Yoga

Being aware of why you eat and when you’re full is important. Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle have found that people who eat mindfully are less likely to be obese. And yoga, they say, can put you in the right state of mind.

Their study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, involved mostly women who filled out a questionnaire specifically designed to test their attitudes towards eating. Participants who practiced yoga had the strongest link to mindful eating. Curiously, the researchers found a much weaker connection in those who exercised by walking or other means.

This new study is a follow-up to one done four years ago which found that regular yoga may help prevent middle-age weight gain. So, if you’re looking for a way to change your relationship with food for the better, you may want to consider learning the Downward Facing Dog and the Lotus.