A Yogi’s Healthy Diet Guide According to Ayurvedic Principles

Posted on March 8, 2014 by ctyoga
I came across this interesting article on Elephant Journal A Yogi’s Healthy Diet Guide According to Ayurvedic Principles by Yara Coelho and i wanted to share with you:
 
Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, is the ancient mother of natural and holistic medicines.
 
The depth of this medicine goes beyond diagnostic, treatment, and prognostic. Ayurveda includes all aspects of human nature: physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Ayurvedic medicine is not concerned with treating syndromes and illnesses alone, but guides people into healthy lifestyles.
Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of balanced health for Ayurveda. It categorizes people into three main types, or Doshas: Vata (air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (earth), offering very personalized guidelines for each individual.
 

Vata
Vata people are like the wind. Movement and change is their primal nature—they’re always on the go. Vatas are energetic and highly creative, curious about the world, and their lives are filled with emotion.

Vatas are usually thin, light-framed, and very agile. Their energy levels vary a lot, from moments of excitement and enthusiasm to tiredness and fatigue. Vatas usually feel colder than the other doshas, with cold hands and feet and dry skin and hair. They have light sleep and need to rest to recover energy. When vata is out of balance it can be manifested in weight loss, weakness, restlessness, and digestive problems.
Vatas love new experiences, excitement, and stimulation. Vatas are usually very flexible and highly adaptable to new situations. They love to meet people and engage in deep conversations.
 

Pitta
Pitta people express the fire characteristics. They are usually medium sized, and sometimes have blond or red hair. Pittas are dynamic, temperamental, and have a strong sex drive. They’re perfectionists and natural born leaders. Their digestive system is great and they’re famous for having very strong appetites.

They love intellectual challenges. They are very outspoken, and they have no problems having high profile jobs or managing other people.
When Pitta is out of balance, it can manifest as being irritated easily, intolerance to heat and summer time, and preferring cool climates and foods. Pittas may get rashes easily, experience burning sensations, heartburn or other symptoms related to excessive heat.
 

Kapha
Kapha people are the earthy type. They are calm, grounded, and crave stability.
Kaphas have a tendency to gain weight and are usually strongly built. They have strong hair and nails, and big shiny eyes. They are slow moving, and love a steady life. They’re not crazy for traveling or big adventures, as they usually have a hard time out of their comfort zones and adapting to new environments.

Kaphas tend to live sedentary lives based on routine. They’re happy with a few close friends and feel extremely uncomfortable to be the center of attention, which rarely happens. They’re very loyal, loving, and caring.
Kaphas have a tendency to attachment; they can get stuck carrying on empty relationships and negative emotions, like resentments, that no longer serve them. They can suffer from constipation, tumors, fluid retention, allergies, depression, and being overweight.
 
 

A Note About the Doshas
The doshas are never displayed in their pure form; people are often a mix of two, or even three doshas in different degrees, so we can have Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha, etc etc. 

Yoga will naturally balance the doshas of each individual. Aligning asana, pranayama, and nutrition is the base for a healthy long life without manifestations of dis-ease.
 

The Vata Diet
Vatas benefit from heavy, rich, oily foods in order to harmonize their natural sense of lightness, movement, and instability. The best tastes to pacify Vata are sweet, salty, and sour.  Foods that are pungent, bitter, or astringent should be avoided.

Cooked vegetables are best. Raw vegetables should be minimized. Asparagus, beets, squash, and carrots are highly recommended. Other vegetables may be taken in moderation if cooked in extra virgin olive oil, including peas, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and sweet potatoes. Sweet, heavy fruits such as bananas, avocados, mangoes, apricots, plums, berries, coconut, figs, grapefruit, orange, lemon, melons, papaya, peaches, pineapples, rhubarb, kiwi, dates, nectarines and dried fruits are acceptable.
Rice is an excellent cereal for Vatas.
Nuts are always welcome, as well as warming spices such as cardamom, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, salt, cloves, mustard seed, basil, cilantro, fennel, oregano, sage, tarragon, thyme, and black pepper.
 

The Pitta Diet
Pittas benefit from cooling foods, since they have a natural tendency to overheating. Foods with sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes are best. Avoiding foods that are pungent, salty, and sour will help alleviate Pitta imbalances.

