Hi Christi, Amoux, and Manigma,
I eat vegetarian since the 1970's and I agree it's good for the ability to feel (not just understand verbally) that we're not isolated from the fate of other living beings. That said, I agree with Yogani on self pacing (Ahimsa toward oneself, avoidance of brute force, just like in other practices); reasonable steps with permanent results are usually faster than a shaky roller-coaster ride (that's similar to quitting other types of addiction). The change of mindset is just as important as the change in habits.
However, the pacing shall not blur the final aim. A yoga diet is vegetarian & mostly vegan (according to B.K.S. Iyengar, Sivananda, Satyananda, Jivamukti Yoga, and a many other schools). There was a dscussion in another thread here about the pros and cons of garlic, leek, and onion; IMO a negligible issue compared to meat.
In a media society, it's all about whom you let run the show of your own life: An unconscious "floating downstream", architected by shopping-mall ads & grandma's cookery book, or your own, active, thought-through choice. It's clever to look inward and examine how much of reluctance toward veg food comes from the hazy, a bit embarrassing, feeling of "dropping out" from the mainstream society. IMO that's where it's at; most people don't disagree fundamentally with the 10 commandments or with Yamas & Niyamas, but they still lose their way from time to time. That's why it's clever to remind ourselves where we're going.
