Nagpur: While yoga has increasingly gained global prominence for its holistic benefits, many modern individuals—especially youngsters—struggle with unhealthy eating habits and alcohol consumption. However, experts assert that yoga does not impose strict dietary rules but instead fosters self-awareness and discipline that naturally inspire individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Milind Wazalwar, secretary of Janardan Swami Yogabhyasi Mandal, cites the Bhagavad Gita’s teaching — “Samatvam Yoga Uchyate”, meaning “Equanimity is said to be yoga” — to explain that the essence of yoga lies in achieving balance between mind and body. “Yoga helps you coordinate your physical and mental faculties to enhance overall efficiency. Through regular practice, people begin to experience self-realizations that lead to more mindful choices,” he said.
Wazalwar emphasized that yoga neither forbids alcohol nor meat, but through growing self-awareness, practitioners often develop a natural resistance to habits that hinder personal progress. “It’s not about prohibition, but evolution. If certain habits are holding you back, you begin to leave them behind on your own,” he added.
Addressing common concerns among beginners, particularly professionals leading high-stress lives, yoga expert Shrikant Kshirsagar explains that yoga supports conscious change rather than enforcing lifestyle rules. “Yoga encourages inner clarity and personal growth. It doesn’t demand change but inspires it from within,” he said.
According to Kshirsagar, many start yoga without modifying their food or drink preferences. But over time, the internal discipline developed through consistent practice leads them to reevaluate those habits. “As your energy and awareness shift, you realize what nourishes and what depletes you. People often find themselves giving up alcohol or meat not out of obligation, but because they no longer resonate with it,” he explained.
In essence, yoga doesn’t dictate a lifestyle — it guides practitioners toward discovering one that truly supports their well-being.
