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Do You Have To Be A Vegetarian To Practice Yoga?
Does saying om in yoga class mean you need to turn down your favorite burger or avoid your favorite steakhouse?
Traditional yoga philosophy teaches that students would ideally practice a vegetarian lifestyle. The primary reason for this is a concept called ahimsa, which teaches that the goal of any practitioner is to do no harm to the self or to others.
This is actually a common principle in many of the world’s cultures. For example, St. Paul of Christian tradition wrote about a similar concept called agape, and Confucianism teaches jen. As a result, some traditional yoga practitioners carry the ahimsa concept past simply being your brother’s (or your sister’s) keeper—it includes animals as well.
What’s more is that traditional yogis believe that the anger and fear that an animal feels over being killed transfers to the person eating the animal. As a result, for a person to be in complete harmony with the mind and spirit, he or she should be free from the negative emotions that animal foods might transfer to the body.
A traditional yoga diet emphasizes sattvic, or pure, foods that naturally help the mind, body, and spirit work well. These foods include beans, honey, fruits, vegetables, and cereals. They also include milk and butter, because in traditional Indian culture, the cow is the symbol of motherhood—and something from your mother’s got to be good, right?
Why the emphasis on plants? In traditional yoga belief, plant food is nourished by the sun, which is the source of all life on the planet. Because its energy comes directly from sunshine, these foods have the most prana or life force. Eating high-energy plant foods gives the body the purest form of fuel.
Another reason traditional yoga favors plant-based foods is that the proteins in meat and fish take time and a great deal of energy to digest. These proteins can be hard for the kidneys and liver to process. The result is these foods sap energy needed by other vital life functions, such as the immune system.
In contrast, sattvic foods are light, easy to digest, and full of life-giving nutrients. They are said to calm the mind and sharpen the intellect. Ideally, these foods are produced organically and free of chemicals and fertilizers that can potentially poison the body.
The traditional yoga vegetarian diet is also about more than just the kind of food you eat—it’s also about how you eat it. Each bite is meant to be savored, and the foods should be eaten in appropriate portions, which means saying 'no, thanks' to second and third helpings.
Maybe you’re not so sure you’re ready for a vegetarian way of life. If that’s the case, consider making one or two small changes in that direction. For example, substitute a loaf of 100% whole grain bread for the white bread you normally favor. Or you might try adding just one additional serving of fruit each day. Even small steps will go far to improve the quality of your yoga practice as well as your well being.
Perhaps you want to try a veggie lifestyle, but don’t know how to cook filling meals that don’t include meat. It’s easy to cook vegetarian meals There are a number of resources available online that can help you find great tasting, meat-free recipes. You’ll also learn how to substitute beans, nuts, and other foods so you can get the energy-giving protein you need to feel fit and fabulous.
Do you need to be a vegetarian to practice yoga? No. Your instructor won’t kick you out for indulging in a chicken breast or hamburger. But research shows that a diet that shuns animals in favor of plant-based foods has a host of potentially life-extending benefits including:
- A lower risk of coronary artery disease (CAD)
- A decrease in blood pressure
- A potentially lower risk of colorectal cancer
- A decrease in cholesterol
- A decrease in body mass index (BMI)
Vegetarianism is no longer part of a fringe or 'kooky' lifestyle. If you start to say no to the carnivore lurking within and 'yes' to a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, you may find yourself feeling a bit lighter—not just in body, but in spirit as well.
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