1) Yoga
Hanging out in downward facing dog or wide legged forward bend, I feel strong, stretched out, grounded, engaged with my muscles. In shavasana (corpse pose for resting on the mat at the end of class) I connect with the floor, feeling my limbs and back and head and belly all sink into relaxation and stillness. And when I get up to leave I feel grateful for the body I have. Here’s one of my posts on trying ropes yoga. Kim wrote about yoga here. And of course, Tracy reconnected with yoga on the beach here.
And then there’s the post about doing 366 days of yoga in a row.
2) Reading Natalie’s posts
Oh the body positive posts from Natalie always always make me smile and then shake my head slightly and say to myself “maybe I can be like this sometime”. It’s impossible to pick a favorite (there are so many!), but here are a few to revisit:
why I hate going to the doctor (but go anyway)
3) Sex with myself
There’s nothing like ordering up an orgasm when you’re feeling off kilter (or not). The fact that my body does this super nice thing for me also makes me smile. And it clears the cobwebs and is relaxing. I wrote more about it here.
4) Engaging in some manner of primping or poufing or attention to some part of me that I want to prettify
For me it’s my hair: I get color, highlights, keratin, cuts, blow dry and flat iron from time to time, and I feel (and I might add look) marvelous. Some people attend to nails, or body ink, or piercings, or shoes (love the witchy Fluevogs, Sam!). Or something else. These are nice ways to feel pretty or boss or bad ass or however you want.
Here’s where you can get a look at one of the pairs of Sam’s fabulous Fluevog pointy-toed dancing shoes and her festive sparkly outfit.
5) Walking
On the beach, in the woods, around my neighborhood, on the university campus where I work, downtown in the city. I feel purposeful, in control of speed and effort, entertained by whatever’s happening around me, and aware of what’s doing well and not so well for me at that moment. Walking gives me time to check in with my self, and it always always works.
Here’s a guest post on walking as a feminist act.
6) cycling on my own or with friends on a mellow ride
Cycling is my primary exercise love, and it soothes me and challenges me and revives me and exhausts me. That is, cycling is life to me. These days I’ve felt more challenged by it because of lower fitness and accompanying fears. But I got a new bike– see my post here.
And I’m also making plans for riding—alone, and with others. I’m seriously thinking about doing the one-day PWA ride with Sam and crew. See more info here. All in all, the year is shaping up nicely for upcoming riding.
What makes you feel good about your body? We’d really like to know.
