So listen to find out 3 exercise myths and one huge benefit of exercising.

If you are keen to listen to Demi Moore's autobiography (I loved it!) you can check it out here.

And don't forget to download my free self-compassion meditation. It might be the best way to get your exercise habits to stick. Click here to grab it now.

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Click here to learn more about why a compassionate approach to health care works better than harsh diets or exercise programs.

My inspiration for sliding scale pricing wortsandcunning.com.

Read the blog post about my sliding scale pricing.

Click here to book a free 15-min health history with me.

Click here to download your free self-compassion meditation.

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Get started with your own meditation practice by downloading my free self-compassion meditation.

If you're interested in a coaching session with me, click here.

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Here are some free resources to support your solo retreat:

Download a free meditation here

Download a free body love affirmation audio here

Here is a yoga video and another one

Learn more about journaling here

Click here to learn more about my retreats

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In the mean time I still have spots available in my private health coaching program - find out more here.

Plus I’ll be on Facebook and Instagram including hosting a free 7-day plank challenge starting the Sunday 16th October. You can join here.

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From feeling physically more energetic to having better boundaries - the changes can be quite profound.

Have a listen and click here to tell me what you think!

If you'd like to find food freedom and make this shifts yourself (and you'd like some help), consider my 6 month private coaching program. You can find out more here.

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But I have a question for you, “How has being judgmental towards yourself worked out for you so far?” I don’t imagine it’s been helping too much.

So, why not try self-compassion? That’s what this episode is all about.

I recommend saving it so you can listen any time you need some self-compassion.

Here are some of the resources I refer to in the episode:

Embrace: The Movie

Just Eat It by Laura Thomas PhD

Kristen Neff’s work on Self-Compassion

My 6-month private coaching program

Let me know what you think of this episode by clicking here to leave a comment on my website.

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In this episode I give you some tips to help you respect your body during menopause.

• Accept your body is changing
• Prioritise rest & sleep
• Avoid calorie deficit diets because they affect your muscle mass and reduce your metabolism
• Move your body regularly
• Learn about intuitive eating
• Reconsider your relationship with alcohol

If you need support, consider joining me for my 6-month private coaching program. Click here to learn more.

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The Instagram accounts I mention in this episode are:

Fashion: @icurvy

Activism: @iweigh

Fitness: @louisegreen_bigfitgirl

Food: @no.food.rules

Mum blogger/general lifestyle: @lovezoepotter

Me!!: @emma.polette

Tell me how you go with your social media spring clean by writing a comment on my website or sending me a DM on Instagram

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In the episode I talk about:

Why I read the book

The importance of the book

Highlights

Improvements

Other recommendations

Here are some accompanying links -

Buy Intuitive Eating

My GoodReads account

Body Positive Power by Megan Jayne Crabbe

Work with me on Intuitive Eating for 6 months

I'd love to know what you think of the book or my review - click here to leave me a comment on my website

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I touch on Body Love (and my evolution away from it), body positivity and its roots in activism, body neutrality and body respect.

I also share where I'm at now when it comes to my own relationship with my body.

If you'd like to share your thoughts, click here to go to my website and leave a comment.

Some other resources are:

Body Respect by Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramor

Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elise Resch

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In this episode I talk about:

1. The reasons why diets aren’t healthy

• They don’t work in the long term
• They can cause a “binge & restrict” cycle when it comes to healthy behaviours
• They can cause psychological damage
• They cause us to lose touch with our body’s natural regulation mechanisms when it comes to food

1. The fact that you can’t tell how healthy someone is by looking at them
2. How being anti-diet actually improves healthy behaviours
3. My personal experience with being anti-diet

Here are the links I refer to in the podcast:

How Privilege Affects Your Weight Vlog

Peer Reviewed Article about Health at Every Size

Maintenance Phase Podcast

More about my 6 month Program - Love Yourself to Health

I’d love to know what you think about this topic. Feel free to leave a (respectful) comment on my website.

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In this episode I cover topics like body shaming by fitness instructors or yoga teachers, how all yoga should be for beginners, how diet culture has hijacked some yoga spaces and how I try to make my yoga classes accessible for beginners.

You can book into one of my in person classes here.

You can learn more about my online membership, The Self Love Health Club here.

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I’ll be covering topics like intuitive eating and movement, self-compassion, feminism, privilege, why diets don’t work, living in a menopausal body and of course a bit of yoga talk too. I hope to have some guests including anti-diet experts and real people like you so if you’re keen to share what it’s like to live in your body, send me a DM on Instagram by clicking here and we’ll set up an interview. 

Click here to go to my website and leave a comment about what topics you’d like me to talk about.

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I am currently going live on alternating days on Facebook and Instagram (there is a lot less behind the scenes work going live versus creating a podcast) so if you want to keep in touch, follow me there.

Instagram

Facebook

Thank you to everyone who has listened to The Big Bellied Yogi. Take care.

OO80vOl7qmluvKY95nY4

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The five Niyamas are:

Saucha – purity of body which contributes to a pure mind

Santosa – Contentment leads to joy

Tapas – the fire of self-discipline

Svadaya – regular spiritual and self-exploration

Isvara pranidhana – spiritually surrender.

Throughout this episode I will give you simple examples of how to practice these easily every day.

Links that are mentioned include:

Patootie Skin

My new private coaching program – Miracle Month

You can practice yoga while you listen to this episode.  Click here to watch the mini-class I created especially for The Big Bellied Yogi podcast.

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Here's a little bit more about Ellie:

"I have been doing yoga for 10 years. My love of yoga started off with a class when travelling in India and have been doing it ever since I returned to the UK. I have tried lots of different types of yoga which made me realise that I love the self-reflection that comes with a yoga practice: yoga is about how you feel in a pose and not how you look. I am passionate about yoga being accessible for everyone no matter physical abilities or appearance and recently I decided to embark on my 200-hour yoga teacher training course. I am excited to be able to teach my passion for yoga to others. "

In this interview we discuss:

~ How yoga differs between India and the West

~ How to fit yoga into a busy schedule

~ Going from yoga student to yoga teacher training student

and much more.

If you'd like to follow Ellie on Instagram you can find her @fullbodiedyoga

And if you'd like to practice yoga while you listen to this week's episode, got to emmapolette.com/podcast/ep5 and you'll find a video you can follow along with.

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This series of poses can be very nurturing, calming and nourishing.  However, when you have a larger body they can be difficult.  Bellies and boobs can get in the way.

In this episode I'll show you why you should include them in your yoga routine and how to make them work for you if you have a larger body.

In addition, I recommend watching this video from Body Positive Yoga so you can see how to make forward folds work for you.

As always I have included a short yoga practice that you can try while you listen to the podcast (and it includes Forward Folds).  Click here to watch.

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This is where the SYSTEM of yoga comes in.  It's not just about a physical practice.  There are 8 elements to yoga and asana (the poses) are just one part.

In this episode I'll teach a little about Pantanjali's 8 Limbs of Yoga and focus on the first one - the Yamas.

(Please forgive my Sanskrit pronunciation.  I am working on it #everydamnday)

The 8 limbs of yoga are:

• Yama (ethical behaviours)
• Niyama (personal practices)
• Asana (physical poses)
• Pranayama (breathing techniques)
• Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)
• Dharana (focused concentration)
• Dhyana (meditation)
• Samadhi (bliss, enlightenment)

In this episode I'll delve a little deeper into the Yamas.

• Ahmisa (non-harming)
• Satya (truthfulness)
• Asteya (non-stealing)
• Brahmacharya (right use of energy)
• Aparigraha (non-greed, non-hoarding)

If you'd like to practice some asana while you listen to this episode, go to emmapolette.com/podcast/ep3

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This made my blood boil.  For one, it completely disregards the deep and ancient spiritual roots of yoga, and for two, it shows that like so much in the Western world, yoga has been hijacked by diet culture.

In this episode I delve into what diet culture is and how it as affected both the practice of yoga and people's perceptions of themselves and their "suitability" to practice yoga.

I briefly mention how so much of Western yoga ignores the roots and depth of the practice.

If you'd like to learn more about this I recommend looking up these people and resources:

Susanna Barkataki

Tejal Yoga 

Yoga is Dead podcast

I also refer to a 2018 study about young people, yoga and body image.  You can read more here.

And here are some body positive yoga resources you can check out.

Jessamyn Stanley

Fat Yoga by Sarah Harry

Accessible Yoga

Me on Instagram

Don't forget to head over to my website to try out the yoga practice I created for The Big Bellied Yogi Podcast.  Click here to watch.

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In this first episode I'll discuss why I created the podcast including:

• My frustration at not being able to keep up with some yoga classes I took recently (remember, I'm a yoga teacher) and not being offered modifications
• The lack of diversity when it comes to the promotion of yoga, especially on Instagram
• A brief introduction to how you can practice yoga even if you aren't able to do the poses

But if you would like to try some yoga at home, click here to get access to a video I made with a short sequence to try.

Also, a huge shout out to Aesha Kennedy.  She teaches a wonderful class online.  You can find her here.

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According to Instagram, yoga is all about the poses, and about how bendy, skinny and young you are.  But it's so much more than that.

I'm on a mission to make yoga available for everyone.  Each week I'll show you how, including giving you a practice to try while you listen to the podcast.

The first episode drops on 1st July so please follow or subscribe.

Until then you can find me on Instagram at @emma.polette

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In the first few minutes of the show Leonie tells us about growing up with a brother with cerebral palsy and lot's of older women and how that shaped her attitude of complete love and acceptance of her body.

She also breaks down how the patriarchy, capitalism and white supremacy takes us into the "unnatural" territory of body hate.

And she reminds us that the whole point of life is to "enjoy the f*ck" out of it!"

(All this in the first 7 minutes of the show!)

It was really a dream come true to interview Leonie, so please enjoy the show.

MORE ABOUT LEONIE 👇👇👇❤❤❤ 

Leonie Dawson is a teacher, mentor and inspirer, helping highly sensitive oddballs (just like her!) discover their big glorious dreams, feel less alone and change the world!

She is world-renowned for her internationally best-selling ‘Create Your Shining Year Workbooks’ which have been helping women create the vision and map out the plan for the dream lives for over 10 years now.

Leonie has generated over 7 million in revenue, all while working part time hours, being a hippie weirdo and spending lots of time enjoying life with her two daughters and husband in the most beautiful parts of Australia.

Find her:

www.leoniedawson.comInstagram: @leoniedawsonFacebook: @leoniedawson

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I've recently taken another step towards that by taking another job.  That might not sound like self-care but in this episode I explain how that's the case.

I've also talk about how knowing my Human Design and journaling about my Perfect Day have helped me create a life that feels less and less like something to escape from.

In this episode we also have a 3 card oracle card reading.  You can see the cards at bodylovehq.com/ep-106

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And although I know The Body Love Method works to help women feel better about their bodies, the true strength of the Method is it helps women to love themselves.  To be honest that is much more powerful.

But, I also know that for busy women who take on too much (that's the women who need self-love the most), the 12 steps in The Body Love Method feel too much, too overwhelming.

So during this quite time I have managed to distill The Body Love Method down into 4 simple, daily steps so that living a life of self-love, confidence, ease and flow is accessible for everyone.

In this episode I break down the 4 daily steps so you can do them too:

1. Decide

2. Clear

3. Love

4. Rise

In this episode we also have a 3 card oracle card reading.  You can see the cards at bodylovehq.com/ep-105

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It's a rare event to have to self-isolate. In fact its unprecedented in our lifetime. And although it's been really tough at times, I have relished the time to go deep within and re-evaluate my favourite topic: Body Love.

Everything changed for me in February and March this year. I was offered a new (dream) job, my living circumstances changed suddenly and I had a life changing medical diagnosis. And then the global pandemic set in. It's been surreal. And hard. So for a while my brain couldn't handle all the Body Love stuff too.

