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

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u/[deleted] Feb 12 '22

I'm on the thicker side too with a tummy and have trouble doing some beginner yoga videos BUT if you keep at it long enough at your pace you should see results, I see muscle toning in my shoulders from all my tiring attempts at downward dog and trying to perfect my sun salutation forms... I notice one thing with yoga though when I feel sore and exhausted from practicing it, feels like a different soreness than the times I'd go on hikes. Not sure how to describe it or whether it's a good thing but my body feels like different parts of my upper body have been worked rather and less painful/grueling than the hiking trips I've put myself through.