Summer arrives and along with it comes a torment for many women – you’re not ready for a bikini!
I remember in the past going to the beach and looking at women’s bodies with judgement. And, I looked at my own body with even harsher judgement: too fat, too old, too skinny, too many stretch marks, too much cellulite, too tall, too short, etc. I don’t think we are aware of the damage, the intense and limiting imprint of this famous “OPERATION BIKINI” message I had, and that all of us have actively and passively been subjected to since we were very young. This message is in the collective unconscious, and it is very dangerous! It affects the self-esteem of girls, young women and adults.
Since I was a child I have been hearing and reading messages about “operation bikini” and have not been able to dismantle this absurd and misogynistic message until well into my adulthood. Thanks to Yoga and its coherent and wonderful vision of the body, I now see the body is a temple, the body is vital for life, life is experienced through the body, and my spirit can be present thanks to my body. Thanks to yoga, I have learned that I am not a body, I have a body. And, I can only feel gratitude and wish to take loving care of this body.
Here are some reflections to help you change your own inner messages:
When you look at your body from the message of “operation bikini”…
- You do it to please others. Which, is an unstable and superficial motivator, at the root cause of actions such as joining a gym in January and leaving it in February, for example.
- You negatively affect your self-esteem. Which, can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as being overly demanding in physical exercise and injuring yourself.
- You binge eat or stop eating in a healthy way. Being disconnected from your body, you don’t know if you are hungry or not, when you are full, what feels good to you and what doesn’t, among other things.
- You avoid going to the beach or the pool and miss out on moments of enjoyment, valuable sun exposure and wonderful social experiences.
- You compare yourself to younger, or more beautiful women according to the beauty canon of the moment. And in this age of social media with the ability to manipulate videos and photographs, the bar is set very, very high.
- And, ultimately, you don’t feel good and fulfilled living life in your body.
By contrast, when you look at your body from the message of yoga, “your body is your temple”…
- You do it with respect and admiration for the miracles that happen every day in your body and your interest on how it is inside and outside, arises from love. The more you know, the more you love.
- You take an interest in your well-being and eat healthily, recognizing your limits and needs.
- You do physical exercise and the benefits are long-lasting because you know, among many other reasons, that you are influencing your health, not only physically but also mentally. You gain strength and functional mobility, you prevent injuries, you prevent diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis, etc. You reduce physical pain, improve your posture, gain stability and balance, improve your breathing, generate endorphins (happiness hormones) and your performance, in general, is much higher. But above all, you know that your spirit is happy to live in your temple.
- You don’t compare yourself to anyone. Neither with a 3-month-old child, which would seem absurd to everyone, nor with a 20-, 30- or whatever age person, which is equally absurd. You don’t compare yourself to anyone because you are happy with who you are, knowing that you are unique and mature with awareness.
A week ago I went to the beach, a mini-holiday. I am 59 years old, with a body that has lived through accidents, pregnancies, operations, many years of sedentary life and many years of yoga, dance and enjoyment. I put on my bikini and went for a walk along the seashore. No complexes, no problem. I saw many bodies, all perfect, magical, wonderful! There is no more judgement in me. Only love.
Here’s a new message for you: Do you have a body? Well, that’s all you need to wear a bikini.
Body care recommendations, arising from love…
- Exercise your body in strength three days a week, and in flexibility and mobility, another three days. And play with your body – dance, walk, move.
- Eat consciously. Eat what feels good to you, when you feel hungry and in a quantity that is right for you.
- Hydrate. Drinking water is vital, your body is 70% water.
- Sunbathe at hours when it doesn’t burn, but sunbathe! You will gain energy.
- Rest. It is very important for the renewal of all your systems.
- And, look with love at what you see and what you don’t see of your body.
Take care of yourself! Namaste (the light in me sees the light in you)
