How many times have you had little things spring up in your thinking that leads you to wonder why you are judging yourself or others.  Do you go to a yoga class and allow your mind chatter to overpower your meditation?  Do you struggle with finding peace from all the things that take up your time like binging, purging, running, exercising, organizing....and whatever things you use to distract yourself.  I used to count letters in words on street signs, billboards, magazine covers...you name it and I counted it.  I didn't know about yoga nor did I know about the power of breath.  Once I learned about breathe and releasing, my behaviors changed dramatically. 

The next time you find yourself judging yourself or finding it impossible to get through your yoga class or meditation, thank the little voices and release them while refocusing on your breathe.  You will make progress when you do this repeatedly.  It may take months or years to master this, but remember that this is a breathing practice.  Breathing is not an event.  It is a process.  And recovery from an eating disorder is exactly the same.  It's a process and not an event.  Sit with  your discomfort and breathe.  If you need someone to hold your hand or to be present with you then invite them into your process of recovery.  Peace,  MaryJo

Many times, in traditional therapy, we are told to just stop binging (in the case of bulimia) or just eat (in the case of anorexia.)  Ah,  if it was just that simple.  In my work with women I use their behaviors to serve as a form of communication.  Every behaviors serves a purpose.  And so the next time you have a behavior or when you can feel the urge to do something because "ED" says so......as yourself "What is my body or my ED trying to tell me?"  Also ask yourself what sorts of foods you've eaten recently.  Many times when we eat processed foods or too much sugar and caffeine ED sneaks back into the picture. He's sneaky you know and he loves sugar and caffeine! 

Another thing you can do is to get S  L  O  W !  Slow down and see if that helps with your behaviors.  You may have heard others tell you that you do too much or that you need to take a break.  I'm suggesting that you do things at your own pace.  Try and listen to what you are wanting to do and to accomplish for that particular day or moment. 

And don't' forget to breathe :-)

Until next time...

Namaste,

Mary Jo