Yoga and Diet: The Mindful Connection

Get the tools you need to connect your yoga practice on your mat with the food you eat off the mat. Create your own path the mindful way.

After completing this course you will

• Renew your relationship with foods of all kinds – guilt free

• Feel connected with your food and how you eat in a new way

• See how yoga practice can lead to dietary changes

• Know where in the ancient yoga texts we find knowledge about foods

• Be able to use Ayurvedic knowledge when choosing foods

• Think openly around other people’s food choices

• Enjoy using Chakra foods for special purposes in your daily life

The course and its modules:

1 Introduction

Is there a known connection between my yoga practice on the mat, and our dietary choices off the mat? Meaning – is there a dietary change embodied in the yoga practice, and if so, where does it come from?

2 Nutrition and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras

This module gives you a basic understanding of how nutrition, diet, and yoga is interconnected. After completing the lessons you will know how the ancient yoga texts address food and diet, and how this manifests itself today in various vegetarian diets and yoga traditions. Subjects: Vegetarian diets today, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Ahimsa, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and more.

3 Ayurveda and the Sattvic diet

This module gives you a basic understanding of the Ayurvedic principles of food and diet. After completing the lessons you will know how to apply them to your body type. Subjects: Find your Dosha, the Ayurvedic principles, diets for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha Dosha, the Sattvic diet, and more.

4 Chakra foods

This module gives you a basic understanding of how we can use food to balance our Chakras. When you have completed the lessons you will have a multitude of foods to choose from for each chakra. Subjects: The Chakra system, Tantra, foods for each Chakra, nutritional and healing properties of foods, and more.

5 Mindful and intuitive eating

This module gives you a basic understanding of why mindful and intuitive eating comes naturally to a yogi, and how we can use honesty as a guideline. Subjects: Why Veganism isn’t for everyone, Mindful eating, Intuitive eating, vibrational energy of foods, Thich Nhat Hanh on eating, and more.

6 Apply your knowledge

In this module you get the resources you need to transform new knowledge into heartfelt action. Subjects: Apply the knowledge for yourself, apply the knowledge for your students, further reading.

What previous course participants say:

"Gunn Helene is a skilled and committed teacher, she has a lot of knowledge and gives a lot of herself in the classes. It's always a pleasure to partake in her courses. Highly recommended!»

- Serena Veslemøy Frati

Reviews of Yoga and Diet: the Mindful Connection (the book this course is based on):

This is an easy-to-read, yet multifaceted book on eating, food and yoga philosophy, written with a nutritionist's in-depth knowledge of food and nutrients, as well as with a yogi's open mind and acceptance that we are all different and have our own journey, even when it comes to food. The book is spiced with links for further reading and exciting recipes to try out.

- Janne Vinje Martinsen, yoga teacher

“An easy to read, yet informative book which explains what other books have missed: the deeper connection between yoga and its philosophy around food. What does it mean, what are the ayurvedic recommendations for different persons/qualities and how do you apply these to your personal practice? Gunn Helene’s background as a Registered Dietitian makes the book even more valuable as it gives you the extra input on nutritional content of recommended foods and the scientific evidence around certain aspects of the recommendations. I wish this book was on the curriculum of my Teacher Trainings! A must read for all yogis interested in food, Ayurveda and health in a modern context.”

- Runa Spilling, yoga teacher and nutritionist