What The Media is Telling us About Our Bodies

My whole life I have been underweight for my height. People who didn't know me would make comments about my body.  I specifically remember standing in line at magic mountain waiting to get onto a roller-coaster and the woman behind me said to the woman she was with that I was what an eating disorder looked like, I was thirteen years old.  I was very active at this point in my life, yes I was thin but I was not unhealthy at this point in my life. It was shocking to me that some one would say that out loud where I could hear.  I remember thinking how is it any of her business how my body looks. This is something I come back to over and over.

Why do we make other peoples bodies our business?
Why do we talk about our own bodies negatively vs positively?

The media has made other peoples bodies our business and most of what they say is negative.  There is constantly talk of how celebrities have lost or gained weight, they are judged very harshly on their appearances, and the media has made it their/our business.  This has translated into our culture and we do it to ourselves and those around us.

The media has also created an unattainable standard of ideal beauty.  All of the images we see have been edited in one way or another.  The people in the images we see don't look that way in real life.  It is all fake, but we hold ourselves to this ideal.  We wonder why can't we have their skin or their bodies.  We beat ourselves up and say negative things about ourselves because we do not measure up to the fake images we are inundated with.

What would it be like if instead we saw real images of real people? People of all shapes and sizes, images with out photoshop.  How would this change our standard of ideal beauty? How would this change the way we feel about ourselves? I believe we would feel much better about ourselves.  I believe we would stop placing so much value on size and weight.  I believe the conversations around bodies would change.

The Media and Our Bodies

      Media education is something I have been passionate about since college where I studied counseling psychology with an emphasis on eating disorders, addictions, body image, and the media.  I have struggled with body image issues and disordered eating since I was seven years old.  I never felt like I was good enough and was always finding something wrong with my body.  It was empowering to learn about the role the media plays in the development of body image issues and eating disorders.

    For my senior project I put together a lecture on eating disorders, body image, and the media and went to schools and youth groups educating teens on this subject.  I was surprised at how many people had no idea that every image they see is not real.  It was amazing to be able to share this information and have honest conversations around how we see our bodies and what we are comparing them to.

    Even after having this information I still struggled with body image issues and disordered eating. It was not until I found yoga that I was truly able to accept my body and be grateful for all the amazing things it does for me. It is my goal to bring these two things together and help people accept and love themselves for who they are.

      This video of Jean Kilbourne is certainly worth watching. I was able to attend one of her lectures in 2008 and was able to meet her. She is amazing and inspiring. Get informed check out the video!

http://www.upworthy.com/5-minutes-of-what-the-media-actually-does-to-women-8?c=ufb1

Before

After 

Product Review #2: Manduka Black Mat Pro

       As a yoga instructor students are always asking me what yoga mats I like best and what I practice on.  I have a few mats but my favorite is the Manduka PRO!  This mat can be a little bit heavy. If weight is a concern of yours they offer a lighter option called the PROlite.  All of their mats come in a wide variety of beautiful colors!

Why I love this mat:
         - It is thick enough so I can be on my knees comfortably with out being squishy or slippery
         - It has awesome grip on the top and bottom! So I am not sliding and its not moving on the
           floor at all!
         - It has a lifetime warranty! Yes lifetime, so you will never need to buy another mat again.
         - It gets better with time!
         - Manduka is committed to making sustainable products that do not harm the environment!

Lesson Three: Learning to Be Present

     At the beginning of yoga class our teachers encourage us to let go of anything we were doing, thinking about, or  that happened before getting to class or is going to happen after class. they ask us to sit and bring our attention to our breath, to center, to become grounded, and to become present.

     It is so rare in our culture to truly be present. We are constantly on the go, thinking about the next thing we need to do. Coming to yoga class gives us a much needed escape from the constant go, go, go of our everyday lives. 

     Being present is often difficult when first starting we first start our practice of yoga.  Often we don't even know what it means to be present. Over time it gets easier and we notice how being present on our mat helps us to be present in our lives. 

     I challenge you to become aware of you thoughts while having a conversation with someone.  Are you thinking about the next thing you are going to say? Or are you being present and listening to what the person is saying? Try this and see how it feels to really be present in your conversations, how it feels to really listen. 

     This practice has helped my relationships on many levels. Don't we all want to be heard? I believe it starts with being truly listening and being present. In what ways has being present helped your relationships? 

Product Review #1: Lululemon's Interlock Power Luxtreme Wonderunder

Loving my Interlock Power Luxtreme Wonderunder Crops!

