Healthy relationships with the world around us begin with a healthy self-love

Regina is from cold Russia.
She has been vegan for 10 of her 31 years. She practices and teaches yoga. She runs her own blog on Instagram, showing how you can live an active lifestyle without meat. She promotes love for all animals without exception.

Meatless Movement recently had the opportunity to chat with her.

Could you share more about your background and where you are from?

My name is Regina. I am from Russia, the city of Ufa.
I am 31 years old and have been vegan for 10 of them. I do yoga and teach it.

What inspired you to adopt a vegan lifestyle and how long have you been a vegan?

I have always loved animals and therefore it seemed wrong to me to eat them, but since I grew up in a place where veganism is not widespread, it seemed to me something very difficult and distant. And when I found out that my friend became a vegetarian, I also decided to try it. And after watching the film “Earthlings” I completely switched to veganism.

What challenges do you encounter when finding vegan food or dining out with friends, and how do you overcome them?

Nothing, not even bad weather, can stop me from doing what I love
Regina Gazizova 🤎

Beauty can be found everywhere
Regina Gazizova 🤎

When I first started my journey, veganism was not yet very common and therefore I faced difficulties in finding food that was suitable for me. But in recent years the situation has changed greatly for the better. Shelves with vegan food began to appear in stores, special sections in restaurants, and even a vegan restaurant Jamuna opened. They not only cook delicious food, but also conduct educational activities in our city.

What are some common misconceptions about vegans, and how do you address or educate others about them?

There is a misconception that vegans only eat grass, and when I tell my friends and give them meat analogue products to try, they are always surprised at the diversity that actually exists. So if you decide to switch to a vegan diet, do not be afraid, but learn more.

Also, due to the fact that I live in a place where winters are cold, I am often asked how I don’t freeze. Since there is an opinion that in order not to freeze in winter you must eat animal food, but I refute this opinion and feel good even at -30°.

How can we persuade people to seriously consider switching to a vegan diet?

In my opinion, the only way to influence people is not to impose your lifestyle, since this, on the contrary, causes a repulsive effect, but to simply show your life. They often tell me that I look younger than my age and wonder where I get so much energy for sports, and then I answer that it is largely thanks to veganism.