I’m in the midst of writing an article about yoga for full-figured practitioners for Yoga City NYC (www.yogacitynyc.com/home.php). It’s an honor to write the piece, especially as a yoga teacher who is often saddened by the spirit of competition that can sneak into classes, as well as over-emphasis on physical image and fashion. These are all things that distract from the core of what yoga is--a union between breath, body, mind, and our surroundings--anywhere and everywhere.
Working on this article has led me to think more about the yoga “scene” and the fact that it certainly can be a intimidating. I’d like to turn this blog into a forum for you to voice whatever fears you might have about yoga. After more than a decade of practicing, I can still feel uncomfortable in some new yoga environments! For example, I can be hesitant about adjustments by teachers who don’t yet know my body or practice.
I invite you to comment here.
Share your fears, whether you are a long-term practitioners or complete novice. Have you wanted to try yoga but haven’t managed to strike up the courage? Please tell me why.
I will do my best to provide answers to any questions!
Sophie Herbert is an alignment focused yoga teacher (and perpetual student), a singer-songwriter, and a visual artist. She has lived, studied, and volunteered extensively in India; teaches yoga in Brooklyn and Manhattan; and recently released her first full-length album, "Take a Clear Look." Please visit her website at SophieHerbert.com.
From: Nikki | 11/3/11 at 6:17 pm
I would love to do yoga. The last time I tried doing some, I felt like I had meningitis for a week. It was really bad. I have advanced cancer, so it didn't surprise me. To me, it showed me the power of yoga in it's ability to increase chi. Cancer is in part, chi stagnation. I would love to incorporate yoga slowly, carefully. I think I need some guidance. I've been looking at video descriptions, I want something that starts out slow, but not so slow that it makes me want to sleep.
From: Lina Sorbilli | 11/3/11 at 9:07 pm
I am not quite sure what you mean by full-figured practitioners...I am 61 yrs old & retired/disabled. Years ago I picked up a book from local library entitled: "Yoga for Beginners". It was a 1 month routine. Each day incorporated a new position integrated with all prior positions(fairly easy). I kept it up faithfully for the whole month. Now, prior to this, I had severe back pain. I was only in my early 20's, I had very stiff joints, was easily anxious & then, slightly overweight. It was strenuous at fist, but after the 1 mo of these yoga movements, man...what a difference !! I was more limber, less nervous, was more relaxed, I had easier movements & my back did not hurt as much. Now I have more weight on me & it is not as easy for me to get around. I also am caregiver to my soon to be 87 yr old mother. I loved yoga. I thought of chair yoga. I did something similar a few yrs ago but to music I liked & using hand weights...I do not feel that my weight would be a consideration if I took a class or not. I see it as just ppl wanting to do something that is a comfortable fit for them & enjoy it at the same time...This is one reason why I feel more comfortable in my own home. Just mentioning weight, full-figure writing, makes me question it more & maybe why so many keep shying away & feel more uneasy about being in a group. I did not focus on weight, just doing the marvelous slower movements & enjoyment of it. I may get back into the physical part of yoga again. I am a Christian & I meditate daily...thanks
From: greta sutherland | 11/3/11 at 9:07 pm
Thank you, first of all, for the acknowledgement of how intimidating yoga can be. I am overweight, not limber, and have a history of heart attacks. I am continually told by my fit, petite friends how good yoga would be for my anxiety about future heart problems, insomnia, etc. But I am overwhelmed with the various poses, the typically small-sized class participants and the scary thought of me in yoga pants! I know the answer is to "just go!", but it's extremely intimidating. I dont have a mental visual of what to expect, so i am very demotivated to attend a class at my gym. As a 46-yr-old woman heading into menopause it is a strange dicotomy of what would be good for me being equally polarizing in its intimidation...
From: Sophie | 11/3/11 at 11:18 pm
Wow- it was so nice to come home tonight and see these comments. Thank you!
