I think everyone should read this part of Gregor's book because in a polarized issue like that of food, drugs, etc, it trusts that, once we have the right information, we will aim to stack the odds in our favor of reaching the mystical states of yoga, that we will make our own decisions with our own intelligence and discrimination. More importantly, that the practice itself, as it gets more refined will inform us of better food choices. Love that, love how it passes the ball back to us, to the individual, to inspiring our own intelligence in our choices.
This is a series I've come to call: Claudia's Book Club, yes I am borrowing from Oprah, but you already knew that.
The first one I am exploring is Pranayama The Breath Of Yoga by Gregor Maehle, an extraordinary book that comes at a time where we need to move on from our obsession with asana (yoga poses), and start paying attention to the miracle of the breath, sense withdrawal, meditation, in short, the higher limbs of yoga, but, most importantly pay attention to the way home!
----
Back to the Aha! Moments of Chapter 6
Instead of (a) making pre-formulated decisions for each and every one of us, (b) give us moral issues to ponder on, or (d) down-right shame us, this chapter trusts that we will know what is right for us as we continue to delve into the higher realms of yoga, as our pranayama practice becomes more and more sophisticated.
Moderate Diet: That is What Mithara Means
I love the idea of the word "moderate", which is what mithara means and which is the title of the chapter.
"Moderate" gives me room to explore, to be present with who I am at the moment, and with what moderate means to me as a South American woman with Spaniard and Italian ancestors living now in the harsh climates of the North Eastern United States. Entiendes?
Of course we all will "aim" towards a more refined way of eating and in-taking of everything, from coffee, to drugs, to chemicals in our vegetables, to antibiotics, but this will happen as we come to understand what we need, in a real way, not by observing pre-imposed ideas but by delving into the truth of who we are, right now.
The scripture general guidance when it comes to this are divided into three:
Milk And The Yogis Who Stacked Odds In Their Favor In The Past
Many people are intolerant to milk. For them the journey of going into the higher realms of yoga becomes one of investigation, of finding what is nutritious and light on the stomach. In the past, before the industrialized nations, yogis used milk to reach the higher states of rapture that pranayama brings about.
Back then milk was probably less tainted by processes and chemicals, and it worked wonders, take for example Krishnamacharya or Theos Bernard:
I am also becoming interested in Theos Bernard. I have read a recent book on him that focused mostly on the controversies around him and not the yoga. Heaven Lies Within Us. Makes me curious. (Here you can read some excerpts of that book for free) is the book from which Gregor got the above quote
What Is The Direct Relation Between Food and Pranyama?
On page 123 there is an interesting discussion on this. It mostly has to do with the fact that on the advanced states you will want to work towards a more pure diet so that you can actually reach the 40 seconds of retention, which are easier on a body that is less full, less crowded with internal activity that pulls it down and more prone to experience the apana forces, the forces that uplift.
What I like is that we can still respect where we are right now but eventually, "aiming" towards letting go of red meat (to begin with and if we want to reach higher states).
Note that Gregor points out that there are people in the West who have reached mystical states WHILE EATING MEAT. It is possible, but yet, the statistics are higher in the Indian nation where vegetarianism is more the norm.
What If I Can't Stop Eating Meat?
Welcome to my world. I am taking it one day at the time. Gregor maintains that eventually, as the pranayama practice gets to be more advanced we will derive more substance from the prana or the vital energy of the air and will not need so much meat, even if our ancestors and genetical disposition craved it till now. So I am trusting, and doing what needs to be done today, with where I am right now.
What About Coffee and Tea?
He says:
What About Recreational Drugs and Alcohol?
Great discussion on this! Some highlighs for you to ponder on:
My Case:
I have been experimenting with food for a very long time. Lately I have realized that wheat products are very bad for me, they make me bloated and constipated and I have eliminated them almost completely from my diet. Here is a post on my diet, and here on the book that opened my eyes: "Wheat Belly", I called the post: My Big Fat Wheat Belly.
