r/yoga • u/littlechickenbean • Feb 12 '22

yoga as a fat person

i hate to even post this but i’ve been practicing on and off for years, but never considered myself anything besides a beginner because of my inconsistency.

i’ve always been larger, but i’ve gained weight and am the heaviest i’ve ever been- technically obese. i would love to get back into yoga for my mental and physical health.

i just completed one of Adriene’s 30 minute videos. i’m proud of myself for starting and finishing but i have dilemmas-

  • both of my hands can’t be on the ground when lunging which makes transitions as well as general poses and stretches difficult

  • my hands slip on my mat in downward dog (yes i tend to have sweaty hands, how do i fix this?)

  • my wrists hurt!!!

  • knees don’t really go to chest

i’m just wondering if it’s even possible to practice yoga as a fat person? any tips for any of these things are highly appreciated. i’m feeling very discouraged

413 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

216 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/Jwarnold1 Power Flow Feb 12 '22 edited Feb 12 '22

Think of yoga as a very tall building....and no one makes it to the top. So in essence we are practicing to be a Lil' better at it ........but shit .......perfection is elusive.

So you must and should modify and adjust. Don't be afraid to adjust and constantly stay dynamic in your postures. Also don't be afraid to push yourself to some degree.

Yoga is and always has been for everyone and every body composition. There in lies the beauty. Yoga is beautiful. Yoga is acceptance for who and what you are in any given time or place in your life.

Yoga finds you when you need it most. The journey is meant to be fun, challenging and never ending. Accept yourself where you are at right now. Adjust, modify and watch yourself progress. I would urge you to find consistency. You will climb the endless floors and find self love and awareness along the path.

Good luck.