← Affirmations for Black Girls
Affirmations for Black Girls
413 | You Deserve to Feel GOOD in Your Body. Why Play, Movement & Pleasure Are Essential | Pep Talk Wednesday
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Okay, y' all, I have a confession to make. I am a hot sleeper. My body be running so hot y' all and sometimes it has me tossing and turning all night. First I'm too hot because I'm under the covers. Then I get too cold because I didn't took them off of me. I'm flipping my pillow every 10 minutes to find the cool side and eventually I just end up with one foot in and one foot out to regulate my body. But I recently realized that it's not just me, it's also my bedding. Heat trapping sheets and duvets are a recipe for a restless night. And no matter how tired you are, I cannot get jiggy. Witty. Now, I already upgraded my bed. I told y' all I got the Avocado green mattress. And with the warmer weather approaching us, it has given me the push to give their bedding a try. So Avocado's bedding collection is warm weather ready and the refresh that your bed deserves. From soft organic cotton sheets to light as air silk duvets, their bedding is designed to naturally regulate temperature and keep you cool, comfy and sleeping soundly all night long. Amen. Everything is sustainably made, non toxic and super luxe without the heavy hot feeling that usually comes with high end bedding. And y' all know y' all know what I'm talking about. And I can feel confident knowing that my pieces are high quality and will last longer because we try to make that dollar stretch honey. I really recommend checking out all of Avocado's bedding. Opt right items to ensure a cooler and more comfy night sleep. So y' all head to avocadomatress.com today to save 10% on all bedding and 50% on clearance bedding. Avocado dream of better. Okay, so as I continue to get older, I am constantly looking for better ways to take care of my skin. But you guys know how every few months there is this new must have skin care product. Do you ever feel like no matter how fancy the product is, you try your still gets irritated dry or just really overwhelmed girl. Same. Okay. My skin has always been on a more sensitive side and I had to slow it all the way down and get back to basics with LA Pure Naturals Beef Tallow face cream. Yes y' all. You heard that right. I really like how it's made with simple nutrient rich ingredients like aloe vera and raw honey. Nothing complicated or harsh. And it's designed for sensitive skin. But honestly, anyone who's tired of the hoopla from a 17 step skin skincare routine can benefit from this product. This face cream is super rich but melts into your skin without feeling heavy or greasy. And because it mimics the natural oils your skin already produces, it helps moisturize, heal and protect all without clogging your pores or throwing your skin off. It's truly a back to basics approach to skincare that feels refreshing in a world full of over complicated routines. And let's talk about that glow honey. Okay, so if your skin has been asking for something real, something gentle, something that just makes sense, this is your sign. Ditch the overwhelm and nourish naturally with LA Pure Naturals Beef Tallow Face Cream. Unlock your natural glow. Discover the power of nature's original skin care. Get yours at www.lapurenaturals.com that's LA L a pure P u r e naturals.com and use code affirmations for 40 off I never thought it would take until I entered my 30s to say this, but I finally feel comfortable in my body. And I don't mean I feel normal in my body, because I've always felt normal in my body and I felt like my body is my body. But nowadays I finally feel comfortable, if that makes sense. Comfortable enough to move without overthinking it. Comfortable enough to dance in my living room or out in public just because I feel like moving my body. Comfortable enough to trust that my body is telling me what it needs to without brushing it off or pushing through the pain or the discomfort. I used to feel so stiff, so clunky, so awkward, like I was dragging my body around like a suitcase while my mind did all the heavy lifting. And as I'm even saying this right now, I also used to just tolerate my body. I didn't necessarily love the body that I was in, whether that was because of my size or because of my skin tone. Those were the two bigger things for me. And lately, through the most unexpected things, my hobbies, boxing, pottery, or even learning how to dance a little bit, I've actually started to feel myself in the gym. It's called activating or isolating a certain muscle or a certain body part. And I think that has been the key that has helped me the most powerful. Few things are as powerful. What is going on? Beautiful people welcome back to another Pep Talk Wednesday. I am Tyra the creative, your host and virtual cheerleader for the day, delivering a midweek pick me up that you have been craving. And I have been thinking about talking about this on a podcast for a long time, but I didn't really know what I wanted to say because this entire topic has just been been a thought or an observation in my life, but it's been through the most unexpected things. Boxing, pottery, and dancing. That these hobbies have helped me find softness. They've helped me find power, rhythm, Amen. And also a presence in my body. And I also want to throw confidence in there as well. And today I want to walk through how each one of these hobbies and things that I've been doing lately has changed my relationship with my body. So