In January of 2011, the HPA got an energetic, positive start on the new year by fighting The Body Bind Horcrux: challenging the Muggle Minded Media’s narrow image of beauty and empowering everyone to cast Rennervate and get in touch with their bodies and their own inherent worth.
We fought the Body Bind curse through ideas and actions presented in vlogs and daily blogs written by staff, HPA members, and expert guest bloggers—including one from Evanna Lynch, the actress who portrays Luna Lovegood in the films. Each blog included challenges to help the readers on their road to health, and more ideas could be found on the master task list.
Each week in January was dedicated to a different aspect of lifting the Body Bind Curse: in Breaking Out of the Muggle Mindset, we focused on denouncing harmful body images and learning to see the beauty in ourselves and others. Next, we focused on Nourishing the Body, learning about healthier ways to think about food as well as finding ways to nourish our spirits. During Get Active! week, we encouraged people to walk more, play Quidditch, set exercise goals, and learn about the importance of physically taking care of our bodies, as well as encouraging acts of service to rejuvenate our spirits. Finally, we learned to De-Stress, discussing the harmful tendencies of our society in regards to overwork and its lack of respect for personal needs. We encouraged people to be more aware of their own stress levels, to find time to relax and meditate, and to create habits for a healthier, less stressful, more energetic year.
