Welcome

#ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance!®

• Sparks important conversations 
• Brings people together to celebrate all of our diversity and originality
• Educates through fun and inspiration
• Embodies its message
• Is about community, joy, and dance!

Self-acceptance affects our quality of life, mental health, relationships, and just about every aspect of life. Conversations about it can help a person to check in with their level of self-acceptance--which can then create paths to either more self-compassion or healing what's in the way of more inner contentment. 

These webpages contain heartfelt speeches, joy-filled memories, inspiring messages, and the signature (usually flash mob style!) dance to our anthem, "I'm Original," by Auburn Road. 

In addition to our #ShakeIt rallies and events, #ShakeIt has had the honor of complimenting various meaningful events and the accompanying messages. Let us know if you have a cause coming up that a #ShakeIt flash mob might support!

This grassroots movement could not occur without each person who has participated, given their time and energy, sponsored, supported, and believed in this movement. Each person is appreciated.

We hope that you enjoy the following pages, feel inspired, and get talking about self-acceptance...

#ShakeIt flash mob

Any trademarks, servicemarks, copyrighted materials, logos, and company names that appear in this video are the property of their respective owners and do not imply any sort of affiliation, endorsement, or sponsorship unless specifically indicated. Video documents the activities of this advocacy/educational movement.

Testimonials:

• "Beautiful message to the world!" - Ameerah Dean
• "Dancing was just one part of a day marked by joy, fun, information, and inspiration." - Dr. Nina Savelle Rocklin
• "I loved being part of this fun and empowering event that celebrates embracing who we are and loving our bodies for what they can do." - Alex Kinder Shimer
• "#ShakeIt's life-changing.  It's changed my life." - Shannon Hershkowitz

About the Founder and Creator:

Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is a speaker, author, eating-disorders expert, and licensed mental-health therapist with nearly two decades of experience. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS), and CEDS-Approved Consultant.

Driven by a commitment to advocacy and public-facing education, Alli created and directed #ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance!, a national mental-health initiative that used movement, joy, and embodiment to spark conversations about self-acceptance and body image. Active from 2014 to 2020, #ShakeIt reached many thousands of people across the country. A planned on-court appearance at a Los Angeles Clippers game was canceled when the NBA shut down due to COVID, marking the close of the initiative’s public chapter.

Alli is the lead author of My Child Has an Eating Disorder: An Essential Guide for Parents of Kids, Teens, and Adults (Bloomsbury, 2026), the author of MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, and Body Image Issues (Unsolicited Press, 2021), and a contributor to Body Image and Self-Esteem (Independence Educational Publishers, 2024). Through her Psychology Today column, academic journals, and trade publications, she has authored more than 100 articles.

A frequent speaker and trusted media resource, Alli has presented at conferences, universities, training programs, and community events. Her expertise has been featured by The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Parents, SELF, U.S. News & World Report, and Sky News (international).

Alli has held leadership roles with the Academy for Eating Disorders and the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, helped develop the current national CEDS curriculum, and served as CEDS faculty. Her honors include receiving the IAEDP Member of the Year Award, serving as an invited expert reviewer for the American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders (2022 draft), appearing as an expert panelist for Harvard Alumni for Mental Health, and having July 13, 2017 proclaimed #ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance! Day in the City of Los Angeles by the former mayor and City Council.

ACCESSIBILITY: If you notice something on this website that could use improvement so that all people can access and enjoy it, please contact the administrator at ShakeItforSelfAcceptance@gmail.com. Thank you!