“To perform every action artfully is yoga.” ~ Swami Kripalu

We’re going to run a little experiment in making eating a delectable, delightful art form and nourishing the body using food as the object of our meditation.

All you need to do is make sure you have one strawberry on hand for the exercise. Yes, a strawberry. I promise there’s a method to my madness.

Ok, so what we’re about to do is a little “fruity,” but if you let go of the awkwardness and embrace the exercise, I promise you will see benefits from doing it. When I’ve done this with my university students, they said it was the best strawberry they’ve ever had in their lives. Another friend of mine, a pharmacist and mother of two said she hasn’t enjoyed eating this much since a great meal in Switzerland in 2003!

She confided: “Never, have I appreciated a strawberry. That exercise opened all sorts of new senses and responses to food. In my overbooked, sometimes stressful life, food enjoyment is rarely, if ever, part of my eating experience. I honestly cannot remember the last time I was just eating and really paying attention.”

When you’re ready and have some alone time (you probably don’t want to do this in front of others), take out a strawberry wash it and lovingly prepare it for eating but do not eat it.

Sight

Look at your strawberry. Notice the curves and indentations of the strawberry. The vibrancy of the color. What else do you see in your strawberry? Describe it in full vivid detail.

Touch

Now, feel your strawberry. How would you describe the texture?

Smell

Inhale the perfume of the strawberry. Get intoxicated by the luscious smell of your beautiful berry. If you could use five words to describe the smell of the strawberry, what would they be?

Taste

Now, take your time, and take a little nibble of the strawberry. What are the sensations on your tongue? Take a little bit of a bigger bite…now how would you describe the taste?

Take your sweet time to enjoy the rest of your strawberry.

Eating can be a meditation in and of itself if we take the time to truly savor the moment. Imagine eating every meal this way, and you’ll create your own slice of heaven on earth.

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Author: Kristi Kremers

Editor: Travis May

Photos: Steven Depolo/Flickr