Tara Stiles – Teaching Us About The Yoga Lifestyle

Some may not realise that yoga is not just the practice of asana, but a whole lifestyle. The Yoga life includes the asana which is usually practiced to stretch the body before meditation, the meditation itself that is a whole new world and many other things. Part of this lifestyle is that we do not harm others which incorporates not eating meat or flesh. A vegetarian lifestyle can be very fulfilling and rewarding, but we do need to be sure that we get all the nutrients we need.

When I first tried vegetarian foods, I was bored with baked or steamed vegetables, but there is a lot more out there. There are some ideas in here that I would never have thought of, but they really work.

Tara takes us through her thoughts on food and what she knows works. But the difference is that she helps us to make our own rules too. Helping us to ease into eating a healthier plant-based diet, while making sure we still get some treats makes it easier to stick to those rules. All recipes are vegetarian and made using simple ingredients and kitchen gadgets, although a Vitamix would help.

Through this book we get to know how Tara thinks and lives her life, which is quite achievable for the 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 of why people start practicing).

What I love most is that Tara confirms my theory that you really need to listen to your body. No-one else knows what you are feeling. Improvement will happen 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 would hurt to share her stories. Tara is an amazing young woman who has gone above and beyond to serve her tribe and to make her knowledge and passion accessible to anyone, anywhere in the world.

The main take away for me is that every little bit helps. A little meditation in the morning, perhaps a little practice of yoga asana at night and sneak in the healthy food until it becomes normal.

I would recommend this book for people new to the yoga lifestyle or for those who want some fresh ideas on how to create delicious, easy vegetarian recipes. Enjoy and please let me know your favourite dishes.