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Yoga and Vegetarianism: The Diet of Enlightenment
According to Sharon Gannon, the single most important part of your yoga practice is the strict adherence to a vegetarian diet - a diet free of needless cruelty, harm, and injustice. Gannon offers truth and wisdom from a tradition of spiritual practice thousands of years old and explains how to apply these practices to our modern lifestyles. Drawing upon her studies of Vedic traditions, Gannon explores how the practices of yoga are historically and structurally tied to an ethical vegetarian lifestyle. Integral to each another, 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.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2008
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302 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 18, 2012
I read this book a few weeks after finishing 'The Yoga of Eating: Transcending Diets and Dogma to Nourish the Natural Self' by Charles Eisenstein. Wow, not only did the 'Yoga and Vegetarianism' book come off a second best, it was really more like 5832nd best.
Despite the title this is actually a book about strict veganism, not vegetarianism. The author comments again and again that eating milk products or eggs is no different at all to eating meat and so veganism is the only ethical choice no matter what. The title of the book is misleading.
Parts of the book are very condescending and self righteous. This book presents a very black and white and enormously simplistic view which claims that the only ethical way to eat is vegan. But there is no more depth of information here than you'd see on any vegan websites homepage. The level of research done seems very superficial. The persuasion is almost all guilt based and emotive rather than fact based. It is a bit like reading an infotainment health magazine rather than a book. What few facts are included are almost all wrong as well.
For example, it is claimed that Eskimos with their high fat and meat diets, have very short life spans and are far more prone than most to heart disease and osteoporosis. But this is false. The traditional Eskimo diet has long been shown to confer superior health. Where problems occur is when these traditional foods are combined with heavily processed foods that are high in carbohydrate or low in nutrients or both, including refined grain products. Such a diet isn't a healthy one, but it is also no longer at all what can accurately be described as the traditional Eskimo diet either. (See ' Traditional Foods are our Best Medicine' by Schmid for more information on this.) So the author is really fudging the facts here in a big way. It is very misleading.
It is also claimed that eating the vegan or even vegetarian way is 'timeless wisdom' and 'ancient truths' yet actually this is a very recent phenomenon, and not something that traditional cultures have ever adopted by choice (as studies of traditional cultures have shown). The author seems determined to ignore all the wisdom of the past in favour of fashionable new ideas. The importance of eating fat and organs such as the liver in traditional cultures is ignored entirely. The traditional ways of preparing foods to make them safer and healthier to eat are ignored by the author in favour of modern and less healthy methods. Nowhere does this book talk about the huge importance of soaking grains, nuts and seeds before you eat them to get rid of enzyme inhibitors. Nowhere does this book talk about how short a period of time humans have been eating grains in large amounts and that our genes are not yet adapted to such a change and so this can cause big problems for many people.
To get so many facts wrong isn't good but an even bigger problem is everything that this book leaves out, and it is a lot.
Nowhere is it talked about the huge negative impact eating lots of soy products can have on people, and especially, very young people and babies. No warnings on soy are given at all, which is irresponsible. Drinking lots of soy milk is hardly based on 'ancient wisdom' as few products are as allergenic, hormone and enzyme disrupting and heavily processed as soy milk. (See 'The Real Soy Story' for more about soy.)
This book doesn't discuss the huge rise in levels of type 2 diabetes and obesity due to people eating a diet that is 75% or more carbohydrate, as is the diet this book recommends. The real need humans have for fat in the diet is also ignored in favour of embracing the modern low-fat fad. The problems with a vegan diet and B12 level are also skipped over, although the book does at least recommend a basic supplement regime at the end in a casual non-essential way.
Nowhere is it talked about what devastation to the planet, ecosystems and all the different animals that are part of an ecosystem when these ecosystems are destroyed to make way for soy or wheat crops. All the animals that die when these crops are planted and harvested are not mentioned. Nor are all the tons of pesticides used on these crops while they are grown and when they are later stored in silos and what a huge negative impact this has on our health and the health of the planet. This is discussed in depth in the wonderful book 'The Vegetarian Myth' by Lierre Keith, which also discusses how a vegan diet destroyed the health of the author. Keith's book is well researched and busts almost all the myths and bad information contained in this book, as does 'Deep Nutrition; Why Your Genes Need Traditional Foods' and 'Primal Body, Primal Mind.'
The list goes on.
