ABSTRACT
Yoga as a component of eating disorder treatment is rewarding and challenging. Through trial and error Lauren became comfortable dealing with all varieties of eating disorder clients, teaching students with widely varying levels of willingness and ability. Lauren learned and taught her successors that the yoga teacher must be prepared, flexible and attentive; consistently paying attention to all clients and adjusting things quickly and accordingly. Yoga teachers must understand and agree to use the philosophy, modalities and terminology other treatment provider are using with the client, so that the yoga reinforces and does not conflict. It is important for yoga teachers working with eating disorders to refrain from promoting or even discussing any kind of food preferences like vegetarianism, veganism, periodic fasting, or juice cleanses. The value of yoga's integration becomes evident when yoga teachers incorporate into their classes what the clients are working on in therapy groups and/or individual sessions.
