Living a healthy life with Yoga

by Mark Patrick Lorenzana

I caught up with a friend recently, a former classmate in a humanities class three years ago, and I was astonished at his present appearance and physique. He was leaner and more active looking, and I wondered if he had entered into some exercise regimen or if he was practicing martial arts. No, the answer was two things- yoga and vegetarianism.

Ulysses Ybañez, an AB Philosophy graduate from USC, has been practicing yoga and vegetarianism for a little less than a year now. He was inspired by his thesis, and in Nov. 20, 2002, joined the Ananda Marga Yoga Center, a spiritual NGO, which is located in B. Rodriguez. The organization teaches meditation and self-realization. They also do social service, like forming relief teams to aid victims of natural calamities.

A lifestyle, not a religion

Yoga, contrary to popular belief, is a lifestyle and not a religion. It is a discipline wherein one can balance three aspects: the physical, mental, and spiritual. Anyone can practice yoga, regardless of religion. In fact, Ulysses is a Catholic, although he admits that he is not a traditional one, and he doesn't follow everything that the church teaches. He also adds that because life is practical, one should be flexible, and should not adhere to dogmas that limit creative thinking. Ulysses believes that dogmas keep a person from being creative and prevents him or her from being a rational thinker.

Yoga practitioners like Ulysses do meditation and Yoga exercises called asanas. It balances the secretion of hormones and has a calming effect. It also prevents stress and helps them shun negative emotions. Acharyas or monks practice meditation four times a day, while ordinary yoga practitioners meditate twice daily.

Good for you

We all know that vegetables are good for us. Our moms always reminded us to eat our greens, much to our chagrin and sometimes disgust. Yoga practitioners share the same sentiment with our moms- that we should eat vegetables. But at least yogis offer a more detailed explanation aside from that "eat your veggies so you'll grow up big and strong" crap. According to Ulysses, food is classified into three types: mutative, static, and sentient. Mutative food stimulates the glands and makes you tense. Examples of these foods are coffee, onion, and garlic. Static food includes meat, especially the red variety that comes from pork, beef, veal, mutton, and venison. These victuals, Ulysses says, make the stomach acidic. Sentient food, on the other hand, make for the best ones. They include fruits and vegetables. Sentient foods are alkaline-based and they eliminate toxins and also make the body light. Veggie eaters also tend to have peaceful minds, says Ulysses, so they can meditate well, enabling them to reach a higher level of consciousness.

From omnivore and carnivore to herbivore

The transition from meat eater to vegetarian is not a walk in the park, and the shift to a vegetarian diet should be done gradually. There are three types of vegetarians. One is the vegan or strict vegetarian who can eat all kinds of vegetables except onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Another type is the lacto-vegetarian. Ulysses is of this type. Lacto-vegetarians can include dairy products such as milk and cheese in their diets aside from the staple fruits and vegetables. The last type is the ovo-vegetarian. In this type, eggs can be eaten.

Ulysses attests that Yoga and vegetarianism is a healthy lifestyle. Both have made him progressive and wise. Yoga and vegetarianism are very important in a person's life, only if he or she is really eager to change, says Ulysses. In the meantime, he is just enjoying a healthy life. As for me? I'm thinking of practicing Yoga exercises and meditation because I know it would really be beneficial. I'm honestly also giving thought to vegetarianism. But right now, the humba beckons.

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