A: The entire Life! The infinite and unforgettable path. The conscious and joyful journey. It`s an incredible gift and inexplicable insight. The sacred dance of body, mind, and spirit. It is awakening, self-research, self-mastery, self-understanding, self-reflection, self- transformation, expression and contribution to the glorious infinite spirit of divine Love, Light, Freedom, clarity, miracle, resonance, co-creation, and renewal.
It's my daily message and an act of gratitude, purity, asceticism, mastership, trust, virtues, transformation... I AM on 8 stages of the yoga path.
Yoga is not religion. I'm not a member of any religion in this world. Yoga is not a sport. In this sense, I'm not in a sports club.
Yoga is my unique and individual dialogue and transdimensional interaction with the Self and with Universe.
Q: Why did you start practicing yoga?
A: In 2009. It occurred by lucky chance. A girlfriend of mine and a co-member of a ballet / dance studio once asked me to join her in a yoga course at one city studio. So, friendship and curiosity brought me to yoga.
Once yoga crossed my life path, it keeps opening like a bud in a blooming flower in my heart. I found Who I Am True. I learned, discovered, applied and transformed so a lot. And now, I share it with others graciously.
Q: Why did you decide to go vegan and how has it impacted your life?
A: Today, I may say that yoga, veganism, and childfree are the best things that could happen in my life and enrich it! This summer I`ll turn 45 and nobody believes my age, people are surprised by seeing me so vivid, flexible, multi-functional, beautiful, happy.
The main reasons I became vegan were ecological and ethical. I`m vegan with 80- 85% raw plant-based & whole grain food, which means without thermal treatment. Also, I extensively use superfoods.
It`s improved my yoga practice much.
Yoga + vegan is a harmonious concept for me, since times when nobody talked about sustainability, animal rights and climate change so often and it wasn`t on top of the global agenda. I lovingly integrate yoga, veganism, organic certified goods, ethical products, fair-trade goods, sustainable and environment-mindful technologies, volunteering and charity. Open my YouTube channel and you`ll find plenty of exciting and inspiring examples of this splendid lifestyle, tips and tools!
Q: What are your favorite asanas, pranayamas, and vegan meals?
A: Asanas: Hanumanasana, Adho Mukha Upavishta Konasana, Supta Baddha Konasana, Eka Pada Vasishthasana, Kapotasana, Ashtavakrasana, Ardha Padma Matsyendrasana, Eka Pada Urdhva Dhanurasana, Karna Pidasana, Shirsharoli.
Pranayamas: Nadi Shodhana, Agnisara Dhauti, Bandha Triyam Prakriya. I like to practice various mudras of advanced level also.
Vegan meals: red & wild rice with vegetables, pineapple and peanuts; Japanese rice nuddles with cherry tomatoes, seaweeds, cashew and lemon-basil-saffronsauce; raw rucola soup, vegan rolls with avocado, cucumber, vegan cheese and sesam; vegan waffles, vegan pizza, various kinds of vegan brownie, various smoothies and salads.
So, take yoga & veganism & eco-shopping on board your lifespan! Let`s salute and enjoy together how the benevolent changes dawn!
I`ll be happy if my vision, service and resources will help you to make a first step, to go on this path with support and enthusiasm, will encourage you with confidence and wisdom, will transform and reveal your best version of yourself in all terms (body, mind, soul)!
Connect with Lana:
Website: velana.net/yoga
Youtube: @velana_net
My compassion journey started 21 years ago. I was 15 and got my first pet, Henry the rabbit. And the day I got him I wondered, how can people eat such a cute animal? And then it dawned on me: isn’t it just wrong to decide about someone's right to life just based on how cute they look? From that very day I became a vegetarian. One day a couple of years later, I came across a video on dairy farming. And that was the final shift to understand that veganism is the way to go. So about 6 years ago I went vegan, yes and honestly I wished I had someone close by who would have helped open my eyes earlier.
My yoga journey started actually about a year later. First as a student, later as a student and teacher. Looking into the yamas, one of the foundations of yoga, I started seeing veganism in every single one of them. Ahimsa seems obvious. But look closely at the other four as well: Satya - truthfulness - are we lying to ourselves about the cruelty and impact of animal farming?
Asteya - not taking anything that is not freely given to us - cows milk ain’t for us, darling.
Bramacharia - right use of sexual energy - artificial insemination doesn’t really work well with that idea either.
Aparigraha - non-greed - taking more than we need, just think about the surface that is required to grow kettle, and if we would just plant plants there how that could feed the planet.
The more yoga I study, the more obvious it is that yoga is vegan and I became passionate about teaching to share love and compassion not only for humans. Within the last year, I started to use my platform as a teacher to speak out for the voiceless by connecting veganism and yoga. Giving talks on the yamas and veganism or hosting vegan yoga brunches and retreats. So let us practice yoga for a better world for all beings. Yoga is vegan.
—Featured Yogi
Julia Gräßer
Instagram: @warriorprincessyoga
Website: warriorprincessyoga.com
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—Featured Yogi Micki Lippki
Instagram: @yogabyMicki
For me, being vegan is who I am and ties in with my belief of ahimsa - it is a lifestyle choice about living a life that minimizes pain to all beings, not just with my diet but with my clothing, beauty products, etc.
I also run a vegan supper club (@rootskitchenlondon) with my partner (also vegan!), to show people how delicious vegan food is and that no creature should suffer just to satisfy someone’s tastebuds. I love animals and it is my aim to do as much as I can to end their suffering ❤️
—Kelly McGrath
Connect with Kelly:
Instagram: @kellebelleyoga
Website: kellebelleyoga.com
5 years ago, I took a yoga class for the first time at “Yoga to the people” in NYC. I was living one block away from their East Village location. At about the same time, I became a vegetarian, to truly embrace the yoga values. Shortly after settling down in the Big Apple, I developed a weird skin reaction. Seeing many different specialists, it was apparently linked to my poor diet that included meat. I was already considering myself as a low meat-eater but was still eating a burger from time to time! To understand why my skin reaction was linked to my animal product consumption, I did a deep dive into the meat industry and learned that this industry was injecting antibiotics to animals and had terrible health impacts. I decided to stop eating meat at this point, and one month later my skin was back to normal. I was relieved and became excited to learn more about animal product industries. I wish I had known earlier the impact of animal product consumption on animal welfare, the planet, and my health.
