The Yoga Lifestyle: Using the Flexitarian Method to Ease Stress, Find Balance, and Create a Healthy Life

625 Pages·2016·8.41 MB·English

by  Doron Hanoch

Llewellyn Publications
Woodbury, Minnesota
Dedicated to Sara Hanoch
Beyond being a loving mother, you are an inspiration to many—
Living in wisdom, love, and adaptability—a true flexitarian.
Disclaimer The content and information offered
in this book is not offered as medical advice or
medical opinion, and is not intended to treat,
diagnose, prevent, mitigate, or prescribe the use
of any technique as treatment to any illness or
disease, nor to any physically or emotional
problems.
This book is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or
health care professional. You should consult with a health care professional
before starting any new diet, exercise, breath work, psychological, or
supplementation program, or if you suspect you might have a health problem.
Any health advice in this book is intended for information only. Any review or
testimonial offered in this book does not guarantee any type of outcome. They
are anecdotes and do not serve as scientific research.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
P 1: T B C 1: T S C
ART HE ASICS HAPTER HE YSTEM HAPTER
2: L F : L P C
AYING OUNDATIONS IFESTYLE RACTICES HAPTER
3: A : Personalize Your Life!
YURVEDA
P 2: T F E M C
ART HE OUR LEMENTS OF THE ETHOD HAPTER
4: P Y C 5: B W
HYSICAL OGA HAPTER REATH ORK
—P E C C 6:
RANAYAMA AND NERGY ULTIVATION HAPTER
F N C 7: M W P 3:
OOD AND UTRITION HAPTER IND ORK ART
W P C 8: T
ORKING WITH THE ROGRAM HAPTER HE
F M Y L C 9:
LEXITARIAN ETHOD AS A OGA IFESTYLE HAPTER
M L B C
AINTENANCE EADS TO LISS ONCLUSION
Further Reading
Glossary of Asana (Yoga Pose) Names
Glossary of Yoga, Meditation, and Pranayama Terminology
Bibliography and Resources
About the Author
Acknowledgments
I
bow in deep gratitude to all my teachers along the way, including Osho, the
Dalai Lama, Daido Roshi, Shugen Sensei, Pattabhi Jois, Mark Stephens, Richard
Freeman, Tim Miller, Rolf and Marci, Vin Marti, Adarsh Williams, Chris Price,
Sheshadri, BNS Iyengar and Cidananda, as well as my teachers at the Natural
Gourmet Institute. There were many more formal teachers as well as informal,
beautiful beings that were happy to share their wisdom with me over a cup of
chai in India, a glass of wine in New York, a meal at Esalen, or while breaking
bread in one of the many countries I’ve been fortunate to visit.
Thank you, Erica Goewey, for the first round of editing of this book, your
friendship and your wisdom.
Thank you, Maria Kuzmiak, for being a master editor and sharing your
amazing insights and eye for detail.
Thank you, Mom, for believing in me and encouraging me to stay true to
myself, and thank you, Gil Hanoch, for the support throughout this book creation
process.
Thank you, Lauren Anas, for all your help and support, and to all of my
students for practicing, for asking questions, and for allowing me to share with
you the wisdom of the ancient and the modern teachings that support each one of
us on the way to liberation.
Lastly, thank you, the reader of this book, for taking the steps to learn and
grow, for your willingness to embark on this beautiful journey that will
hopefully not only bring you bliss and joy, but will also allow you to spread it
on.
Foreword
I
n practicing yoga, we gradually come to discover that it affects the entirety of
our lives. How we eat, sleep, think, and feel all take on new qualities. Our
lives get better as we come to know ourselves better and better through the
mirror of practice. The deeper we go with it all, the more we come to appreciate
the joyful and transformational nature of yoga. For some, this inspires a
deepening sense of caring about others and the world, which inspires a desire to
share the practice with others.
When I met Doron Hanoch in my classes nearly ten years ago, it was clear
from the beginning that I was in the presence of a man deeply devoted to his
practice. Yet as serious as he was (and is) about yoga, he was equally light about
it, always finding simple and humorous ways to explain what it’s all about. His
genuine humility was all the more meaningful because of the depth and
commitment of his practice—a practice that extends well off his mat and into
every aspect of his life.
Along with his passion and insight for all things yogic, Doron is a masterful
chef who appreciates the beauty of food as an essential nutrient for the soul, as
well as for a healthy body and mind. He’s also a consummate citizen of the
world, whose extensive travels are reflected in his very broad yet deep
appreciation of diverse cultures and peoples. Add the wisdom that comes from
daily practice and deep contemplation, and you find a man who is wonderfully
gifted in teaching about yoga and thriving in this life.
We are now blessed to have Doron’s experiences and insights into what he
sensibly calls a flexitarian life, brought together in his new book, The Yoga
Lifestyle. Sometimes it seems that there are many various disconnected ideas,
concepts, and practices in the yoga realm. Doron makes the connections clear,
revealing how one might best cultivate the balances in life that make every
breath, every bite, and every moment altogether more sublime.
Mark Stephens
Author of Teaching Yoga, Yoga Adjustments, and Yoga Sequencing
Introduction
T
here is a plethora of meditation, yoga, health, nutrition, and cookbooks on
the market. Many of them address a specific diet or dogma, in which they
treat the person as if we all have the exact same body and mind. One can argue
that in essence we are all the same, but on a functioning level, we sure are
different.
This book describes a holistic system to accomplish a yogic lifestyle within
the modern world. Traditional concepts of yoga are explained in clear,
