Eat Mindfully this Holiday Season By LifePower Yoga During the holidays, it’s easy to for us to eat beyond when our stomach is full. With so many functions and festivities, its hard to resist the tempting and plentiful, scrumptious foods that typically surround us. Why not indulge? Jonny Kest shared how yogic philosophy — including Aparigraha or non-indulgence — impacts how he prepares holiday meals at home. Read below to find tips that you may consider incorporating into the preparation of your next holiday function. Q. How do you approach eating during the holiday season? Jonny: As a family, we cook together and talk about making more nutritious choices with our kids. We also practice yoga meals in which we only take a portion the size of two fistfuls and wait until we have eaten and digested to take more. It is important to focus on the experience of a shared meal and really slow down to enjoy the food we are sharing. Q. Gratitude is important during this time of year. How does ‘being grateful’ apply to our food or what we eat? Jonny: Eating and sharing meals is such an intimate experience. Without gratitude, there is no abundance. Reflection and meditation is an important part of all of our family meals. We want our children to know that there was sacrifice and hard work in so many ways to get good, wholesome food to the table. Q. How can we be more mindful of how much food we consume at a meal? Jonny: Take only what you can eat and find space between chewing to breathe, taste and enjoy your food. This will enable us to nourish our bodies rather than just get stuffed with food! We will feel better after the meal if we leave our stomachs 1/3 empty. Q. How can children enjoy holiday meals and be less ravenous? Jonny: Tell your children stories of where the food came from. Ask them to explain the textures and tastes of each bite. Offer them simple ways to respect the food they are eating, such as respecting those who serve it to them. Also, let them think about ways in which they can contribute to family mealtimes, such as setting the table or doing the dishes following a meal. Q. What would you say to someone who wants an extra slice of pumpkin pie but knows they are too full? Jonny: I would tell them to drink a large glass of water and take 5 minutes before deciding to dig into that next dessert. Q. What is an alternative to the traditional ‘chips and dips,’ etc., that you serve during a holiday party? Jonny: My family and I are committed to eating whole foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. For a party, we would serve garden-grown organic greens and warm, organic seasonal soups. Those are always a crowd-pleaser. Q. What is your favorite holiday meal? Why? Jonny: My favorite meal is any time I am able to share with those I love ... this makes a meal so much more sacred. Q. Share any fond memories of a holiday meal with your fellow yogis. Jonny: The first time I introduced my family to Tofurkey on Thanksgiving! The initial reaction was interesting, but it sparked so many fantastic conversations and alternatives to the normal. Jonny Kest is the National Director of LifePower Yoga for Life Time Fitness and the creator of our LifePower Yoga Teacher Training program.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Dec 2013 16:40:45 +0000
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