Good for Your Tummy
a review of Lisa Sarasohn's The Woman's Belly Book
by Byron Ballard

I used to be jealous of Lisa Sarasohn, a woman who calls herself "the Belly Queen." I simmered about her claim to belly royalty, since I am a woman with a terrific tummy. All that faded when I met her. She does have a fine belly, as do I. And that's the point of her teaching and her new book The Woman's Belly Book: Finding Your Treasure Within (which you can order online at loveyourbelly.com for $16.95)—that all women need to love and respect our bellies, the seat of our divine power.

All right, here comes the requisite cultural critique—forgive me for a quick preach to the choir. Our culture is dominated by artificially created images of curveless women who resemble boys more often than they resemble Goddesses. That image is sometimes replaced by a buff Artemis with taut six-pack abs, which shows a healthy regard for the power of the female form but still misses the mark for many women. The only time women are "allowed" their bellies is during pregnancy when we are permitted some girth because we are bearing young and because it is a temporary condition.

And here's Lisa Sarasohn, singing a hymn to the glory, the grit and the gorgeousness of the female gut. She's not alone, of course, but she has been our local voice for belly power for a long time, and her book speaks with the wisdom and authority of her experience. Every woman should read this book. Mothers should get it for their daughters and vice versa. When we can—without shame or guilt—reclaim the sacred power inherent in our woman-middles, the world will be a healthier, stronger and better place. And women will be healthier for loving their bodies—at least that's what my gut tells me.

Byron Ballard is a writer, mom, Witch and proud owner of a smooth and slightly stretch-marked belly who works for the gentlefolk at Accent On Books.