Journey To A Mindful Style

Rediscover your essence. Reclaim your body. Dress your truth. Journey to a Mindful Style is a transformative program designed for children, teens, high schoolers, and adults alike — anyone ready to reconnect with their inner wisdom and express themselves from a place of love, not fear.

 

Current context

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• Body image among children in Romania, Italy, and Europe as a whole has become an increasingly important topic due to growing concerns around mental health, media influence, and cultural expectations.

• Romanian children, particularly adolescents, are increasingly exposed to Western beauty standards via social media, TV, and advertising.

• In Romania, urban youth tend to experience more body dissatisfaction due to media exposure, while rural children may experience it through peer influence or school environments.

• Italian culture places a strong emphasis on appearance, fashion, and body aesthetics, which can intensify body image concerns among children.

• Girls in Italy are particularly affected, with high rates of body dissatisfaction and a growing number of reported eating disorders among teenagers.

• Italian media, especially television and Instagram influencers, often promote unrealistic body ideals.

• As a general trend, body dissatisfaction affects a significant percentage of children and adolescents across Europe.

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Numbers and facts

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• According to the WHO, over 40% of 11- to 15-year-olds in Europe report being unhappy with their body.

• Girls are more likely to experience body image dissatisfaction, while boys may also suffer but tend to express it through different concerns (e.g., muscularity).

• Media & social media: Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have greatly influenced children's perception of the "ideal body," fueling comparison and self-criticism.

• Mental health link: Poor body image is closely tied to low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

• Romania has one of the highest rates of child obesity in Eastern Europe, which paradoxically coexists with a rise in eating disorders and body dissatisfaction, especially among teenage girls.

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Consequences on the mental level and on one's life

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• lack of confidence;

• difficulty in social situations;

• limited understanding of professional presentation;

• struggles with self-expression;

• lower self-esteem;

• anxiety;

• depression;

• disinterest in personal grooming;

• unawareness of cultural differences in style.

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Current actions

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• The EU and WHO Europe are promoting school-based mental health programs, with body image and self-esteem components.

• Countries like France, Norway, and the UK have laws or campaigns to label retouched images or restrict unhealthy portrayals in media.

• School programs in Romania: there is limited but growing inclusion of body image education in health and civics classes.

• Some Italian schools and NGOs now run media literacy and body positivity campaigns, especially in northern regions.

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What we can do

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• personal example but this is not always easy to do;

• conversations on the topic but then they are often forgotten;

• encouragement to express oneself and make choices;

• education in school for continuous, direct and impartial dialogue, to create healthy habits and build a solid basis for self-esteem, self-confidence and trust in one's own decisions, for self-love and authenticity throughout life.

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Why it matters

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Growing up in an environment that doesn't foster self-expression and authenticity, surrounded by people who always seem to know anything better than you, is such a painful experience. What makes it worse is becoming an adult whose actions are guided by anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. I've learnt this first hand and I wanted my child to have a different kind of experience in terms of childhood, education and self-discovery.

 

When she was only two years old, my daughter would smile at her reflection in the mirror. I made a priority for me to strengthen that innate body confidence and self-love. I've seen the results of my conscious efforts on my daughter's mindset, self talk and behaviour and I want as many kids and adolescents as possible to benefit from the same support.

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I am extremely grateful I had the chance to discover Style Coaching™ in my thirties. The efficient tools, the invaluable knowledge and the community that have supported me during the past few years have all contributed to my professional growth but, most importantly, they have done so much for me as an individual. Ever since I started experiencing its positive effects, I just can't help but think of the huge difference Style Coaching™ could make in the life of someone raised with all the empowering beliefs and effective techniques we promote as Style Coaches™.

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Whilst I have felt the difference all these aspects have made in my life and mental health, I have also realised that operating a change in our self talk, self-esteem and body-image is possible but also more difficult if we start later in life. That's the reason why I strongly believe that building a strong foundation while growing up makes life so much more manageable and enjoyable. Our dreams seem easier to realise when we trust ourselves and confidently show up in different relationships and environments we get the opportunity to unlock along the way as children and, later in life, as adults.

