The Sunday Funday

  • About Me
  • My Road to Endurance Sports
  • Race Reports
  • Recipes
  • Go Seek Adventure

The Plus Side of Yoga

November 3, 2016 By: ranaefrances3 Comments

Let’s get this out of the way first thing–yoga is for everybody. Every body.

People have been practicing yoga for thousands of years, in many different ways. Here in the United States, we have been physically practicing yoga for about 200 years. (If you are interested in how yoga grew roots here in the United States, check out this article.)

The PLUS Side of Yoga

Somewhere along the way the notion came along that you had to look a certain way to practice yoga. I guess I missed the memo.

My first yoga class was in 2009. My practice has come a long way, mentally and physically. For me, yoga has made my body stronger and more flexible. It has also helped me learn self-discipline, especially my favorite yin practice – where you hold poses for and extended period of time, often 5-10 minutes. Through yoga I have improved my breath control which is helpful for swimming and running. Improved breath control has also helped me control my anxiety.

Now if you hadn’t noticed, I am a plus sized woman. My body is strong, capable, and flexible, and once I convinced my mind of that – I became unstoppable.

The PLUS Side of Yoga

An inverted pose during an anti-gravity yoga class

I used to be very self-conscious about my body, especially in situations like a gym or yoga studio, when the main focus is the body. Shortly after moving to Las Vegas, I tried a hot yoga class. It was a large studio, a packed class – at least 50 people in the room which was already 95 degrees. As I waited for the class to start, I started getting nervous. I was definitely the largest person in the room. As the instructor started, I remember thinking I had made a horrible mistake. A few people walked out, and instructor stopped class and asked if anyone else wanted to leave. I made up my mind I was finishing that class, and I did. I couldn’t achieve all the poses, but the instructor gave everyone modification options, so the class was just as accessible to me as it was for the cirque artist on the mat next to me.

The PLUS Side of Yoga

If you have reservations about taking a yoga class, consider this: when you are focusing on your breathing, focusing on your form, and transitioning into your next pose, you don’t have time to worry about what anyone else is doing, and most likely, no one else is paying attention to you either. Your body deserves self-care regardless of your size or skill level.

Have you taken a yoga class? If not, what has been holding you back? Thank you for reading – and namaste!

Pin for later
The PLUS Side of Yoga - Yoga is for EVERYBODY; my experience as a plus sized yogi.

Everyone is different, so make sure to talk to your healthcare provider prior to starting any fitness program. The words and other content provided in this blog are not intended, and should not be construed as medical advice.

I receive a small commission for purchases made through links on this page. This allows me to continue bringing you content, at no additional cost to you.

 

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Print

Comments

  1. Chelsey Barr says

    November 5, 2016 at 8:01 am

    I love everything about this post. I absolutely love yoga and have practiced it at every size I’ve been, though not consistently. It’s always where I go when I’m stressed or anxious too.

    I have wanted to try one of those anti gravity yoga classes but I’m terrified of being upside down like that. I don’t think I trust myself or the equipment enough.

    Reply
  2. BRee says

    December 22, 2016 at 6:54 pm

    I also love yoga. It’s such a great experience to just let go and let your body really flow. How did you like the anti gravity class?

    Reply
  3. ranaefrances says

    January 2, 2017 at 11:54 am

    I really enjoy it! I’ve taken anti gravity at two different studios in Las Vegas now, and while both were very different, it’s fun and challenging! 🙂 Thanks for reading!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hey there!

I'm a recipe developer, award winning home-cook, servant to 2 dogs, 60x finish line crosser, fan of umbrella drinks, palm trees, and Oxford commas. West Virginian by birth, Las Vegan by luck.

Let’s Get Social

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On PinterestCheck Our FeedVisit Us On YoutubeVisit Us On Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Weighing in on Weighing Out
  • Refueling Your Fire
  • Painting it Forward: Pinot’s Palette Town Square
All your resolutions in one delicious delivery Thank You Cards from Tiny Prints

Categories

Archives

Instagram

Instagram did not return a 200.

Follow Me!

Copyright © 2021 · Modern Blogger Pro Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.