Who gives you the option to try vegan food for the first time? When do you learn about a vegan lifestyle? Unfortunately, unless you seek out this information, or are lucky enough to have a vegan in your life, these things may never happen. I had to reset my food habits as well as my lifestyle.
Back in May 2019, I adopted a fully plant-based diet. I was already aware of the animal products industries' drastic consequences watching amazing documentaries such as Cowspiracy, What the Health, Dominion. Unfortunately, nobody had ever told me about the amazing effect of being vegan. When most of us consider changing our habits, we tend to see the restrictions of such changes. “I will have to stop eating cheese, fish, butter…”, instead of visualizing the amazing new opportunities that a change brings to your life. To quit smoking is tough, but after a period of time, you will begin to feel the many positive impacts it has on you. It’s the same with veganism.
No one had ever told me how amazing the vegan lifestyle was until I met Marie Assaker, my first vegan friend through the She for She network. Naturally, I met more and more vegan people in the City who inspired me and showed me the way. If they can do it, why couldn’t I?. All beings, meaning every single animal, not just cats and dogs. It’s hard to describe how much joy being vegan can bring, it’s an intense and powerful positive change. I feel now that I am more grounded, more connected to wildlife and every being.
After realizing you aren’t restricting your food options then you also discover how amazingly tasty the food is. I used to say I could never live without cheese (I’m French!), but here I am, loving the vegan life! We [I tend not to take all the credit when I’m cooking? There is very often someone close by to help me!] blow people’s minds when we cook. It’s actually super easy. You can find cruelty free butter and cheese in every store now in the City and it’s spreading all over the world. We can find more and more products with almost similar tastes and textures matching the harmless ethic, which have not been tested on animals or using animal lives. The idea is to explore the diversity of nature. Chickpeas are my best ally. Did you know you could make whipped egg whites with chickpea juice (called Aquafaba). I used to love Nutella when I was a child, today I’m eating a vegan chocolate spread with no palm oil. So not only, I eat cruelty-free but also have a much better impact on the environment.
Embracing the yoga and vegan values changed my cooking skills. I’m more aware of the products, and their journey to come to my plate. I don’t buy packaged fruits, or packaged vegetables anymore. I’m respectful of all ingredients. Being vegan is not only about food, it’s about a more respectful lifestyle for everyone. The food aspect is, indeed, a huge part of it. 3 times a day I decide to be part of the world I dream about. Practicing yoga and embracing yoga values is a spiritual journey, as much as veganism. I feel more connected, more aware of my surroundings.
The day you become vegan you will become also aligned with your human, environmental, and yogi values. We all dream of a better world. A future more mindful of everyone. Veganism and yoga help us move toward this direction.
There is no other way. We cannot claim we want this world to be better without changing our daily habits and way of life. We eat on average 3 meals a day. When preparing those meals we can choose to be harmless, to not cause pain and live a healthy and mindful life. Yoga values are entirely embraced into veganism. The 8 limbs of yoga outline it, especially Ahimsa: nonviolence towards ourselves and all beings.
Veganism challenges your perception as much as yoga. When I’m in a child pose I think about surrender. I may be seen as a strong woman, but on my mat I allow myself to be vulnerable.
This vulnerable feeling makes me think about all these yoga poses named after animals: cows, cats, dolphins, cobras, eagles, elephants, frogs. Once affected only by the natural cycle of their environment, their lives now depend on our human choices. Every day we make decisions. Every day you can decide to live the way we all dream about. A more sustainable, less violent world, not only for ourselves but for all beings. Acknowledge what you are capable of doing on your mat, and try to send the same intention in your daily life. Why would you apply the yoga values only on your mat? Why have we been told to love rabbits, horses, fish but we decide to eat them for food when it’s not necessary? There are so many alternatives, which don’t involve taking a life.
Ahimsa – one of the five Yama – Sanskrit of “non-harming”
What does the vegan world look like? A less violent world, a non-harming one, not only for animals but also for all beings If we apply the yoga values to our life, we make a huge step forward. As a yogi, respecting the value of life forces you to find alternatives to the mainstream solutions, cultivate your uniqueness, your joy, own less, and be present. I like to think that the evolution of humankind is a moral one, a non-violent one. Maybe finding, all together, our common soul. We are one.
Playlist while writing this article for Yoga is Vegan
Documentaries - If you have never seen Cowspiracy or The Game Changers. I highly recommend these 2 amazing documentaries.
—Elsa Lagache
Instagram: @Healmyplanet
Website: www.healmyplanet.com
I dived into my yoga teacher training quite quickly (arguably too quickly in hindsight). By the end of the training, I was beginning to see other connections between yoga and animals (human and nonhuman) aside from an emphasis on vegetarianism; I was curious to explore such connections further. This was the beginning of the Animalia Asana® initiative, a 100% voluntary and charitable project dedicated to exploring and raising the profile of the multifaceted animal element in yoga. We do this primarily through offering international online courses for yoga teachers on the animal element in yoga: 50% of all funds raised go to FIAPO and IAR and 50% is reinvested back into Animalia Asana.
The animal element in yoga includes the 100+ animal-named postures, the 30+ animal-named mudras, the animal-based mythology, animal-oriented chanting, the human practitioner animal body, and numerous teachings that relate to and can potentially impact upon human-animal relations in the world of both yesteryear and today. Personally, I am interested in yoga from numerous perspectives. I’m interested in yoga’s historical and traditional roots, yoga’s various modern manifestations, both spiritual and secular/scientific approaches to yoga, all the different styles and lineages of yoga, and the contemporary challenges or ethical issues in yoga communities. The multifaceted animal element in yoga remains apparent to me from all of these different perspectives.
I have just co-published a paper on UK yoga teachers’ beliefs about the moral status of farmed animals and attitudes towards plant-based diets: you can find it here. The paper confirms the higher prevalence of vegetarianism, veganism, and plant-based diets found amongst UK yoga teachers (and most likely other western yoga teachers) relative to the proportions in the bulk of the country’s population. This is of course reason to celebrate; however, we should also remember that the paper reports how a majority of UK yoga teachers (and thus potentially also yoga teachers in other western countries) are still consuming either animal flesh or other products from animals. I think the most important result from this study was that nearly 75% of UK yoga teachers desire to follow a 100% plant-based diet. I think this is a massively positive result: it suggests there are tonnes of support for veganism amongst UK yoga teachers but underscores how becoming vegan is not immediately accessible for everyone to the same degree due to a whole host of factors. I think this is an important message that many animal advocates need to listen to carefully and compassionately and to understand fully.