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My dream consists of a world filled with people who are happy with their bodies and at peace with themselves because this is the only state that allows us to positively contribute to a better and more harmonious world. I think this dream can be achieved more easily if Style Coaching™ were taught in schools.

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About the program

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Through two immersive modules, this journey invites you to explore your relationship with your body, your intuition, and your personal style. It’s not about fashion trends or fitting in — it’s about tuning in.

 

Module 1: Body Stories​

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Rooted in the Be Body Positive Model, this module guides you through five core competencies:

• Reclaim your health on your own terms;

• Practice intuitive self-care;

• Cultivate radical self-love;

• Declare your authentic beauty;

• Build empowering community.

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Through deep conversations, reflective exercises, meditations, and worksheets, you’ll begin to rewrite the story you hold about your body — with compassion, curiosity, and courage.

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The Be Body Positive Model was developed over a decade of listening to diverse people share what they needed to feel confident in their bodies and to practice excellent self-care. A Stanford University pilot study showed that The 5 Competencies of the Model had a positive effect on participants’ self-reported guilt, belief in the thin ideal, body satisfaction, and social determinants of body image. Further improvements on all measures were shown eight months after group participation. A California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) three-year pilot study showed improvement on all measures—including body satisfaction and self-compassion—at the end of the intervention, and even greater improvement after three years. If you are interested in hearing the wonderful results these students experienced, watch this video. Cornell University recently completed a two-year pilot study on their adaptation of our curriculum. Results from the Cornell study will be published soon.

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Module 2: Intuitive Dressing

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Considered the sixth competency, this module can be taken as part of the full program or as a standalone experience.

Here, you’ll learn to:

• Listen to your body’s cues when choosing what to wear;

• Express your personality and mood through clothing;

• Honour your body’s needs with comfort, creativity, and care.

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This is where style becomes soul work — a daily practice of self-trust and self-expression.

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How It Works

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Journey to a Mindful Style can be experienced:

• Individually, through regular sessions with a dedicated coach;

• In groups, within schools, NGOs, or community teams.

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The program is fully customizable — from the topics covered to the duration and frequency of sessions, it can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each participant or group.

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Whether you walk this path solo or alongside others, you’ll be supported every step of the way in returning to your essence and showing up in the world as your most authentic self.

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What you’ll get:

• a workbook packed with thoughtful insights and practical exercises to support you during your style journey;

• additional worksheets and cheat sheets based on your needs and areas you intend to improve (health, eating habits, intuitive movement, media makeover, etc.);

• visualisation exercises;

• daily affirmations;

• a playlist containing uplifting music and messages;

• inspirational daily reminders to help you stay on track

• a group of like-minded people to support and cheer on you during your journey of self-discovery through style.

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This program is for your community if you want to discuss and improve aspects such as:

• increased self-awareness and self-knowledge;

• personal preferences;

• decisions and choices based on specific criteria and supported by logic;

• learning to take care of oneself;

• sustainability, ecology, respect for the planet and for people working for one's own comfort - manufacturers, service providers;

• respect for others, despite differences in physical appearance, personal preferences and subjective choices

• inclusion and body positivity;

• healthy and conscious choices regarding personal care products and make-up (INCI);

• colours, colour combinations and aesthetic and artistic sense;

• sensitivity and self-reflection;

• sense of well-being;

• limiting beliefs and tools to overcome them;

• avoiding autopilot;

• sense of empowerment - believing in one's own abilities to create a life as desired;

• self-confidence;

• self-expression;

• personal freedom and respect for others' freedom;

• endless possibilities;

• ability to develop a vision and implement it;

• creation of a plan to achieve one's goals;

• questioning oneself with a view to improving oneself and reaching new levels of otherwise unexplored potential;

• body image/embodiment;

• introduction to visualisation techniques and development of imagination;

• reframing and life coaching techniques transferable and applicable in other areas of life.

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Do you have a group of friends / teens / children or a youth organisation who you think might benefit from such a program? Contact me and let's tailor a program for your school / organisation / informal group!