The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › Weight Loss and Hot Yoga › Skinny fit types hegemonize hot yoga?
The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › Weight Loss and Hot Yoga › Skinny fit types hegemonize hot yoga?
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I love hot yoga but I always feel so out of place with all the seemingly expert skinny people there with skimpy clothes on. Even though no one can make me feel a certain way (if it’s not already my feeling in the first place), there’s a sort of hegemony of skinny fit types, in hot yoga, particularly, that make me feel…unwelcome was the word I thought of at first…but maybe the word should be “outsider,” kind of like a woman wearing hijab at the beach…
Before you respond, put your defenses down, I am not criticizing anyone. I am just curious as to others’ experiences, thoughts, and perceptions so that I may have insight and context for my own.
Honestly, when I first started I noticed the skinny people you referred to.
However, as I continue to practice (and I am far from a yoga rockstar by any means), I notice them less and less.
It’s interesting, because a lot of the hot yoga regulars at my studio are the complete opposite of super skinny types.
In fact, this is one of the things I love the most about hot yoga.
Honest!
Well, remember that people with Skinny fit body types can’t necessarily help having their body types any more than anyone else. I have always had a skinny fit body type and I experience a certain amount of judgement from others as a result. It’s as if I’m putting people down or making people feel bad just for having my body type. That doesn’t make me feel good at all. Especially to know that people might feel uncomfortable with my presence in a yoga class because of my body. Women have a hard enough time as it is feeling good about their bodies, even the ones with bodies that others would envy.
I hope that doesn’t come off as too defensive, but it’s bothersome on the other end as well.
In regards to your practice, with time I think you’ll find that you notice less and less about the body types of the people around you, and as you focus on your body and bettering it, it will become second nature to love it and not compare it to the other bodies around you.
Perhaps it also has to do with the demographic of the area that you live in. I too notice that some of the best yogis in my class are anything but skinny fit which ranges from 60 year old men, to women who probably weigh double what I do. They are excellent yogis and I truly admire their focus and intensity in class, and often try to place my mat near them so I can benefit from their great energy. I also appreciate their warm smiles after class.
Make yoga your own and try to focus on the good coming off of those people, maybe they have great energy, or great focus, as well as a great body.
I’m not a skinny body type – though frequent hot yoga practice is making me more so. Even so I’m fundamentally stockier in the shoulders etc then a lot of hot yoga practitioners.
Mostly I’d say though: try to make the yoga about you.
There will always be skinnier people, or fitter people or people better at certain postures.
I find though if I’m practicing yoga and meditation properly I’m really barely aware of other people in the room.The other thing is you might be surprised what people are thinking (if indeed they are thinking anything). When I see a huge man struggling for instance I’m always impressed because I know how the heat is affecting him more – more muscles and more general mass -, how his cardio system has to work harder to get to all that body and how he is fundamentally less flexible.
Newbie – OP – I would say, just because they are of a smaller body frame, does not make them fit. There can be skinny people who are not fit and they are there to get fit for their body type. They worry also. WE are all brought up, or some so more then other countries comparing ourselves. WE are our worst critic in anything we do. Anything. So of course when you see 5 other thinner people then yourself you feel out of place. It happens in anything. I could feel the same way because I’m african american. I’m the only one there… Same thing. I’m trying to just get fit, not compare mybody to theirs. I have what i have and I’m growing to accept it and make it the best I can. I left a class feeling fat but that was because, I am new, I don’t know the poses and I have rather large top side. I always want to have a before and after picture like so many. I’m hoping yoga will show me some changes that are noticeable.
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