Yoga for Positive Embodiment in Eating Disorder Prevention and Treatment

There is a growing body of research exploring the effectiveness of yoga as a pathway to positive embodiment for those at-risk for and struggling with eating disorders. This book provides a comprehensive look at the state of the field.

Catherine Cook-Cottone, Ph.D., is a psychologist, certified yoga therapist, and Professor at University at Buffalo, SUNY, USA. She has written 8 books and over 80 research articles and chapters specializing in embodiment, mindful self-regulation, eating disorders, and trauma. Passionate about service, she is co-founder and president of Yogis in Service, Inc. Anne E. Cox is a yoga teacher and Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology in the kinesiology program at Washington State University, Pullman, USA where she co-directs the Psychology of Physical Activity Lab. Her research is focused on understanding key determinants of physical activity behaviors and seeks to apply knowledge about motivational processes and body image to create positive physical activity experiences. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPH, RD, RYT-500 is McKnight Presidential and Mayo Professor and serves as the Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. Her research focuses on a broad spectrum of eating and weight-related outcomes including eating disorders, unhealthy weight control behaviors, body image, dietary intake, weight stigmatization, and obesity. A certified yoga instructor, she has published approximately 550 articles and her current research interests include investigating the potential for the practice of yoga to help with body image concerns and eating disorders. Tracy L. Tylka, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology at The Ohio State University, USA. Her research focuses on both positive and negative body image as well as adaptive and maladaptive eating. To date, she has published 87 journal articles and has written three books and 20 book chapters. She is the Editor-in-Chief for Body Image: An International Journal of Research and on the editorial board for Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders.

1. Introduction Theoretical and empirical considerations 2. Eating disorders, embodiment, and yoga: a conceptual overview 3. Yoga and the experience of embodiment: a discussion of possible links 4. Realizing Yoga's all-access pass: a social justice critique of westernized yoga and inclusive embodiment 5. A conceptual model describing mechanisms for how yoga practice may support positive embodiment Research update 6. Yoga and eating disorder prevention and treatment: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis 7. Benefits of yoga in the treatment of eating disorders: results of a randomized controlled trial 8. Examining the effects of mindfulness-based yoga instruction on positive embodiment and affective responses 9. A yoga-based therapy program designed to improve body image among an outpatient eating disordered population: program description and results from a mixed-methods pilot study 10. Yoga practice in a college sample: associated changes in eating disorder, body image, and related factors over time 11. Yoga's impact on risk and protective factors for disordered eating: a pilot prevention trial Future directions 12. Future directions for research on yoga and positive embodiment