Eat

Be aware of what you eat. You are what you eat. When you eat an abusive animal, what happens to your energy level? Food eaten in a hurry or in foul mood will not be as nourishing compared to food eaten slowly with a peaceful mind. I encourage to observe of what you eat and how eat. Is Eating part of yoga? Yes of course. Here are 3 different kind of yoga diet:

• Rajasik: This comprises of a variety of dishes on the pattern of food served to Indian kings. This type of food includes various types of foods like fried, roasted, curried, highly seasoned along with various types of desserts, wine and drinks. Food of this type are not recommended for yoga practitioners as these foods acts as body stimulants and excite passions, making the mind restless and uncontrollable. These foods result in obesity and generate a typical feeling of heaviness in the stomach for a long time after eating a meal.

• Tamasik Food:  Tamasik food includes dishes prepared with too many spices, excessive use of salt, pepper, chilies, artificial colours and additives. These types of foods have very less nutrition value for either mind or body. They make body dull, lazy and drowsy. These foods stimulate emotions of anger and greed. Tamasik foods include alcohol, tobacco, onions, garlic and fermented foods such as vinegar. This type of food is undesirable and not recommended for yoga practitioners.

• Sattvik Food: This type of food is cooked with least amount of spices and without much seasoning. The food is fresh, attractive, nutritive and is cooked in a simple way. This type of food is desirable and highly recommended for yoga practitioners.

According to yoga principles, no food whether vegetarian or non vegetarian is by itself Rajasik, Tamasik or Sattavik. The classification of a food depends on type of preparation also. It is not necessary that all non-vegetarian food is Tamasik and vegetarian food is Sattavik. Though all foods are classified into three types of yoga diet, but any food item can be cooked as Sattavik, Tamasik or Rajasik depending upon the choice of ingredients and method of preparation
I try as much as I can to eat from the local produce and organic. I know it is expensive.

In the same fashion, I have lost friends and family member due to cancer, I have always ask what is cause of cancer. Most of the sick patient start to research about their disease. The first thing common they start to eat heathy. May be because they know they have little thing on earth. Most doctors are not going cure you. I probably will not be vegan if there are real salmon, real egg, and other non-violence way of killing chicken, goat, cow etc.. There are options out there. I rather pay alot of money than to eat something that will make me sick when I get older. You have the information now, act on your live. Do you know why young children are starting puberty at age 8 rather 12. Do you know why there are a lot of women are embrassed because of infertility? Our men are sterile. There are lots of miscarriage and cancer. More and more salmonella outbreak in history.

I take soda because it tasted different to me when I was in Europe, and Africa versus in America. Until I tried a friend's soda one day. It was so sweet that I took more than a sip. Having a strong will, I had to give back the soda. Was  it the amount of sugar or the Aspartame. I studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I would not give put such chemical even on my hair comparing to consuming it. I stick with water with no ice.

Of course, FDA is suppose to play a role approving and disapproving what is on our store shelves. What are their standards? What you eat is your decision more than ever, because there is information on the world wide web. As a final thought, I leave you with this video shared by a good friend of mine. Food eaten in a hurry or in foul mood will not be as nourishing compared to food eaten slowly with a peaceful mind.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpE6097WXd0&feature=player_embedded

 I am proud to be a vegan and eat locally organic grown vegetable.
 
Namaste

Mantra

Often times, most yoga classes will chant Om, the highest mantra in the beginning and at the end of each class. There are many mantras that correspond to different charka. Om corresponding to the highest chakra. But we are not limited to only one mantra. Most mantra are all in Sanskirit. Some people don't like to chant because it is against their belief. I would live that for a later decision.

One of the mantra I like to use before I start my mediation or kriya session. This mantra helps to tune in within and calling your (the) creator, the light (seen and unseen) and the vibration of the sound helps to channel your mind to the yoga channels.

This is a popular mantra used for turning in prior before any Kundalini yoga  session. You can chant 3 times with your hands in prayer pose at the heart center and eye close to look within.

"Ong Namo, Guru Dev Namo"

The meaning of this mantra is Hail to the one Creator, hail to the unseen light.

Image by S. Amrit via Flickr

Image via Wikipedia

Namaste

Quote of the Day

So many people past and present remind us to live our best life no other but Gandhi. "Whatever you do in life will be insignificant but it is very important that you do it"

More information about about Gandhi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohandas_Karamchand_Gandhi

Vegan Meal Plan

I have been a vegan for 17 years. I was vegetarian before being a vegan. I don't eat cheese or eat egg when I was a vegetarian. Being a vegan is not for dieting purpose it is a way of life. One of yoga student wanted to share my vegan meal plan with here. I decided to share it as well as on my blog. As a kid growing up, and travelling all part of world. I will happily chasing butterfly in the school premises as the teacher could not understand my passion for these creature on earth. I wanted to fly but more especially the color was so prettier. Then I moved on big animal such as dog and chicken. I often cried when a dog was killed by a car. Living here in america where you find any possible food anytime of year whether it is in season or not. Even going to India, I was in heaven because a lot Indians are vegetarian. There was a few problem. I don't eat a lot of refined sugar as well as ghee.I like my food to look and have vibrant flow of rainbow.

