In yoga we learn that there is no such thing as perfect pose. We are constantly evolving. True perfection is an experience of being in the moment with a pose as it continues to evolve. It is a feeling – not a goal. Just as there is no perfect pose in yoga, consider that there is no perfect way to eat in our daily life. Perfecting our food to better ourselves is like bringing the car in for a shiny paint job when we ought to be looking under the hood. If we truly want to be healthier and improve our diets – we need to go deeper. We need to connect with why we eat the way we eat so we can better understand our eating choices and identify our eating patterns. I have noticed a direct correlation between how I feel and how I eat. When I am sad the reliable combo of almond butter, bananas and honey is so appealing and so comforting. During periods of feeling dull or uninspired, meals become my main focus with lots of colors and flavors in a subconscious attempt to enrich and enliven my life. When I am stressed I stand by the kitchen counter and anxiously nibble on a snack or a quick meal. However I have noticed that when I feel good, I tend to naturally choose healthier, simple foods and eat them in a far more peaceful manner which nourishes and satisfies me on every level. Could how we eat be a reflection of how we see ourselves and the world around us? If we truly, deeply loved ourselves, wouldn’t it make sense that we would only give our bodies nourishing whole foods? If we acknowledged, accepted and loved every bit of ourselves we wouldn’t dream of just grabbing a coffee and nothing else on the way to work, or be ok with just eating chips for lunch and we wouldn’t be skipping meals in attempt to lose weight. We need to try and trust that our bodies are incredibly wise. If you have been caught in the trap of using food to perfect yourself go deeper and connect with the root of the hunger. Work on bringing more love, peace and nourishment inside. I believe we don’t need to spend exhausting amounts of energy and brain power striving for perfection. Instead, we will see that we already embody perfection and from there we can naturally choose foods and develop eating habits that nourish who we are. By Susanne Mueller Susanne lives in Vancouver, Canada where she teaches yoga, develops corporate wellness programs, leads nutrition workshops and works with clients towards better health. Susanne’s approach to Yoga and Holistic Nutrition is to connect people back to their natural selves. When we bring awareness and listen to that piece of who we are, we naturally eat, live and act in ways that support ourselves and each other.
Twisting out Negativity and Doubt- Nancy Nielsen