Since beginning my practice, the mind-body connection I originally found through moving and breathing during a yoga class has become the guiding force for all aspects of my life. This mindfulness extends from my yoga mat/meditation cushion and into my daily life as I work, love, play and eat. As I’ve become more mindful in all of my daily activities, I’ve noticed how mindfulness evolves into a potent practice of self-care/self-love.

One of my favorite ways to practice self-love is through food, which means I am constantly searching out and preparing foods that will help nourish and restore my body as I travel, teach and work with clients throughout the world!

 

Tremendous energy goes in to the process of gathering and preparing food for ourselves, which can create stress around the process of eating to lose weight or finding food high in nutrient value. Deepening your relationship with food will help build and maintain a sense of safety, trust and connectedness with yourself and allow you to fully absorb the nutrients from the foods you take in.

Here are a few simple mindfulness practices to try as you prepare and consume food:

• Your arms and hands are a horizontal extension of your heart center (chakra). When you prepare a meal for yourself, you literally infuse loving energy from your heart into the food you eat. Ayurvedic master Bri Maya Tiwari recommends massaging your food with your bare hands as much as possible and focusing on positive thoughts while you cook.
• Send loving thoughts, pray, chant or play pleasant music while you cook. These vibrations all end up on your plate, in your belly and healing your mind and heart.
• Always eating out, rushing through or skipping meals, watching TV during meals or choosing unhealthy foods sends a message that you are not worth the time and effort to slow down, nourish, nurture and listen to your body and your deepest needs. Take time for meals and shut out all outside distractions. Make meal time a social time by including cherished friends and loved ones.
•  If you haven’t been in the practice of preparing food for yourself, start with 1-2 meals each week. Just as you invite others to share savoring the meal with you, include others in the preparation process and use your food preparation time as a time to connected with friends and family.

Lovingly preparing food and cooking for yourself will increase feelings of self-worth, inner security, grounding and be a ritual to receive the love you give yourself!