Comments on: Fat? Yoga No Longer a Four Letter Word to Plus-Sized

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:26 +0000

I have been working with Michael of Buddha Body Yoga in NYC for a little over a year now. I knew yoga for big people had to be around somewhere and was so happy to find the class.

I’m heavy and had been to a “regular” yoga class; I was self-conscious, uncomfortable (mentally and physically), and injured my knee. Not a good experience.

Why shouldn’t big people – fat women and men (yes, like YogaDork, I don’t think it is a dirty word) be able to do yoga? With a teacher who knows what he or she is doing everyone can benefit from yoga. The use of props such as blocks, bolsters, and blankets make the poses accessible for everyone.

At Buddha Body Yoga we now have a yoga wall. It is amazing – basically it is a wall with places to hook straps. The support of the straps allows me to feel poses and gain flexibility even though I wouldn’t be able to balance in the pose otherwise.

YogaDork, thank you for shining light on the ability for big people to gain the mental and physical benefits of yoga. Caring and intelligent teachers who have the training to work with appropriate modifications make yoga possible for everyone, regardless of size.

By: michael

michael — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:04:18 +0000

sorry typos

By: michael

michael — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:02:06 +0000

i have been teaching yi have been teaching yoga for big people for over ten year in new york city
teaching about the form & function foundation , leverage ,taken back the floor
what i say to every student or teacher is to explore your thinking of what possible
i teach two class right know and i think i found a home for my school .
my plan is to be teaching 4 class
this school will have the great yoga wall which will help student work with poses as well as make them see where there are in there yoga aliment

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:18:46 +0000

Although the one yoga class I attend is not specifically geared toward larger people, and it’s ok, I would LOVE a class geared for larger people. I live in a relatively small town and there are very few yoga classes to begin with. The yoga in the class is very low key, almost geared to being therapeutic. It’s great and I love it. I am the largest person in the class, in decent shape and just do the best I can, but I would love to find a class geared to larger people.

By: Robin Frisella

Robin Frisella — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:12:20 +0000

I’ve taken my plus-sized self to all kinds of yoga studios, including Bikram, and done just fine. If others feel more comfortable in classes for larger-sized people, then great! I might drop in sometime, but I do just fine in the classes I attend. The world NEEDS more people practicing yoga, so let’s get ‘em any way we can!

By: Tara Stiles Launches ‘Slim, Calm, Sexy’ Yoga to Acclaim, Insult, Revolt (see marketing)

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:31:59 +0000

[...] Fat? Yoga No Longer a Four Letter Word to Plus-Sized [...]

By: michael hayes

michael hayes — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:35:46 +0000

I am the guy teaching yoga for big people from the New York Times article. I just saw this blog, and I love the thinking and talking around yoga for students who live outside the box of how yoga is seen in magazines and movies. I now teach 3 classes a week, and in October will be offering 4 a week.

My aim for Buddha Body Yoga is to open up a place for large people to explore their body. I’m currently working my own space to offer more classes and create a school for yoga for large people. I’m looking for support for trying to get this up and running by January.

For class or other information check out: http://buddhabodyoga.com

By: ‘Precious’ Gabourey Sidibe: “If Yoga Was a Person, I’d Stab Them”

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:20:23 +0000

[...] what this means don’t you? Yoga’s image needs a revamp stat! We’ve had multiple discussions about skinny white women as the poster children for yoga in America. Obviously this is not [...]

By: stacey

stacey — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:01:26 +0000

Hey Ceci-

Check out http://www.jaishantiyoga.com/series#curvygirls. I’m teaching a 5 class “Yoga for Curvy Girls & Big Guys” series there on Mondays beginning August 3rd. It’s specifically geared toward women and men with larger/rounder/more generous bodies. Each week will cover a different theme. Jai Shanti is a great space that welcomes people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities in the Atlanta area. Hope you can make it!

By: ceci

ceci — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:48:34 +0000

I am excited about the possibility of finding a yoga class for bigger (and out of shape) people…YOGA itself is a little intimidating, so it would be great to not have to worry about the other insecurities we dish out to ourselves…where can I take a class in atlanta?