FEEDING A MOOD?
GET A HANDLE ON EMOTIONS
YOU’RE STRESSED
Sort it with.… mindfulness Mindfulness trainer Amy Malloy says, ‘We often eat on autopilot. By slowing down, we can check if we really are hungry and, if we are, make sure we savour every moment.’
Close your eyes and observe your contact with the floor.
Check in with the sounds around you and allow them to come and go. Notice your breath floating in and out. Notice any physical or emotional sensations. If you really are feeling hungry, take a small piece of food to your nose. Take a slow bite, resting the food in your mouth, noticing each flavour unfurl. Chew and swallow slowly.
Scan down the body to see if you really need another mouthful, or whether that was actually enough.
Amy Malloy teaches mindfulness and meditation in Oxfordshire (nomoreshoulds.com)
YOU’RE BORED
Sort it with… acupressure massage ‘A little massage over key acupressure points helps control cravings,’ says energy expert Madison King.
Using your middle fingers, gently massage little circles in the Cupid’s bow between your upper lip and nostrils for 10 seconds. Remember to smile.
Massage the corners of your mouth in little circles 10 times, before repeating on the area in front of your ears, then your temples.
With your middle fingers, trace over the ears, down behind them and end with both hands over the heart. Smile and say, ‘At this precise moment in time, I happily choose not to eat that chocolate cake. I feel great about my decision.’ • madisonking.com
YOU’VE LOST FOCUS
Sort it with… gentle meditation
Yoga teacher Emma Heroise says, ‘If you’re drowning in work, turn everything off, sit comfortably and close your eyes.’
Place both hands on your lower abdomen and soften the belly. This is centering, calming and empowering.
Lengthen your spine and breathe naturally. Relax your shoulders and face.
After a while, with full awareness, bring one hand to the heart, tracing a circle from heart to abdomen. Notice the relief as you breathe.
• Emma Heroise teaches yoga at venues in Essex (emmaheroise.com)