Body positivity is a phrase we’ve all heard but what does it mean?
The body positivity movement aims to depart from societal ideals of beauty by embracing all bodies. It works toward redefining and expanding the concept of beauty all while fighting for inclusivity. The ultimate goal is to promote the acceptance of different bodies and appreciate their differences no matter size, shape, or age.
Body positivity also aims to help people understand how the media can contribute to the relationship you have with your body. The media's strong presence in our lives can influence how we feel about clothing, food, exercise, health, and self worth.
How you choose to be ‘body positive’ is different for everyone. As this is a very personal topic, the way that you choose to embrace your true self can be as individual as you are. However, if you are looking for a bit of inspiration on how to be more body positive, we’ve put together a few ideas that may help you get started on your self-love journey.
Donate your clothes that don’t fit
Holding onto that pair of jeans that are a bit too sung, aiming to fit into them and using them as a goal for weight loss can be impactful on your self-esteem because, quite simply, your value is not determined by squeezing into those jeans. Wear the clothes that you love and feel comfortable in. As an added bonus by donating your clothes, you can help fight landfill, reduce demand for resource-hungry new clothes, and have a real impact in making fashion more sustainable.
Surround yourself with positive media
Be thoughtful when you are consuming media, question what you are seeing and be aware that the standards being perpetuated may not be realistic or positive. Be conscious of your feelings, unfollow any influencers that support unhealthy habits, or simply make you feel less than - no one should ever make you feel that way!
Words of affirmation
Outer-love usually starts with inner-love. Take a moment today, and every other day, to stand tall and give yourself kindness by writing down a list of what you love about yourself. Take the time to appreciate your body and all that it does for you. This will help you switch your self-talk focusing on the positive. With the strength of self-love comes the power to change and empower your community - there is nothing more unstoppable than a woman knowing her worth!
Take care of yourself
Prioritise your health and well-being. Be conscious of how you are feeling, sleep well, exercise, meditate and take breaks when you need them. It can be as simple as taking a few moments from your day to get up from your desk and stretch, or even going for a 15 minute walk before you tackle a busy day. Take care in putting yourself first by making time to take that yoga class you’ve always wanted to do. Taking the time to care for yourself should always be a priority and allows you to be the best version of you.
At Baiia, body positivity is at the forefront of our decision-making. We pride ourselves on being inclusive and supporting women of many shapes and sizes from all walks of life. The body positive movement has made an amazing impact on society, but we are aware that it still has a long way to go. It is always important to practise self love and extend that to your peers, family, friends and those around you. We are all incredibly beautiful and deserve to experience life, the strength of our bodies and feel the joy in feeling stunning in our favourite swimsuit at the beach - judgement free. As women, our bodies are often changing and adapting to the rhythm of life’s varied stages. Unfortunately, often beautiful women can feel let down by their bodies and feel forgotten, hidden, or judged, and we believe that it’s time for that to stop. Remember, feeling and being beautiful have nothing to do with what you look like but with who you are as a person… and we think you’re pretty damn amazing!
The Baiia Team x
