Positive Body Image
Talk 1: Creating Body-Safe Health & Fitness Spaces
As clinicians, providers, coaches, and instructors in health and wellness spaces, we aim to improve the wellness of our patients or clients. Addressing body image and promoting body positivity is a critical component in supporting people's holistic health and wellness, however, this component is often overlooked. Moreover, it can be difficult to know how to provide care or instruct our classes in a way that is aligned with body positivity.
Dr. Misener’s talk will provide essential body image knowledge to support those who work in health, wellness, and fitness settings so that they feel equipped to provide services in a way that is body-sensitive, inclusive, and appropriate. This talk will illuminate the critical role of body image in our relationships with health and wellness, and provide actionable steps about how to create an atmosphere that bolsters, rather than hinders, positive body image. Specifically, Dr. Misener’s talk will provide professionals with the information needed to deliver services in a way that is body safe, such as by knowing how to use body-inclusive language and goals in discussions with patients/clients, and effectively cultivating a body-safe space and culture. Health and fitness professionals have a significant impact on our relationships with our bodies, and with the knowledge and training provided in Dr. Misener’s talk, your space can be part of the solution to the global body image problem.
After this talk, attendees will be able to…
Be knowledgeable about the body image problem, and what contributes to it
Understand how body image, both negative and positive, impacts our health behaviours
Understand how to promote positive body image in ways that cultivate optimal health behaviours
Know how to adapt your physical space and professional interactions to be body safe and enhance the overall wellness of your clientele
Talk 2: Foundations of Positive Body Image
The way we feel about our bodies impacts our mental health, our behaviour in groups, and our engagement in professional settings. In a culture where body-related information surrounds us, and where the majority of this information sends us unhealthy or negative messaging about our bodies, it has never been more important to equip ourselves with the knowledge needed to combat these negative effects. However, knowing how to address body image in a way that is sensitive, inclusive, and appropriate, and how to promote positive body image, can feel overwhelming. Moreover, creating an environment that is body positive (e.g. by language we use, questions we ask) is essential to cultivating cohesion and a sense of belonging among groups.
Dr. Misener’s talk equips attendees with the knowledge that is needed to create a body positive and empowering atmosphere, and the tools to foster a positive body image in themselves. Dr. Misener disentangles the science from the myths when it comes to body image and provides essential knowledge on how body image impacts our health, relationships, and workplace involvement. Attendees will gain valuable insight about how to use safe language around bodies, and other ways to cultivate a body-positive atmosphere. Dr. Misener will illuminate how body-safe culture in our spaces can enhance inclusion, group cohesion, and participation in the workplace.
After this talk, attendees will be able to…
Understand how the relationship with our bodies impacts our own mental health and wellness, and the wellness of those around us
Gain foundational knowledge about the impacts of body image
Become knowledgeable about practical ways to promote body-safe spaces, both at work and at home
Be equipped with evidence-based strategies to improve your own body image and enhance overall well-being
Dr. Misener also provides talks that provide body image information for parents, and how to understand body image and eating disorders from an intersectional lens, upon request. Contact us to inquire about Dr. Misener’s talks, which can be customized to fit your wellness education needs.
