When I first took up Yoga 5 years ago, it was to complement my strenuous work-outs and marathon trainings. After just a short 2 months on yoga, there were noticeable improvements in both my recovery rate and stamina. I found that my joints did not hurt as much, muscle aches eased off faster and it was easier to maintain steady breathing during strength training.

Ask any good Yoga Master, and he will tell you that running is not bad, but VERY VERY bad for the body joints. When we rub our ligaments continuously for hundreds and thousands of times during those long runs, irreversible damages can occur.

Sports recovery rates can be immediately felt even after just 1 yoga session - provided the postures and stretches are appropriate to the relative joints. I remember that my ankle pains became better immediately after 5 full mins into the Hero (Virasana) pose. I entered the studio with gingerly steps, and walked out normally - yes it was that dramatic!

When I first started on the raw foods journey 3 years ago, it was also a time when my membership from the Yoga studio expired. Unfortunately, I did not pursue my practice in Yoga. Raw foods presented a similar record of thrilling sports breakthroughs and impressive recovery rates, and I was so enthralled that I did not miss yoga.

Until then, I had only enjoyed the benefits from either Yoga, or Raw Foods, but not both. Fast forward that to 6 months ago, which was the time I re-took up Yoga, and I embarked on the steepest progressive curve of my physical, mental and spiritual wellness.

The first and most obvious observation was that I found myself WANTING to stretch those joints. I was desiring and yearning for yoga practices more often, and it got to the point of everyday. When the joints are stretch and held, the pain and ache feels pleasant and agonizing simultaneously - how many of you yogis can relate to that? I found my body longing for that gentle sweet ache from the stretches and postures.

The next strange thing which happened was even more weird. After 3 months of practicing Yoga everyday, I wanted to sleep on firm surfaces. It started with throwing out the pillow halfway during sleep. I would sleep on a pillow and wake up without. And then I progressed to rolling off the bed to sleep on my Yoga mat in the middle of the night. Try as I may, my body just would not enjoy sleep on a soft bed! Whenever I force myself to sleep in a soft bed, I would wake up next morning sore and achy.

Curious and baffled, I called my Yoga Teacher and asked him about this strange phenomenon. He told me that most Yoga Instructors and long-term practionars sleep on hard surfaces, and that it is in the best interests of the body to do so. I did further research, and discovered that if a person sleeps on a firm surface, the body restores its natural alignment and releases muscle tension faster.

Besides this strange observation from my sleeping pattern, I also realized that there were certain spots inside my home which I automatically stay away from. When examined further, these spots turn out to be near to electronic equipment which remits heavy EMF radiation!

There was also an undeniable desire to spend time in nature parks and touch Mother Earth in some way everyday, even if it was only for 10 short mins.

In other words, my body is giving me clear cues on what is good and bad for me! Spiritually, I reached new levels of grounding my beliefs and values. Raw foods already bring me immense joy; but with yoga, it is something so joyful which cannot be explained in words or seen by the eyes. I can only share and hope that everyone else can experience it for themselves!

If you practice Yoga, and the reason for it is because you always feel so good after wards, try combining Raw Foods with Yoga, and you will reach a new paradigm never achieved before in body, mind and spirit. Raw Foods and Yoga is truly a powerful combination!

Click here to go back to Part I of the article.

(C) Copyright, 2009
Linda Loo

Tags: raw food diet, raw food recipes, vegan weight loss, low fat recipes