The International Yoga Month Celebrations at Atma Yoga Shala kick started with a very interesting, informative and immensely beneficial live session on Nutrition. Did you miss it? If yes, that is unfortunate. Nevertheless, I was prepared for this session unlike other online live sessions I had attended before.
I was ready on time with my mobile logged into the live session with the Chennai based holistic nutritionist, author and entrepreneur Shiny Surendran. Also this time I had my pen and note book by my side.
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
In the following blog I am going to tell you about why and what I liked and loved about this session. These I believe would be reasons enough to make you go our profile and search for the IGTV video of the session.
The Topic :
My first vote is for the topic ! Food ? oh sorry I meant Nutritious food !!! As people who have taken interest in exploring Yoga I think we cant ignore the word nutrition and as humans we cant ignore ….. FOOD ? .Unlike some sessions that go directionless, this live session had a well planned series of questions. So, no beating around the bush and the session hits right on target.
The Indicators:
After the definitions of what constitutes a healthy diet and some words on Milk/No-Milk , we arrived at some Indicators .
If I draw parallel to the Yoga Sutra , it says that there are indicators of a disturbed mind such as grief, negative thinking, shaky body and disturbed breath.
Here we had indicators of what constitutes a good proportion that makes a healthy diet. They are a combination of food which makes your skin, eyes and hair radiant, makes you feel energetic, helps you be flexible and have a comfortable sleep.
You are the food you digest
Begin With a Prayer
Much like our Yoga sessions where we begin with a prayer, every time before we eat, Shiny asks us to Bless the food and Bless the farmer and to be in Gratitude to the fact there is food on the plate and some body has worked hard for it .
One Size Fits All — Yes in your dreams
The Krishnamacarya yoga tradition acknowledges that fact that each individual is unique and hence different. Each individual’s needs and goals are different and hence the Yoga practice also needs to be adapted to the individual. There is no one size that fits all.
The session also revelated to me that there cannot be one ideal diet plan which everybody should aspire for. Each individual is different and our efforts in the area of nutrition is to understand our body type and find what works, thus creating our own template.
Agama — Trusted Sources
In the Yoga Sutra, one of the ways in which we can have a right understanding about things is called agama which can refer to contents of the scriptures, ancient texts, authoritative texts, and people whom we trust.
During the Live session, there were innumerable information which was provided by Shiny with references to experts on the field. We had names of people who had worked on the research relating to fasting, people who do long distance running, cycling, trusted brand on vegan products, the right place for vegan recipes and so on.
It is all already there
We all probably know this, but we do not trust ourselves enough. When an expert like Shiny who has been in the field of nutrition and who has attended to and guided numerous people says that
“Ancestors had a lot more common sense that us “
“We have always known- all is set” ..
We realise that it is true. So, if you still wonder why idly/dosa with sambhar and chutney or why rice with rajma, you will have to check the video. Instagram post by Atma yoga Shala * Jun 7, 2020 at 5:14am UTC50 Likes, 7 Comments – Atma yoga Shala (@atmayogashala) on Instagramwww.instagram.com
Begin from where you are
This is an often-repeated statement that I hear in my Yoga class. One of the greatest short comings of the human mind is that It wants to do everything fast and reach the goal immediately. We cant answer directly the 15TH question Of Kaun Banega Karorpati ( Who wants to be a Millionaire) and get the money. We need to begin and proceed one step at a time.
In Yoga one cannot start directly with an inversion. One needs to prepare the body and mind by doing certain asanas and gradually reach the goal so that the benefits may be enjoyed to the fullest and the benefits last.
Similarly becoming vegan, if one wishes to or reducing sugar should be a gradual process and not a sudden avoidance. Only then the results can be lasting.
Some Profound statements
The session was filled with profound statements. The aha moments were many and I leave it to you to relate them to Yoga and yoga practice
- Food should aim at maximising potential
- Not everybody needs milk
- Understand how much is needed
- Sit with a professional and understand
- Body is highly intelligent. Eat Healthy and give rest.
- Don’t believe what I say. GO AND TRY
- Remember basics — to make a wise decision
Now come on, if you think that was elaborate I should politely decline. Nothing can match the experience of the live session. I am sure you will agree with me. This month AYS has very interesting sessions lined up to understand Yoga better. Join us live on every Sunday of this month @atmayogashala — our Instagram page and do check this space for blogs.
All said and done … Not everybody needs milk …but for me its coffee time :-p
Cheers!!
