Josie Kramer, MA
TK company
Food is meant to nourish our bodies and souls. A juicy peach or a perfectly ripe heirloom tomato can provide us with nutrients and sweet memories. Unfortunately, for so many people today, their relationship with food is fraught with stress and confusion. In The Yoga of Food, Josie Kramer, M.A., offers a whole person approach to eating and managing stress without turning to fatty, sugary, and salty foods. Josie’s credentials provide the basis for her authority: 1,000-hour Yoga Teacher certification from Naropa University, a master’s degree in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University, a 550 hour Massage Certification from The Institute of Psycho Structural Balancing, and a holistic health counselor certification through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
The DVD offers three segments: ‘Knowledge of the Body’, ‘Awareness of Mind’, and ‘Connection to Spirit’. Josie includes breathing techniques and beautifully sequenced beginner’s yoga practices to help viewers become more present in their bodies. Throughout, the practices, Josie offers information on choosing whole foods that provide us powerful energy.
In ‘Knowledge of the Body’ Josie guides viewers through breath work and asana designed to both reduce stress and increase energy. This practice offers a nourishing tool other than turning to food for coping in difficult times. True to its title, ‘Awareness of Mind’ encourages a focus on the present moment, cultivating the art of eating and enjoying food with less distraction, in order to increase satiation. During ‘Connection to Spirit’, Josie utilizes the chakra system to examine disordered eating patterns and how we can break free from such behaviors.
The Yoga of Food is a powerful practice. Josie helps viewers tune into their own bodies needs. Through mind, body, and spirit, we can begin to heal our relationship with food.
Reviewed by Amy Gartenberg
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Amy Gartenberg moved to California August, 2012. She is an elementary school teacher and a recent graduate of the 200 hour teacher training program at Yogis Anonymous in Santa Monica (yogisanonymous.com). She is the founder of the blog C’est California Vie (cestcaliforniavie.com) where you can find workouts, healthy recipes, and daily musings. Find Amy running along the ocean, hiking the canyons, or practicing at one of LA?s stellar yoga studios.