Sweeter fruits, such as grapes, melons, cherries, coconuts, avocados, mangoes, pomegranates, fully ripe pineapples, oranges, and plums are recommended. Reduce sour fruits, such as grapefruits, apricots, and berries.
The most recommended vegetables are asparagus, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, pumpkins, broccoli, cauliflower, celery okra, lettuce, green beans, and zucchini. Reduce tomatoes, hot peppers, carrots, beets, eggplant, onions, garlic, radishes, and spinach.
 

The Kapha Diet
Kaphas tend to gain weight and feel lethargic, so it is better to avoid heavy foods and prepare light meals in order to lighten up the Kapha’s energy. The best food qualities to balance Kapha are pungent, bitter, and astringent. Sweet, sour, and salty tastes should be reduced in order to avoid excessive weight gain and fluid retentions.

The best fruits are light and warming, such as apples, pears, pomegranates, cranberries, and apricots.  Fruits like bananas, avocados, pineapples, oranges, peaches, coconuts, melons, dates, and figs should be avoided as they’re heavier and take longer to digest.
All vegetables are suitable for Kaphas, but reducing sweet and juicy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini is beneficial.
Kaphas benefit from fasting and juicing as a way to detox and alleviate their digestive system and lose weight.
 

The Sattvic Diet
Sattvic (balanced) foods are the ideal foods for all constitutional types, or doshas. They’re easy to digest and don’t cause lethargy, heaviness, or extreme stimulation of the body and mind. Sattvic foods are living natural foods, filled with prana—life force—which will strength your immune system and fight inflammation. They’re naturally alkaline.

In current times, maintaining a Sattvic diet can be a daily struggle, even for the most determined yogis, since most of our foods have been modified, processed, sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, refined, and depleted of most of their natural life force. Eating simple organic vegetarian meals, respecting the current season, and preferring local foods are very important to harmonize our bodies with the seasons and external factors.
Remember that you are what you eat, so try to be the best you can!
Posted in ayurveda, nutrition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lino Miele Returns to Milan

Posted on March 7, 2014 by ctyoga

lino-280

Lino Miele returns to his Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga school in Milan this month. He generally makes 2 trips here: one in March and one in Nov. The dates and class program are as follows:
 
_MYSORE STYLE_
WEDNESDAY 19 THURSDAY 20 & FRIDAY 21: 7.00AM
SATURDAY 22 & SUNDAY 23: 7AM FIRST GROUP, 8.30AM SECOND GROUP
(the MYSORE style classes are open to anyone that knows the sequence, regardless of experience).
 
_LED CLASS for beginners_
FRIDAY 21 6:00PM
SATURDAY 22 & SUNDAY 23: 10.00AM
 
Here’s a look at the workshop on a day-by-day basis:
 
Wednesday 19:
7am Mysore class with Lino
 
Thursday  20:
7am Mysore class with Lino
 
Friday 21:
7am Mysore class with Lino
 
Saturday 22:
7am Mysore class with Lino – 1st group
8.30am  Mysore class with Lino – 2nd group
10am Led Class for Beginners with Lino
 
Sunday 23:
7am Mysore class with Lino – 1st group
8.30am  Mysore class with Lino – 2nd group
10am Led Class for Beginners with Lino
 
And if you’re wondering about costs, here’s the deal: 
5 days for 140 euros
4 days 120 euros
3 days 100 euros
2 days 75 euros
1 day 40 euros
 
You can pay directly at the school. Details below 🙂
Scuola di Ashtanga Yoga Milano
viale Caldara 9
Milano
tel: 02.55191017
email: info@ashtangamilano.it
web: http://www.ashtangamilano.it
fb: http://www.facebook.com/AshtangaMilano
Posted in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Corsi di yoga a Milano, Milano Italy, Yoga Dinamico | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mark & Joanne Darby Ashtanga Workshop

Posted on March 6, 2014 by ctyoga

1796069_10202435816272127_505161470_o

It sure feels like we’re on a roll with these! The min i finish talking about 1, news of another pops up! 
Mark & Joanne Darby have been making yearly trips to the Ashtanga Yoga Bologna school in Bologna Italy for a few years now. They are back again this year from the 3-5th May. 
 
