Through the eyes of Barbarella

Holding the Edge: The Yoga of Eating

posted by Lisa Turner

“I have a yoga mat made by a company called “holding.” It refers to a key concept in yoga: when we arrive at a difficult posture, one that causes discomfort, we stop carefully and notice it. We don’t react by flinching or jerking back, but we don’t shove forward either. We bring awareness to the physical (and mental, and emotional) sensations we’re experiencing in that posture. If there is physical pain, we carefully back out of the posture. Otherwise, we relax into it, breathe deeply and dance along the edge of discomfort.

It’s also called “riding the edge” in surfing and other sports, or “dancing on the edge,” which accurately portrays the practice of moving forward and back along the rim of discomfort. And there is great wisdom at the edge. It teaches us not only what we’re capable of physically, but also what our patterns of reactions are, mentally and emotionally.

In the face of discomfort, what arises? Fear, anger, judgment? And what’s our natural tendency–to ignore the sensations and shove blindly forward, thus risking pain and injury? Or do we run away from the difficulty, missing an opportunity to grow and advance?

This concept of holding the edge–neither forcing nor holding back–applies to most other areas of our lives. Relationships are best served if we show up fully and completely, not holding back but not forcing what can’t be forced. Successful careers are built on the concept of giving it your all, while not shoving forward into uncontrollable circumstances. And it applies to our food lives.

If you struggle with mindless, emotional or stress-based eating, holding the edge will serve you well. Let’s imagine a scenario, one that happened to one of my clients who wrestled mightily with mindless eating. She worked as a house sitter for a battery of wealthy clients who regularly traveled to exotic locales. Her regular dietary habits were stellar, but when she was staying at a client’s house, the gloves came off.

Around sundown, she would start to get uncomfortable–bored, lonely, out of sorts; sometimes, she found herself inexplicably stricken with grief. By 9 p.m., she would find herself alone in an unfamiliar house, standing at her client’s kitchen counter, elbow-deep in a bag of chips. And she couldn’t stop, until she had devoured most of the chips, cookies, cartons of ice cream in the pantry and freezer. Afterward, she felt shame, disgust, powerlessness. It was exactly the same pattern as an addiction.

Was it because she felt lonely and vulnerable in an unfamiliar home? Was she grieving her modest life in comparison with the spectacular lives of her clients? Was it just the novelty of a pantry filled with forbidden foods? Doesn’t matter. What’s important is that somewhere along the line, she checked out. Emotional discomfort arose, and she yanked back from that edge.

What does holding the edge look like in this instance? The urge to eat arises. You stop, and just notice the sensation. Eating some chips, cookies or ice cream will create a pleasing cascade of happy brain chemicals that will relieve the sensation for a bit. But you don’t do it. Instead, you stay there at the edge of discomfort. It gets stronger, worse, even painful. Maybe you get mad. Maybe you sob. Either way, you stay with it, noticing what arises without reacting to it. Something lies just beyond the craving. Something is there at the edge, some great wisdom and the potential for mental, emotional and spiritual growth.

As it turns out, she did all of the above. One night, alone at the home of a family who was taking some fabulous, pricey vacation, and overcome by the desire to eat, she held her edge. She grieved for being alone, unmarried and childless, for living in a modest home, for being heavier than she wanted to be, for her heartbreaking childhood, for feeling helpless and vulnerable, for the sheer passage of time. She went into the expansive yard, lay facedown under the stars, and pounded on the manicured lawn with both fists. She sobbed for the better part of an hour. At the end of it, she felt renewed, and honest, with a deeper clarity toward her life.

That’s the power and wisdom any of us can find at the edge. The process may look something like this:

1. When a craving strikes, and your first impulse is to head to the kitchen, stop. Do nothing. Close your eyes and breathe, deeply in, deeply out, 50 times. Feel the cells of your body softening and relaxing. Sometimes, this is enough.

2. What’s the level of your discomfort? If 1 is barely noticeable and 10 is unbearable, is it a 2 or an 8? Having a somewhat objective measure puts your feelings into perspective. If your discomfort meter reads “3,” perhaps you can allow it to be there; it may subside after a few minutes.

3. If your discomfort is substantial, find a quiet place and space to let the feelings come up. If you’re in a work situation–a meeting, a cubicle–change your surroundings. Go for a walk, find an empty conference room, take a bathroom break and go sit in your car.

4. Sit there with your feelings. Imagine having them in for a visit and a cup of tea. Let them talk, and listen attentively, as you would to a trusted friend.

