How Do You Embrace & Celebrate Your Body?
[ 2 March 2010 ]
Last Wednesday, I sent out a little Twitter broadcast.
& here’s what came back.
@Susantrax dancing in my underwear
@thelinus belly dancing! it makes me like my stomach, makes me feel sexy and healthy!
@juliettemaxwell I kiss my shoulder without noticing, as if to say Thanks, love ya.
@posbleak Spend some time marveling at the things it can do and how the smallest changes can improve those abilities! Also, reading about how our biochemistry acts on our feelings – it’s eye-opening and creates new self-awareness.
@CMYKaboom I celebrate my body by reminding myself that throughout the history of existence, no creature has existed that embodies my form
@shessomickey By looking at F*ckYeahChubbyGirls on Tumblr! & dressing in beautiful clothing that fits & pleases me. I dress to feel beautiful. Being beautiful comes naturally after that. Also stretching and yoga. I love feeling good in my body, limber and vigorous and powerful. Stretching in the morning =
@luismuybien Though I’m thin and not the muscular type, I’ve learned to just focus on being healthy for now. I’ll eventually be fit.
@hachikoxbb wearing things that accentuate my favorite body parts, letting myself have adequate rest, lots of “self-love”, & yoga! xo : )
@raachyyy by wearing dresses every day, theyre so much nicer than jeans, they’re so much girlier and allow me to feel good about myself
@staygo1dkid Cute dresses! High heels! Colored tights! Nothing is better than a dress that fits perfectly with high heels to accent it.
@dollypink I’m a burlesque performer and I celebrate my body by shimmying my boobs!
@kitty_polaca i used to do belly dance to learn to LOVE my body & really helped me. i praise this lil temple of mine :) #radicalselflove
@British_Style By wearing things I like, not things people say I should like, and by just walking round my room in heels when I feel down :)
@lydiahudgens i feed it well, exercise on the daily, embrace it with creams & masks & the occasional massage & celebrate it with clothes. i fashion photography because of i love celebrating the power of femininity, of the way the body moves.. each body is beautiful & photography allows you to bring out little separate details that truly celebrate the individual. PS: this quote (“We are becoming the men we wanted to marry”) is the realization of the modern feminist I think. superb.
@SugarKinesis I celebrate my body by trying to do the best I can for it, from exercise to eating right to pampering to sleeping well…. ...even though I’m not perfect at it, it then rewards me and shows appreciation by making me look and feel better. It’s the.. ...only one I have, so I want to treat it with respect! (sorry for the 3-part answer!)
@idance_iwrite idance! in class, in clubs, in my kitch. u get the picture.
@trendology w/ a stretch every morning, cupcakes, private clothing optional 90s dance parties, & toasts – cheers to my constant companion!
@asil I do yoga bcos it’s nice to know small differences my body can make each day. Every practice is just like “a date” with my body
@denoo ...how do i em&cel my bod? by loving the fact that im woman: soft, delicious, supple, delish, warm & flawed… you can never celebrate another persons body unless you can celebrate yours first… but honestly why do i have to go an extra step to em&cel me? i love my yellow teeth, my bad skin, my flat bum, my hair. i’m me #radicalselflove
@ErinKys No longer being afraid of wearing clothes I love despite media telling us fatties aren’t ‘deserving’ of great fashion!
@flowermash I go some days w/o makeup to remain comfortable in my own skin. I dress in a way that flatters & inspires me. others: Emphasize specifically what I adore about them. Compliments are so life giving! #radicalselflove
@jujutreasures I think that art and photography are great ways to celebrate and appreciate other people’s bodies (as well as your own)
@glassofwin I embrace & celebrate my body by respecting it & not poisoning it with toxic foods/chemicals & staying as healthy as I can
@alihalsaba I embrace & celebrate my body through dance… every class I take I am amazed at the things it can do!
@hachikoxbb wearing things that accentuate my favorite body parts, adequate rest, lots of “self-love”, & yoga! xo : ) #radicalselflove
@katelanfoisy My body is a map of those who came before me. Every freckle, scar or bump was a hand me down from the past. The way I hold a cup or touch my cheek as I am laughing are traits passed down from my ancestors. That’s how I embrace and celebrate mine.
@colene1985 I celebrate my own by trying on my whole wardrobe when I’m not going anywhere!!! ...
@Ellie_Di Strangely enough, I feel most in love with my body when I’m nekkid. Everything where it should be; just me as I am.
@blferguson134 I used to hate the way I looked, but thankfully, I have a great friend who helped me learn to accept my body. I love it now!
