Do fat people do yoga?

silveryflutterby

part of yoga is practicing non-judgement

http://yogamodern.com/categories/culture/what-does-a-yoga-body-look-like-part-2/

awesome article. thanks for sharing. I'm definitely going to give yoga a try!

drjennelle

i recently started collecting yoga dvds left and right because i found it to be a great way to start my day (ive always been a super intense cardio junkie so this is a change of pace for me) and i heard that it is actually the BEST way to tone your body and not bulk up, etc etc... and it's totally portable so if you're traveling you can still do it, since all you need is you! i actually downloaded some short 10-minute yoga routines from exercise tv off of itunes to put on my iphone while i was on vacation, as well as a yoga app for the iphone that has routines from 25-60 minutes long... all really great. my favorite yoga workout right now is jillian michael's "yoga meltdown" - its 35 minutes and has a level 1 and level 2 (im still on level 1 and it's kickin my BUTT!!) there are modifications and it goes quickly but still burns lots of cals. as tara mentioned, the biggest loser's "weight loss yoga" with bob is also another good one, with various levels (im on level 1 on that one too!) and this way you get both trainers from the BL in your house hehe. i also recently got "body by bethenny" from bethenny frankel (real house wives of nyc...which i've never seen haha) but it's a great yoga routine, 40 minutes for both beginners and more advanced students. these are my favs as of now when i see myself in the mirror i sometimes still feel like a fool doing the poses, but MAN do i feel great a the end of the routine! and as all yogi's say, it's called "yoga practice" for a reason... no one is perfect at it, and everyone is continuing to improve


...so yea, i totally recommend it

silveryflutterby

cool, thanks for the recommendations. I will probably start in a class so that I can have some feedback as to how I'm doing and once I feel comfortable, I may get some videos and do it at home. Looking forward and hoping to find it very relaxing.

nicolenayima

I just started an "absolute beginners" yoga class and I love it, despite my size making some poses harder for me! Good luck, I hope you enjoy it as well!

Temporalia

I've been doing yoga since February on a regular basis (at least once a week), I was 230 at that time and it was ok, you might need to adapt some poses but other than that, never felt out of place.

blueyegrl

I won't go to a class for that very reason, but I do love Yoga! I have a few DVD's and the one I like the most is "Yoga: Just My Size With Megan Garcia" I found it very beginner friendly and Megan is just a doll. I really enjoyed her teaching. She's also "plus size" so it was a nice change from most DVD's I use, someone more like me! If you still don't feel comfortable doing a class, I highly recommend that DVD.

jabbogurl

I did yoga a few times, but me personally, I like pilates. I definetly hurt the next day! I have a great video that I got from walmart for like 5 bucks...its Crunch! 10 min pilates. It's 10 min abs, 10 min butt and 10 min legs. I made my husband do it and he was in so much pain! lol!

vzepol

another point... yoga isn't about the proper form or flexibility it's about knowing your body and meeting your limits with compassion. You should never feel ashamed or out of place in a yoga class. Making it to your mat is all the effort you need to make, yogis respect you just for showing up.

Great comment.

lynnstar_lynnstar

Great thread! I have been wanting to try yoga but needed to get over my "only fattie in the class" fear. I think I'll give a claas a try.

shano25

I practice Bikram yoga and there are people of all sizes in the class. It's not about perfecting pose but trying it. As they say at my studio, you get the benefits just from setting up the pose.

In my class this evening, the girl next to me probably weighs over 200 pounds and she was much more flexible than me. So don't feel intimidated by the skinny bodies, because what you can do in the room has nothing to do with your size.

lynnstar_lynnstar

So should I try the beginner's DVDs first or take a class?

shano25

Having started with videos then moving on to classes, I would suggest trying a class first. I found with videos I was always looking up at the tv to see if I was getting the pose right. In a class the instructor can show you the proper form for the pose. Because there are a lot of poses that improper form can do damage, so you want to make sure you are getting it right.

dimplez711

I started with an instructor one on one when I was at my heaviest, 260 (5'2 and I'm an apple shape). She worked with me through the poses and made adjustments to make sure I was getting the benefit, but not hurting myself to do so. The block and strap were essential.

About 6 months into our practice, my instructor took me to an actual class at a studio because I wouldn't believe her when she would tell me that I was almost at an intermediate level with the Hatha poses. Amongst the other smaller women, I was keeping up just fine.

We both had life/family issues that came up, so we haven't met for a practice in about a year. I want to get back into it thought because when I was practicing, i felt like I was in better shape. Yoga tones you like nobody's business, and it teaches you to listen to your body. I found a plus-sized yoga class in Chicago that I'm trying out to help me feel comfortable as I ease back into a regular practice.

I'm hoping you will give it a shot with an instructor in the beginning.

whencynstops

Yes I do! And I love it!
I can't do all of the poses but there is modification for all of them. The most important thing is your breathing and your posture/form. Strength and flexibility are secondary.
I go to a pretty hardcore yoga studio and I am the largest person there, but I always feel comfortable. Even if I have to come out of a pose because I can't hold it no one even notices it because they are so wrapped up in their own practice.
It may sound odd but I recommend going to an actual yoga studio for your first class rather than at a gym. I find in the studio it is be more about the practice than the workout. This time of year the classes are full of beginners so you won't be the only one.
Ask the studio about beginners classes and they will recommend a few.

falsecho

I take a few classes a week and to be honest I really don't notice other people around me. I am focused on what I am doing.

With that said I was a bit heavier when I began, and I was able to go as far as my body was ready for.

Take a class and enjoy the movement.