The human body is a temple. Keep it strong and supple. Treat it gently. Never ignore the body, because it's the most important instrument. Whatever you do, you need a body. That's why the ancient Yoga teachings always emphasized taking good care of the body.

Babies' bodies are so supple and pretty, so relaxed. Slowly their bodies get tense and rigid, and we say simply that the child is growing. The child need not grow in stiffness. He or she can grow with the same suppleness.

Think of the windows and doors of your house for a moment. If you leave them unused, either open or closed, for a long time, the hinges get rusted; they get stiff. The stiffness is caused by the rust that is formed on the hinges. In the same way, the hinges of the body are also very loose in the beginning. Gradually certain toxins get into the body and make the joints stiff. Where do they come from? Mainly our food.

The food we eat, the liquids we drink, the air we breathe, they all bring toxins into our system. So, the very beginning of Yoga is to take care of the intakes. If you want to be a good yogi, at least physically, you should eat the right clean food, drink clean liquid, breathe clean air. Remember that clean food, clean liquid, and clean air are all very cheap, or even free. You can buy an apple for very little; you have to pay more for an apple pie.

Everything that comes from nature, without any artificial change, should be clean. Yoga asks that you lead a natural life and stay away from all the poisons, all the toxins, so that your body can be more supple and free.

Related Articles by Sri Swami Satchidananda:
Hatha Yoga and Meditation
Hatha Yoga and Other Forms of Exercise
The Benefits of Hatha Yoga