Mark Darby Bio:
 
Darby has been practicing  Ashtanga Yoga for over 25 years.  He began with Sri K Pattabhi Jois,  the master of Ashtanga Yogain 1979 when he spent four years in  Mysore, India. 
He is one of few  teachers worldwide who has  attained the highest level of  Ashtanga Yoga teaching  accreditation and is certified by  Pattabhi Jois to teach the original  Ashtanga method. 
His teaching is  dynamic and direct while giving  students the essence of the  energy of this yoga. His wisdom  and warmth attract a vibrant  community of students who are drawn to his humor, his attentive  nature and his steadfast  commitment to improving each  student’s physical alignment. 
Darby gives workshops around the globe and spends a few  months each year with his master  in Mysore. 
 
Workshop Program
Saturday May 3, 2014 morning:
10.00 – 12.30 Breath, bandha and core strength
It’s all so simple…..Short led class till navasana followed by a technique class. Let’s discover your bandhas and your core with simple postures and specific exercises . Let’s synchronize your breath with movement.
 
Saturday afternoon:
14.00 – 17.00 Breaking down of postures
 
Sunday May 4, 2014 morning:
10.00 – 12.30 Led primary …..Traditional styleYou will be guided in a continuous flow from the opening sun salutations to the closing sequence.
 
Sunday afternoon:
14.00 – 17.00 Pranayama session and Chakra chanting
The right knowledge of breathing is a part of the science of life. Develop a pranayama practice that is suitable for each individual. Learn techniques that will energize your inner awareness and enhance your lifestyle in a positive way.
 
Monday, May 5, 2014
09.30 – 12.30 Adjustment Clinic
How to use safe adjustments in the First Series. The session is specially designed for teachers, but it is also good for students who want to go deeper in detail in their own practice.
 
Monday, afternoon
14.00 – 17.00 Adjustment Clinic
How to use safe adjustments in the First Series. The session is specially designed for teachers, but it is also good for students who want to go deeper in detail in their own practice.
 
Workshop Fees:
Early bird registration & payment BEFORE March 30, 2014
Saturday – Monday: 210,00 Euro
Single day: 90.00 Euro
The rate has to be fully paid at the moment of registration.
 
Registration and payment AFTER March 30, 2014
Saturday – Monday: 260 ,00 Euro
Single day: 100,00 Euro
The rate has to be fully paid at the moment of registration.
 
For info and bookings, contact Giuliano Vecchiè directly: giuliano@ashtangayogabolona.com
Ashtanga Yoga Bologna AYBO
via Degli Orti 44, Bologna
tel: +39 3386637586
email: info@ashtangayogabologna.com
web: www.ashtangayogabologna.com
fb: www.facebook.com/pages/ASHTANGA-YOGA-BOLOGNA-AYBO/220324438005140
 
Posted in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, workshop | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yoga Clothes: H&M

Posted on March 5, 2014 by ctyoga

This gallery contains 27 photos.

Before i hear anyone complaining, i’d just like to say that i do not agree with splurging lots of $$$ on something as trivial as yoga outfits [insert here name of really expensive yoga clothing brand]…but i also do understand … Continue reading →

More Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Moon Phases

Posted on March 4, 2014 by ctyoga
It has always been the tradition in Ashtanga Yoga to rest from asana practice on new and full moon days (tithis). When asked why we shouldn’t practice on these days, Guruji was fond of saying, “Two ‘planets’ [grahas] one place, very dangerous.” What is meant by this is that on these days, the sun and the moon are in a line relative to the position of the earth. Consequently, their gravitational forces are all combined, and thus the effect of the ‘planets’ is more pronounced. One definitive effect of this is that the ocean’s tides are higher and lower on these days. When āsana practice is done daily, rest days are important for regeneration; and the extra biweekly ‘moon day’ comes as a welcomed respite.
 
The full moon energy corresponds to the end of inhalation when the force of prana is greatest. This is an expansive, upward moving force that makes us feel energetic and emotional, but not well grounded.
The new moon energy corresponds to the end of exhalation when the force of apana is greatest. Apana is a contracting, downward moving force that makes us feel calm and grounded, but dense and disinclined towards physical exertion.
 
Practicing Ashtanga Yoga over time makes us more attuned to natural cycles. Observing moon days is one way to recognize and honor the rhythms of nature so we can live in greater harmony with it.
 
2014 Moon Phases

2014 Moon Phases

Moon Phase Calculator

Posted in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment