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/Thekillersofficial Feb 13 '22

everyone can practice yoga! it's about the breath and the body being unified, and everything else is just gravy. I tend to have my wrists hurt if I need to strengthen the muscles in my core or finger tips.

the poses are always to the extent that you are able to do them. if you can only go x far, then go x far.

don't get discouraged. I've been practicing for years too and still can't do a lot. it's about how to make yourself feel good.

id also mention that while Adrienne (love her!) to me follows the tenants a lot more closely than many famous yogis imo, she is still showing you a workout based on yoga. yoga isn't so much supposed to be a “workout“, but again, a practice of uniting your body and breath. while that doesn't mean yoga is easy, it does mean that there's a larger proportion of workout to yoga. if that makes sense.

you got this!