Why are yoga and raw food better together?
If you’ve looked around for a yoga retreat, you’ll know that very often raw food will feature on the menu.
But why?
What is it about yoga and raw food that make them such a perfect match?
Let’s look at the benefits of both.
Yoga and raw food both help your body detox
How raw food does it
- If you’ve been eating raw food for a while – or even if you’re just getting started – you’ll know that eating lots of fresh food can often mean an instant detox.
- The fiber that raw food contains is perfect for helping the body expel all of those additives and toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis, whether through the food that we eat, the products that we put on our skin, or even the air that we breathe.
How yoga does it
- Yoga has many exercises that are specifically for improving the digestive system and for cleansing the organs. And the great thing about yoga is that the cleansing process can be very gentle – provided you haven’t eaten a heavy meal of meat and potatoes the day before!
- The best way to get the maximum benefit from yoga’s detoxing and cleansing (as well as making your yoga practice easier and more enjoyable) is to make sure you eat lightly (for example…raw!)
Yoga and raw food both help improve your health
How raw food does it
- Raw food helps alkalize the body, which basically means that viruses and other nasties find it more difficult to survive.
- Raw food has more nutrients.
- The nutrients that you get from raw food are more easily absorbed, because they haven’t been tampered with.
You can read more about why raw food is a healthy option here.
How yoga does it
Yoga has a wealth of physical benefits, some of which are:
- improved flexibility
- increased muscle tone and strength
- better posture
- increased blood flow
All of which are fantastically good for you regardless of your age or size. Win!
You can read more about yoga’s health benefits here.
Yoga and raw food both help you look younger
How raw food does it
When we increase the amount of raw food that we eat, we find ourselves not only slimming down (yay!), but also enjoying softer skin and looking younger.
Here’s why:
- Raw food is high in water content, which means that toxins are flushed out more easily, leading to clearer skin.
- Raw food has a high level of easily assimilated vitamins and minerals, as well as healthy amounts of fiber, which means that we don’t need to eat as much to feel satisfied.
How yoga does it
- Increased blood flow and release of toxins through yoga can help improve skin tone.
- Improved muscle strength and flexibility means a more toned overall body shape.
And of course, clearer, softer skin and a more toned body means…looking younger, no matter what your age!
Yoga and raw food both help you have more energy
How raw food does it
- Ridding our bodies of toxins and improving our digestion means less energy spent digesting heavy foods. Digestion is what uses up most of our energy typically, so when we make this process easier, guess what? We feel much more energetic!
- More energy means needing less sleep. Many raw food enthusiasts report gaining at least 2 hours a day.
I myself can testify to an increase in energy. Previously I needed 8-9 hours of sleep a night – and now 6 or 7 is normal for me.
And it’s not because I’m working too hard!
How yoga does it
- The movements or postures in yoga are designed to help energy circulate more freely in the body.
- Yoga can help unblock any ‘stuck’ energy that is stored in our muscles or organs. And when that blocked energy is released, it is ours to use!
Yoga and raw food both help improve your mood
How raw food does it
- Many foods when eaten raw can help with depression, mood swings and all kinds of emotional issues, because they help us produce those feel-good chemicals that our bodies need in the form of neurotransmitters. A good example is raw chocolate.
- Other ‘feel good’ foods are green leafy veg, brazil nuts, walnuts, sesame seeds, grapes, bananas and oranges. And raw food recipes contain all kinds of tasty ways to eat these foods. Yum!
- And even beyond feeling more positive, some raw foods are specifically recommended to fight stress.
How yoga does it
- Yoga is known for being very beneficial for stress management due to its meditative aspect, as well as the other physical benefits listed above.
- Yoga has a strong focus on breathing, which helps oxygenate the blood as well as assist in relaxation. Even the simple fact of focusing on our breathing can help us relax.
Combine relaxation with stretching and relaxing our muscles, and you’ve got a great recipe for stress relief!
Yoga and raw food can heighten your intuition and help with mental clarity
How raw food does it
A less talked-about aspect of raw food is its ability to help us think more clearly. Here’s why it works:
- Toxins not only clog our digestive tract, but they clog our thought processes. So by eating food that is free from additives and is brimming with nutrients, we clear our bodies and minds. This means that we find it easier to ‘think straight’, or we feel more ‘in tune’ with who we want to be or what we want to be doing.
This might sound a bit ‘out there’, but ask anyone who is a long-term raw food eater, and they’ll tell you the same thing.
Increased mental clarity is actually one of my favorite benefits of a raw food lifestyle (OK yes I love looking younger too!)
How yoga does it
- Yoga’s meditative aspect encourages us to listen not just to our minds, but to our bodies as well.
- Yoga has the same detoxing effect on our bodies – and therefore on our minds – as raw food does (see above).
Where do retreats come into all of this?
Well, let me ask you a question.
What are you after when you go on a retreat?
How about:
- achieving a deep and healthy detox
- looking younger
- feeling more energetic
- improving your overall health
- having an opportunity to rest, relax and be taken care of
- getting in touch with what you really want and need
Yes please!
Is it any wonder that raw food and yoga retreats are so popular?
Would you like to experience these benefits for yourself?
I run various retreats throughout the year.
You can read more about it here.
And as always, I’d love to hear what you think – so let me know in the comments!
2 Responses to “Why yoga and raw food are better together”
Jeanette Gann
Love both raw foods and yoga, a match made in heaven! Great article, thanks!
-Jeanette Gann livelyandfresh.com
Barbara Fernandez
Thanks Jeanette, I’m glad you like it! I loved researching it, as I discovered there were even more parallels than I had thought!