A very good friend of mine recently took me along with her to a Beauty Fair in London. My curiosity got the better of me; I was interested to know what the latest trends in make-up and beauty were going to be.
Well, I certainly got to find out! I have never seen so many products to enhance how we look on the outside. So much stuff that I didn’t even know I needed!
I am not condemning the beauty industry in any way. I love to have a facial and to get my nails done, and I put make up on in the mornings to make me look less scary when I face my clients! It makes me feel more confident and relaxed to know that I have made an effort with my appearance. I’ve even been known to excuse the time and expense I spend by calling it essential maintenance!
But the main question on my mind was whether I make as much effort with the way I look after myself on the inside.
The second limb of the Eight Limbs of Yoga is to do with Personal Observances, or the “Niyamas”. The niyama I am considering in this week’s blog entry is Saucha, otherwise known as purity. Specifically, purifying the body.
Yoga challenges us to think about the choices we make regarding what we eat and to consider if what we’re eating and drinking is actually making us ill.
I try never to be prescriptive when people ask me about food and diet; my response is usually that it’s good to keep everything in balance. I appreciate that fresh organic fruit and vegetables are very expensive. Then again, so is the foundation I buy to put on my face and I consider that to be a necessity!
Well, I certainly got to find out! I have never seen so many products to enhance how we look on the outside. So much stuff that I didn’t even know I needed!
I am not condemning the beauty industry in any way. I love to have a facial and to get my nails done, and I put make up on in the mornings to make me look less scary when I face my clients! It makes me feel more confident and relaxed to know that I have made an effort with my appearance. I’ve even been known to excuse the time and expense I spend by calling it essential maintenance!
But the main question on my mind was whether I make as much effort with the way I look after myself on the inside.
The second limb of the Eight Limbs of Yoga is to do with Personal Observances, or the “Niyamas”. The niyama I am considering in this week’s blog entry is Saucha, otherwise known as purity. Specifically, purifying the body.
Yoga challenges us to think about the choices we make regarding what we eat and to consider if what we’re eating and drinking is actually making us ill.
I try never to be prescriptive when people ask me about food and diet; my response is usually that it’s good to keep everything in balance. I appreciate that fresh organic fruit and vegetables are very expensive. Then again, so is the foundation I buy to put on my face and I consider that to be a necessity!
I have referred in an earlier blog post to a book I have found to be interesting and informative:
The Eight Limbs of Yoga – Pathway to Liberation, by Bhava Ram
Reading this book has really challenged my thinking and my perspective. There are some tips in the book about diet which I love and thought would be good to share with you. Here goes:
What do you think? I don’t believe there is anything on that list that seems out of reach, or at least that we can’t aspire to!
We can buy creams and have procedures to try and turn the clock back, but that’s just dealing with what is on the outside. It’s superficial. We can make a real difference by adopting some simple dietary changes and feeling better on the inside.
“See taking charge of your diet as a centrepiece of your spiritual practice and personal transformation” — Bhava Ram
What do you think? Are you taking any steps in your life to change what's on the inside? If so, how are they making you feel? I'd love to hear your thoughts on Saucha.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga – Pathway to Liberation, by Bhava Ram
Reading this book has really challenged my thinking and my perspective. There are some tips in the book about diet which I love and thought would be good to share with you. Here goes:
- Eat organic as much as possible
- Buy locally grown food as much as possible
- Eat real food, not things from boxes and packages
- If and when you do buy packaged items, don’t buy things with more than five ingredients or ingredients you cannot pronounce (my favourite tip!)
- Don’t buy products with artificial colourings, preservatives or sweeteners
- Focus on plants, grains, nuts and seeds, not pastas, breads, cakes and other such ‘fillers’
What do you think? I don’t believe there is anything on that list that seems out of reach, or at least that we can’t aspire to!
We can buy creams and have procedures to try and turn the clock back, but that’s just dealing with what is on the outside. It’s superficial. We can make a real difference by adopting some simple dietary changes and feeling better on the inside.
“See taking charge of your diet as a centrepiece of your spiritual practice and personal transformation” — Bhava Ram
What do you think? Are you taking any steps in your life to change what's on the inside? If so, how are they making you feel? I'd love to hear your thoughts on Saucha.
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