ETSU Love Your Body Day boosts positive self image

The third annual Love Your Body Day was hosted by the ETSU Counseling Center along with the Campus Advocates Against Sexual Violence Program Wednesday Oct. 19 in the Culp Center Atrium from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The event was held "to encourage women to appreciate their bodies exactly the way they are," said Kim Bushore-Maki, coordinator of outreach programs with the ETSU Counseling Center.
There is a need for events like this, Bushore-Maki said, because one out of five college women suffer from eating disorders, and 96 percent of women want to change something about their bodies.
"There is a large segment of our population who don't like their bodies," Bushore-Maki said.
Actions against some of the reasons why women have negative self images were also being taken at the event. Petitions were being passed around at the event to stop the negative images perpetuated by advertising media. The media, Bushore-Maki said, sends distorted messages about how women should look and behave.
"I think the petitions we're sending to marketing groups are great," said Leona Nixon, a sophomore majoring in early childhood development.
Vendors at the event were there to offer information and services to raise women's self-awareness. Several campus programs and groups were present at the event.
The Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance offered a board where women could write what they love about their body on a Post-it note and attach it in front of the booth.
Free chair massages were offered by two groups - the Body Health and Mind Center, 807 N. Roan St. and Integrated Health Concepts, 240 Medical Park Blvd, Suite 1000, Bristol.
The Body Health and Mind Center also offers a full range of spa treatments as well as a full service hair salon. At Wednesday's event they were giving away $40 in spa services.
Jean Buchanan, a licensed massage therapist, offered pregnancy massages as well as chair massages at the Love Your Body Day events.
Offering massage therapy, acupuncture, herbalism, raindrop therapy and Reiki, Integrated Heath Concepts also offers the traditional services of a medical doctor. "We encourage people to take responsibility for their own wellness," said Marita Aicher-Swartz, the Reiki master at Integrated Health Concepts.
Aicher-Swartz demonstrated Reiki at the event Wednesday. Reiki is a Japanese technique which uses hands-on treatment to provide relief of stress through the use of "ki", or life force energy.
Relaxation techniques continued to be represented at the event with Vickie Bacon who offered information on BeautiControl spa products. Many women don't deal with stress in healthy ways by taking time out for themselves, Bacon says.
For campus mothers Love Your Body Day included Angie Neis, a certified professional midwife and booths from LaLeche League of Bristol, whose members spoke to women about breastfeeding. LLL offers a library with books on breastfeeding and childbirth as well as mother-to-mother support.
More information is available on their web site www.lllofbristol.org.
Other campus groups represented were ETSU Student Health and The Women's Resource Center.
The Student Health booth offered brochures on breast cancer, date rape and club drug awareness.
Summing up the day's events in one phrase, Nixon said: "Natural is beautiful."