What do you think about food and yoga? Have you noticed changes in your diet that came accross because of the natural progression of your practice? How does the practice inform what and even when you eat?
"The most important rule in relation to diet is the one that says one person's food is another person's poison. Just because a particular category of food works for Indians does not necessarily mean that it will work for people of East Asian, Mediterranean or African descent". (Page 118)----
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| My book filling up with notes. You can click on the image if you want to see it in Amazon, write a review etc. |
This is a series I've come to call: Claudia's Book Club, yes I am borrowing from Oprah, but you already knew that.
The first one I am exploring is Pranayama The Breath Of Yoga by Gregor Maehle, an extraordinary book that comes at a time where we need to move on from our obsession with asana (yoga poses), and start paying attention to the miracle of the breath, sense withdrawal, meditation, in short, the higher limbs of yoga, but, most importantly pay attention to the way home!
----
Back to the Aha! Moments of Chapter 6
Instead of (a) making pre-formulated decisions for each and every one of us, (b) give us moral issues to ponder on, or (d) down-right shame us, this chapter trusts that we will know what is right for us as we continue to delve into the higher realms of yoga, as our pranayama practice becomes more and more sophisticated.
Moderate Diet: That is What Mithara Means
I love the idea of the word "moderate", which is what mithara means and which is the title of the chapter.
"Moderate" gives me room to explore, to be present with who I am at the moment, and with what moderate means to me as a South American woman with Spaniard and Italian ancestors living now in the harsh climates of the North Eastern United States. Entiendes?
Of course we all will "aim" towards a more refined way of eating and in-taking of everything, from coffee, to drugs, to chemicals in our vegetables, to antibiotics, but this will happen as we come to understand what we need, in a real way, not by observing pre-imposed ideas but by delving into the truth of who we are, right now.
The scripture general guidance when it comes to this are divided into three:
"There are three ways of looking at Mitahara ... (1) the Bhagavad Gita describes mitahara as consuming only sattvic (clean pure) food... (2) The Vasishta Samhita measures mitahara through the number of mouthfuls a yogi takes... (3) The Hatha Yoga Pradipika which states that one's food needs to be offered to God before eating it."So, purifying the diet, eating only what we need and offering it to the Divine. Aren't those great things to "aim for"?
Milk And The Yogis Who Stacked Odds In Their Favor In The Past
Many people are intolerant to milk. For them the journey of going into the higher realms of yoga becomes one of investigation, of finding what is nutritious and light on the stomach. In the past, before the industrialized nations, yogis used milk to reach the higher states of rapture that pranayama brings about.
Back then milk was probably less tainted by processes and chemicals, and it worked wonders, take for example Krishnamacharya or Theos Bernard:
"...Krishnamahcharya links milk to his ability to stop his heartbeat during Nadi Shodhana pranayama, Theos Bernardo too, learned from his teacher that pranayama could lead to the state of living on air, to which only milk was to be added. "If you have not yet read the article on Krishnamacharya stopping his heart here is grimmly's post, you may want to take a look, fascinating.
I am also becoming interested in Theos Bernard. I have read a recent book on him that focused mostly on the controversies around him and not the yoga. Heaven Lies Within Us. Makes me curious. (Here you can read some excerpts of that book for free) is the book from which Gregor got the above quote
 |
| The book by Theos Bernard, click on image if you would like to see it in Amazon |
What Is The Direct Relation Between Food and Pranyama?
On page 123 there is an interesting discussion on this. It mostly has to do with the fact that on the advanced states you will want to work towards a more pure diet so that you can actually reach the 40 seconds of retention, which are easier on a body that is less full, less crowded with internal activity that pulls it down and more prone to experience the apana forces, the forces that uplift.
