Yoga and Nutrition - Small Changes Can Change Everything
I think you will agree that health is the most precious thing we have. Health begins with learning to breathe and eat properly. Since breathing happens automatically it's very easy to dismiss the importance of breathing properly and so you get into bad habits such as shallow breathing. In yoga we learn the about the complete breath.
The basic nature of the body is health and we are in constant search for equilibrium.Therefore it makes sense that if we begin to consciously change our breathing patterns we can influence our minds and healing of the body begins in the mind. This close link between body and mind enables us to work on the mind through the body and also work on the body through the mind. As we go through life, bad breathing habits become part of our life. Unless we do something to reverse these habits, we can suffer permanent problems. The good news is that these are reversible. Yoga is a powerful way to cope with stress and the decrease in oxygen supply to the brain brought on by the constricted breathing.
Like breathing what we eat is many times just a habit based on three things: pleasure, energy, and recovery instead of eating for health. When it comes to proper nutrition just remember how important it is to alkalize your body. So let's just focus on two small changes that can change everything: complete breath and a simple way to alkalize your body first thing in the morning.
If your breathing is too shallow or too quick you are not taking in sufficient oxygen and a toxic build up occurs because we are not eliminating sufficient carbon dioxide. Every cell in the body requires oxygen. Our vitality is simply a product of the health of all our cells. Deep breathing exercises known as complete breathing and stretching of muscles, especially those primarily concerned with controlling inhaling and exhaling, should be sought. Complete breathing requires action from the high chest, the low chest and from our diaphram.Stress relief through breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga will benefit the alkalinity and many other areas of your health. Energy that is cultivated while doing yoga is retained and stored within.
It is important to alkalize your body to keep it pain and disease free. We can alkalize our bodies with the food we eat and by relaxing. Studies have shown that the more acidity you have, the greater your health risks. This is not just aches and pains, but the acidity will affect your immune system, your heart, circulation and basically all areas of your health. Minor health issues such as common colds, allergies, headaches, skin problems and aches and pains are caused when the body has too much acid. Prolonged acidity causes life threatening diseases because acid blood blocks absorption of essential vitamins and good digestion which has a toxic effect in your cells. Processed foods, packaged foods, sugary foods, alcohol and stress are some the common things that promote acidity in your body. There are many food that counteract the acidic effects and many mind/body techniques that help return you to a more alkaline nature, as well as create calm in your mind.
When you wake in the morning, if you drink a glass of water with a lemon squeezed into the water, you will stimulate an alkaline reaction.This may sound strange as the lemon is acidic, however there's a huge difference between acid foods and acid-forming foods. After lemons are digested they become a powerful alkaline booster. You can then add some of these foods to your daily diet to further alkalize your body: almonds, yogurt, fresh fruit and vegetables, superfoods, and fermented vegetables. Avoid or reduce these: soft drinks, alcohol, processed foods, sweeteners and cheese.
Set natural forces in motion through the use of yoga and good nutrition!
