do i need to be a vegetarian

this is a question that often comes up in conversation when people realise you do yoga

R u a vegetarian????

If I want to be a PROPER yogi...do I have to be vegetarian...

( and obviously I asked the question myself as I am very serious about yoga...) but didnt particularly want to change what I ate.

Most people see yogis as a litttle bit hippie...a little bit stretchy...a litle bit strange
and almost definitley Vegetarian.....right?

This is a general stigma that for many years, was attached to yogis...

yes Yoga has always been closely associated with vegetarianism....
perhaps due to the following

• Indias ancient hindu beliefs
• may be for climate reasons ( eating vegetables/fruit etc safer than meat in hot climates)
• or because of the attitude of non-violence towards animals etc 

yes vegey food is considered wholesome..but yogis do not rule out fish or meat

humans in the large, are omnivorous... ( mainly !!)  as such will have survived on a very varied diet

I think what is important is moderation....

If your present diet is not working for you..than look at others

and Yoga is about being the best you can...working in unity with yourself...

    am I a typical yogi.....

with yoga becoming very popular it has adapted, as have the people who now practise yoga
many people with high profile jobs find it very beneficial for de-stressing ( particularly the meditation side)
also it has been introduced to professional sports people, again due to benefits ( both mental and physical )
people in the media also rave about yoga and the benefits....which has helped with its new found popularity..
So I think its fair to say that not all of these people would want to follow a vegetarian diet...

so as we progress and learn more about yoga...we realsie that we  want to eat what is good for us and what makes us feel good...

everything in moderation........