Well, if AOL says it, it must be true! One of AOL’s 30 ways to lose weight is to sit and breath.
They’re referring to the recent research that found that too much cortisol in your body, which is produced when you’re stressed out, makes you store weight around your middle. Meditation and other relaxing activities like yoga help you calm down. When you’re calm your body doesn’t produce the stress hormones and presto, you lose weight. I would also add that learning how to breath and stay relaxed also helps if you’re someone who eats when feeling anxious and upset.
I find that using the ‘sit and breath’ time to focus on intentions is a great use of the time. It reminds you and helps you to stay the course. I think it’s also powerful to come up with a visual that represents how you want to be in your life. It doesn’t have to be something literal (here’s skinny-me frolicking on the beach in a bikini!), a symbol is handy too. Something to use as a touchpoint and recall during the day.
But I think the best reason to take ‘sit and breath’ time is to simply take some time for ourselves. Instead of always rushing off to the next thing, what better gift is there than to make some space for ourselves as we move toward our goals and intentions. Because if weight loss isn’t about taking care of ourselves and our health, then it’s not going to be any fun. And if it’s not fun, why would anyone want to stick with it?
It can be so hard to relax and just let go. And when I can’t relax I even resist doing yoga which I know will help me relax. It’s like a watching a sports match – will she make it to her yoga mat, will she make it?? *NO* she does laundry instead……She looks at the mat, she’s considering it, will she make it there? *NO* she opens the fridge instead.
Letting go is a skill just like any other. Our mind gets clamped onto things we think we should do and our body responds by getting stiff and tense. I find that often when I’m wrapped up about something I take that as proof that it is something really important. When what I really need to do is notice I’m all wrapped up and take that as I sign I need to loosen up a little. Or alot.
Have you ever finally lightened up about something, not because you thought it was a good idea but because you just had no more energy for it? And then whatever you were intense about worked out OK anyways? It’s like you didn’t need to force it after all. You did what you could and that was all that was really needed. It takes trust.
It’s like the best way to do a good yoga stretch is to sneak up on it. You want to hold the stretch but also give it a some space too. If you clamp right down into the stretch your muscles resist, or overstretch and get injured. It’s the constant balance between guiding things and letting them happen. I hope to do a little more ‘just letting it happen’ in the new year. And trusting.