Last weekend I had the honor and privledge of participating in the Mayor's Day of Service in conjunction with the Los Angeles Derby Dolls.
The Doll Factory was a meeting place and resource hub for clean up activities and recycling in the Echo Park/Hi-Fi (Historic Filipino Town) area of Los Angeles. Volunteers came to the Doll Factory to pick up brooms and shovels and help in clean up efforts.
Meanwhile, inside the Doll Factory, young girls learned to skate, bagels and coffee were served and hourly workshops were held on the topics of body image, nutrition, tai chi, self-defense and yoga.
At 10:30, the Mayor Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Laker Jordan Farmar along with other local celebrities arrived to address the crowd and watch the kids skate.
I had the opportunity to co-facilitate the body image workshop with Jenny Wright. We had a nice time talking about how to love and respect your body despite it's size or shape. I used a body atlas and my personal body image crisis story to help women consider all of the wonderful things our body does for us every day.
I brought index cards, markers and stickers and each participant made one to three cards with positive statements on them. I encouraged participants to take the cards home and put them some place where they can see them everyday. I also shared info about my
Love Your Body, Love Yourself CD because I listened to a cassette tape just like it in the 90's and it really helped me to begin appreciating my body and to break free from self-hate. This day provided a positive opportunity for all involved, it was a win-win scenario all the way around.
Last weekend I had the honor and privledge of participating in the Mayor's Day of Service in conjunction with the Los Angeles Derby Dolls.
The Doll Factory was a meeting place and resource hub for clean up activities and recycling in the Echo Park/Hi-Fi (Historic Filipino Town) area of Los Angeles. Volunteers came to the Doll Factory to pick up brooms and shovels and help in clean up efforts.
Meanwhile, inside the Doll Factory, young girls learned to skate, bagels and coffee were served and hourly workshops were held on the topics of body image, nutrition, tai chi, self-defense and yoga.
At 10:30, the Mayor Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Laker Jordan Farmar along with other local celebrities arrived to address the crowd and watch the kids skate.
I had the opportunity to co-facilitate the body image workshop with Jenny Wright. We had a nice time talking about how to love and respect your body despite it's size or shape. I used a body atlas and my personal body image crisis story to help women consider all of the wonderful things our body does for us every day.
I brought index cards, markers and stickers and each participant made one to three cards with positive statements on them. I encouraged participants to take the cards home and put them some place where they can see them everyday. I also shared info about my Love Your Body, Love Yourself CD because I listened to a cassette tape just like it in the 90's and it really helped me to begin appreciating my body and to break free from self-hate. This day provided a positive opportunity for all involved, it was a win-win scenario all the way around.
What next? The President. Derby Dolls are getting bigger and bigger every day. Just wait till the Drew Barrymore movie comes out!
Those workshops and helping these girls seems like a really great and wonderful idea. I struggle myself with body image (as so many women do) and my oldest daughter struggled with an eating disorder. I worry about my youngest having one as well. It might be a trifle “out there” for young girls, but women should take a look at this humorous take on body image, Embracing Your Big Fat Ass.” Until I read it, I hadn’t realized I could get a brand spankin’ new outlook on life and actually be happy, even if I DON’T look like Nicole Kidman or Keira Knightley.