Comments on: What is the ideal shape? And other thoughts on slendernes…

By: hungryyogini

hungryyogini — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:51:08 +0000

Tony,

What a kind and uplifting comment – Thank you so much!

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:42:50 +0000

Thanks for that Courtney.

I originally began reading your blog a few months ago when a link from another favourite blog brought me to you as I was preparing a trip to Paris myself. I love to cook and eat, I practise yoga (for several years now), and I especially love the photographs you post. So after my return from Paris I continued following your blog.

I noticed you don’t have a man’s perspective in the comments for such an important post, so I felt compelled to comment. I’m only one man, so I won’t speak for my gender, yet my experience has been that most men have the same perspective as do I when it comes to women’s health and their bodies. There is nothing more beautiful than a healthy, vibrant woman who enjoys life. It’s sexy when she eats well, when she is active, and when she is happy. I feel sad when I see unrealistic portrayals of beauty that girls and women are bombarded with daily. Men see them too and begin to expect that sort of standard when seeking a prospective mate. We all know the ads are skewed, that life is not like that, not for 99.99% of the population anyway.

Eat well. Enjoy yourself. Find joy and peace in your yoga.

You are beautiful and inspiring.

By: A Case of the Perpetual Sundays | The Hungry Yogini

A Case of the Perpetual Sundays | The Hungry Yogini — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:44:13 +0000

[...] 7, 2010 First off – Thank you for your honest and encouraging comments on my post about the ideal size and slenderness last Friday. It’s quite amazing how many people share some of the same thoughts, and I appreciate [...]

By: Queen T

Queen T — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:45:25 +0000

Thank you for being a real person! I love your blog and have been reading it for the last month or so, and I’m so glad there is a yoga blog by a person who is still real and has hang ups. No matter how strong or smart we are, it seems so hard to silence those voices in your head that tell you that you should look a certain way. My method is to try and remind myself that my body is not to be looked at, or is not an accessory, but is to allow me to continue on my journey of life in the most full way possible. It usually works, but sometimes I’m weak… doesn’t stop me from enjoying my chocolate though!

BTW, you are gorgeous, and certainly have nothing to be envious of.

By: Emmanuelle

Emmanuelle — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:53:40 +0000

Great post Courtney, once again.
I can in some ways relate to it as I started last month an evening course which will last until June. That means two evenings a week and a whole Saturday for classes, which means I havé fewer days to practice yoga or go to the gym. And it has been a big deal for
me lately.
It is sad because this course is great and I need to do this for my future projects, it is for a good cause ;-) but I can’t practice yoga as much because a) no time and b) I’m tired! I still have to understand that it’s ok and I don’t have to worry about gaining a few pounds just because I exercice less, I have plans and projects to work towards and we’re talking about our lives, there should be no room for workout/yoga guilt!

Next week instead of 2 evenings it will be 3, and on Saturday my boyfriend and I are going to Paris (yay!) for yet another project we’ve had ever since we met, and I have to accept
that yoga will have to take the back seat for a while, and try not to feel guilty for “doing less”

By: She Says: Signs of Spring. | Hangry Pants

She Says: Signs of Spring. | Hangry Pants — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:31:18 +0000

[...] of yoga, Courtney wrote a really interesting post about yoga and body image, specifically using yoga as a way to [...]

By: Kristina @MendonPondMusings

Kristina @MendonPondMusings — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:42:53 +0000

Courtney – what an amazingly honest post. I definitely struggle with vanity, honoring my body, and feeding my hunger. I’ve noticed in particular with my marathon training – I am hungry pretty much all the time. When I went to my parents house for Christmas – my mother made a comment about my increased hunger – and for the rest of the trip I was more conscious about my how much I ate – even though my body was craving more food & I was running 35 – 40 miles a week I didn’t want my mom to think I was over-eating. When I got back home, I realized how out of line my reaction was (and her comment) and I had to honor my hunger – maybe not with ice cream and snacks but with good wholesome food.

Live up your time in Paris!

By: The Paris Food Blague

The Paris Food Blague — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:22:44 +0000

delighted to find another paris blogger!

a bientot
the paris food blague

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:32:04 +0000

Hey Courtney,
I just recently discovered your blog an now I find myself checking your posts everyday, I think your fantastic! I am also a yoga and food LOVER from Australia, but in the past I suffered from very disordered eating and only in the past 4 months I have recovered. One day I just realised how much time I spent each day thinking about how I looked, how much I’ve eaten, how I need to be thinner, how I should skip dinner cos I ate a whole sandwich for lunch (ridiculous I know). I naturally have a thin figure but still craved to be thinner, I would look at girls who were bigger than me in yoga class and wish I had their body. I admired their strength, fitness and overall glowing health. I have a fuller figure now and have never been happier I practice yoga because it makes me feel healthy and strong and ALIVE. It doesn’t matter what size you are – If you feel healthy and feel good then thats how other people see you. The world looks at you, how you look at yourself.
Just from reading a few of your posts I see you as a beautiful, healthy young woman with a very strong sense of self.
All the best :)
Bec

By: Marie Johnston

Marie Johnston — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:08:05 +0000

Chere Courtney,

I left California and my regular yoga practice (of 15 years) about 5 months ago to live in Paris so my daughter could finish high school there (I am MUCH older than you) I’m impressed you do 40 minute yoga sessions at home (if I get in 10 minutes of stretches daily – to keep my hips fluid – I’m doin’ well) And what I find most interesting is that I’ve lost 10 lbs since moving here! I walk everywhere, take the stairs and eat everything! 10 lbs… the same 10lbs I struggled to loose (but couldn’t) back in Ca. How is this possible?

At this moment I am in California. I’ve eaten a big salad (with no ham or cheese) today and am perfectly happy. I’ve been attending yoga during my stay and am looking forward to my class tomorrow – because I know that in 2 weeks I’ll be back in Paris eating like I never eat here, and walking again… it is a different practice, but it’s yoga – because yoga is not only about what happens on the mat.

The body image thing is so tough. I have struggled with it (still do) and am watching my beautiful 16 year old daughter struggle with being ‘big’ (5′8″ & 160 lbs) in a city filled with small women.

This is an interesting question for women of all ages. Thank you for asking it.

Marie