As someone who practices and teaches yoga, I am humbled by the depth of the Yoga tradition. Throughout my Yoga training, this question has always crept into discussion:

Do you have to be vegetarian or vegan to practice yoga?

I’ve had yoga teachers who answer with a resounding, YES and yoga teachers who answer with a resounding, NO. So which is correct?  

As I delve deeper into the study of Yoga and Ayurveda, the answer has become more clear to me.  But all I can do is speak from my heart and from my own direct experience.

I am not a Yogi or a Yoga Philosopher or an Ayurvedic Practitioner. I am merely a student of Yoga and Ayurveda, and someone who wants to help others heal themselves physically and spiritually. That’s all I am. I am not an authority or venerated teacher. I am one being, connected to the Source, like you are, looking for liberation from suffering.

My answer is no. You do not need to be vegetarian or vegan to practice yoga. Yoga is for everyone, regardless of what you eat, how much you weigh, how flexible you are, what religion you practice, what color your skin is, what culture you come from, or how much money you have. And I say all of this with ABSOLUTE CONVICTION.

The respected and renowned Yoga master , TKV Desikachar writes, in his book, Health, Healing, and Beyond: Yoga and The Living Tradition:

 “Nowhere in the Vedas or in the ancient teachings does it say that you must be a strict vegetarian. Westerners, in particular, seem to believe that to seriously study yoga, it is imperative to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. This is not the case, and for some individuals, may even be unhealthy.”

I am one of those individuals for whom eating a vegetarian lifestyle is unhealthy. I have tried several times; I desperately wanted to be able to avoid eating meat for ethical reasons in my 20s, and my digestion, immune system, fertility, and vitality suffered greatly. My constitution does not align with a vegetarian or vegan diet.

What Does Ayurveda Say About Meat?

Ayurveda is the sister science to Yoga and is the traditional Hindu system of medicine, which is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems. It utilizes diet, herbs, and pranayama (yogic breathing) among other techniques. There are known ancient ayurvedic texts that support the idea that meat is not a forbidden food in Hinduism, but can be used medicinally. (1)

The Charaka Saṃhitā or Compendium of Charaka is a Sanskrit text on Ayurveda. Along with the Suśruta-saṃhitā, it is one of the two foundational Hindu texts of this field that have survived from ancient India. This ancient text is pre-2nd century CE and consists of eight books and one hundred and twenty chapters. (2)

The Charaka Saṃhitā accepts meat as food, just as vegetables and grains are food. Emphasizing upon this, the ancient Ayurvedic master, Charaka says that no other food excels meat in producing nourishing effects in the body. (3)

In fact, the Ayurvedic counselor that I see regularly, does not discourage me from eating meat, fish, fowl and eggs, because they support my body to work optimally. According to Ayurveda, everyone has a different constitution (dosha), and in Ayurveda, meat may be prescribed for some, and not for others, based on their unique combinations of doshas. 

Why are Veganism and Vegetarianism often equated with Ahimsa?

Often people in the different Yoga communities cite the principle of Ahimsa (Non-Violence) to mean that eating meat is forbidden in the tradition of yoga. Ahimsa is one of the Yamas, part of the first of the 8 Limbs of Yoga, as described in the sacred text, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Yamas are guidelines on how to live in the external world, informing how we relate to others. 

In my opinion, each person has an opportunity to practice Ahimsa in daily life, in myriad ways.  If Vegetarianism or Veganism is your way, and you are maintaining health, that is a beautiful thing.  

Non-violence against other humans is not just referencing physical violence, but verbal and emotional abuse, gaslighting, sexual manipulation and any other form of belittling and traumatizing another human being.

Non-violence also references how we relate to the self. We must take care of our body, mind and spirit to fulfil our life-purpose with grace. Non-violence begins with self-compassion, radical self-care and self-reflection, so we can show up in a loving way for others.

TKV Desikachar goes on to say, 

“To choose to be a vegetarian may indeed be essential to health for some individuals — or a matter of taste, environmental conviction, philosophy, or religious belief. But it is not a commandment embedded in Yoga.”

How Can We Apply the Yogic Principle of Ahimsa to Our Daily lives?

As someone who eats meat, fish, fowl and eggs, I am acutely aware of giving thanks to the creatures that give me life. As a person of African ethnicity, and a practitioner of Lucumí, (an African diaspora spiritual tradition that was brought to Cuba from Yorubaland [modern day Nigeria and Benin]) my African ancestors ate meat, among other foods, and performed traditional ritual sacrifices to give thanks for life. This giving thanks is an essential part of my daily spiritual practice. How do I bring the Yogic principle of Ahimsa to my daily life?

• I stand up for my fellow human beings who cannot stand up for themselves. I speak up when someone is being treated with disrespect based on their color, religion, ethnicity, gender, physical or mental ability. I don’t accept or condone racism, sexism, or any other ism.

• I give thanks for the food that I eat. With every meal, I thank the Divine Source for all the sacrifices that had to happen to allow me to eat vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, fowl and drink fresh water.

• I sit in gratitude for my ancestors for toiling and staying strong in the violent struggle, long enough for me to be born.

• I don’t support CAFOs (Commercial Agricultural Feed Operations)(4) instead, choosing to buy meat solely from local farmers that raise animals ethically. I recognize it is a blessing and a privilege to live in a place where I have access to local, organic produce and meat.

• I seek out local produce farms that are known to treat workers ethically and not use pesticides that destroy the delicate ecological balance, poison food and animals, and destroy soil quality.

• I practice self-compassion and compassion for others whenever I can, even in the face of ignorance. (Self-ignorance or otherwise.)

My personal wellness practice involves practicing yoga and meditation, eating healthy food, maintaining a connection to Spirit, nurturing loving relationships, walking in Nature, and a host of other things that bring joy to my being.  

My health journey has informed the way I eat today.  The specific challenges I’ve faced have allowed me to take a long look at what it takes to heal the human body from modern diseases like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, autoimmune disease, IBS and many other health issues we face.  

What I’ve learned as a Certified Primal Health Coach, is that modern disease is largely due to consumption of the modern diet of processed refined sugar, grains, and toxic seed oils. In the Ancestral Health community, we call these the BIG 3. One of my teachers, Ancestral Health pioneer, Mark Sisson in his book, Two Meals A Day, describes the foundation of the Ancestral way of eating as:

1. Eliminating grains, especially gluten grains. (Genetic modification and selective breeding to increase crop yields over the years has dramatically changed the genetics and chemical composition of wheat. [Akil, Palanisamy, MD - The Paleovedic Diet, p.29])

2. Eliminating processed sugar and excess carbs

3. Eliminating processed, toxic seed oils high in omega-6 PUFAs (Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids)

Using this framework, I have been successful in turning my health around and helping others do the same.

In conclusion, there are many ways we can honor Ahimsa (non-violence) in our daily lives, and in turn honor the roots of Yoga. Whether to eat meat or not is an individual decision, based on one’s own personal beliefs, constitution, resources, and health care needs. We can apply the principle of Ahimsa to our diet by buying vegetables and meat from local farmers and eating each bite with gratitude.

My hope is that you know that regardless of your diet, you can practice Yoga. It is your birthright to reap the profound benefits of union with your inner Self and freedom from suffering. 

If you’d like to explore how Yoga and the elimination of the “Big 3” can profoundly impact your health and well-being, join my 28-Day Metabolic Reset + Yoga/Strengthening, starting July 12th. Everyone is welcome!