What does yoga have to do with baking?

I would like to first provide a little background about yoga - why I love it and why I strive to make yoga philosophy a part of my everyday life, which is indeed at times a struggle. I began practicing yoga when I was 19 thanks to my amazing mother, who sent me on a yoga retreat to help girls improve their body images. I may not have made leaps and bounds with my body image that weekend, but I loved the yoga. I have been practicing more seriously in the past few years, so much in fact that I ended up writing my dissertation on adolescent girls who practice yoga!

So here's a crash course in yoga according to me. Yoga is the union of mind, body and spirit, at times combining physical movement (asana) with the breath to stretch and build muscles, calm the mind, and generate energy. Physical practice is just a small part of yoga; the prominent aspect is using this union to make your world and the greater world a better place. The Yamas and Niyamas (in Sanskrit) are personal practices that help to do this. These intentions enrich the emotional integration of yoga and encourage concentration on ethics and personal understanding, bringing wholeness with oneself and a greater transpersonal realm to the yoga mat. They are guidelines for personal care that include how you nourish your physical body, who you are close to, and how you spend your time.

Ahimsa means non-violence. Satya, or truthfulness, means being authentic. Asteya means non-stealing, which includes not taking on other’s feelings and responsibilities. Harmonizing desires, or Bramacharya, means experiencing all things in moderation. In doing so, energy and its limits are respected. Aparigraha – non-attachment – encourages a feeling of security without needing material things or the reassurance of others. Sauca, or purity, is the practice of using whole, organic foods to nourish the physical body. Santosa means contentment in the present moment and feeling satisfied with what currently exists and that happiness must come from within. Tapas means purification and discipline. Svadyaya means self-study - spending time and energy learning about your thoughts, your place in the world, and your body's capabilities. Isvara-pranidhana means surrender to God or a higher power. In yoga, a higher power encompasses ultimate intelligence. It is also acknowledging the divine existence that already resides in everyone.

The Yamas and Niyamas speak to me because they are simply all-around ethical values that help guide decisions and actions and feel happy in daily life. I believe that entertaining stress, anger, and loss cultivates sadness and harm to the self and others. Eating pure foods, exercising regularly and moderately, drinking lots of water, and sleeping enough are disciplines that support this process. Letting go of perceived failure, refraining from bitterness and negative thought patterns, and cultivating balanced relationships are disciplines that keep the mind truly open to yogic practice. That being said, I entertain negative thoughts basically every day. I struggle with anxiety and stress and sadness. So practicing yoga is a consistent reminder of my own intentions and helps ease these struggles.

So why have I just written a book about yoga and not yet mentioned baking, which is the main event in this blog? Well, because this is Yoganomics, and I want to explain it thoroughly! I believe in eating according to your beliefs. I believe that factory farming goes against the above ethical guidelines. I believe that overpopulation, obesity, junk food, crime, and many other harmful societal patterns would not take place if everyone worked a little harder towards these intentions. I cannot live a perfect life - if I did, I would be living in a cabin in a field raising all my own vegetables and not impacting the environment at all, in the way of The Dharma Bums (Jack Kerouac), which is indeed a dream of mine but would keep me from being a part of our exciting society. So every day I try to eat the best foods possible while still being realistic, just as I try to lead my life and interact with others as best I can.

The Yamas and Niyamas can also give us guidance when it comes to how we interact with food. Being aware of our body's needs and respecting ourselves means eating only in moderation. It means reducing our emotional eating and practicing gratitude and self-soothing rather than being attached to food for satiation that we actually need to give ourselves.

I have been baking vegan goodies since early college - about 10 years. I'm not a fancy baker. I actually don't even bake very often, unlike my sister, Dangerkittenbakes, who is an expert! I first became vegan because I believed animals should not be mass-produced for food. Since college I have been eating animal products but for the past 9 months I have significantly reduced my intake of animal products, eating primarily vegan. Vegan baking is extremely easy and very tasty, and it's fun to figure out how to substitute certain ingredients. Many vegan recipes are also healthier than traditional ones, focusing on whole grains and including organic and natural elements. So I will be trying out some delicious and simple recipes and sharing them with you!