Women are socialized in Western societies to believe their bodies are never thin enough. Our sense of self-image develops through a complicated interplay between cultural ideals, life experiences and accumulated comments by others. The result is, inevitably, a distortion of reality. Our perceptions of ourselves are not objective. They are really tinged and colored by the emotional experiences we’ve had.⠀⠀⠀⠀
MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL…
As a dancer, I spend a lot of time infront of a mirror. Some days all I can see are the parts of my body I tend to criticise. Other days I love to see what my body can do in terms of shapes, strength and creativity. Dance is a visual art, and dancers can sometimes get caught up in appearances and develop a negative body image. When looking at one’s body so closely, it seems far easier to scrutinize and berate our “flaws” than it is to acknowledge and praise our beauty.
Women with a negative body image might find it difficult to join a dance class, one reason being that there are often many mirrors in a dance studio. During an interview for health coach Caitlin Ball’s podcast I talk about how the process of observing yourself in a mirror whilst dancing can actually be an effective tool in helping with body image issues. Contrary to what you might think, mirrors can actually be used to establish a better relationship with our bodies and our view of ourselves! You can listen to it here and hear what we discussed about about body image and how belly dance can help you feel good about your body. ⠀⠀⠀⠀
Podcast Caitlin Ball // Episode #14: Embracing the Female Body through Belly Dancing with Alia Mckenzie-Murdoch
When choosing to use your reflection as a tool for self-improvement, it’s important to keep in mind that mirrors are not accurate. They are literally “mirror-images” of yourself, reversed left to right, that you see and then decide look a certain way (usually some version of “good” or “bad”).
If you start to notice that you are unable to use the mirror productively, immediately stop looking in the mirror. Look above it, squint your eyes, or even close your eyes if you have to. Try to shift your focus for that class towards being in your body – dance bigger, stronger, freer and with more abandon. Allow yourself to not let the mirror define you, your body or your dancing. Read more about dancing without a mirror here >>
We’d love to hear from you! What helps you to appreciate yourself as you are? Let us know in the comments below.
B & W photos: Michael Baxter