Mindful Eating | Mindfulness Practice Center at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri


Learn About Mindfulness Mission Statement Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Classes Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression Mindful Eating Program Hatha Yoga Classes Noon-Time Meditation Upcoming Special Events Guided Mindfulness Practices (Listen to or Download) Related Links Home	for University of Missouri Faculty and Staff DATES FOR THE WINTER 2010 ONLINE CLASS: Orientation – week of January 18 10 Week Class – week of January 25 – week of March 29 What is Eat for Life? Eat for Life is a 10 week program that uses “mindfulness” as the foundation for learning how to create a healthy relationship with your food, mind, and body. Using mind-body practices such as meditation and yoga you can learn how to listen to the wisdom of the body for better health and well-being. This is a “non-diet” approach to eating that advocates self and body acceptance as the first step in making changes. We use a non-judgmental and compassionate approach to re-learning how to use your internal physical cues to guide what and when you eat. This program teaches the BASICS of mindful eating, the principles of “Intuitive Eating” as outlined in the book “Intuitive Eating” by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, and relevant research, synthesized to make sense out of the multitude of messages that we get about what, when, and how to eat. Discover the pleasure of taking care of yourself in a way that nourishes and heals. Details of the Eat for Life Program? There are two versions of this program—(a) an in person class and (b) a class that can be taken at home over Blackboard as an online course. In Person Class The program consists of a series of classes that meet for 1 or 1-1/2 hours each week. Classes include instruction in formal mindfulness practices (eating meditation, sitting meditations, body scan, and mindful yoga). Group discussions address the experiential component of the classes and didactic components emphasize the application of mindfulness, intuitive eating principles, and relevant research to facilitate in changing your relationship with food and your body. Weekly practice assignments to do at home help you develop mindfulness skills and apply them to the way that you eat and think about eating and how you relate to your body. Regular class attendance and a commitment of 15-30 minutes of practice per day for the entire duration of the course are required. CDs of the formal mindfulness practices and weekly handouts will be provided as learning aids. Online Course This is an exciting opportunity to take the same components of the in person class but in the comfort of your own home. Video and audio components teach you the foundational mindfulness practices (eating meditation, sitting meditations, body scan, and mindful yoga) and the BASICS of Mindful Eating. All you need is a computer and the commitment of time to take the class and complete the readings and practice exercises. Once you are signed up for a particular class, you will have a week to complete each section. There are practice exercises to complete each day. You are asked to participate with the other people in your class by emailing to a discussion board about your experiences with the exercises and readings. Who should enroll in the program? If you have a history of chronic dieting, have rigid “healthy” rules about eating, or find yourself eating more than you want when you’re stressed, bored, or unhappy, then this may be the program for you. If you want to enjoy eating every day and appreciate the miracle of your body, then this program may be for you. If you are under a doctor’s supervision for diabetes or on any kind of doctor prescribed diet you can still benefit from the principles you learn in this program for creating a healthier relationship with your body and your food. What are the benefits I can expect? Research in this area is still in its infancy and many results are not yet published. However, people who have engaged in programs that have used mindfulness as applied to eating behavior have reported a decrease in psychological symptoms as well as a decrease in binge eating. What is the cost? There is a $60 fee, payable at the orientation session by check made payable to Healthy for Life or cash. This fee includes CD, books, and manual. For the in person class, if you attend 9 of the 10 classes you will receive a $20 refund. For the online course, if you participate on blackboard for 9 of the 10 weeks you will receive a $20 refund. For more information or to enroll in the next Eat for Life Program, contact Lynn Rossy, Ph.D., Healthy for Life at RossyL@umsystem.edu. Eating Mindfully FOR MU STUDENTS: Eating Mindfully is an eight-week program utilizing the process of mindful awareness to help people start breaking the habit of eating when stressed, bored, or unhappy. This program will involve learning mind-body practices such as meditation and yoga that can help us stay present and aware of what we put in our bodies and how it makes us feel. These practices can counteract the habitual urges to eat that can so easily arise. If you are interested in participating and would like to enroll, please contact Beth Shoyer at shoyerb@health.missouri.edu. There is a $15 materials fee. RECOMMENDED BOOKS: Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch Breaking Free from Emotional Eating by Geneen Roth Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink, Ph.D. Mindful Eating by Jan Chozen Bays, MD

Eat for Life

for University of Missouri Faculty and Staff

DATES FOR THE WINTER 2010 ONLINE CLASS:
Orientation – week of January 18
10 Week Class – week of January 25 – week of March 29

What is Eat for Life?

