Tara Stiles – Teaching us about the yoga lifestyle
Some may not realize that yoga is not just the practice of asana, but a whole lifestyle. Yoga life includes the asana that is usually practiced to stretch the body before meditation, meditation itself which is a whole new world and many other things. Part of this lifestyle is that we do no harm to others, which incorporates not eating meat or meat. A vegetarian lifestyle can be very satisfying and rewarding, but we need to make sure we are getting all the nutrients we need.
When I first tried vegetarian foods, I was bored with baked or steamed vegetables, but there’s so much more out there. Here are some ideas that would never have occurred to me, but they really do work.
Tara takes us through her thoughts on food and what she knows works. But the difference is that she also helps us make our own rules. Helping us stick to healthier plant-based eating, while also making sure to get some goodies, makes it easier to stick to those rules. All recipes are vegetarian and made with simple ingredients and cookware, although a Vitamix would help.
Through this book, we get to know how Tara thinks and lives her life, which is quite achievable for regular yogis. She shares yoga routines and meditation guides, as well as some background on how she grew up and what drew her to yoga (I always love hearing stories about why people start practicing).
What I like the most is that Tara confirms my theory that you really need to listen to your body. No one else knows what you’re feeling. Improvement will occur with practice in both diet and yoga.
A very important part of the book for me is that she gives you the real reasons, no matter how much it hurts to share her stories. Tara is an incredible young woman who has gone above and beyond to serve her tribe and make her knowledge and passion accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world.
The main thing for me is that everything helps. A little meditation in the morning, maybe a little yoga asana practice at night, and sneaking into healthy food until it becomes normal.
I would recommend this book to people new to the yoga lifestyle or to those wanting new ideas on how to create easy and delicious vegetarian recipes. Enjoy and please let me know your favorite dishes.