Being In A Bigger Body

People all over the world have now become more sedentary.  This is a major concern,  because there is little doubt that being overweight has major health consequences, including type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, heart disease, and many forms of cancer.    Especially dangerous is fat around the stomach.  Having extra body weight makes back problems more probable, increases the pressure on the joints, and can contribute to, or worsen injuries to the ankles, hips, and other areas of the body.  As you might expect being overweight can lead to depression and low self-esteem.   Many overweight people view food as the enemy, rather than good food eaten mindfully,  being one of life’s great pleasures.  

Apart from the  health ramifications of being overweight, is the stress of trying to lose weight.  Most diets are nutritionally imbalanced and unhealthy  There is little documentation that any of them are effective in the long term.  There can be  a worthless and demoralizing cycle regarding weight.  Studies have shown that social pressures to be thin are highly self critical and develop elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol which encourages stress related eating. 

Yoga fits in because it can be extremely helpful in weight loss , as losing weight is so much more than burning calories.  Because of stress and its role in overeating and in the creation of fat, yoga’s proven ability to fight stress is the primary reason for its effectiveness.  

Yoga encourages being mindful of the moment which helps you to taste and enjoy your food instead of eating without awareness.  Yoga philosophy is opposed to the setting up of specific weight loss goals such as “I want to lose ten pounds in the next month.  Doing so makes you attached to a singular result, which may or may not happen.  

The  yoga process of weight loss is slow and requires patience.  Just a minimal change in diet and exercise is all you need and it doesn’t have to feel miserable.  A fundamental principle of yoga is that a small action done regularly can make an enormous difference.  

Give yourself permission to book either a private class or a group class.