The National Ladies Program of SSSIO Australia & PNG held an interactive online session on Saturday, 12 September 2026 with Maya Iyer and Dr. Sunder Iyer (Alumni of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning & Founders of Kaivalya Yoga Gurukulam). The topic of the session was Food, Wellbeing and Spirituality, the practical application of Swami’s teachings on food, and healthy eating habits. 90 participants from Australia and overseas attended this session.
Sister Maya and Brother Sunder shared their approach to Holistic Heath leading to “Strong Body, Fearless Mind, One Spirit” by incorporating Ayurveda principles, Sai’s Teachings and Yoga. They spoke about the six distinct tastes (Rasas) that Ayurveda categorises food and connected each taste to the five Cosmic elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. They stressed that a balanced diet should incorporate all six tastes to maintain bodily harmony. This was followed by the impact of Pure Food, Pure Thoughts, Right Beliefs and Divine Living on our body and mind. The importance of their daily exercise by way of yoga, cycling, walking, strength and resistance weight training was also discussed.
During the informative Q & A segment we were enlightened about the impact of sugar, rice, wheat and processed food on our bodies. Facts about the healthy goodness of Millets, Tofu and Tempeh were also discussed. Benefits of fasting, workouts and post exercise nutrition were also covered in this segment.
Some feedback from participants:
“A good wakeup call in regard to our food habits.”
“This session brings a whole new perspective to our understanding of a healthy diet,”
“Eating right is also a Sadhana that we need to follow as our body is a temple which we need to take care of.”
“To be conscious of what we eat and to eat in moderation.”
“Sunder’s statement in regard to overeating to avoid waste, ‘Don’t treat your body as a garbage can.’ was an interesting way of viewing the topic.”
As we all know, one does not have free will, but the Lord has endowed us with WILL POWER. Using this WILL POWER, we must work towards conquering our desires and senses. Sister Maya and Brother Sunder are living examples of how they have achieved this and are maintaining a “Strong Body. Fearless Mind, One Spirit”.
One meal a day makes a Yogi, two meals a day make a Bhogi and three meals a day make a Rogi. Yogi is the contented God-centred man. Bhogi is the man revelling in sensual pleasure. Rogi is the man ridden by illness.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 7, Chapter 22
Views: 108