This is what my yoga body looks like

Back in May, I posted about those yoga bodies you see all over the Internet.

Then a couple of weeks ago I had some photos taken by a photographer. I wore my favorite yoga clothes, curled my hair and put makeup on. I had a professional photographer, and although I haven't seen the photos quite yet, I'm sure she will select only the "flattering" ones. So before I share those with you, I wanted to show some not-so-flattering ones. 

Why?

Well, there are so many beautiful photos of bodies on the Internet. And there's nothing wrong with that. But what you don't see a lot of are women who REALLY put themselves out there. I mean, why would you post an unflattering selfie?

I got this idea from my sister when she posted some not-so-flattering photos. It was brave and so honest. And as someone who has spent wayyyy too much time in the past comparing myself to photos of seemingly perfect, toned bodies, I know how important it is to understand that those bodies are people, just like you and me.

They laugh.
They cry.
They gain weight and lose weight.
They get pimples (gasp)!
They take unflattering photos.
(They probably just don't share them.)

So, without further ado, I present my yoga body.

My laughing, crying, weight-gaining and weight-losing, sometimes pimpley, still-have-a-hole-from-my-teenage-belly-button-piercing and sometimes unflattering-photo-taking yoga body. No make up. No Photoshop. No shame. 

The face really makes it.

Same body. Kinda blurry. Lucy photo bomb.

I feel like this is a good "Caption This!" photo.

Oh, posture helps. (Lucy's trying to steal the show.)

The old take-a-photo-from-above trick.

... because taking it from below makes this happen. You think Fabletics will want to post this on Instagram?

I've come a long way in a few short years.

I've gained 50 pounds since I kicked E.D. out of my life, yet I feel mentally lighter. I'm no longer carrying the hefty weight of anxiety surrounding food. When I have a body image moment (which I do sometimes), I'm able to recognize it, process it and move past it. It doesn't ruin my day. And now I'm even posting pictures of it on the Internet. The me six years ago wouldn't believe it. It took a lot of therapy, journaling and yoga to get here, but it saved me from myself and it feels amazing to feel like a person. Not just a shell.

Our shells, our bodies, are important.

They're the houses to our souls. And hey, your shell is beautiful, just like all those gorgeous people on Instagram ... magazine covers ... etc. It's not perfect, and neither are theirs. Neither is mine. Now or 50 pounds ago or 50 pounds from now.

You know what's more beautiful than great lighting and tan, chiseled abs? Loving yourself with or without them. Because the most beautiful part of you is the part you can't see from the outside — not from any angle.

Namaste.