Advertisement for this month’s focus on body awareness can be  posters, events and much hype about this month’s focus on body awareness can be found throughout the St. Edward’s University campus. What exactly does body awareness mean? Many students would agree that its primary concentration is on the maintenance and health of the body. Although this is true to some extent, body awareness has more of an emotional significance than most are led to believe.

To clarify this, body awareness relates to “having an emotionally healthy view of your body” as well as “being comfortable in your body,” said Peter Erickson, the Wellness and Outreach Coordinator. Erickson continued to discuss the importance of “being consciously aware of your body so that you recognize when it’s out of balance.”

Despite the physical connotations Body Awareness Month may hold, it advocates “the philosophy of behavior-centered health, which emphasizes healthy lifestyle choices and behaviors and deemphasizes a focus on size, weight or shape,” said Erickson. In other words, healthy behaviors such exercising and eating well will eventually lead to the ultimate weight and overall shape one was “genetically destined to be.”

Body awareness promotes a healthy attitude which aims to dissuade one from falling into the social pressures, such as the “model look” endorsed in American media. This ideal appearance advertised in our country encourages diseases such as image or eating disorders.

 

Studies have shown that 25 percent of college-aged women engage in bingeing and purging as a weight-management technique, said Erickson.

 

More frightening statistics demonstrate 10 to 20 percent of college-aged women suffer from clinical eating disorders as well as 4 to 10 percent of male college students.

These statistics alone stress the significance of Body Awareness Month.

 

“From the wellness perspective, body, mind and spirit are intimately interconnected” said Erickson. Meaning, if one is suffering mentally this will ultimately affect the body. It is important for St. Edward’s students to understand that improving one’s overall health will help students perform optimally in school, said Erickson.

There are numerous events and programs occurring throughout this month that encourage Hilltoppers to participate in Body Awareness Month.

 

Movies, informative presentations and programs relating to stress and exercise management will be offered. All of the events promote a healthy attitude towards oneself and body. Additionally, their intentions are to restore a positive outlook within the St. Edward’s community.

“Taking the time to help the body become healthier also helps the mind and the spirit become more healthy” said Erickson.

 

With school, work, extracurricular and social activities, life can sometimes become hectic. Students can take advantage of Body Awareness Month to relieve stress and gain a more positive perspective on life.