Plus Size Yoga

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Dear All,
After having a lot of students that were discouraged to attend yoga classes because of their weight we developed a special program for Plus Size students. We believe that it is not fair to cut off people from yoga practice for any reason because Yoga can serve people of all ages and shapes.

What is your opinion in regard of this program.
[B]
Program Description:[/B]
The program designed for Plus Size people incorporates gentle movements, breathing techniques, and relaxation to work on every plane of our being: physical, energetic, and emotional.

There are so many seen and unseen reasons why we put on weight. The solution, therefore, must also be multidimensional. Yoga works on all levels and on actual causes not just symptoms.

Yoga poses work on endocrine glands, improve blood circulation and improve body’s metabolism. Yoga enables the body to effectively burn fat through certain postures and stretching techniques. Some examples would be certain poses on the abdomen that actually facilitate digestion or those that assist the pancreas with its hormone excretion function. Deep breathing while doing yoga reduces body fat for bringing body weight to optimal levels.

Yoga relaxation techniques and meditation can help us change harmful mental conditioning and negative self-concepts. Stress causes biochemical changes in the brain. Brain chemistry has much to do with appetite control. Yoga can help you turn the tide against stress.Tuesday, 7:00pm - 8:00pm Plus Size Yin Yoga;
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Classes provided:[/B]
Tuesday, 7:00pm - 8:00pm Plus Size Yin Yoga;
Friday, 7:15 - 8:30pm Plus Size Kundalini Yoga;
Sunday, 3:00 - 4:15pm Plus Size Hatha Yoga.

Also, we enhance this program by proper nutrition with MonaVie RVL weight solution which was tested on our own bodies. It works perfect. You loose weight grarually and just because your body is fed properly with less calories.

Any opinions?

Thank you.

#2

Love it! Good luck with your efforts and endeavours.

I really think yoga is for everybody and every body and applaud efforts to make it accessible to all.

I really wanted to make sure I served every one who came to our studios so I made sure I ‘boned up’ on tips and tricks to facilitate all comers and make every body feel appreciated safe and welcomed.

I read and watched the efforts of Meera Patricia Kerr- Big Yoga series.

But I highly recommend and particularly enjoyed Megan Garcia’s- Mega Yoga book. Mega Yoga teaches compassion and is judgement free and includes some wonderful innovations to accommodate the challenges for curvy and plus sized practitioners.

Namaste

#3

I second the recommendations for Meera Patricia Kerr and Megan Garcia. I’d add to it to check out Anna Guest-Jelly of www.curvyyoga.com. She has a wealth of information on her site and a very inspiring blog.

As a curvy yogini, I would say that not every plus size person is necessarily interested in losing weight - some of us have come to a place of peace with our bodies - so I wouldn’t be swayed by a marketing effort to “LOSE” weight - that’s just me though.

#4

Thank you very much for your wishes and suggestions:)
We are growing more and more confident that this program is going to be very successful and will help a lot of people. Actually, we opened our registration just a week ago and we already had an amazing response from peoplem in New Westminster and Vancouver area. Those who were afraid of yoga are starting to explore an idea that yoga might actually be for them, and we are hoping that this is their chance to fall in love with it. And the fact that we decided to incorporate proper nutrition provided by Monavie RVL makes Plus Size Yoga program even more attractive for a lot of students, because we are convinced that yoga and healthy nutrition is a perfect combination for healthy weight loss.

#5

This is a FANTASTIC idea! My mom would love a class like this:) I wonder if I could see if there was one available to us near where I live…again, fantastic idea!

#6

I would change the name for Yoga Plus maybe… plus size sounds intimidating…

#7

[QUOTE=CityMonk;65175]I would change the name for Yoga Plus maybe… plus size sounds intimidating…[/QUOTE]

Good point CityMonk. I had not thought of that:)

#8

Hi,
Thank you very much for your post. Yes, it is very true that you need to be at piece with yourself where you are right now. But the truth is we are not looking for weight loss, we are looking for a well balanced healthy weight. And having curves to some extend is healthy for women. Never ever in human race history skinny body was perceived as beautiful for womentill last decades of the 20th century. Merilin Monroe had size 12 or 14; I don’t remember exactly. She was a real beauty.

But as we know, it is not a secret that excessive weight a lot of time is the major reason for different diseases that can be avoided. That was the major reason to open Plus Size Yoga Program.

All the best,
Svetlana at Bamboo Yoga

#9

I find the idea of "plus size"yoga classes a little odd and perhaps even a bit offensive…
The studio I work at has different classes for different levels/abilities and different interests…not separating according to size…

If someone has little/no yoga experience and is not accustomed to physical exercise…then we suggest the Introduction/beginner class…whatever the size of the students. And our teachers are very experienced and can easily give variations of asanas to individuals if needed…to get around extra weight/short arms/long body/ultra stiff hamstrings…whatever…

We have Yoga Flow and Ashtanga classes for those who are more experienced yogis and enjoy a strong dynamic class…I have a few larger clients in theses classes and because they are fit and have several months/years of practice they are fine in these classes…size is no problem at all…occasionally I do have to give slight variations of asnas in order to cope with the larger breasts and thighs…

Then we have the Yoga in Depth classes…which again are fine for any size person who has some yoga experience and wants to explore asana in more depth.

