GOOD EATING HABITS In yoga, it’s more important HOW you eat rather that what you eat. One ‘Golden rule’ is: EAT EARLY, EAT SLOWLY, EAT LESS. EAT EARLY means especially at night it’s good to eat early, by 7.30pm (or three hours before you go to sleep) so that your food has time to be digested and assimilated. If you eat late at night and then go to sleep, either your body will be trying to rest so your digestion won’t be good and you may have digestion problems, or the digestion will be ok but you wont’ get good sleep and you may sleep disturbances. Also, what ever you eat late at night does not get burned up and so turns into fatty tissue. So if you have digestion problems, disturbed sleep or are over weight, definitely try eating early in the evening. You could even decide to skip your evening meal if you can’t manage to eat by 9.00pm; skipping the evening meal is another good way to reduce weight (but is not advisable for those suffering from diabetes, acidity or ulcers). EAT SLOWLY: Often, we’re in such a hurry to eat that we gulp the food down while watching T.V., talking or reading. By the time we’ve finished, we realise that we haven’t tasted the food so we have some more just to taste it. If we look at the food that we’re eating, fully savour its flavour, enjoy it fully, think of how it was prepared, where it has come from and its nutritional value, our digestion will be much better, we will get more satisfaction from less quantity, it will be absorbed better. Eating slowly is another way of enjoying what you eat more, making it a meditation and reducing weight (if you want to). EAT LESS: If you are overweight, eating a little less than usual is a good way to reduce painlessly. This also improves the digestion. Eat till, you’ve satisfied your hunger, not till you’ve filled your stomach. Most illnesses are related to over eating. Eating less increases enjoyment of food and also increases your will power and concentration! Another ‘Golden Rule’ is EAT BREAKFAST LIKE A KING, LUNCH LIKE A QUEEN, & DINNER LIKE A BEGGAR. If you eat your main meal at the beginning of the day, it provides energy for the rest of the day. If you eat less at night, like mentioned above, it’s good for all aspects of health including getting a good night’s sleep. AVOID EATING IN BETWEEN MEALS: It’s good to give the stomach a complete rest in between meals, then digestion is better and you can enjoy hunger and the taste of the food when it’s meal time. Keep food, fruit, and snacks in the fridge or cupboard; ‘out of sight is out of mind’. In fact, don’t even buy snacks, then you won’t feel tempted. If you are addicted to eating between meals and want to give it up: drink a large glass of water every time you feel like snacking, this will satisfy your tongue, your stomach and it will also purify you body systems.
EAT IN SILENCE if possible, fully focussed on the food, tasting and enjoying it fully; make eating a delight, a meditation. If eating is a social occasion for you, eat a little then stop and talk a little, then stop and eat a little and so on. If some one talks to you, finish what you’re chewing, answer them then continue eating. For meetings at a meal, aim to discuss after the meal when you are satisfied and relaxed, instead of during while eating. Or if eating is the only time the family/friends get together, eat a little, talk a little, eat a little and so on, don’t talk with food in the mouth. I) VAJRASANA Usually it is not advised to do yogasanas (yoga postures) after eating. There is one exception! Vajrasana (the diamond pose). This is the only asana that you can, in fact you should do after eating. In Vajrasana you sit on your heels with your legs folded underneath your body. The back is straight and the stomach is free, and there is pressure on the legs which activates the ‘Vajra’ (diamond) naadi (energy pathway or meridian) which enhances the digestion. Sitting in Vajrasana benefits everyone especially if you have gas, constipation, acidity, diabetes or any digestive complaint. In fact if you have constipation, sit in vajrasana while you have your first morning cup of hot drink and very soon you’ll be running to the bathroom. Vajrasana is also a very good alternative meditation posture for those who cannot easily sit in crossed legged position. The Japanese sit in vajrasana while eating. The Buddhist use it for meditation and the Muslims for prayer. It is also very beneficial for relieving back ache, especially sciatica. If you can’t sit in vajrasana easily, put a pillow under the ankles and one above the ankles. You can do Vajrasana on a rug, on a sofa, on the bed, on the grass, even in the office – just remove your shoes, tuck one leg up onto the office chair, then the other one you’ll be so comfortable while your digestion takes place easily. You don’t even have to close your eyes (though it’s good to relax with your eyes closed after eating), you can even read, do your office work or watch the ‘idiot box’ and still get the benefits of vajrasana. Try it after this meal and feel the wonderful and immediate effects!