The Body Image Series

I decided to approach a subject that I have struggled with as have many. Body image and body confidence. I exposed myself with these photos, and with the captions. Enjoy the photos and read about my struggles with body image and how Yoga has helped me.
Body Image Series #1 of 5. Positive body image is something I, like many, have struggled with. It is rare that I will be shirtless in public. I've pushed myself to post shirtless photos on occasion even though it makes me nervous. People of all body types feel these insecurities. I've been teased for being thin.
Body Image Series #2 of 5. We tend to hide our flaws and insecurities. Fear of judgement and ridicule can cause a person to shrink away. I have hidden myself, as I said before I rarely take my shirt off in public. This, in a way, is a manifestation of deeper personal insecurities. People can’t judge what they don’t see. If I don’t show my body, they can’t judge it. If I don’t show my true self, they can’t judge me. The journey and the lesson then is to build the INNER confidence so that I love myself so darn much that my confidence beams and judgements, if they occur, don’t phase me.
Body Image Series #3 of 5. Self perception can be twisted and skewed. I have always hated mirrors. I avoid them when I can. I have had trouble matching the image I see reflected back at me with my inner picture of who I am. And of course harsh downward lighting in a bathroom doesn’t help. I come out of it feeling less confidence from only a partial picture of myself as a whole person. A photo or a mirror image is only a 2 dimensional representation of a 3 dimensional body which is only a piece of a whole person. What is skewed about perception is the lens we see through. The preconceived notions and judgements I have on myself are what create the flaws
Body Image Series #4 of 5. Through my Yoga practice I have learned to listen to my body more. Through listening and building a relationship with my body in a different way I have grown to respect and appreciate it. Building body confidence is slow work. It is as much work on the inner reflections of the mind as it is on the outer. Almost all of my Yoga photos over the past few years have been my own photography. From light, to shoot, to processing I do it all. I try to put my best foot forward and show myself as strong and confident. Through the inner work of Yoga and the artistic work of photography I am beginning to blossom and see my inner beauty shining outward.
Body Image Series #5 of 5. I have always been in decent shape but I feel that now I am stronger and more fit than I have ever been. I realized a while ago that this does not necessarily reflect with better body image. Body confidence comes less from the body and more from the mind. If I feel good and am confident with who I am that will be projected and my inner beauty will show on the outside. This particular photo makes me the most nervous, even as I write this I am scared to post. What it comes down to is that nobody’s opinion matters. My inner beauty shines if I let it, and my outer body is my own. It doesn’t matter what others think. Whether clothed or naked, in a Yoga pose or not, I am learning to be confident as just purely me.
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