Religion & Spirituality
Body Positive Yoga: A Conversation with Amber Karnes Amber is a well known leader and teacher in the body positive yoga movement. During this thought provoking interview, she shares her embodied knowledge that grew out of her own journey to self-acceptance. “I work with humans who want to make peace with their bodies and build unshakable confidence. I know what it’s like to struggle with low self-esteem, bad body image, disordered eating, and the shame that comes with feeling that I’m not enough.” Amber Karnes has been practicing yoga for over 15 years. In 2010, she decided that she wanted to take her practice to a deeper level and began training with Anna Pittman of the Breathing Space. “A few months in, I decided that I wanted to share my yoga with the world. That I wanted to help others who were in non-conforming bodies – fat bodies, old bodies, stiff bodies, or just bodies that get ignored by the yoga world – to make yoga work for them.” Amber’s passion is to teach from a place where yoga is accessible to everyone, regardless of size, shape, and/or ability. Amber’s teaching focuses on alignment and mindful transitions while encouraging students to honor the inherent intelligence and wisdom of their body. Amber infuses her classes with “the foundational principles of inclusivity, agency, consent, body positivity, and self-acceptance.” Amber is a huge fan of “yoga in non-yoga places” and can often be found teaching in parks, libraries, and other non-studio type settings. Amber co-created Yoga for All Teacher Training with Diane Bondy to impart the message of inclusivity and accessibility to teachers all over the world. Amber is based in Richmond, VA and teaches both classes and retreats in many different locations. Amber also created the Body Positive Clubhouse, an interactive online community full of invaluable resources. What We’ll Learn Amber’s expert perspective on how poor self-esteem, poor body image, and disordered eating has evolved into a major public health crisis and the cultural messages that contribute to the perpetuation of this epidemic. Amber’s process of teaching and working with individuals to reclaim their power, internal resources, and find peace within their bodies through yogic teachings and body positive practices. Specific practices and yogic teachings that Amber weaves into her work in order to help others let go of shame and move towards greater self-acceptance. Amber’s personal strategies for managing criticism and push back from those in society that idolizes certain body types and devalues others. https://bodypositiveyoga.com https://bodypositiveyoga.com/membership/ www.yogaforalltraining.com https://www.facebook.com/bodypositiveyoga https://www.instagram.com/amberkarnesofficial/ Podcast: https://bodypositiveyoga.com/body-positive-yoga-podcast/ If you or your loved one is in need of support, the following toll-free numbers offer everything from crisis counseling to mental health treatment referrals in your area. Help is available. You do not need to suffer in silence. National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 (24 hours 7 days a week). NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-NAMI (6264). They are available M-F from 10am-6pm EST. SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline: 1-877-726-4727. They are available M-F from 8am-8pm EST. National Association for Eating Disorders Helpline: 1-800-931-2237 M-Thursday from 9-9 and Friday from 9-5 Hopeline Network: 1-800-442-4673 If you liked what you heard today, write a review and subscribe in iTunes. Five star reviews really help others to find the podcast. Grateful for any love you can leave! https://www.innerskytherapeutics.com/podcast-1/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/ancienttoolsformodernliving/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ancienttoolsformodernliving/ Have a question? Comment? Is there a particular topic you would like to know more about? No need to keep those thoughts to yourself! Email me at tzipporah@innerskytherapeutics.com and we can keep these important conversations going.