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“In our earlier study, we found that middle-age people who practice yoga gained less weight over a 10-year period than those who did not. This was independent of physical activity and dietary patterns. We hypothesized that mindfulness – a skill learned either directly or indirectly through yoga -could affect eating behavior,” said Kristal, associate head of the Cancer Prevention Program in the Public Health Sciences Division at the Hutchinson Center.

To test whether yoga in fact increases mindfulness and mindful eating, Kristal and colleagues developed a Mindful Eating Questionnaire, a 28-item survey that measured a variety of factors:

• disinhibition – eating even when full
• awareness – being aware of how food looks, tastes and smells
• external cues – eating in response to environmental cues, such as advertising
• emotional response – eating in response to sadness or stress
• distraction – focusing on other things while eating.

Though logic might assume that people maintain/lose weight with yoga because of the physical activity involved, it was found it was more so related to body awareness and the sensitivity to hunger, rather than the physical activity itself. Interestingly, though their was a strong association between yoga practice and mindful eating, there was no association found between other activities (running, walking, etc.) and mindful eating.

“Mindful eating is a skill that augments the usual approaches to weight loss, such as dieting, counting calories and limiting portion sizes. Adding yoga practice to a standard weight-loss program may make it more effective,” said Kristal, who himself scored high on the mindful-eating survey and has a BMI within the normal range.

This follow-up study was published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Post from: EveryJoe

Regular Yoga and Mindful Eating

Whether you are bicycling across the country or using an indoor stationary bike every day, Beth Shaw’s YogaFit for Cyclists is a fabulous workout created just for cyclists. With this yoga-based DVD, you can:

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  Image: YogaFit

  Reduce stress and pain in the lower back

• Increase flexibility in the hamstrings, glutes and quadriceps
• Built a stronger core center and upper body
• Balance your body and reduce the risk of injury
• Open your chest, shoulders, and heart with complimentary yoga poses
• Decrease mental and emotional stress, and prevent overtraining

Originally priced at $19.95, you can get this DVD right now at yogafit.com for just $14.95. It’s really a great video for both beginners and yoga experts.

Do you use yoga combined with your fitness routine? Leave a comment and let us know what benefits you’ve seen from yoga.

Post from: EveryJoe

YogaFit for Cyclists DVD