Self Esteem
Purvaka
Happy is I! I got my new Yoga Journal in the mail. I found an article that is in line with my deep desire to help the female gender find self-esteem through proper physical health. I was amazed at the numbers in this article. 87% of females in this country don't like their own bodies. I blame the media, Hollywood, and men (well I guess I just blame men since they run the media and Hollywood). I'm not a "man hater" but I've seen and have felt the pain all women go through when the man they are with carelessly looks at pretty girls or flirt openly with them. It's very painful to feel rejected on looks alone. It's sad that we are made to feel that affection and love are hinged on those looks, looks that will only fade with time, and it saddens me that in such an advanced civilization this is even an issue.
I hope I'm raising a girl who understands beauty is on the inside, but being that shes a teenager and filled out already I know she suffers her own issues and I try to help her all the time with them. I'm glad I taught her to hate Barbie when she was little; I cannot in good conscience foster those pretty princess ideals in my child. But, as I thought and then read in this article, the only way to help girls with low self esteem is to help them learn to think differently about life and the world around them. That's where yoga comes in; the numbers are totally different for females that practice yoga. Most women who practice regularly have a much better view of their own bodies and are more in tune with the small changes that are do to injury or sickness. Yoga and meditation retrains the mind to focus on health instead of physical beauty. Every day that I practice yoga I love my body more. I'm amazed at how everything I do in yoga has a positive effect on my health. I'm learning to undo all the years of being raised by a model who was beauty obsessed. I no longer look to be accepted physically. Every day I do yoga the more I want to teach it to others who are lost in the sea of low self esteem and media hype.
Access: Public
body image
May 2008 
Shannon, the most interesting thing is, that guys (you blame and I do too) usually have big guts, criticize 'larger' ladies, openly flirt with women- only with those with perfect silhouettes, right?, practically -for me- these guys don't have shame. apparently their self esteem does not depend on what they see in a mirror- or they don't have one.
I observe people and I often see how they suffer, simply because their self esteem depends on others opinion of them. That can't be a part of strong personality.
I know … we all are affected by someone's negative opinion or when someone dismiss us , but …. seems like one person will only see absurd of the situation , another - will be devastated…
Body: it is easier to love something pretty than ugly, obvious, and it is matter of maturity , and strength, to accept ourselves if we …. let's say are not material to “playboy”.
but: what can I say, what can you say; we are neither obese or ugly, we don't know all everyday problems of people who are.
I was waiting on red lights one day - looked into a car next to mine- and inside there was a girl, and i simply don't know how you can have enjoyable life and achieve prosperity when you look this way. and no matter what you do with her inside- there is the rest of the world -accepting only those, who fulfill certain esthetic norm.