Downward-Facing Dog, Then Dinner: Yoga for Foodies

The backlash against Yoga for Foodies represents the divide between those who support the popularity of yoga and those who fear its trendiness is turning the practice away from the original, ancient tenets. Those in the latter category would rather keep yoga as a movement among only the very dedicated and disciplined, such as by turning away nonvegetarian students, as some studios do. But Romanelli champions “Yoga for the Everyman,” as he calls it. He doesn’t believe anyone should be denied the benefits of yoga—in fact, he says, people need them now more than ever. In uniting two activities that seem rather disconnected, he’s bringing people into yoga studios who might’ve felt too intimidated to enter them before. With Yoga for Foodies classes and the Livin’ in the Moment guide, Romanelli’s trying to help people enjoy life to its fullest extent—every moment, every stretch, every deep breath, and every flavor. It’s easy to balk at dining on a stinky yoga mat, but it’s harder to argue against his good intentions.