Day 1: The Big Picture

Welcome! Read the first verse and the breakdown, then click below to read more.

This is the ancient wisdom of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a 500 year old book of short verses explaining how to cheat death with yoga. As you can imagine, some of those practices are pretty extreme; otherwise there would be a lot more immortals walking around. The 5 verses relating to eating are not about weight loss, although you might want to lose some. Nutritionally, some of the foods the book turns down are superfoods. This yoga 'diet' is about energy: calm, cool, sweet energy - the kind we all want as the weather heats up.

Today, think about what your goals for "fortifying the bodily elements" are going to be. We ARE going to improve our energy and our overall health, but you may have specific goals you'd like to achieve. Keep it to 3 or less, then search "Superfoods for ------" and make a list. Choose the ones that best fit all of the criteria above: desirable, suitable, nutritious, pleasantly sweet, juicy. Add your own favorites. Stick to the "sweet" options, but remember "sweet" is not pie.

Then, see what you've already got at home. Begin to move the things you will not eat to the back and pull your sweet foods forward. Make your shopping list, start planning meals. Remember that "suitable" may change when you get to the grocery store. Price, seasonality and availability make a difference. Focus on the most healthy, 'sweet' foods that you can find, and eat whole, raw, or lightly cooked. 

My goals are:
1. Beautiful skin
2. Clear, healthy eyes
3. Strong teeth and gums

My list of top foods:
Blueberries /all berries (trying for 1-2 pints per day)
Carrots (trying for 2-3 per day)
Cucumbers (trying for 1 per day)
Banana (1 - 2 pr day)
Pineapple, Kiwi (dried fruit daily)
Spinach / "sweet" greens (daily)
Nuts: almonds, pecans, cashews, walnuts (daily)
Milk, cheese, butter (something every day)
Yoghurt (treat only)
Bread, barley, beans (something every day)
Sweet potato, sweet peppers, celery, broccoli
Honey
Eggs

Tomorrow, we will look at some of the foods we should not eat, and we'll do a little more planning and preparing.

If you are playing in our contest for a chance to win a Spring into Summer Yoga Package, you must post a picture on your personal Instagram today, and use the hashtags and sponsor names listed below.

Maybe take a "before" picture, a picture of your list of foods, or something sweet you eat today.

#practicalpradipika
@camputopiayoga
@airstreamyogi
@allisonrissel
@shineon.yoga

My 2 staple foods for the clean up.