Eat for Life is a 10 week program that uses “mindfulness” as the foundation for learning how to create a healthy relationship with your food, mind, and body. Using mind-body practices such as meditation and yoga you can learn how to listen to the wisdom of the body for better health and well-being. This is a “non-diet” approach to eating that advocates self and body acceptance as the first step in making changes. We use a non-judgmental and compassionate approach to re-learning how to use your internal physical cues to guide what and when you eat. This program teaches the BASICS of mindful eating, the principles of “Intuitive Eating” as outlined in the book “Intuitive Eating” by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, and relevant research, synthesized to make sense out of the multitude of messages that we get about what, when, and how to eat. Discover the pleasure of taking care of yourself in a way that nourishes and heals.

Details of the Eat for Life Program?

There are two versions of this program—(a) an in person class and (b) a class that can be taken at home over Blackboard as an online course.

In Person Class
The program consists of a series of classes that meet for 1 or 1-1/2 hours each week. Classes include instruction in formal mindfulness practices (eating meditation, sitting meditations, body scan, and mindful yoga). Group discussions address the experiential component of the classes and didactic components emphasize the application of mindfulness, intuitive eating principles, and relevant research to facilitate in changing your relationship with food and your body. Weekly practice assignments to do at home help you develop mindfulness skills and apply them to the way that you eat and think about eating and how you relate to your body. Regular class attendance and a commitment of 15-30 minutes of practice per day for the entire duration of the course are required. CDs of the formal mindfulness practices and weekly handouts will be provided as learning aids.
Online Course
This is an exciting opportunity to take the same components of the in person class but in the comfort of your own home. Video and audio components teach you the foundational mindfulness practices (eating meditation, sitting meditations, body scan, and mindful yoga) and the BASICS of Mindful Eating. All you need is a computer and the commitment of time to take the class and complete the readings and practice exercises. Once you are signed up for a particular class, you will have a week to complete each section. There are practice exercises to complete each day. You are asked to participate with the other people in your class by emailing to a discussion board about your experiences with the exercises and readings.

Who should enroll in the program?

If you have a history of chronic dieting, have rigid “healthy” rules about eating, or find yourself eating more than you want when you’re stressed, bored, or unhappy, then this may be the program for you. If you want to enjoy eating every day and appreciate the miracle of your body, then this program may be for you. If you are under a doctor’s supervision for diabetes or on any kind of doctor prescribed diet you can still benefit from the principles you learn in this program for creating a healthier relationship with your body and your food.

What are the benefits I can expect?

Research in this area is still in its infancy and many results are not yet published. However, people who have engaged in programs that have used mindfulness as applied to eating behavior have reported a decrease in psychological symptoms as well as a decrease in binge eating.

What is the cost?

There is a $60 fee, payable at the orientation session by check made payable to Healthy for Life or cash. This fee includes CD, books, and manual. For the in person class, if you attend 9 of the 10 classes you will receive a $20 refund. For the online course, if you participate on blackboard for 9 of the 10 weeks you will receive a $20 refund.

For more information or to enroll in the next Eat for Life Program, contact Lynn Rossy, Ph.D., Healthy for Life at RossyL@umsystem.edu.

Eating Mindfully

FOR MU STUDENTS:

Eating Mindfully is an eight-week program utilizing the process of mindful awareness to help people start breaking the habit of eating when stressed, bored, or unhappy. This program will involve learning mind-body practices such as meditation and yoga that can help us stay present and aware of what we put in our bodies and how it makes us feel. These practices can counteract the habitual urges to eat that can so easily arise. If you are interested in participating and would like to enroll, please contact Beth Shoyer at shoyerb@health.missouri.edu. There is a $15 materials fee.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
Breaking Free from Emotional Eating by Geneen Roth
Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink, Ph.D.
Mindful Eating by Jan Chozen Bays, MD