1. I'm so glad I've been able to accept my body over the last few years. If I was still obsessed about the size of my body I would have found this time terrifying and very difficult. This stuff IS LEARNABLE, but you have to decided that it's what you want. And then it takes WERK.
2. Body Love has never actually been about Body Love. Huh? Body Love is really about self love and self worth. The moment you open your eyes every morning you are WORTHY - of love, money, health and your own approval! I know now that I have more work to do on this but I am really enjoying the journey.
3. We all needed a good long break (and we still do). To take life down a notch. It's not easy to go against our busy, busy busy natures but gosh it feels good!

What's been your biggest learning (so far) during iso?

In this episode we also have a 3 card oracle card reading.  You can see the cards at bodylovehq.com/ep-104

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I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 1 May 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/may-1

The Dream:  What breakthrough did you have over the past month?  How can you keep that dream/breakthrough alive?

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

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I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 30 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-30

Peace:  What are some short practices you can do each morning and evening to find peace?  Meditation in the morning and gratitude journaling at night perhaps?

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 29 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-29

Healing:  Download this list of Core Values. What are your top 3-4?  Are you living in line with these?

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

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I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 28 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-28

Enchanted Forest:  Reflect on 2 or 3 things that are annoying you right now and see if you can change your perspective and make it more magical.

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 27 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-27

Eternal Dance:  Can you change your perspective on something today?  If not I suggest you dance it out.  Moving your body is a great way to gain a new perspective if you feel stuck.

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 26 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-26

Achievement:  Has your sense of achievement changed over the past few weeks?  Remember you are worthy no matter what you achieve.  Treat yourself to a small luxury today because you are worth it.

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 25 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-25

The Message: As I pulled this card the other day I decided to pull another one to compliment and add some more information.

Purification (Fire):  Take some time to meditate on the question, "What do I truly desire?"  I recommend lighting a candle and staring into the flame and keep asking yourself that question.  Give yourself some time to see what answer bubbles up.  Write it down and then ask the question again.  You might be surprised by what pops up.

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 24 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-24

Rising Above: What do you need to do today to help you rise above?  Is it one of the suggestions from the card reading?  Or tune into yourself and ask your intuition what it is you truly need.

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 23 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-23

 Amethyst: Spend some time thinking about (and writing down) your perfect day.  From the minute you open your eyes to the second you go to sleep, if you could be, do and have anything what would it be?

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 22 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-22

   The message: Use the mantra, "I thank the Earth and stars for every blessing" as your meditation anchor or as a journaling prompt.

And if you haven't started already, I highly recommend a daily gratitude journal.  It has the power to change everything!

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 20 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-20

Clairvoyance: Write a list of 20 things that you can see that represent love.

Night Wind: Write about what you are deeply fearful of and share your fears with a friend or loved one.

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

1. Archangel Oracle Cards
2. Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 1 9April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-19

Gifts from God: Throughout the day open your arms wide and say, "I am open to receive!" (Body Love Method - Rituals)

Purification: Set a timer for 5 minutes.  Sit still.  Take a few deep breaths.  And repeat in your mind, "I give thanks for the healing that is taking place".  Keep repeating the mantra until your timer finishes.  Take a moment to write down anything that came up during the meditation and if it feels appropriate, burn the paper safely. (The Body Love Method - meditation, journal and ritual).

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

1. Archangel Oracle Cards
2. Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 18 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-18

Spread your wings: Write down three things you would like to do in your life that have felt almost impossible up until now.  With the perspective of "everything is different", write down some ways you might be able to make it happen!  (Body Love Method - Upleveling)

Reflection: Reflect on your feelings through out the day.  Good and bad. What is triggering those thoughts & feelings?  Journal about them.  Seek additional, professional support if needed. (The Body Love Method - Journaling and Self-Care Toolkit)

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

1. Archangel Oracle Cards
2. Gaia Oracle

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 17 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-17

Quiet Nourishes Me: Create a sacred space in your home.  It could be tiny like a crystal on the corner of a table or a whole room if you have one spare.  Each time you walk past the space, connect with it in some way (hold the crystal, go into the room), close your eyes and go quiet just for a moment.  Try to build up the length of your pause each time.  (Body Love Method - Meditation)

Courage: Journal about your fears and the support you need to get past the fear.  What can you do to support yourself?  If you journaled on this card last time, compare what you wrote.  If you still feel stuck, use this EFT video to try and move past the fear. (The Body Love Method - Journaling and Decluttering)

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

1. Soulful Woman
2. Heal Yourself

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 16 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-16

Internal

Inner Guidance System: Keep doing the practice from yesterday and practice using the inner guidance system that you have.  Start asking yourself yes/no questions throughout the day - ie: "Do I want more chocolate?",  "Should I take on a new project at work?", "Could my husband looks after the kids while I go for a walk?".  Tune into your natural response to the questions you ask and follow your truth.  (Body Love Method - Intention)

Sadness: Play a song that touches your heart.  Put your hand on your heart and sing along or sway to the music.  When it's finished, visualise the colour green and say to yourself, "I am loved".  This is a beautiful way to support your heart chakra. (The Body Love Method - Chakras)

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

1. Soulful Woman
2. Heal Yourself

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 15 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-15

Following my truth: Start asking yourself yes/no questions throughout the day - ie: "Do I want more chocolate?",  "Should I take on a new project at work?", "Could my husband looks after the kids while I go for a walk?".  Tune into your natural response to the questions you ask and follow your truth.  (Body Love Method - Intention)

Home: Find a childhood photo of yourself.  Look yourself in the eye and see the innocence and perfection in them.  Write yourself a letter and tell yourself what you love, admire and appreciate about yourself. (The Body Love Method - Journaling)

P.S.  You can check out my first oracle card for my future Body Love Method Oracle Card deck by clicking here.

1. Soulful Woman
2. Heal Yourself

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 14 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-14

Self-belief: Learn more about yourself by learning about Human Design.  The more you understand your true self the more you will believe in your self.  Get a free copy of your Human Design chart and a mini reading by emailing me - emma@bodylovehq.com - with your date of birth, time of birth and birth place (Body Love Method - Upleveling)

Victim Consciousness: Practice forgiveness again today.  Write down a list of all the people & circumstances that have made you feel like a victim and say the Forgiveness mantra for each of them, "I forgive you, I'm sorry, Thank you, I love you".  Cross each one out and let them go. (The Body Love Method - Forgiveness)

1. Soulful Woman
2. Heal Yourself

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 13 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-13

Friendship: Get in touch with one of your close friends today. Tell them why you think they are so amazing. Ask her to do the same with one of her friends (or you!) (Body Love Method - Self-care Toolkit)

Dreams: This came up again! Tonight before you sleep try the dreams ritual described in the podcast - at about the 8 min 25 second mark. (The Body Love Method - Positive Anchors)

1. Soulful Woman
2. Heal Yourself

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

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Today I have shared something different, for Easter.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 11 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-11

The Unknown: Reach out to a friend today and have a discussion about "The Unknown", the space between the old ways and the new that's on it's way. If you can't speak to a friend today, write about it instead. (Body Love Method - Self-Care Toolkit/Journaling)

Dreams: Follow the ritual instructions from the podcast. Ask a questions of your dreams before you sleep then write about your dreams and their guidance in the morning. (The Body Love Method - Journaling & Intention)

1. Soulful Woman
2. Heal Yourself

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

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The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 10 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-10

The Unknown: Reach out to a friend today and have a discussion about "The Unknown", the space between the old ways and the new that's on it's way. If you can't speak to a friend today, write about it instead. (Body Love Method - Self-Care Toolkit/Journaling)

Dreams: Follow the ritual instructions from the podcast. Ask a questions of your dreams before you sleep then write about your dreams and their guidance in the morning. (The Body Love Method - Journaling & Intention)

1. Soulful Woman
2. Heal Yourself

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 9 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-9

Princess Charming: I recommend you create a budget for yourself. Imagine you had to look after your own finances, could you do it? What skills, talents, hobbies or interests could you parlay into an extra income for yourself? (Body Love Method - Upleveling)

Courage: From the Heal Yourself book, "Make a list of the support you need to tackle the approaching opportunities. Become aware of what or who you are afraid of. Imagine this fear takes on the shape of a person. What does he or she look like? Look this fear in the eyes. Tell it that you are willing to learn from it and master the lesson but you are not willing to be a slave to it. Imagine loving your fear and and taking steps forward." - The Body Love Method - Journaling & Intention)

1. Soulful Woman
2. Heal Yourself

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

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The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you Body Love tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 8 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-8

Creative Cocooning: Visualise or imagine that this cocooning is a chosen luxury and not "enforced".  Create some boundaries so you can take time for creative cocooning. (Body Love Method - Intention)

Unleash your creativity: Create something today.  If you are feeling blocked place your hands on your sacral chakra (below your belly button), visualise the colour orange and say, "I am creative, I am creative, I am creative" until an idea pops into your head.  (Body Love Method - Chakras)

1. Soulful Woman
2. Heal Yourself

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 7 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-7

The Masculine: I highly recommend strengthening your body right now.  Try 10 squats, 10 pushups (from your knees is fine) and a 30 second plank.  If you can do more than that - go for it!  (Body Love Method - Movement)

Alternative: Please stay hydrated.  Drink 8 glasses of water today.  (Body Love Method - Fuel)

1. The Queen of the Moon
2. Whispers of Healing

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

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The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 6 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-6

Hunger: Listen to this meditation about abundance by Deepak Chopra.

Negativity: Listen to this meditation about abundance by Deepak Chopra.

1. The Queen of the Moon
2. Whispers of Healing

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Each day I will share my 2-card oracle reading inspired by Susannah Conway.

The first card relates to the self. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card is about daily guidance.

I will also give you two tools inspired by my reading that you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 5 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-5

Acceptance: Journal on the serenity prayer, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference". What can't you change right now? What can you change, especially if you have courage? Use your wisdom. It's in there!

Wellbeing: Commit to doing one thing for your wellbeing today - drink more water, have an alcohol free day, eat more veggies, go for a walk, meditate etc. Choose just one.

1. The Queen of the Moon
2. Whispers of Healing

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first card relates to You. Where you am. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card relates to your daily guidance. Things you can consider a you go about your day.

I will also give you two tools you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 4 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-4

Extremes: Take the time to write a "not doing" list.  Keep adding to it as you think of something.

Growth: Commit to listening to this podcast daily and using the tools to grow your spiritual connection during this strange time.

1. The Queen of the Moon
2. Whispers of Healing

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Each day I will present a 2-card oracle reading inspired by Susannah Conway.

The first card relates to You. Where you am. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card relates to your daily guidance. Things you can consider a you go about your day.

I will also give you two tools you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

This recording is the reading for 3 April 2020.

You can see the cards by clicking here or by going to bodylovehq.com/april-3

The Unexpected: Write down one big wish or intention. Something you can't believe would happen. Then take ONE step towards that goal. Then let the Universe do some of the work too. Allow. Trust.

Sensitivity: If you are feeling worried, stressed or sensitive to others, ask yourself, "Is this mine?" It's probably not. Inspired by Access Bars.

1. The Queen of the Moon
2. Whispers of Healing

And, please, tell me about your insights and a-has in the comments on the blog post.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of my favourite Body Love tools of all time is oracle card readings. Every day so far in 2020 I have done a 2 card reading inspired by Susannah Conway.

The first card relates to me. Where I am. Kind of like a weather report.

The second card relates to my daily guidance. Things I can consider as I go about my day.

In these unsettling times I decided I wanted to share the daily oracle card reading with you and give you two tools you can use to help support and guide you during this pandemic.

You can see the cards by clicking here.  Or go to bodylovehq.com/april-2

Resistance: Spend 5 minutes journaling on this topic - "What am I resisting, and why?

Strength: Using this tapping video by Brad Yates to clear anxiety so you can feel stronger.