Another paper is due later in 2020 based on more in-depth interviews with a subsample of yoga teachers from the aforementioned study. This sheds further light on some of the complex results. Do check back on Animalia Asana by the end of the year to find out about it!
Finally, I’d like to finish with sharing that I care for three ex-commercial hens. They have been hormonally implanted so they no longer lay eggs, which will hopefully ensure improved quality and length of life for them. Yoga inspires me to focus on the sincerity of my acts rather than the grandiosity. It inspires me to focus my attention on what I can do rather than what I cannot do.
—Jenny Mace
Website: animalia-asana.org
Instagram: @animalia_asana
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Going vegan is the beginning of a lifelong practice, a commitment to revealing an awareness of peace in this world, one person, one meal at a time.
Over 9 years ago, I decided to start on my vegan path. In 2010, shortly after my proper re-introduction to yoga, I was kicking my asana in hot yoga classes, training with a vegan/organic promoting teacher, working at Whole Foods with gorgeous floating hipster-hippies (just before hipsters were a thing) who radiated health. Inspired, I got the urge to be like them. Something in their energy, something in their eyes was glistening and calling me towards my Self.
It was at this time that we journeyed into the temple of Sri Dharma Mittra in NYC, and something totally shifted. If you are unfamiliar with Sri Dharma, let’s just say that this yogi is a portal to the timeless. Packaged in a cute, humble, Brazilian-American being who is great with his health and flexibility. Dharma is certainly one of the wonders of the world these days, and bless him for being!
At one of my first sessions there, among a class of over 150 people, we were moving gracefully into very challenging and advanced yoga postures, listening to Dharma talk about the purpose of yoga, and of course, hearing him say that the most important practice in yoga is to be vegetarian/vegan. When referring to where God/Truth (life force, energy of consciousness) can be found, it can be seen visibly in all living things to a varying degree. When you are wanting to receive true life energy, vitality, and higher vision into your body (instrument of perception) – ‘DON’T EAT CORPSES!’ He said, when you open the refrigerator and it is full of dead flesh, it is not a home for nourishing sustenance and vibrant life, it’s ‘a morgue.’
That phrase ticked the last box for me. I had been feeling ‘dead’ for so many years, filled with sadness and suffering from my own experiences, and crying for myself for no apparent reason. I decided to make the effort to go vegan (carrying forward with a natural small start at vegetarianism), and I am so glad I made that choice. Right away, I began to shed lifetimes of pain and discomfort. I stopped crying for selfish reasons and started to see the pain inflicted on others in this world (even by me). For a while I would cry for them, too (animals, people, even plants!) This was all part of the process.
My transition began in three parts:
It was a wild ride for the first 3-4 years as I can remember moving to England, and being part of a serious minority in the vegan category. There were likeminded vegan sympathisers, usually post-hippie generation people who liken themselves to be quite down-to-earth, sometimes vegetarian but mostly the ‘I don’t eat meat that often’ type. Note: this is usually a good transition group, we’ve all been there, and sometimes people lose their convictions, so get on ‘em!
Needless to say, as I was formulating my own views on the subject of vegan eating, as well as the de-merits of drinking alcohol regularly (coming away from a cultural upbringing of binge drinking that I needed to quell for my health). It was really hard to find anyone who was open enough to embrace veganism as a major marker point for personal health, spiritual awareness, or even global change. Back in 2011, it was common to hear the response that the strange and strict ‘vegan food fad’ would not take hold here in the strong (& Northern) British meat-eating culture.
This viewpoint defends the farming culture, which is a common cultural sensitivity. Let it be said that if you question anything about the traditions of farming, and the fact that it has produced meat, eggs, wool, skin, milk and cheeses for ages, there is often little to be said other than, “Well, it must be worse off in the US, where I come from, where industrial farming is at a disgusting rate of inhumane cruelty and disease.” To which, of course many will agree proudly, and reaffirm the cultural justification to eat animals and dairy products from their own country.
Ultimately, the conscious awakening that ensues from eliminating animal products from your diet allows you to see how and why killing and torturing animals for gastronomic pleasure is unnecessary, selfish, and cruel. As we mature physically, emotionally, and intellectually, it becomes clear that we can sustain ourselves and satisfy our needs without warfare, violence, or the subjugation of animals. This realisation is the start of a world view that is thankfully gaining popularity with each successive generation, which is amazing to be a part of. Still, there is progress to be made.
When one decides to ‘go vegan’ – that decision is the first major step. It takes time to tailor your experience in relation to shopping and food preparation, to socialising with others and sharing your food choices. Automatically, you begin discussing (and defending) your right to choose vegan. It’s hard to find the perfect balance of diplomacy (in the beginning) when talking about your own diet, so the most important thing to work on is yourself, and developing a sense of comfort, strength, and confidence in why you choose vegan.
When you are clear in your own mind about what you want/do/eat - then when people question you, it will not feel like a personal attack. During the initial stages, when it is new for you, it is all about finding and spending time with those who will support your decision, and help reaffirm your reasons for doing so.
Which brings us to the point of this article: I want to encourage others to try changing their diet, and experience a new way of being. No matter what reason you decide to go vegan, please start on the path, and navigate the beautiful journey. When we realise that this life choice is more than what we eat, and how it extends to the principles by which we live our lives, it becomes easier to allow and support others to make changes in their own way and time also. Cultural norms are slow to change, but once they do, they often stay for a long time - for worse, and for better.
For me, I will continue to choose a non-violent diet, even at the expense of my own health, because it comes down to: Ahimsa (non-violence) - the first limb of Yoga.
My life is of equal value to every other life. Therefore, it is not justified for me to put someone else through torture for my own pleasure, gain, or survival. In an ideal world, filled with consideration for others, it is the challenge of humans to offer the care, kindness, and good intentions that we would hope to receive. We are at a very special place in time where this choice is viable and necessary.
If this sounds too difficult to do because of anger, hurt, resentment, fear, or guilt, then this lifestyle IS for you. You have the power to purge yourself of negative torment from the past, and find freedom in your own body/mind. It can be difficult to strive for positivity, peace, and well-channeled emotion, but that is what it means to ‘be a yogi.’ Those who seek to master the body/mind of the human being, and to live in a more full and connected way.