5. Allow some space for whatever arises. It’s not necessary to label or judge it. Just accept it. Envision being in a difficult yoga posture, or catching a tricky wave in surfing. See what happens when you find your edge and take it for a ride.

Lisa Turner is a widely published food writer with more than 25 years of professional experience. She has written five books on health and nutrition, and hundreds of magazine articles. Her diverse background in food and nutrition includes studies in macrobiotics, raw foods and vegan regimens, as well as classic culinary training. In addition to writing books and magazine articles, Lisa combines 20 years of yoga, meditation and mindfulness practices to help her clients understand and change emotional issues behind their eating habits. Currently, she’s a faculty instructor at Bauman College of Culinary Arts and Nutrition in Boulder, Colorado, and hard at work on her next book. Visit her websites at www.TheHealthyGourmet.net andInspiredEating.com.”

Cancer is just as prevalent in cats as it is in humans. Considering cats don’t use microwaves and suck on plastic water bottles or whatever ways human may get cancer from, how does a cat get cancer? I’m not sure. I’m not a doctor. But, using my simple brain and my simple math (again) I can start with a little lean called common sense. Besides looking at the home environment, the diet is something I could naturally conclude plays a part in possible diseases, cancer and health issues. If health issues are found in the body, I should put a microscope into what I put in the body and simply say I should make the best effort to put the best in their to fight the bad and promote the good. Right? Again, I’m not a doctor or scientist, but this is my ration of thinking. I’ve never seen a link from veggies to cancer yet. I’ve never seen a link between pizza and cancer either. But what about some of the additives, agents, pesticides or junk? Any links to health issues there? Yes. Have they found junk in pet food and human pizza? Yes, some. So wouldn’t you rather eat a pizza made from more natural (safe) ingredients than a processed fake? And wouldn’t your cat benefit the same, eating natural crunchies than processed low grade mystery food? Yes.

 Expensive? That was my next concern when she started this ah ha moment…..stay tuned.

Through the eyes of Barbarella

Pet people are funny and sometimes catty. My mom made her way to a couple of booths expecting to get “sold” to but ended up receiving the out to lunch look on a body clearly sitting in front of her. It’s amazing how places like that are even in business when that’s their idea of customer service and sales. But most vendors were not like that and she enjoyed being surrounded by crazy pet people with just the best intentions in their heart. Finding new products and new places to buy from is fun. I’m a new supporter of Furr-Kidz and got some cute cat beds from local rescues. Supporting people who are pouring their heart and soul into a pet business has to be applauded and we would rather buy from them, than any big named pet chain any day!! Chicago Land Expo ****

 Through the eyes of Barbarella

Well let’s speed ahead to yet another lean. Another lean in the right direction. What are we eating?? Ok we’ve mastered the numbers, but sometimes it equates to low numbers of crap. Crap is crap. It doesn’t matter if it is low in calories nor has no fat; if it’s crap it will not benefit you. So paying attention to the actual ingredients and choosing products derived from natural and organic ingredients will vastly improve its value. There are so many factors in weight loss and obtaining a healthy lifestyle that quick fix America just doesn’t comprehend. Gullible. That’s what most of us are. Makes you mad doesn’t it? It should once you start discovering every known comfort blanket you have, also known as Pick N Save, Walmart or such venues, house some of the most crap in the world! The concept of everything you know today isn’t really what it seems is scary. Overwhelming too but don’t freak out, it’s not that bad. There are a ton of good products at these venues, but you may want to start leaning into knowing which are good and which is not.

Well, back to my muffin low. What I am trying to say is that once my (human) mom opened this door and her mind to making decisions for herself on what was best for her and not leaving that decision to be swayed by the almighty American marketing ploy that has laced itself on almost everything we see and touch today, she naturally turned to my diet as well. If humans may not be consuming the best foods and nutrients daily, what are our beloved pets eating? Huh, that’s another lean and the reason for this little series I call Muffin Low.

I’ll end here today and will continue soon. Just remember to lean. Don’t cut out, no abrupt stops, no withdrawal yourself to insanity, just start leaning. Lean into new ideas, new thoughts and better things. Waking up one day to suddenly start the “it” diet or cut out all chocolate never leads people down the road to longevity. It doesn’t, so instead, just start leaning. Do you get that?

What does this have to do with cats? What does this have to do with animal rescue? It’s all relavent, it is so stay tuned and get on the lean train.

