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Hello Elle….I hope I can help 🙂 I’m so happy you asked this questions, because it truly inspires me to pursue following my dream of becoming a yoga teacher, despite my size….and to teach kids, pregnant moms, and people who are afraid to step on the mat because of their ability level, size, disabilities, or self-doubt.

I’m new to this forum as well, but am a yoga LOVER and am a plus-size woman (size 22-24 and only 5’1″) ….and want to encourage you to try yoga, you will never regret the decision to make any type of yoga a part of your life 🙂 I personally have not tried hot yoga or Bikram yoga, but have been doing yoga classes at my local gym off and on for about 5-6 years. I haven’t thoroughly studied all the philosophies of yoga, but from what I have read and understand, is that any yoga practice….be it in a group practice or solitary practice….is all about being NON-judgemental….of yourself, the others around you, and of everything around you. Each time you do a pose, it WILL be different from the people around you and it will be different from the last time you yourself did the pose, it’a about accepting what your body can and can’t do and letting go of any expectations and just going with what feels good for that moment.

In my class, there are people of all shapes and sizes, old and young, experienced and new….and honestly nobody cares….THAT is the yoga spirit 🙂 Everyone is friendly and supportive and you can feel the positivity in the room. The other night in class, the man next to me stood in a shoulder stand/head stand pose for about 10 minutes while the rest of us went through the flow of poses our teacher led….it’s what he needed to do at that moment…..and I remember feeling inspired that this man, probably in his late sixties, rather overweight….felt the strength and freedom to get into a pose I was always afraid to try. It was so cool! And there are days our teacher feels very tight and she modifies poses to meet her own bodies needs, even though she is very experienced and in great shape, no one is expected to be perfect in class, and everyone works at their own pace and ability level…and that is OK. A good yoga teacher should encourage the use of modifications, demonstrate them, and verbally remind her class to use them when their body needs less stretch, and you should never be made to feel uncomfortable with your size or ability level in class. If people in your class are judgemental, they shouldn’t be there….it brings negativity into the class….and then I would suggest looking for another class for your practice.

As for what to wear and how to modify poses, I would say wear comfy clothes that feel good and breathe well. You don’t want something too loose around the neck, or it drapes forward when you are on your hands and knees or similar poses. I like stretchy crop yoga/workout pants and a closer fitting, stretchy 3/4 sleeve shirt (cause I have really flabby upper arms..LOL!) Before your first class, you might show-up early….or contact the teacher ahead of time to figure out a time he/she can show you some modified poses for beginners. Let them know you are NEW to yoga and are not sure you can get into all the poses, and let them know you are a little nervous about it….a good teacher will put you at ease, and help you with modifying poses.

For myself, I have to often do things on my knees instead of toes, and I often drop out of poses early to let my body rest, or don’t even attempt the pose…and that’s perfectly OK. I can’t cross my legs into a traditional cross-legged pose, or do a lotus pose, so I always sit with my soles together in a butterfly pose instead. My legs are too chubby to cross over, but again….it’s perfectly OK. No one is perfect and no one can balance for 100% of every pose, and everyone needs a break from a pose and can sit it out or do a different pose if it’s too challenging…..you just listen to your body and be thankful to your body for what it CAN do on that day at that moment 🙂

After several classes, you will notice strength you never thought you had and will surprise yourself, and soon you will do poses you thought were impossible. I have never been able to do ANY one-armed balances, EVER…..and after 7 yoga classes (since May), I listened in detail as our teacher led us in a progression of stretches, and then she walked us slowly through each movement and breath in baby steps to get into a side plank pose, on one arm….and I DID it, and I didn’t think I could…..and it felt great! The next class, I wasn’t strong enough and stayed on my knee for the pose and it still felt great 🙂 I accepted that some day I will be able to do that pose, and some days I won’t.

I hope you will give yoga a try and will try several classes before you decide if you like it, once you get into it and start enjoying the class, you will start to gain inner calm and happiness and start feeling really good. Yoga is a beautiful thing…..on EVERY body 🙂 Have fun!

Namaste…

Sara 🙂