Yoga Teachers Eat Cupcakes, Too
Yesterday, I left my yoga class with $20 cash in my hand. I went to the local grocery store and bought a package of cupcakes from the baked goods section. These cupcakes were not made of whole-grain flour. They weren't trans fat or sugar free. They weren't even organic. There was nothing healthy or natural about them at all. But they were awfully yummy. As I was standing in the check out line I caught myself thinking, "What if one of my students is watching me buy these? Is this the example I want to set?" After some deliberation, I've decided that it's a fine example to set.
Let me explain.
Recently I've been noticing a big misconception in the yoga community about what yogis eat—or at least what they should eat. Take a minute to look around you the next time your workshop or training breaks for lunch. You might not be surprised to see lots of ridiculously healthy foods—fresh, organic produce, trendy energy bars, rice cakes, tofu, etc. This was the case at the last training I took. But when I got back to the hotel where I was staying and started chatting with my roommate, I discovered that we were both starving. We had both packed uber-healthy lunches because we didn't want the other people in the training to think we were unhealthy. It's not that we are unhealthy eaters normally, but it's a feeling that we'd be judged if even one fried or sugared morsel made its way into our otherwise healthy lunch! We had a good laugh about it, and then had a nice, healthy-ish dinner together.
Realizing how ridiculous this phenomenon is, I've recently turned over a new leaf. I think it's healthy to indulge sometimes. In fact, I think it's unhealthy to try to mask the fact that you sometimes eat a cupcake. Instead of pretending to be healthy all the time, I'm embracing the fact that I'm not. It's part of who I am, and I'm not hiding it anymore. Sure, my diet has improved significantly because of my yoga practice, but I'm no saint. And I know I'm not alone. Even the Yoga Journal office has a candy bowl at the front desk that must be replenished several times a day.
Do you ever feel the need to hide your indulgences (food or otherwise) from your peers or your students?