"Kumbhakas [retention of breath with proper technque] beyond 40 seconds are used to delete karma and conditioning and eventually to rise Kundalini. None of these areas should be approached when eating meat." Page 123I don't know about you but in my own practice of pranayama I am barely able to retain 13 counts now, and that is after months of practice. It takes a long time to reach those 40 counts. On the way I am noticing in a progressive way which foods and which things interfeer with practice, little by little. Again, I like the "theme" idea of noticing what can be let go off, and what needs to be taken in the case of nutrition, as a journey towards stacking the odds in our favor.
What I like is that we can still respect where we are right now but eventually, "aiming" towards letting go of red meat (to begin with and if we want to reach higher states).
Note that Gregor points out that there are people in the West who have reached mystical states WHILE EATING MEAT. It is possible, but yet, the statistics are higher in the Indian nation where vegetarianism is more the norm.
What If I Can't Stop Eating Meat?
Welcome to my world. I am taking it one day at the time. Gregor maintains that eventually, as the pranayama practice gets to be more advanced we will derive more substance from the prana or the vital energy of the air and will not need so much meat, even if our ancestors and genetical disposition craved it till now. So I am trusting, and doing what needs to be done today, with where I am right now.
What About Coffee and Tea?
 |
| I'm not so refined yet Still love my cup |
He says:
"Coffee and tea are mobilizers and expellers of prana that do not go well with pranayama"Contrasts with the "no coffee no prana" of Ashtanga Vinyasa, does it not? Well, we will have to make our own decisions. Love that.
What About Recreational Drugs and Alcohol?
Great discussion on this! Some highlighs for you to ponder on:
"Alcohol simply mobilizes and expels prana. Pranayama tries to accumulate prana and increase the energy available for spiritual practice." Page 124
"Tobacco hemp opium are neuro toxins that also make your mind tamasic [sleepy. less bright] and they block the nadis [subtle nervous system of energies] which you want to purify through pranayama." Page 124
My Case:
I have been experimenting with food for a very long time. Lately I have realized that wheat products are very bad for me, they make me bloated and constipated and I have eliminated them almost completely from my diet. Here is a post on my diet, and here on the book that opened my eyes: "Wheat Belly", I called the post: My Big Fat Wheat Belly.
What do you think about food and yoga? Have you noticed changes in your diet that came accross because of the natural progression of your practice? How does the practice inform what and even when you eat?
CLAUDIA'S BOOK CLUB:
"PRANAYAMA THE BREATH OF YOGA"
Chapter One: How Many Breaths Do You Do Per Minute?
Chapter Two: Part I: Who Is An Expert In Yoga?
Chapter Two: Part II: How To Get Your Body To Be 16 Years Old Again
Chapter Three: Meditation is Useless Unless Both Nostrils Are Active
Chapter Five: How Do I Know If I Am Ready For Pranayama?
Chapter Eight: Pulling Your Brain Updwards. On Bandhas and Pranayama
Chapter Nine: Why Gross Purification Is Critical To Yoga
Chapter Ten: The Breathing Exercise That Gets Rid Of Our Fears
Chapter Eleven: How Not To Be An Idiod In Pranayama. Nerve Purification
Chapter Twelve: Bhastrika Pranayama - Life Force on Steroids
Chapter Thirteen: What The World Needs Now Is More Left Nostril Breathing
Here is a link to the book in Amazon. Join me in reading!
Great post, Claudia.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder about people being "incapable" when the time comes to stop eating meat. I'm not claiming it's an easy feat for all, but the fact is if you connect the dots it becomes less of a burden and more of a "right action" type of thing.
Many forms of Eastern Philosophy teach that all sentient beings are interconnected. If one truly takes this to heart they see that the suffering of an animal who is raised purely for gratification of the sensory pleasures of another being (which is why we eat meat in modernized countries, it's certainly not for the health benefits...) is something that should be avoided if possible. Oftentimes, this is cleverly omitted when people talk about their spiritual progress.
