One autumn day several years ago, my family and I decided to treat ourselves at Burdicks Cafe in Walpole, NH after a long day of leaf peeping. If you haven’t been to Burdicks, you haven’t really tasted chocolate. We were craving their signature decadent hot chocolate after a full day in the car.

I ordered a spicy hot chocolate with almond milk and a dash of cayenne. That was the most incredible drink, it was like drinking sweet and spicy dark velvet. I also enjoyed a tiny chocolate candy, because why have just one chocolate confection when you can have two?

Well, the next day I woke up with the worst headache of my life. I thought my head was going to explode and I felt sick to my stomach—I could barely crawl into the bathroom. The pain was so intense, Josh took me to the emergency room. At the ER they gave me fluids, nausea relief, and some intravenous painkiller. They said I had a very bad migraine reaction to something and asked if I had any triggers. Up until that point, I would have said no! But I realized that the intensity of that chocolate experience had pushed my limits. Ever since that day, chocolate has been a migraine trigger for me. I can’t indulge in my chocolate cravings without intense pain and nausea. It really is a very sad thing.

Since then, I have found many more migraine triggers that I need to avoid, including all alcohol, coffee, kombucha, and garlic. I have added incentive for taming my cravings. If I indulge, I pay the price with a very nasty migraine. Yoga philosophy tells us to make a regular practice of investigating our cravings and impulses through the Yama of Brahmacharya.

Brahmacharya is the fourth of the Yamas, or personal ethics of yoga. Oftentimes Brahmacharya is translated into abstinence or celibacy, meaning that to be a yogi one should abstain from all sex. But that is an oversimplification of the translation. A more complete interpretation of Brahmacharya is to engage in moderation of the senses–to notice when our cravings are overpowering, when we feel an intense tug to indulge in the sensory experience, and then to investigate that more deeply.

Yoga is a deep practice of self reflection and inquiry into our sensory experiences. To move our body through asana and to breath deeply into our lungs, is to experience life fully through our senses. When we meditate, we are drawing all the senses deep within so that they don’t pull our thinking mind in all directions. In order to begin this deep process of meditation, we must address our relationship to that which engages our cravings. These cravings might be for food, for drink, for addictive substances (from alcohol and caffeine to narcotics), for sex, and even for the addictive pull of social media.

The practice of Brahmacharya is to notice when we are feeling the tug of cravings, and at the very least, acknowledge when the craving is happening. So many times we simply engage in our cravings without any thought. Early in this practice of Brahmacharya, it will be very difficult to tame cravings. We are products of the culture we are raised in, and we in the US have certainly been encouraged to indulge in excess. But we can adapt and change. Over time, as we continue to notice how we are drawn to these sensory stimulations, we can tame our cravings instead of being controlled by every sensory impulse. Yoga practice encourages us to sustain our vital life-force energy, to sit with moments of discomfort, and to not engaging in every sensory whim.

Author and Yogin Deborah Adele states that Brahmacharya means “to walk with God,” inviting us into a sacred relationship with all things. What I interpret this to mean is that we should pay reverence to and hold appreciation for all the sensory experiences of life. In this way, a tiny bite of chocolate becomes an incredibly rich, and even religious experience! We can move through our sensory experiences with wonder and awe at the magic of life and feel content with what we have instead of craving for more, and more, and more. Bramacharya reminds us to hold each day as sacred and to recognize when we have had just enough.

As a migraine sufferer with many migraine triggers, I have had to put my cravings under control. Pain has made this a priority. Sometimes cravings are a signal that something needs to change, that we might actually need to follow. You will only be able to discern the difference by noticing when the craving arises, and inquiring into the source of the craving. In this way, Brahmacharya becomes an important practice of personal growth that can translate into many other aspects of life.

Have you ever regretted a time of overindulgence?

Do you ever stop and consider why you are having a particular craving? Where does that desire come from?

What techniques have you used to help you overcome some trying times?

I also want to acknowledge those people who may be battling addictions and need support services. Please be in touch with a local AA meeting group if you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction.

Sometimes when we investigate these cravings, we realize there are some deep unresolved issues. I encourage you to seek out the help of a counselor of therapist if needed.

“I'm craving more soul, I'm craving more truth, I'm craving more socially - just people that are aware of what's going on in the world.” ~John Legend