A low-calorie, high-fibre diet is the best for losing weight. Maintaining such a diet over long periods, however, can be difficult - especially if you have become habituated to overeating. This is caused by the mind, which craves food as a source of comfort or pleasure. Yoga can help you control your eating habits by giving you mastery over your mind. Relaxation builds up an inner self-mastery and reduces cravings, while the autosuggestion techniques described below can give relief from the urge to eat.

When you feel a craving for food, say to yourself: "My dear mind, my dear tongue, I am going to eat - but why hurry? Be slow, be easy - let me enjoy this food." Then take five deep breaths and start to eat slowly, savouring the flavours in each morsel.

Alternatively, say: "Eating this food makes me happy, but what it really does is to trigger an inner state of mind - the silence of satisfaction. Therefore I will eat slowly and hold on to that satisfaction instead of gulping my food down quickly."

Yoga is also an ideal form of exercise if you are overweight. It is gentle and carefully graded, reducing the chances of fatigue and injury, and avoids strain to your heart.

The therapist will recommend your best course of action at the assessment.

One to One Session