I understand the horrors of the death camps made for animals, and I do not support that at all. While there are so many brave and amazing activists creating awareness about animal cruelty through slaughterhouse vigils and hunting saboteurs, I feel that my niche for activism has landed in talking about the type of consciousness expansion desired through yoga, how a vegan and high raw diet expedites this awakening, and how sharing good food with others in an open manner really ‘convinces’ people. Serving beautiful food with good intentions is the perfect judgment-free way to educate people by representing the vegan cause in person.
Over the past 3 years in Sheffield, UK, the vegan ‘scene’ has gone wild! It is such an amazing thing to see. Even if I have contributed just a small part by teaching yoga, selling vegan items, buying vegan clothes and products, and promoting vibrant living through vegan, raw food and cold-pressed juices, I am glad the movement continues to grow. I wish every vegan eater, enthusiast, and business the best, with full love and support. I do believe we are creating positive change.
Yoga is Vegan. When we remain in the silence of the infinite through meditation, we understand that we are all connected, that we are all the same. We are all living beings on this earth who “fear death and want life” from the core of our very nature. The yogi knows that this earthly life is temporary, but is a field for learning and development. We can refine our life habits, our choices, and even curb our own needs in order to support the needs of others. A bit of self-sacrifice goes a long way to benefit someone we may never meet.
It is from this mindset that, for a yogi (one who practices & studies yoga) going vegan may be less about personal physical health and longevity (although it is proven to excel in this area), it may be less about sustainability or the environment (again, this diet excels in its effects there as well), but the main thing for a purposeful and long held view on veganism from the yoga perspective, is the ability to refrain from harming another living being: do not kill or cause harm to others, or partake in any action that promotes harm. From observing the first limb of yoga, observing all the other limbs naturally arises.
We are sick of war, sick of fighting, tired from indulgence, and ignorant of our part in this sick play. By taking one simple step, changing your diet, with the help of great, new and sustainable food options being brought to the mainstream, or going back to our roots by keeping it simple, there is a world of plenty for everyone. That is real compassion, yoga beyond the mat, beyond the body, and considerate of everyone.
Observing a vegan diet has been the most profound, and naturally awakening experience of my life. It is such a blessing to have been introduced to this way of living. Much of my confidence in my life and dedication to Yoga teaching comes from knowing that what I eat represents everything about me - how I feel, what I think, knowing that physically and emotionally, I am much more alive than ever, even remembering the disturbing thoughts and suffering I’ve left behind. As I continue to follow my inner compass, living in accordance to principles dedicated to health, curiosity, and love in diet and lifestyle, it is clear that every moment in life is a yoga practice, and I am so thankful for the journey.
* * *
I can endure
So much more
Because
I can receive
With grace.
So much love,
From a diet of light
Whole, high raw foods -
Waking wonders for the vital experience.
We know intuitively,
To ingest fear, pain, suffering, egoism,
Into our lives through diet,
Is to choose separation, violence and hate.
Every theology has stated this: moderate, and negate.
Anyone alive long enough
To feel pain of their own,
Can turn compassion into a path towards truth.
Explore perception,
Forsake results,
Let Ahimsa be the main goal -
We go on!
Yoga is Vegan
— Anne Marie Gordon
Instagram: @anne.marie.yogi
I am also very lucky to be from an Indian Hindu family many of the dishes I eat ABC have grown up on, are mainly vegan so the transition from a vegetarian to a vegan diet in 2017 was very easy.
Most of the food I eat, I make so I know what goes into it. I avoid vegan ‘junk/fast foods at all costs, it has little or no nutritional value and in my opinion, gives a lot of non-vegan/ vegetarian’s a lot of reasons to criticize us.
My Achilles heel is spice. I love spicy food I know its slightly rajasic, but it’s something I am working on.
—David Ramcharran
Website:
Instagram: @thelostyogaboy
Website: www.thelostyogaboy.com
YIV: How were you first introduced to yoga? Why have you continued to practice?
VED: I discovered yoga through reading about Buddhism and Hinduism first. It came at a time in my life where I was questioning a lot of things, a lot of beliefs too. I came to the physical practice of asanas a few months later, as I was spending some time in Berlin and then in Asia where I started to really understand the practice. I kept practicing since then (2014).
VED: I went vegan in early 2015, after already having switched to a vegetarian diet in 2013. My decision to abstain from eating animals and then all other animal products have always been ethical, meaning for animals rights. The positive effects on the environment were also of course highly motivating.
YIV: Why is do you think yoga is vegan?
VED: If we think about the Yamas and especially of the concept of Ahimsa, it seems very clear to me that yoga is about doing our best to not harm not only ourselves and other human beings, but also all living sentient beings there is. Why would we ever exclude animals here?
YIV: As a teacher, do you ever introduce the concept of ahimsa or veganism to your students? If so, how has it been received?
VED: Yes, I have led some workshops, retreats and events about ahimsa/veganism. It's a tough topic to bring up to light because it triggers a lot of things in people. I feel like when it is presented through vibrant delicious foods though, things go easier ;)
YIV: What advice would you give to a yoga student who wants to become vegan?
VED: Think about the cruelty and the victims and everything becomes easy, like second nature. With time, we learn to not see animal products as food anymore. It's just not an option to us anymore. It's not food, it's cruelty disguised as such, not only towards the animals but ultimately also towards ourselves and the planet.
—Valentine Eva DoniaInstagram: @malerindeskosmos
Facebook:@KosmosYoga
Luckily, my karma aligned me with two very genuine teachers in New Jersey - Tim Shaw of the Jivamukti lineage, and Adam Sobel, a student of Dharma Mittra’s. With the consistent messaging of these two beautiful humans in their classes and in their lives, I was shown that the life of a cow or a pig or a chicken is no less valuable than the life of a cat, dog, or a child. I credit the instant realization of my true nature being vegan to this, as well as the nonchalant way Tim asked me after class one day, “why aren’t you vegan?” To which I responded, “I don’t know”.
My journey through veganism has been the most profound and beautiful yoga - it has been a coming home. I truly believe every one of us as humans would agree that we don’t want things to suffer. We avoid it at all costs and we feel immense joy and connection when we’re able to relieve another being’s suffering. Yet we don’t live in alignment with that desire. Our current society is driven by our collective ego and attachment, and it leads us to believe that enslaving and exploiting animals for our purposes is normal, and hides behind closed doors the horrific reality that would surely stop all of us from participating in it if everyone saw the real suffering that goes on.
