The vast majority of us are into self-help. Don’t deny it: You and I both know you do a double take when Oprah’s on TV. But who knew self-help could be combined into our workout routines.
A few months ago, a friend told me about her new obsession with intenSati, an exercise incorporating aerobics, kickboxing, yoga movements, and—get this—positive affirmations.
“Inten” stands for intention; and “Sati” is a Sanskrit word for mindfulness. Patricia Moreno, a well-known fitness instructor with a huge following and author of “The intenSati Method: 7 Principles to Thinner Peace”, created the workout to help empower her students. Through IntenSati, she says you can learn to align positive thinking and feelings with positive actions.
It may seem obvious, but when you start loving your life, you are much less likely to sabotage yourself with unhealthy eating habits. (Patting myself on the back for having carrot sticks instead of Tasti D-Light for dessert tonight.)
I’m big into fitness and affirmations, so I checked out Lindsay B. Davis’s intenSati class in Central Park last Saturday.
It was pretty much how I pictured it to be. During leg kicks, jumping jacks, and arm punches, we shouted statements such like, “I am grateful, I am great!” and “I am the master of my fate!”
Okay, I was whispering more than shouting; and trying to ignore the gawkers gathered around us in the park. You’d think they’d never been around athletic types who shvitz and shout in public before.
I can’t really say intenSanti was for me. I’m not as physically coordinated when vocal chords are involved. But I can see how it might be a great way to start your day.
The truth is I’ve always been on a quest to find thinner peace. In high-school, my mother called me “pleasantly plump” and warned me daily that we had Fat Genes in the family. (a.k.a., my grandmother was almost 300 pounds.)
After class, I wondered if a zen approach or intenSati could help me. So before escaping Central Park, I asked Ms. Davis for a little advice. Here’s how she suggested sticking to healthy eating habits and keeping fit:
1. Start the Day Intending to Eat Well
Every morning, start off the day by setting a positive intention. Write it down by hand in the present tense. For example: “Today I enjoy delicious meals of lean proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit.” Sit for a few minutes and relax while you feel and see yourself eating a smorgasbord of goodness. (Just relax on going for seconds.)
2. Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is an incredibly powerful place from which to start creating a life you love. Appreciate what you already have, including the many talents and passions inside you and are waiting to come out. Every morning, email yourself or your friends 10 things you’re grateful for.
3. Love Your Body Now
You can’t shame your way into a healthy body. Love yourself as-is, while affirming that you WILL reach your goal weight and optimum fitness level in good time. Play the change game—not the shame game.
4. Speak, Don’t Eat
Express your feelings and speak your thoughts out loud instead of eating over them. When you courageously allow yourself to speak your truth in the moment—whether you’re declaring “Yes, I feel frustrated!” or “This is scary but so amazing and I deserve it!”—you’re less likely to stuff down feelings or repress your authentic voice through a food binge.
5. Stop the Kvetching
Guard your thoughts and practice a “Warrior not a Whiner” mentality. You know how annoying it is when someone complains around you. Well, you’re doing the same kind of job on yourself with thoughts like, “I don’t like getting up early to work out or I don’t have time to cook vegetables .” These are just excuses and contribute to your unhealthy actions. So call yourself out, and make a different thought choice.
Thanks Lindsay! I may be brave and try your class again. In the meantime, I’m going to put these tips into practice today because “I can do it!” (Jumping on my bed and disturbing my neighbors.)
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
Side Note:
I’m hosting a seminar with Columbia Journalism School’s Sree Sreenivasan about Advancing Your Career and Getting Beyond Job Hunting this Wednesday, May 12th.
If you’re a journalist or media professional and want to be inspired, sign up for the event here. Hope to see you there!
2 Comments for Finding Thinner Peace
Angela | May 6, 2010 at 9:24 am
Author comment by admin | May 6, 2010 at 12:14 pm
My friend Amanda, shared this with me:
I think the main thing about achieving “thinner peace” is to not have being THIN your goal! To forgo the numbers on the scale and to stop comparing yourself to the woman on the street with legs up to her chin. Once you drop the desperation, the need, the drive, to achieve at a “thinner” destination, only then will you achieve inner peace.
So, how to do that?
Get back to the basics. As someone who is immersed in the health & wellness field, each day there are new foods to eat, not to eat, foods that make your belly flatter, cleanses, detoxes, a celebrity with a new book. Let go of that obsession to know everything, and instead turn inward and get to know YOURSELF and YOUR BODY.
Start simply. If you’re a person who has relied on diets and rules, this can actually be difficult. It was for me. I didn’t even know what I liked!
Try foods that you’ve “banned” or make you feel guilty. Go slowly. You may find you don’t even like the food anymore. Do you like crunchy, smooth, spicy, salty, hot, cold, sweet? Listen to what your body tells you.
Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when you’re full. It’s harder than it sounds.
Be present while eating…Ban the buzz, no TV, magazines, music. Just you and your food. Really taste it. Check in with yourself half way through the meal. Does it still taste as good as the first bite? (probably not). Give yourself the option to stop eating (you can always have it later) or to continue.
Legalize all foods. If you have a food allergy or intolerance, then of course don’t eat that food. But passing on your favorite chocolate ice cream over will most likely lead to binging later (rebellion)
If you want something, have the REAL thing! Remember those snackwell devil’s food cookies? I think I ate a whole box once. But a real gooey chocolate chip cookie? You only need a little bit and you leave much more nourished.
Cook. Make friends with your food. Use fresh ingredients when possible, in season. If not, don’t sweat it.
And lastly, love yourself AS YOU ARE, right now. Making peace with your body, letting go of trying to achieve a fantasy weight, is the most liberating and freeing act you can ever experience. It frees up so much space in your life to focus on other things, rather than calories, fats, and how your butt looks in those pants.
OK, I think that’s all for now! I recommend people checking out http://www.intuitiveeating.org for the 10 Principles of Intuitve eating.
Amanda
cakesandcarrots.com
Leave a comment!
<< Bed Piece
I am a huge Patricia Moreno fan! She is amazing an Intensati rocks. I am not physically coordinated and can’t imagine myself shouting affirmation at the top of my lungs in public (I’ve only done the classes via DVD) but I aspire to be an instructor one day..lol The Intensati methods are simple and very easy to implement into your every day life. Cheers to loving my life!!