 

     I am in LOVE with this new fabric Lululemon has come out with! It is called Interlock Power Luxtreme. It looks great, it performs, and it feels amazing on.  I get very hot and sweaty when I am practicing yoga and I don't like the feeling of wet clothes on my skin.  These pants are super quick drying and are inherently moisture wicking, which means they will always wick away moisture they were not treated with anything.
    Another amazing feature is that they are not see through in anyway! This is huge for me I would be mortified as a teacher to bend over in front of an entire class with see through pants.  I am confident when I wear them that I can do any posture and no one will be seeing anything they shouldn't.
     For now they are only coming in black. I am hoping they will be coming out with other colors soon in this amazing fabric! Thank you Lululemon!

Lesson Two From The Mat to Our Lives: Letting Go

   

       Aparigraha or non-grasping is one of the five Yamas, which are part of the eight limb path of yoga.  Aparigraha teaches us not to take more than what we need and not to hold onto things.  It teaches us our attachments and grasping on to things in our lives is a great generator of our own suffering.
     We become so attached to sensations, to people, to objects, and to outcomes when we lose or don't attain these things we react negatively.  These negative reactions we have then cause us to suffer.  In yoga we learn and practice how to let go, how to not grasp, and how to not take more than we need.
      Letting go our of desire for control, our desire for material possessions we don't need, and letting go of relationships that don't serve us.  Letting go our our judgements, fears, anger, blame, expectations and so much more.  It is truly amazing what happens when bring the practice of Aparigraha into our lives and let go.
     One of the things I have been working on letting go of is my need to feel in control and plan my future.  I am practicing living in the present moment and trying to do my best right now.  I don't have to worry about the future because what I am doing now will lead me down the right path to where I am suppose to be.
     What have you let go of and how has it made a difference in your life?

Lesson One From The Mat to Our Lives: Breathe

 

      Practicing yoga has taught me how to truly breathe. Sure breathing is something we all do all the time but often we forget to breathe or we hold our breath.  We forget to breathe when life gets difficult. When we are holding a difficult pose, when we are nervous, anxious, or afraid.
      My practice has taught me how to breathe in life's difficult circumstances. Breathing on my mat while holding a challenging pose helps me breather better off of my mat and in life.  It has taught me how to be present in my body.
       I have learned that taking a few deep breaths will calm me down when I am feeling stressed or anxious.  It helps me to bring my attention inward. Focusing on my breath can slow my mind and help me feel centered when my mind is racing.  Don't we all want something to help slow our minds at times?  Practice yoga and practice breathing :)
   

Perfectionism and Yoga

Perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached. - Yoga Sutras

     Often we come to yoga with a destination or goal in mind.  We want to achieve or master a certain posture or postures.  We think that if we can get into an inversion or finally bind in another we will be doing yoga.  We become so attached to the final expression of the pose we miss the essence of yoga.  The goal of asana is not to push or stretch or bend our bodies into a position.  The asana practice is done to teach us to be present, to practice non judgement, and learn contentment.  

     If we become so attached to the final expression of a posture we are not being present.  We are often pushing our selves too hard.  So how do we find a balance?  We must let go of our attachments, we must be present in the postures, and we must learn to accept where we are in that moment.  Each day we come to our mats we are a little different than the day before.  Maybe our balance is better or worse than the previous day or maybe we are more stiff or more flexible.  We have to learn to trust we are exactly were we are meant to be.   knowing that with consistent practice we will grow and transform without being attached to any outcomes.  This is the practice of yoga. 

Why Yoga?

Why are so many people doing yoga?

     There are many benefits that come from the practice of yoga.  Everyone has their own reasons for coming to their mat.  I originally came to practice because of my job and needing to have a knowledge of what yoga is.  As my practice developed I came back to my mat to relieve pain in my body and de-stress and let go.  My time on the mat was for me and me only.
     As my practice has grown and evolved so have the reasons I come to the mat.  I come for peace, I come for stillness, I come for joy, I come for release, I come for energy, I come for strength.  I come to the mat because it makes me a better person.
     What brings you to your mat?

The Flexibility Myth

    We seem to have this idea that in order to do yoga we must be flexible.  This simply is not true.  Flexibility comes as a result of doing yoga for those who were not flexible at the start of their yoga practice.
     I came to yoga very stiff and tight.  I could not even touch my toes! Gradually and with practice I gained flexibility.  I may never be able to touch my foot to the top of my head or sit in full lotus but it doesn't make me any less of a yogi.
      Be patient with yourself, be kind to yourself, and be content with where you are in your practice.  Everyone has a different body and everyones practice will look a little bit different.  Don't be afraid to start because you are not flexible.  Just keep practicing and it will come.