On the 17th and 18th January, the frank British actress, presenter and activist Jameela Jamil will be hosting her second instalment of #MoveForYourMind Festival – a community based event and movement that celebrates body positivity and self-worth – in a landscape increasingly returning to traditional ideals around being skinny.
Instead of the usual ‘New Year, New You’ message, the inspiring two-day event promises to flip the script based on Jameela’s personal experience with eating disorders – focusing on the positive mental health benefits of movement, not just the aesthetics.
It will be returning after the success of events in London and New York in 2024, with an additional date added and increased capacity. Attendees will experience panel discussions, fireside chats, and a variety of movement sessions, ranging from disco dance classes and ‘twerkshops’ to yin yoga and somatic movement. All in a supportive and empowering environment.
Praised for her work in promoting body neutrality and with a legion of celebrity fans including Taylor Swift, Reese Witherspoon, Jonathan Van Ness and Blake Lively, Jameela Jamil says:
“It’s taken me 20 years to get back into even light exercise because I’ve been so traumatized by my eating disorder history, and how our society has weaponized exercise into being a tool of diet culture rather than something we do for our mental health. The bralette tops and tight leggings and rooms full of mirrors and focus on definition, shape, and size is just too much for me, and triggers old thoughts and habits.
It is disgusting that vanity has taken over exercise and that you’re made to feel like to even be able to exercise you have to show up thin and toned in revealing clothes. We need to take exercise back.”