1. The Queen of the Moon
2. Whispers of Healing

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*** Trigger warning - we delve quite deeply into my guest’s past eating disorder.  If you need help you can reach out to The Butterfly Foundation. ***

This week’s podcast episode is extra delicious because I am interviewing a chocolate maker!

Jane is an Earth Mamma of 3 young kids, and creator of Cacao Medium - making ethical chocolates and ceremonial grade cacao elixirs for people all over Australia. 

She has journeyed through her own challenges around self worth, an eating disorder, and body image, and has learnt how to listen and love her body, without deprivation. 

Jane believes the plant medicine of cacao is here to help us remember pleasure, abundance, and the subtle feminine ways of loving ourselves, each other and the earth. 

Find Jane and her products here:

Instagram @cacaomedium.  

Facebook  www.facebook.com/CacaoMedium/

Websbite - cacaomedium.com.au

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This week I’m excited to introduce you to Jess Crawford.  Jess is an artist from South Australia and before this discussion we’d only ever met on Instagram (sometime I really love the internet).

Here’s Jess describing a bit about herself:

I love to brighten the way in whichever way I can. My artworks bring brightness and light to the world with their vibrant colours and inspiring imagery. Recently I’ve been using my artworks to bring objects to life too so that my clients can take that joy with them wherever they go. It is so important to see the beautiful colour in life that surrounds you and to feel that joy in your heart when you see it!

Yes that is a big statement but about a year and a half ago I didn't want to be on the planet. Do you know why? I was in the throws of antidepressant withdrawal hell. I didn't know then what I know now. I didn't know that withdrawing from antidepressants takes time and it’s a long journey. I didn't know then that what was happening in my head had so much more to do with what was happening in my entire body. As I crashed at the bottom of a dark ravine, I began to claw my way back up and learn so much more about myself and the world of mental and holistic health along the way.

As I climbed up the mountain and began telling my entire story at each stop, people would thank me for sharing that vulnerability. It meant that they were not alone on their own journey up the mountain. As I learn, I share what I know to help others. I am now tapering from my antidepressant again but with so much more knowledge. Knowledge I would like to share with you to brighten and light the way.

As I go up the mountain I stop along the way and get out my painting tools to create something bright and inspiring. At other stops I need to get out my other tools to keep my mental and physical health in top condition.”

I really love this chat with Jess.  I hope you do too.

Here’s where you can check out all of Jess’s amazing art:

Website: www.jesscrawfordart.com

Facebook: @jesscrawfordart

Instagram:  _jesscrawford_

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I'm feeling a little bit like Oprah (at least the Oprah before she started spruiking weight watchers...) because I am starting The Body Love Book Club!

And our very first book is Your Own Kind of Girl by Clare Bowditch

It’s a memoir about Clare living with anxiety brought on by a childhood tragedy, the shame of living in a larger body, and the fear of following her dreams.

Who is Clare Bowditch?

Clare is an Australian musician, actor, radio presenter and business entrepreneur.  She has won ARIAs (Aussie version of a Grammy) and been nominated for a Logie (kind of like an Emmy, but only kinda… 😊 )

This book is beautiful and brave and I really loved it.

It’s enriched by a Spotify soundtrack of all the songs that Clare references.  You can listen to that here.

You can buy the book here.

Join The Body Love Collective to get all the Body Love Book Club updates here.

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Anne is 47 years young.  She is a Special Needs Education Assistant at one of the local primary schools - she says it’s “the best in the west” and a Therapy Assistant for the Department  of Communities. Anne loves cooking/eating and creating meals with a glass of good wine, hiking, SUP boarding, walking, roller skating and dance parties with her dogs. Her goals are to be the best she can be for myself and others and to help kids do the same. Anne says, ‘We are all different and that’s the way it should be!”

If you are living in Albany and would like to try out one of my classes go to bodylovehq.com/classes to find out more.

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I am thrilled to introduce you to one of my mentors, Kerry Rowett.  Her energy and her program Align & Attract has helped me immeasurably over the last 4 years both personally and professionally.

Kerry Rowett is a Kinesiologist based in Adelaide, Australia so focused on teaching other entrepreneurs how to create their own version of an aligned business. She believes that awake, empowered women can have a big impact on the world and she teaches other business owners how to release their own blocks and align to their goals in her group program: alignandattract.com. She has a bestselling business book by the same name. Kerry's been evolving and growing her Kinesiology business since 2009 at awakenkinesiology.com and has been teaching alignment to other practitioners and entrepreneurs since 2011. She's the mother of two young children.

Find out more about Align & Attract here or if you don’t have a business but would like to learn the alignment process, check out the DIY Kinesiology Kit.  

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I started this year in a bit of funk.  We’d lost a close family friend and I felt helpless about the fires.  So when it was time to go back to work I didn’t feel very motivated.

Luckily the first thing I did this year was interview Liss Amyah for the podcast.

Preachers wife turned pleasure advocate, Liss was married at 19, had 6 babies by 31, and was divorced by 36. 

In 2014, after baby number six was born, Liss started an online business teaching calligraphy and has seen thousands of students go through her courses. 

These days, as well as all the arty things, Liss is all about speaking her truth and telling her story in ways that are sometimes terrifying, but also deeply healing. She rarely feels terribly brave, but most days at least a little brave-ish.

 Liss believes that curiosity will take us places certainty never can, that pleasure is not a dirty word, and that it’s totally ok to not have it all figured out.

Find Liss’s podcast Brave{ish} here

Her website here

Instagram here

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This podcast episode will delight you and definitely inspire you to love your body in 2020.

Emma and Carla Papas (The Merrymaker Sisters) are bliss followers and yoga, pilates and meditation teachers. They quit their full time government desk jobs in July 2014 to pursue their passion of bringing health and happiness to the lives of others.

Since then they’ve created the #1 mobile recipe App Get Merry, published the best selling healthy cookbooks Make It Merry and Get Merry, host the #1 GetMerry podcast as well as created MerryBody: an online yoga, pilates and mindset studio.

Every month they reach over 200 000 people through their products and programs, with a mission to live in a world where people finally accept, love and respect their bodies and themselves.

Making the move up to Australia’s sunny Gold Coast from their hometown of Canberra, the real life sisters and business partners love all that nature has to offer, a great cup of coffee, yoga, pilates and good conversation.

Find them on the web at http://getmerry.com/ 

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This week on the podcast I am so excited to introduce you to my mum!  Many of my listeners will know Helen because she has been a loyal regular at some of my fitness classes for years.

My mum is a very young 72-year-old who is physically active, a mad keen international traveller, a caring mother and grandma and busy with many hobbies and friends.

I know she inspires a lot of the students in my classes, as much as she inspires me.  If I am half as energetic as she is in my 70’s I’ll be a very happy woman.

I hope you enjoy some pearls of wisdom from my very own mum.

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This week's podcast guest is Claire Riley.  

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This week I have a deep conversation with Rose Sing about all things sensual including belly dance, Tantra and the power of female orgasms.

Rose is the founder and principal teacher at Sahara Belly Dance.  She started her belly dance journey in the early 1990s and commenced teaching after moving to Albany Western Australia  in 1997.  With over twenty years experience in this dance genre, Rose is considered,by many,as a Middle Eastern dance specialist. She has learnt from many local, national and international dancers and teachers.  

Rose guides women to connect with their bodies through this ancient dance practice which has its roots in women’s pelvic floor health.“When we take away the frills and sparkles of Belly Dancing, we find a fascinating herstory”.

Rose teaches women how to move in a natural way that increases body and spatial awareness, blood flow and oxygen to certain muscle groups while connecting to an ancient tradition.  

Rose is trained in AromaTouch massage technique (aromatherapy). She is a qualified An Mo Tantric masseuse and teaches women how to care for their breasts using an ancient Tantric massage technique.

Rose is currently studying to become a Tantric practitioner and a yoni massage therapist. She believes that for humans and therefore the planet to heal, the divine feminine energy in both men and women has to awaken. Tantra is a path to sacred union between the feminine and masculine.

Rose is passionate about maintaining a healthy, positive lifestyle and believes that good gut health, outdoor exercise,connecting with nature,yoga and meditation/ relaxation are paramount to accomplishing this.

You can find out more about Sahara Dance at her Facebook Page here and her AromaTouch Massage here..

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Tanja is a sought-after lifestyle coach, keynote speaker, founder of Ascend Fitness + Lifestyle, a holistic health coaching studio in Chilliwack, British Columbia Canada, and The Whole You Transformation ProjectTM. Tanja has built a credible reputation for helping 1000s of men and women ditch the diet, find real health, and feel GOOD in their bodies, so that they can have the freedom to fully experience life.

Tanja, her husband Keith, and their son Jacob live in Chilliwack, BC, about an hour outside of Vancouver Canada. She loves being active outdoors, such as running, hiking, paddle boarding.

Take her free course, the Diet Rules Actually Worth Following at www.tanjashaw.com/freecourse. 

Links: website: tanjashaw.com

instagram: @tanja_shaw

Facebook: /tanjashaw

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Dietician Laura Jean answers 5 Body Love Questions

This week on the podcast I interview Laura Jean.  I met Laura earlier this year when she passed through Albany with her family as she does “the big lap” around Australia.

Laura Jean is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian with 16 years experience who focuses on the ‘whys’ of eating and how you can connect to your body to guide your interaction with food. She is passionate about helping women develop a healthier relationship with food, ditch food rules and restriction, and be ‘less crazy’ around food. She empowers you to reclaim your inbuilt ability to interact with food and become the expert in your own food journey.

You can find Laura online here:

https://eatwithawareness.com  

https://www.facebook.com/EatWithAwareness/ 

https://www.instagram.com/eatwithawareness/ 

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Carlie Maree answers 5 questions about Body Love.

This week I interviewed bestselling author, Carlie Maree.  Her book Soul Modes: You are not one ordinary woman.  You’re four extraordinary ones,  has recently topped the Amazon charts in many categories including #1 in the Women and Business category.

Carlie Maree is a thought leader and industry disruptor with a deep understanding of how women work - what motivates them, what drives them and what holds them back.

Through her online programs and private coaching, she supports women to show up in their lives, and to do their work in the world in a big way.

From her home in beautiful bayside Melbourne, she reaches all over the globe via her podcast, Go Hack Yourself, and her social media channels - passionately granting them full permission to love, accept and show kindness to themselves so they can feel better than ever before.

You can find Carlie Maree on her Facebook page here, her Soul Modes page here and join the free Soul Modes Facebook group here.

And make sure you buy Carlie’s game-changing book, Soul Modes here.

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We have something new happening on The Body Love Show.  Most weeks I’ll be interviewing a woman about her experiences with Body Love.  I’ll ask each woman the same 5 questions so we can see how we all feel differently about our bodies yet in some ways we all feel the same.

My first interview subject is Aesha Kennedy.

Aesha helps visionary women connect deeply with innate SHAKTI DIVINE CREATIVE POWER, their true power, so they can expand their vision, have a bigger impact on a global scale and make more money without working harder.

Shakti is the source energy that is the creativity in everything. She is in every creative unfolding. When women connect with this powerful force and infinite creative potential, everything becomes a co-creation with the divine and feels easier, flowing, joyful.

Aesha is a visual artist, has taught classes in Yin yoga and presence for 29 years, and is a qualified life coach specialising in women’s empowerment.

She lives in the beautiful region of Northern Rivers, NSW.

Contact Aesah via these methods:

Website

https://www.aeshakennedy.com

Facebook Biz page

https://www.facebook.com/blossomintoyourself/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/aesha108kennedy/

FB Group -  Shakti Power Divas

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2487792881465336/

She also mentioned Accessible Yoga on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/accessibleyoga

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One of the questions I get asked a LOT is, “What is a body love coach?”  In this podcast episode I break it all down for you.

I’ll cover:

• What is a coach?
• What is a body love coach?
• How is it different to being a life coach, a health coach or a personal trainer?
• Who makes a good Body Love Coach?
• What employment opportunities or income generating activities are available for a body love coach?
• What are the other students like?
• Should you be a Body Love Coach?

