Yoga Therapy for Eating Disorders
In the
United States,
anorexia nervosa and bulimia affect nearly 10 million women and
one million men, primarily teens and young adults, according to
conservative estimates. Often thought only as a mental disease,
new research is finding that eating disorders have a physical
component as well. Eating disorders are complex and potentially
life-threatening conditions that arise from a combination of
behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, biological,
and social factors. People with eating disorders often use food
and the control of food in an attempt to numb or avoid feelings
and emotions that are over-whelming.
Yoga can be an effective tool to restore the imbalances in both
the body and the mind that occur with eating disorders. Yoga has
a profound ability to balance the emotions and has been shown to
help relieve depression, anger and anxiety and to promote
equanimity: a calm, clear focused mind. Yoga can also promote
self-esteem and a positive body image, which play primary roles in
eating disorders, through the cultivation of non-judgment,
confidence, self-acceptance, openness and inner strength.
Physically, a regular yoga practice can help rebuild the strength,
energy and bone density that is damaged and lost with Anorexia.
Eating disorders are viewed as a dysfunction of the first chakra
in the yogic energetic system. To balance this chakra, use poses
that target the area of the base of the spine, such as: staff
posture, bound angle, crab, full wind relieving pose, pigeon and
locust. Use grounding postures such as Warrior 1 and 2, mountain,
goddess, standing squat, child, and prayer squat to connect with
the body, to become rooted to the earth and to build strength and
courage. If depression is a strong contributing factor,
backbending poses will be beneficial for their energizing,
tonifying and heart opening qualities. If anxiety is a primary
contributing factor, forward bends can be utilized for their
calming and nurturing aspects.
When practicing yoga postures, the use of Pratyahara (inner focus)
should be applied. The exterior alignment should be de-emphasized
and the focus should be drawn deeply inwards to experience and
explore the feeling and sensations that arise in the poses. By
withdrawing attention from the external environment and by
focusing inwards on the breath and sensations, the mind can be
stilled and the awareness of the body increases. With this
awareness and focus it is possible to move deeper into the
practice of yoga and increases the ability for one to move through
any limitations, fears and expectations.
Pranayama (yogic breathing exercises) are also helpful to calm the
body and mind and to balance the energy in the body during the
recovery stage of the disease. Nadi Sodhana Pranayama (alternate
nostril breathing) is balancing, calming and reduces anxiety.
Dirga Pranayama (three part breath) is calming, grounding and
nurturing.
As eating disorders have a large mental component to them, the
practice of meditation is very beneficial to cultivate a sense of
control over life’s events and to reduce obsessive thoughts. A
general meditation practice will be beneficial, but using an
active and targeted meditation would be more effective. Practice
any or all of the following based upon what calls you to be
invoked within yourself: Inner Peace Meditation, Third Eye
Meditation, Root Chakra Meditation or Prana Healing Meditation.
If it becomes uncomfortable to practice with the eyes closed, have
them slightly open with a soft downward gaze.
The most important aspect of healing from an eating disorder is
the individual’s awareness and acceptance that there is a problem
and the genuine desire for change. Unfortunately, the denial that
there is a problem often does not change until the late stages of
the disease when serious complications arise. Yoga’s inherent
ability to promote self-awareness and self-acceptance can play a
role in realizing the problem is within, although yoga is usually
more readily embraced in the recovery stages of the disease.
Yoga is not a substitute for conventional medical treatment;
please consult your medical professional before starting a yoga
practice.
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