Compare this book to 'The Yoga of Eating' by Charles Eisenstein and you can't help but me amazed by the complete lack of ego and smugness that pervades every part of this lesser book. It is apples and oranges.
Eisenstein also takes a much deeper look at the research behind what makes up a genuinely healthy diet and how yoga can be brought into every part of life. This is a book that contains genuine ancient wisdom and deep thought. It honours the wisdom of previous generations, traditional methods of food preparation and also tells us to listen to the inherent wisdom of the body in telling us what it is best to eat. It explains that ethical eating and healthy eating plus the committed practice of yoga is not synonymous with a vegan or vegetarian diet, although commercially farmed meats, milk and eggs should always be strictly avoided.
We can all choose to eat how we would like to eat but I would urge anyone that feels unwell on a vegan diet after a few months or years to take what your body is telling you seriously, so that you don't end up with irreversible health problems. Read some or all of the high quality books listed above which are real health and healing books. A vegan diet has very different health consequences to a well put together vegetarian one. It is serious stuff healthwise and in fact not a healthy diet or a diet that the human body is designed for at all, as this book irresponsibly claims. It is full of nutritional holes that can only damage your health in the short and/or long term.
Ditch this book and get 'The Yoga of Eating' by Charles Eisenstein instead! It is vastly superior in every way and a far more enlightening read.
Despite the title this is actually a book about strict veganism, not vegetarianism. The author comments again and again that eating milk products or eggs is no different at all to eating meat and so veganism is the only ethical choice no matter what. The title of the book is misleading.
Parts of the book are very condescending and self righteous. This book presents a very black and white and enormously simplistic view which claims that the only ethical way to eat is vegan. But there is no more depth of information here than you'd see on any vegan websites homepage. The level of research done seems very superficial. The persuasion is almost all guilt based and emotive rather than fact based. It is a bit like reading an infotainment health magazine rather than a book. What few facts are included are almost all wrong as well.
For example, it is claimed that Eskimos with their high fat and meat diets, have very short life spans and are far more prone than most to heart disease and osteoporosis. But this is false. The traditional Eskimo diet has long been shown to confer superior health. Where problems occur is when these traditional foods are combined with heavily processed foods that are high in carbohydrate or low in nutrients or both, including refined grain products. Such a diet isn't a healthy one, but it is also no longer at all what can accurately be described as the traditional Eskimo diet either. (See ' Traditional Foods are our Best Medicine' by Schmid for more information on this.) So the author is really fudging the facts here in a big way. It is very misleading.
It is also claimed that eating the vegan or even vegetarian way is 'timeless wisdom' and 'ancient truths' yet actually this is a very recent phenomenon, and not something that traditional cultures have ever adopted by choice (as studies of traditional cultures have shown). The author seems determined to ignore all the wisdom of the past in favour of fashionable new ideas. The importance of eating fat and organs such as the liver in traditional cultures is ignored entirely. The traditional ways of preparing foods to make them safer and healthier to eat are ignored by the author in favour of modern and less healthy methods. Nowhere does this book talk about the huge importance of soaking grains, nuts and seeds before you eat them to get rid of enzyme inhibitors. Nowhere does this book talk about how short a period of time humans have been eating grains in large amounts and that our genes are not yet adapted to such a change and so this can cause big problems for many people.
To get so many facts wrong isn't good but an even bigger problem is everything that this book leaves out, and it is a lot.
Nowhere is it talked about the huge negative impact eating lots of soy products can have on people, and especially, very young people and babies. No warnings on soy are given at all, which is irresponsible. Drinking lots of soy milk is hardly based on 'ancient wisdom' as few products are as allergenic, hormone and enzyme disrupting and heavily processed as soy milk. (See 'The Real Soy Story' for more about soy.)
This book doesn't discuss the huge rise in levels of type 2 diabetes and obesity due to people eating a diet that is 75% or more carbohydrate, as is the diet this book recommends. The real need humans have for fat in the diet is also ignored in favour of embracing the modern low-fat fad. The problems with a vegan diet and B12 level are also skipped over, although the book does at least recommend a basic supplement regime at the end in a casual non-essential way.
