It seems that no matter how old we get; summer time never ceases to bring with it an onslaught of troubling body-talk. With words like Beach Body buzzing around non-stop, the season is a particularly vulnerable time for women as we contend with our bodies and the unrealistic expectations imposed on them during the harsh summer heat. So, we at Intoxicating Beauty had an idea – instead of making an enemy of your body this season, celebrate it. Let go of the sarong you sport diligently at the beach to hide your stretch marks, let go of your aversion of sleeveless tops, and let go of negative voice in your head telling you that you’re anything but beautiful. Sounds dreamy huh? Here are three practices that’ll help you do it and change this summer for the better.
Think of Food as Fuel and Love
First things first, this isn’t a diet, it’s a consciousness change. In fact, let’s go ahead and strip “diet” and “dieting” from our vocabulary this summer – how does that sound? Feeding yourself according to a subscribed “diet” is another way we impose impossible to follow rules on ourselves and our bodies. And more damagingly, thinking about food this way only reinforces our own mental connections between foods and our outward appearance, i.e. kale salad = thin, sandwich and fries = fat (let’s let go of that word this season too). Instead, let’s celebrate ourselves and our bodies by thinking of food as nourishment, and as an extension of the way we practice our love for ourselves. Giving our bodies nutritional foods that will energize, heal, and sustain it from the inside out is one of the best and most important ways we can celebrate ourselves this season.
Practice Bikram Yoga
Sounds strange, but there’s a point here I promise. One thing we realized as a team here at Intoxicating Beauty, is that there’s something really powerful and transformative about enduring a meditative (yet physically demanding) yoga practice in a room full of diverse individuals in over 100-degree heat. Not only does Bikram require you to wear as little clothing as possible, forcing you to be up close and personal with your body, it also requires you to shut-off the outside world (and that little voice in your head) to focus on your breathing. We promise that by the end of your first Bikram class you’ll walk out feeling amazed with your body and the amazing things it can do. Not to mention that the shower you take afterward will feel 100% life changing. If you can’t stand the heat, try another type of yoga as an alternative, such as Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, or Ashtanga Yoga to name a few. There’s so many different types of yoga classes out there!
Wear the Halter Top, Buy the Sun Dress
We already know the dangers of the little voice. The one in our heads that makes us swerve away from the sleeveless summer dress, ditch the shorts at the register, and keep towels wrapped around our waist when we’re sitting poolside. Raise a glass to you and celebrate your body this summer by doing the opposite of whatever that pesky little voice is telling you. Listen to your gut instead. Think that dress is cute? Wear it. Sad that the high waisted shorts in your closet don’t get enough wear? Take them for a spin. Because like anything in life, practice makes perfect – and the more you practice wearing the things you want to wear, the more comfortable and confident you’ll feel while doing it. Cheers!
