You’ve probably heard of yin and yang or at least seen the yin / yang symbol. Yin and yang are qualities or energies that are present in everything. Yin has cooling, expansive and moistening qualities, while yang is more warming, contracting and drying in its nature.
Some things are more ‘yin’, others more ‘yang’. For instance, the winter has a more yin character, while the summer is more yang. Living in a small and quiet village is yin, living in a large and busy city is more yang. If you look at yoga poses, Sun Salutations are more yang, while Savasana is yin.
Yin and Yang and food
Your food, and the way you prepare it, has the same yin and yang qualities. Yin foods are cooling and moistening, things like salads, seasonal fruits and water. Foods which are either raw or very lightly heated, steamed for example. At the extreme yin end of the spectrum are alcohol, sweets and oils. Too much of these will cause an imbalance in our bodies; we may become oversensitive to the cold for, example.
Yang foods are warming and are things like root vegetables, onions and spices, cooked slowly like in stews or casseroles. At the extreme end of the yang spectrum are animal products and very salty foods. Again, too much of these and we may find we’re craving very yin foods before long!
EkhartYoga members, watch this introduction video to learn more about yin and yang foods and how to use these principles to find balance in your life.
Yin & Yang on your plate – talk with Irina Verwer, 5 mins
