Intuitive Eating and Yoga

When someone begins to practice Intuitive Eating they pretty quickly understand how important it is to build awareness of how things feel in their body (emotions, food, movements….) And whether that’s a welcome task or a feared task, it can feel monumental.

If we view growing connection to feelings in our body as something to accomplish, something to ‘get’ and then keep forever and forever, we’re fighting a losing game. But if we can approach the task of getting to know and live in our bodies with curiosity and compassion, we’re setting ourselves up for a more peaceful and sustainable journey. 

Enter yoga. When done kindly, it can be a powerful tool in building attunement to how things feel, both in your body and in your brain. Kindness is key here…kindness when incorporating yoga as a way to safely connect with and learn more about sensations in your body involves the following:

-encourages poses to be supported with props

-suggests alternatives for each pose, based on what feels good to you 

-offers welcoming and invitation-based cues (“I invite you to…” “If you’d like…”)

-provides gentle opportunities for grounding throughout the practice 

-gives chances to engage in breath work when it feels safe and helpful

These are things you can provide yourself at home or when seeking out a good-fit yoga class. Often a good place to start is a gentle yoga class. While each ‘gentle’ yoga class will be different, a common thread is that the pace is slower and the focus is on accessible poses done mindfully and with attention to breath. 

When you combine the practices of Intuitive Eating and yoga, you’re offering yourself varied opportunities to engage with your body from a place of kindness and intention. Together they can support you in finding new ease in your body and in your emotions. 

If you’re looking for a place to start, here are some ideas:

https://www.curvyyoga.com/about/

*Offers an online library of yoga videos that center body neutrality and kindness.

https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene

*Not all videos offer the supportive components named above. However many do and are free so offer accessibility. 

https://www.daniellenowlanlcsw.com/shop

*This is a gentle yoga practice and corresponding journal I created, combining elements of Intuitive Eating, body neutrality and yoga.