Discoveries: Popstars, Coaches and Fit Women

This year has been a struggle for me in terms of what to write on the blog. With no main goal, no weekly major revelations and nothing but small steps, it was difficult to generate content so blogposts became few and far between. This left me feeling really down as I associated it with not progressing which is ridiculous I know but as we have come to know and love - brains can be as unhelpful as they are wondrously helpful. So I’ve decided to vary my blogposts a bit in order to generate more content without each post having to be an analysis of a new step forward just to take the pressure off.

This is the first taster of one. This post is all about things I’ve discovered in the last few weeks that have made me think or feel differently about my body and my relationship with it in a positive way and I want to share them with you in case they help you.

“Alchemists turned into chemists when they stopped keeping secrets.” — Eric Raymond

First up on the discovery train is the Ghanaian pop star Wiyaala. I came across her on facebook via a pop up video from BBC Africa and she blew my tiny mind. Her confidence, her ambition, her family’s negative perception of her body (which to my mind I can only describe as banging!) - she represents everything I would love to be in terms of confidence. She has a great self-assurance that doesn’t veer into arrogance and she still has a great sense of humour and warmth plus her voice and stage presence are electric! Here’s the video for your viewing pleasure!

Next up is Harri Rose, a body acceptance coach based in the United Kingdom. I first found her on instagram @harri_rose_ and instantly signed up for her mailing list. She sends out regular e-mails with top tips, advice and free downloads to help you with your body relationship. She also offers a lot of different coaching programmes from 4-month plans to single day workshops and she has recently started online webinars that offer you a download if you can’t make the live session. Her prices vary but there is definitely something for everyone. Check out her website for more info: https://www.harrirose.com

I think one of the main things we can do in our fight for a body acceptance is to change the way we view fat and fat people. I have been reading a lot about the fat experience, fat shaming, the science of fat and the history of fat in terms of advertising diets and this article is one I came across recently regarding being fat and fit and I think it is well worth the read.

Also Jessamyn Stanley is an amazing blogger and yogi inspiration and I love the video above of her talking about yoga stereotypes.

WOMEN’S MAGAZINES ARE THE DEVIL!!! Seriously they have no other function other than to make us feel bad about ourselves and sell us shit we don’t need but that looks so pretty. However, I have come across this online wonder of a magazine, REglam, that I do think represents and helps women and is everything a women’s magazine should be. We just need to get them into hairdressers and dentists now.