Aftercare : A Path to Loving Your Body
Hey Babe.
It may have been a while since your session or since the last time you felt really good in your body, and I just want to check in. How are you doing? Are you keeping up that empowered feeling?
I talk briefly about after care at your sessions and how you should go home, relax, and continue the pampering... but with the world only getting crazier and our schedules getting busier, I think it's important to really talk about it.
After care is going to be something totally different for every person, so listen to what your body needs.
What is after care?
Aftercare refers to the intentional acts of nourishing and nurturing your body and mind after experiencing physical or emotional challenges. It involves taking steps to promote self-healing and well-being, especially in moments when your body may feel vulnerable or wounded. Practicing aftercare can be an essential tool in developing a healthier relationship with your body.
Celebrate Your Uniqueness:
Recognize that your body is unique and one-of-a-kind. Embrace your individuality and the features that make you who you are. Instead of fixating on perceived flaws, focus on your strengths and the incredible things your body can do. Celebrate your body's abilities, whether it's the way it moves, dances, or creates.
Cultivate Positive Body Talk:
Pay attention to the way you talk to yourself about your body. Compliment yourself EVERY time you see your reflection. Challenge those negative thoughts and replace them with positive compliments & affirmations. Speak to yourself with kindness and compassion, just as you would to a loved one. Remember that your body deserves love and respect, regardless of its shape, size, or perceived imperfections. Talk to yourself like you were having a conversation with your younger self...
Practice Gratitude:
Gratitude can be a powerful tool for shifting your mindset towards self-love. Take a moment each day to express gratitude for your body and the incredible things it allows you to experience. Focus on the functionalities and the aspects you appreciate, such as your senses, strength, flexibility, or resilience. Give thanks to your body! Yes, Literally thank your body for all that it has done!
Nourish Your Body with Intention:
Fueling your body with nourishing foods can have a significant impact on your overall well-being. Aim for a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Remember that food is not solely about appearance but also about providing essential nutrients and energy to support your body's functions. Don't forget to also indulge in those 'sometimes' foods that comfort you and bring your warmth.
Engage in Mindful Movement:
Dance in the morning to wake your body up. Even if you can't stay on beat, moving your body and using your hands intentionally to feel your skin, tummy, and thighs will allow you to connect and bring your mind, body, and soul together again. Instead of viewing exercise solely as a means to change your body, embrace physical activity as a way to connect with and appreciate your body. Engage in activities that bring you joy and make you feel good, whether it's dancing, yoga, hiking, or swimming. Focus on how movement makes you feel rather than fixating on external outcomes.
Surround Yourself with Positivity:
Take inventory of the media and social media accounts you follow. Unfollow or limit exposure to accounts that promote unrealistic beauty standards or make you feel inadequate. Instead, seek out platforms that encourage body positivity, self-acceptance, and diverse representations of beauty. Snuggle up with loved ones who 'fill your cup' and remove or set boundaries with any toxic people in your life. The people you surround yourself with change your story.
Self-Care Rituals:
Engage in self-care practices that help you feel connected to your body and mind. This may include taking relaxing baths, practicing mindfulness or meditation, journaling, getting massages, or engaging in creative outlets. Find activities that allow you to unwind, recharge, and foster a sense of self-love. I personally love to take 'me' time getting my nails done or a pedicure OR finding a new hobby that makes me feel accomplished.
Buy yourself something.
We often pass by those expensive or unnecessary items because it's for us and we should save that money for someone or something else. It is okay to spoil yourself. It is okay to buy that damn photoshoot and feel amazing!! It is okay to buy yourself that jewelry or purse that you can't stop thinking about. When we wear things that make us smile, we walk taller and more confident. You deserve the little things.
Reconnect Sexually.
We are allowed to be sexual beings. Say that again if it made you uncomfortable.
"I am allowed to be sexy". Buy yourself a new toy or maybe a sexy piece of lingerie. Move your body and explore strip teases and pole dancing. Join in on a sassy workout video and feel your body move! Touch yourself and reconnect with your sexual side OR open the door of intimacy with your partner(s). Read a naughty book or watch a thrilling movie. We deserve to be intimate.
If you still don't know what to do...
Start with this: a warm bubble bath with scented candles, your favorite book, and soothing music in the background. Wear a soft robe, spritz some new perfume, and eat an amazing meal all cozy on the couch. Sleep in, dance to wake up your body, (hire a baby sitter), and eat a big breakfast.
Can you feel the stress melting away? That's the magic of self-care. It's about prioritizing your own well-being, nourishing your mind, body, and soul!! And for all you momma's... by doing this, it is not selfish. You are teaching self love and self care to your little ones and showing that how to prioritize themselves. They learn happiness by watching you be happy.
You deserve moments of relaxation, pampering, and indulgence because you are worth it, inside and out. You deserve to treat yourself with kindness, compassion, and respect, just as you would treat a dear friend.
SAY THIS NEXT PART OUTLOUD!! (and repeat as many times as you need to hear it!)
I am deserving of love. I thank my body for all that it has carried me through in life. I am worthy and strong. I am smart and capable. I am a bad ass human who will change this world.
So go ahead, darling, give yourself that much-needed break, indulge in activities that make your heart sing, and remember that you are absolutely worthy of all the self-love and self-care in the universe. You've got this!
