| Yoga is a series of postures meant to relax and | | | | you can't be more mindful of what you put in |
| stretch your body yes, but it also allows you to | | | | your mouth? |
| increase your flexibility, strength & balance | | | | Are you thankful for the food that you are |
| while becoming more in-tuned & aware of | | | | eating? |
| your body's needs & subtle changes. It's the | | | | Can you say a small prayer of thanks for the |
| new found body awareness that will help you to | | | | food that you are about to eat? |
| lose weight using yoga. | | | | Can you chew your food more to really enjoy it? |
| If you allow it to you, yoga can help you find | | | | Have you looked at your food and recognized if it |
| your own inner truth and therefore tap into the | | | | is or is not actually providing your body with the |
| reasons why you reach for food long after you | | | | nutrients that it needs? |
| are full. | | | | Becoming more aware of your body will allow you |
| Meditation on the other hand will also help you to | | | | to become more aware of how your body feels |
| gain internal insight & awareness into | | | | and the food that it truly needs and desires. |
| yourself. Traditional meditation is as simple as lying | | | | When you reach for that donut or cookie, start |
| in corpse pose - lying on your back as if you are | | | | asking yourself why are you reaching for this |
| sleeping, with palms open and facing skyward, | | | | food? As your awareness grows, you will start to |
| legs spread slightly apart, arms outstretched 45 | | | | eat less and eat more healthfully. |
| degrees away from your body, head facing | | | | Losing weight through meditation and yoga is a |
| forward, eyes closed. Another traditional for | | | | slow and gradual process and not a quick fix |
| meditation pose can be to sit with your legs | | | | weight loss solution. Remember that in the race |
| crossed, sitting tall with palms facing upward with | | | | between the tortoise & the hare, it is the |
| the thumb and index finger touching. | | | | tortoise that won. Slow & steady always |
| With all meditation poses it is key to breathe - | | | | wins the race especially when it comes to losing |
| inhale & exhale slowly. Pay attention to your | | | | weight through yoga and meditation. You don't |
| breath and notice where it moves throughout | | | | want to crash & burn like the hare. |
| your body. Notice how it really feels to inhale | | | | Your meditation practice can start off for simply |
| & exhale. Give yourself your undivided | | | | 10 minutes twice a week first thing in the morning |
| attention. No music, no blackberry, no cell phone, | | | | when your home is the most silent. Then gradually |
| no television and no books. No noise should | | | | work yourself up to a daily practice. Your yoga |
| surround be you. I know for some of you that | | | | practice can start off once a week with a Hatha, |
| will be the hardest challenge to not allow noise or | | | | Ashtanga, Moksha or Bikram class, then gradually |
| other daily distractions to permeate around you. | | | | move to twice a week. Remember that variety is |
| Apart from these poses one can also be in a | | | | the spice of life so be sure to try different yoga |
| mindful meditation while walking, gardening, | | | | styles and to incorporate other activities like |
| cleaning or even eating. How many of us truly | | | | running, weight training, kettle bells, swimming, and |
| pay attention to what we are eating? Once you | | | | spin classes to really ramp up your results. You |
| are working on your meditation practice it can be | | | | can also start your yoga practice at home doing |
| expanded to all areas of your life including eating. | | | | 3-5 Sun Salutations each morning. |
| What that means is when you put something in | | | | Yoga & meditation can help you to lose |
| your mouth you must truly taste it, savour it and | | | | weight by bringing your awareness to how your |
| feel it nourishing your body. You must ask | | | | body truly looks, being mindful of what you put in |
| yourself some questions: | | | | your mouth and helping you to recognize when |
| Do you eat your food so quickly that you don't | | | | your stomach is full. |
| even give yourself the opportunity to do that? | | | | Just think of the tortoise and the hare and desire |
| Do you eat while doing other activities so that | | | | to be more like the tortoise in 2010. |