Diet and Body Talk Policies

We’re in a society that has coupled movement with toxic things like body shaming and pressure to diet and lose weight. At Positive Spin, we’re working to decouple these things so that we can all enjoy moving our bodies without shame. 

If you have personal goals, habits, etc. that feel good to you regarding food, weight loss and the like- that’s totally fine with us! Just please refrain from talking about it in pole dance class. Here’s just a few reasons why:

  • We’re already bombarded with messaging that we’re supposed to be controlling what our body looks like or how much we weigh. Even if your comment isn’t telling people this explicitly, it can reinforce norms that can be unhealthy for some.
  • Many with histories of body dysmorphia, eating disorders, etc., struggle to find safe enough spaces to practice movement. By keeping diet and weight loss talk out of our studio, we can help everyone in their journey to improve their relationship with their body.
  • When one person comments on their body implying that its appearance needs to be changed, it puts everyone in a mindset of comparing their body and wondering if it also needs to be changed. This is almost never the intention of the commentor, but it can still be an unintended consequence. 

Are there any body image comments that are okay in the pole studio?

Yes! Comments about the struggle of building a positive relationship with your body are always welcome. Here’s some examples:

  • “I’m having a challenging body image day”
  • “Sometimes I have trouble embracing what my body looks like, but I still try to enjoy what it does for me”

What can you do if you accidentally make a body comment that might be unhelpful?

  • Forgive yourself! Most of us have been flooded with this messaging our whole lives and it takes time to unlearn.
  • Apologize and say something to support body positivity/neutrality. An example might be: “I’m sorry, I’m still trying to unlearn all the messages I got that told me I needed to change my body!”

What can you do if you hear someone else make a body comment that might be unhelpful to you or another student?

It’s really tricky to intervene on this sometimes, because we don’t want to shut down or shame someone who has internalized harmful messaging that so many of us have dealt with, especially if it’s clear that they had only good intentions. Here’s some examples of what you can say:

  • “I’m trying to get away from diet culture personally, so I don’t see this snack as anything to be ashamed of. I think food is something to be enjoyed.”
  • “I hope pole helps us all feel stronger and more confident regardless of what our bodies look like.”
  • “There is so much to be enjoyed about dance that isn’t attached to our weight.”

If you’re looking to learn more about decoupling fitness and weight, here’s a few resources we recommend:

Thanks so much for helping make our pole dance studio a safer and more enjoyable place to pole dance and move!