get ready for some encouraging words and a dose of inspiration to brighten your day. Ready? Okay. Like I said, I've been wanting to talk about this for a long time because I finally feel good in my body. And for today's pep talk Wednesday, you guys know, it's always an actual pep talk. You deserve to feel good in your body. And for us, in order for us to feel good in our bodies, we need to put in the work. And that can look a lot of different ways for a lot of different people. For me, something that I unexpectedly, unexpectedly dove into that has helped me be more in tune with myself is my hobbies. First boxing, y' all. I started boxing in during the pandemic 2020, and I don't even know if I even ever told this story, but maybe I have. But anyways, I'll tell you again. I was tired of being in the house just like everybody else was. And I ended up seeing something like an ad or something for Mayweather Boxing on Facebook. And I clicked it, and you already know cookies, I ain't do nothing. They got my information through there through Facebook, and they gave me a call, and I didn't answer the phone. They kept calling, and I said, you know what, Tyra? Get out the house. Do something you never thought you would ever do before. Go outside and box. Fell in love with it, right? So now I go to a gym in North Hollywood because I moved from over there by that Mayweather, and I think Mayweather is honestly close. Okay, sorry. Really back in, because you're getting off topic. Anyways, I started boxing and I freaking fell in love with it. Unexpected, unexpectedly. And I think that is one of the happy. What. What's. What's the word? Like the happy coincidences that has happened in my life that I started doing something that I felt was super out there. Because why am I boxing, Baby, I'm not trying to be no boxer. And I fell in love with it. And in turn, it has gifted Me with more intuitiveness for my body. Right. So specifically for me with boxing, and I joke about this all the time on the phone. My mama and she just be cracking up. But I got hands now, okay? I have become so strong, and I know how to defend myself first and foremost. And that is one of the biggest things for me, especially living alone, living in a place like Los Angeles. There's high crime. A lot of stuff is going on right now, y' all. The Citizen app has been on and popping. There's been. There's been a lot going on. I'm not going to get into that, but I'm glad that I know how to protect myself. I've also learned more precision and groundedness, like feeling my feet, feeling my breath, my balance, using my core. First of all, y. I didn't understand just how much your core is a core functioning part of your body. Okay. If you have no core strength at all, you can't really stand up, you know, and so you might be thinking, oh, my God, well, I can stand up. So I got core strength. Yes, but there's so much more core strength that you could have. Like, it has something to do with your posture and all of that stuff. At, like, on a. On a basic level, good posture is directly affected by your core as well. For boxing is not for me. It's not just about throwing the punches either. Something that we always work on in class is fine tuning our skills and being sharp. I feel so powerful. I am so my punches are sharp. If we have like, target practice, baby, I am hitting that target every single time. And it's not something that you can just say, oh, yeah, I'm do this. Because when new people come to the gym, it reminds me of how far I've come. Because I'm like, look, now, I didn't told you to hit this mitt that I'm holding, and you are not hitting this mitt. It's honestly a lot harder than you think it is. And I just love how good I've gotten at it. And it's made me trust myself more both inside and outside of the gym. So when I'm on the phone, my mom, I just be like, mom, I got hands. I've been waiting for somebody to come over so I can just put the paws on them. And I always say that we're always just joking about it, but I wouldn't have said that before 2020. I didn't really know how to defend myself. I've never been put in a situation where I've had To defend myself, thank God. But now I feel a lot more confident to do so. And I truly am appreciative for the time that I've spent learning how to box for that. And then you always hear this saying, if you don't use it, you lose it. And that's why I work out, y' all. That's why I work out five to six days a week. Because as your body gets older, you start losing mobility, you start losing balance, you start losing your alignment, you start losing your strength. Stay in the gym. Keep, literally keep building those muscles. Keep using it, because if you don't, you will lose it. Okay, y' all, so I have a confession to make. As the treasurer for the Itty Bitty Titty Committee, I want to let y' all know that I gave up on regular bras a long time ago because they were always so uncomfortable. Either the straps would dig in or the cups would have that weird gap that really got on my nerves. Now, while I said I do have a smaller chest and bad bralettes aren't exempt from this criticism either, I just always wanted something that felt good on my body, something that worked for me instead of against me. Amen. Now, I'm pretty sure I wanted to ask people to try skims. But, baby, why didn't y' all tell me that the scoop bralette from the Fits Everybody collection was so freaking good. I don't think I ever experienced fabric like this. It's buttery soft, and it's smoothing. It's like melt into your skin soft, but it still provides that support and that secure feeling without digging or pinching or weird gapping. Okay. And there are also no weirdly placed seams. And y' all know what I'm talking about. You know that over the nip simple seam that pokes through your shirt, especially if you got a small chest. I absolutely hate that. But, y' all, I love this bralette. It's lightweight and it moves with me, which means I can go all day without even thinking about it. And I got it in two colors and I wear them under everything. Now, listen, this part is important. Shop Skims Fits Everybody Collection and more@skims.com and SKIMS LA flagship on Sunset Boulevard. