Mindfulness

Last night was free yoga night at my spiritual community. Loved it!!! Doing yoga with a group is so different than doing it solo. The leader of the class is wonderful and has such a calming presence.
Over the last couple of days I have been trying to be more aware of hunger and when to eat. Why do we eat by a clock? Isn't it a better idea to eat when you are hungry? I decided that I would only eat when I was hungry rather than eat because it was "lunch time" or "dinner time". The results, I feel more satisfied and have found I am eating less. I carefully pick what I am going to eat and savor every bite. Eating mindfully is a totally new way to eat. You taste things you may of missed before. Like the taste of balsamic vinegar, it starts off sweet and morphs into tangy and acidic. Textures change the taste and the emotion of the food. Crunchy is release of tension and smooth is soothing.
Yoga is about being mindful and present. I try to be present when I eat and not just shovel the food in. As I watch my children eat, I am reminded that food is an experience and not a competition to see who can clear their plate the fastest. Goodness know it takes my daughter at least 45 minutes to complete a meal. She must of inherited my father's genes. If he could take as much time as he wanted to he would never leave the table! A meal would last forever.
Yoga is also about treating your body with respect. Respect means not eating junk to deal with emotions. I have instead tried to breathe through hard situations and frustrations. So far I am doing well, and haven't touched chocolate in 2 days. That may not seem like a long time but it is for me!!

What Kate Ate 9/8/10

Oatmeal with walnuts and raisins
Spaghetti with tomato sauce
Kind bar, the Date, Cashew and Almond variety
Green tea
Whole wheat crackers with olive tapenade and a handful of corn chips with salsa ( didn't have time for dinner as I was running late for yoga)