Yogic diet

In this teacher training course, you will learn:

✅ Why classical yoga considers food an essential influence on the body, mind, emotions and spiritual practice

✅ The Upanishadic understanding of food and the teaching “Yatha Annam Tatha Manah”, meaning that the quality of food influences the quality of the mind

✅ The differences between Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic foods and how each category may affect energy, mood, concentration and yoga practice

✅ Which fresh, natural and nourishing foods support a calm mind, physical vitality and deeper yoga practice

✅ Which stale, spoiled, overprocessed, excessively spicy or stimulating foods yogic tradition recommends limiting or avoiding

✅ How to choose seasonal fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, mild spices and other balanced vegetarian foods

✅ Mitahara, the yogic principle of moderate eating, including appropriate portions and avoiding overeating

✅ How to plan meal times according to daily activity, digestion, yoga practice and the traditional understanding of the sun and digestive fire

✅ Why the main meal is traditionally eaten during the daytime and the evening meal kept lighter

✅ How long to wait between eating and practising asana, pranayama, Shatkarma or meditation

✅ Traditional mealtime rituals, including cleanliness, sitting position, offering Naivedya, chanting the Bhojan Mantra and eating with gratitude

✅ How eating quietly and without distraction can develop awareness of hunger, taste, quantity and satisfaction

✅ Helpful practices after eating, including mindful rest and sitting in Vajrasana when appropriate

✅ Traditional guidance concerning fasting, full-moon days and eclipses, together with safe and practical considerations

✅ How to design a balanced yogic diet according to age, health, digestion, climate, lifestyle and individual dietary needs

✅ The scientific and nutritional understanding of yogic food, including digestion, nutrient quality, blood-sugar balance, energy levels and the relationship between food and mental well-being

✅ How to apply yogic eating principles in daily life and guide future students without imposing one rigid diet on everyone