Body Mindfulness means being aware of your body in the present moment without judgment. It means noticing your body – its presence and the sensations or biological cues it gives you. It means approaching your body with curiosity rather than judgement.
If you follow me on social media – @therapy_with_michelle on Instagram and @MichelleFMoseleyCounseling on Facebook – then you may have seen my recent posts on the #12DaysOfBodyMindfulness.
Why Do We Need Body Mindfulness?
The last few days of December and the early days of January are often when we are bombarded with ads telling us we need to change our body size or shape. You are encouraged to be a “new you” as though the person you are in this exact moment is not enough. Everything from gym memberships to meal plans to “detox” shakes is trying to grab your attention.
This can make it nearly impossible to tune in to your body and pay attention, with open curiosity, to what it’s communicating.
And, side note, unless you have a health condition that affects the efficiency of your liver and/or kidneys, you don’t need to “detox” with a special drink. Your body is already doing that for you!
What is Body Mindfulness?
Body Mindfulness describes my approach to dealing with my own body image concerns, and working with clients regarding their body image concerns.
This approach incorporates the fundamentals of mindfulness – focusing on being fully present in the current moment, accepting what is without judgment. Body Mindfulness applies these concepts to how we live in and treat our bodies.
Body Mindfulness also incorporates the principles of Intuitive Eating – check out this book and/or this workbook for a more in-depth look at those principles. Intuitive Eating is based on being connected to your body’s cues, breaking free from food rules, and finding ways to nourish and move your body that feel good.
Body Mindfulness also includes a look at the social justice aspects of anti-fat bias and the impacts of diet culture in the United States. Some folks, often those in larger bodies or with other oppressed identities, feel validated by discussions of the ways systemic oppression affects bodies in various aspects. Some folks, often those who are in smaller bodies or who have more privileged identities related to body, are surprised and maybe even angry to consider these aspects.
With Body Mindfulness, I discuss the tenets of Health at Every Size, or HAES, which are currently being updated and revised by ASDAH. Whether in an individual or group setting, the focus is on being aware of these concepts in a mindful way. Continue to approach yourself with curiosity rather than judgment and recognizing the role you might play in challenging a fatphobic system.
12 Days of Body Mindfulness
What are some of the things I’ve shared as part of my recent social media posts?
THE PREVELANCE OF DIET CULTURE.
Diet culture is a system of beliefs that holds that certain bodies – often thin, white bodies – and certain foods – those frequently labeled as “healthy” or “clean” – are inherently better than other bodies or foods. Diet culture also includes the belief that appearance is of ultimate importance, more so than emotional, mental, or physical well-being. And diet culture is everywhere from the way foods are labeled to the frequency of comments that people make about others’ bodies. One post from the 12 Days of Body Mindfulness series sheds light on a few of the many ways that diet culture shows up in our lives.
NOTICING YOUR BODY.
Many of us are used to going through life and not really paying attention to our bodies until they force us to pay attention. Maybe we get an injury or a sudden pain, or we come down with a sickness that we just can’t shake. That’s often when we finally notice the sensations within our body. To start reconnecting (or connecting for the first time) with your body, it’s important to be intentional about taking time to notice any sensations or biological cues it may be giving you. One of my recent posts offers some suggestions for doing just that, and approaching what you notice with curiosity.
CLEANING OUT YOUR CLOSET.
Do you have clothing in your closet that doesn’t fit? Or that you don’t feel your best in? Maybe it hangs a little funny or it’s itchy or you just don’t actually like the pattern? Or maybe you’re hanging on to some “someday” clothes – those items that you hope to fit in someday. It can be amazingly freeing to know that every item you see in your closet fits the body you have now. And wearing items that feel comfortable on your body is a way of communicating physical safety to yourself on a biological level. Remember, your body doesn’t know that the reason it’s having trouble taking a deep breath is because you chose to wear a tight item of clothing, your body just knows it’s struggling to complete a basic task of life. One of the 12 Days of Mindfulness posts looks at ways to make your closet welcoming for your current body, while also considering that being able to purge and replace clothing is not accessible to everyone.
How Can I Learn More About Body Mindfulness?
Individual counseling is one way you can work with me to address your body image concerns from a Body Mindfulness framework. Check out this page on my website to learn more about this option.
Body Mindfulness Group Therapy provides a good introduction to Body Mindfulness in a supportive group setting. I typically facilitate this group 1-2 times per year. You can learn more about it here, and even get your name on the waitlist to be informed about the next start date.
If you’re in/near Chatham County, NC, you may be interested in the Body Mindfulness Workshop I will be facilitating in February 2023 in collaboration with Yoga Garden PBO. We will gather for 2 hours each Sunday in February to explore the concepts of Body Mindfulness and have opportunities to participate in movement options that have been chosen to allow access for EVERY body. All activities during this in-person Workshop are consent-based, meaning you won’t be forced to participate in any way that feels uncomfortable to you. Participants will also receive additional resources to continue the journey beyond the 4 weeks. Visit the Yoga Garden PBO Events Page and search for “Body Mindfulness” under the “class” dropdown to learn more about this workshop and register to participate.
Michelle F. Moseley is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in NC and a Registered Telehealth Provider in FL. She believes ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and access to mental and physical healthcare. Michelle specializes in working with survivors of religious trauma and with those who have body image concerns, finding there is frequent overlap in these areas. You can learn more about Michelle by visiting her website at MichelleFMoseley.com or following her on Instagram – @therapy_with_michelle