Body-appreciation is such a juicy concept to wrap your mind around because it takes you out of the duality of…
I HATE my body
or
I LOVE my body
It also has the potential of shifting you out of the “my body is a never-ending project” mindset.
Body-appreciation is an idea that can help us dive into a more nuanced and helpful conversation and relationship with our body.
Let’s start with: what exactly is BODY-APPRECIATION…
Tracy L. Tylka, author of the Body-Appreciation Assessment describes it as:
“holding favorable opinions toward the body regardless of its appearance, accepting the body along with its deviations from societal beauty ideals, respecting the body by attending to its needs and engaging in healthy behaviors, and protecting the body by rejecting unrealistic media appearance ideals.”
Let’s unpack that!
Here’s what we’ve got…
FAVORABLE opinion toward our body….
- Regardless of appearance
- Even if it doesn’t fit into the societal ideal
RESPECT our body by…
- Listening to what it needs
- Taking action to support our health
PROTECT our body by…
- Setting boundaries that keep out the toxic messages that we are being fed by our diet-culture and media ideals.
Now, what’s very interesting (and I think very cool!) about this definition is that it goes well beyond body-appreciation being something we are only allowed IF – and only IF – our body conforms to the ideals we have in our head. (Losing the weight, getting into perfect shape, fitting into the jeans)
Body appreciation is about cultivating a positive, respectful and responsive relationship with our body.
Knowing where you stand with body-appreciation is important because according to Tracy L. Tylka’s research, there are some powerful implications to having high or low body-appreciation.
A high-level of body-appreciation is related to:
- psychological well-being
- body-esteem
- intuitive eating
- women’s sexual functioning
- physical activity
And
A low body-appreciation is related to:
- body-shame
- body-dissatisfaction
- social-physique anxiety (concern about what other people think of your appearance)
- body-checking (of self and others)
- eating disorders
- maladaptive perfectionism
Clearly, your level of body-appreciation is important!
Now, you may think…
“Oh, I can totally predict my level (or lack) of body-appreciation”
But the questions in the body-appreciation assessment is really worth exploring because they get into the nuances of how you treat your body and feel about it. And they point you in the direction of your personal path to feeling more body-love!
It’s a more powerful experience to be guided through this experience than to just do it on your own, so I’m inviting you to a Facebook Live on Wednesday, Jan 10th 2018 at 9pm Eastern time for this exploration and assessment.
You can join me right here.
My intention in exploring what Body-Appreciation is and why it’s so important is to invite you into a more real and positive connection with your body!
If you’d like more support in feeling at Ease in Your Body, you can pick up your free HOW TO BE A WOMAN AT EASE IN YOUR BODY right here and schedule a get-acquainted call with me right here.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nina Manolson, MA, NBC-HWC, board certified Health Coach and Psychology of Eating Coach believes that every woman deserves to feel good in her own body. She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can love their body and life! She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and NourishedWomanNation.com
She helps busy women look and feel their best. She specializes in working with women over 40 who have tried other diets and approaches but are still struggling with their body and food.
She’s the creator of the BODY-LOVE MAP and the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
To get your F.R.E.E. ebook: HOW TO BE A WOMAN AT EASE IN YOUR BODY click here.
Nina Manolson, MA, is the founder of Body-Peace®.She helps women end the war with food and body and finally feel truly at home in their body—as it is.
She is known for her deeply feminist, anti-diet, body-peace® approach. She brings her 30 years of experience as a therapist, Body-Trust® Guide and Psychology of Eating Teacher to helping women create a respectful and trusting relationship with their food and body.
Nina’s Body-Peace® work is all in service of helping people get off the diet roller-coaster, and into a compassionate and powerful way of eating & living which creates a positive long-lasting change in and with their bodies. Her courses, coaching, poems and Body-Peace APP positively change the conversation that women are having with their body.
Start your Body-Peace® journey with this free masterclass that will help you understand and shift your relationship with your body.
