Understanding & Practicing Body Neutrality
Our bodies are complex and beautiful, but cultural and societal messages have complicated our perception of them. If you’re reading this, you may hold a strong desire to move through life with more ease and with less focus on your appearance as a measure of your worth and value. You may struggle with self-love for your body. Body neutrality addresses the question, “If I can’t always love my body, how can I choose to nourish and respect it?”
What is body neutrality?
You may already be familiar with the topic of body positivity. Body positivity has pathed the way for shaping our views of our bodies, encouraging us to learn to embrace and accept all bodies and practice greater self-compassion towards our own bodies. But today, I invite you to consider the concept of body neutrality. For some, body neutrality may serve as an alternative, and possibly more attainable, viewpoint to practice and adopt. This may be particularly true for marginalized bodies, including larger bodies, Black, queer, and disabled bodies.
So, what is body neutrality? Body neutrality is the practice of neither loving nor hating your body but accepting your body as is. Body neutrality emphasizes your body’s incredible functions, actions, and physiology, without regard to its appearance. Simply put, body neutrality is the acknowledgment and appreciation of what your body does, rather than applying value to how it looks. This concept may initially feel foreign, but through practice, you can slowly build greater awareness of all that your body does for you, as you gently shed the message that your physical appearance determines your self-worth. Try reframing your body as simply that: a part of your existence- that does cool, fascinating, and sometimes frustrating things.
What does your body do for you?
Body neutrality acknowledges that some days we may feel good about our bodies, while other days we may feel bad about our bodies, but all days we respect our bodies. Rather than focusing on your outward appearance, body neutrality encourages you to shift your focus to accepting your body and all that it does for you. Adopting body neutrality can simplify things by taking a step back and seeing our bodies for what they are – our home. Recognize how your body houses your mind, spirit, and heart, keeping them safe and carrying them through the world. Your body contains all the vital organs that keep you alive and functioning. By slowly detaching how you treat your body from how you view it, you may build a greater appreciation for your body’s vast role.
What nourishes your body?
As you consider all that your body does for you, explore what makes your body feel good. This could be a yoga or dance class, a run with your dog, or getting a massage. There are countless ways to nourish our bodies, including the food we eat, but also the daily rituals we practice. By shifting focus away from your body's outward appearance, you leave more room to listen and respond to your body's internal needs (for instance- feelings of stress, tiredness, or hunger) with greater curiosity and compassion.
How can you embrace body neutrality?
When you notice a body image concern or feeling entering your mind, acknowledge that it's there. Treat yourself and your thoughts gently, with kindness and compassion. Slowly build awareness and notice how your body feels and functions throughout the day. For instance, the next time you tackle your third-floor walkup, you may find yourself appreciating the strength of your legs and their ability to get you home.
Most importantly, take time and be patient with yourself. You may have spent a lifetime conditioned to critique and align your worth with your body’s appearance – give yourself some self-compassion for that. Body neutrality is a daily practice, you might not feel up to celebrating your body every day, but you can continuously work to respect, care for, and nourish it. We at Repose are here to guide you along this journey. CONNECT WITH US to learn more about somatic THERAPY.