Nowhere is it talked about what devastation to the planet, ecosystems and all the different animals that are part of an ecosystem when these ecosystems are destroyed to make way for soy or wheat crops. All the animals that die when these crops are planted and harvested are not mentioned. Nor are all the tons of pesticides used on these crops while they are grown and when they are later stored in silos and what a huge negative impact this has on our health and the health of the planet. This is discussed in depth in the wonderful book 'The Vegetarian Myth' by Lierre Keith, which also discusses how a vegan diet destroyed the health of the author. Keith's book is well researched and busts almost all the myths and bad information contained in this book, as does 'Deep Nutrition; Why Your Genes Need Traditional Foods' and 'Primal Body, Primal Mind.'
The list goes on.
Compare this book to 'The Yoga of Eating' by Charles Eisenstein and you can't help but me amazed by the complete lack of ego and smugness that pervades every part of this lesser book. It is apples and oranges.
Eisenstein also takes a much deeper look at the research behind what makes up a genuinely healthy diet and how yoga can be brought into every part of life. This is a book that contains genuine ancient wisdom and deep thought. It honours the wisdom of previous generations, traditional methods of food preparation and also tells us to listen to the inherent wisdom of the body in telling us what it is best to eat. It explains that ethical eating and healthy eating plus the committed practice of yoga is not synonymous with a vegan or vegetarian diet, although commercially farmed meats, milk and eggs should always be strictly avoided.
We can all choose to eat how we would like to eat but I would urge anyone that feels unwell on a vegan diet after a few months or years to take what your body is telling you seriously, so that you don't end up with irreversible health problems. Read some or all of the high quality books listed above which are real health and healing books. A vegan diet has very different health consequences to a well put together vegetarian one. It is serious stuff healthwise and in fact not a healthy diet or a diet that the human body is designed for at all, as this book irresponsibly claims. It is full of nutritional holes that can only damage your health in the short and/or long term.
Ditch this book and get 'The Yoga of Eating' by Charles Eisenstein instead! It is vastly superior in every way and a far more enlightening read.
May 18, 2010
It was another worthwhile book in my discovery into the word of vegetarianism. For me the strongest arguments for vegetarian are environmental reasons and the author certainly does dedicate a section of her book to this. But I find the yoga arguments less compelling but maybe that is because I am still searching for my beliefs on the yoga/spiritual connection. Because my jury is still out about whether or not I believe that in praying to PEACE PEACE PEACE bring about PEACE into the world, I therefore am not sure that by eating meat I am sending out murderous thoughts of slavery and cruelty. Nor do I really take to the argument that if I eat meat in this life, I may come back as a dairy cow the next time around.
but I do agree with her that we must live the most peaceful, non-harming life that we can. And that we must speak our truth and live it on all levels. I liked her chapter on Greed, Excess and Poverty as this really touches on the environmental issues for me.
Overall it was a worthwhile book about being a vegetarian and I can see the connection to yoga on a practical level...just not sure about the spiritual one.
but I do agree with her that we must live the most peaceful, non-harming life that we can. And that we must speak our truth and live it on all levels. I liked her chapter on Greed, Excess and Poverty as this really touches on the environmental issues for me.
Overall it was a worthwhile book about being a vegetarian and I can see the connection to yoga on a practical level...just not sure about the spiritual one.
July 1, 2009
interesting how the ego creeps into even the most non-egoic practices, like yoga. gannon has an oversimplified view of what is ethical and of how one can ethically, lovingly, and nonviolently be in relationship with the animal and plant community and comes off as condescending and self-righteous. boo!
June 29, 2012
An excellent, thought-provoking and concise book about the reasons to consider a vegan diet. Sharon Gannon does a beautiful job of presenting all the information in a spiritually-minded, non-judgmental way. Great for someone already vegan, the vegetarian considering veganism or anyone who is interested in learning more about why to eliminate animal products from your diet.
August 25, 2011
a very smart & spiritual account of the ethics of veganism! i love this book and have so much gratitude to the author for spreading her message far & wide.
June 7, 2019
A particularly good book that connects veganism with the Yamas.
February 21, 2010
Gannon makes some strong arguments in favor of a vegan lifestyle using Yogic texts (Patanjali). The tone is incredibly forceful, and everything is presented as black and white. I had trouble with the content about karma implying that there is balance in the world for past actions. "We must remember that all beings--including the animals [raised in factory farms:]--find themselves in their present situations due to past karmas (p. 109)." While I don't agree with all of Gannon's ideas, I support eating in a conscientious way that is in alignment with your spiritual beliefs.
