Anorexia and Bulimia are two of the most common eating disorders affecting over 10 million Americans today. The worst part is that most of these people are in their teens. While earlier these disorders were attributed only to mental inadequacies or problems, recently research has thrown more light on the subject; it is now recognized as a disorder which could be physical in nature too. There is a large variety of factors including social, biological, psychological and behavioral situations which can trigger these eating disorders in people.
Did you know that the mind has a lot to do with the reduction of ill-effects caused by eating disorders? A calm and focused mind can help combat a lot of these problems.
Yoga is well known to have a calming effect on the mind and hence used successfully to control depression and induce a feeling of well being and contentment. Yoga techniques can help us develop a high sense of self-esteem whereby we look differently and more positively towards ourselves and our bodies. This feeling of goodness about the body is critical to combat eating disorders. Yoga techniques also enhance the important relationship between the mind and body to counteract any adverse effect caused by eating disorders. Anorexia for instance depletes the energy level resulting in lessening of bone density – thereby manifesting physically in an extremely negative way. Regular yoga practices make the body more fit and increases the body’s immune system to counteract various illnesses.
The yogic science has identified eating disorders to be a problem related to the first charka. Thus yoga poses which enhance the mind-body connection are recommended to rectify the situation – like crab, full wind, pigeon, locust, staff etc. Several ground postures like mountain, goddess, standing squat and prayer squat are used to enhance self-esteem by increasing mental and physical strength as well as courage. These yoga poses not only work on the mind but on the body too and many physical shortcomings can be overcome through the practice of such postures. One of the most scientific medical therapy options available today, depression interestingly is improved with back bending poses while forward bending calms the mind and spirit. All these in combination reduce the ill effects of anorexia.
Eating disorders have been identified as being directly related to the state of mind. Thus yogic meditation can help calm and soothe the mind and spirit to discard harmful thoughts and feelings; especially, if the meditation has been well-planned targeted well. You could even reap the benefits of this mind-control therapy by doing general meditation. To get the best out of the various yoga poses, you primarily have to forget or keep aside all the external factors and concentrate on yourself. Looking within is the essential yoga mantra. Paying undivided attention to breathing and concentrating on your own body parts will gradually calm and sooth the mind and bring you to an enhanced state of awareness. This state of renewed awareness will enable you to get rid of the mental noise and clutter and help you focus on further developmental concepts which seemed an uphill task in the past.
They say being aware of the problem is getting half of the problem solved. Nothing can be truer in yoga. It makes you aware of the problem within and triggers the desire to change the situation to make it better. This naturally helps you to tackle the ill effects of anorexia and bulimia. An early adoption of yoga techniques would mean early diagnosis of the problem and early cure too. most of the yoga techniques are however use in the recovery stages of the illnesses. Most sufferers of eating disorders go through a severe and determined stage of self-denial which further aggravates their illness. As with all illnesses, yoga too works best at the early stage – when the symptoms are milder and therefore faster to treat.