@konekochan88 I celebrate my body by what I put on it. Love clothing and piercings! #radicalselflove
@Emilybakescakes Wearing (only) sexy underwear around the house even when no one else can see me. #radicalselflove
@url_elf I don’t dress from insecurity. We don’t have to wear certain things to look thin to be acceptable or confident. I embrace others for who they are, not how they look. I don’t deride ppl for having a look different than mine #radicalselflove
@LadyMonstrous #radicalselflove I celebrate my body w/ martial arts kata and stretching. Nothing like consciously using it to feel its value!
@astrasmagic I look at Goddess symbols & remind myself that my own religion sees pear-shaped women as divine
@alorelle I embrace my body by loving it. I masturbate, I use Lush products, I stare at myself in the mirror like Narcissus. No shame
@seakisst I like to wear fabulously sexy lingerie under my everyday clothes, provide my body with healthy, tasty food and sleep!
“Outward beauty is an easy thing to become obsessed with in our society. I haven’t always had an inner confidence. I haven’t always looked at my reflection & loved it, because there was always something I wanted to fix, because someone always looked better. This journey was about finding something that was beautiful inside of me & knowing that I own it. & it’s unique & rare.” — Jessica Simpson
“I think sometimes what happens is that all of this feeling out of control manifests itself in trying to control your body; whether it’s an eating disorder or talking about getting your nose fixed, as if that’s going to be the solution to all the pressure.” — Susan Sarandon
So, tell us! How do you celebrate & embrace your body? What’s your favourite way to get down with your own divine deliciousness?
Love & love & love,
Tags: how to,
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the playgirls guide to radical self love Follow me on Twitter! Listen to my latest podcast! Love & Sequins 9: Manifesting & magic-making!
I try to treat my body well by eating good healthy foods and working up a sweat! But I also love to relax and laze around watching old movies while wearing pretty pajamas :)
Lots of fish & rice, 3 boot camp sessions per week & a cupcake one day a week!
Fall in love with your flaws – wrinkles tell stories, scars are battle wounds, tattoos are temples.
This is unique and the answers are all insightful and inspiring. Love it!
I think loving my body and myself are interconnected as one; I’ve tried to look at the positive and sometimes think that maybe, maybe, I’m beautiful. :)
I dance. I do neo-burlesque (think Pussycat Dolls or Britney more than Dita Von Teese) so its very feminine, sensual and sassy. Its all about boobs and bum, so being a curvy girl is a good thing :)
I spend as much time as I can outside, and also sleep whenever possible.
I eat well, take vitamins, ride my pink bike everywhere I can in whatever I want to wear: tights, skirts, leg warmers, boots, furry coat, earmuffs etc..It’s a good workout. I think of a my body as an amazing machine here to experience life and do things not just to be a perfect barbie you put on shelf though I do love barbies after I remake them!
I look in the mirror and tell myself that I’m pretty smoking hot… and it’s awesome. :) And I sincerely take the compliments my boyfriend gives me, because he’s (sometimes painfully) honest and I know that it isn’t just fluff coming out of his mouth.
Body modification! Tattoos, piercings, scarification, even ritual modification like suspension. I love my body by testing it’s limits and marveling at the results, by marking it for the people and places and memories I love.
[@juliettemaxwell I kiss my shoulder without noticing, as if to say Thanks, love ya.]
I do that all the time!! (oh gosh, we are never “the only one”, are we?). It’s not even a “decision”, it just happens, and sometimes people look at me like “ok, what are you doing?”. I say “I kiss myself, I like to kiss and be kissed so… why not?”. It’s comforting and it’s like an “it’s ok honey, I love you” to myself.
I celebrate my body by embracing my personal diversity!
laugh
There are lots of women inside me, and I flout conventional wisdom that tells me I need to choose a single one to represent the myriad women I live with. Hippie, punk, goth, fashionista, country club, corporate drone, pr0n maven, earth mother, indie goddess. Why should only one get to come play?
I’ve been trying, to love myself. But I don’t at the moment. At all. And I can’t snap out of it.
I like to go to boxing class and eat the foods that make me happy! It’s fun to feel like you just kicked some ass and then go get something delish!!!
And I like thinking of the awesome outfits I’m going to make when I get money for new clothes. Always makes me smile inside and out!
@ juliettemaxwell & magnetic mary
ahhh! darlings! i do that too! xx
dancing, make an effort when dressing myself in the morning, wearing skirts and dresses and cute accessoiries, eating fruits and veggies, watching my naked body, using LUSH products every day, laugh and smile, indulge in everything I like!
My favorite way to celebrate my body is to give it some steamy lovins. Masturbating in the shower is my daily indulgence. I get to see my naked form in front of the mirror when I get in & out of the shower. My skin & hair get nourished in the bathing part of my shower & my mind & soul & sexual appetite get fed during the remainder.
