Yoga-Peace At Last

Yoga-Peace At Last
Several months ago, I attended a conference in Florida to
work with a wonderful group of people in the medical and
related health fields. We were all together because of our
interest in different ways to treat the obesity epidemic.
After the conference, a number of us decided to take a
break and sit outside to enjoy the afternoon sun. We talked
about many topics, including our children, the work we were
doing, how some of us loved doing yoga, and, of course,
food. Being the only nutritionist in the group, the
conversation eventually turned, as it often does, to
dieting and weight control.

Several of the women had been on and off Weight Watchers
for years. It is a wonderful program, and they liked going
to meetings because of the support it offers, the
flexibility and all the choices they can make. One woman's
story really struck me:

She said she had once lost 40 pounds on this program, and
during this time was also regularly doing yoga. She also
found she had the ability to get into the meditative
practices of yoga, which is difficult to attain. She also
enjoyed practicing many of the postures, or asanas. More
importantly, she said that during this time, she was
experiencing such confidence in herself that she was able
to drive past fast food places without feeling the need to
stop and get something to eat. She sounded as though this
was a very peaceful time for her, not just with her weight,
but in her life.

Unfortunately, as often happens, the woman eventually
gained back all of the weight (along with a few additional
pounds) and she stopped practicing yoga. I found the
combination of the two (practicing yoga and losing weight)
quite interesting and I spoke to her about this. I
suggested that she worry less about the "food" part and
consider adding the yoga back into her life. Most of us
have a very good idea of what it means to "eat healthy,"
what we need to do in order to lose weight. Folks who have
been to Weight Watchers are well-educated as to the various
acceptable choices they can make, and which foods they can
prepare. The woman admitted she did already knew all of
this.

I suggested that she focus on rebuilding time for yoga
first. The meditation, the postures, and the different yoga
sequences would make her feel at peace with her body. Yoga
always gives me a sense that, regardless of my weight, I
can feel good in my body. Yoga is not only about being
flexible in your body. It's about increasing flexibility,
building strength and endurance, physically AND emotionally.

I know that once this woman starts practicing yoga again,
she will be able to permanently lose the weight. Not
focusing on food while focusing on increasing activity
improves one's overall health and well-being.

When you are at peace with your body, it's much easier to
be at peace with food!

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and links to nutritional resource websites, visit
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