contemporary terminology. You will find Sanskrit names with English
translations. The book offers a toolbox of the most efficient practices that may fit
into today’s lifestyle, mining tradition to create powerful contemporary
practices. Kept simple, the book provides foundations without an overwhelming
amount of unnecessary detail, and provides essentials that can be utilized right
away in life.
The Yoga Lifestyle introduces the concept of the flexitarian. If you’ve heard
the term, it’s probably with respect to the flexitarian diet, which most people
define as a diet that is mostly vegetarian or vegan but does include some fish,
poultry, and meat on occasion. The book looks at the flexitarian diet and
expands upon those principles to create an entire flexitarian lifestyle. The Yoga
Lifestyle aims to create the best life possible, without the stress. It seeks the
healthiest life options for each individual, according to his or her needs.
Is This Book for You?
Have you ever wanted to:
•Understand yoga and learn how to build your own practice?
•Know your body type and balance your life?
•Live in sustainable health and happiness?
•Be empowered with practical and efficient tools for a healthy lifestyle?
•Develop a steady and focused mind?
•Become stronger and toned, without lifting weights?
•Become flexible, without being a ballerina?
The Yoga Lifestyle is great for anyone willing to take responsibility for his or
her own life. It is based on the research of many yoga traditions (mostly from the
ashtanga vinyasa tradition), mind and meditation practices (mostly Buddhist and
Gestalt), as well as most health diets, both modern and traditional (Ayurveda,
blood type, macrobiotic, raw food). It takes the best from each dogma and
presents a system that each person can adapt to meet his or her individual needs.
Health, a Holistic Matter of Body and Mind When I sat down to
write this book, I first thought to focus on just yoga poses. I love
the practice and it made a great positive change in my life. What I
noticed was that my practice was very influenced by what I ate
the night before, and even my overall diet influenced my practice.
Certain foods created mucus and stiffness, while others helped
lubricate my joints and helped me be alert and limber.
Then I thought of food; I love food and what a great way to tap into one’s
overall health. You are what you eat, or more accurately you are what you
digest. But in order to digest well, you need to have a body that works well. To
improve digestion, we can massage the internal organs with some yoga and
practice some breath work. We can also keep a stress-free mind, to improve
digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
I can’t really teach yoga without tapping into food. And yoga already
incorporates breath work and mind work into its practices. A graceful, healthy,
sustainable yoga practice can only be done with a healthy body and a healthy
mind. Without the mind in the right space, it is hard to achieve a positive
outcome. A healthy mind is really the foundation for creating a life of bliss.
When people ask me what my secret for staying healthy, fit, and happy is, I
tell them that it is about keeping life in balance, taking a holistic approach—this
is the modern yogi—flexible enough beyond the body to adapt to the needs and
changes of the world we live in today.
If I had focused only on one element (physical yoga, breathing, food and
nutrition, or mind work), my life would have improved for sure, yet I would
have still suffered until I worked on all levels. You can have a great engine in
the car, but if your wheels are completely worn out, you cannot expect the car to
run well and safely. Even if the engine and wheels are both in great shape, if the
windshield is dirty, you will not be able to see where you are driving.
It is not about choosing one thing to work on; it is about incorporating all of
the elements that we need as humans to experience a healthy lifestyle: an active
and supple body; breath for balanced energy; healthy, wholesome food in
moderation; and a sound mind that makes conscious decisions that are good for
you and the environment, now and in the long run.
You may have ups and downs—welcome to being human! The holistic
approach to health helps you ride the downs with a smile, or at least without the
great suffering that may come from them. You will be empowered to take action
to move from the downs back to a balanced state of being—a state where you
can enjoy the highs and deal with the lows without agony.
I hope to inspire you to take steps on all levels of your life. The modern yogi
—you—is a flexitarian that incorporates yoga into all layers of her life. This will
transform your work, your relationships, and your surroundings. You will
become like a radiating light, illuminating all that comes in contact with you.
Finding balance takes time. It starts with small steps and being consistent. You
do not need to be “good” at yoga to start practicing it. You do not need to be at
the “right weight” to have a healthy diet. Practice the methods offered in this
book regularly and you will have a sustainable, joyful life. So how can you
maintain holistic joy?
The most important step is to keep your life balanced and avoid extremes. By
doing this, you don’t need to keep readjusting and fixing things. Though you
may be living in balance, keep working on all aspects of your health throughout
the day, every day. Maintenance is the key to a sustainable yoga lifestyle. This
means The Yoga Lifestyle is going to walk with you throughout life.
While thinking is helpful, it is also important to give your mind a break. We
will learn how to do it later in the book. The answers to holistic joy will unfold
as we go through the chapters, and learn to use the four-part system of the yoga
lifestyle.