So here we are with Valentine’s Day chocolate erupting everywhere, and you’re wondering how to sashay that fine line between deprivation (ick!) and overindulgence.
Have I got a treat for you! Here’s a way of – get this – meditating with chocolate. Ladies, how good can that get?
The exercise — or play, as I like to think of it — is to develop mindfulness, awareness of the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness is one of the cornerstones of pleasure, deepening our capacity for it in all its forms. After all, if we’re stressing about the meeting tomorrow, or beating ourselves up for forgetting to return that phone call, how can we relish the grace and pleasure of this moment?
Mindfulness is traditionally developed through meditation. I say, how about developing mindfulness and cultivating pleasure at the same great time?
So ladies, hie yourselves to your favorite chocolate supplier and indulge in some high quality dark chocolate. Cut three small pieces and place them on a plate, get comfortable and non-interruptible, and begin. Bon appetit!
1. Take several slow breaths, and allow yourself to come into your own body and the present moment. You’ll find that you’ll get distracted sometimes ... simply gently come back to the present moment and this wonderful chocolate. Be aware of your intention to begin eating. If you’re the praying/asking sort, ask to be fully present, both to the process and to your own sweet pleasure.
2. Place a piece of the chocolate in the palm of your hand. Slowly explore the chocolate as if you’d never had the exquisite pleasure of hanging out with chocolate before. Stroke the chocolate with your fingers, feeling its texture and temperature. Notice its color, and the light upon it. Be gently aware of what thoughts you’re having about chocolate, or anything else (mine might be, “I’m so fat, why am I eating this?” or “I should be doing something useful right now”). Simply notice them and come back to yourself and the chocolate.
3. With soft awareness bring the chocolate up to your nose, being aware of the movement of your hand and arm. Take in its aroma. How does it smell? How are you responding to the smell? Is your mouth watering? Notice any feelings of anticipation or desire.
4. Place the chocolate on your tongue. What does it feel like? Let the chocolate warm in your mouth. Feel its softening and spreading. Where is the chocolate in your mouth? Let yourself relax into its taste. What are the sensations on your tongue? What part of your tongue is experiencing the taste? How does the taste change as the chocolate melts? Slowly play with the chocolate with your tongue, noticing both taste and sensation.
5. When you are ready to swallow, notice this, then swallow. Be aware of how the chocolate moves down your throat. Can you feel any sensations in your stomach? Imagine that your body is now “one piece of chocolate richer.” How is it to be with the rich aftertaste of the chocolate in your mouth?
6. Take as much time as you need to eat the other two pieces of chocolate with the same mindfulness.
Here are some post-chocolate questions you can play with. I invite you to share your responses with me and your pleasure-sisters! Email them to me at [email protected], and I’ll print them in the next newsletter.
- How did this experience differ from the way you usually eat?
- Were you satisfied and pleasure eating just one small piece of chocolate?
- How might it change your experience of eating pleasure to bring more mindfulness to what, and how, you eat?
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