1. Body Image Awareness Seminars
“Reshaping your mind, not your body!”
Aly Bailey, PhD Candidate
BIAS Website: exerciseandbodyimagelab.com

2. 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

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

4. “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

5. 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

6. Myths and Truths
TRUTH
MYTH

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

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

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

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

11. 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

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

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

14. 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!

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

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

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

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

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

20. Myth and Truths

21. 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

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

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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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…”

28. 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…”

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

30. 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

31. “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