July 7, 2009
I really got a lot out of this, much more so than I expected to. This little book does not pull any punches, but it also puts a spiritual spin on veganism that I can't combat with any of my tired old excuses. Eye opening and heart breaking...
April 1, 2019
I like many of Sharon ideas and philosophy, especially this part when she says how change is up to us as an individual and every small action counts. I know it's something we have already heard a thousand times but the way she articulated it was so compassionately and genuinely you think it must be right.
I am a big meat eater so I was a little hesitant to pick up this book afraid that it might make me give up on meat. Once started it was not hard to finish. I found it good enough to make me feel guilty every time eating meat, but unfortunately not scientifically convincing enough to turn me into a vegan especially when I'm hungry. Anyway, inspired and scared by the book, I do try to eat less meat by cutting the amount on my table and take as many vegan meals as my body allows (3-4 times per week) and that's enough to give me a lighter and healthier feel. To my belief and my own experience with loosing weight, getting fit and discovering yoga, it's the best to have a balance diet including fresh and organic foods, always listen to your body and keep a physically and mentally active lifestyle.
I am a big meat eater so I was a little hesitant to pick up this book afraid that it might make me give up on meat. Once started it was not hard to finish. I found it good enough to make me feel guilty every time eating meat, but unfortunately not scientifically convincing enough to turn me into a vegan especially when I'm hungry. Anyway, inspired and scared by the book, I do try to eat less meat by cutting the amount on my table and take as many vegan meals as my body allows (3-4 times per week) and that's enough to give me a lighter and healthier feel. To my belief and my own experience with loosing weight, getting fit and discovering yoga, it's the best to have a balance diet including fresh and organic foods, always listen to your body and keep a physically and mentally active lifestyle.
September 20, 2017
I came to this already vegan and into yoga, but I still gained a lot from this book. Fair warning, there are some graphic depictions of animal cruelty that brought me to tears, so make sure you prepare yourself for this short, but intense read. I was pretty unfamiliar with the yoga sutras, but I felt Sharon evoked them well in order to convey her overarching message. I know why I became vegan, so hearing the other good reasons was sort of icing on the cake for me. I also found her sections on dealing with feeling outrage towards non-vegans, guilt over my past non-vegan actions, etc. very helpful and the overall book to be uplifting despite the difficult subject matter. I cannot recommend this enough as a healing book.
November 19, 2021
This book revived my awareness of my diet. Although I have been vegan for over five years now, in a society where the carnivore diet is more popular it seems my tendency was to retreat in the face of questioning. I have reaffirmed my purpose with this book. I don’t desire to steal, harm, sexually exploit, take advantage of any living being. I want to be consistent with my values and love for the world. I am in tune with my body and nature and I hope to carry this message on in a peaceful and enlightening way to others who may ask.
September 10, 2018
If you have been wondering why there appears to be a heightened interest in vegan diets you will find this book illuminating. The author describes, with passion, the unnecessary cruelty we inflict on animals when we adopt a meat/fish/poultry/dairy based diet. This book might change your life and make you healthier!
November 21, 2020
This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting. The title is a bit misleading; it's really not so much about yoga in the Western sense of poses or asanas, but rather about yoga as a spiritual and physical discipline to yoke oneself to the universe, or the Divine spirit. It's also not really about vegetarianism, but actually veganism. (I see that the new edition of the book, published this year, is called Yoga and Veganism). The book does in fact make an argument for a vegan diet that is compelling, if you are open to it. The gist is that consuming a diet with inherent violence leads to psychological or spiritual upset. She goes through other reasons to avoid animal products, such as the effects on the environment and human health, but her focus is the nonmaterial benefits. Not everyone will find her logic convincing, but the audience for the book will self-select based on the title.
The appendix on how to switch to a vegan diet is pretty useless and full of recipes that would make no one want to become vegan. She suggests making "blended salad" where you put all your salad ingredients (lettuce, tomatoes, apples, etc) into a blender and then drinking it, which just sounds gross to me. I feel like if you actually followed her diet plan - eating oatmeal, kitchari, blended salad, sauerkraut and herbal laxative tea for 30 days - you'd either develop malnutrition or never be able to stay vegan because of your bland repetitive diet.