Each individual comes to this realization in their own time. But it is also critical for those of us who have lifted the veil from our own eyes to dispel the darkness so many are still lost in. We need to give others the chance to live more freely, more in tune with their true nature, so our world can be more harmonious. This can only come once we stop contributing to the suffering and harm being imposed on other beings - human and non-human animals alike.
Once we truly understand our intrinsic and undeniable connection with nature, that we are merely a small part of the big picture, we remember we are the same as animals. We are humanimals. It’s time we remember and return back to a place of mutual respect with nature, where we strive to uplift others, knowing that we can’t be free until we are ALL free.
YIV: When did you go vegan? Why did you make the decision to do so?
PN: I had been vegetarian for 8 years and 2 years ago it did not make sense anymore. Why have compassion for some animals and not to all?
YIV: Why is do you think yoga is vegan?
PN: Ahimsa (non-violence) is not optional, it is the foundation of Yoga. It states in the Mahabarata "Ahimsa is the highest virtue".
PN: Yes always! it is received as you live it. Students can feel when a teacher is not following what he preaches.
PN: Don´t wait, and if you fail keep trying forever.
YIV: Where do you love to go for vegan food?
PN: Sivananda Ashrams, Vegan Tacos (Mexico city)
Connect with Pablo Narayana:
Instagram: @pablo.narayana
Facebook: @pablo.narayana
Website: www.pabloci.com
Yoga Studio: Jagadambika & Narayana
Veganism is another fold in these layers. I was about 11 when I connected what eating animals is — masticating flesh & consuming something that was once alive & now is dead. No thank you.... But I was an unhealthy, unguided teenager who struggled with anxiety & depression, chronic allergies, & eventually cancer. I was lost but through the dark, I discovered an all plant-based, Vegan, chemical-free, gluten-free diet. Every allergy left & my mind cleared. With diet & other practices, I became bright, energetic, & happy! When we practice ahimsa for ourselves & our habitat, the universe around us changes.
Every day I say prayers. I try to eat mindfully & feel the energy of the food. I do most of my own cooking, thinking creatively about dishes, & hope in the future I can do a lot of my own growing. I think it’s important for us to understand & acknowledge, rather than just consume. When we eat without awareness that is when problems occur, which we can see both on personal levels & global scales.
Ahimsa, or the dynamic virtue of non-harming, is the first yama of Patanjali's ashtanga yoga, and rightfully holds the foundational role in one's spiritual process. To live deeply rooted in ahimsa means to recognize the oneness of all existence and to nurture and support life, rather than to neglect, disrespect, or end it. While ahimsa covers a very broad spectrum of ideals and actions/inactions, refraining from the consumption and exploitation of other sentient beings should be an obvious first step in realizing this virtue in your life.
There are many forms of yoga, and in my humble opinion, the practice of ahimsa may just be the most important. Yoga is much more than movement of the body and breath, but a lifestyle. The practice should continue throughout the entire waking day and influence all thoughts, words, and actions. Unfortunately, humanity suffers from a widespread case of cognitive dissonance, a dilemma in which eating habits and tradition contradict most individual’s actual ideals and morals. This disconnect is the ego vs the Self. Choosing the Self means choosing selflessness and consequently choosing a vegan lifestyle. Yoga is selflessness. Yoga is compassion. Yoga is love. Yoga is VEGAN!
-Jeff Atkins
Instagram: @ahimsaja_
Website: ahimsaja.com
Photo credit: Pablo Narayana
Instagram: @pablo.narayana
Website: pabloci.com
Yoga is a magical method of unification. Unification of mind, body and spirit. Unification of the “I” to the community, and of course the “I” to the other. Those beings who have been classified as “animals” in the current cultural understanding are considered “other”, and of course yoga unifies us with the other. Recognizing that we are all one, veganism is the unquestionable truth of yoga.
Veganism is simply the embodiment of these basic yogic tenets. To follow the path of least harm, to be mindful of the consequences of your actions, to treat others (all others) with the same dignity and respect that you wish for yourself.
The magic of yoga happens over time, with dedication, interest and pure focus. The lessons are unveiled to the student as the student is ready, and on the student’s terms. Veganism works the same way. You slowly start to open your circle of compassion. First to yourself, then to others who are obviously similar. It takes a lot of self-work and self-love to be able to widen that circle of compassion to others whose similarities are not as obvious. Yoga is a journey into one’s heart and true nature, as is Veganism.
As I look at the world today, with constant news of climate disaster, cruelty in every form, suffering in unimaginable proportions I know that we have lost our way. We have followed a path that has lead to the destruction of our home, the killing of endless billions of animals in the name of industry, constant violence against our own brothers and sisters in the name of nationalism or religion.
We are magical beings who will find our way back, and the rise of Veganism is proof. 2019 was widely recognized as “The Year of the Vegan” and based on my anecdotal experience I tend to agree. The global conversation is shifting.
Yoga is a 6,000+ year old philosophy that has morphed and changed through the ages to guide us back center - I see the rise of Veganism today as yoga’s latest (and maybe greatest) morph. It is preaching the all important first tenet of yoga - non-violence. It is highlighting the destruction we have caused and giving us a clear path on how to fix our mess.
I practice my yoga every day, whether it be yoga asana, meditation, karma yoga, Veganism, vegan activism, or just straight up compassion for those who are not vegan yet. I truly believe that this practice gives me strength, and changes the world in a better way.
— Danielle Lowy
Instagram: @Danielle Lowy & @MooveStudioNZ
Website: http://www.moovestudio.co.nz/
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My journey to a plant- based diet began after years of practicing asanas. There was a point in my life where I needed to take my yoga practice to another level, out of the mat. As I nutritionist, I was well aware of the benefits of a vegan diet, but I wasn't ready for that big change. I did a slow transition. Giving time to body to be aware of my new diet, and also giving time to myself to change my eating habits .
I have been following a vegan diet for one and a half years. Almost everything I heard was true. The benefits and the risks, but surely the benefits I have experienced went over the risks by far.
My asana practice has changed a lot. My body feels lighter. I feel more energy through out the day. I don't feel sleepy after I eat. I just feel give perfect. Also, I must say that the connection with animals has increased a lot. I've become more sensitive to other beings who are suffering. It's great to know you are not being part of the pain so many animals are going through.
