The following post is from Michelle Hastie’s totalbodyhealthsolutions.com:
I was pleased to find a fellow Chakra writer out there in Becca Chopra and was honored to read her book, “The Chakra Energy Diet.” I highly recommend you give it a read! Meanwhile, here is a short interview with Becca herself:
1) What inspired you to write The Chakra Energy Diet?
Becca: Too many of my students and friends blame themselves for weight issues – and I wanted to get across the message that “It’s not your fault!” I feel America’s weight issues primarily stem from the physical stress put on our bodies by the fast food, junk food and GMO’s in most people’s diets, and the mental and emotional stress we encounter in our daily lives.
I too have suffered from emotional eating, food cravings, unwanted pounds, aches and pains and other symptoms of an imbalance in my life. I knew that these symptoms were a gift – showing me that I needed to pay attention and change something – and I wanted to share the lessons I had learned. For instance, how to eliminate the harmful stress in our lives, which equals health and weight issues. Through years of applying Macrobiotics, Ayurveda and Chakra balancing in my life and the lives of my students, I wanted to share the changes people could make to achieve balance in their lives too. My previous books focused more on meditation, guided visualization, yoga and other chakra balancing techniques. The missing piece I felt to my message was diet – which, when out of balance, throws the body, mind and spirit out of balance as well.
2) What is the best way to avoid overwhelm while navigating through all the different chakras?
Becca: The easiest way to approach chakra healing is to start at the beginning, with the Root Chakra. Follow the balancing techniques for each chakra and you will learn what works best for you. You can become your own best counselor, recognizing a symptom before it becomes a chronic pain or disease and make necessary adjustments in your lifestyle.
3) How do you recommend readers begin a yoga practice for optimal healing?
Becca: For those who have never done yoga before, I recommend finding a local teacher with a beginner class. Talk to the teacher and tell him/her of any physical issues you may have so they can help adjust the poses for you. It’s hard to make adjustments yourself without someone to guide you. Even if you only have time to go to class one day per week, you can still do a short yoga routine that you’ve learned each morning to move from sleep to stretching into an energy-filled day. Be sure to hold your yoga poses and breathe into them for the recommended time to get the full stress-relieving benefits they provide to both the mind and the body.
4) You talk about the importance of nutrition and cooking; how do you recommend a newbie gets started in the kitchen?
Becca: If you’re used to eating in restaurants or getting take-out every day, approach cooking as a great new hobby that will reap huge rewards for yourself and your family. I offer very simple recipes for each chakra in my book. Start with these easy dishes with just a few ingredients, for instance, organic whole grains and vegetables, salads, or even just a smoothie, and see how much better you feel when you eat food without unnecessary sugar, salt, pesticides or chemical additives. You can sign up for free Chakra Balancing menus at www.theChakras.org.
5) Many people complain of low energy; how do you see balancing the chakras as a way to increase energy?
Becca: The chakras ARE our energy centers. If one or more are blocked or closed, your physical energy will be affected. And one of the biggest energy robbers is poor quality food that leads to intestinal dysbiosis, a compromised immune system and hormone imbalances that correlate to imbalanced chakras. Many people rely on stimulants like caffeine and sugary snacks to make it through the day, and then rely on alcohol or drugs to try to conquer insomnia – a seesaw that leads to chronic exhaustion. I recommend nourishing yourself with fresh, organic food and drink that is literally alive with vibrant colors, as well as specific exercises, yoga postures, affirmations and meditations to balance the chakras. These lifestyle ideas can help you to look and feel better, lose weight, reduce stress, and have sustained energy.
To learn more about the seven major chakras and how they function in your energy system, please download my free 10-minute Chakra Meditation at www.theChakras.org/meditations.html.
This is just a tidbit of her brilliance and much more can be found in her book, “The Chakra Energy Diet.”
Thanks to Michelle Hastie, author of the book Chakra Secret, for interviewing me.
Namaste!
Becca Chopra
