Imagine that you could select food based on how you knew it would make you feel. That you could eat without feeling guilty and beating yourself up, but be certain that you were making positive choices that included enjoying the most decadent dessert. Envision how it would feel to not worry about gaining a few pounds and instead have the tools to confidently and calmly reverse the situation. Picture your spiritual Self at the health food store filling up the cart with an array of foods to support your spiritual growth. What foods would your spirit put in the cart if your mind and body were not involved in the decision?
SPIRITUAL PURPOSE
The connection between food and spiritual progress is foreign to our Western culture. Many people are interested in spiritual development but consider the workings of the physical body separate from the ethereal being. Most spiritual teachings espouse that in our essence we are more than the body; we are something else besides the mind. We are Spirit. Our bodies and minds are gifts to be used to fulfill our spiritual purpose: to grow and unfold into the fullness and wholeness of all that we can be, both materially and spiritually. Inherent in this gift is the responsibility to care for our body-mind vehicle so that it will serve us well in our material lives and spiritual pursuits. The way in which we care for our bodies and minds should reflect this spiritual philosophy. On the spiritual path, we begin to see the interconnectedness of everything in relationship to spirit. Once we take up the practices that support our spiritual growth, diet and nourishment become of the utmost importance.
FOOD AND VIBRATION
Let’s take a look at the big picture. Physics teaches that everything in the universe is vibration. The physical body that we can see and feel with our senses, is a highly refined organism composed of atomic structures vibrating at high rates of speed. Essentially, we are bodies of energy affected by and affecting everything in our environment. The kinds of foods that we take into our bodies also have different vibratory frequencies. Higher frequency foods, such as living uncooked fruits, vegetables, sprouted grains, seeds, and nuts, are rich in enzymes and life force, which contribute to our vitality. Lower frequency foods such as denatured, processed, and chemically altered foods, are a drain on our energetic system. The body must expend tremendous effort to transform and eliminate these lower vibration foods from the system. Ideally, we want to take into our systems the foods that raise our vibratory level, manifesting in greater health and vitality.
MINDFUL EATING
The spiritual path is our journey into greater awareness or mindfulness. It means making an effort to be in the present moment. When was the last time you sat down to a meal and tasted every bite that you ate? Try this mindful eating practice. Take a strawberry, raisin or any tasty morsel. Hold it in your hand for a moment and look at it closely. Notice the shape of it and the size of it. Smell it. Next, place it in your mouth and hold it there for a minute or two. Do not swallow it. Be aware of the different taste sensations and the way saliva in your mouth begins to flow. Now, roll it around with your tongue. Feel it. Notice every nuance. Then, slowly swallow it, following it down the esophagus as far as you can and stay present with the overall effect. The next step is to prepare a meal and try to eat every bite with the same degree of awareness. You will find this level of concentration over a long time challenging, but with practice you will be drawn into the present moment and acquire a new level of awareness and respect for conscious eating.
Michele Hébert is a Raja Yoga and meditation teacher, wellness educator, natural nutritionist, and motivational speaker. Michele holds the highest degree of yoga teacher mastery offered by Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500) and was awarded the title of Raja Yoga Guide by her teacher Walt Baptiste. She implemented the first meditation-based stress management program at the renowned Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, CA, teaching mind-body wellness techniques to enhance the immune system. She has authored numerous articles published in industry journals in the area of mind-body health, and was one of the lead teachers in a private fitness video commissioned for H.H. the Dalai Lama.
Michele has been associated with Rancho La Puerta Fitness Resort and The Golden Door Spa for 20 years, where she is a frequent presenter and speaker on spirituality and the art of conscious living. Michele and her husband Dr. Mehrad Nazari lead international yoga, health and spiritual retreats to exotic locations such as Esalen Institute, Costa Rica, Rancho la Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, and India. She has recently created the CD education series, “The Inner Practices of Yoga,” and teaches The Art of Meditation course at University of California, San Diego.
To learn more about Michele and her latest title, The Tenth Door: An Adventure Through the Jungle of Enlightenment, please visit http://www.rajayogis.net
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