Students come together for three days of events to celebrate their bodies with the Women’s Center
During Love Your Body Week, students were able to participate in multiple events to recognize and celebrate their bodies. During a self-care night at the Multicultural Center, students were able to take a break from their day to relax and treat themselves. At the Love Your Body Fair, multiple tables were set up with different resources and activities to advocate for physical and mental health. The last event of the week was a Zumba class where students enjoyed exercise together.
Graduate student Sri Aishitha Koduru paints her nails on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in the Multicultural Center in Columbia, Mo. The MU Women’s Center hosted Self Care Is The Best Care, where anyone interested could paint their nails, wear eye masks, indulge in snacks and drink sparkling grape juice.A volunteer for the event pours sparkling grape juice into a cup. “Focusing more on what your body can do rather than what it looks like right now can be really hard,” Sophia Hood, the Sr. Student Support Specialist for the Women’s Center, said. “[This event] opens opportunities for those conversations to happen and creates a community that allows you to have those conversations with people.” An arrangement of self-care items sit on a table. At Love Your Body Week’s first event, Self-Care is the Best Care, several interactive stations were set up with supplies such as snacks, face masks and nail art. “I actually love self-care stuff a lot,” graduate student Aishitha Koduru said. “I love this event. I’m taking time to myself so I love it.” Sri Aishitha Koduru peels off stickers for her nails. The MU Women’s Center provided all nail supplies, snacks, skincare products and drinks for the self-care event. Junior Maggie Howell writes a positive message on a sticky note on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, at Lowry Mall in Columbia, Mo. The Love Your Body Fair had many activities including the “affirmation station,” the table had participants write an encouraging message on a sticky note which would then be placed on a mirror and hung in the Multicultural Center and the Black Culture Center. Senior Libby Mooney, student support specialist Sophia Hood, graduate student and fitness instructor Charlotte Steimle and junior Mya Franklin learn some footwork during a Zumba class on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center in Columbia, Mo. It’s Fun, It’s Fitness, It’s Zumba! was the last event of Love Your Body Week and served as an energized activity to love your body. “[Love Your Body Week] is so much fun,” senior Libby Mooney said. “I did go to the Love Your Body fair on Lowry Mall and I got some snacks and I got to do one of those affirmation boards. It was just a lot of fun. It’s just a great way to focus on yourself and just feel good about you.” Student support specialist Sophia Hood (left) and junior Mya Franklin (right) dance in a Zumba class. For It’s Fun, It’s Fitness, It’s Zumba!, the Women’s Center partnered with MizzouRec to bring a fitness class to the annual week of celebration. “This is just a great time to try something new, meet some new people, and you know get your body going, get your body moving,” Hood said. “Honestly Love Your Body week is really just about yourself and finding out what you like to do.” Students exercise in a Zumba class. “I usually work out in the mornings anyway, so I decided to just skip that workout and come in the afternoon instead,” senior Abbie Sullens said. “I really enjoyed it. I thought it was fun, so I’m really glad I came.”