Through the eyes of Barbarella

Well, back to me as I pick up the mirror today. I think, no I know, I am one cute Blue. I have a shiny coat and beautiful big eyes. Yeah, I’m quite the catch but we all have faults and yes I have a Muffin Low. My body seems to be in pretty good shape and my vet just reported to me last week my weight is good. But like every gal, my trouble zone is my middle. I have a little bulge, a little pocket, a swaying belly that when I run it dances from side to side. It hangs low and a visual sign that somehow I just might be consuming unnecessary calories or lacking some exercise.  

So what’s a gal to do? First off I will post a picture of myself (soon maybe) to showcase my Muffin Low. I’m not real excited about this exposure but for the success of this blog, I shall take one for the team. Next I began my research on diet and exercise. Doesn’t my mom already know everything since she was crowned crazy cat lady several years running? Well, if we all knew everything & made no mistakes we would be perfect. And last conscious scan of the invisible handbook of the world nobody is so I guess that explains it. I am fed a higher end food found only at pet stores. My mom doesn’t believe in cheap crap found at Aldi’s. I eat my crunchies (yes that’s what I refer them as) twice a day. Sometimes as a treat I get this delectable moist fish that comes out of a wonderful sounding sealed can. POP, I know I’m in for something great. But, now my mom is finding out these methods may not be the best for me. WHAT? Her ruthless plight to give me the best just stumbled on even better ways for me to eat and live! AND possibly reduce my Muffin Low. Huh…stay tuned but in the meantime she sings her new song to me “ Barb Barb, stay off the carbs..Barb Barb”…..I TOLD you she won that crown several times!!

Through the eyes of Barbarella

It can be upsetting when life presents a detour. Most often you are headed in one direction with insight to where that will lead you or where you will end up. The goal is set but you hit a blocked pathway or a fork in the road. It can make you feel angry, disappointment or irritation. Those blocks or forks can be failed marriages, friendships ending, job loss, religious-personal-spiritual. Yeah life can present quite a few challenges. Most often they seem masked with confusion, yet are exactly the challenges you need. We tend to become stagnant with repetitive activities and people and jobs and life in general.
Ever been on the road, driving your car, when you start to see signs for construction? How far can I get before I REALLY need to get off? Sometimes you think, egh, I’ll keep going until I can’t go any further. Other times you just get off at the first exit you see just because you know it’s better to get off now, than the trouble of being in a back up. We do the same thing to ourselves in life as well. Sometimes the woman in a troubled marriage thinks she’ll just keep going until she just can’t take it any longer. Sometimes you head out for the night with some friends and you just feel like something is going to be bad so you just turn around and head home before the night even gets started. How come some days it’s just easy to make the call and get off the road and other days you can’t help going against your better judgment?
We are faced with decisions and pathways, exits from the current roads every day. Sometimes we miss them, sometimes we ignore them, and sometimes we jump at the chance to exit. Other times they are just plain forced on us-some police officer flagging you off the road. Or maybe that boss that just decided to fire you. I guess when you don’t take the exit yourself, life will give you a detour if it’s needed, whether you think you are ready or not. Voluntarily taking an exit or making a decision when presented a fork in the road is the hard part. The responsibility of choosing and owning it if it’s right or wrong can be intimidating. But just remember, its gravel roads that build character. It’s the short exit that can lead to a new place or person. It’s the end of something you’ve had for so long that can bring you back to who you really are. Hating that cop for interrupting your travels can all of a sudden show you a short cut to the destination you never knew. Getting fired from a job can give you back the person you lost while making that all mighty dollar.
It’s the refresh button on life, your detour, the rewind button or maybe the control alt delete that can bring everything back to prospective. Just because things aren’t easy, doesn’t mean it isn’t good for you. There is no answer to the right path, just always go with the path that keeps you true to yourself, your beliefs and the person you are and want to be.

Sometimes the cat who observes and doesn’t speak, has the most insight.

Through the eyes of Barbarella

Today’s chuckle, sometimes other people laughing makes things even more funny. MODEL DOWN

It’s hard to get up off the couch and move. I know. But take a step, in the right direction. Once the wheel of motion starts, you’ll have opportunities come from all over the place. But keep your eyes open, they won’t land in your lap with a sign on it. Coming from the most organized planner in the world, this is hard for me to say BUT don’t always look so far ahead. Sometimes when you are lost, the best thing you can do is just start moving. Stop over analyzing, because that can also stand for excuses!! Just start, things will iron out.

Do good today. Pass it on to others. The more momentum that’s put out, the more it will come back in return. That’s good for you and it’s good for me.