The appendix on how to switch to a vegan diet is pretty useless and full of recipes that would make no one want to become vegan. She suggests making "blended salad" where you put all your salad ingredients (lettuce, tomatoes, apples, etc) into a blender and then drinking it, which just sounds gross to me. I feel like if you actually followed her diet plan - eating oatmeal, kitchari, blended salad, sauerkraut and herbal laxative tea for 30 days - you'd either develop malnutrition or never be able to stay vegan because of your bland repetitive diet.
September 28, 2018
This is a book that cannot be "unread." Do not read this book if you want to continue life as a carnivore. DO read this book if you want to fully embrace an enlightened diet and life.
November 18, 2018
Decent book about non-violence and living a peaceful life.
August 23, 2025
More of a PETA-style animal rights book than a yoga/vegetarianism book. The premise is solid, but the delivery is too much like a PETA brochure.
September 14, 2015
The cover of this book looks pretty light and fun, but inside its all pretty hard hitting. Also, this is actually about veganism and yoga rather than vegetarianism...
There are lots of pretty graphic descriptions about the meat and dairy industry - and to be honest, it was a bit much for me, and I would imagine a bit much for most people, especially if you'd come to this expecting yoga stuff. All of that aside (and I am vegan anyway, so yknow am in full agreement with what she's saying) the links with yoga are pretty interesting. There's lots (as you might expect) about ahimsa (non-harming) and some stuff I enjoyed about how yoga gives you confidence, enables you to find your own voice and be honest.
There are lots of pretty graphic descriptions about the meat and dairy industry - and to be honest, it was a bit much for me, and I would imagine a bit much for most people, especially if you'd come to this expecting yoga stuff. All of that aside (and I am vegan anyway, so yknow am in full agreement with what she's saying) the links with yoga are pretty interesting. There's lots (as you might expect) about ahimsa (non-harming) and some stuff I enjoyed about how yoga gives you confidence, enables you to find your own voice and be honest.
July 20, 2010
Overall, I liked this book. I appreciate how yoga philosophy is applied to current life. And I think sone of her arguments for veganism are well thought out. I do take issue with the statement that humans are not evolutionarily omnivores. I studied anthropology in college, and can point out various biological markers that strongly suggest we are more meat eaters then chimps or gorillas and, for that matter, chimps hunt and eat meat. However, I do agree that it is possible for humans to be vegan and healthy and some of her other arguments do make you think. Overall, a good book that I recommend and 150 odd pages a quick read.
June 27, 2013
It was ok. The author has some good points and writes the book from her heart. Unfortunately, she comes across as hard-headed and I found her preaching style a bit too much.
I appreciated what she was sayig and, as a vegan, definately agree with the principals but a kinder approach is my personal preference.
Anyone who has not tried vegetarianism/veganism could find this book quite off-putting.
I appreciated what she was sayig and, as a vegan, definately agree with the principals but a kinder approach is my personal preference.
Anyone who has not tried vegetarianism/veganism could find this book quite off-putting.
Read
April 2, 2016Really well written. A quick read with some great information. The yoga part got a little too out there for me, but the author makes some great points. Beneficial for anyone interested in the practice of yoga or vegetarianism separately or together. I definitely highly recommend it!
May 11, 2016
Had some good points. Very light hearted and informative in some ways. But I agree very black and white. It felt at times like I was getting talked at rather than getting an honest heartfelt opinion. To preachy for my taste.
January 2, 2017
This book was a game changer for me. It was part of my yoga teacher training reading and also had to do a book report on it. No more animal meat for this girl mainly due to what I learned in thus book.
June 14, 2009
I was excited about the idea of this book but it was pretty disappointing. Not very compelling. There are certainly better books about vegetarianism.
June 12, 2010
This is a moving and motivational book. Some passages are difficult to get through if you're sensitive, but overall the book is deeply positive and empowering.
May 30, 2011
For Yoga of Nutrition class
July 26, 2012
Excellent book for anyone wanting to understand the relationship between diet and yoga.
June 25, 2013
She contradicts herself in the epilogue. Confusing.
I was hoping for more about mental and physical health benefits. This was a political statement.
I was hoping for more about mental and physical health benefits. This was a political statement.
May 31, 2014
Wonderful book. Excellent points about leading with compassion when talking with others.
September 28, 2016
Very preachy, but also explaining just why veganism is necessary for strict yogis.
January 1, 2019
Yoga yapmanın ve vejetaryenliğin aslında birbiriyle bağlantılı olduğunu ve temelde ruhunuzu doyuma ulaştırmanın yattığını açıklamaya çalışan kitap.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews