The Story
Looking Forward to Love Your Body Week
Not too many people tend to be crazy about the month of February. It’s the month the stress of the spring semester begins. It’s the month that walking around in the cold and windy weather gets just a bit tiresome. It’s the month people fret over whether or not they’re going to have a Valentine. It’s the month people remember that spring break swimsuit is about to be unearthed. If not prepared to face some of the challenges February seems to target a college campus with, the month can take a toll on a students’ self esteem and body image.
If those self doubts are already beginning to creep into your mind, however, have no fear! The CARES team on campus has already begun planning for their annual “Love Your Body Week” festivities, this year to be held 23 – 27 February.
Events already set for the week include a Body Fair featuring tips and hints on how to pamper your body and mind through massage, Pilates, meditation, yoga, manicures, the showing of “Barbie Nation,” (a documentary on the rise and influence of the Barbie doll), residence hall programs to promote healthy habits for your mind and body throughout campus, joining President Sullivan on one of his morning walks (with free Daily Grind beverages to follow!), and an Eating Disorders Panel composed of students who have both suffered from eating disorders and had first hand experience helping others with them.
“We really want to raise awareness about body image and eating disorders on campus,” said Michelle Alexander, Health Educator on campus.
Love Your Body Week’s goals are targeted to help and encourage all students on campus re-evaluate the negative ways in which they view themselves through their body image. However, the main targets are those who are struggling with their body image so much that they are inflicting pain and damage on themselves.
“One of our goals is to reach out to students struggling with this and encourage them to seek help,” Alexander said. “[We] want to continue to make these issues a health priority on campus, and each year it becomes more of a recognizable event people are aware of.”
More information on Love Your Body Week will be available in the coming weeks as it approaches. Any questions about scheduled events and topics to be addressed can be answered by the CARES team at 221-2195, or by checking out the website at http://web.wm.edu/health/ and following the CARES link.
February’s cold and dreary days may not send your self image soaring, and should the winter blues begin to take their toll, look forward to the end of the month and all the tips, hints, and events that will remind you just how much you should appreciate, enjoy, and love yourself and body.