Birds-Eye View
May 6, 2013 by Debra Hennesy
Filed under Empowerment, Exercise, Expressive Arts, Expressive Arts Therapies, Featured, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Self Esteem, Self-Care, Spirituality, Wellness, Yoga, Yoga and Meditation, Yoga Therapy
The last time I went to Pikes Peak (not far from the place that I now call home), I had no intention of doing anything other than hiking and enjoying the scenery with my husband. Little did I know that I would have two experiences that changed how I feel about the world around me, [...]
The Blessing of Affirmations
April 9, 2013 by Debra Hennesy
Filed under Activism, Anxiety, Body Dysmorphia, Body Image, Eating Disorders, Empowerment, Expressive Arts, Expressive Arts Therapies, Fat Talk, Featured, Finding Your Voice, Freedom, Healthy Communication, Healthy Coping, Livin in the Moment, Media Literacy, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Prevention, Recovery, Role Models, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Care, Self-Compassion, Spirituality, Stress Management, Treatment, Weight Stigma, Wellness, Wellness, Writing and Poetry, Yoga, Yoga and Meditation, Yoga Therapy
When you look in the mirror, what’s the first thing you say to yourself? If you are like most women, it’s not something kind or complimentary. Most of us are WAY too hard on ourselves, and the media doesn’t help with that. Think about it…can you recall ONE company that promotes happiness with what IS [...]
Dancing Again
March 25, 2013 by mamaV
Filed under Dance, Dance Movement Therapy, Eating Disorders, Exercise, Expressive Arts, Expressive Arts Therapies, Featured, Freedom, Loving Your Body, Recovery, Role Models, Self Esteem, Sharing Feelings, Spirituality, Treatment, Wellness
This Guest Post graciously submitted by Mandi Degner. Last week, I finally took a long and honest look at myself in a mirror for the first time in my available memory of life. I didn’t hate her. I didn’t yell at her. I didn’t tell her she was ugly. On Tuesday, I just looked. On [...]
Meet Becca — Pioneer, Visionary, and Environmentally-Friendly Taxidermist
March 23, 2013 by Robyn Hussa Farrell
Filed under Art Therapy, Body Image, Empowerment, Featured, Finding Your Voice, Loving Your Body, Mindfulness, Moms & Sisters, Role Models, Self Esteem, Self-Care
Real Deal exclusive interview with Becca: a Pioneer, Visionary and Environmentally-Friendly Taxidermist. I first met Becca about a year or so ago, when we both attended a production of NORMAL THE MUSICAL in Charleston, SC. Becca offered feedback that — to this day — has served as a catalyst for some new programs for our [...]
BODY EMPOWERMENT – “Breathing”
March 20, 2013 by Caroline Rothstein
Filed under Anxiety, Body Image, Empowerment, Featured, Healthy Coping, Mindfulness, Recovery, Self-Acceptance, Self-Care, Self-Compassion, Wellness, Yoga, Yoga Therapy
As part of the weekly Wednesday posting of my ongoing YouTube series “Body Empowerment,” here’s “Breathing (Body Empowerment 58)” originally posted May 21, 2012, on YouTube.com by Caroline Rothstein. This video addresses and explores the importance of breathing and the breath as a coping mechanism in times of triggering anxiety or negative thought patterns. About BODY EMPOWERMENT: Founded [...]
Music and Healing
March 19, 2013 by ADRIENNE TRIER-BIENIEK
Filed under Empowerment, Expressive Arts, Expressive Arts Therapies, Featured, Finding Your Voice, Healthy Coping, Media Literacy, Mental Health, Music, Recovery, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Care, Self-Compassion, Treatment
Songs: Tori Amos “Silent All These Years” Alicia Keys “Brand New Me” Welcome to my first column for We are the Real Deal! I am very excited to be contributing to the website and to share my appreciation for music and pop culture. To introduce myself, I have PhD in sociology and I study the [...]
Worth the “Weight”?
March 4, 2013 by Debra Hennesy
Filed under Anxiety, Body Image, Depression, Eating Disorders, Empowerment, Exercise, Expressive Arts, Expressive Arts Therapies, Featured, Finding Your Voice, Healthy Communication, Healthy Communication, Healthy Coping, Loving Your Body, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Recovery, Role Models, Self Esteem, Self-Acceptance, Self-Care, Self-Compassion, Sharing Feelings, Stress Management, Weight Stigma, Wellness, Wellness, Yoga, Yoga and Meditation, Yoga Therapy
I never thought I could learn so much about myself from a cactus! Upon a recent trip to Arizona, I learned something about the Saguaro cactus (the really tall ones that can have a bunch of “arms”, once they are 75 years old). They can shrink and expand, based on how much moisture they hold [...]
BODY EMPOWERMENT – “Compassion (For Every Year)”
February 27, 2013 by Caroline Rothstein
Filed under Body Image, Creative Art, Empowerment, Expressive Arts, Expressive Arts Therapies, Featured, Self Esteem, Theatre, Writing and Poetry
As part of the weekly Wednesday posting of my ongoing YouTube series “Body Empowerment,” here’s “‘Compassion (For Every Year)’ (Body Empowerment 54)” originally posted March 19, 2012, on YouTube.com by Caroline Rothstein. Check it out! About BODY EMPOWERMENT: Founded in 2008, “Body Empowerment” is hosted and produced by NYC-based writer, performer, and eating disorder recovery advocate Caroline Rothstein. In [...]
Yoga Strengthens My Core
February 22, 2013 by Arianna Merritt
Filed under Exercise, Featured, Loving Your Body, Mental Health, Wellness, Yoga and Meditation, Yoga Therapy
I admit it – I LOVE Yoga! Incorporating it into my daily life has empowered me to stand tall and speak from the heart. As you may know, yoga is a very personal practice which makes one stretch myself past their limits, physically and mentally. Practicing yoga encourages me to persevere and ignore negative thoughts; it [...]
Meditation and Stress-Management Through Ancient Painting Techniques
January 19, 2013 by Robyn Hussa Farrell
Filed under Art Therapy, Creative Art, Expressive Arts, Expressive Arts Therapies, Featured, Mindfulness, Recovery, Role Models, Self-Care, Wellness, Writing and Poetry, Yoga, Yoga and Meditation, Yoga Therapy
I recently learned of a style of painting called suiboku-ga or Sumi-e that originated with Zen monks — the artform itself is a meditative practice. What better stress-management tool could there be? It employs art, yogic teachings, meditation and mindfulness. With gratitude to a yogi that I have followed for about 8 years named Leza [...]
