Big Guy Doing Yoga

KevHex

Hi, I'm currently 260lbs, 6'2" and I started doing yoga 3 weeks ago. I'm going to a 1 hour yoga class each week at a yoga center, and going to a 1 hour yoga session at my local gym, plus doing some YouTube yoga at other times. I am really enjoying it and magic things are starting to happen to my body, including the realization that I actually have hips that can tilt back and forwards.

What I was wondering is in what ways will yoga get easier for me as I move from a XXL to L male. Has anyone experienced this? Every few days I'm seeing little changes and positions are getting easier. I am very near putting my heals on the ground during downward dog, when I started my heals were miles away from the floor.

This is not for weight loss, calories in/out takes care of that part for me (although an hour of yoga is hard work LOL).

BattyKnitter

For me as a female going from XL to M inversions became wayyy easier, I can easily hop into crow now and I can even do a headstand. I know there are amazing plus size yogis but for me my weight in the beginning was keeping me from those types of poses.

kshama2001

Sure, some poses will get easier as you get more flexible and some as your stomach gets smaller and less in the way

You didn't mention this, but don't compare yourself to women in the class especially in twisty/bendy poses involving the hips. Not only are our hips built differently, but in general we women also retain flexibility longer as we age. And men tending to be more competitive also makes them more prone to injuries. Listen to your body

apullum

It will get easier not just because you’re practicing regularly, but also because losing weight means you have less mass to get in the way. When I was bigger I would literally have to shift some fat out of the way to get into some poses. I also could not get my butt off the ground for a shoulder stand because I just couldn’t lift the amount of lower body fat I had. Now I can do it easily.

mbaker566

it will become easier a few different ways
one: less mass to move
two: less mass to get in the way. like child's pose. or weight on the chest/throat in shoulder stand
three: your flexibility will improve
four: your body will become familiar with the poses. sometimes, when i ask a student to do a pose, his or her brain will get in the way.

KevHex

Thank you all for commenting, I'm looking forwards to having less mass to get in the way, that is the main challenge at present.

suziecue25

KevHex wrote: »

Hi, I'm currently 260lbs, 6'2" and I started doing yoga 3 weeks ago. I'm going to a 1 hour yoga class each week at a yoga center, and going to a 1 hour yoga session at my local gym, plus doing some YouTube yoga at other times. I am really enjoying it and magic things are starting to happen to my body, including the realization that I actually have hips that can tilt back and forwards.

What I was wondering is in what ways will yoga get easier for me as I move from a XXL to L male. Has anyone experienced this? Every few days I'm seeing little changes and positions are getting easier. I am very near putting my heals on the ground during downward dog, when I started my heals were miles away from the floor.

This is not for weight loss, calories in/out takes care of that part for me (although an hour of yoga is hard work LOL).

I'm glad people have been able to give you information. I know nothing about practising Yoga but would just like to say I hope it brings you positives both mentally and physically.

5838fish623

Before yoga was westernized it was practiced, the physical part , the asanas to prepare the body for meditation. That's where the real change takes place. It doesn't matter if your heels touch the floor. Learn proper diaphragmatic breathing, that will link your body and mind. Then the changes will come. Find a teach with at least 10 years experience and focus on your breathing. Everybody is different, some heals never reach the floor, some people are fat some skinny doesn't matter, it's really not about doing more. It's about finding more of yourself. The physical benefits are a bonus.

springlering62

mbaker566 wrote: »

it will become easier a few different ways
one: less mass to move
two: less mass to get in the way. like child's pose. or weight on the chest/throat in shoulder stand
three: your flexibility will improve
four: your body will become familiar with the poses. sometimes, when i ask a student to do a pose, his or her brain will get in the way.

What this person said!!! I loathed child’s pose. It was painful and suffocating. Headstand. My belly looked like your granny’s socks sliding upside down. Thanks, gravity.

I am so so so happy to hear you like it and are sticking with it. I silently pray under my breath “let him stick with it, let him keep coming” every time I see a big guy at the studio. I am so rooting for each and every one of you under my breath because I know it takes more balls for you to wade in amongst the women than it ever did for the bigger version of me to suck it up and dive in amongst the teensy women . Who turned out to be really non judgemental. That was all in my head.

If your studio offers Pilates, too, try it. It’s great for building your core, and fills in the gaps that yoga misses.

I think the guys at “my” studio are awesome. Maybe I should tell them so. In a non judgemental, non creeper way.