July Gītā: 6.16

nātyaśnatastu yōgō'sti
na chaikāntamanaśnataḥ 
na chātisvapnaśīlasya
jāgratō naiva chārjuna 

‘Yoga is not for one who eats too much or too little, who sleeps too much or too little.’
Bhagavad Gītā 6.16

Because I cook for a living, this verse has always fascinated me. It manages to say a lot with just a few simple words. We are reminded that yoga practice is a path of moderation, not austerity. The very first time I read these words I was reminded of Siddharta Gautama’s journey towards becoming the Buddha: from spoiled prince to wondering ascetic, before the middle way presented itself as the path to enlightenment. This middle way is referred to elsewhere in the Bhagavad Gita, whether through balancing work and recreation or treating others equally.

Food and sleep are very powerful representations of moderation because they resonate with each of us in such a personal way. They also mirror each other, like the Yamas and Niyamas of the Yoga Sutras. When we eat we use external resources to fuel our inner resources. When we eat we need to make sure we have enough to thrive but not take so much that we are plundering the planet or depriving others for the sake of dinner. When we sleep we use an inner resource to help us interact with the outside world. Too much means we are missing out. Too little makes us hard to be around…and maybe even dangerous. If we try to take this approach to eating and resting, acts of self nurture also nurture what is around us. 

To the modern reader who is constantly bombarded with conflicting messages around health and well-being,  these words might seem maddeningly short on specifics. We've been conditioned into wanting to know exactly how much is too much and what is too little.

We might be thinking, if only Krisna had just said, 

“Arjuna you should sleep seven or eight hours a night and eat a varied diet rich in whole foods but low in sugar or saturated fat”. 

Of course, this verse is not about following strict advice. The more strict the advice, the more likely we are to beat ourselves up if we don’t stick to it. And self - flagellation is not a moderate approach to life. Rather, this verse is about striking a balance through self - exploration. It helps to remember that, at the time of the Gita, Ayurveda was already well established. In Ayurveda all aspects of one’s lifestyle are regulated according to one’s individual “prakriti” or constitution (as opposed to the modern approach, where the same general messages about health are directed at everyone). 

You don’t need to be well versed in Ayurveda to find an approach to eating and sleeping that works for you, without harming yourself or those around you. Neither do you need to read every bit of nutritional or sleep-related research to be on top form. These messages change every time there is a new, scientific discovery anyway (which is why they can be so confusing). The simpler, timeless advice of the Bhagavad Gita is more helpful in the long run because it teaches us to look for the answers within.

– Tom Norrington-Davies