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you select podcast in the survey and be sure to select our show affirmations for black girls in the drop down menu that follows. So sometimes I randomly feel a little off. And I always wonder, is this stress? Am I not drinking enough water? Is this Just what getting older feels like, because I'm 30 now. And I'll also be the first to admit that I'm curious about the role hormones play in how I feel day to day. But who really feels like shelling out extra coins to find and book an appointment with a specialist. But not knowing what's going on is just as stressful. So I have to start somewhere. So, y' all. I recently learned about a free two minute quiz that can help you uncover the root of your hormonal symptoms made by Happy Mammoth. It's right there on their website and it's all pretty straightforward. I just answered a few questions about my symptoms, my habits, and where I'm at in my life. And they offer a range of products designed to help women feel like themselves again. And with personalized recommendations from the quiz, you'll know exactly where to start. My results recommended that I give their hormone harmony a try, so I'm gonna see what it's hitting on. Are you ready to start feeling like yourself again? Head over to happy mammoth.com and take their free 2 minute hormone quiz today to find out the ultimate answer to your stubborn hormonal issues. And for a limited time, you can also get 15% off your entire first order with my code affirmations at checkout. That's happy mammoth.com and use the code affirmations for 15% off today. After I started boxing, I started doing pottery. I started doing pottery after my last breakup. I really needed something artsy that had my hands busy so I wouldn't be trying to look at my phone and, you know, all of that stuff. I needed something that I could truly disconnect with. And as you guys know, I talk about pottery all the time. It has. Has been such a joy. It has slowed me down. It has made me pay attention to pressure in my body and. Or not necessarily in my body. Well, both, honestly. Pressure in my body, it's made me pay attention to my breath, to my hands, to the details. And I have been able to move more intuitively and mold the clay. It's just something so sacred about molding something with your hands. Taking an idea from your head, using a piece of clay and molding it just with your hands. Feeling the tension of it, the softness, the imperfections, feeling how you're pulling the clay up, how you're pulling the walls of the clay out, how you're centering the piece of clay, making sure that it's all balanced. That is all. You're using more than just your hands. You're Using your whole body. And I didn't really realize that when I started pottery. I was like, okay, I'm trying to use my hands. But, no, they'll even tell you, okay, you need to anchor your elbow into your hip, and you need to push with your entire upper body so that your entire body moves as one. It's just such a beautiful thing. And it's taught me how to be patient with my body, because you really have to just feel it, and you really have to. To do it. Intent move intuitively, really, that's really what pottery is about. I have taken classes, and I've had a couple of different teachers, and they all teach a little differently because it's art. It's subjective. You know, it. It's. It depends on if you're left handed, if you're right handed, what's your more dominant side of the body? If you have anything going on, you might have to change it up. Like. Like, let's just say you only had four fingers on one hand. You may have to do something a little differently than somebody else might have to. Or something might just feel a little bit more right to you. That is what pottery has taught me, to appreciate its gentleness and appreciate that I am taking a piece of clay and molding it in my hands. And I was at my pottery studio last Friday, and I was throwing the biggest bowl that I have ever thrown before. And I was trying to approach it the same way I would approach throwing a small mug. And immediately, my body just started to. Because I like to turn my mind off when I go to my pottery studio. My body just started to move in a way that I noticed was a little different. And once it was worked out, like, once the bowl was thrown, I was like, oh, my gosh. I am moving more intuitively, and it's literally just happening subconsciously. So I've been doing it long enough for my body to just take over in the most beautiful way, and I love it. Doing pottery has made me feel more steady. It's made me feel more still, and it's made me feel the most present I have felt in a very long time. And the last thing that I wanted to touch on is dancing, y' all. First of all, I'm gonna say this. I used to feel like I could not dance. And I. The two things that I compare it to is when I was in college, I