Yoga helps people with eating disorders because the discipline allows them to remain in touch with their feelings, rather than to disassociate with their bodies when they are angry, anxious or sad, according to a report in Psychology Today by Dr. Kelly McGonigal.

A recent study from Deakin University in Australia found that a 12-week yoga program helped obese women with binge eating disorders. Participants had fewer episodes of binge eating, reduced hip and waist measurements, and increases in self-esteem after completing the program.

The answer as to why yoga produces these changes is that binge eating episodes are often triggered by a need to escape unpleasant feelings. Since you are not concentrating on what you are eating, you lose connection with how much you are eating and whether you are hungry or full.

People with eating disorders learn to use conscious breathing and other yoga techniques to "breathe through" negative feelings that trigger eating binges. They can also learn self-compassion and how to avoid beating up on themselves over their behaviors.

Labels: yoga

Posted By: Aspen Education Group