119 Body Image in Yoga: Community Conversations with Alison Heilig

This interview podcast episode focuses on body image within the yoga community. The host interviews Alison Heilig, a yoga and fitness expert, discussing the formation of body image from childhood, the negative impacts of poor body image (disordered eating, depression, etc.), and the pervasive influence of social media and cultural messaging. Heilig offers practical advice for yoga teachers to foster positive body image in their students, emphasizing curiosity over judgment and providing options rather than prescribing an ideal. For individuals, the key takeaway is to cultivate self-compassion, manage unhelpful thoughts, and focus on positive embodiment experiences, remembering that body image is a perception, not a fact, and that it changes daily. The episode concludes with information about Heilig's upcoming role with the Fit Bottomed Girls blog and podcast.