After all, the maximum benefit for me is the AWARNESS that what I put inside my body effects the way I feel. And, how I choose to fuel my body contributes to the wellness of the world.
Now I teach workshops and seminars to keep motivating more people to try a new way of eating that will bring them peace, energy and health to them and to their surroundings.
When I was in my late twenties, I read the book Skinny Bitch by vegan activists Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. I thought I was going to read a book on how to get in shape. Instead, the book was an educational piece about the horrors of animal agriculture. I decided to go vegan. Soon after I committed to veganism, I started practicing yoga regularly again. I practiced at a wonderful Baptiste Studio in Northampton, MA where both the owners were ethical vegetarians. I signed up for and completed the Kripalu Yoga teacher training. While at Kripalu, I was disappointed to learn they served dead animals in the cafeteria. Given the ethical and environmental destruction of animal agriculture, it didn’t seem inline with the yoga philosophy we were learning about in the program.
Soon after I graduated from my 200 hour Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training, I started teaching and practicing in upstate New York. I had recently moved there. One day, I took a class at the YMCA with an incredible yoga teacher named Nancy Polachek. The class was mind blowing good. Nancy led the class though intelligent sequencing, gave skillful assists, and thoughtfully incorporated yoga philosophy. During savasana, Nancy played a recording about the connection between yoga and veganism. As a new teacher, I knew I needed to connect with this woman. After class, I approached her. She told me that she too started as a Kripalu Yoga teacher. However, she went on to complete the 300 hour Jivamukti Teacher training, which was a tradition that valued progressive activism and animal rights. I knew that I wanted to teach like Nancy, so I signed up for and completed the Jivamukti Yoga teacher training. It was there that I learned how to truly weave the yogic teachings of peace into my classes. I have been a proud vegan yoga teacher since.
After several years of teaching yoga, I had my son. I had a vegan pregnancy and was in great health. Post-partum, I had enough milk to feed my son and donate human milk to other families. I nursed my son for over four years until he naturally weaned. Nursing my son reinvigorated my commitment to veganism. The connection between a mamma and her nursling is unparalleled. It broke my heart to think about baby cows being torn away from their mammas so humans could consume cows’ milk.
In addition to being a yogini and holistic parent, I am a committed feminist and reproductive rights advocate. I have been a feminist since I was sixteen years old and faced an unwanted pregnancy. It was at this point I came to understand the vital importance of bodily autonomy. The dairy industry is outrageous in its violation of female cows’ bodily autonomy. Cows are raped, forced to carry pregnancies that they didn’t willfully participate in creating, and then their offspring is stolen from them. They are then painfully “milked” as much as possible to produce for human consumption. I decided I wanted to do something to take on dairy while spreading ahimsa and the joys of veganism.
In May 2019, I opened a small vegan ice cream company Ms. Amanda’s Compassionate Ice Cream. The Ms. component of my business’s name is representative of my commitment to feminism and empowering women. The compassionate component of my business’s name is representative of my commitment to veganism. Veganism is all about making choices that are grounded in compassion that will benefit our health, mother earth, and animals. I also continue to teach yoga. This year, I had the honor of teaching at New Hampshire Vegfest. It was wonderful to be able to share the connections between yoga and ethical veganism.
-Featured Yogi Amanda Elizabeth
Website: Ms. Amanda's Compassionate Ice Cream
People ask: Why become Vegan? My answer is: Why not become Vegan?
When you do something that sounds this right, this good, this selfless you FEEL GOOD. Every day! All the time.
First I did it for myself. I felt sad, down, depressed when I was eating cheese.
The quality of the dairies these days is not good. Our poor beautiful cows, sheep and goats are fed antibiotics, are injected with hormones, treated in the worst manner.
When you practice Yoga, mindfulness and meditation you connect with their emotions and sadness. It just happens. You feel connected to their suffering.
This is why after being a vegetarian for years I turned Vegan. If you practice yoga, kindness, awareness you will feel it too. You just have to close your eyes and listen to the signals. Then the MAGIC happens. You feel. You believe.
When you are vegan your body clears the toxins. Your joints, muscles, entire body soften. Your become more supple, your Yoga practice become effortless, you recover fast, you rarely get sick, your skin glows, your eyes are clear. Of Course you also lose weight. You can say “good bye” to diabetes, heart problems, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases.
And you are just deeply HAPPY.
Do it for Them
Do it for You.
Do it for Humanity.
Do it for the Earth!
It has to be done right and gradually.
Tips on how to do it? Connect with vegans. They want to help you!
DM: I dabbled in yoga from my first year of college, a class here, a video there. I finally started practicing consistently when I was pregnant with my second child. It completely changed my mood, my health and my relationship to myself. After seeing the amazing changes I decided to keep practicing, and soon after that I immersed myself in a 200 hour teacher training.
YIV: When did you go vegan? Why did you make the decision to do so?
DM: I went vegan in 2017. I was studying with Sri Dharma Mittra and he raised my consciousness in regards to Ahimsa. I was vegetarian before that, but as I kept diving deeper into my yoga studies I realized it is not enough. I saw amazing changes in my skin, as well as my health. I struggled with stomach problems for 15 years and once I became vegan, they were basically gone.
YIV: Why do you think yoga is vegan?
DM: I think Yoga is the Yamas and Niyamas (ethical rules of conduct) more than just fancy poses. The yamas and Niyamas are what change people from the inside out. The first and foundation for all the Yamas is ahimsa- compassion and non harming. If you are not vegan you are not fully keeping ahimsa
YIV: Do you ever introduce the concept of ahimsa or veganism to your yoga students?
DM: Yes. I honestly think a lot of my students roll their eyes and think I'm just preaching. But it doesn't matter, once you say something enough times it sinks in. It is also worth it for those few students who are receptive. I have had students tell me they want to change their diet, and asking my advice
YIV: What advice would you give to a yoga student who wants to become vegan?
DM: I would give the same advice one of my teachers Yoshio Hama gave me: "Go slowly, don't try to do it all at once."I would also tell them to not be too hard on themselves, there are days you may fail, just continue and start over the next day.
YIV: Do you have a favorite vegan recipe you would like to share?
DM: Yes! Super Simple: Tahini. Mix tahini and coconut aminos . Then add a little bit of water. It is the most amazing dip or salad dressing. It is also full of protein and essential nutrients.
