You Are Beautiful!!

We are all born beautiful.  We are all capable of giving, receiving and sharing pleasure, we are all able to love and be loved .
Beautiful people are those comfortable with their bodies. The best lovers are those who acknowledge themselves as sensual and sexual beings. They’re concerned with what’s on the inside, as well as the outside. But some people are more concerned with the outside, what they look like, and subsequently tend to ignore what’s inside and become just a tad shallow.
If the motivation to change your body comes from the perspective of not being enough, there’s a small problem. It will never be enough.  The other problem here is the truth of change. To expect to look the same at 40 as we did at 25 is absurd.
The secret is we must be more comfortable with whom we are, more secure, and must have an inner glow that only comes from a level of self-acceptance and self-love is much better. What we must accept is that once beautiful from inside; we will radiate the same beauty on the outside, irrespective of age!
The more you allow yourself to pleasure and be pleasured, the more aware of yourself, your physical and emotional being you become. This naturally brings a greater sense of well-being, energy and vitality. Regardless of what we look like externally. And we come to see that purely through feeling good, that whatever our body looks like, we can have fun and excitement, peace and passion.
And then the desire to change anything physically becomes more realistic, easier and most importantly, the motivation to change becomes different.
It’s because I like or even love myself more. And then weight, for example disappears, or my eating changes naturally or exercise is more fun or purposeful. It comes from inside and is not dependent on anybody or anything else.
But the comfier I feel within my skin, the more sensual I allow myself to be, the better about myself I will feel, the more my body will come to a state of balance. And I will be happy!

Body Image

Body image is an important part of self-identity and self-esteem. It involves our perception, imagination, emotions, and physical sensations of and about our bodies. It is not static, but ever changing; sensitive to changes in mood, environment, and physical experience. It is not based on fact. It is psychological in nature, and much more influenced by self-esteem than by actual physical attractiveness as judged by others. It is not inborn, but learned from family members, peers and wider social and cultural standards (mass media).

In the West the message ‘thin is beautiful’ carries great power. The ideal female body is thin, tall and long legged, and there is a pervasive belief among women that you need to fit this “ideal” to be successful. The result is that women and even young girls have become very concerned about the shape and size of their bodies. It also affects men and boys, though not to the same extent. The result is that over the last few decades, there had been increasing incidences of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.

Beauty is not just skin deep. It is a reflection of your whole self. Love and enjoy the person inside.

Self-confidence and a Good Body Posture

A woman’s self-confidence is evident by her posture. Your posture means the way you carry yourself. Your posture is also one of the main factors which contributes to the first impression another person may form of you. Making good first impressions can be very beneficial e.g. job interviews.

When you stand tall and proud, you portray an image of self-confidence. Your posture is the way you keep body aligned with its centre of gravity. A good posture is when you have control of your body’s alignment in relation to the centre of gravity. A person with poor posture can easily be spotted; they tend to slouch with drooping shoulders and head bowed.

It is easy to improve your posture. The important thing is to remember that having correct posture requires a conscious effort and dedication. 

Here are some tips on how to acquire and maintain correct posture:

Whilst at work

• Use an ergonomic chair that fits and support your back.

• Always sit with your back against the seat,  your knees at your hip level and  your shoulders should be parallel to your hips.

• Regularly, stand up and stretch or just walk briskly down the passage and back.

Whilst carrying a bag

• Do not overload your bag and regular clean it up of unnecessary items.

• If you are using a backpack, make sure that you put the heavier items close to your back, thus providing support for your back.

• The handles and straps of your bags and backpacks should be padded and wide. In addition, backpacks should have hip straps.

Everyday Living

• As far as possible, try to avoid shoes with high heels, as high heels can alter your centre of gravity, which could result in poor posture.

• Exercise regularly, which will help the body become stronger and develop much needed support for your back.

Whilst sleeping

• As far as possible, sleep on your back or on your side.

• If you prefer sleeping on your side, place a pillow between your legs.

