The Yoga Diet

By Kristen Dollard

Are you eating right?

We all have to eat. And we’re sick of dieting. Yet, we’re still desperate to eat right, feel better and gain energy. As a result, we are learning more about the Yoga Diet based on Ayurveda, the sister science to yoga. It means literally “the science of life” and what we love about it is there is no gimmick. It’s an ancient way of eating to balance your diet which as a result, recalibrates your life.

Whether you eat gruel or gourmet, it is the healthiest way to feel great and lose weight. Ultimately, it’s eating for your personality so that you feel more Buddha than Sibyl. Even Christy Turlington whose beauty line Sundari is based on these principles maintains life balance and gorgeous skin by incorporating this lifestyle into her home routine. If you haven’t already, take this quiz to determine your dosha or diet type.  Turlington by the way is Vata/Pitta. Once you know your dosha, you can start to decode what your diet should be.

To add peace to your every meal we enlisted Felicia Marie Tomasko, RN, Ayurvedic practitioner, and member of the board of directors of both the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine for guidance on what we should be eating this season. Then we asked our Skinny Chef Jennifer Iserloh to create 15 recipes you’ve never seen before that will make over your diet and reinvigorate your life—the kickoff to your new diet.

But first, how does this so-called science really work? Here is an introduction to Ayurveda courtesy of Tomasko, who is also the editor in chief of LA Yoga and Ayurveda Magazine. Following that is the first installation of recipes, all containing ghee, a form of butter said to have medicinal qualities.

What does it mean to eat Ayurvedically?

Ayurveda is focused on satisfaction and creating balance in the body, mind and spirit. The guidelines for eating improve immunity and digestion and are a concrete way of optimizing health and well-being. And unlike diets, this Yoga Diet does not include deprivation. It also encourages you to give in to cravings. The best part about this ancient system is just as you can take a deep calming breath before a board meeting and get as relaxed as you are in your yoga class, you can use these guidelines anytime, anywhere. There are no good or bad foods. That means each meal--ethnic or not, store-bought or whole, holiday spreads or sparse snacks—works within the guidelines.


Part One of The Yoga Diet: Better than Butter
More to come

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