Raw

THE YOGA
OF FOOD

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 Most people love food. The old adage, do you eat
to live or live to eat? would happily be answered
by many as live to eat of course! Food is not going
out of fashion any time soon. But like everything,
how and what we eat is changing. Enter the latest
dietary trend of raw food, living food, raw vegan,
or as I like to call it, high-energy food. Some call it
the yoga of food.
We cant live very long without food. Or I should
say; most of us cant. Because there have been
yogis who could live on pranic energy alone. But
lets say your pranayama practice is not so evolved
and you have a way to go before you can live on
fresh air and prana. So eating is probably quite
important to you.
Contrary to popular opinion I also love to eat, but
I am quite particular and have a preference for a
high energy, high raw diet. So on my recent trip
to Bali (see May 2016 edition) I was in my element
with all the raw food restaurants, great raw chefs,
and raw food schools for those wanting to study
raw food culinary arts. Ubud is raw food paradise.
The raw food diet is vast, covering everything from
eating fruit and a salad to world-class gourmet
cuisine plus everything between. Its become
increasingly popular over the last 10 years.
I was first introduced to raw eating in the 1980s,
by Leslie Kentons books on eating raw for energy
and wellbeing. I taught yoga at the time and I
immediately experienced the health benefits. Eating
raw resonated with me, I rarely cooked anyway
and have been accused of thinking a smoothie is
a meal. So now as a Wellness Coach and Trainer
of Wellness Coaches, this fashionable new wave
of raw has seen me adopt and recommend a high
raw diet.
I recommend 100% raw food for healing and
regenerating the body. It is also ideal for weight
loss. It is seen as the yoga of food, because eating
100% raw food is great for spiritual elevation. It
can be used as a support along with other spiritual
practices to lift your spirit and raise consciousness.
Increasing your intake of raw food anywhere
from 50% upwards raises your energy levels and
improves your overall health.
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As well as eating lots of great raw food in Bali I
spoke with some knowledgeable local experts.
Taksu means energy and is the name of one
of my favourite restaurants in Ubud. I got to chat
with Taksus chef, acclaimed Indonesian raw food
connoisseur, Arif Springs. Arif, was born into a
family of healers and he grew up watching his
herbalist grandmother prepare herbs as Jamu
medicine. Hence Arif knows good food is
medicinal and important at all stages of life from
a babys first years right through to old age. It is
traditional in Java, where Arif is from, to grow
medicinal herbs such as turmeric, ginger, garlic,
Javanese ginseng, aromatic galangal and healing
indigenous leaves. Arif still uses some of the
remedies his grandmother taught him, and there
is a beautiful herb garden at Taksu, where healing
plants and herbs can easily be incorporated into
the food.
Arif advocates eating raw for 3-6
months in order to restore health,
improve liver function, stabilise
weight, detox the body and cure
some diseases. He speaks of starving
cancer on a pure diet and revitalising
the bodys enzymes, rather than feeding
disease with processed foods.
Food also feeds the soul and all the food at
Taksu is lovingly prepared and presented. I
found myself eating far less, simply because
I was feasting on the environment, the colours,
the artistry and aesthetics of the food.
The vitality of our food is so important. I would go
as far as to say it determines whether we live or die.
Some foods are full of life and vitality, while others
are slow poisons. Its all energy and the energy we
put in is the energy we will get out!
I talked with Ben Richards, while sipping a delicious
green smoothie, in Seeds of life, the raw caf he
owns. Ben trains raw chefs to make some amazing
creations. I got to sample some of the best raw
food on earth, so many rich tastes, textures and
awesome creativity.
03/08/2016 23:12
 When we eat light foods,
we become light in the broadest
sense of the word.