I love walking around naked! And even though I’m part of a generation that puts a lot of pressure on appearance, I don’t feel the need to get dressed up and wear makeup every day. I’m perfectly comfortable going to the grocery store in a robe and slippers :) I love my body no matter how it’s dressed up!
I hold my boobs alot. I fall asleep cuddling myself, with my hands on my boobies :)
Celebrate your body by treating it like the precious thing it is. Feed it well, adorn it beautifully, and push it to its fullest, strongest, BEST however you can!
I love to workout and feed my body with good food that is very healthy, self respect is important.
I honor my body by performing beauty spells & rituals…
queercat.webs.com/apps/blog/sh…
I shift from words to silence. I have learned to listen to my heart, know and love myself.
I celebrate my body by eating the foods that make me happy (taste wise and internally) and by having a work out that makes me happy (hula hooping and dance dvds).
By doing kung fu, having sex, wearing clothes that make me feel sexy and putting flowers in my hair.
When its warm, wearing the teeny, tiniest things I can get away with. And also, covering myself with tattoos I love(even if no one else agrees).
I haaaaate being off topic but I was wondering if you’ve announced who won that pack from Jimmyjane? I swear I’ve looked all over but I haven’t found an announcement or anything. :x
Ohhhh but I do love this post.
I celebrated myself by stripping naked with 5000 other Sydneysiders out the front of the Sydney Opera House on Monday morning! We were posing for photographer Spencer Tunick. Everyone there was so beautiful, inside and out. Check out the footage:
www.smh.com.au/national/thousa…
If he comes to your town, I highly recommend participating! It was an amazing buzz.
Storm — Hey sweetie! The winner was Shannon, I posted about it at the end of the Empty Bellies piece. Sorry it wasn’t you, booooo! xo
Dancing arount the flat in my underwear, posing in front of the mirror or dressing up and taking fabulous pictures!
Appreciating my metabolism and shape while it lasts!! I’m nineteen and I love my body. I wear clothes that decorate me well and look at my reflection as much as possible. I feed my body on the yummiest, healthiest foods I can find and try to pay attention to when it tells me it needs exercise, rest, or more mindful nourishment. And if some blissful opportunity presents itself (someone’s huge leftover half of a chocolate layer cake), I take advantage of it without shame (cake, Earl Grey, and Sex and the City for a long breakfast in bed). Life is great =)
-I shimmy and shake my booty to music 24/7
-dancing around in cutest thongs and lacy underthings in front of the mirror
-wearing glitter on my eyelids any day of the week
-push up bras to hold the ladies
-hula hooping until I smile
-walking and walking and walking in the city
-sisqo “thong song” nuff said
-dying my hair bright red
-wearing red
-wearing convers …I strut my stuff in those shoes
-wearing clothing that is bright pushes boundaries and raps itslef around me with love
-smiling mysteriously at strangers
-watching sunsets and taking time to appreciate the people and the world’s beauty
tatiana & magnetic mary – Yay for kissing ourselves n_n.
I also, eat pink stuff, exercise, hydrate and dance around like crazy. Among oother stuff that has already been mentioned here n_n.
Being comfortable is key for me.
But I’m pretty much comfortable in everything :)
Pilates makes me feel great.
Or first thing in the morning, looking at myself naked in the mirror. Hey sexayy ;D
Trying to eat 50/50. (good/bad)
Getting real air! And sun!
Long hot showers.
Masturbating, and sex with my boyfriend.
Drinking lots of water.
Running when it’s warmer.
Smiling for no reason but to make myself feel better.
:)
Putting on some powerful music and dancing around in my underwear, and also, wearing red lipstick every single day.
I straighten my hair and put shimmer powder in it. That always gives me a pick-me-up! :)
I like to use nice bath products. Right now I have a sugar body scrub that I love. Then I sit on my bed naked while I rub lotion all over my body and talk to my cat about my day. (I hope that doesn’t sound weird) I try to do this at least once a week. It’s like a little in home spa night for myself, and I feel fantastic when I’m done.
vitamins & antioxidants for my organs
running & dancing for my lungs & muscles (current dance song: good life by one republic)
reading for my brain
helping others for my heart.
I’m a speed skater, so I work towards making my body stronger everyday and it makes me feel SO good. I’m loving my body. But the one part of my body, myself as a whole, that I’m working on embracing is my stutter. Stuttering sucks. It truly sucks. But I have to remember I’m not alone and it doesn’t define me as a person.
Plus, James Earl Jones is a stutterer and he is epic. :)
Spending time with my girlfriends-each of us enjoying how gorgeous we all look.