YIV: Where do you love to go for vegan food?
DM: Juice Press, and now that they're in NY, Ramen Hood
-Daniella Matalon
Instagram: @theyoganista
Facebook: @dani.mat.7771
photo credit: Fabio Filippi @fabiofilippi
]]>YIV: When did you go vegan? Why did you make the decision to do so?
YIV: Why do you think yoga is vegan?
PS: I personally do not discuss veganism in my yoga classes. I do occasionally share personal experiences of mine with my students and invite them to my events outside of class that are vegan friendly. However, I feel it can be difficult enough to focus and come back to the breath, let alone adding a deeper level of reflection to one’s lifestyle choices. I share my social media and blogs with my students so they have the choice to get to know my journey outside of the classroom if they choose, embedding it into the framework of Asana isn’t something I personally practice.
YIV: What advice would you give to a yoga student who wants to become vegan?
YIV: Do you have a favorite vegan recipe you would like to share?
PS: "Rhythm n Wraps" in Allston, MA has the best sandwiches and vegan mac n cheese in Boston!
YIV: How were you first introduced to yoga? Why have you continued to practice?
AI: I took my first Yoga class in 2007, mainly out of curiosity. I tried a Yoga class while on holiday and decided to continue once home. I felt right away that it was much more than a physical practice. I wanted to learn more and more, to know all the poses. I soon discovered the philosophy behind it and decided to study it. I never looked back. It was the philosophy that attracted me the most and it is still what is keeping me drawn to Yoga. It became a complete part of my life and soon a way of living.
YIV: When did you go vegan? Why did you make the decision to do so?
AI: I first became vegetarian in 2012. It happened quite easily because I never really enjoyed eating meat. It is when I did my 500-hour teacher training with Sri Dharma Mittra in New-York in 2017 however that a bigger change happened. We had to follow a special diet for four months to calm our mind, which was strictly (and stricter than) vegan. From then on, gradually I became vegan. I see it as an act of compassion towards the animals, as a way of saving our planets and of being healthier.
It is easy to justify my decision. When you realize the great suffering you are participating in, allowing and supporting when you eat meat, dairies, fish, it is no longer possible to continue eating them. There is also a simple question I asked myself: would I kill the animal myself to eat the meat? I never would. I would always look for an alternative way of nourishing myself. And so this is what I do.
YIV: Why is do you think yoga is vegan?
AI: ’Yoga is vegan' is in line with the first rule of Yoga, the first Yama, which is Ahimsa, non-violence and love towards all beings, including animals. It is an act of compassion. It is ceasing to participate in the killing of animals. It also contributes to protecting our planet and our children's future as cattle-breeding has a great impact on greenhouse gases emissions and therefore global warming.
The practice of Yoga increases our awareness. Veganism for me coincides with greater awareness of the way we live our lives, the impact we have on the planet. Veganism is directly linked to Yoga philosophy.
YIV: As a teacher, do you ever introduce the concept of ahimsa or veganism to your students? If so, how has it been received?
AI: In public classes I talk about Ahimsa from time to time but in broad terms. I regularly have conversations about veganism with my regular students however. I am careful in the way I talk about it and of not imposing anything on anyone. I give my point of view and my reasons. Some of my students have switched to a vegan diet, some won't change their minds at this point. But I think everyone evolves at their own pace and if you impose your views in a forceful way, it has the opposite effect.
YIV: What advice would you give to a yoga student who wants to become vegan?
AI: I would advise them to make sure that they eat enough and in a healthy way because it's not because you are vegan that you eat properly! I would advise them to make sure they eat a variety of vegetable but also beans, lentils, chickpeas... and eat unprocessed food as much as possible. I would advise them to read about it and buy a good vegan cookbook to give them ideas about recipes. I would also talk to them about taking some B12 supplements.
YIV: Do you have a favorite vegan recipe you would like to share? If it's not your own, please credit the author.
AI: I love cooking pearl barley, adding some coconut cream in it and mixing it with all kind of vegetables (tomatoes, asparagus, broccoli, spinach or chard, carrots, or anything you have in your fridge that would combine well with it). I often add tofu and squeeze a lemon on it. It is so easy to cook!
YIV: Where do you love to go for vegan food?
AI: I live in London and I love to go to Wulf & Lamb on Pavillion Road close to Sloane Square and Tell Your Friends on New King's Road in Fulham.
-Alix Inness
Website: alixyoga.com
Instagram: Alix_Yoga
Facebook: Alix Yoga
JS: I started practicing yoga right after college, prior to that I had no real body awareness or focused interest in physical movement. But as I began working a physically demanding job, I began to notice the debilitating effects of my chronic scoliosis. Searching for relief, I came to my mat for the first time. I immediately fell in love with how expressive, explorative and calming yoga was. I felt strong in my body for the first time ever and was able to see my physical strides reflected mentally off of the mat.
YIV: When did you go vegan? Why did you make the decision to do so?
JS: I went vegan on September 7th, 2015. I made the decision after a lifetime of chronic and undiagnosed stomach pain and a variety of other "mystery" ailments.
Something inside of me just snapped and I knew that meat, dairy and eggs could no longer be a part of my diet. I was living in LA at the time, working at a large yoga company so there was no shortage of inspiration and amazing foods to try. Everything felt new again, I fell in love with cooking on a deeper level then ever before. As I began to eat whole plant foods and feel WONDERFUL I started to research more about the ethical side of veganism. I always tell people that while health brought me to veganism, the ethical reasons are why I will be vegan forever. Veganism is my yoga off the mat.
YIV: Why do you think yoga is vegan?
JS: I received my 200-hr YTT from Kripalu School of Yoga & Ayurveda in the Berkshires and literally means 'compassion'. For me, there is no deeper truth; yoga is compassionate living. As Swami Kripalu said, yoga is to be a pilgrim on the path of love. To me, nothing is more compassionate than choosing life over death, kindness over cruelty and health over convenience.
YIV: As a teacher, do you ever introduce the concept of ahimsa or veganism to your students? If so, how has it been received?
JS: As a teacher of compassion, I recognize that everyone is on their own individual path. My approach is never to tell anyone what to do but rather to share my lifestyle in a friendly, open manner that is void of judgement and to be open to hearing about alternative. I do not work veganism/whole foods into my teaching but I have engaged in plenty of conversations with my clients off the mat - sharing my lifestyle, my blog (livecleankitchen.com) and my story! I feel this approach makes people curious rather than resistant - and I've had quite a few people tell me how inspired they've become!