To answer the question of What I eat is. I tend to think I am what I eat. I love life especially being kind to animals on earth. Here is a sample of my vegan meal plan. Alot of my food is cooked in low heat or raw. I take my supplements for those things I can get from food especially b12. Consult your doctor before taking supplement.

Image via Wikipedia

Breakfast Options


Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You should never skip breakfast in respective of whether you have a board meeting. I try to eat early to give time before my morning workout. You should give yourself at least 1 hour time before any exercise. Here are the breakfast options:

• Oatmeal with soy milk or almond milk or rice milk plus fruit of choice usually Banana

• Granola with raisins or blueberry with any milk of choice plus fruit of choice. Mango will available during the summer time.
• Scrambled Tofu with whole wheat bread plus cantaloupe
• Soy Yogurt with blueberry/strawberry and add kasha (a brand of cereal)
• Beverage of choice: Green Tea with no sweetener or water.
Morning Snacks options

I usually will try to wait for 4 hours before eating again but I listen to my body. I don’t starve myself because I am not on a diet. Here are the options: a piece of fruit, or your own handful of almond or soy yogurt.

Afternoon options:

Lunch time usually starts 4 – 5 hours after your breakfast. You can a good lunch since our metabolic pathway is at its peak just like the sun is at its peak even in the winter months.

• Black Beans and sweet potato salad plus fruit of choice: Grapefruit

• Rice and Black beans with tomato sauce plus fruit: Pineapple

• Rice with assorted vegetable on the side plus fruit: Kiwi

• Customize your own Salad and Lentil Soup

• Veggie Burger with wheat wrap, add assorted vegetable of choice.

Image by dimitridf via Flickr

• Beverage of Choice: Refrain from Soda, I don’t care whether it is diet or not. The natural health food have better drink option or just stick with water or green tea or fresh squeeze lemonade

Afternoon Snack options

I usually will drink green tea. If I am still feeling hungry I have my own trail mix snack, or a handful almond, or a piece of dark chocolate, or hummus or some grains if available.

Dinner Options

As wind down from your day; you want to refrain from adding a lot of heavy food in your body before bedtime. It is true you want to eat your dinner 2 – 3 hours before bedtime. Eat light then you will sleep better. Give your digestive system a break just like you need to fresh for the next day.

• Cooked Quinoa and grilled vegetable plus fruit of choice

• Vegan chili

• Lentil Soup with brown rice

• Fresh Squeeze vegetable juice is my favorite

• Hummus with wheat bread or wheat cracker

• Wheat Pasta with no eggs, yes it is available with your own made marinara sauce no cheese. Add veggie to make your own marinara if it is bought.

Dinner Snack Options

Still feel Hungry, after your workout or after a long day of work. By all means, you can make some tea with a nice book to unwind. Occasionally, I have a glass of wine on the weekend or fresh fruit salad if you want something sweet. I also don’t eat late. I stop eating after 8pm to give my body, and mind the adequate rest.

Feel free to leave me a comment if you will like me to review what your are eating.
Namaste

Health Tip for Traveller

As we are all like to go visit our friends and family, travelling can be fun but there is some few exercise you can do while waiting for your flight. Having to pack only the thing you truly need for your trip to be relax and comfortable. Have you gone through the airport check in country lately dealing with checked baggage, the right amount of liquid to carry as a carry-on, TSA security check point for the right document? Make sure the right name matches on your travelling document and boarding pass? Where is the right boarding pass?  May you have your boarding pass on blackberry or paper ticket. May you are worried about  making your connection to dream vacation. May you missed your flight or your flight was delayed due nature. 

Make sure you are prepared for any of situation you find yourself. These are my favorite I like to bring with me:

• Bring your yoga mat because you can seat on the floor and practice yoga
• Bring health snacks such as carrots, nuts, cracker and cherry tomatoes
• Find a corner to mediate and relax your mind
• Be kind to others and smile
• Bring an interesting book or magazine
• Get a chair message at the airport
• Don't sweat the small stuff
• Wait Patiently

Of course the benefit is obvious, you will  less stress, relax your body, mind, and spirit. As always remember to have fun  at your destination and enjoy your trip. 

Essential Oil - Moptop Maven

I am so glad Nikole have shared this story in her blog. I personally take one tablespoon of wheat germ oil, which is rich in vitamin E every morning. You can find Wheat germ oil in your local healthfood store. Being a vegan, I can't take the Cod live oil.
Check her blog out:
Moptop Maven - Deliciously Opinionated Musings: Quick Tip: Two Tablespoons A Day To Healthy Skin, ...: "Before you feverishly hit the back button because you've spotted a nice big bottle of Cod Liver Oil, hear me out!! - What you put IN your b..."