Body Neutrality

It can be pretty difficult to love your body, especially as a woman. With the societal beauty standards that are put on us and the obsession with being thin, it's really tough! We try to manipulate our bodies with diets and exercise, just to "fit in." Sometimes, we even go to lengths of getting surgery to look a certain way. Yes, it's important to feel good in your skin. Maybe there is another approach to feeling good in our bodies that isn't so extreme. Maybe we can work as a society to take the focus off of looks and start to focus more on how we feel and how we function. Body neutrality is an approach to wellness where the focus is on caring for and appreciating your body regardless of how you feel about how it looks.

What is Body Neutrality?

You may have heard the term "body positivity." This is where you focus on positive aspects of your body, or tell yourself positive things about your body regardless of how you're feeling. Just like with anything else, it's hard to ALWAYS be positive. This is where body neutrality differs. BN is where you accept your body for how it is. You don't have to be positive about it, and you don't have to hate it either. Accept it for what it is, and treat yourself with respect. Some might equate this ideal with complacency. This is not the case. You can still want to work on yourself, your health, and your body while accepting it for what it is. By doing so, you can create a healthy body image through all of life's phases. 

How Body Neutrality Helps

With a body neutrality mindset, there is no pressure to change. When we take the pressure off, it leaves room for self-compassion and we begin to feel lighter and do more things we enjoy! This can lead to healthy behavior change in a more natural way. After all, our body is just ONE part of what makes up who we are. One human is made up of so many different things like personality, relationships, talents, and hobbies among much more. 

Body Neutrality vs. Body Positivity

Body Neutrality: Acknowledges ups and downs in body image, can help you work through feelings, focuses on HOW your body lets you experience the world over appearance, encourages self-care regardless of how you feel about your body and focuses on respect for your body.

Body Positivity: Focuses on positive thoughts about your body no matter how you feel, celebrates your body as is, challenges unrealistic beauty standards, and can feel unrealistic for most people. 

Body Neutral Affirmations

1. I am more than my appearance. ​

2. I am grateful that my body carries me through the day. 

3. My body deserves respect and love. 

4. I deserve to enjoy food. 

5. My life is more than my body. 

6. I appreciate my body and what it does for me. 

7. I deserve to wear clothes I'm comfortable in. 

8. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes. 

9. My body is nobody else's business. 

10. My body deserves compassion. 

11. My body is the least interesting thing about me.

Is Body Neutrality for You? 

Body neutrality isn't for everyone. We all have unique experiences that make us who we are. Give it a try to see how it makes you feel! Practice some of the affirmations above and be mindful of how your mindset might shift. 

Body Neutrality and Personal Training

Being a body-neutral personal trainer means that I focus on pretty much everything BUT aesthetics. While it is important to be happy with your appearance, a lot of times our ideal of what's healthy or beautiful is skewed. In the fitness industry, there is so much obsession with looking a certain way, doing certain workout programs, and eating very specific diets. For most of society, this isn't realistic or even normal. As a body-neutral personal trainer, I help my clients identify what habits are realistic for them and their lives. We work on fitness, nutrition, sleep, and stress management. A lot of people actually find this body-neutral training approach to be much less intimidating. Just because I'm a body-neutral personal trainer, doesn't mean I can't train people toward aesthetics, athletics, etc. It just means that my specialty is working with people to establish realistic and attainable goals, routines, and habits that will help them live their most joyFULL life in a judgment-free atmosphere. 

I hope this blog has been a helpful and eye-opening read! It is my hope to spread light and joy to all who come across our business. 

With light and gratitude, 

Dana Robinson, CPT / NBC-HWC

Sources: Crane, Marisa. 22 body-neutral affirmations. Within. 2/12/23

Journal of Eating Disorders