A conversation with a yogi on food and the spirit

Being a meat-eater all my life, I was dumb-founded when I first heard from our yoga instructor that she was a vegetarian--since birth. No, make that since the day she was conceived. My yoga teacher, Sharon Olaguer-Lim, shared this fact about herself over a plate of vegetarian curry at a Thai restaurant the very first time we had lunch together. I’ve met people who turned vegan or who followed a strict vegetarian diet at some point in their lives. And I do believe that man does not -- and cannot -- live on bread alone. But a real live human being who has gone through life without ever sinking her teeth into a mouth-watering slab of steak or a juicy burger? Is she for real? The idea seemed too much to fathom at first but yes, my yoga teacher and friend, Sharon, has managed to survive all her thirtysomething years on bread, vegetables and a diet of nutritious substitutes to meat and animal protein. But unlike most people, Sharon is not a vegetarian just to be lean and healthy. It has everything to do with her faith.

A Hatha Yoga instructor at the Rockwell Club, Sharon has been teaching yoga since 2003 when she got certified by the International Yoga Institute. But she was born into the lifestyle through her father who is a strict practitioner of Bhakti yoga or the process of linking up with God through devotional service. Suffice it to say that her practice of yoga does not simply mean doing sun salutations and headstands and turning herself into a human pretzel after an hour of meditation. While she shuns being called a “yogi," much less a yoga guru, she remains true to the essence of yoga which is the pursuit of connecting with the Supreme Being or God. A real yogi then is, basically, one who observes the dharma or religious principles founded on non-violence, truthfulness, honesty and purity. It involves niyama or the observance of such principles through contentment, self-study and discipline. It is the same self discipline that Sharon and other yoga practitioners channel to their eating habits and food choices. While Sharon says that sometimes the realities of a hectic lifestyle can get in the way of following a strict yogic diet, she states, “Food plays a very important role in conditioning and maintaining the body which in turn, affects our behavior." Hence, to those who are seriously into yoga, food is not just vital to survival but to one’s spiritual well being. How then does a yogi or at least someone who practices the teachings of yoga relate to food? Over a quick bite – of vegetarian food, of course – Sharon shared her insights into food and her answer to every meat-lover’s question – has she ever been tempted to take a bite of steak? GMANews.TV: What are the yoga principles that apply to food and dining? Sharon: Yoga classifies food into three categories, according to how it influences the consciousness of the mind and the condition of the body. There is Sattvic (mode of goodness) or natural food that’s easily prepared and digestible and promotes physical, mental and emotional harmony so there is calmness, patience, tolerance, balance and clarity. Then there is Rajasic (mode of passion) or strong-flavored food but difficult to digest and makes the mind very active and induces restlessness. And then there’s Tamasic (mode of ignorance) referring to overcooked, unnatural, dry, processed, decaying and stale foods which are very hard to digest and taxing to the body. These foods make one lethargic, pessimistic and morose. If a yoga practitioner is serious in embracing the spiritual aspects of yoga, a Sattvic diet is the most conducive and highly recommended. It is also said that in the process of cooking food, the consciousness of the person preparing it can also affect the food and the persons it is served to. Bhakti yogis consider the daily cooking process a meditation, focusing on pleasing the Lord with how nicely one prepares the foodstuff for Him – cooking with the main ingredients: love and devotion (Bhakti). Each cook is trained in the process of preparing the food. One refrains from enjoying his senses while preparing it so that it shall be good for offering to the Lord. The Lord doesn’t need the food but he accepts the love and devotion put into it by the one preparing it for Him. It is then offered to Him through proper mantras and only then can one honor what is called Prasad (His remnants or mercy). In the temples and in the homes of Bhakti yogis, we normally eat sitting on the floor in a lotus position and using the right hand to feed the mouth as the left hand is considered contaminated. What’s in a Sattvic diet? A Sattvic diet is composed of fresh fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, honey, whole grains, seeds, nuts, beans, many herbs and spices consumed in their natural and near-natural forms like coriander, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, aniseed and so on. In place of meat, where do you get your protein? Aside from soya bean and dairy