Find out more about the Body Love Coach Certification Course at bodylovehq.com/academy

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We are not born hating our bodies. We get this way because of diet culture.

Diet culture is the not so invisible forces that make us believe that being thin is beautiful and guarantees health. It’s the messages from the media, advertising, news stories, celebrities, magazines, social media and influencers as well as our families, that have led us to believe that unless we fit into society’s narrow view of beauty or wellness we’ll never be enough.

Listen to understand how a self-compassionate approach is best for our overall health outcomes and some tips to create a ripple effect that could see us eradicate diet culture forever!

And you can check out the video that goes with this podcast here.

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A little while ago I surveyed everyone on my email list about what they wanted to know about Body Love.  (If you want to join my email list and receive weekly emails from me you can do that here.  Plus you’ll get access to some free meditation downloads.)  These were the top 10 most common questions and in this podcast episode I’ll answer them.

1. How do I stay motivated?
2. How to find a balance between work, kids, husband and maintaining the house, basically how to find time for me?
3. How to make exercise fun?
4. How can we persevere in body love when it's so counter cultural? 

• Join The Body Love Collective free Facebook group
• Join The Body Love Coach 12-month certification course

• Join The Body Love Coach 12-month certification course

If you’ve got more Body Love questions let me know in the comments below or send me an email at emma@bodylovehq.com

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When I hear women in cafes say things like this about cake, it makes me want to scream!

🙊 It's my guilty pleasure

🙊 Oh I shouldn't eat this, but I will

🙊 Go on, let's be naughty together

🙊 I'm so bad

🙊 No thanks, I'm being good

But then I remember that it’s not their fault.  It’s diet culture that makes us do it!

In this episode I give you some alternatives to Food Guilt that you may never have thought of before.  

Let’s embrace Body Positivity and let Food guilt be a thing of the past.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Links:

The Body Love Collective - Facebook group

Shrill TV show

Ditching Diet Culture Podcast episode

21-days Body Love Meditation

Chakra Balancing Course

The Body Love Coach 12-month Certification Program

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Last week I owned up to the fact that I don’t love my body at the moment and one of the big reasons is that I’m doing too much which means I am exhausted.

To continue the theme, this week I wanted to unpack the idea of exhaustion because the feedback I got is a lot of people are feeling the same way (shout out to all the teachers and EAs who listen!)

One of the big reasons we feel tired all the time is because we are doing too much and we have high expectations of ourselves and we find it hard to ask for or receive help.

But I think it’s bigger than that.  I think it’s because our souls are tired from living out of alignment with our values.

Listen in to this week’s episode to find out if that is true for you and for some practical advice about what you can do to rectify it.  

It’s the first step of The Body Love Method.

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In this personal episode I admit to not loving my body anymore.  It’s not that I don’t feel love toward my body… it’s that I don’t treat my body with love.

I have started putting too much emphasis on achievement, even when it comes to my self-care practices, rather than allowing myself to feel good.

It happens to all of us at some stage.  And it never feels good.

So, I am recommitting to the Body Love Method and the overarching principle of allowing vs. achieving.

And it means I will be decluttering my business.  I’ll have to decide what I love and what I don’t love anymore and make some changes.  Watch this space.

Can you make some changes in your life too?  Let’s do it together.

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I believe that all women can learn to love their bodies and free themselves from all the self-loathing that diet culture encourages!  But it does take some work. I hope this podcast and The Body Love Method™ give you lots of tools to love your body. But I know one size does not fit all so I want to share with you some of the biggest influencers in my Body Love Journey.  I call them my Body Love Heroes.

1. Taryn Brumfitt - director of the movie Embrace.  FInd her at tarynbrumfitt.com
2. Megan Jayne Crabbe - amazing Instagram personality and Body Positivity activist.  Plus author of Body Positive Power.  Find her on Instagram here.
3. Linda Bacon PhD created the Health at Every Size Movement and co-authored one of my favourite books Body Respect with Lucy Aphramor, PhD.  Find Linda at lindabacon.org.
4. Jaclyn London MS, RD, CDN author of Dressing on the side (and other diet myths debunked).  It’s a fun look at healthy eating without all the diet culture bullshit.  Check it out here.
5. Laura Thomas, PhD is s a kick-arse registered nutritionist and Intuitive Eating Counsellor based in London.  She is also the author of the book Just Eat It.  In her book Laura reminds us that our bodies are our own and we don’t need magazines, social media influencers or our mums to tell us how to treat ourselves.  Check her out here.
6. Mel Wells is an ex model and actress from the UK who knows how it feels to have her body publically scrutinised by the media!  Her book The Goddess Revolution - Make peace with Food, Love Your Body and Reclaim Your Life is easy to read and packs a huge inspirational punch.  Find her here.
7. And I couldn’t go without mentioning Louise Hay as one of my Body Love Heroes.  Here is an amazing affirmation from her book, You can heal your life.

“In the infinity of life where I am,

All is perfect, whole and complete.

I accept health as the natural state of my being.

I now consciously release any mental patterns within me

That could express dis-ease in any way.

I love and approve of myself.

I love and approve of my body.

I feed it nourishing food and beverages.

I exercise it in ways that are fun.

I recognise my body as a wondrous and magnificent machine,

And I feel privileged to live in it.

I love lots of energy.

All is well in my world.”

Image Credit: https://www.facebook.com/bodyposipanda

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It’s occurred to me that I say the words “diet culture” A LOT on this podcast but perhaps you don’t know what I mean when I say that…

Diet culture is the not so invisible forces that make us believe that being thin is beautiful and guarantees health.  It’s the messages from the media, advertising, news stories, celebrities, magazines, social media and influencers as well as our families that have led us to believe that unless we fit into society’s narrow view of beauty or wellness we’ll never be enough. 

It’s why we oppress people with larger bodies - call them lazy, don’t give them promotions or jobs, or use them at the butt of jokes in movies and tv.

Diet culture is a slippery, conniving, ever changing thing that robs people of their time, money, health, happiness, and so much more.

And it’s been completely invented mostly in the 20th century by the advertising industry and big pharma.  I mean it’s bloody genius because diets don’t work which means when we are caught up in diet culture we’ll just keep going back for more and more and more.

So what do we do about it?

1. Well, now you know about it that’s the first step.  Decide that you don’t want your life, body. Money, mind and self-esteem determined by this completely made up bullshit
2. Start to accept that all bodies are amazing! Our bodies are a complex system of miracles that keeps us alive every single day.  And just like everything else in nature is diverse, so are human bodies
3. Understand that it is possible to have health at every size.  Fitness levels and mobility are much better indicators of health than body size.
4. Stop praising people for being thin or losing weight.  Start to appreciate people for who they are rather than what they look like.
5. Learn to love yourself no matter what you look like so that you’ll want to take the best care of yourself that you can.  The Body Love Method is a great starting point. Watch a video all about The Method here.

As a last note, please don’t beat yourself up if you have been caught up in diet culture.  Don’t start to regret all the time you have spent on diets or feeling bad about yourself or all the money you have wasted on diets.  Wipe the slate clean. You can just start fresh today.

And know that you are enough, you have always been enough and your body is worthy of love and respect no matter what.

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This week I was reminded of how far I’ve come with my Body Love mission in two ways.

Firstly I was reintroduced to a podcast interview I did late in 2017.  It was a few months before I wrote The Body Love Method and I had started to see results in my clients.

In the interview I spoke about how Body Love is essential for two reasons:

1. It frees up a lot of brain space because when we let go of diet culture and feeling not good enough ALL.  THE. TIME. we have more time for thinking about and doing things that are really important. And we’ll naturally take good care of ourselves because we believe we are worthy.
2. It allows women to be seen as they really are, not as some pretty play thing for others to look at.  So that might mean you are more likely to put your face on a Facebook Live or go swim at the beach with your kids or put yourself on a dating app. 

If you’d like to listen to the interview you can check it out here.

The second blast from the past was being asked to be a speaker on a post-screening panel of the documentary Embrace.

If you’re not familiar with the documentary, it follows Australian Taryn Brumfitt on her quest to talk to women around the world about why they hate their bodies.  Taryn herself almost got plastic surgery at one stage and competed in a beach body contest after her babies. But she realised that having the perfect body did not make her happy - it just made her stressed out and depleted.  So she posted a photo of her in the competition as a “before” photo and after the competition with a few lumps and bumps as her “after” photo. It went viral.

I first watched this movie in 2016, just before I had a full hysterectomy to treat stage 4 endometriosis.  It was at the height of me hating my body because it was painful, it was bloated and I couldn’t live a normal life at that time.  So watching this movie sparked something in me and was the beginning of my body love journey.

Some of the key points in the movie are:

1. 70% of girls are dissatisfied with their bodies
2. 45% of women in the normal weight range think they are overweight
3. Australians spend more than $1 million a DAY on fad diets
4. More than 50% of 5-12 year olds want to lose weight
5. And many of the women interviewed in the movie used one word to describe their bodies - DISGUSTING

Check out the documentary here.

I had to learn to love my own body before I could teach you to love yours.  You have to learn to love your body before you can teach your girls to love theirs.  You have to model the behaviour… otherwise they just won’t believe you… and the cycle continues.  

And by loving your body I mean loving it as it is.  Not being obsessed with making it look a certain way.  Not by counting calories and weighing your food. You have to love your body unconditionally first and then it will be possible for the next generation.

Luckily it is possible to learn to love your body right now.  There are tools I talk about in the Body Love Method like forgiveness, decluttering, meditation and journaling.

There are movies like Embrace. There are books like Body Positive Power and Body Respect.  There’s this podcast.

And I’m also excited about the ripple effect The Body Love Academy is making.  My student Kat had body image issues (like the rest of us) and was worried about her teenage girl’s body image too.  But after just 8 months in the Academy both Kat and her daughter are in awe of their bodies and feeling increased confidence.  It’s a joy to watch.

So what can you do to strengthen your own body love, to pass it down to the next generation, to free yourself and others of all that mean girl clutter that goes with hating your body.  Imagine the freedom of letting it all go. I have and it’s amazing!

I am taking applications for the next round of the Academy right now with classes starting in October 2019 so if you’d like to see if you are right of the Academy, take the free quiz at bodylovehq.com/quiz

Have a great week and speak to you soon.

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Lately my body has been sore.  Sore feet, sore hips, sore neck.  And when I finally got to the point of cancelling classes due to headaches and pain I knew I had to do something about it.

More than once I had been recommended the services of Bevie Collier, a Master Rehab Trainer, Barefoot Specialist, Personal Trainer and founder of Sustainable Motion.

I’ve known Bevie for a while because I used to attend her fitness classes before she left the gym to start her own business.  While I was studying personal training I was in awe of the effortless way Bevie could teach classes. She was a role model.

So I went to see her for my body troubles and was delighted with the results.

In this episode I interview Bevie and we discuss her unique approach to fitness, dealing with repetitive strain, burnout, fitness plateaus, injuries or illness, and how to broach the gap between health and fitness (they are different things!).

You can connect with Bevie and Sustainable Motion on Facebook here or the website here.

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This is our 50th episode.  When I started this show I hadn’t thought about milestones but now that I’ve been producing this show for over a year I am excited to celebrate 50 shows and more than 2000 downloads.

I wanted to celebrate by interviewing one of my long term clients, Nadia.

Back at the beginning of 2018, Nadia was introduced to me by her friend Anne.  She knew she needed support and took the big step of investing in herself by doing my 12-week private coaching program.

Since then Nadia has re-evaluated her career, given up coffee (not always easy) and created a tool-kit that supports her through the good times and the bad.

Nadia has been to workshops, yoga classes and most recently my Body Love Bali retreat and she beautifully embodies living a Body Love life.

I hope you enjoy this special show.

