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119: Body Image in Yoga: Community Conversations with Alison Heilig
We all deserve to feel good in our bodies, but when we have negative perceptions of how our body looks, feels, or functions that experience can seem impossible.
Today host Rachel talks with returning guest Alison Heilig about the sometimes sneaky ways body image manifests in yoga. In this episode we discuss how body image forms and the different ways negative body image can show up – including the perpetual optimization of health and demonization of the aging process. We also touch on implications for gender conformity and advocate normalizing diversity in ability and appearance in yoga classes. We share our tips on how yoga teachers can provide positive embodiment experiences, ensuring that body image isn’t what stops our students practicing.
Listen in as we talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of body image.
“The experience that we are having and the way that we are acting in the world and how much we enjoy our lives are really tied to how we feel about our bodies.” – Alison Heilig
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“Body image is a mental construct… It is perception, it’s thoughts and emotions.” – Alison Heilig
Show Notes:
- Defining body image, and why it matters more in yoga than you think [3:05]
- How does body image form [7:33]
- Personal experiences of poor body image [8:58}
- The added impacts of social media, photoshop, filters & AI [12:50]
- Body image challenges through life; perceptions of aging [14:39]
- The surprising ways poor body image can manifest [16:40]
- Orthorexia, perpetual optimization & the medicalization of body image [20:00]
- Implications in yoga [24:59]
- How yoga teachers can foster more positive body awareness [30:58]
- Tips on teaching groups [39:45]
- Advice for individuals & the slow journey to positive body image [53:33]
- The conversation continues: Fit Bottomed Girls [1:02:26]
- Final thoughts & key takeaways [1:08:04]
Links Mentioned:
- Watch this episode on YouTube
- Previous Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes:
- Yoga Journal articles:
- Yoga for Athletes Teacher Training
- Connect with Alison Heilig:
Facebook | Instagram | Alison Heilig | Yoga Medicine Online Guest Teacher
“You want to give them autonomy to make these decisions so that they leave having a positive embodiment experience and not more fuel for their poor body image.” – Alison Heilig
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