Shorter, colder days can lead to more food cravings. Hitting the mat can help beat them back.
Sad but not surprising: People eat an average of 86 more calories a day in the fall than they do in the spring. And gingerbread lattes aren’t entirely to blame. “When you don’t get enough daylight, you produce less serotonin,” says Barbara Olendzki, a registered dietitian at the University of Massachusetts–Worcester. And low levels of the hormone can increase our cravings for carbs. But yoga can help. Food cravings are often anxiety-related, and the calming practice may curb our impulse to polish off the office M&Ms. With a regular routine, says Sadie Nardini, a New York City–based yoga teacher, “you learn to undergo intense sensations without giving in.” In one study, people with binge-eating disorder made healthier food choices after 12 weeks of daily yoga and mindfulness training. Nardini designed this sequence to strengthen both body and mind.
The Plan:
You’ll need a yoga mat; blocks are optional. Do the routine (the warm-up, flow, and cooldown) a few times a week or whenever cravings strike to minimize impulse eating.
Total time:
15 minutes.