People have very firm beliefs about what they can and can't do when it comes to diet. I've found many people hold to these beliefs out of sheer dogma and routine rather than looking at objective facts. When in doubt, ask yourself truly and earnestly if eating the flesh of another being (if you have a choice) is something you think is in line with a higher calling or spiritual development.
I recently became a vegan after 28 years of eating meat (don't worry I'm not a militant vegan pushing my pro-vegan agenda on everyone else) and I can say in terms of spiritual development it has probably been as important as any spiritual practice I've engaged in. It's right up there with daily meditation and gratitude.
Again, awesome post, I really enjoyed it.
I agree that it is important, what grasps my attention here is I finally come to the understanding that the decision to stop eating meat for example, if possible by health reasons, comes by the practice itself, as we gather more prana from pranayama. It is a continuous development that leads us there.
ReplyDeleteOn the moral issue I think differently, I do realize sentient beings can be hurt, so there is the choice to eat organic, but it is clearly important that it is necessary to keep the yogi alive, and if health does not permit, then meat it has to be... Not only that but I wonder where do we cross the line? Our body is 90% bacteria, if not more, so how do we avoid killing these animals? It is never a black and white issue as I see you see too.
So for some it may have to be meat, In the best possible way, and until wheneer the practice by itself supports the practitioner.
How nice of you to share so much information on this post Claudia. I have put myself on a no book buying agreement until I make a significant dent on what I have not started yet! This is great motivation to catch up. I eat mostly vegetarian but will make exceptions depending on the circumstances, and of course I drink coffee and wine. I guess some of us will be working with omitting one product at a time. No gluten/wheat has been successful for a full month. Maybe the other stuff on the list will follow eventually.
ReplyDeleteWoho! Great that the glutten free it is sticking, for me too, it is, and if I eat a piece of bread now I feel really bad, I had no idea to the extent of which the intollerance went...
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me that I ate wheat for so long not noticing how really bad it was for my body! Now-a-days even on "cheat days" which I had designated as Saturdays I dont even want to touch the stuff...
I agree, some of us will be working and letting things go in due time...
I hear you on buying books, probably should do the same here, I am going deep into this one but also reading about 4 or 5 on the side, a little from each.. :-)
Overnight I became a vegan. It wasn't some mystical revelation although I'm sure there was some divine inspiration involved somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI ended up reading a book that found it's way on to my nook called, "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. It connected the dots as to what is actually going on with most of the food we consume (in the US particularly.)
I've only been a vegan for 6 months but I can safely say that if you cut out animal products from your diet your spiritual endeavour's get quite the turbo boost. Give it a shot for a month and see how you feel. You might be surprised how easy it is to do.
Of course, everyone's path is different but I think the same type of brainwashing James commonly speaks about applies to food and diet too. Always challenge your choices to see if they're being made out of habit/desire or because it's right action.
Regardless, I really enjoyed this post and your blog. Keep it up!
Thank you Noah, and I have tried. I was vegan and vegetarian for long periods of time. It did not work, it made me sick.
ReplyDeleteIf you read James blog then imagine me, I live with the guy! I question everything all the time.
I think we both agree that everyone's path needs to be respected. In the yoga world in which i come from, the brain washing comes the other way, the assumption is you will be vegan, and looked down on if otherwise.
People seem to think they must be vegetarian right away, that it will be easy for everyone. It is not.
The funny thing is that by eating meat is that I am challenging my choices... do you see the irony on that? For years I ate vegetarian because that was the brain washing...
Much appreciate the discussion :-)
Interesting point on the coffee. I've been thinking I should cut down, but wow, it's such a part of my morning routine now, gets life going.
ReplyDeleteoh I hear you, me too... but then again, it might drop by itself... eventually, I actually experienced this, twice... sometimes it goes sometimes it comes back with a fury... I think pushing ourselves to do something in a harsh way may backfire... so enjoy! I sure will :-)
ReplyDelete