martial arts
talk|25 oct 2012|talkmag.in
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DEMONSTRATED BY PRIYA CRASTA AND VINAY KUMAR. PHOTOS BY RAMESH HUNSUR. TRANSCRIBED BY RADHIKA P
Zen and the art of eating Way of Budo 4 Sensei Avinash Subramanyam on balancing the desire to savour food and the desire to diet
any of us are worried about what we eat, thanks to the modernday focus on dieting. Simultaneously, we also talk endlessly about food! So what is the best way to approach the question of eating and dieting? One day, when I questioned my master about how to train after a huge meal, he said: “It’s your state of mind. If the mind believes you are empty, you are empty in body.” But hang on! This is no prescription to binge. In Budo, food is one of the sources of chi (also spelt qi) or life-force. Food is essential to stay fit, and fitness is achieved through a synergy of the
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mind, body, spirit and soul. What the master was trying to emphasise was: being mentally strong, rather than obsessing over diet, was important. A diet that works for you won’t work for everyone. Milk, rich in protein, harms a person who is lactose-intolerant. Citrus fruits are not suitable for an acidic body. It is not some expert out there who decides what is best for you. Use your understanding of your body, and become a judge of what suits you. Learn to listen to your body. Check the clarity of your skin, brightness of your eyes, your stamina, digestion, weight and body odour, and eat such that your body feels good.
Never obsess about being fat or thin. Don’t go on a crash diet without knowing your weaknesses and strengths. Fasting and diet regimes are meant only for professionals (sportspersons, soldiers), people with medical problems, or those already mentally strong. Before you embark on a crash diet to lose weight, ask why you might be on the plump side. Is it because you crave fattening food? Isn’t that a sign of the mind being weak? How can you fast then? Instead, take up simple fitness training and make minor adjustments to your diet. Eat what you enjoy but eat moderately. Don’t give anything up immediately.
If you have a sweet tooth, eat one piece of chocolate instead of four. Eat fruit preserves instead of jams. If you want to indulge in a chocolate gateau, eat two spoons instead of six. If you give up sweets, you will only crave more. This can cause negative emotions like anger and frustration, and they are more harmful than inappropriate food. The right time to give up is when you actually feel no desire. Give up only when giving up doesn’t genuinely bother you. Sensei’s suggestions are based on decades of experience. Use discretion while making dietary changes. Next week: Transform yourself at the dining table
SELF-DEFENCE FOR WOMEN A second technique on what to do when sexually harassed on the street
Ruffian approaches you from behind.
Confident you haven’t seen him, he tries to touch you.
You turn, and see him looming right behind you.
The unexpected blow surprises him. Now swing your body around, gathering force in the other hand.
Deliver a quick strike or slap with the hand closest to his face.
Slap him hard on his ear.
Hold your balance and get away.