Yoga has the power to transform many aspects of your life, including your food choices. It may lead you to look at what you eat in a new light or to notice how different foods affect your energy level and your health. Practicing yoga also has a way of nurturing a broader awareness of the ethical and environmental implications of the foods you choose in the grocery store or at restaurants. And there are other, unquantifiable ingredients that go into the yoga diet—among them passion, nostalgia, and sheer pleasure. These feelings are elicited by senses beyond just taste: the smell of a simmering red sauce, the crackling of a perfectly baked baguette, the melting of delicate cookies in your mouth, even the warming ritual of blessing a meal before it’s served. And the simple act of being mindful and present in these culinary sensations makes them all the more joyful and celebratory.

To help inspire you to indulge in foods that make you feel truly good, we asked food-loving yoga teachers, kirtan artists, and health-conscious chefs to share their food philosophy and to recall the best food they ever ate. Their answers might surprise you: Yogis eat from all across the spectrum, from caring omnivores and flexitarians to vegans, raw foodies, and gluten-free eaters. The bottom line is that there is no single “yoga diet,” yet there are all sorts of wonderful ways to feed the soul.

See also 6 Creative Ways to Add Ghee to Your Diet