Yoga for plus size beginners
Doing something new for the first time can be scary… especially a new fitness class, and especially when you’re a plus size person, like me!
I have always been interested in yoga, and have dabbled in it here and there, but my journey at The Secret Space began when I was fortunate enough to win a 5-class pass. It seemed the ideal time to commit to a few sessions and see how I got on. I’m now several months down the line of my yoga journey and am delighted to say I have stuck with it and continue to love each session, stretching myself (literally!) a little more each time.
For all the other plus size gals and guys out there, I thought it would be useful to share some things I have learned, hopefully to persuade you to give it a whirl too!
Bigger body? No problem
Yoga is for everyone – honestly! We all have this vision of Yogis being slim, lithe people, with long bendy limbs and yes, a lot of them are, purely because they’ve been practicing their craft for many years! However, yoga teachers do not expect you to come to class looking any sort of way – come as you are. All they want is for you to be willing to try and to be honest if a movement feels a bit too much for you, so they can show you how to modify it. Yoga isn’t one size fits all – it meets you where you are.
You don’t have to be bendy to do yoga.
It’s a myth that you have to be some sort of bendy Wendy to attend yoga – this isn’t the case at all! Each person in a class goes on their own yoga journey, at their own pace. Some people can easily plant their palms on the floor when doing a forward fold, whereas others can just about touch their knees. Anything goes! The aim is to explore your limits, push them (comfortably) and make progress at your own pace.
Come comfy!
You don’t have to buy a fancy new outfit for yoga – the aim is to be comfortable and able to move freely. I’m comfiest in a pair of leggings with a big, oversized t shirt. I’m usually barefoot, but some people prefer to wear socks – you can even buy special grippy yoga socks to help you feel more stable. Some people like to wear shorts and crop tops, and some cooler-blooded people like long-sleeved tops to keep them warm. It’s all about what makes you feel good.
You don’t have to be a spiritual guru.
For many people, yoga is a very spiritual experience, grounding them and allowing them to slip into an almost meditative state. That’s not the case for me. My brain is always whirring! However, I do find that the constant reminders to regulate my breathing are really helpful for bringing me back into the present moment if I’m drifting off. Balance positions are also a really good way to improve focus – when you’re standing on one leg trying not to tip over, it definitely helps to stay focused in the moment! We listen to some lovely, gentle, chanting music in my class, whilst the scent of incense wafts around. Sounds pretty hippy, but it’s rather lovely!
There’s a class to suit everyone.
I am firmly in the beginner’s camp when it comes to yoga, and I am perfectly happy there. My class is gentle, mixing up new movements with established ones we repeat each week. This is great, as it allows me to stretch new muscles I didn’t know existed (!), whilst improving on familiar movements. The Secret Space is brilliant, offering hot yoga, gentle yoga, vinyasa yoga, yoga for carers and parents – even chair yoga for those with limited mobility. Whatever your ability, there is a class for you.
Why not book a beginner’s class and take the first step on your yoga journey at The Secret Space?