The Embodiment Illusion

This week Michelle shares insights from a PhD viva she recently attended exploring body image in college athletes. One concept that sparked our interest was embodiment—the idea of feeling connected to, trusting, and experiencing your body rather than simply viewing it as something to be controlled or changed.What started as a discussion about research quickly turned into a wider conversation about the fitness industry and the messages we see online every day.We explore whether some of the people held up as examples of positive body image and embodiment are actually demonstrating the opposite. How often are coaches and trainers praised for their physiques while quietly engaging in restrictive eating, obsessive exercise, body surveillance, or unsustainable behaviours behind the scenes?We discuss the tension between appearance and experience, the difference between looking confident in your body and genuinely feeling at home in it, and whether social media has blurred the line between embodiment and aesthetics.