If you would like to invest in yourself like Nadia did, go to bodylovehq.com/vip to learn more about the Body Love 12-week private coaching program.

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The Body Love Show - 3 things you need to know about the Bali Retreat

I recorded this week’s episode in Bali while on retreat with 8 other beautiful women.

It’s the first retreat I’ve ever hosted overseas and so far it is going so well and we are all having a fantastic time.

In this episode I share 3 things I would love you to know about the retreat - not the workshops or what kind of yoga we are doing… but the really important stuff like true connections with like-minded people and releasing some old pain.

This retreat has been transformative in many ways so far and we are only half way through.

I hope you enjoy this behind the scenes look at the retreat (including crazy Ubud traffic) and if you’d like to come to the next Bali retreat get access to a guaranteed spot at bodylovehq.com/events 

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Melynnda Jelley works for a Not for Profit organisation in a Management position. She has 2 fantastic boys, a spoilt fur baby and an amazingly supportive husband that is always encouraging her to invest in her wellbeing  and grab time for herself.

Melynnda is a qualified Life Coach and creator of Harmonious Me. Melynnda wants to help women feel comfortable with who they are mentally and physically, to find their true essence to be able to shine and live their intended life full of self connection and self awareness. So many women set their success again other woman rather than against themselves, against what they want to achieve, how they want to get from feeling unworthy to truly at one with themselves and the life they are living.

Melynnda loves connecting with Mother Earth through gardening and creating nature spaces on her 3 acres of bush.  

Melynnda finds moments of ritual in all parts of her day from first waking in the morning with The aroma of her favourite essential oils to pouring her first cup of tea and setting the intent for the day ahead. “ I feel connected to my surroundings and myself when I use ritual as part of my day, take for example a day at work for me includes a number of rituals like the way I set my desk up each morning and the way I refill my water bottle with the visualisation of physically filling up my cup and then having abundance in my day.” Many people have ways of doing things each day the same and may not even connect it to being a ritual. 

I love this interview where we discuss ritual, body love and how you know if you should join The Body Love Academy.

You can connect with Melynnda on her Facebook page Harmonious Me.

If you would like to learn more about The Body Love Academy, click here.

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In this podcast episode I interview Adele Renee (You can check out her interview with me here)

Adele Renee is a wife and Mum to 3 young children and is launching her own business as a personal mentor and coach for Mum's. 

Adele's journey into motherhood has been a struggle, going from a career and study driven perfectionist to an overwhelmed Mum that pretended to have it all together on the outside but was lost and falling apart on the inside. 

Her overwhelm turned into post natal depression and anxiety on two occasions and with the help of a therapist and coach she managed to pull herself out of the dark hole she was in and completely change her life. 

One of the huge changes she has made with her family is selling their house in NSW and possessions, buying a caravan and travelling Australia. She is currently near Margaret River in Western Australia. 

Her purpose now is to help other Mum's feeling overwhelmed and lost to put themselves first and find calm who they really are.

In the interview we discuss her postnatal depression and what drove her to seek help, how she is now grateful for the dark times and the huge life-changing decision to sell up everything and create a new life.

I hope you feel inspired by Adele’s journey - I’m sure you will!

Find Adele online here

Find her on Facebook here

Join her free Facebook Group here 

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Recently I was interviewed by Adele Renee who is a personal mentor and coach for mums.  She is currently traveling around Australia with her family and along the way she is interviewing people by asking 10 questions.

I love this interview because Adele’s questions are so insightful and I like my answers :)

During the interview I forget a quote from A Course in Miracles.  It is:

“Where would you have me go?

What would you have me do?

What would you have me say?

And to whom?”

Adele’s microphone is incredible so during the interview you’ll hear Barney’s snores and a heavy shower of rain!

I will be interviewing Adele soon so keep an ear out for that.

In the meantime you can find her on her Facebook page.

And you can learn more about The Body Love Academy here.  Applications are now open for around starting in October 2019.

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Peggy is a full time Receptionist, an Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator of 12 years sharing stamping and creativity through classes and workshops.  She is also a Body Love Coach (in training). Peggy is passionate about helping women to live a lifestyle of self acceptance, compassion, inspiration and creativity.

She says, “I believe women have so many expectations from society, family and those we give ourselves, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and caught up in the busy-ness and stress of life.  Creativity and inspiration through crafting is one of my ways to relieve stress. I have a Certificate 1 in Reiki, enjoy meditation, journaling, oracle cards and reading as other ways to combat stress and create happiness.”

Peggy is a Mum to two precious Miniature Daschunds Adam and Bella.  These two little lively characters are the light and joy in her life and they know it.  She is also always planning the next renovation in my home…

Peggy currently run monthly stamping classes two nights a month – both nights students make the same projects.  The classes in August are Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th, and students make 3 projects all materials supplied. 

In the podcast we explore some of these topics: 

            How did Peggy start her body love journey?

            What prompted her to sign up for The Body Love Academy?

            What’s Peggy’s favourite part of The Body Love Method?

You can contact Peggy by Email:  peggyq@westnet.com.au

Or on Facebook:                                           https://www.facebook.com/peggyquarmbyalbany

In the podcast we also talks about forgiveness - learn more here:  Podcast about forgiveness 

If you’re interested in The Body Love Academy, we start the next intake in October.  Check out all the information here.  Or take the quiz to find out if The Academy is right for you.

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Now, you might be wondering what the hell my dog’s birthday has to do with Body Love.  Well. I think adopting him was my first step in understanding unconditional love. This animal was going to love me no matter what so I started to see myself through his eyes and it made it easier to start to love myself.  (Is that too soppy?)  

Think about your own pets… do they often look at you with unconditional love?   Are they going to hate you if you eat some cake? No! Will they be pleased if you put down the washing and take them out for a walk instead?  Yes!  

Try seeing yourself through your pet’s eyes for a day and you’ll start to feel a bit differently about yourself.  Unless you have a grumpy cat lol.

The other big thing anniversary at Body Love HQ this week is the start of my free Facebook Group, The Body Love Collective.  It’s 4 years old. The Body Love Collective a place where women from all over the world gather to learn and share ideas about how to love themselves in the same way Barney loves me.

This week in honour of it’s birthday I have added new daily themes to give some structure and focus to what is shared.

If you haven’t joined you can do that here.  And even if you’re not on Facebook, keep listening because I’d love you to use the power of the group even if you’re not in it by following the daily themes in your journal or other social media!

Monday is inspiration day.  Think motivational quotes, setting intentions, or personal stories of inspiration and success.  When we feel inspired it's easier to take positive action.

Tuesday is all about freedom.  How have you felt a sense of freedom lately?  Freedom from body shame or diet culture, freedom from guilt, freedom from toxic work environments?  Or if you need help with that then ask a question and I’ll answer it for you.

Wednesday is Body Love day.  Only 20% of women in Australia like their bodies.  (It's about the same in most Western countries). So it's a rebellious act to love your body, flaws and all!  Think about what you love about your body today… or how have you treated yourself with love?

Thursday is Self Care day.  This is slightly different to Body Love Day.  This is all about putting yourself first while ditching the guilt.  Share your self care plan or let us know if you need help.

And finally, Friday is Share day.  Share what you’ve seen on the internet about Body Love or share something from your business or life that is Body Positive.  I also encourage you share something to your own private Facebook profile to help spread the ripple effect of Body Love and acceptance.  The more we all talk about it and normalise it, the more likely it is that one day body shame will be eradicated forever!

So come and join the group.  It’s a free daily reminder to love yourself and share that message with others.

And if you feel inspired to be a Body Love Coach and create your own Body Love Business, but you’re not sure if it’s right for you… then take this new quiz.  It’s a quick and easy way to take the next step towards becoming a coach… and it’s FREE.

Photo by Hazel Blake Photography

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I’ve realised this week that my #1 life mission is to help hundreds and thousands of busy working women to find a sense of freedom in their hectic lives.

The best thing that has come out of ditching my 9 to 5 career and creating my business is the sense of freedom I have.  

Just like last week, I write this while I have my dog snuggled at my feet.  I wasn’t allowed to bring dogs to my last corporate job. I actually had to give away my pet guinea pig because I wasn’t home enough to look after him properly.

I spent the morning having coffee and cake with a friend.  I don’t have to wait until the weekend to do these things.

And next month, I’m off to Bali, for work(!) for 7 days.  I decided a couple of years ago that I wanted a winter holiday every year and now I get paid to go on one!  And yes it is work, but it hardly feels like it.

So, it might have taken me 7 years to get to this point, but I definitely know how to do it faster now and I’m excited that I get to share these business building hacks with my Academy students and private business coaching clients.

What does freedom look like for you?  If you could do anything every morning when you wake up, what would your day be like?

You might be thinking about your ideal day but interrupt yourself with thoughts of, “I couldn’t do that.  Who am I to do that? I don’t have the confidence to do that…”

But believe me… you can.

Here’s a simple but transformative practice I did in 2017 which got me on the path to creating The Body Love Method, creating the Academy and creating The Body Love Bali retreat.

It’s a bit uncomfortable but truly incredible.

It’s from Rebecca Campbell’s book, Rise Sister Rise.  And if you like the practice then buy the book.  It’s full of ideas like these.

And if you do decide to do the practice (and you should!) send me message on Instagram or Facebook (or comment below) and tell me how you go.

And be the first to find out when I open the next round of The Body Love Academy by registering here.

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On the weekend I had the monthly call with The Body Love Academy students.  I feel like a proud mother hen because they have just finished learning the full Body Love Method and we are starting all the business building information - which I love.  Do you know I have a Marketing degree?

Anyhow, on this monthly call I asked everyone what was resonating most for them from The Body Love Method and almost all of the women said it was the overarching principle of The Method - Allowing vs. Achieving.

And as I record this week’s podcast the Winter Solstice has just passed which is another reminder of this principle - I believe one of the reasons why people get so sick in winter is because they are pushing too hard to get things done even though winter is naturally a time for hibernation, rest and recovery and dreaming for the future.  That “soldier on with Codral” ad has a lot to answer for!

So, what is allowing vs. achieving?

It’s a harmony between going with the flow and taking action.  It’s accepting help when it’s offered. It’s doing more of what lights you up!

The principle of allowing vs. achieving was inspired by nature (our bodies, plants, lifecycles, seasons) and from The Law of Attraction.

It’s important for body love because when we are constantly pushing, striving and doing only what is expected of us it leads to stress on our bodies, minds and spirits.  And if we have only one life in this body, shouldn’t we treat it with less stress and more love? Shouldn’t we just do more of what lights us up?

When we do we experience more freedom - freedom from body shaming and diet culture, freedom from excessive stress in our everyday lives and freedom to have more time to do what we really love.

Listen to the podcast to learn how to get harmony between allowing vs. achieving

Learn more about what I spoke about in the podcast:

• How to say “no” - watch this episode of Body Love TV
• More about The Body Love Academy
• Get first access when the doors open to The Academy and get a discount by registering here

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Samara Romanis is my guest this week.  She is a body love advocate, coach and mentor - and one of the students in The Body Love Academy.

Her passion is to build women up, to believe in themselves, to know they are worthy of self love and they are 100% more than they think they are.

Samara is a mum to four boys. She has been parenting now for 10 years and each and every birth experience has been completely different. She says, “I have been on the cuddly side since I was about 6 years old and have battled an eating disorder” (emotional eating / over eating).

Since having her fourth baby in 2017 she decided to take a stand for herself. She has  been investing in herself and making herself a priority to gain self acceptance, happiness and freedom to “just be and do me, the best way i know how”.

She is the creator of an amazing program called Body Love After Birthing Babes.  This is really important work and I am thrilled to be able to share it with you in this episode.

Get in contact with Samara or follow her on social media to see more of what she is doing (she’s so inspiring)

Website: samararomanis.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samararomanismentor

Instagram: @Samara Romanis

Body Love After Birthing Babes Course: https://www.samararomanis.com/so/04Mg_dW5P#/main

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It might seem that I’ve always loved my body, or that learning to love my body was easier for me than it would be for you.  NOT TRUE!

