Why is it that we have to keep teaching about body shaming is bad?

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Thank you James for a wonderful rebuttal!

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Beautiful , full bodied yogi, I so respect Jessamyn!

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Amber is one of my teachers, so life affirming

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Resources for education regarding supporting Health at Any Size.  Click here!

Color me pissed. I was thinking that our society had moved toward compassion about people with different bodies and expression of the body.  Past judging due to body size and type. 

Then Bill Mahr thinks it's funny to bring shaming to late night .  An acquaintance posts that "this may hurt but it's the truth" with an obituary about someone who was morbidly obese passing.  Marketing for yoga that only highlights one body type. 

I am in the middle of reading " The Body Keeps the Score".  ( if you want to be more trauma informed, I highly recommend this book!)  In short, the studies have shown that the more that people who are overweight are shamed and judged, the worse the potential for depression.  The worse the depression, the more that the individual could potentially stop healthy behaviors and move back into coping skills that may not be as healthy. 

Let me say this clearly....

SHAMING HAS NEVER HELPED ANYONE. ( yelling intended)

I started My Real Bodyoga 16 years ago to create a place for people to love the body that they have, however they express themselves.  It has been amazing to watch my students walk into the studio, scared.  Then as they find their comfort and voice on the mat, years of shame drop off.  Smiles and self esteem rises, my students shine from the inside out.  ( I actually had a student tell me that she drove somewhere else to do yoga , turned around and came to my class because she just wanted to feel loved)   The goal is to build a foundation of self love and acceptance that my students can make any choice they want. Empowerment. 

I can't believe that after all of these years, I still need to step out and yell.  Body shaming will never, ever be ok.   

Please, the next time that you feel you need to be honest, don't.  You never really know what someone is going through.  Kindness must rule the day.   It just must. 

​May you be loved and blessed. 

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