Jennifer Kreatsoulas Jennifer Kreatsoulas

Freedom: How Finding an Inclusive Community Helped Me Accept my Body

In February 2020, guest contributor Cameron Pettinato came out to his friends and family as gay. As Cameron shares, what followed was an “uncomfortable transitionary period” fueled by social media images of '“ideal” and unrealistic body standards for gay men. Read on to learn how moving to another city and finding an inclusive community was the catalyst for Cameron learning to accept his body.

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Jennifer Kreatsoulas Jennifer Kreatsoulas

Eating Disorders Don’t Discriminate – Do They?

The representation of who is affected by eating disorders is changing in blog posts and on social media to depict more gender, socioeconomic, racial, and sexual diversity. As guest contributor Niya Bajaj points out, “this increase in representation is not the same as inclusion” and asks: “How can yoga, beyond the mindful movement practice, help us address eating disorders in a truly inclusive way?” Learn how the ethical principles of yoga, or the yamas, are guides for removing barriers and biases that discriminate and for creating true inclusion for all by including systemically excluded populations in the eating disorder community.

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Jennifer Kreatsoulas Jennifer Kreatsoulas

How Yoga Helped Me Heal

Guest contributor Caroline Young, MS, RD, LD, RYT, shares her story of yoga and eating disorder recovery. From watching her mother practice yoga as a child to taking classes in college, Caroline describes how this practice helped her find lasting connection with her body and emotions.

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Jennifer Kreatsoulas Jennifer Kreatsoulas

How an Impactful Journey Can Lead to Unexpected Changes

In 2010, guest contributor Veronique van Dam traveled to Uganda to volunteer. She had an urge to contribute to the world in a meaningful way. Looking back on her travel diary, Veronique shares 31 lessons she learned from her trip about herself and the values she wishes to live by in her life and recovery.

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Jennifer Kreatsoulas Jennifer Kreatsoulas

Say "Yes" to Play and Spend Less Time Scrolling

Writer and yoga teacher Ashley Paige shares alarming statistics about how social media influences body image and explains why living “in real life” must include saying “yes” to playful activities that connects us to our senses, intuition, and bodies.

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Jennifer Kreatsoulas Jennifer Kreatsoulas

The Connection Between Social Media and Eating Disorders

Research has found that using social media regularly and for longer periods can increase the chances that a person may struggle with disordered eating behaviors. Learn about the factors that increase this risk and mental tips when using social media.

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Jennifer Kreatsoulas Jennifer Kreatsoulas

The First Chakra's Relationship to Eating Disorders

Writer and yoga teacher Ashley Paige breaks down the meaning of the first chakra and how it relates to eating disorders. Learn how healing from an eating disorder also contributes to our sense of belonging and security, which is related to this chakra.

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Jennifer Kreatsoulas Jennifer Kreatsoulas

Finding Inner Clarity in a Storm of Negative Thoughts

Learn how the yoga philosophy of saucha can guide us to find inner clarity and freedom from overwhelm, what-ifs, and worry. Use the reflection prompts and guided meditations included in this blog to bring saucha into your recovery.

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Jennifer Kreatsoulas Jennifer Kreatsoulas

Wellness Is a Journey, Not a Destination: Cameron's Story

Meet Cameron, a a 20-year-old college student finishing his undergraduate degree in public health and pursuing graduate studies in human nutrition. At 16, he was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease with associated Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Here, Cameron shares how these health challenges impacted his relationship with food and have since sent him on a journey to learn how to deeply listen to his body and tune out the mixed messages of the wellness and diet cultures.

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