Move with Gratitude : Celebrating Our bodies NOT punishing them.

"We move our bodies not as a form of punishment or to coerce it to meet fleeting desires, but as a way to express gratitude for the incredible things it can achieve".

During a recent Saturday morning Yoga class I was leading at the Andaz, a poignant quote suddenly emerged within me, evoking a sense of overwhelming positivity. I cherish the practice of beginning and ending my classes by inviting a connection between the mind and heart. In today's fast-paced world, granting ourselves the gift of presence is a rare occurrence, yet it remains a crucial part of establishing connections within ourselves, others, and with the world around us. Teaching among the serene beauty of Maui to grateful guests, surrounded by nature's beauty, has been a privilege I deeply cherish. The experience of teaching outdoors has been so deepening that the thought of returning to a studio setting seems unlikely. Each session serves as a poignant reminder of the care my body provides me and emphasizes the importance of reciprocating that care.

As a member of the elder millennial generation, I recall my upbringing being influenced by publications such as Teen Magazine, Cosmo, and Victoria's Secret. These sources often emphasized the importance of conforming to societal standards of attractiveness in order to attract the right partner and achieve a desired body image (as if that's what our sole purpose was as women). I found it challenging to witness the portrayal of women as constantly shrinking in size, and I can only imagine the difficulties faced by today's young women and men. The overarching message seemed to suggest that one could never measure up, promoting the idea of starving oneself and conforming to external expectations. This narrative has unfortunately intensified with the rise of social media, where filtered images perpetuate a homogenized ideal of beauty.

Our self-perception, internal dialogue, and attitudes towards various aspects of life such as food and money are heavily influenced by our family upbringing. In my case, my mother's French background, known for its perceived snobbish and judgmental tendencies, played a significant role in shaping my mindset. While my mother, a former ballerina, rarely criticized herself, I observed her frequent critiques of others based on their appearance and other superficial attributes. This behavior stemmed from deep-rooted insecurities, likely passed down from my grandmother, who I consider one of the most mentally unwell individuals I've encountered. My father a country boy from Nebraska was no better. He played football his whole life all the way through college. I never felt safe with my father, and there were many instances where I felt uncomfortable around him; (he was highly abusive physically) and when he made comments about my body they were never positive. I imagine he likely received a lot of the same messaging, feeling like he never amounted to much. The concept of generational trauma has become increasingly evident, with societal norms reinforcing judgmental attitudes that I absorbed both out in the world and within my own home. As a consequence, I internalized these behaviors, concealing my profound insecurities about my very skeletal physique, pale complexion, and unique fashion sense influenced by a clash of cultures.

It took me many years to recognize the very negativel impact of my self-destructive behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol abuse, excessive exercise, constant comparisons, reliance on diet pills and slimming products, contemplation of cosmetic surgery, and engaging in relationships that reflected my lack of self-worth. This lifestyle led to chronic illness (both physically and mentally) until the pivotal moment of becoming a mother, which made me appreciate the resilience and importance of my body. Despite a history of neglect and mistreatment, my body endured all the harm I inflicted upon it. It is a common realization that we often fail to appreciate the value of our health and well-being until faced with its deterioration, which leads us to have a profound reflection on our attitudes and actions towards ourselves and everything around us.

It is my belief that we encompass more than just our physical bodies (we are so much more); nevertheless, our bodies serve as the vessel through which we engage with the experiences of this one life. From the positive to the negative, and all the nuances in between. I contemplate the exquisite sensation of breathing in the warm, salty air of Maui, or the brisk winter air of Utah, the taste of delicious water where your mouth feels wet (have you experienced this?), and eating a dark chocolate lava cake with vanilla bean ice cream. I reflect on the profound satisfaction derived from embracing loved ones to the extent that I can sense it resonating within my very cells (I assure you). The indescribable emotion that arises when expressing love to someone dear by uttering the words, "I love you", leads me to consider that all of these moments are made possible by my body and the countless cells that define its essence and functions. No amount of gratitude expressed could adequately express the depth of appreciation I hold for it.

And so I leave you with this. The next time you walk by your mirror as you are rushing off to work, or to spend time with friends, to run and errand; consider pausing for a minute and taking a long soft look at yourself; really look at yourself..and if you want you can repeat these sentences and affirmations that I live by.

I trust my body and my body trusts me

I love my body and my body loves me

I respect my body and my body respects me

I take care of my body and my body takes care of me.

Then hug yourself lovingly and say I love you.

Until next time my fellow friends, nurture your mind and body well.

Adele