crossed Delta. As a lot of you guys know, I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority incorporated. And we had to have our new initiate presentation for that. We Got a step, we got a dance, we got a stroll. We got to do all of these things. And I never felt confident in moving my body. I would just feel so clunky and just disconnected, really. And I just felt like my body just wouldn't move right. And then when we fast forward to. I did national student exchange program, and I ended up falling in love with this boy. You already know how the story goes, but he was a college boyfriend. And I remember one time we were at this bar or something, and it was like a college bar, so all of our friends and stuff were there, and a song that we both really liked came on. And this was at the time where people would dance in the club and. But I would more like, I would be the person that's, like, in the corner singing a song real loud. Like, getting buck like that. Not dancing, but just singing real loud. So he grabbed my hand, and he brought me to the middle of the dance floor and, like, spinned me around, and I got so nervous, I shied away. And I just smiled at him awkwardly, and I started backing up. He was like, what are you doing? And I. Y' all, I could not dance. He obviously wanted to dance for me. And I was like, oh, my gosh. I cannot. Not in the middle of the dance. I cannot do this. I don't know what to do. I don't feel comfortable in my body. I don't feel connected to my body, right? And at that time, I didn't really have the words to express that to him. I mean, we let it go because it was just, you know, just like a fleeting thing. But that stuck with me because I didn't want to feel like that. I didn't want to feel like, oh, you can't pull me to the middle of dance for it. I can't feel comfortable doing whatever it is my body wants to do. I'm not saying that I wanted to be a great dancer. I would just wanted to be comfortable getting up there and shaking a little leg, cutting a little rug, however that looks for Tyra. And now I do that. And I think it just comes with growing older as well and just. Just, you know, doing more things and being comfortable in your own body, but also just being older and being like, what the hell? I'm just gonna do it. But also, y' all. I' ma tell y' all this. Don't and don't judge me, y' all. I beats working, okay? I be to working in my own house. In my own house. In my own house. I don't really do. I don't do that in public or whatever. But, y' all, I. I have learned how to move my body in ways that I did not think was possible. With rhythm. Amen. With flow. And just for fun, I will turn on Juvenile so quick, okay? In the country, in the comfort of my own home, y' all, I would just be like, alexa, play back that ass up. I don't have time to play with you. I am about to get in here, and I am about to dance. Dancing and learning how to twerk and all of this stuff has helped me stop judging myself, right? Or stop trying to hit a bar that other people have set or whatever, you know, and just feel I'm not dancing to be cute. I'm not dancing to perform. I'm dancing because it feels good to be alive and to live in this body. And, like, it just feels good that it feels good, if that makes sense. Because growing up, it didn't necessarily feel good for me to dance. Like, I was like, oh, I feel so disconnected. And I'm just glad that now when I hear taking over for the 99 and the 2000, baby, I am in the middle of the dance flow, okay? I don't care what everybody else is doing. I may hit a little twerk. I may just do a little shoulder shrug. I don't know. You know what I mean? Like, I'm just intuitively going through life now, and I feel so connected to each and every part of my body, and I just. I love it. Be honest. Have y' all ever tried taking a shot of straight apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning back when it was trendy? I did it once, and, y' all, I said, never again. But I still wanted those same digestive benefits without burning my throat and hurting my stomach. The truth is, some wellness trends are harder to stick to than others. And taking shots of apple cider vinegar or swallowing giant multivitamins. No, thank you. Ever since I first tried Goalie's apple cider vinegar gummies, I look forward to taking my vitamins. Not only do they basically taste like candy, but they're packed with the things I need to feel my best. No mixing, no measuring, and absolutely no chalky peels. Y' all, when I tell you they just taste like a little gummy candy, they taste good. Just grab em, chew them, and I go about my day. And it's not just the ACV gummies. Goalie has stuff for different needs, including ashwagandha for stress relief and superfruits for beauty and glow. And don't worry, they're vegan, gluten free and made without any of that artificial stuff. So taking vitamins can fit right into any routine without a second thought. So head to goli.com right now and get America's number one Ashwagandha and apple cider vinegar gummies at an exclusive 42% off. Give them a try risk free, backed by our money guarantee. Because wellness should be simple, effective, and delicious. Don't wait. Visit goalie.com today. So you guys know every pep talk Wednesday has a challenge. And our challenge this week is pretty simple. I want you to reconnect with your body through play. So pick one thing this week that brings you joy through movement. It could be a dance session in the mirror, in your closet, in, out in public, wherever, walking barefoot