My body image issues started from a very young age and affected me so much that by my mid 30’s I had no confidence and my brain was constantly filled with negative thoughts from my inner critic.  It affected my confidence at work, in my relationships, it affected my health and my assertiveness. Plus I was constantly thinking about how I look, if I’d eaten too much, if I had exercised enough… etc.  I was never present, I was always complaining about the past or riddled with anxiety about the future. I felt trapped and I was miserable.

My body love journey is now in phase 4 and of course it still continues to evolve.

Phase one was when I quit my toxic career and relocated to a regional town so that I could live with a lot less daily stress.

At this point studying something I was interested in (health coaching and personal training) and investing in coaches to help me gain confidence was imperative to my evolution.

Phase two was after having a hysterectomy for endometriosis I had battled for so long.  While I was recovering in hospital I had a moment of divine guidance where I was told, “You have punished your body for long enough, now it’s time to love your body.”

During this phase I started to really look after myself, set up boundaries so I had more free time, went to Bali on retreat and took some time away from alcohol.

Phase three was only a few months after the surgery.  I had hired a business coach because I felt ready to take my business to the next level.  But this coach body shamed me by commenting on my appearance in photos. It was then that I realised this message had to go out to the whole world.  Women need to live without body shame!

My Body Love journey continues because I still work too hard and don’t give myself enough me time.  I find it hard to say no. But I rarely feel bad about how I look (even though I am larger than I’ve ever been). I don’t worry about what I eat or if I’ve done enough exercise.  I know that I am enough no matter what!

So I guess right now I am in phase four of my body love journey and this where I’m at!

I am a body love expert and coach.

I love to free women from the bonds of diet culture and their own inner critics by teaching body positive fitness classes and using the modalities from The Body Love Method™ in private coaching, workshops and retreats.

I do this for busy career-focused women who are being held back by their inner critic especially when it comes to their bodies, their health, their self-care and at work.

These women need personally tailored advice and accountability to make sustainable, body positive lifestyle changes quickly and without too much fuss.

After my clients have worked with me they have the confidence to stand up for themselves at work and for their own self-care outside of work so they feel energised and more productive; they are ready to get that next promotion or pay rise; or sometimes they are ready to ditch the corporate grind and create a new career on their own terms in an industry that means something to them.

If you want to work with me on your first phase of your Body Love Journey (or your 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 100th!) then consider doing my 1-month private program - find out more at bodylovehq.com/body-love-blueprint.

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When you think about body image issues, do you assume it refers just to teenagers?  Unfortunately about 80% of adult women in Australia also have body image issues. And they are holding themselves back from life because of it.

My mission is to help women everywhere love their bodies because I know it will help improve their confidence, health and bank balance!

So last week I created The Body Lover’s Manifesto which are 6 sentences that describe what a woman in my community believes, acts and feels.

You can download a copy of the Body Lover’s Manifesto here.

Check out the video about dogs & body image.

If you are interested in my Body Love Blueprint 4-week program you can find out more here.

And let me know if you want to be a body lover!  Comment below or send me an email at emma@bodylovehq.com

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This week I am giving you a behind the scenes look at what the women in The Body Love Academy are learning this week.

It’s all about upleveling.

When we take the time to love our bodies and our lives we will come across 2 phenomena - self-sabotage and upleveling.

Self-sabotage is absolutely normal and not something to beat yourself up about.  But it’s good to get it under control.

Listen to my podcast all about this topic by clicking here.

Now listen to this week’s show to learn the 9 point checklist that you can use to create a life that is always upleveling (i.e. getting better and better!)

(And tell me in the comments which one will be the hardest for you!)

Learn more about The Body Love Academy here.

And if you find this list really confronting then maybe The Body Love Method VIP program is right for you.  Read all about it here.

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There are 2 ways to look at Body Love.  

One is the way we feel about our bodies.  Ultimately I want you to be able to say you love your body.  Why? When we genuinely feel love and respect for our bodies it frees up a lot of mental and emotional bandwidth for more important things.

The second way is the way we treat our bodies.  Do you treat yourself with compassion? Do you look after your body with love - with nutritious food, gentle movement and plenty of rest?

If you’re busy working full time or running a business as well as looking after your family you are probably thinking, “This Body Love stuff is all well and good Emma, but I just don’t have time!”

Here’s the thing that might be surprising… when we live Body Love lifestyles it SAVES you time.  When you aren’t thinking about how bad your thighs look, you are way more productive. When you stop following diet plans and eat according to what your body wants it saves you time (and money!).  When you stop needing to burn X number of calories at the gym and just enjoy moving your body, you don’t have to fit in with anyone else’s timetable.

I will admit that it takes a bit of time to learn to love your body, to trust that you can be healthy without needing to be a size 10 at any cost.  But with a short term investment of time, and a lifelong commitment to being gentle towards yourself, you could have more time on your hands than you could ever imagine!

Here are the 4 steps you can take to love your body and free up that time you deserve:

1. Decide that’s what you want (intention)
2. Remove the actions you take that you don’t enjoy (declutter)
3. Forgive yourself for treating yourself so badly for so long (forgive)
4. Surround yourself with reminders of what it is you want (Positive Anchor)

If you want support to learn to love your body check out my VIP coaching program at bodylovehq.com/vip

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She asks:

How do I get past the fact I am overweight but still beautiful? Why can't I see what other people see in me instead of just the outside?

Firstly, I ask the question, “over what weight?”

I also explain a few ways to recognise your own beauty and love yourself no matter what your size.

I refer to this book in the podcast: Body Positive Power by Meagan Jayne Crabbe.

Learn more about the online Body Love course here.

And send me your questions about Body Love here and I might answer it in a future podcast.

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In the next few weeks I will be starting the online course for The Body Love Method.  Until now I have only offered it as a one on one coaching program which can be out of some people’s budgets (especially when we don’t value ourselves!) or through The Body Love Academy where I’m teaching other women how to be Body Love Coaches and create their own businesses.

And it’s since I started teaching the students in The Academy that I’ve become acutely aware of how powerful it is to learn about Body Love in a group environment.  My students get to see how each other are processing the information, knowing they aren’t the only one can really make them feel better about themselves and I love watching them share their wins and support each other.

So it made me realise that it was time for me to create an online version of The Body Love Method so that its more affordable and so women can go through the process as a group and get the same benefits as my Academy students are getting.

I’d love to share a bit about the program and how it works so you know everything that you need to know before diving in!

You can access all the information and register at bodylovehq.com/online

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• We almost only see skinny, white, young, bendy, beautiful women
• It’s just focused on Asana or physical poses
• More & more it seems to have a go hard or go home orientation - handstands, crazy asana on the edge of the cliff, Tabata yoga, weight loss focus, etc.

This can make yoga seem impossible for people who have larger bodies, or who are injured or chronically ill.

However yoga does help body image

A 2018 Study showed:

• 16.2% of young adults reported practicing yoga at least 30 min/week.
• Practicing yoga was associated with higher levels of body satisfaction.
• Yoga practitioners with prior low body satisfaction showed greater increases.

So, what types are especially good for larger, older or sorer bodies?

I love Yin and restorative yoga which can be suitable for almost anyone!

And don’t forget, yoga is more than just the physical practice, there are the 8 limbs of yoga.

The good news is that there are more and more body positive role models:

Jessamyn Stanley (find her on Instagram or read this article)

Sarah Harry author of Fat Yoga

Adapted Yoga (follow on Instagram)

Me!

Here’s how to get involved in my yoga classes both in person and online.

Classes in Albany

Go With the Flow - 6 week online course

Chakra Balancing Online Course

And get GWTF free with new Body Love Method online course which is coming out very soon!

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According to a guest that Oprah had on her show in the early 90’s, forgiveness is letting go of the idea that the past can be any different.  In the context of Body Love, it’s not condoning bad behaviour or turning the other cheek but it’s accepting that something has happened and deciding to move on from it… I know, easier said than done.

Another way of looking at forgiveness is letting go of resentment and thoughts of revenge.

Now, you might be thinking, “I never have thoughts of revenge!”

But let me turn that back on you and ask…  “Have you ever gone on a strict diet after having a blow out of food?”  Well that is revenge my friend! Instead of forgiving yourself and loving yourself no matter what, you’ve decided to hurt yourself for the perceived harm you’ve put on yourself by “quote unquote eating too much crappy food”

How many thoughts or acts of revenge have you perpetrated on yourself over the years?

Because in terms of Body Love, most of the forgiveness that needs to be done is toward yourself.  And that’s why it’s so transformative. In our society we are taught to take revenge on ourselves all the time - if you’re not succeeding, work harder, if you eat too much, go on a restrictive diet, if you fail at that, go on a different one, punish yourself at the gym, no pain no gain…

So what are some of the known benefits of forgiveness?

• Healthier relationships
• Improved mental health
• Less anxiety, stress and hostility
• Lower blood pressure
• Fewer symptoms of depression
• A stronger immune system
• Improved heart health
• Improved self-esteem

Not only does forgiveness support us emotionally, it actually supports our physical health too.

Who do you need to forgive?

Yourself, first and foremost.  The amount of ways in which we seek revenge on ourselves is mind boggling and unnecessary!

Friends, family & acquaintances - sometimes its the people closest to us that can cause the most pain.  Remember I am not asking you to necessarily condone the behaviour but letting go of resentment can be so healing, mostly for yourself.

People of influence, whether that was teachers or bosses or even celebrities or politicians

Institutions like the churches, banks or schools

Systems like the patriarchy or capitalism

At this point it’s important for me to say that if any of these forgiveness suggestions trigger extreme feelings of distress, please seek professional help from your GP or other mental health support.

So you might be thinking… this is all well and good Emma, but HOW can I forgive these things, especially when I’ve been upset for years or I’ve been beating myself up forever?

Ho'opnopono - read more here

Cord Cutting - try this meditation  (Download the Insight Timer App for free)

Journaling (letter writing)

Visualisation - listen to this podcast for more info

Metta meditation - try my version

Which forgiveness practice will you try?  Tell me in the comments.

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Yoga Nidra is a deeply relaxing practice that helps our bodies find homeostasis (or our natural state of equilibrium).

It is a guided process so all you need to do is to lie back and listen to the instructions.

Anyone can practice and gain the benefits.

I really wanted to give you this experience so find yourself 40 minutes to give yourself the gift of deep relaxation.

Thanks to Swami Saraswati for the Yoga Nidra script.  Learn more here.

If you would like to join my free 21-day Body Love Meditation program you can sign up here.

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This week an old client of mine had told me she was dealing with some old emotional issues that had come up and that her fibromyalgia symptoms had started to return.

She’s been having a huge amount of success in her business lately.  So naturally, she asked me - why does all this crap come up when you hit good times?

And it’s a common phenomenon.

I’ll have clients start my VIP program or some of my fitness classes and sometimes within days they are sick or injured or a family or money issue has come up and then they can’t continue with these new improvements that they wanted.

Another example is when people ask why they continue to binge eat or drink when they know they feel better when they eat healthily or have alcohol-free days.

Or how about that friend of yours that goes back to her deadbeat boyfriend even though she knows she is better off without him.

The common denominator here is something called SELF-SABOTAGE.  And to be honest, it’s a bitch!

Self-Sabotaging behaviour is when we do things (or it seems things happen to us) in a completely opposite way to what we want to happen.

And this type of behaviour can be conscious or unconscious.  And that makes it even harder to control!

So, what are some common types of self-sabotaging behaviour?  I’ve mentioned a few already, but here’s a comprehensive list:

• Substance abuse
• Procrastination
• Self-harm
• Negative self-beliefs
• Having preconceptions about people or activities
• Being arrogant
• Discouraging before actually trying something
• Maintaining harmful relationships
• Working too hard
• Hiding your talents or true self from the world

Can you tick a few of these boxes?  Is this the first time you’ve realised you might be engaging in self-sabotaging behaviour?

