How Teaching Yoga Gave Me the Flexibility to Change How I Eat

My first yoga class was so awkward, I dashed out halfway through a sun salutation. Unable to keep up with trendy bendy class-goers zooming from down dogs to cobras, my only thought was to flee the scene. 

Fast forward to a few years later. Seeking balance, focus and discipline, I decided to give yoga another try. This time, I checked my expectations, and chose a basic hatha class that involved slow poses and which would give me a basic understanding of body positioning and breathing. (It didn’t hurt that the instructor had an almost hypnotic voice.)

Once I got into the swing of it, I was amazed at how much more energy I had. No longer feeling stiff all the time, I began noticing my posture while standing on the subway. As I gradually became more confident in my body, I enrolled in Haha yoga teacher training (TT), where I learned that yoga practice isn’t just important when it comes to learning how to move your body: it’s integral to discovering a mindful approach to nutrition and eating healthy. 

Here’s what I learned.

Balance: The way you eat is a reflection of how you feel  

During my training on a yogic approach to nutrition , those of us who were not vegans asked our instructor how we could stick to healthy eating habits. We were told: “When you integrate the principles of yoga into your life it carries over to how you eat.” While this sounded lovely in theory, I was skeptical. But later on, my attitude toward eating really did shift. Yoga, after all, is about existing more mindfully and presently in the world, and eating is a huge part of that.

As my practice continued, I started paying closer attention to the foods on my plate. Before taking a bite, I’d ask myself whether or not the foods I was ingesting would make me feel better or worse: “Will those pistachio macaroons zap my energy? Is a Granny Smith better for my blood sugar?” I started cooking more—reminding myself specific colors of produce related to antioxidant content, so variety was best. Unusual greens like Purslane, and unusual mushrooms like the immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory Maitake, became new favorites. 

Before taking a bite, I’d ask myself whether or not the foods I was ingesting would make me feel better or worse: “Will those pistachio macaroons zap my energy?"

Today, I tell my students to explore food with their imaginations. Talk to farmers market vendors to ask what they recommend—try a new food every visit and consider keeping a food diary, noting daily meals, along with how various foods make you feel afterward. 

Discipline: Listen to your body 

In TT, we are taught to emphasize the importance of listening to your body. Crucial for instructors and students, this potentially prevents injuries by signaling when to stop versus pushing through pain, and also helps identify sensitivities.

To listen to your body, it’s important to establish a baseline. That’s why one thing I make sure to do every day is Tadasana, AKA Mountain Pose, a grounding pose that promotes balance. To try it: stand barefoot on a matt or floor, feet roughly 6 inches apart. Lengthen your torso and envision a clear thread gently aligning your spine, up through your head, until you are naturally tall. Your shoulders should be relaxed—not hunched. Breathe easily through your nose. Mentally focus on each part of your body. Become aware of any discomfort, tension or pain. Continue until you reach the top of your head. 

One thing I noticed once I began practicing Tadasana for a while was that I often picked up messages about how my body was feeling about my diet during this daily check-in. Thoughts like “I skipped a meal, so  I’m hungry,” or “Too many carbs made me feel sluggish” are messages from your body that should be heeded. If you listen to your body closely, your diet will change for the better.

Thoughts like “I skipped a meal, so  I’m hungry,” or “Too many carbs made me feel sluggish” are messages from your body that should be heeded.

Energy: Flexibility is a state of mind

One of the most common misconceptions about yoga is you need to be flexible in order to do it. If that were true, I never would have gotten back on the mat. Thankfully I overcame my fears and immersed myself in the practice. While I still grapple with making healthy and wise choices at times, yoga’s teachings help me understand the importance of awareness, self-compassion, and mental flexibility. In the words of Philosopher and Mystic Patañjali: “The great secret is this: it is not enough to have intuitions; we must act on them; we must live them.”

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