• Avoid any over-sized pillows, as they can result in neck injury problems or pain.

To have a good posture requires daily effort and practise. However hard it may seem, it is worth it in the long term.

Exercise your eyes!

How to accept yourself

A large part of how we view other people is based on how that person presents him or herself. Therefore, if you view yourself as sexy, and act that way, then others will perceive you as sexy.

It is therefore imperative to truly look at and appreciate your own body. It is true; it has faults, just as every body does. However, what matters is to accept the faults, accept yourself as a work in progress, and flaunt what you have.

You will find that people react positively to your positive self-image.

Tips for stretching

My beautiful country

Woman to woman discussions

Your beautiful body

You are born to love your body – that is the way we were created. Just ponder a moment what your body does each day, it is not just an ornament of beauty, it is an instrument of life! Handle it with care and let others respect it.

Always respect yourself and judge yourself as a whole person, not just as a body with defects – moles, pimples, fats, etc. Act the as if you had the perfect body. Do not let your weight or shape keep you from doing things you enjoy. Count your blessings, not your blemishes.

Pamper your body, do something that will let you enjoy your body: stretch, dance, walk, sing, take a bubble bath, get a massage, have a pedicure. Keep your head held high, be proud and confidence in yourself as a person. Wear comfortable sexy and feminine clothes that you really like and that feel good to your body - clothes that would give you feelings of power, strength, and comfort. Become the expert on your body – let your beauty and individuality shine!

Find a method of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. Do not exercise to lose weight or fight your body -- exercise to love your body. You must be your body's ally and advocate, not the enemy.

Let your body radiate the message, "I'm beautiful inside and out."

Remember this: "Beauty is only skin-deep."

Woman to woman

Beautiful South Africa

Why Is Self Worth and Body Image Important?

Self worth and body image is important because to truly get the most from self-pleasure and let’s be truthful to get the most from life you must have confidence in yourself and be comfortable in your own skin. Unfortunately for many women that isn’t the case. There are a number of factors for this.

It doesn’t help when you look in magazines and see skinny, airbrushed models wearing expensive clothes looking glamorous; the modern world seems to worship the perfect body and if you have low self esteem it is easy to believe that you are too tall, fat or unattractive

Girls, we are own worst critics picking up every small real or perceived fault with ourselves. We have all been a slave to the scale or checked the mirror more times that is healthy trying to work out why we look the way we do and if we think we are attractive enough. If we are not happy with our own body then we can’t get the most from it.

Whatever your body shape you are attractive and you are beautiful. You don’t have to be thin to be attractive! Women the first step is to be confident, appreciate your own body. Whatever you believe is true there is someone out there who finds you attractive. Beauty is not all about looks but confidence and believing in your own self-worth.

The trick to recognize is that your body is unique, enjoy and love it. Look at yourself and focus on the good details. People will focus on the good and not the bad. Believe in yourself and then you will see that everything else will follow.

By Holly Franklin

The magnificent olive

Six simple put powerful suggestions for looking and feeling beautiful without even trying

1. Begin with your mind set and perceptions.

Reality is shaped by our perceptions and beliefs. Two people in the same environment will interpret the world very differently. Does a sunny day make you drone solemnly, run indoors and wish for cooler weather?

Or does it make you look forward to romantic picnics, afternoons at the beach and hiatuses from work? Same day … very different outlooks. In the same fashion, you are in complete control of how you perceive yourself. Your self-image manifests itself physically and emotionally. Generally, people will see you as you want to be seen.

How many women do you know who light up a room just by walking into it? Chances you're one of them. Ask people to describe someone like you and they use words like confident, energetic, positive, good-natured, and intelligent. You can't buy these traits in a store. They come though facing life head on, using positive affirmations and by proactively surrounding yourself with ideas and information that challenges, motivates and inspires you.

Sure, everyone has days where they just want to be alone. But by focusing on the upside to every opportunity and surrounding yourself with people who strive to do the same, your internal beauty will express itself in everything you do.