Why do we self-sabotage?  There are many theories so let me run you through some of them:

This first one I was introduced to by Tamala Ridge who I interviewed for The Body Love Summit that I held in 2017  (you can access 12 wonderful interviews on Body Love at thebodylovesummit.com) Tamala is an expert in Spiritual Mentoring, Intuitive Reading and Addictions Recovery.

She explained that MANY OF US are actually addicted to stress.  Each of our cells has receptors which adapt and get used to receiving certain hormones.  When we are in a constant state of stress (which many of our self-sabotaging behaviours will make us feel) our cells receive stress hormones (like adrenaline and cortisol).  When we start new behaviours that make us feel better our cells think something is wrong because they aren’t getting their stress hormone fix. So our bodies influence our brains to make decisions that will get us stressed again!

Another reason why we self-sabotage is to relieve vulnerability.  If we start a new habit or go for a new job, there are no guarantees we’ll be successful.  The uncertainty doesn’t feel good. So it’s just easier to not even try, to stay in the comfort zone.  So we go back to our old behaviours.

Low self-worth or even self-loathing can be a reason for self-sabotage.  This is usually an unconscious type of self-sabotage. If we mess up a good opportunity then we are just proving to ourselves that we are a crappy person which of course reinforces our low self-worth or self-loathing.

And finally, we might just simply have bad habits.  And it takes a while to create new habits so each time we go back to our old ways it feels like we are self-sabotaging again!  

So how do we fix our self-sabotaging behaviour?

Firstly - it will probably never 100% go away.  Each time we make improvements in our lives we’ll come up against new challenges.  But in my opinion, that’s one of the best things about being alive! Making tweaks and changes and constantly improving feels great.

But, if you are serious about making improvements in your life - here are some tips:

1. Name the self-sabotaging behaviour.  Admit to it. Share it with a friend or loved one.  Once it’s out there it’s hard to ignore!
2. Think about what you are avoiding with self-sabotaging behaviour?  - For most people, we are avoiding being hurt. We don’t go for the new job because we don’t want to risk being rejected.  We keep overeating so that we have an excuse to feel unattractive and then we don’t have to put ourselves out there. Or we are always arrogant to strangers so that they won’t get close to us and we won’t risk rejection.  Make a long list and try to see how silly they are!
3. Make a list of what you actually DO want!  Not material things, but how you want to feel?  Connected, fit, healthy, happy, free
4. Take action.  And take more action.  Forgive yourself when you stuff up and take action again.
5. And finally - work on your self-esteem.  Build up your confidence. Work on yourself!  The Body Love Method I have created will help you with that!  You can learn more at Bodylovehq.com/vip or keep an eye out for my new group coaching program that comes out later this month.

Check out these fabulous resources for helping you ditch the self-sabotage:

Brene Brown’s video on Vulnerability

The Big Leap by Gay Hendericks

How to stop feeling like sh*t by Andrea Owen

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I share a fairly common story of a woman struggling with low self-esteem.

Then I share some shocking statistics on how low self-esteem fueled by body image issues affect women and girls.

And finally, I explain three ways you can boost your self-image today!

If you would like to join the free 21-day Body Love Meditation program please click here.

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We all know the new year doesn't really start until Feb but now I'm arguing it started today!

Check out this special episode where I give you 3 practices you can try to help use this special energy.

Click here to see the card that I mention in the podcast.

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It happens to all women but some suffer terribly from symptoms such as weight gain, hot flushes, sleeplessness and irritability.

These symptoms can wreak havoc on a woman's ability to embrace body love so in this week's episode I wanted to reframe some of these symptoms to illustrate how our bodies are often trying to help us!  (Even if it doesn't feel that way).

What if weight gain happens to protect our bones from a fall as we get older?

What if hot flushes are our body's way of telling us we need to reduce stress?

What if we get cranky because we've been keeping silent for too long?

What if our sleeplessness is our wisdom awakening?

What if our physical fatigue is the body saying "REST!!!"

Listen to this week's episode where I flesh these ideas out a little more.

You may also like to listen to this earlier episode on stress to understand a little more about the hormonal changes from chronic stress.

And if you need support please book a free Body Love Consultation to learn more about The Body Love Method and if it can help you.

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In this short "long weekend" podcast ep I give you four reasons you should watch Isn't It Romantic on Netflix.

Let me know what you think!

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Why?

Because the best way to connect to people (without being in the same room) is with photos.  If someone has never seen your face, they are unlikely to hire you as their coach.

But, I think selfies are essential for everyone.

I can feel your *eye-roll* from here.  And I imagine you are thinking, "I hate taking selfies!"I completely understand.  But there are 2 very big reasons why selfies are important when it comes to Body Love.1. Often women don't like the way they look because they are comparing themselves to professional models or Instagram Influencers.  We all need to see more diverse bodies and faces and the only way that will happen is if we take photos of ourselves!2. Your kids want to see you.  Your partner loves you.  They want photos of you!  Photos document the special moments in our lives and no doubt, you orchestrated most of them, you should be part of the memories!Here's the thing - you CAN learn to take a good selfie.  Today I interviewed Paula Ivy, a Sydney based photographer who specialises in how to take a really good selfie.My students in The Body Love Academy wanted to know how to take a good photo of themselves and I thought you might like to know too!  

In this episode, we talk about how to take a good selfie AND why it's an important step in Body Love.

Some of the technical stuff we cover is how to find good lighting and angles, the best locations to take photos, equipment that works well and how video is a great way to take a good photo (huh?)

We also talk about the mindset around taking a good photo too.

Please follow Paula on Facebook.  

And you can work with Paula in the following ways:

#SELFography Workshops In person Sunrise to lunchtime All over Australia PM to host one in your location

#MEographyMEmbership $22 per month - Workshops, Hot seats, Courses, Training series, Community support.  Ask questions anytime in the group Paula shares all the technical stuff about taking photos, especially of you. Social media & content creating help and we are getting more into video creating for your courses, promos, vlogs etc. too. Also mindset help to get you into your own photos if there is resistance there.

Her latest bundle is the #PoseLikeABoss BundlePre recorded videosFocusing on techniques for posingBonus FB LIVE Q&A for the next weekhttp://bit.ly/2MWqj8y

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Joint pain is a great example.

When we are in physical pain it can be so hard to be truly loving to ourselves.  Often we push through the pain just to “get things done”, or we are unable to get the awesome benefits of exercise because it hurts too much to move, and sometimes we can get stuck in victim mode because we are constantly thinking “there’s nothing I can do about it.  Joint pain is part of getting old”.

All of these responses are totally understandable.  Recently I was suffering a lot from joint pain and these are the things I did to help neutralise the problem:

1. I started to practice (and teach) Yin Yoga.  This practice is long-held floor poses with support so that there is no muscle contraction and instead the poses work with the connective tissue (joints, tendons and fascia).  This beautifully mindful practice will help to increase flexibility and decrease overall stress. I studied Yin Yoga online and the course I did is available to anyone, even if you aren’t a yoga teacher.
2. I took a course of collagen supplements.  There are many different types of supplements you can take from turmeric to collagen, to Omega 3s.  I highly recommend you speak to a naturopath or a knowledgable person at your local health food store.  
3. It’s been documented that stress can impact joint pain.  When we are chronically stressed our joints are robbed of the nutrients they need and so pain can result.  Finding practices to reduce stress is hugely important.

As I’m not a naturopath, I can’t recommend supplements specifically for you, but I can help with yin yoga and stress reduction practices.

I have created a Chakra Balancing online course.  It includes a lesson about the chakras (energy centres in the body that impact us on a physical, emotional and spiritual level), plus a distance reiki healing supercharged with essential oils that I send directly to your house, and a yin yoga practice that you can do at home!

And from now until the end of the month I am offering you $10 off the price (normally $79).  All you need to do is enter the coupon code JOINT at checkout to get the discount.

Here’s what Ash said about the course:

“Today my "me time" was doing this Chakra Balancing course. It totally relaxed me. After doing the reiki and the yoga using the oils I feel really relaxed and my cup is full.”

There are so many reasons to hate our bodies, and often we just need a nudge to see a new solution.  Maybe this course is just what you need?

Love,

Emma xx

P.S. Don’t forget to use the coupon code JOINT to get a $10 discount when you treat yourself to this course.

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You might be thinking, “But Emma, you’re The Body Love Coach… shouldn’t you love yourself no matter what?”

And the answer to that is, “Yes, I would love to love myself 100% of the time.   But I have been subjected to 40 plus years of diet culture conditioning and sometimes I fall back into old thought patterns - small is better, my tummy shouldn’t look like this, if I’m not perfect no one will love me”.

So when I got asked this question recently, I knew I had to answer it -

“How can we preserve in Body Love when it is so counter-cultural?”

The first step is deciding that you want to think differently about yourself.  This decision has to be consciously made. Mine was made while I was in hospital recovering from a hysterectomy - I’d love it if yours was made in a much less dramatic fashion.  

Just say it now “I have treated my body with hate for too long, now I want to love it instead”.  How did that feel? (go to bodylovehq.com/yet and tell me how you felt)

Then you must re-educate yourself and then educate yourself.  (Huh? Isn’t that the wrong way around?)

Re-educate yourself - learn how being overweight isn’t actually the cause of all the health problems, understand that BMI was changed on a day in June 1998 and overnight millions of people around the world became “overweight”, discover that by dieting you have lost the ability to self-regulate your eating habits and food became a problem - but it wasn’t always a problem.  Read Body Respect by Linda Bacon.  It has the potential to blow your mind!

And at the same time educate yourself.  Learn the tools to love your body again.  Discover loving kindness. Play around with being gentle on yourself.  Do something completely different and leave crazy diets and punishing exercise behind.  (And perhaps join me for The Body Love VIP program to get support while you do that)

And finally, find your tribe.  Find women who want to love themselves too and talk about it over coffee (and cake).  Cultivate your social media feed so you see confident women who have bodies like yours.  

This does take practice and commitment.  You aren’t going to erase decades of messages that you’re not good enough overnight.  But stay the course, because I promise it is worth it.

Imagine having freedom from counting calories or spending the first moments of each day on the scale.  Imagine having the confidence to quit your crappy job and find something that lights you up. Imagine modelling to your daughters or nieces that they are good enough exactly as they are.

That’s the power of Body Love.

Emma xx

P.S. The Body Love VIP program is now open for registration - because it’s a one on one program I have limited numbers so if you want the extra support and fast track to feeling free from hating your body, find out more here.

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One of the things I am most angry with the diet industry about is they took all the fun out of exercise!

When all the “calories in- calories out” stuff started getting bandied around we all started to believe that we had to go hard or go home.  And many of us decided to stay home.

And I think that’s because we know our bodies better than we think!

Most of us live extremely busy (and stressful lives) and many people live in a constant state of fight or flight  =>>check out this video to learn more

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This question is actually a two-parter.  Let’s break them down…

Question 1 - How to find a balance between work, kids, husband and maintaining the house?

The honest answer to this question is “you don’t”.

Balance is a sticky subject among many people. We have careers, partners, children, family commitments, charity work, classes, hobbies, spiritual time – plus, big desires to improve our health.

How can one possibly balance so many things?

I know it looks like all your friends have it sorted on Facebook, but no one actually does.  If someone’s house looks perfect, they could be suffering from exhaustion trying to get it all done or if a friend looks like she’s knocking her weight-loss goals out of the park she might be feeling lonely because she avoids going out with friends and eating too much.

Balance is a myth.

And so this moves us on to question # 2 - Basically how do I find time for me?

Outsource, outsource, outsource.

I am a single, childless woman who owns a micro-business.  I also have a cleaner, gardner, bookkeeper and assistant. I’ve got “someone to cook me meals” on my vision board (hopefully that’s coming this year).