products there are vegetarian foods with high sources of plant protein such as legumes, grains, vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds. Does being into yoga mean becoming vegetarian? Well, it depends on how far one wants to embrace the essence of the practice of yoga. After all, yoga is meant to attain a healthy lifestyle to help in the process of spiritual advancement. Sharon's favorite okra recipe What is a typical breakfast or lunch/dinner for you? Breakfast can be oatmeal with milk and fruits, a tofu preparation and rice with a fruit juice or fruit and milk shake, porridge with finely chopped vegetables or tofu or mung beans, bread with fresh homemade pumpkin spread with cheese and a glass of hot milk or soya milk. Lunch is usually heavier and fuller like plain or vegetable rice, some veggie fritters or fried veggie meat or gluten. The main dish is almost the same as any non-vegetarian preparations minus the meat or substituted with tofu or veggie meat, some cucumber or steamed camote top or shredded carrot salad, laswa or soup prep with coconut milk. Something sweet is served last. Dinner is light, usually a vegetable soup with noodles or misua or a little veggie sandwich with hot milk with ginger. What is your favorite dish to cook and eat? Eggplant Balaram! It’s cubed eggplant slices prepared with ghee (clarified butter), few spices and cheese. I don’t know why but I have a fascination for eggplant and I know a large variety of gourmet and simple preps using it. I love cooking it, it’s fast and easy and tasty. What was your baon in school? My mom always made us a tofu sandwich with ketchup and cream mix and dad’s freshly-picked sinaw-sinaw (peperomia pellucida), a kind of herb which is good for gout, arthritis, the kidney and it improves the complexion. Did you ever crave or want to try meat, just for the taste? Crave? No. Want to try? No, but when I was younger, I did try. It happened during the end of a fun-filled youth camp I attended one summer vacation with my cousins. I attended the camp the entire week and enjoyed it a lot. My young and troubled heart seemed to have found the excitement and fun I was longing for then and so I decided to convert to their faith and as a new believer, eating the meat they prepared during the last day would somehow prove I have indeed embraced their practice sincerely and renounced all the Bhakti Yoga principles I’ve practiced and known all my life. The whole time I was there, the organizers had so kindly accommodated my special need of a vegetarian meal and I was grateful. So I did take my share of the chicken they chose for me and quietly went through “the process" (emotional & mental) ignoring the arguments going through my head. But convincing my mind it was okay proved harder when I thought of how the food got to the plate. So as soon as I got home, I comfortably slid back to my “normal diet" (vegetarian) with a stronger conviction that it just isn’t right for me. I realized a deeper and renewed appreciation for Bhakti Yoga and although I preferred and reverted back to the path of Bhakti, I felt grateful for the many good things the youth camp experience taught me and the nice people I met and kept them close to my heart. What would you eat when you’re invited to a town fiesta? Town fiestas are occasions you’d unlikely find me in, unless it’s one of the regular celebrations in our temple calendar or at the regular Sunday love feast held at our Hare Krishna temples worldwide where a wide variety of veggie preps are shared with everyone at the end of the program. But if a close friend or family invites me, lohanchay (mixed vegetable), veggie pancit or sotanghon (noodles) with tofu or a big bowl of fruit or vegetable salad are most commonly served. Crashing into a fiesta would mean just veggie or fruit salad or other eggless sweets and lots of juice or soft drinks! Is there ever an overweight vegetarian? Oh yes! The many other factors causing one to become overweight don’t spare a vegetarian. It doesn’t just involve the food but also wrong eating habits and lifestyles. Everyone is susceptible to it. Are you happy being a vegetarian all these years? At 35, looking at how healthy life has been for me made me appreciate the many reasons why I stuck to being vegetarian and I hope I could share how the quality of life does improve when you’re eating healthy. It’s a sacrifice but once you’ve learned the art of preparing good food and the tongue appreciates the simplicity of its natural taste, it’s a wonderful life being a vegetarian! Indeed, being vegetarian since birth (or conception) has served Sharon well. She looks and feels young, leads an active lifestyle and maintains a positive attitude at all times. While turning to yoga and becoming strict vegetarians may not be for everyone, making it a daily habit to indulge more in vegetables, fruits and healthier protein sources is worth the effort. It’s a proven way not just to be healthy but also to be of good mind and spirit. - GMANews.TV