Seane Corn- The Yoga Diet Interview

Seane Corn is one of the most celebrated yoga teachers in the world today. She is smart, passionate, beautiful, strong and she truly walks the talk of yoga. She is here to make a difference. Her organization, Off The Mat and Into The World is her service. Seane is a true inspiration to yogis and non-yogi’s alike. 

Nourishment: How long have you been eating a plant-based diet?

Seane: I gave up eating meat in 1986 and then it evolved from there. About 3 years later I eliminated fish.

Nourishment: What led you to eating this way?

Seane: Two things. I worked at Life Café for 5 years. David Life, of Jivamukti Yoga, was the owner and Sharon Gannon was a waitress. That was the beginning of my education about yoga and the vegatarian lifestyle. Secondly, I saw a photograph with slaughterhouse workers. I think it was a Richard Avedon image. It was a B&W photo of the workers in the slaughterhouse where they had taken the cows heads that they had slaughtered and put them on their own heads. That was it. I never turned back.

Nourishment: You are a huge humanitarian and do so much work with your organization Off the Mat and Into the World. I see you as a component to eradicate suffering and violence on the planet. Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Do you believe this to be true and do you see a connection between how we treat animals and how we treat humankind?

Seane: Absolutely. I see it worldwide. The way animals are killed, their abuse they receive, and the lack of compassion for them crosses over into humankind. There is an idea out there that animals are less important. Our unawareness definitely reflects how we relate to others.

Nourishment: You travel the globe sharing yoga. What are your secrets for staying healthy?

Seane: Yoga. Meditation. Prayer. Diet. Therapy. These 5 things are non-negotiable in my daily life.

Nourishment: Who inspires you?

Seane: John Robbins. He brought, and still brings, awareness to the way we treat animals as well as how it affects our health and environment.

Nourishment: What is your favorite energy food or drink?

Seane: Fortune Delight by Sun Rider. I drink it every day and I have been for years. It doesn’t have caffeine but seems to give me a boost.

Nourishment: How would you encourage somebody to transition into a plant-based way of life? What steps should they take?

Seane: Everyone is really different with this. We all have our addictions and food habits that are hard to break. I would start by suggesting to someone that they eliminate red meat. It is the hardest to digest and has a huge impact on our environment. Then chicken. I would then recommend replacing the animal product with a more easily digestible protein such as legumes, tofu and tempeh. Next eliminate fish and lastly dairy. I would encourage them to take their time and give their body space to adjust and detox. Baby steps are the best way to make a complete lifestyle change.

Nourishment: Anything you want to share? 

Seane: For people who are really considering shifting into a plant based diet I would want them to become aware that it is an act of consciousness. We have to make the connection between the animals and the environment. It’s not just an animal rights issue. It’s an environmental issue. Everyone needs to become aware of how much water we use to feed animals and how much rainforest we are cutting down so we can raise cattle for slaughter. I would suggest that everyone read John Robbin’s “Diet For a New America” and watch the movie “Earthlings.” 

For more on Seane visit her website:  http://www.seanecorn.com/