By Beverly S. Price

Image by Silvia from Pixabay

I started my career as a registered dietitian in the mid-1980s, hoping to bring evidence-based nutrition to the public. After working at a small community hospital, I started a private nutrition counseling practice, which I operated for more than 10 years.

Although the practice was geared to general nutrition concerns, it wasn’t long before people with eating disorders sought out my services. And even though I had previously lived the experience of an eating disorder myself, I felt ill-equipped to deal with the many psychological and serious medical concerns these individuals brought with them. After completing several professional trainings for eating disorders, I became knowledgeable and skilled in working with them. However, I still felt that something was missing.

Integrating yoga therapy into eating disorders recovery

In 2003, I immersed myself in a yoga practice and teacher training program. As I delved further into these studies, I realized that yoga was the missing link to eating disorders treatment.

Those who struggle with eating disorders have significant body-image disturbances. I found yoga to be instrumental in connecting individuals to their body, resulting in enjoyment of their body and defining it in terms of “what it can do” rather than “what it is.” The therapeutic yoga skills I learned to teach help people to understand that they are not mere extensions of their bodies—they also possess beautiful, innate internal qualities.

I soon started yoga and eating disorders recovery groups along with my individual nutrition and yoga counseling, calling the program Reconnect with Food. This program evolved organically into a comprehensive eating disorders treatment organization with a staff of 25 professionals. Providers included psychotherapists, dietitians, yoga practitioners, medical professionals, creative movement specialists, and administrative staff; together, we developed a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach. The yoga therapy method I developed integrates the chakras (energetic centers) to facilitate healing on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. It incorporates postures along with dialogue in both individual and group settings.

Today, I continue my work through advocacy, as well as supervision and mentoring to help those who work with individuals struggling with eating disorders to hone their counseling skills. I also offer a yoga therapy for eating disorders certificate training program.

Look for my next post, “Inside a Yoga Therapy Session for Those with Eating Disorders,” to learn more about what a practice could look like.

Beverly S. Price, MA, CEDRD-S, E-RYT 200, C-IAYT, is recognized for introducing mindfulness yoga to the eating disorders treatment community, including patients and professionals, as well as offering yoga therapy training programs in eating disorders for professionals. She supervises and mentors eating disorders professionals who wish to enhance their skills in nutrition and yoga therapy.