@ Nikki - Thanks so much for sharing your story. I truly admire your strength! That is so true about the Chi.
The Iyengar yoga method might be a great option for you. It's slow and highly alignment based, which also makes it a great challenge. See if you have a well certified teacher near you. If you can't find one, please feel free to email me at sophie.herbert@gmail.com and I'll look for other book/video options.
@ Lina - I couldn't agree more that the term "fuller figure" is too loose! Actually, that's something I will discuss in this article, which I'll publish a link to. There can be too much fear about body perception in the yoga "scene", particularly in NYC where I live! It's wonderful that you are looking into doing chair yoga with your mother and possibly resuming your own physical practice. I am a firm believer that people of any age or form can practice and benefit tremendously from consciously executed yoga! You might also enjoy the Iyengar method.
@ Greta- thank you for your comment! I definitely agree about just going for it!! What I would suggest, based upon what full figured teacher's told me, is to shop around for a teacher that makes you feel safe and good! I'm not sure where you live, but we have some excellent teachers here in NYC. One of them, named Megan Garcia, actually has 1 and soon 2 DVD's for bigger bodies. Her website is: http://www.megayoga.com/index.php Her DVD or book might also be a great starting point.
Another great person I met with while researching my piece, Michael Hayes, run Buddha Body Yoga Studio, his website has some great info, too: http://www.buddhabodyoga.com/
Be well and many thanks!
Sophie
From: Mary | 11/4/11 at 4:48 pm
I do attend yoga on a regular basis. I'm post menopausal and a little heavier than a was a few years ago. In my experience most yoga teachers are kind and very helpful to new students, showing lots of ways to make the poses easier for beginners. I would recommend talking to the teacher before class to make sure it's the type of class you need.
From: Tiffany Marcy | 11/4/11 at 4:57 pm
It was interesting to come across this article. I began practicing yoga about five months ago. I have never been the type of person who loves to exercise. I would do it but only to keep off weight and stay healthy cardio-wise. I, too, was intimidated by the idea of yoga. I picured tiny, bendy girls in trendy clothes, judging eachother and me. But I have taken to yoga in a way I have never taken to exercise before. It works my body and soothes my mind. It is teaching me not to judge myself. To pay attention to my body and how it is slowly changig for the better over time - less aches and pains, more energy, more flexibilit.
Despite my initial fears, what I have found is a mix of people. Older, younger, men, women, curvy, stick thin. We are all different. In my classes I find that most of us are really just trying to focus on ourselves, not others. Can the girl next to me hold a pose longer, deeper? I tell myself, "it doesn't matter. I'm here for me. To learn and grow in my own practice. To find peace and quiet in a bustling city and a busy life."
Sometimes I just close my eyes, concentrate on breathing, and forget anyone else is in the room. When I try a new class, and I feel that anxiety creep in, I just remember: Yoga, like life, is journey. You can't learn anything just watching it pass you by; you have to try, fail, learn, and try again.
From: Sophie | 11/5/11 at 4:47 pm
Thank you all so much for your beautiful comments!
I actually wrote a response the other night to Nikki, Lina, and Greta with some links to check out, but it still hasn't been modified and I don't have the power to do it!
I hope it will be up soon.
Mary and Tiffany - I couldn't agree more!
From: Peggy Levine | 11/6/11 at 8:05 pm
I am about 30 pounds overweight but that's not the real problem. I have always been very tight. I have never been flexible. Even though I could run six miles when I was in my 20s and 30s and 40s, I could not sit on the floor and stretch my muscles...they just won't give. At the gym I recently saw two young boys...they must have been 11 or 12 years old. I was really surprised when they tried to do some basic yoga stretches. They were as tight as I am. Meanwhile, my mother-in-law who never exercised or even walked a mile could bend over and reach the floor with no effort. I have read that this can be overcome by doing a little bit better and persisting. Somehow I can't believe it. I am always the least flexible in the room--whether the room is filled with out-of-shape heavy women or yoga devotees. Is it all just heredity?
