My journey through veganism made my yoga practice sky rocket when I made the connection between ahimsa and veganism. I first discovered veganism before I really got into yoga. I first went vegetarian when I was about 8 years old and never thought eating animals was “natural” or something we are “supposed to do”. I always loved and cared for animals and knew they had just as much of a right as any human on this earth. After being vegetarian, I went vegan about 3 years ago.
I always had an interest in spirituality but I wasn’t sure which direction my path was taking me until I took a yoga course in college. Our teacher would give us journaling exercises where we would analyze ourselves through the 8 limbs of yoga. We did one exercise in particular on the yamas and we went through each yama and said what we needed to improve on and what we do well in that yama. When I was thinking about ahimsa, I made a massive connection to veganism and thought “why don’t other yogis make this obvious connection?” I told my teacher that I practice ahimsa through my vegan lifestyle and assumed she was also a vegan since she practices the 8 limbs of yoga. I was completely shocked that she was not, and she is not the only one either. I was so confused as to how so many people who practice yoga could skip over the first yama. From that moment on I knew I had to bring awareness to yogis that ahimsa means adopting a vegan lifestyle.
Veganism and yoga have changed my life completely and I hope to spread this love and awareness to others. Non-violence means no harming toward yourself, other beings, and the planet which is exactly what a vegan lifestyle is all about! Yoga is vegan, veganism is compassion!
- Madi Smedley
Instagram:@madisunmoon
Facebook: @madi.smedley