Today's guest is Melanie Klein, a professor of Sociology and Women's Studies, co-founder of the Yoga and Body Image Coalition, and author of the new book, Yoga Rising: 30 Empowering Stories from Yoga Renegades for Every Body. Her work has made her a respected leader in the conversation around yoga and body image.

In this interview, we talk about how she came to be such an advocate for the positive body image movement. Plus, since I am a former editor for Yoga Journal, we have a candid conversation about how media has contributed to this dialogue--for better and worse.

Here are some highlights:

* Melanie tells her "body story" and how yoga helped her move from an unhealthy preoccupation with her body to body acceptance

* I learn the phrase "the body project" -- the idea that we spend so many resources working on our bodies in hopes that one day we'll be "perfect" -- and I feel like a giant lightbulb has been turned on. What would the world be like if women redirected all of that time, energy, money, and brain power toward other projects?

* The ways that being a yoga practitioner has perpetuated "the body project" for both of us

* The calling that Melanie felt to start YBIC

* How yoga teacher, Bryan Kest, helped Melanie shape her views on body image

Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode124

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