Naked Awakening
Sex and relationship coach Rosie Rees is also the founder of Naked Awakening, an Australia-wide network of naked yoga classes for women.
Interview by Mark Hamilton…
When it comes to body image and issues, are women sometimes our own worst enemies?
If you are serious about reclaiming your power and discovering true self-acceptance, I cannot recommend naked yoga highly enough: it’s an amazing way to be vulnerable, step out of your comfort zone, and work toward transforming and rewiring your inner-thought processes and how you view your body.
But before joining my classes, many women have begun with a little self-analysis in the form of a body-positive journal.
Writing is a powerful tool for boosting your confidence, connecting with yourself, self-discovery and improving your body image. And by addressing these questions, you can get to the root of the expectations society has pushed on you and begin to break free of them.
· What is your first memory of disliking your body?
· Who was the first person to say something negative about your body?
· How did it make you feel?
· How old were you?
Society, social media and beauty standards have an immense impact on women and how they view themselves. And often, it is a negative impact that ends up holding women back and leading them to question their worth.
Are these standards preventing you from loving yourself as you are? I know what it feels like and have been through my journey from self-loathing to self-acceptance. And I can tell you first-hand how liberating it is to leave all of it behind.
Challenge
I challenge you to work toward throwing away these impossible standards set by modern-day culture. I can promise you the work is worth it.
Imagine how your life would change if you completely accepted your body. Felt proud of your body. Appreciated all the parts of your body. Made peace with your body.
Do you feel like certain parts of your body need to be changed before you can love yourself and be happy?
No. Turn the question on its head. Make a list instead of the things you love about yourself. And if you think this sounds challenging, you are right. But I don’t care if it takes you a day or an entire week - you can do it. Whether it is the shape of your eyes, your ability to conquer whatever you put your mind to, or what a good friend you are, think about all the things you love most about yourself.
Next, make a timeline of everything your body has ever been through during your life. Now take some time to look at everything your body has accomplished and endured! Using your timeline, make a ‘body gratitude list’ that breaks down everything your body has allowed you to do or accomplish.
Another excellent journal exercise for body positivity is writing a letter to your younger self (or perhaps your daughter or granddaughter). What do you wish you could tell her about body image? What would you explain to her about society’s harsh beliefs and unattainable beauty standards? What advice would you give her?
As you look at your journaling, ask yourself what is holding you back from loving yourself just as you are in this moment.
Finally, I want you to add daily affirmations to your self-love practice. Whether you say them out loud several times to yourself in the mirror throughout the day or write them in your journal, practice these affirmations on your own. It may feel silly at first, but this is a powerful way to start re-thinking the way you think: I am beautiful. I am empowered. I am smart. I am worthy. I love my body exactly as it is now.
Rosie Rees is a sex and relationship coach. She is also the founder of Naked Awakening (www.nakedawakening.com.au), an Australia-wide network of naked yoga classes for women, created after she observed a lack of safe spaces where women could get naked and not be objectified or sexualised, helping them to feel more accepting of their bodies.
