Fuel, Fire, Desire

There’s a line in a Metallica song that goes:

It hits hard. Feels like a mantra.
But notice the order.
Fuel comes first.

And yet, how many of us skip it?

Most of us who practice yoga — especially those who love a strong flow — already have plenty of fire. In Ayurvedic terms, that’s pitta: drive, intensity, focus, sweat. The push. The grit. The heat.

But here’s the truth:
It doesn’t matter how fiery, disciplined, or spiritually motivated you are… if you don’t have fuel, that fire sputters.
A candle with no wax can’t burn.
A car with no gas can’t move forward.
A body with no breakfast… eventually runs on fumes.

The Myth of the Empty-Tank Warrior

Somehow, many of us (especially women) got the message that powering through on nothing but coffee and vibes was a badge of honor.

Skipping breakfast.
Fast yoga on an empty stomach.
Maybe a bar here, a smoothie there, maybe nothing until 2 p.m.
Then wondering why we feel dizzy, snacky, snappy, or just… off.

This isn’t discipline.
It’s deprivation disguised as ambition. Yoga & Agni: Digestive Fire Is a Real Thing

In yoga and Ayurveda, we talk about agni — the digestive fire. It’s not just a metaphor. It’s a biological and energetic reality.

Your agni is strongest in the morning and early afternoon.
This is when your body is most ready to metabolize, absorb, and turn food into energy, vitality, even clarity.

So if you’re waiting until your energy crashes before eating?
You’re putting fuel in a cold engine.

Imagine going on a road trip but refusing to stop at the gas station at the edge of town.
Instead, you floor it for 100 miles, then try to coast on fumes until you’re desperate and pull over at the nearest drive-thru.
Sound familiar?

What Happens When You Fuel First?

• Your mind steadies.
• Your mood improves.
• Your yoga practice gets stronger.
• You don’t feel like you’re crawling to savasana — you arrive there, radiant.

You don’t need a 5-course meal before yoga. But you do need something.
A little protein.
A little fat.
Maybe some complex carbs.
Think: a boiled egg and half a banana. Yogurt and seeds. A date with nut butter. Something small, real, and nourishing.

Fuel, Fire, and Desire

Fuel gives rise to fire.
Fire gives rise to action.
And action leads us toward that which we desire — whatever that looks like for you: energy, healing, strength, peace.

So next time you head to class — or to work, or to parent, or to simply show up — ask yourself:

Because being a yogi isn’t about how bendy you are.
It’s about how awake you are — and how you treat the body that carries your soul.

Let’s stop running on fumes. Let’s start the fire right.
Fuel up.
Then burn bright.