hatha practice is a practice of reversing Apana Vayu, or downward flowing energy associated with digestion, so that it may awaken the flow of kundalini energy upwards as consciousness. If you have food in your stomach this will be a struggle. The Bandas are like the water wheels which encourage the upwards flow. If you have food or water in your stomach you will not be able to fully activate the bandas.

With that disclaimer, the type of food we eat also has an affect on our ability to access the subtle forces in our Hatha Practice. Dense foods even if eaten the day before create blockage in the intestines, as well as require massive amounts of water and energy to break down and digest. The best foods to eat in order to access the intention of Hatha practice is fresh juices, smoothies and elixirs, or water rich fruits and vegetables. I have seen time and time again, practitioners gravitate towards this way of eating simply because it feels better in the daily practice. Yoga is a practice of being present, awake and skillful right now right here where life is taking place. That our thoughts words and deeds be the concious choice to express te person who we truly are. This extends off the mat, with the simple yet radical invitation that every thought, word and deed have the intention of yoga, or the free flow of energy.

This has profound implications on the foods we eat. When in doubt you can simply ask yourself the question "Is this helping me to expand or making me contract". You already know the answer.