Yoga & Veganism

It seems that by combining a vegan diet with regular yoga practice you can reduce your risk of illness. Common sense would perhaps tell you that this is the case yet some people seem to lack common sense so let’s talk about it! A vegan diet is a diet based on eating plant food, food which has never been alive. Even though it is possible to be an unhealthy vegan, it is a lot easier to get a healthy variety of nutrients whilst avoiding excessive fats. Most people know meat is difficult to digest and stays in the colon for a long period and now studies are linking meat eating to certain cancers and illnesses.

I have only been a vegan for two years yet my body feels completely different, even from when I was a vegetarian. My excema disappeared, my hair was shinier, small lumps I had under my skin vanished, I had more energy, felt less sluggish and no longer had any digestive issues. I live in Northern Norway and when my family visits they pretty much have to follow a veggie diet when they stay with me as I refuse to have the dead bodies of animals in my house. When my mother was here for 6 weeks, she lost weight, went down 2 dress sizes infact, and looked amazing (unfortunately she is back on the meat now).

Most people also know the benefits of yoga although I still come across those who think you just sit with your legs crossed for an hour a day! Keeping your body strong and flexible can surely only help your general health. Yoga is unique as it works yet relaxes the body at the same time. Unlike some other forms of exercise, there is little impact on the joints allowing the body to gently improve in stamina and ability without risk of injury. Anyone can do yoga. People often say ‘I cannot do yoga because I am not flexible enough’. This is why you SHOULD practice yoga. As you age your body begins to shrink and the spine curves forwards, leading to a stoop. Yoga helps combat this by keeping the skeleton supported and symmetrical and this gives the space inside for the organs to function well.

So if you are vegan and have never tried yoga, now’s the time! And if you practice yoga and still eat animals maybe you can think about giving up the meat – it is not only better for you but for the animals and looking at it from a yogi’s point of view, the philosophy of yoga is to live a peaceful, non-violent life and people often ask if it ok to be truly involved in yoga and still eat meat and my response is you already know the answer.

For more details on the benefits of veganism and yoga see.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/2008/06/16/scidiet116.xml