Body Image Awareness Seminars “Reshaping your mind, not your body!” Aly Bailey, PhD Candidate aly.bailey@brocku.ca BIAS Website: exerciseandbodyimagelab.com

Agenda: Seminar 2 Topic: Introduction to positive body image Take home task: Opportunity to share What you learned last seminar Cameron Russell TED talks Myths and truths game Presentation: Positive body image Gratitude activity: With opportunity to share

What did you learn last seminar? Take home task What did you learn last seminar?

“Looks aren’t everything, trust me I’m a model” -Cameron Russell Video discussion “Looks aren’t everything, trust me I’m a model” -Cameron Russell

Myths and Truths Game Everyone will get a paddle labeled “myth” and “truth” on either side Everyone will be presented with a statement Turn your paddle to “truth” if you think the statement is true Turn your paddle to “myth” if you think the statement is false

Myths and Truths TRUTH MYTH

Myths and Truths Body image is negative, only those with negative body image have a body image MYTH!

Myths and Truths Everyone has a body image and it can range from negative, neutral, & positive TRUTH!

Myths and Truths Body image includes your appearance, health, function, and strength of the body TRUTH!

Body image is the same as self-esteem Myths and Truths Body image is the same as self-esteem MYTH!

Body image is related to self-esteem but they are not synonymous Myths and Truths Body image is related to self-esteem but they are not synonymous TRUTH! The difference is that self-esteem is more global including one’s own worth and abilities or capabilities (intelligence, how you come across to people, confidence). Body image is thoughts, feelings, and behaviours about the body (appearance and function). These constructs are related: for example a low self-esteem is typically related to a negative body image

Body image is what others think about our bodies Myths and Truths Body image is what others think about our bodies MYTH!

Myths and Truths Body image is our own thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and behaviours towards our bodies TRUTH!

Anyone with any body type can have a positive body image Myths and Truths Anyone with any body type can have a positive body image TRUTH!

Body image is only applicable to women Myths and Truths Body image is only applicable to women MYTH!

Myths and Truths Everyone has a body image including men, people with disability, of any race, culture, or geographical region TRUTH!

Reducing negative body image results in having positive body image Myths and Truths Reducing negative body image results in having positive body image MYTH!

Myths and Truths Reducing negative body image results in having neutral states of body image TRUTH!

Myths and Truths You can be dissatisfied with some aspects of your body and still have a positive body image TRUTH!

Myth and Truths

Positive Body Image Overall love, respect, & appreciation for the body You can be dissatisfied but also have positive body image Self-worth is NOT your appearance Celebrate EveryBODY

Positive Body Image Core Features of Positive Body Image Body Appreciation Body Acceptance & Love Broad Conceptualization of Beauty Inner positivity Filtering Information

Positive Body Image Characteristics that Promote or Maintain Positive Body Image  Unconditional acceptance by others Media literacy Spirituality

Positive Body Image Characteristics that Emerge from Having a Positive Body Image Confidence & prosocial behaviour Self-care Befriending others with a positive body image Processes of Positive Body Image Reciprocity Protective filtering Fluidity Reciprocity = outside factors that are out of our control can influence our body image (e.g., friends, culture, biology) AND internal factors that we do have control over (e.g., our reactions, how we cope, how we influence others) can also influence our body image Protective filtering = Incoming negative information rejected or reframed; incoming positive information internalized and accepted

Positive Body Image Culture Geographical location Age Ability Acceptance Appreciation & gratitude Broad concept of beauty Social support Function focus Some unique qualities or differences across ethnicities, abilities, & genders More similarities than differences in positive body image Share information about positive body image and spinal cord injury – Masters study provided as additional reading

Master’s Research Participants Nine people with spinal cord injury Range in ability (paraplegia & tetraplegia) Method Interviewed about their body image experiences Both positive & negative experiences found

Master’s Research Body Acceptance & Love Coming to terms with their body Accepting the function they have Focusing on body assets not perceived flaws “I think confidence, to rebuild that confidence, umm, and just a lot of it is acceptance, this is the way I am now and I accept that.” “…accepting your body for what it is” “…focus on your abilities and not your disabilities…”

Master’s Research Body Appreciation & Gratitude Learning to appreciate the function they have Not take anything for granted (e.g., level of independence) “I appreciate the fact that I am not worse than I am and like I said before I have all the movement that I have now…” “…I try to be grateful for what I have because it could be worse…”

Take Home Task #1 Write down 5 things you appreciate & are grateful for about your body

Take Home Task #2 Write down as many positive things about your body as you can. Goal: 10 We will return to this in seminar 6

“I choose this body just as it is.” ― Kimber Simpkins Body Image Awareness Seminars “I choose this body just as it is.”  ― Kimber Simpkins Author and yoga enthusiast