External beauty is fleeting. In a single breath it's gone from you forever. When it's gone, the real you has a chance to be seen. The loving, sensual, freckled you. The feeling, honest, fractured you. In the final analysis, physical beauty alone lacks the true majesty of a complete person who likes, loves and respects themselves.

2. Spend some time with people who appreciate you just the way you are.

It's mind boggling to me that so many women go to such great lengths trying to look like, talk like or act like someone completely different from who they really are.

Whether you're single or currently in a relationship, you need to be comfortable being real around others. It does you and your lovers no good to be anything anyone other than who you really are.

The key is to practice being who you are around men and women who won't judge you, ridicule you or expect you to put on a show.

Through my work as a natural healer, I've seen and worked on women of all body types. Each client is beautiful and unique just as she is.

Healing Touch sessions are emotionally therapeutic because they allow you to get comfortable having fun again without the pressures of intimacy. Healing Touch, Reiki and body awareness sessions also allow you to practice connecting with others, and just being yourself -- subtle dysfunctions included.

3. Compare yourself to you.

Many individuals spend their existence trying to emulate someone else. We live in a world of comparisons. Ironically, though, every person on this planet is different mentally, physically and emotionally (even identical twins).

So why tear the pages from a fashion magazine because you want to look "just like the person in the magazine"? There can only be one Tyra Banks, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba or Michele Pfeiffer. Rather than wishing for a celebrity's hair, skin, clothing or bust size, celebrate your individuality.

You say your hips are too big or your legs are too thick? Compared to who? You say you have too many freckles or that your eyes aren't the "right" color? What universal law spells out the exact level of skin pigmentation or the optimal gene for blue eyes?

At the end of the day and there is no one in the room but you, then and only then, is the correct number of people present to determine whether you're gorgeous or not. There's really no such thing as a Plain Jane.

4. When selecting your wardrobe and accessories, stick with timeless essentials.

Women's fashion is a torturous affair. Keeping up with the last trends and fads can drive you mad and max out your credit card -- fast. One of the secrets to perennial beauty is to simply drop out of the fad marathon. Fill your closet with clothing that seldom goes out of style.

Additionally, invest in apparel that is well-made so that you never have to be torn between wearing an outfit that you paid too much for or tossing it.

Instead of hunting after the hottest designers, focus on how well the outfit compliments your features. Shop for quality by checking for uneven seams, hems and poorly constructed zippers. Test for wrinkle resistance and to see how well you can bend and function normally in your clothing.

Be honest with yourself. If you've gained a few inches since high school or college, so what? Bypass the too tight size six and get the better looking, and more comfortable ten. If those heels hurt when you try them on, chances are they'll always hurt.

No one else will have to endure the pain but you. And don't rationalize by how long you'll have to stand in the shoes either. It isn't worth it. It stands to reason that since beauty is more dependent upon how you feel, invest in clothing and accessories that makes you feel good.

5. Nourish your body, mind and soul.

I especially admire women who refrain from painting their faces in layers. It strikes me as a low self-esteem issue when women have to hide behind an inch of foundation, layers of lip goo, painted on eyebrows and half a tub of wrinkle concealer before walking out the front door.

Instead, it seems the best approach revolves around a little foundation, a light blush and a subtle lip gloss for even the fanciest occasions.

Invest in natural conditioners and moisturizers to keep your hair healthy and your skin supple. Clear skin is a much better alternative to caking your face and clogging your pores with makeup to hide pesky pimples. Rather than masking your innate beauty, use makeup sparingly to compliment your natural features.

We've all heard the popular saying, "Garbage in, garbage out." Keep this perennial truth in mind. The body tries to create a sense of balance by processing water and nutrients and eliminating harmful or unnatural materials.

The body takes whatever steps necessary to eliminate dirt, bacteria, useless fats and oils and excessive sugars and additives. Pimples, blotches, blackheads, warts and infections are often the by-products of poor body maintenance.

