Traditionally, yoga practitioners would adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. The reasons for this are multi-fold. Being vegetarian aligns with the yogic values and lifestyle principles of ahimsa (non-harming). Also, adopting a lighter vegetable based diet which is not stimulating, such as a sattvic diet, helps to lighten the body and keep the mind sharp.
Ahimsa means providing kindness to all living things; therefore, not killing or eating animals. Ahimsa is defined in Patañjali’s “classical” Yoga Sutra. It is one of the five Yamas (restraints) which make up a code of conduct. Mohandas Gandhi was a huge proponent of ahimsa. He taught that it precludes not only the acts of inflicting a physical injury, but also mental states, hatred, unkind behavior, dishonesty and lying, all of which he saw as manifestations of violence incompatible with ahimsa.
A sattvic diet can also be called a yoga diet or sentient diet, is a diet based on foods which lead to clarity and equanimity of mind while also being beneficial to the body. There are many resources and recipe books on sattvic diets in the Ayurvedic, Jain, and Yoga traditions.
As a yoga practitioner it is your choice to eat what you want – vegetarian, vegan, or omnivore. Know that there are nutritional options and resources that will line up with your health and lifestyle. And remember it is always fun to try new foods. So enjoy your yoga practice and your food every day.