From: Sophie | 11/6/11 at 9:08 pm
Hi Peggy-
Thank you for your note. Flexibility definitely can be hereditary. A common preconception about yoga can be that one must be flexible to practice. Fear not, it's not true!! Moderate yoga, practice 3 times a week if possible on a regularly, can definitely help increase flexibility in even the stiffest bodies.
It's also important to note that very flexible people face big challenges in yoga, too! Actually, they are more prone to injury as things move around more easily. I fall in the category of someone hyper-mobile in just about every joint. People like me can learn poor alignment and overstretch to the point of injury. With proper practice,however, yoga can help these overly bendy develop healthy flexibility that's backed with strength.
So, I encourage you to find a beginners class and stick with it. You'll feel changes, slowly but surely. And, if a super bendy person is next to you, remember they are facing challenges, too
From: debbie | 11/13/11 at 4:12 am
o thank goodness for the honesty, im 56, 5'2" and about 190 lbs...ive been a novice since 17, when i used to do yoga with the tv. i managed to damage my back, pinching a nerve as i thought i had to push myself to do the positions..it was a time when the doctors ordered bed rest for 2 weeks...yikes...so im still a novice, my last attempt at classes was the end of my drinking days, i was trying hard to find my way, hoping yoga would help, it didnt as i had too high of expectations of myself without knowing myself. that was 16 yrs ago, i now want to give it a go again, my daughter in law and my granddaughter are practioners. im very much intimated to go...how do i find a class suited for me...i love the spirituality of it, yet my body is well, far from healthy and limber..if you have words of encouragement or can understand how i feel to give me direction i would greatly appreciate it, thank you for listening, thank you for bringing the subject up, thank you for your understanding...peace...
From: Sophie | 11/14/11 at 12:19 pm
Dear Debbie,
thank you for your post! I'm really happy to hear that you're interested to get back into yoga!
If possible, try to find an Iyengar class near you. They really work from the ground up. Another good way to warm up at home is through a DVD such as http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Just-Size-Megan-Garcia/dp/B0006TPDXO
I interviewed her for the piece that's going to be published very soon. Good luck!
Sophie
From: Ann | 11/16/11 at 3:46 pm
Beginning yoga is certainly intimidating. I've been attending classes at Brooklyn Yoga School for about a year now and I think they do an excellent job of reminding you that everyone was a beginner at some point and everyone is at a different point in working to improve their practice. They gently correct you and remind you to listen to your body: can it be doing more? are you pushing yourself too hard?
I do start to feel a little competitive when it comes to head stands. I just cannot do them (YET!) but I have to consciously and continuously remind myself that is just where I am right now and not beat myself up. I have been in classes in other venues where I feel pushed buy the instructors. My advice to those new to yoga would be if you feel pushed, find somewhere else to practice where you can feel at ease. It makes all the difference.
From: Yoga for the Fuller Figured: Yoga on and off the Mat | | 12/13/11 at 9:22 am
[...] What Are Your Fears…in Yoga? Yoga on the Mat [...]
From: Lisa | 2/27/12 at 2:38 pm
I just came across this post after reading your post about being hyper-mobile. I really enjoy your writing! First of all, I am extremely hyper-mobile too and it has always been a huge struggle in my yoga practice. But as for my fears…. I've always had a lot of fears surrounding inversions in my practice- headstands, handstands, etc. I think a part of that is my hypermobility. I have seen pretty inflexible men go up into headstand after practicing for mere months. I was practicing for at least 5 years before coming up into headstand away from the wall! And even then, I still had my "off days". Headstands and handstands are definitely a really big fear of mine. I have come a long way since the beginning of my practice, but I still have a lot of fear- mental fear of just being upside down, and physical fear due to my hypermobility- and though it is improving, it definitely is still a journey!