How to navigate through the festive food gatherings
Inspired by the softness of the last Conscious Dining Circle of this year, I felt like dedicating a special moment to write down some tips and practices that could assist you navigate through the festive season while staying in connection to your body and your nourishment.
The heartwarming festive days of connection with our beloveds could at times feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to the food and the way we nourish our bodies and this is absolutely normal.
The festive days and gatherings are moments of heightened energy, most of the time with too much information shared, a lot of noise, distractions or even sometimes with uncomfortable conversations that might be going on. All these parameters tend to push us out of balance and in disconnection from our centre and body.
During these gatherings you might be finding yourself stressed of eating together with many people or under these heightened energies of excitement or too much information.
You might find yourself pressured to eat food that don’t resonate with your body. You might be drawn to eating too much of eating too little.
You might be distracted and disconnected from the food you are eating as you are being carried away into conversations or by the energetic noise of the gathering.
Here are some tips to help you ground back to your centre and find these threads of connection with the body on how they want to be nourished.
TIP 1
Take a deep breath where you are and stay there for 3 more.
Pause in front of the food offerings and feel what your body want to consume today.
Ask about the ingredients of the foods prepared and feel if each and every one food element aligns with your body at this specific moment of day and time.
Feel gratitude for the abundance.
TIP 2
If you are feeling disconnected pause in front of your plate and the food you have chosen to consume.
Try to isolate yourself from the conversations and the noise around you. Feel if this food is something for your body today.
Breathe in deeply and exhale.
if your body resonates with the food, engage your sense of smell, taste, mouthfeel and touch to fully enjoy the foods.
Notice the textures and flavors.
TIP 3
If you choose to consume a food element that is aligned with your body choose to fully enjoy it and indulge into it, in slowness and in silence of the mind.
Enjoy it fully, unapologetically and without any mind-created guilt while breathing in deeply.
Letting the energy and. sensation of pleasure swirl all around your body with the movement of your breath.
Engage your sense of smell, touch, taste and mouthfeel to fully indulge in your food.
Find a way to thank the food and your body.
“Eating in slowness, while consciously breathing... Pausing and checking in with the body. How are they feeling? Does the body had enough. Does the body receive joy and pleasure from the food you offer?”
Wishing you lovely, bright, joyful and merry festive days!
A slow and smooth transition towards the New Year!
Much love,
Alexandra
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still life painting by Pieter Claesz.