Next time you pull into your favourite fast-food place think how what your body will have to go through to deal with that greasy burger, fried chicken or poor excuse for a burrito.

Drink water instead of soda or sugar-laden fruit juices. Eliminate the majority of sugar from your diet. Even the artificial sweeteners have been shown to cause depression, anxiety, acne, word-recall problems and poisoning on a cellular level.

Exercise religiously. Walking burns fat calories wonderfully. If you're looking for a way to eliminate the appearance of cellulite then a targeted exercise program may be perfect.

Another way to burn calories includes frequent lovemaking (or lust making) sessions. Sex is also a mood enhancer and a great way to let go of anxiety or stress.

You should also find ways to laugh a lot. 100 hearty laughs has the same effect of 30 minutes of strenuous rowing.

Get into a regular massage or healing touch routine. Massage is awesome because it gives you a drug-free way to stay healthy, happy and focused. I suggest twice a month if you're experiencing higher than average stress or body pain.

A once a week session is also good to reconnect your body and soul and to help you to jumpstart the healing process necessary to enter into strong relationships.

Scheduling at least one 90-minute full body session a month is a decent way to manage your stress, escape from the craziness of the world, and keep your energy channels open.

All of these activities stimulate the production of seratonin and endorphins. High seratonin levels thwart the effects of depression. Exercise anyway you can get it. Doing so keeps your heart healthy, your mind clear and your waistline in control.

Enhance your nutritional intake with a daily vitamin routine. Men and women alike are generally too hurried to find the time to eat everything necessary to get the proper dosage of natural vitamins.

Your body is your temple; be mindful of what you expose it to. That includes the people you let near it, and the food, drugs and drink you put into it.

Twenty years from now, your body will reflect those days of tanning without sunscreen, drinking the appletinis every night at the club, or smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. It's your body, respect it.

Finally, read daily. Limit your exposure to the gossip mags and tabloids. Visit a bookstore or library and find a book on a subject you're deeply interested in. Share what you learn with others.

Keep reading (yes...audiobooks are great too), every day, for at least 20 minutes. Find time to be alone. Even if it's in your car, or in the bathroom, or alone in your cubicle. Silence is one of the most healing melodies in the world.

For your spiritual growth, study the sacred texts of various faiths and come to your own conclusions. Let your words and actions be the primary tools used to model and communicate your value systems.

Communicate with the Creator daily. The Creator is accessible 24/7 to every person. No intermediaries need be present to converse with the universe and ask for wisdom, protection and discipline.

6. Learn to smile.

In a recent study, men and women of all age demographics were asked what makes someone beautiful. An overwhelming majority responded that above all else, it was a great smile. Try it more often and you'll find your own self-image improving as well.

You'll work less too. Research shows that it takes twice as much energy to frown than to crack a smile. Next in the survey responses came personality, sense of humour and approachability.

Don't let anyone tell you that beauty comes in a vial of cream, syringe, tablet or a tube of lipstick. That $600 dress, though flattering, does not make you attractive.

Rather, your spirit and passion are the true litmus for beauty. As you successfully navigate your way through another hectic day of workplace and household pressures, look into the mirror and see yourself as the beautiful woman you already are.

And for an even clearer vision, stare into the eyes of your loved ones and behold the difference that your presence in their lives has made. Surround yourself with positive influences. Listen to your internal voice. You are beautiful. You are desirable. You are unique. You are special!

Acknowledgement: Brian Norris

Body Make-Up Tips For A Glamorous Look

Mini-skirts, plunging necklines, sleeveless tops and revealing outfits are not just a celebrity's fashion wear today. Every girl wants to look like the glam goddess she admires on screen. With so many beauty products available in today's market, getting this look is not an impossible task.

Body make-up is a great way to camouflage your flaws and get the flawless look, you always wanted! Following a few body make-up tips and using quality products is all that you need to get the glamorous look.

