Yogi Guide: How to Eat Mindfully

Attention Yogis: Mindful eating for yogis is a hot topic - and for good reason! Yoga philosophy and mindful eating principles go hand-in-hand, so if you're looking for ways to enhance your yogic diet, it's time to start eating mindfully and experience the fuller flavor of every bite.

Mindful Eating for Your Yogi Diet

If you file your yoga practice solely under the category of 'fitness,' you are missing out on the benefits that come from embracing the gamut of a yogic lifestyle. Beyond the mat, the poses, and pranayama, yoga principles can be applied to all life situations, helping you achieve mind-body balance. When it comes to food, how you eat is just as important as what you eat, so consider the following guidelines as you apply mindful eating principles to your yogi diet.

Mindful Eating Practices for Yogis

Many of the values you adhere to on the mat can be brought into your daily meals. These include practices such as:

• Slowing down
• Listening to your body
• Learning to differentiate between your body's wants and needs
• Doing one thing at a time
• Being aware
• Paying attention
• Practicing Patience
• Being grateful

Mindful Eating Questions and Answers

What is mindfulness? In a nutshell, being mindful means focusing on the present moment. Applied to food, eating mindfully means intentionally paying attention to the food you are consuming (its texture, flavor, history, and more) and how you feel while savoring it.

To apply mindful eating basics to your yogic diet, consider the following questions:

• Where was the food produced?
• How has your food been prepared?
• How does your food look, taste, and smell?
• Are you eating out of hunger or for another reason?
• What emotions do you experience before, during, and after your meal?
• How much do you need to eat to feel full?
• How does eating affect your mood?

Yoga and Mindfulness Similarities

If you are a yogi, you are already invested in your personal health and wellness and are taking steps toward a lifestyle that allows you to thrive. Building the habit of mindful eating is another stride in the right direction! It is a simple yet effective way to approach the food you eat every day. Better yet, mindful eating practices are rooted in Buddhist traditions, making them a perfect fit with your current yoga practice.

Here are some more similarities between yoga and mindfulness practices. Both disciplines:

• Require committed practice
• Take time to master
• Require focused attention
• Require slowing down
• Encourage you to pay attention, recognize, and cope with present-moment thoughts, feelings, and sensations
• Provide multiple health benefits
• Promote overall well-being

In summary: Whether or not you practice yoga, and whether or not you are following a yogi diet, there are many great reasons to eat mindfully! You will be more in tune with your body, you will be able to make wiser food choices, you can lose weight more easily, you can reduce your level of daily stress, and most importantly: You will feel better in your mind, body, and soul!