Dance-Enhanced Body Awareness

I always knew I had shorter than average legs because my pants were always too long. But it wasn’t until I started dancing seriously in college that I was made aware again and again that I have a longer than average torso. It’s been interesting to hear people’s mixed responses when I mention it. Some people envy it; few people recognize the “hassles” it creates…

PROS:

- I can eat more because there’s more room for my stomach to expand
- Weight fluctuations are less apparent because it has more room to distribute along my torso
- I’m really good at body rolls because I have a longer spine to roll haha
- I’m also really good at back bends
- I have no problem reaching beyond my toes and tying my shoes without bending my knees
- Having a good posture is accentuated and makes me look more graceful

CONS:

- A lot of shirts are too short (thus immodest) on me
- Most pants, even in petite sizes, are too long on me and I have to spend extra money to get them tailored
- In close partner dances (i.e. waltz & rumba), it’s sometimes hard to follow/keep up with the guy because I have proportionally shorter legs & longer torso
- When I wear pants, I look shorter because my leg lines are shorter
- When sitting down, I often have to choose between having good posture and being a head above everyone, or slouching and being at eye level
- When cuddling with a guy (not that I do this often), I sometimes have to slide way down on the couch to rest my head on his shoulder

There are advantages and disadvantages to every body type.

Everybody has physical insecurities in this body-obsessed world. But as Dieter F. Uchtdorf said about humility, we shouldn't think less of our bodies but maybe think less about our bodies - especially its flaws. We can't expect to reach perfection, physically or spiritually, in this mortal life.

We need to remember that we are creations of our Heavenly Father, who loves us.

"God created man in his own image...male and female created he them. And God blessed them." (Genesis 1:26-28)

I have been thinking alot about bodies and health lately because I was sick for almost 2 months and was unable to do many of the things I needed and wanted to do. As I'm regaining my health, I have a deeper appreciation for all the things my body can do, as beautifully described by Russell M. Nelson, who is a doctor by profession.

Although we are merely "dust of the earth" (Genesis 3:19), our bodies are temples of God that house our spirits:

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?...for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

No matter how many things we'd like to "fix" about our bodies, we should never hate or torture our bodies with ill treatments and unnatural practices. Because contrary to popular belief, our bodies are not really our own.

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

God welcomes us to use our bodies to enjoy pleasures like a heartfelt embrace, delicious food, invigorating exercise, a joyful dance... As Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley wholeheartedly encouraged -

"In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

But like so many other things - time, money, talents - God gave us our bodies to exercise righteous agency and stewardship. He expects us to serve a neighbor, acquire skills and abilities, earn an honest living, raise a righteous happy family, be upstanding citizens...

"Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)

I am so grateful for my body and all it can do, despite its sometimes inconvenient proportions and infirmities.

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Other blog posts of mine on health & body image:
Humbled While Healing
Unfulfilled Dance Desires
My Beauty Recipe
"Recapturing Beauty" Essay Contest
"Good Hair" - Infuriating and Irrational Beauty Standards