Tips for a flawless body make-up:

1. The most basic step for a complete, flawless body make-up is to exfoliate and scrub yourself clean. Dry-skin and blackheads can be removed by this. Dermalogica exfoliating body scrub works very well and also leaves a behind a good fragrance.

2. Apply a good moisturiser and allow it to dry before you start applying foundation. Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15 from MAC gives flawless, yet moisturised look.

3. Choose two foundation shades for your skin, one a shade lighter than your skin and another one, a shade darker than your skin. Mix the two such that you get the same tint all over your body. Coverblend body make-up is just perfect to cover the ugly scars on your skin. Sheer leg make-up from MAC is also a good option.

4. Set the foundation by dusting it with powder. Remove excess powder with a make-up brush. Set Powder from MAC is effective in setting the make-up and even gives an ultra-silky look.

5. For best and non-staining results opt for water-proof cosmetics or spray-on variety make-up. Nars Body Illuminator from Sephora is just what you need to create a shimmering look.

After following these tips, you are all set to flaunt yourself and your body, when you are wearing your most glamorous outfit.

Acknowledgement: Oneindia

How to be a good lover

Most men will never have a torso like Jean-Claude van Damme, own a McLaren F1 or be able to recite Shakespeare's love sonnets. That's okay; because a few short steps can turn you into the sort of lover that will make your partner overlook these shortcomings.

Learn the art of sensual massage

Visit your local Body Shop outlet and display no hint of emotion as you buy some of their pricey but hugely useful Sensual Bath and Massage Oil. Or make up your own concoction of oils, including sandalwood, lemon grass, musk and lavender. You can use the essential oils in a burner, or mix it with carrier oil - sweet almond oil is fine - and use it as massage oil. A warning on massage: many blokes rub too hard. Try to rub more softly than you like to be rubbed. By all means work the back (never directly on the spine), shoulders, arms, buttocks and legs, but for a change, massage your partner's face and hands as well. Think of how stress builds up in your face, squinting at a monitor, traffic or dollar-rand exchange rates. It’s the same for her.

Make a special place for love

Yes, there are times for wild, impromptu couplings on your desk, the kitchen counter and car bonnet. But you're likely to rely on your bed as the backdrop for most of your lovemaking, so have a look at what's around it. The photo of your ex has to go, for a start. Ridding the room of clutter is paramount. Even if you don't go for the Scandinavian minimalist look, at least get rid of those all those dusty copies of National Geographic on the bedside table. Some wind chimes, subtle incense can do nicely, and an indoor water feature might be fun. Switch off all phones and the door bell.

Appeal to all the senses

We already mentioned incense. If the sound of the neighbour saying "Lekker-like-a-cracker" (for the 47th time) while he cleans his new swimming pool irks you, maybe it's time to buy a new house, or at least to block out the banality with some white noise courtesy of a fan or a water feature. Dispense with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers CD in favour of something earthier. Some lovers swear by CDs containing only the sound of the crashing sea. Try laying on some food and wine. Strawberries sound clichéd, but when they're small and sweet, late in the season, there are few items that size that are sexier. And they'll leave no doubt about your dishonourable intentions.

Get into shape

Yes, of course you need to work on your abs, but you don't need to win any body-building contests - most women prefer a man with a finely muscled, defined body, especially if he's not obsessive about it. Obsession is fine, as long as it’s in a bottle, not in your head. Regular exercise, not to mention soap and water, ought to suffice. There are some blokes who compensate for being fat by packing on muscle. This only works if you're a Hell's Angel. Forget about seeing your biceps in the mirror and concentrate on shared pleasure.

Learn a bit about tantric sex

No need to paint a dot on your forehead and change your name to Rama Yama Dang Ban. If you learn one trick, make it this one. Spend a long time on devoted foreplay. Then start with shallow thrusting, no more than an inch inside her. Do ten of these, then have one deep, firm thrust. Now work your way back, eight shallow and one deep, seven shallow and one deep ... you get the picture. By the time you get to the end of the cycle, she may want to name a street, town or province after you.

By William Smook