Releasing Body Shaming
She sat there taking in the radiant sunbeams, soaking in every last ray upon her chest before the sun set on the first day of 2015. The concepts of a New Year and its resolutions were non-existent, so she wasn’t genuflecting to the next 364 days ahead of her. She was just there, present to the sensations of her body gilded by the setting sun. Yes, fully present she was in her beautiful bold black body on a rock.
As I stood on the Malibu shore looking out at this glorious being of nature on 2015’s first day, I was reminded of the power of our inner voice that can stand alone with valor. Alongside the negative thoughts of hating one’s body, dieting, and comparing one’s appearance and life to others is an inner voice that can lead us to follow a life of true balance and well-being. We can have a loving dynamic with food and move through space (aka exercise) from a joyous, intuitive place.
By deeply listening to the body’s signals of hunger and fullness and what foods/nutrients are calling to us, we come closer to hearing the tones of the body’s fine tuning. Through breathing/stretching/moving mindfully, we can bring the body’s alignment, organs, and systems back into homeostasis. Believe that the body has biological intelligence far beyond what the mind can comprehend or control. Be the warrior, protecting the body from shame and allowing its intelligence to fully emerge and be seen.
How did our perceived value come down to meeting or not meeting a New Year’s resolution with a certain number on a scale or to looking like that image (probably photo shopped) in that magazine in order to be included in a supposed upper echelon?
Who tells us who we are? Well hopefully, it is our compassionate inner voice. She, the Sea Lion, has no body shaming mind or shaming society. She is who she is, allowing light to always come in. For us it’s a choice. What truth will you listen to? What voice will you speak from? Will you stand present on your own rock to allow the radiant sunbeams to come in…. harmonizing with the ones that radiate out from within you?
by Katie Grubiak, RDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Specializing in Eating Disorders Dancer/Yogi/Mover & Believer of a life most beautiful
Katie Grubiak is a Registered Dietitian with a focus on blending Western & Eastern philosophies regarding nutritional healing. In addition to nutritional counseling, Ms. Grubiak guides individuals through movement and breath techniques that open and warm the body and help with physical and emotional flexibility, strength, and self-acceptance/body image. For further information about her services, contact her at [email protected] or 213-249-2110. Katie can also be found at OPIliving.com and eatingdisordertherapyla.com
At Optimum Performance Institute and our OPI Intensive for young adult men and women with Borderline Personality Disorder, we’ve been living our mission of Turning Hopeless into Happiness for ten years. For more information on our residential and intensive outpatient (IOP Day Treatment) programs, call us at now 866-661-3982 or click HERE to submit an online form. We want to help and will be in touch promptly.