Meditation and yoga nidra…no problem…size or experience…

At our studio we want everyone to feel included no matter what size, age, gender, race, sexuality, religion…

I think dividing classes beginner, intermediate and advanced is more helpful…or gentle/relaxing/restorative…strong/dynamic/power…slow/technical…

#10

[QUOTE=yogacambodia;65182]I find the idea of "plus size"yoga classes a little odd and perhaps even a bit offensive…
The studio I work at has different classes for different levels/abilities and different interests…not separating according to size…

If someone has little/no yoga experience and is not accustomed to physical exercise…then we suggest the Introduction/beginner class…whatever the size of the students. And our teachers are very experienced and can easily give variations of asanas to individuals if needed…to get around extra weight/short arms/long body/ultra stiff hamstrings…whatever…

We have Yoga Flow and Ashtanga classes for those who are more experienced yogis and enjoy a strong dynamic class…I have a few larger clients in theses classes and because they are fit and have several months/years of practice they are fine in these classes…size is no problem at all…occasionally I do have to give slight variations of asnas in order to cope with the larger breasts and thighs…

Then we have the Yoga in Depth classes…which again are fine for any size person who has some yoga experience and wants to explore asana in more depth.

Meditation and yoga nidra…no problem…size or experience…

At our studio we want everyone to feel included no matter what size, age, gender, race, sexuality, religion…

I think dividing classes beginner, intermediate and advanced is more helpful…or gentle/relaxing/restorative…strong/dynamic/power…slow/technical…[/QUOTE]

Your studio sounds like a place I would like to practice. :smiley: Occasionally, my yoga instructor will make reference to an asana being good for ‘weight loss’ and I simply cringe. I get enough reference to weight loss outside of yoga - I really don’t need it in class.

#11

Hi everyone,
Thank you very much for all your thoughts and suggestions.

The purpose of this class was to give overweight people a zone of comfort when they can come and be around people the same sige and shape.

In our studio we have a lot of different classes where we accommodate beginners, seniors, and overweight people. I personally work with a group of ladies that are overweight. That group is paid through a Canadian Mental Health and it is a closed group. When I talked to them they all said that they would never come to any open to other students classes at the beginning. Even practicing for two years and being quite strong they have some reservations to come to other classes even we offered one more class to attend in our studio for free. You need to have a nerve to step on to your mat being surrounded by skinny, fit yogis.

People who are contacting us in regard of this class don’t see any offence and quite happy to have this opportunity to become healthier.

All the best,
Svetlana

#12

Hi,

One thought that might also help folks feel comfortable signing on is to offer guidance about what to wear - and where to get it. As we more curvy girls know, one of the concerns with public classes is around self-consciousness about our bodies and moving our bodies around in public. And finding good yoga wear that’s plus-sized can be a challenge (particularly sport bras!!)

Just a thought that might give people a bit more help as they consider whether or not they want to take this step.

Good luck, I think this is a fabulous idea!!

#13

I find the idea of "plus size"yoga classes a little odd and perhaps even a bit offensive…
The studio I work at has different classes for different levels/abilities and different interests…not separating according to size…

I’m thinking perhaps you should ask the “plus size” people who would like to do yoga but feel intimidated just what THEY think about it. Sometimes what WE think is true of others ain’t necessarily so. :slight_smile:
While it might not appeal to all those who are of a “plus” size, it might be the perfect thing for those, as described, who are more self conscious.

Guess I learned from watching “the apprentice” that one should poll their target audience to see what they really do want - those who took the time to do this managed to please people a lot more than those who just went with assumptions!

#14

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and that is just part of the ingredients in Monavie RVL shake…
huummm…bambooyoga…that all sounds like something froma chemistry lab…NOT good healthy, nutritious food!!!

#15

Love this! When I practice at a studio I want to feel part of the group – not singled out in any way. Your class enables people that might not come to class for fear of being singled out a safe place. Bravo!

#16

My mother died 2 years ago at age 65, she was morbidly obese and died due to the effects of being so overweight.

Every time, I see someone that is very heavy practicing yoga, I want to put my arms around them and let them know that I think they are awesome for their practice. Any effort to reach out to the wider community to those that would be intimidated by a regular yoga class is a great move in my opinion. Yoga is for all of us. Some people will never step foot into a yoga class, unless they know that some barriers have been dropped, that they will be accepted and loved.

#17

That means a lot to me because I am plus sized and I want to practice yoga.

#18

I like the idea of having a yoga plus type of class for those who don’t feel comfortable with the idea of being in a class with those who are much smaller.

I also think it is important to show the modifications to poses that will help those who have weight or health concerns.

#19

A good idea. Because yoga is a state of being is suitable for all people, disregarding age, sex, race, religion or size of the body.