Exercising- I feel so amazing using my body, fully inhabiting my body in motion- for me exercising is a celebration of all that my body is capable of and it feels so good, I love feeling myself growing stronger and more able- I dream I can transcend all earthly bounds and take off flying.
Dancing- both in front of the mirror, when I’m alone, showing myself just how sexy I can be and with others. I spend a good portion of my time dancing argentine tango , which in many ways is about perfecting the way you move, but in that disciplined movement and the connection you learn to develop with your partner, comes great freedom- dancing tango has become my favorite way to meditate. Also, because tango is entirely improvisational, you have to really slow down and listen to your own body as well as your partners body, and they have to listen to yours- and you both make art out of that connection.
Skinny dipping, and otherwise running about naked or in minimal clothing- for my birthday this year, I want to run naked through the woods with war paint on and feathers in my hair. One of my best friends already said she wants to go with me.
Giving myself amazing powerful orgasms- and playing sexually with people who love and care about my body and about the rest of me as well.
And- clothes and makeup- I like wearing clothes and makeup that are fun, bright colors and things that are a little out there, but still pretty- it makes me smile when I look in the mirror and my friends tell me it inspires them to be more playful with their own dress and makeup.
And… a million other things. I could go on for ages!
*karaeke dance parties in my pj’s *yogaaaaaaa *pretty knickers *recently: green smoothies *wearing clothes that make me feel stunning :)
Cycling instead of taking a bus (and smiling while doing it) something about the determination does a mind (and body) good!
I make lists of every little piece of me that I inherited from someone else: my mother’s nose, my father’s feet, my grandmother’s hair, etc.
I’ve been taking nude self portraits for a while now…this year however, I started posing nude for art classes! It’s so liberating! I’m not 100% happy with my body, but this kinda forces me to accept it, because people don’t care if my thighs are wobbly!
And when I’m not running around naked, I love wearing skirts and dresses, and pretty underthings. This year I’m really starting to embrace myself in a way I never have before!
Edumacation. I love learning about my body! I was thinking about eating raw but I did some research and found that by cooking food you change the molecular structure to release more glucose giving us significantly more energy; cooking was a really important part of our evolution and scientists believe the extra energy we got from cooked food was put to use developing our brains. WOW. We are so complicated and interesting!
I don’t know… I guess I never did… thank you all for all your inspirations!
It’s definately something I should start to do!
Paying attention to what it can do, how it is beautiful and how I feel when I’m doing things I love. Remembering to embrace the sensual, not be afraid of it.
Off the subject slightly but I’ve been watching Sex & The City Season 3 Episode 3 and it was all about Radical Self Love! Thank you for this Gala… bringing these issues to our attention keeps our minds clicking long after we’ve clicked off your page.
I eat lots of home cooked food and I love that I’m not skinny anymore.
And I always write “I love you” in the fog on the inside of the shower door. Makes me smile every morning! :)
i paint my body with paint and press myself on paper (like in better than chocolate) so my body truly is a work of art
I love to watch myself do yoga in the mirror. Its fascinating to see how our bodies bend and flex.
I appreciate my body by posing in front of the mirror like a pin up naked before I get in the shower.
And I give my body all the chocolate and ice cream it wants!
Guys, I love you so much! Gala as well as the amazing community around this blog – there are so many fabulous things here and I’ll sure try some of these things. And the fact that you celebrate your body is already sooo awesome!
And I really love that you, Gala, respond to the comments and when I got your answer to my e-mail, I felt so good because of the way you spoke to me. Keep on going, girl!
I really love decorating my body via art/design/adornments, whether that be tattoos, makeup, tshirts of my favourite bands or with awesome designs, jewelry, body paint, brightly coloured hair. It’s so fun and such an awesome canvas to decorate!
I love this series of articles Miss Gala!
Oh gosh, what don’t I do??? I love my body! I figure (pun intended) it’s the only body I’m ever going to have and I love her power and mystery and grace and ability and sensuality.
I celebrate my body with dance, I dance flamenco, I love the passion of flamenco… I love the rhythmic power of playing Taiko, I feel raw, tribal, spiritual… I love boxing for the focus and grace it gives me…the thrill of speed from water and snow skiing makes me so grateful that my body can do that….
I love Bikram yoga for how it kills me during and revives me after… I masturbate because I love knowing my body…I make love because I love my body…I make (non piercing) body jewelry to wear on my nipples, around my waist because I love how wanton this makes me feel… oh wow… I too could go on and on and on…
I am 40 and I wear rose coloured glasses when I look at myself naked because my body is my best friend. She lets me do what I want to be.