We’re taught to manage our bodies, optimise them, improve them… but rarely to listen to them.
Today I asked my body what she needed
(Poem by Hollie Holden)
Today I asked my body what she needed,
Which is a big deal.
Considering my journey of
Not Really Asking That Much.
I thought she might need water
Or protein
Or greens
Or yoga
Or supplements
Or movement.
But as I stood in the shower
Reflecting on her stretch marks,
Her roundness where I would like flatness,
Her softness where I would like firmness,
All those conditioned wishes
That form a bundle of
Never-Quite-Right-Ness,
She whispered very gently:
Could you just love me like this?
– Hollie Holden
We saw this poem shared recently, with a whole heap of comments like…
- But we need veggies, and water. This is bad advice.
- More water is important though.
- There is nothing healthy about being over weight.
You get the picture.
And yes, art is subjective. But what feels very clear to us is what this poem is highlighting. It’s not actually about eating enough greens. 😉
We live in a culture that keeps pointing out what’s “wrong” with us. You don’t have to look far to find someone telling you that something about your body… needs fixing, shrinking, tightening or correcting.
Turning 38: Ageing, Skin and the Stories We’re Taught to Believe
For me, as I turn 38 (a few days ago), I know that without a strong self-acceptance practice, I could very easily believe that my face is “wrong” for showing signs of ageing. That the lines mean something needs to be corrected. That Botox is urgent. That time is the enemy.
But that narrative only exists if we accept it.
And really, time is the greatest gift in the world.
This poem isn’t a rejection of health… it’s an invitation to tune out the constant judgement we’ve been taught to feel about our bodies and faces.
The constant internal judgement… it once felt like the only possible way for me.
This poem is a reminder that health doesn’t require obsession. That we don’t need to turn diets or health kicks into our identity. It’s a reminder that we can accept and even love our bodies, when they are not ‘perfect’.
And from this place of acceptance, there is less self-criticism. And more energy and time to focus on the things that actually matter.
Accepting our bodies… flaws and all… doesn’t mean we ignore our health. For me, it’s done the opposite. For me, this shift has made me healthier in both mind and body.
I don’t diet anymore, but that doesn’t mean I live on takeaway and packet food. I eat vegetables without overthinking it, I naturally choose food that actually contains food (not numbers and additives), I nourish myself in a way that feels normal and supportive, and I care for myself without punishment, rigid rules or fear. And that’s what has made it all completely sustainable and simple.
On my birthday night, Damiano made the whole family delicious home made pizza. Long fermented pizza dough, so you know it’s filled with love (and flour, oil, water and fresh yeast… that’s it). Carla made our GF Lemon Ricotta cake… but with castor sugar not a sugar alternative. I can confirm the castor sugar made it the most delicious cake (here’s the recipe!).
Once upon a time I’d be worried about eating these foods… or I’d be eating and thinking about my scheduled workout the next day to work off all the ‘bad food’. But instead, I enjoyed all the food with the people I love most.
All of this… is just a reminder that self-acceptance doesn’t mean ignoring your health. It means letting go of fear and punishment, and choosing care instead.
This is why we’ve made self-acceptance a part of everything we do at MerryBody.
So that every movement class, meditation or visualisation you press play on, you’re also practicing self-acceptance.
You are celebrating YOU, your body, just as you are right here and right now. You’re focusing on your health… but with out the not-enough-ness feelings.
Yes… you can still workout and work towards your health goals without thinking “I am not enough”.
If this way of thinking about health and self-acceptance resonates, try MerryBody.
Inside the app, you’ll find hundreds of Yoga, Pilates and Yin classes designed to help you move consistently, care for your body and feel more at home in yourself… without body hate, extremes or pressure.
You can start with a free trial, press play on any class, and simply see how it feels.
Start your free MerryBody trial here!
Always merrymaking,
Emma + Carla
