OrganicAthlete: How long have you been a vegan and what inspired you to adopt the change?

Suzanne: My Mom and I went "fishitarian" in 1977, after my sister told us about the animal husbandry program at her college. That following year we stopped eating fish...deciding that fish are sentient beings as well. I wrote petitions in my junior and senior years in high school to raise awareness for the need for ending the draize and LD50 tests (very archaic and cruel animal tests). About this same time I became aware of the plight of hens in battery cages the size of a folded newspaper...and easily convinced my Mom it was time to let go of eggs. I began reducing dairy and finally gave it the "heave ho" in 1985, after understanding the connection with dairy and veal...it was also wonderful to have clear sinuses! My Mom joined me on board with this one as well.

My 14 year old son has been "vegan since the cell divided". My husband, An amazing vegan licensed Naturopathic Doctor, and I are about 75-90% raw these days.

OrganicAthlete: Have you always been athletic or was this a development later in life?

Suzanne: I was a little chubby as a child, but with going vegetarian, giving up candy and exercising I dropped the baby fat. I wasn't terribly athletic though and was always chosen last on any team in PE. I became interested in Yoga and dance in my mid-teens.

I've been practicing Yoga for 24 years and teaching it for 20 years. I teach a wide range of students, from those with severe disabilities to athletes and incorporate Shiatsu Acupressure and massage into my private sessions.

Occasionally, when I tell people I'm vegan, I'll get asked, "Where do you get your protein?" My response is to drop to the floor and do side crow push ups (My legs are balanced to one side on the back of one of my triceps) Then I'll ask where they get their protein and if it's live or dead and I'll give examples of the abundant food choices vegans have.

My husband convinced me this year to compete in the Ms. Fitness competitions. I've competed in 2 this year.

OrganicAthlete: How do you feel the vegan lifestyle has enhanced your performance?

Suzanne: It's definitely had a major impact on my endurance. The first Ms. Fitness event I entered was the Saturday after my husband and I got home from "Burning Man", a big art/techie festival in Black Rock Desert Nevada. We had driven 16 hours cramped up in my little Toyota to get to Burning Man and went almost 48 hours without sleep. We biked all over the playa for 4 days...drove home 14 hours cramped in my car and got home around 3am the Tuesday after Labor Day. I worked hard to get back in shape for that Saturday's Ms. Fitness competition and saw my husband's Chiropractor (because of being crammed in my little car for so many hours). That Friday we drove 7 hours to get to Santa Rosa for the competition, we arrived at the motel at 3am and had to get up at 8 am to get ready for the competition. The main coordinator of the event couldn't believe it when I told him. He thought my endurance, strength and flexibility were fantastic and that I didn't look tired at all. I was tired, but I performed well and didn't get sick.

OrganicAthlete: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment in your competitions?

Suzanne: My favorite actually was a demonstration at World Vegan Day in Tarzana. Our friend, who coordinated the event, put me on stage with a very inspiring vegan band called "Dove". Dove played electric violin and Russle played didgeridoo (made from agave and decorated with aums painted on it). Ms. Fitness has a 90 second time limit...which can detract from flow and creativity. I had no time limit though with this event. I flowed from rooster, lotus with knees on triceps and balanced on hands, to front splits, side splits, crow pushups (legs on backs of arms), tortoise pushups (ankles behind head), side crow push ups and included mudras (spiritual gestures with the hands) and pranamd the audience (palms together in prayer recognizing the divinity in all). Afterwards I told the audience, "You don't have to eat meat to be strong." I then told them a little about myself. I had several people approaching me afterward about training for strength and core work. One woman told me she was moved to tears...

OrganicAthlete: Can you describe what you eat on an average day?

Suzanne: My favorite breakfast would be eating a small papaya and then making a smoothie from a young coconut, fresh squeezed orange juice (if there's not enough coconut juice), banana and some other frozen organic fruit like cherries, blueberries or blackberries, along with vegan protein powder (there are a few different ones I trade off between) and organic flax oil. If I'm pressed for time I'll grab some vegan yogurt and fruit on the go and then I'll pick up a Jamba Juice.

Lunches and dinners will usually be a large salad with things like kale or chard, cucumber, red bell pepper, tomatoes, avocado, snow peas, mushrooms, olive oil, lemon, pine nuts or walnuts or pecans and perhaps some seasoned tofu if I need something more dense. (My husband makes an amazing raw dressing & raw pizza and desserts.) When I get a chance I juice veggies too. Sometimes when we need something warm, I'll cook brown rice and after it's cooled a bit add crushed pecans and a little olive oil. To turn this into a holiday dish cook wild rice with the brown and add a little fresh orange juice, some kind of "veggie chicken" or "veggie turkey", whole pecans (as well as the crushed), candied cranberries (a once a year treat) and raisins.

OrganicAthlete: Do you have any advice for women or female athletes who may be interested in transitioning to a vegan lifestyle?

Suzanne: Yes! Find out where all the farmer's markets, health food stores, vegan potlucks and vegan restaurants (or at least vegan friendly) are in your area and network! The websites vegsource.com and vegdining.com are excellent resources in addition to OrgaicAthlete.org! When you have a family, it can be more challenging, but doable and worth it! Your kids may connect more with the ethical aspect than the health. Try them on one thing at a time, knowing that they'll probably be more likely to try a new vegan cookie than a new vegetable. Having them help prepare the salad though and perhaps sitting down to Super Size Me just might do it though. There are so many meat and dairy substitutes out there now and you will be amazed how much more energy you have. You're not really giving anything up, you'll actually have more choices!

Visit Suzanne's Website: www.4YogaAndMassage.com