NOURISHING THE BODY IS A GOOD STEP TOWARDS CREATING THE FOUNDATION OF A GOOD MEDITATION PRACTICE.

The mind and the stomach share a direct connection. You may already notice this connection as an upset stomach when experiencing a lot of mental stress. The reverse is also true, when the stomach is unhappy the mind becomes unsettled. When we nourish ourselves with healthy food, we create the foundation blocks for a solid meditation practice.
When our stomachs are too full or too empty meditation can become more challenging. If we fail to provide our body with a source of nutrients sitting for long periods of time can result in sleepiness, and dullness of practice.
Overeating is a surefire way to dull a meditation practice. Our digestive organs require a lot of energy to breakdown food. If we enter into a quiet meditation practice, while simultaneously expending all of our physical energy on digestion we are sure to create a situation where it is very easy to doze off, or fall asleep.

When we eat prior to meditation, it is the best to do so in a mindful way, being sure to chew each bite of food completely. Chewing food well aids the digestive process so less energy is needed to break down the food. When we eat in a slow and intentional way, we are also more likely to notice when we are beginning to get full.
On the flip side, entering a meditation practice while feeling very hungry will only cause distractions in the mind. If you do this, you will find yourself endlessly thinking about food. This is especially true for beginner to intermediate level mediators, who are still working to establish daily awareness in the body and mind. Eating a small to moderate amount of easily digestible food prior to beginning meditation can help support one’s practice. It is most ideal to give yourself 30-60 minutes of rest time after eating before beginning meditation.
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