in grass. It could be painting with your hands. It could be pottery. It could be punch in the air like. Like you're in a music video or, you know, whatever. You feel me? It could be you doing anything with your tactile abilities, anything that incorporates touch and anything that incorporates movement. Whatever it is, just let it be for you. It could be five minutes. Ain't got to be long. I want you. That's why I want you guys to really do these challenges. Because it. It's just a moment out of your entire week to reconnect with yourself. Your body doesn't have to perform for this, so it doesn't have to be dancing. It could be, like I said, walking barefoot in the grass. It's just. It just needs to be something that feels good. It could be stretching for five minutes. You know, it could be anything. And I just want you to make sure that you go into it with the idea of you are allowed to feel good in it. So think about some things that you can do to reconnect with your body through play, through joy, through joy of movement. And if you feel so inclined to share, please just send us an email at affirmations for black girlsmail.com I do read all of Yalls emails. Even if I don't respond for a little while, I do read them. So tell me how you did with this challenge. It is so wild that I'm 30 and I finally feel like my body is mine. Not a thing to fix, not a project, not something that I'm disconnected from, not something that I just have to perform in, not a suit that I wear every day, but genuinely mine. And each and every inch of it finally feels connected. And that came from play for me, from trying New things just because they looked fun or trying new things because I never thought I would do them ever in my life, and I wanted to see if I was cut out for it. From learning to throw a punch, learning to shape some clay, learning to move my hips without feeling embarrassed. I don't think we talk about it enough, what it means to feel at home in your body. And today we. We just scratched the surface of this conversation, and that's okay. But we need to listen to our bodies. We need to listen to our bodies speaking, because our bodies are always telling us something to give it what it needs. Not because you're trying to look a certain way, but because you're trying to feel a certain way. So if you've been feeling disconnected or uncomfortable or stiff or awkward or clumsy. Baby, I have been there for a long time, but you can get back in there. You can build that connection with your body again. Or if you don't feel like you've ever done it, you can build it for the first time, no matter what age you are, you can let movement be medicine. So start small, start joyful, and most importantly, let your body know that you're listening now, because you deserve to feel good living in your body. And remember, y' all, if you don't use it, you lose it. All right, y' all. That's all that I have for you guys today. I know this episode was. It didn't really have a lot of meat to it, and that's okay. I just had a thought that I wanted to share with you guys because this has been such an enlightening experience for me, having a lot of hobbies now and feeling more in tune with the two arms and the two legs that I was blessed with. Amen. And I know I'm not the only one out there who has felt uncomfortable or disconnected in their bodies. And I've talked about this app in the past, but it's called mJoy. It's em j o y the mJoy app, and it's a feminine wellness app that will also aid you in feeling more confident in yourself. And it's big on body positivity. It does have a lot of sex on the app or, like, sex stories and stuff. So I do want to give that disclaimer, but I think overall, all of that stuff is very important with us feeling at home in our feminine. I'm saying feminine bodies because I know that's the biggest audience that listens. But in general, feeling at home in our bodies and being comfortable in our sexuality and who we are. That is so important. And an app like Mjoy could definitely help you out if you want something a little extra outside of just moving your bodies. Right. So check that out if you would like. I think it's available in the Google Play Store and also the Apple App Store, so check that out. That is Mjoy. It's E, M J O Y. And yeah, that's all I have you guys today. So I will talk to you guys again on Monday for a new episode of the podcast. But if you are not already subscribed to our YouTube channel, y' all, I'm need y' all to subscribe because we have all the video episodes over there. This is not a video episode, but I am really hoping to become a video first podcast very soon. So go ahead and subscribe so you can see all the video content that we got coming. And make sure that you follow the podcast on whatever platform you listen to us on. Make sure you give us a rating because they help out so much. We're trying to stay in that Apple top 100, y' all, and that's only because of y' all. Okay, thank y' all so much and leave us a review if you feel so inclined. I do love reading all of you guys's reviews. And with that being said, I'm gonna go ahead and get out of here. And y' all better not forget, you better move your body this week. And I am expecting to see some emails from y' all with how it felt, especially if you haven't done it in a while. I really want you guys to take me on that journey with y' all. So thank you guys again for listening. I will talk to you guys again next week. This is affirmations for black girls.
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