A conversation I heard recently bridges the gap…that gap between what we think we need, and what we really need.
This conversation between two of my teachers, Dr. Claudia Welch and Cate Stillman, is called Food is not the Savior.
You might think it’s ironic for me to celebrate this, as someone who teaches a course called The Healing Diet. The catch is, that they exposed my secret. That the healing in the healing diet is not coming from a certain food.
Yes:
- It can benefit you to eat right for your body type.
- It’s important to understand how your metabolism really works, and how you might be sabotaging it unawares.
- It’s important to eat food that is full of life-giving energy.
AND simultaneously, we can’t forget about the larger picture – how you’re showing up in your life, for the rest of your life. Each and every day.
“…the purpose of rejuvenating the body and mind is so that one can optimally pursue the matters of the Spirit, of spirituality and understanding one’s true divine nature.”<<tweet this
In a blog post I published recently, I explore the idea that it’s possible to be too mindful about what we eat, which can cause just as much trouble as being oblivious. There is even an eating disorder termed Orthorexia Nervosa relating to obsession and fear over what one is ingesting.
In the recording, this is referred to as a fear diet. It can happen when there is an information overload, which is almost inevitable in this ‘information age’ we’re living in. Confusion is part of growth, a phase that we move through to reach clarity.
When we start learning about the 6 tastes and 20 qualities and the 3 doshas, we can very easily get caught in the little details, like ‘I’m Pitta, so I can’t eat a carrot.’ The carrot is not the root our our problems, even our digestive problems.
The fact is, that we are sensitive sensory beings, we are always taking in information from our environment. So how can we understand our sensitivity and personal strengths and weaknesses, while plug in to the larger perspective? We must turn inward.
“I’ve heard that one before.”
It’s never over. I had a great conversation with herbalist and food writer, Lisa Mase, the other day, and we talked about the single most important factor when it comes to eating for healing. Mindfulness. It’s not just a switch you turn on, and it stays on. In this conversation, which is a part of my 10 week course, we gave ourselves permission to say that mindfulness is one of the most difficult things we do!
Mindfulness is one of those things that sounds simple, but it’s not easy.
The holistic lens
Looking at the body through a holistic lens – which Ayurveda does – we are more than just this physical gross body. We have a mental body, and an energy body (and two more, subtler bodies beyond that, the 5 koshas, if you’re familiar with this from yoga) as well. The mental body is more subtle than the energy body, and the energy body is more subtle than the physical body. Our energy flows where our thoughts go – this probably makes very logical sense to you. But what you might not connect is that the physical body can flow and grow where the energy goes (or doesn’t). Like when you’re heart is broken, you slouch. 15 years of slouching might cause a hump. Or if you’re in love, you’re whole being is open, flowing, full of energy, and old chronic pain might seem irrelevant, or even disappear.
Thought creates biology.
We can start to recreate our physiology, by cultivating awareness of our thoughts, and our energy. And start to choose where we send them.
So..how do you feel? What do you need?
Do you spend most of your disposable income on food? Do you want to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth? Do you want to make sure you’re buying stuff that’s right for your body type and metabolism? We figure all of that out in the ten week course. (I’d be honored if you’d apply to join us.)
But what I am mostly excited about is the other stuff.
The stuff that keeps us aware of the bigger perspective. Like, how are we taking care of ourselves? How are we starting our day? Are we getting enough sleep? Are we connecting to our body on a deeper level? Are we stopping negative thought patterns that are sabotaging our happiness and growth?
If we choose a holistic viewpoint, we have to go full circle.
Keep good company
I learn the most from watching how my mentors live. Spending time with them after I read something, to see how that idea really translate into life. I heard recently that the only way information becomes wisdom is through discipline. There is so much good information out there, but if we don’t, or don’t know how, to put it into practice it’s not very useful to us.
It’s not black and white either – there are steps, and there are levels to personal growth. It’s good to hover around those that are at another level, and you’ll get what you need out of that. It’s sort of like a trickle down effect I believe in. It’s important to be around a teacher who lives what they teach, so you can get “some of that”, whatever it is, to help you become a better you. That;s why being around people who are doing what you want to be doing, helps you be doing what you want to be doing. And vice versa.
Know what I mean?
Think you might need a supportive community or teacher? I’m offering free 20-minute strategy sessions, just fill out my contact form, then schedule a time for me to call you.
Love, Adena
PS: If you want to know more about ‘the bigger context’ as well as find out your body type (and yes, which foods to eat!), fill out the application for The Healing Diet. The pilot program starts September 1, and if you’ll be my ‘guinea pig’ this September, you get a super one-time deal.
—