Yoga Yourself To Fitness Over The Holidays: How Yoga Teachings Can Set You Free From Typical Holiday Problems

When I taught at Lifetime Fitness, I’ll never forget the day after Thanksgiving. The club was abuzz with members trying to work off the extra pounds they had put on the day before. Stationary bicycles were probably the most popular piece of equipment: Members would furiously peddle away while watching TV on their bicycles.

Yoga classes were never too popular because the assumption was that yoga didn’t burn calories; it’s just “stretching”. And often I noticed people still struggling to return to “normal” as the “Big One” (Christmas) approached. But then there’s always January, when every class in the club was full – it’s now or never…that one last chance to get in shape before winter vacations in the tropics when a beach-ready body is a must.

Where does yoga come in? Let’s go back to my classes, which I’ve mentioned in previous blogs. In the first part of the class, we practice silence, which builds awareness and a sense of presence. You become fully aware of your body lying in the room. You move your attention to your breath – abdominal breathing, the most relaxing breathing – watching the belly rising when you inhale and falling when you exhale. Learning to concentrate on your stomach when you are eating moves your attention to how full you are feeling instead of just how the food tastes. When you are attached to taste, all sorts of addictions can arise – losing control over your eating. In other words, through yoga, we “choose” where our focus is instead of going on automatic pilot. As the class proceeds, we do poses that “squeeze and soak” our internal organs. This unique yoga process creates a healthy metabolism: a super-functioning thyroid gland that regulates weight gain.

Being able to control your behavior around tempting food gives you an attitude of strength over the conditions around you – doesn’t that sound good? Bring on Thanksgiving and have a good one!

Next month, I will discuss mental fitness (mental discipline). Sometimes those holiday gatherings that are supposed to be fun can also be challenging. Did you know that you can change how you feel no matter what situation you find yourself in, using yoga principles? How you get that “Holiday Spirit” is up to you.

For more information, contact:

Maryann Parker

952-927-9380 

parkeryoga@yahoo.com