Yoga and Vegetarianism

What does yoga have to do with vegetarianism? 

Drawing upon her studies of Vedic traditions, author Sharon Gannon explores how the practices of yoga are historically and structurally tied to an ethical vegetarian lifestyle.

"The yogi strives to live in harmony with Mother Nature...Eating a vegetarian diet can contribute more to saving ourselves and the planet than any other single effort."

Some facts:

1. Global Warming: Raising animals for food creates more greenhouse as emissions than all the transportation in the world.
2. Water Pollution: In the US, raising animals for food causes more water pollution than any other industry.
3. Water Use: More than half the water consumed in the US is used to raise animals for food.
4. Oceans: Most of the fish and other sea creatures caught annually are not eaten directly by humans but are fed to livestock.
5. Land: 45% of the total landmass in the US is used to raise animals for food and the crops to feed them.
6. Deforestation: An acre of land disappears every eight seconds, cleared to grow crops to feed confined animals in factory farms.
7. Crops: 80% of the corn and more than 95% of the oats grown in the US are fed to animals raised for food.
8. Fossil fuel depletion: Over 1/3 of all fossil fuels in the US go to raise animals for food.

"Our meat-eating culture not only affects the animals that are tortured and killed but also causes tremendous worldwide environmental devastation - which scientists loudly proclaim will have catastrophic effects on the planet."

Both yoga and vegetarianism form a framework for physical and spiritual attunement, and when practiced as a whole, provide the path not only to physical health, but to spiritual enlightenment.


To learn more about Yoga and Vegetarianism, pick up a copy of Sharon Gannon's book where she shares a 21-day cleansing diet and yoga poses to add to your daily routine.