18

Enlightenment Journal | Summer 2012

P

roper diet is one of the most 

important factors for living a yogic 

lifestyle. Eating is a celebration of our 

bodies and we can do it joyfully and 

with intention. Our body is an 

extraordinary instrument that properly 

digests our foods, takes in the neces-

sary oxygen to expand our lungs, and 

pumps enough blood to our heart to 

support us in living a purposeful life. 

When we nourish the body with 

intention, we reap the full benefit of 

this magnificent vessel. 

One of the most basic needs of the 

body—proper diet—is often neglected, 

due to either a busy lifestyle or lack 

of knowledge about what comprises 

a well-balanced diet. We often look 

outside of our body to various diet 

trends for guidance on how to eat 

balanced meals. While this can some-

times be useful, we frequently discover 

that these plans don’t work for us. So, 

instead of looking outward, try looking 

inward. 

Changing our eating habits begins 

with bringing our own consciousness 

into the grocery cart. Eating balanced 

meals is a practice. Our time of eating 

is personal and each individual adapts 

his or her needs to various nutritional 

requirements. What may work for 

some, may not work for others. 

Journaling can be a helpful tool in 

developing a deeper awareness about 

what we eat. It can also assist us with 

becoming more aware at discerning 

the messages we get from our body 

and understanding how our food 

choices not only impact us, but others, 

HEALTHY LIVING

Honor the Body Temple

Recipe: A protein-packed summer salad perfect for a picnic

Shelley Swan