Mindful Eating Class in Glenview

Do you struggle with your weight and feeling good about your body? Have you wished you could end eating patterns that are self-defeating and don’t serve your highest good? Do you feel exhausted, depressed, or deprived by attempts to “diet” or “control” your appetite? Do you long for a healthy and nurturing relationship with yourself and food? If so, then give yourself the gift of spending six weeks learning to transform the way you see yourself and the way you interact with food.

In this course we will learn and practice techniques for bringing mindful awareness to our food choices, hunger, and eating behavior. By engaging in activities that release the automatic reactions, fears, and attachments we have to food, we will deepen the connection we have to ourselves and learn to draw upon the power of our inner wisdom (not an outside “expert”) to guide us in choosing foods that please, satisfy, and nurture us. Topics to be addressed include:

Balancing Inner and Outer Wisdom
Understanding Hunger
Emotional Eating
Anger, Forgiveness and Food
Fullness, Satiety
Discovering Taste Satisfaction
Making Mindful Food Choices
Mindfulness Meditation and Movement

Yoga and meditation are integral aspects of this course. Loose and comfortable clothing is recommended.

When: Monday Evenings, 6:45-8:15 p.m.
September 13, 20, 27, October 4, 11, and 18.
Where: Be Optimal Holistic Health Center; 1249 Waukegan Road, Glenview
Fee: $200. Space is limited so early registration is recommended.
Due to the progressive nature of this course, participants must register for the entire course. Individual class attendance is not permitted.
Registration/Questions: contact Carol at 847.866.9692 or email her at info@happyhealthywhole.com
Instructor: Carol Friedman, founder of Happy, Healthy and Whole has been a teacher, guide, and workshop leader for over 20 years. She holds a master’s degree from The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, is certified in Psycho-Spiritual Integration, and is on the adjunct faculty at the School for New Learning of DePaul University. For more information see: www.happyhealthywhole.com

On November 17th Kevin Griffin, author of “One Step at a Time; Buddhism and the 12 Steps” gave a public talk to about 65 people.  This was Kevin’s first appearance in the Chicago area and he was delighted to be received by so many who share a love for the 12 Step path and an interest in the contributions Buddhism can make to its followers. 

Following a brief recounting of how he came to embrace Buddhism and the 12 Steps, Kevin guided the group through a twenty minute mindfulness meditation exercise followed by a question and answer period.  In addition to responding to questions about the mindfulness meditation process, he addressed questions concerning the use of prayer, how to develop a morning ritual, and how to reconcile Buddhist beliefs and practices with the traditional  Judeo-Christian concept of a God as an all-powerful deity. 

In “Dharma God and the Path of Recovery”, to be published in January of 2010, Kevin explores the last question more fully, suggesting that the teachings of Dharma can be seen as a power greater than ourselves to which we can turn  for  inspiration and guidance for our lives and behavior  in much the same way we might turn to God.

During his talk, Kevin referred attendees to his website, www.kevingriffin.com for  more information and links to guided meditations he has recorded as well as to the Buddhist Recovery Network website www.buddhistrecovery.org .

At the gathering I also announced that I am currently looking for space in the Evanston/Wilmette area to teach a class on “Mindfulness Meditation and the 12 Steps”.   Anyone interested in attending or receiving more information about the class can contact me at info@happyhealthywhole.com.