Am I lazy?  No!

I have made a decision to do the things I love most in the world and outsource the things I really don’t like.  It means I have a lot more time for relaxing and I am contributing to the economy of my local area by employing people to help me.  Win-Win, I say!

As I have immersed myself in The Body Love Method and grown my self-worth, it has become easier and easier to do the things I love and put me first.  It also means I have more time and energy for my clients.

Right now you are probably coming up with lots of reasons why you can’t do the same thing… money, getting husband onboard, or worrying about what other people might think.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

• Take the laundry to the laundromat for a “bag wash”.  It comes back to you washed, dried and folded. Wonderful!  (I discovered this years ago when my washing machine broke down.  I wish I’d never replaced it now)
• Speak to your partner about how much needs to be done and how it might be affecting your ability to engage in your relationship or look after yourself in the way you’d like.  If you’ve never had the conversation your partner will never know!
• Hire a cleaner to come for a couple of hours once a month - it really is a small investment and will create an amazing feeling of spaciousness in your house and in your schedule.
• Speak to a friend about doing a “kid swap” every week or so.  One day you can have all the kids and the next time she can. That way you both get time out for yourselves (and make sure you use that time for something pampering!).

If you are still questioning whether you can do this I highly recommend you read this article by one of my mentors, Denise Duffield-Thomas.  She talks about why she has so much home help and gives suggestions to get through the mental blocks.

Living a Body Love life means giving yourself permission to live an energised and exciting life and you can’t do that if you are constantly picking up dirty socks so consider how you can bring more spaciousness into your life by getting support.

I wish you luck… you CAN do this!

If you need some extra support, consider joining my VIP coaching program.  Get started by booking a free Body Love Consultation here.

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Whether it's starting and maintaining an exercise program, sticking to eating what you know feels good or committing to regular meditation - a lack of motivation seems to be the #1 issue holding women back.

Here are my top tips to help you with motivation:

1. Find out WHY you want this. If you are just on the Keto bandwagon because your best friend is or because you are bombarded with messages that any body bigger than a size 10 is fat, you are never going to last the course. You need to do YOU. If your why is strong enough, you will find staying motivated is easy. If it's not something you really want for yourself then find something else to do with your precious time!

2. Acknowledge that this is a JOURNEY. Like any journey, this path you have chosen will have ups and downs. Sometimes it will feel easy and sometimes you'll actually quit. It doesn't mean you've failed! But if your WHY is strong enough, you will get back on track... even if it's months from now. If the going gets tough, practice loving kindness and reassess your why.

3. Understand that you will be out of your comfort zone. This is actually a good thing! If you stay comfortable, you stay where you are. When things feel uncomfortable refer back to points 1 & 2.

4. You will probably need some help to stay the course. You might need to ask your partner for more help around the house. You might like to outsource some of the work (like cleaning or ironing). And you may have ask for help from yourself by lowering your expectations. For example, going from zero workouts a week to 6 one-hour workouts a week will have an impact on other areas of your life. Are you ready for that?

5. You need to do the mindset work. Work on your beliefs about yourself. Repeat affirmations. Surround yourself with positive people. Write down what you want and visual it. Decide how you want to feel and start to act as if it's already happened. 50% of success is doing the work and 50% is believing that you will be successful!

One of the other things that most motivated people do is they get a coach. A coach will put you out of your comfort zone, keep you accountable and help you figure out your WHY.

I am opening up my 1:1 VIP Body Love Coaching program for 3 women to join me. I also have new payment plans available so you can work with me for as little as $25 per week.

If this sounds like something you might like to explore, book a free Body Love Consultation and see if working with me is right for you.

P.S. Here's what Peta said about the program: "I know I have just started but I have come away from a session feeling energised and that I matter - not in a big-headed way but as a genuine human being way. I have been feeling pretty low over the last 6 months and found Emma by accident on Facebook and it's the best thing I've committed to"

Book your Body Love Consultation here.

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I’ve just started listening to a new podcast – well it’s a few years old but it’s new to me.  It’s called Making Oprah. It's all about her evolution and how she became so popular. It wasn’t all easy sailing for Oprah but she is an inspiration to me and to countless other women across the globe.

In this podcast, Oprah talks about the highest rating show of her entire career.  And probably the episode she regrets the most… Her 1988 “Wagon of Fat” show.

On this episode, Oprah showed off her 30kg weight loss and how she could finally fit into her old Calvin Klein jeans.  She wheeled a wagon of animal fat onto the stage that represented the 30kg she had lost. She had obtained this weight loss through a liquid only diet.

The producers of her show recount how she only drank shakes for a period of 3 months to get back into her jeans.  In my mind this is crazy! And the women working with her thought so too.

Oprah now says she regrets the show.

Oprah says, "You can see that my ego is on flamboyant display. I've had to pay the price for that moment over and over. I literally handed to the world on a fat wagon platter the story of 'Is She Fat?' 'Is She Thin?'"

She goes on to say that at the time she bought into the belief that she still wasn’t WORTHY of her success unless she had the body to match.

And of course, the fact that it’s her most highly rated show kinda says that her fans buy into that idea too.  A thin Oprah is a better Oprah. Or maybe she was just living out everyone’s fantasy?

What we know, of course, is that it really doesn’t matter what Oprah looks like, its her message and stories of positivity that are powerful, not the size of the jeans she fits into.  And the same could be said of you too!

Oprah has always been an inspiration in my Body Love Journey.  I often think, what if other women are holding themselves back because they believe they need to lose 30kg to be worthy?  What if we are missing out on another world-changing woman due to a couple of extra KGs?

But also, what if we aren’t listening to another inspirational woman because she isn’t a slim, blonde beauty.  Wouldn’t that be a tragedy too?

This whole “fat on a wagon” show, and the fact that it’s still the highest rated Oprah show ever reminded me of something that happened to me recently.

I don’t dare to compare myself to Oprah… but here goes.

About 6 weeks ago I had a fairly significant haircut.  On that same day, I was going out to dinner with friends so I put on some red lipstick and snapped about 20 selfies until I got a really good one, posted it on my Facebook page and went out to meet my friends.

By the end of the evening, this post had had over 100 likes.  To put that into perspective… my average business post has about 30 likes.   In my little world, this post had gone Viral!

But to be honest, it left me feeling a little bit empty.  This post didn’t have any commentary about Body Love or my message of self-love and acceptance.  It was just a quick snap of me looking rather cute before I left the house. I felt sad that my posts where I have poured my heart and soul and offer really good advice and support get nowhere near the same amount of attention.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate people’s love of my freshly styled hair and my hairdresser did an awesome job.  But my hair is my hairdresser’s creation, my face is a combination of my mum and my dad’s. The lipstick I was wearing comes from a shop.  But my words are my own. And they are what I would appreciate being complimented on.

But the thing is we are trained to compliment women on their looks.  And it feels good to receive those compliments because we are trained to think they are important.

But think about it… when was the last time you heard a group of men greeting each other with “Oh wow, I love your haircut?”  I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but it’s definitely not as common as the way women speak to each other.

I’d love you to start to think about how you compliment the women around you.  Are you just focusing on her outward appearance or are you seeing past that (because let’s face it, it’s often outside her control) and complimenting her on the REAL woman inside?

• Her intelligence “wow you are really smart”
• Her creativity “ that painting you created is really beautiful”
• Her abilities at work (or at home) - however she has chosen to spend a good chunk of her time - even better, ask her how she got to where she is!
• Her honesty - if you have a friend that tells it like it then admire her courage in speaking her truth
• Her passion - if she has a cause that she is passionate about (maybe body positivity), or a hobby or her family - whatever it is, compliment her and encourage her resolve
• And if she’s funny - laugh with her and encourage more.  The world could always do with more laughter!

And on a side note, when you are complimenting a friend or mentor on social media, go beyond the reaction buttons and leave a comment.  Explain what you like about what they’ve posted. And use one of the ideas I’ve mentioned. It will help to encourage more positivity in the world.

So, think about for you - how can you change the way you compliment the women in your life?  How can you spread the positivity and go beyond just the way they look? Have I missed an area that is worth complimenting?

Come over to the blog post and let me know what you think

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We get sucked in because

1. We’ve been trained to believe that being skinny is very important
2. We’ve often ignored what works best for us during the festive season and gone crazy with different food, more alcohol, less movement and the meditation routine often goes right out the window.

One of these is a problem by the way… can you guess which one?

So, it’s natural to want to reset and regroup when it comes to what you put in your mouth, start other great habits and feel fresh for a brand new year.

I decided to reset my eating habits as they had left the building and I am now on Day 7 of my Cleanse program

The program used to be all about weight loss for me but now I use it to reset and refresh my daily habits.

Intention: I lovingly give my body a rest from all the things that make it sluggish and unhappy (alcohol, dairy, eggs, gluten & refined sugars)

Declutter: I’got rid of anything that doesn’t fit the criteria above (although to be honest, there wasn’t much left! ). I also did a daily round of EFT (tapping) to help clear the toxins too.

Forgiveness: I practised this a lot during the festive season so I hadn’t felt any guilt or shame about what I’ve consumed previously and was opening to forgiving myself if the Cleanse wasn’t “perfect”.

Positive Anchor: I created the picture below and it was my screensaver on my phone to remind me of my intention.

Chakras: Each day of the 7 days I focused on one chakra and gave that area of my body some love & support through Reiki.

Meditation: I did a 10-minute meditation each day for the specific chakra.

Journaling: I gave myself at least 5 mins a day to write about how I’m feeling physically and emotionally.

Toolkit: I supported myself with some essential oils like lemon, lavender, DigestZen and Zendocrine. I continued to take my daily supplements.

Movement: daily walks with the pooch and yin yoga most days.

Fuel: I wrote down what I planned to eat the next day each night before I went to bed

Daily Rituals: I kept track of what I wanted to do each day for the Cleanse and gave myself a space to create a new morning ritual for the new year.

Upleveling: I knew there would be resistance- my body & mind would want to keep me “safe” by trying to talk me into quitting. I forgave myself for my small slip ups and got right back on track.

So how did I go?  No dairy, alcohol or caffeine for 7 days – but I had a tiny bit of sugar and gluten but a lot less than before.  Oh and no eggs! That’s hard for me!

How do I feel?  Not much different physically but I’ve felt a huge shift mentally. Listen to hear more in this week’s podcast episode.

Try the Cleanse for yourself – special price of $55  – and try adding in The Body Love Method to add a layer of loving kindness to the process.

Download The Body Love Method Poster here

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And when you add in the emotional stress of family gatherings...

Christmas can be a time of guilt & self-loathing. But it doesn't need to be.

They are all based on The Body Love Method - a framework I have created to help women feel great about themselves no matter their shape, size, age or health status.

Try them all or just use one. I hope they help you have a wonderful time this Christmas.

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I believe we are all work's in progress (i.e we've all got our shit to deal with!)

For me right now, it's working on my finances.  I want to love them a bit more so that they'll love me back  (Hello Law of Attraction!)

I've been reading Barbara Stanny's amazing book Sacred Success and I had huge realisation!

So, in this week's Monday Inspiration I am breaking down the 4 things Barbara says gets in the way of having great financial worth and putting a Body Love spin on it.

Check out the video or the audio and tell me in the comments, which one(s) can you relate to?

Go to the blog post bodylovehq.com/4things 

If watching this makes you want to take some action, book a free Body Love Consultation and find out if one of my programs is what you need right now!

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Many coaches talk about developing a morning routine... but I find them pretty difficult to follow so instead I've created an evening routine instead. (And I must say it's been easier since I had a long break from alcohol!)

Watch the video (or listen to the audio) to learn more about what I do.  Not so you can copy it, because everyone should have a routine that works best for them, but maybe as some inspiration to get you started.

Here are some links to what I am reading:

Sacred Success by Barbara Stanny

Apple Tree Yard by Louise Dougherty

Gaia Oracle

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