HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Normally, we always talk about the different yoga schools and disciplines that exist, with their benefits and contraindications. But today, we also want to talk about one of the topics that go hand in hand with this practice, which is practicing a healthy lifestyle.
Depending on the person, everyone practices yoga or any sport for a reason: some do it to lose weight, as a mental disconnection, stress relief, to heal injuries, or simply to maintain an ideal weight. But the truth is, if in addition to practicing sports or any athletic discipline, we combine it with a healthy diet and daily habits, we will achieve many more results and feel better inside to face our day-to-day.
One of the most discussed routines and one of the most popular myths regarding "body purification" is drinking a glass of hot water with lemon every morning on an empty stomach. The benefits? Many people say it helps to detoxify and cleanse the stomach, and others say it is bad for the stomach if you do it on an empty stomach and that it doesn't really have health benefits. However, I, who practice it every day, notice the difference in how my body responds with less anxiety to eat and feeling much lighter.
Another practice that has recently become very popular among celebrities, and non-celebrities, is intermittent fasting. There are 2 forms: intermittent fasting, which consists of eating for 8 hours and fasting for 16 hours. For example, finishing eating at 8 p.m. and eating again at 12 p.m. the next day, and so on until 8 p.m. There is also a 12-hour fast for those who cannot go 16 hours without eating. The benefits of this practice really depend on each individual. Some people do very well with it, and others do better with other practices. The good thing about this is that you can control food; food doesn't control you. You can decide when to eat and how much to eat. It reduces anxiety and undoubtedly makes you go to sleep much lighter.
Some people go on very strict diets that ultimately take away happiness and motivation. I believe that everyone should listen to their body, eat healthy and well, but always with things they fancy. Try to reduce as much as possible the consumption of fast food, soft drinks, pastries, and sugar in general, which tends to stay in the blood and is harder to eliminate. The problem with diets is that most are temporary and are seen as an "obligation," so the moment you reach a goal, you relax and return to the starting point. But one thing is clear: fruits and vegetables must be consumed daily to achieve a healthy and balanced diet.
There is no perfect diet, there is no universally perfect method that works for everyone equally. You have to observe yourself, see what works for you, and above all, see what motivates you to continue practicing it constantly without it being an obligation. The key is in balance, in not eating between meals, in eating healthy, real food that truly provides benefits and nutrients, but also treating yourself once in a while, which will give us the strength and motivation to continue with that healthy lifestyle. In the end, everyone is as they are, and everyone should analyze themselves and see what works best for them in terms of health, feeling, and looking good. You don't have to copy or do what others say on social media or blogs just because it works for them. Each person is different, with a different metabolism and different habits. The key is to find what works well for you.