Food, Yoga, and Self-Connection with Jessica Grosman

In this podcast episode, I talk with Jessica Grosman, an Anti-Diet Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Body-Inclusive Health Practitioner, and Yin Yoga Teacher. We discuss how both food and yoga can be avenues to self-connection, despite the pervasive messages of diet and fitness culture.

Episode Details:

Jessica explains what an “anti-diet” dietitian is, and the evolution toward a healthy-at-every-size perspective. We talk about the unlearning it often takes for us to actually enjoy and celebrate food, and how yoga can help us accept ourselves as we are in the present moment.

Jessica also teaches classes specifically for people recovering from eating disorders, and we talk about why she thinks Yin Yoga might an especially helpful practice for these students. With its lack of fitness-focus, and emphasis upon gently exploring sensation, Yin Yoga (with a skilled guide) can be a powerful opportunity for re-embodiment.

Guest Bio:

Jessica Grosman’s mission is to help people get comfortable and connected with their own body through food and yoga. She is an Anti-Diet Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Body-Inclusive Health Practitioner and Yoga Teacher; she is the founder of With Health & Gratitude, LLC. Jessica believes that all people have the right to health, regardless of size or medical condition – aligning herself with Health at Every Size and weight-inclusive practices. As a yoga teacher, Jessica helps students find the ways in which their bodies feel most supported and at ease. As both a Registered Dietitian and a Yoga Teacher, Jessica is qualified to address and educate on the intersection of food, nutrition, body image, and yoga. In addition to her client- focused work, Jessica is a recipe developer and a culinary educator; her goal is to get people excited and into the kitchen to cook, and to find more peace and happiness through the food they prepare for themselves, their family, and their community.

The focus of Jessica’s yoga teaching is Yin Yoga. This is a practice that is quiet, introspective, and meditative. Yin Yoga is full-body interoceptive experience, allowing the student to become aware of their body, mind and breath in the present moment. Yoga is often a healing modality in the recovery from Eating Disorders; Jessica believes that her calming presence and thoughtful language when guiding Yin Yoga classes is a wonderful complement to the multi-disciplinary work with ED clients.

Links & Resources from this episode:

• Yoga for Eating Disorders:  https://www.yoga4eatingdisorders.com
• Compassionate & Mindful Yin Yoga (ED-friendly sample class with Jessica):  https://youtu.be/RXYOILfghaM

To connect with Jessica, you can visit her website https://www.withhealthandgratitude.com/

or follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/withhealthandgratitude/

or Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/dietjessg

To check out the upcoming livestream classes Addie mentioned at the top of the episode, visit movedtomeditate.yoga/livestream-classes or the Moved To Meditate class library at movedtomeditate.com!