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 To take part in Sholas Free
3-day Raw
Food Challenge
at energy4lifecoach.com
email: shola@shola.co.uk

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 The word nutrition is generally thought to
mean to nourish and nurture, but Ben has his
own definition. He defines the word nutrition
as meaning, to transfer or assimilate light. This
resonates with me, as we are light beings and
have the potential to be light and radiate light.
Ben points out that our food either creates
energy and lightness or heaviness and density,
with overconsumption leading to sickness. Raw
food, eaten in moderation, is one of the lightest
and purest diets we can enjoy. Plant foods, fruits,
nuts, seeds and sea veggies create what in yoga is
known as a sattvic diet - pure diet.
Raw, refers to foods that are not denatured by
cooking above 48 degrees. To make it easy I
say not above body temperature. That way the
body can receive the nutrients and use them as
intended carriers of information, consciousness
and light.
When we eat light foods, we become light in the
broadest sense of the word. We feel light and
uplifted, instead of dull, exhausted and comatose,
as often happens after eating heavy cooked foods
that also numb our emotions. High vibration food
nurtures and feeds the cells, creating an alkaline
environment where disease cannot reside. Raw
foods are rich in natural food enzymes so they
dont rob your bodys declining enzyme bank.
Enzymes in your body reduce with age, which is
partly responsible for what we call ageing.
Eating light sattvic foods is a loving choice. It is
a sign of self-love. Raw foods tend to have high
water content and the vibrations from water
leave imprints in your body. High vibration foods
tune you back into your life assignment. They re-
connect you with nature, natural cycles, your own
heart space, with love and your divine self. Ben
says, Food is a meeting place with the potential to
raise your vibration and evoke your life purpose.
The times we live in are calling us to remember
the divine and honour our earth. The increase in
sickness, diseases and cancers is a wake up call.
What is it we can to do differently? Can you eat
lighter, eat less to raise your pranic energy and
sattvic vibration? Are you being called to radiate
more light?
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Many people when starting yoga also re-consider
their diet. I certainly did. I became a vegetarian
30 years ago in India. Rajasic foods stimulate
the body, creating inflammation, body fat and
energetic noise. This distracts us from our core
energy and divine purpose in life. Eating a light
sattvic diet and fasting intermittently heals the
body, raises your vibration and calms your energy.
Plant based foods help us re-connect with the
beauty in the world and our own divine essence.
Ubud means healing, and many people arrive
there exhausted and looking for balance. Yoga and
raw food can quickly restore health. I connected
with Japanese born author Sayuri Tanaka who
offers retreats and raw food trainings in Bali. She
spoke about the three treasures - Jing, Qi, Shen;
energies that can become depleted due to modern
living. Becoming more conscious of how we live
and eat, allows us to rebuild our energies. Jing,
QI, Shen is our very essence and ability to radiate
light. Ultimately yoga offers enlightenment. We are
meant to shine, to find our dharma, our purpose in
life. Become the full potential of who we are and
be of service to others.
Research in biophysics tells us that every cell in
the body emits light. Biophoton emissions cannot
be seen, but can be measured. They are thought
to play a role in creating coherent states in the
body mind spirit continuum. Coherent states
signal health. We all know we are what we eat.
Measurements of biophotons differ between
healthy and diseased cells. It makes sense that
what we put into our physical vehicle, our body
temple should be of the highest vibration to
induce health.
Well-prepared raw foods look and taste amazing,
while feeding your body, mind and spirit. As human
consciousness rises I am sure we will continue
to witness the increase of people enjoying both
yoga and raw food.
CAROLINE SHOLA AREWA
WRITTEN BY
CAROLINE IS AN ENERGY DOCTOR, PIONEER IN
ENERGY, LIFESTYLE MEDICINE AND WELLNESS
COACHING. AUTHORED OF FIVE PUBLISHED
BOOKS. SHE FEATURES IN THE FILM, YOGAWOM-
AN. CAROLINE IS ALSO A PSYCHOLOGIST, YOGA
TEACHER, CAM AWARD-WINNER AND FOUNDER
OF ENERGY 4 LIFE, HELPING YOU GET YOUR EN-
ERGY BACK AND YOUR LIFE ON TRACK.
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