YIV: What advice would you give to a yoga student who wants to become vegan?
JS: Use compassion with yourself. Start slow. Find recipes you love. Make sure you're getting all your vitamins and minerals. Cook in bulk. Watch documentaries. Read a lot. Keep yourself informed. Share.
YIV: Do you have a favorite vegan recipe you would like to share?
JS: I guess I am bias but, love all of the recipes I have created on livecleankitchen.com
YIV: Where do you love to go for vegan food?
JS: I love to cook at home. Before finding veganism I loved to eat out but I am so in love with cooking that no longer long for that.
-Jillian Sandrey
Instagram: @food.that.feels.good
Facebook: @LiveCleanKitchen
Website: livecleankitchen.com
-Melissa Singh
Instagram: @melissasinghyogifuel
Website: www.melissasingh.com
Podcast: The Yogi Fuel Podcast Blog
MS: I was first introduced to Yoga in University after I sustained a bad concussion on the rugby field which lead to anxiety and depression. I used Yoga and Meditation as a way to heal my body and mind from years of playing rugby, and the consequential anxiety that ensued. For years I had an on and off relationship with Yoga, until I found Ashtanga.
For me, Ashtanga has been the most transformational practice of my life. Each day it gives me an opportunity to connect with my breath, my body, and my Self. It helps reveal my unconscious patterns, and through daily practice, it helps me transcend them... slowly but surely.
For me Yoga helps to keep me grounded, and connected.
YIV: When did you go vegan? Why did you make the decision to do so?
MB: I became vegan shortly after beginning my Ashtanga practice. I think as my connection to the practice deepened, and as my consciousness expanded, the idea of eating meat didn't make sense for me anymore.
I felt called to take on the practice of Yoga off the mat, and for me, veganism felt like the best way to begin practicing Ahimsa. If I could sustain myself without eating another living creature, why wouldn't I?
As my practice has evolved, I've started to see veganism not only as a way to practice Ahimsa, but to cultivate Sattva. I think it's important that as vegan Yogis we adopt a whole-foods plant-based diet, to support the cultivation of Sattva and Prana while practicing Ahimsa.
MS: Why is do you think yoga is vegan?
This is a tricky one, and maybe the answer isn't what you would expect to hear.
I think Yoga is about consciousness.
And generally I think when we become conscious and aware of the unjust treatment of animals in factory farming, the tamasic nature of meat and other animal products, and the consequential effect this has on our body and mind, and if we want to align ourselves with the yama, Ahimsa we would naturally choose a vegan diet.
But I think beyond veganism, Yoga is about being conscious of our choices around food. And sometimes, this might mean consciously choosing animal products. I have met many Yogis who from a very conscious place choose to eat animal products.
And this is something I have been grappling to reconcile in my own mind.
Yogis who have tried to go vegan, but were left feeling depleted, and run down ask me for guidance all the time. They want so desperately to go vegan, and to live in alignment with ahimsa, but after seeing various alternative health professionals, have been advised to eat some animal products.
So what do they do?
This is where it gets tricky. My advice to them is always to be empowered in their choice. To arm themselves with knowledge of what is actually happening in these industries and to make a scientific, and spiritually informed choice.
And, if they have to, to choose products that cause as little harm as possible, and that are sourced from animals that are treated with love and care. Ayurveda, who's goal is somewhat the same as Yoga from the perspective of connecting to our highest Self, does not admonish the use of animal byproducts from a spiritual perspective, so long as they were sourced from animals that were treated well.
It's tricky, really it is. There may be karmic, and spiritual implications for consuming animals products, and I think one should strive for an all or mostly plant-based diet if this is possible for them. It is the most karmically, and spiritually sound diet, in my opinion. Also, likely the most nutrient dense!
But I fully acknowledge that we are all at different stages on our journey. We all have different body's which have varying nutritional needs and considerations. In my opinion, the Yoga of Eating (or what I call, Food Sadhana) is all about being grounded and conscious about your food choices.
If you are a teacher, do you ever introduce the concept of ahimsa or veganism to your students? If so, how has it been received?
While I don't teach Yoga, I do teach meditation and run online Ayurvedic Plant-Based Nutrition and cooking programs. The concept of ahimsa is one of the fundamental principles in all of my programs in The Yogi Fuel Academy.
The concept is generally well received, I think people connect to and understand the idea of practicing ahimsa via a vegan diet, but the implementation is sometimes challenging.
YIV: What advice would you give to a yoga student who wants to become vegan?
MB: Begin to look at becoming vegan as a practice, the same way you would look at your asana practice. It's ok to take it slow in the beginning, and it's ok to go all in. You need to adopt this lifestyle in a way that feels sustainable in the long term.
In the beginning, it might feel really, really hard. Maybe even overwhelming. You may find yourself going back to old ways of being, and consume animal products from time to time. And I think that's ok.
Even your "setbacks" are a valuable part of this journey, and there is so much wisdom in them. Be conscious of how you feel in your body, mind and soul if you do consume animal products. How does it make you feel, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? Many of my clients have shared that eating meat again after going vegan brought up feelings of physical discomfort, mentally and emotionally they felt unsettled, and spiritually the felt disconnected. It just felt wrong.
I encourage them not to feel guilty for having a "setback" but to use it as an invaluable tool going forward. And I think that's the best advice I have to any Yogi trying to adopt this lifestyle for the first time.
YIV: Do you have a favorite vegan recipe you would like to share?
MB: Oh man, I have so many favourites! I think one of my favourite recipes, is one I created (no big deal) and it's my simple peanut butter ball recipe. It's the perfect post-practice snack, super easy to throw together, and each ball has like... 5g of plant-based protein.
http://www.melissasingh.com/recipe/5-minute-peanut-butter-cookie-dough-balls/
YIV: Where do you love to go for vegan food?
MB: Truthfully, my kitchen! I am a big believer in cultivating connection to my food through the cooking process. But if I had to pick a second, I would say Planta in Toronto. They have the best, fanciest vegan food in town! I also love a good stroll down a a health-food store aisle... pursuing the health vegan snacks, and day dreaming about all the food I could make!
-Melissa Singh
Instagram: @melissasinghyogifuel
Website: www.melissasingh.com
Podcast: The Yogi Fuel Podcast Blog