In one of the mindfulness classes I attended, I was taught how important it is to learn to relax. While mindfulness meditation is not specifically a tool for relaxation, learning to calm the body helps to calm the mind. As the teacher said, “when we strengthen the skill of relaxing the body, the mind tends to follow.” As our mind and body unwind, we are better able to be present to what is around us and to focus and concentrate on what needs our attention. Can you see how this might support your mindful eating? Not only are you less likely to stress eat, you are also more likely to manage all of your emotions in a healthier way. Find a way to relax your body on a daily basis. You might simply lie down and take five deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth and as you do, imagine all the stress in your body dissolving. See it flowing out of your fingertips and toes or evaporating from the crown of your head. Adapted from Mindful Bites – Joyful Life: 365 Days of Mindful Eating. Available in bookstores everywhere.
