How to teach yoga for eating disorders

Does yoga help people with eating disorders? What kind of yoga is best? Can yoga actually be harmful? These are some of the questions I wanted to answer when I embarked on a research project about yoga therapy for eating disorders, working with young people in the adolescent medicine unit at Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney. 

When I presented that research at the Yoga Australia conference in Melbourne, I realised I’m not the only one asking those questions. Yoga teachers, psychologists, parents and teachers are all interested in how to harness the benefits of yoga to support people struggling with eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of all mental health issues and those working and living with people with anorexia want to be sure that the yoga practices they introduce to their clients and family members are safe and effective. 

My research revealed some important insights for yoga teachers and clinicians. It also offers guidelines for ‘best practice’ when developing yoga therapy programs with young people with eating disorders. I want to make these guidelines freely available to everybody needs them. Please download your copy of my speakers notes and slides at the link below. Let me know if you have any questions.

You can also watch a video recording of the live presentation for free HERE.