Promoting Self-Love Year-Round
While NEDA week is long gone, here at FRC we believe that self-love should be more than just a weekly celebration. We sat down with our incredible instructors, KB and Kat, who shared their advice on how to normalize loving your body year-round.
How has movement inspired you in your life outside of fitness?
KB: Physically challenging myself in fitness has obviously brought infinite and ever-growing realizations to my life but one most recent is that listening and learning is arguably everything you need as an evolving human. Listen to people, mindfully listen to sounds, listen to the sights your eyes see, listen to your body. Do my lungs need to be reached today? Let’s go big! Is my body feeling achey and weird today? Let’s go gentle and for joy..... it works outside the room too! Watch: Does this situation/ place make me feel warm in my body or does it make me tense up and feel like ice? —listen!!!
What are some ways you have learned to love your body?
KB: It’s ever evolving, right? But right now, I see my body as a place that hosts my memories, legs that take me places, my hands that feel and touch, my eyes that see the world, my voice that changes the world...... etcetera. It’s all perfect just by existing. Some days it’s hard to remember and that’s only because, externally, I’m made to find ways to not think that way by the outside world. But the reality is (and I will continue to fight this fight) all bodies good. And have endless and unique capabilities.
What advice do you give your patients who struggle with body image?
Kat: Well, this is a loaded question for many reasons. One of those being that body image struggles aren’t always rooted in what aesthetically we see in the mirror. They can often be more tied to how we feel about the human that we see in the mirror. Also, as a therapist one thing I attempt to steer away from is advice. What I hope to offer those who come to me with body image struggles is an opportunity to shift their perspective and experience something different. I believe that our culture sells a pretty strong message that a certain type of body will then invite happiness and opportunity into our lives and in therapy, we can start to create a different narrative... this time based on the individual’s own beliefs. When someone starts to align more into a loving friendship with who they are, the relationship with what their body looks like starts to progress as well. And I have to say, it is a challenging process... but a very very cool process to be a part of.
What are some ways to combat negative thoughts about your body?
Kat: As cheesy as it may sound... affirmations. I am a believer in these things because THEY WORK. Body image work actually has a lot to do with changing the neural pathways in our brain. Think about how rivers are formed. The more and longer that water runs down a stream the deeper and wider and stronger a river will become. This is how our brains work too. Many of us have a very definitive way of thinking about ourselves that we have done for YEARS. Body image work is like creating a new river in our brains. So we need to run "water" (positive self-talk) down a stream to encourage it to become strong. The cool thing about being able to create new pathways is that when we do we don't end up needing the old ones. So, just like a river would dry up if the water supply was removed so do our icky thoughts and beliefs about ourselves! I like to recommend getting a journal that you only write kind things about yourself in. Either start or end (or both) your day by writing down 1-5 affirmations. Also, look yourself in the mirror once a day and say something kind to the person looking back.
What ways do you believe are most beneficial to combat negative self-talk when you find yourself slipping back into old unhealthy habits?
Kat: Number one always will be: Talking back to the negative voice. Humans tend to just let the mean inner critic inside their head run the show without realizing it doesn't have to be that way. Not everything we hear in our heads is true but if we don't start a dialogue with them there is no way to know that. I believe that our inner critics are created out of former versions of ourselves that were hurt. Their critique is often an attempt to keep us from getting hurt the same way again. The problem is that the inner critic aligns more with what or who hurt us in the past than with the truth. So simply put- talk back to the negative thoughts and as you do that find something that you want to believe. Say those things too. It will be uncomfy and weird AND it will also slowly but surely help you create a better relationship with yourself.
