Sri Sri Yoga Center in the heart of Warsaw
BISTRO—NOURISHMENT FOR BODY AND SOUL!
Sattvic cuisine is a philosophy of nutrition rooted in the traditions of yoga and Ayurveda, aimed at supporting the balance of body, mind, and spirit. It is made up of fresh, plant-based ingredients—vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, and grains—as well as dairy from animals that have been treated humanely. Sattvic dishes are prepared using digestion-supporting spices such as ginger, turmeric, and cumin. These dishes avoid meat, fish, eggs, caffeine, alcohol, onions, and garlic, as well as ingredients that are overly heavy or processed.In sattvic cooking, it’s not only the quality of the food that matters but also the way in which it is consumed: peacefully, mindfully, and with gratitude. These meals are meant to support mental clarity, physical lightness, and overall well-being, which in turn enhances meditative practices and spiritual growth. It is a cuisine that harmonizes, purifies, and strengthens—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Fresh, energizing food delivered at the right time gives us strength, boosts immunity, improves mood, and enhances mental clarity. Understanding the connection between what we eat and how we feel is a key to transforming the act of satisfying our hunger into enjoying true nourishment—for both body and soul.
Cleanliness and happiness are both practices. If something is dirty, we don’t say it will clean itself up—we must make an effort to clean it. Similarly, we must practice being happy.
So-ham—An Ancient Mantra
So-ham is one of the most important mantras in the tradition of yoga and in Indian spirituality. It comes from Sanskrit and literally means "I am That" and "That is me," but its spiritual meaning is much deeper. So-ham symbolizes the unity of individual consciousness with universal consciousness. The mantra helps the practitioner realize that there is no separation between “me” and the “universe.”These two syllables should therefore be translated as: “I am that which is everything. My essence is no different from the essence of the universe.”Focusing on this mantra aids in the process of dissolving the ego and realizing that the self has no boundaries and that everything is one.
The So-ham mantra is often used in breathwork practice. Soooooo is the sound of the inhale, so during inhalation one mentally repeats: “So . . ” Haaaaam is the sound of the exhale, so during exhalation one mentally says “haam.”
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who created a the highly effective breathing technique called Sudarshan Kriya, incorporated the So-ham mantra into his technique. He speaks of this mantra in the following way: "Just as an entire tree is present in a small seed, so too is the whole universe contained within So-ham. So-ham is the eternal sound of the breath and simultaneously the rhythm of the cosmos.”
Sudarshan Kriya, which has brought relief to millions of practitioners around the world, eliminates stress, fatigue, and negative emotions such as anger and frustration, as well as working well to alleviate depression. At the same time, it calms and energizes, and relaxes and sharpens our focus. Its uniqueness lies in the use of specific, natural breathing rhythms that harmonize the body, emotions, and mind.Gurudev discovered Sudarshan Kriya after 10 days of silence and fasting on the banks of the Bhadra River in Shimoga, India in 1981. He explains its functioning thusly: "There is rhythm in nature. Similarly, rhythm exists in the body and emotions. If you observe your thoughts, you’ll notice that even doubts and anxieties have their own rhythm. At certain times of the year, you experience the same emotions. Sudarshan Kriya restores harmony between the body and the mind. When these rhythms are aligned, we feel harmony and well-being. And when they are out of sync, we experience discomfort and dissatisfaction.”