Please settle into a comfortable position.
Notice how you are breathing and where in your body you may be holding tension.
Allow the muscles of your face to become very neutral,
Including your cheekbones and your forehead.
Allow the palms of your hands and the tips of your fingers to let go of any residual gripping.
Your feet and ankles empty of any strain.
Your hips and the backs of your legs supported from whatever may be touching them from underneath.
Your lower belly and chest expanding and contracting with each cycle of breath.
With every exhale,
Notice your body becoming more relaxed,
Muscles a little bit more free,
Simply taking this time to empty out.
Notice this moment of ease.
What is body image?
Think about your body image.
Maybe you have a picture of your body,
Or you have a picture of your body,
And you are feeling the energy of your body.
What is body image?
Think about your body image.
Maybe you have a picture in your mind of what your body looks like.
Maybe you have ideas about your body,
Your feelings and beliefs about your physical self.
Perhaps there is a dialogue or a picture in your head of how you think your body should be.
How are you feeling right now about your body image?
Perhaps you feel neutral or content,
Or perhaps you feel angry or disappointed.
Or a blend of the many concepts,
Expectations,
Standards we put upon our bodies.
Can you recall your earliest memory of self-awareness?
Research suggests that children as young as three years old can have body image issues.
There are many things that influence how we see ourselves.
Do you remember any lasting impressions or words that carved how you feel in your body today?
What might it be like to accept your body in this moment exactly as it is?
What is it like to feel unconditionally confident?
Please take a deep breath in through your nose and an even longer breath out.
Chest and abdomen expand and relax.
I accept myself for who I am.
This body I am in is a mystery.
Imperfection is perfection.
I am a human being embodying the impermanence of my flesh and bones.
I am aware of unrealistic images and destructive influence that have once brought me down.
I have outgrown recycled dialogues that had once put me down.
I know deeply the power and beauty of my body.
Take a moment now to allow any buildup of thoughts,
Memories,
Feelings to move up to the surface.
Let it all go.
Breathing in slowly with love,
Attention,
And acceptance that may have been missed when you needed it.
You are reclaiming all the many parts of yourself now.
Preparing to return,
Cup both of your hands over your eyes as if filling them with the impressions and expectations that surround you.
Acknowledge parts of your body you may have neglected because in some moments it was easier to shut down.
You can come up with your own,
But to name a few,
Thank you belly for keeping me warm and being so receptive to my emotions.
Thank you hips for being so strong.
Thank you body.
Thank you.
Please make your way to lie on your left side.
And with your helping hands up into a comfortable tall seat.
Place your hands at your heart.
Draw your forehead down to your fingertips.
Fill up on a concept that is always by your side.
A body concept that values you,
Accepts you,
As it heals you.
Surround yourself with supportive people that make it easy to feel good about yourself.
Those who recognize the importance of liking yourself just as you are.
It's time to dismantle outdated concepts and to blossom new seeds.
Thank you.
