Faith, or sraddha, is one of the five “yoga vitamins,” as B.K.S. Iyengar named them in The Tree of Yoga.

Faith as a vitamin – I love it!

We need faith in the wisdom of our bodies to develop a healthy relationship with food. All too often we ignore the body’s messages, subduing a headache with paracetamol or emotionally eating to smother feelings of sadness, boredom or frustration.

Faith in our bodies is a willingness to trust our intuitive cravings, innate needs and natural aversions to certain foods. It is the ability to distinguish between emotional eating and eating for nourishment.

There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophies.

                       – Friedrich Nietzsche

The body is of a far higher order of intelligence than your waking consciousness. If we hold to faith and give the body what it truly needs, it will reward us with vitality and strength.

In the same way a dedicated follower of any faith attends mass, temple or mosque to worship a higher intelligence, you must attend to the temple of your body to build vitality and a deep connection with the universal intelligence coursing through your veins.

Here are a few ways you can honour your body-temple, and experience the vitality that comes from faith in your body:

• If you want to be alive, eat live foods! Natural, hydrating foods alkalise and energise our systems.

• The body has a very sensitive acid/alkaline balance. Since most of our lifestyle is acidic, it’s vital we keep our body alkaline. Make at least 50% of your diet live, water-containing foods. Eat from every colour of the rainbow. And green drinks and green foods are king!

• Water detoxifies our systems. Make sure you drink up regularly and eat plenty of water-containing fruit and vegetables.

• Avoid refined sugar, which strips the body of natural minerals, and is acidic. Acid creates an anaerobic environment and fatigue. Replace sugar with natural sweeteners such as stevia, dates and agave and watch your energy levels soar.

Listen to your body wisdom, worship at your living temple and enjoy the benefits of strength, vitality and energy!

Thanks for reading, I would love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email me at casey@greensmoothieyoga.com, or leave a comment below.