5 Yoga Tips For Anyone With A Bigger Body

insider yoga staff | July 25, 2016 | Health, Motivational | No Comments

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These Tips Will Help You Take That Next Step!

One of the best things about yoga is that no matter how young, old, big, small, or experienced you are, it can still be practiced. Yoga does not discriminate. It’s benefits can be felt by anyone willing to give it a try. Yoga is about the relationship between your mind and body. Yoga is all about challenging your body in ways you never thought were possible. The only thing standing in the way of improvement is yourself!

If you happen to be on the heavier side, you can still easily perform yoga poses that will have positive impacts on your health and lifestyle. Below are 5 tips for those of us that have a bigger body. These tips will help you get up and running with yoga. After that, it’s up to you to continue to improve your life and make progress with yoga.

See the tips below and be sure to pass this along to anyone looking to give yoga a try even though they may think it’s not possible.

1. Widen your stance.

Most poses call for your feet to be hip-width apart.

For people with a bigger body, it may actually help to have your feet a little wider apart. This can help you increase your balance and stability.

Experiment with it. Try poses both ways, and find where your feet are the most comfortable.

2. Be mindful of your weight.

We mean this in the sense that having more weight to carry can make certain poses more difficult. For example, arm balances will require more strength from you.

If an instructor says to hold Crow pose (an arm balance) for 30 seconds, make sure to listen to your own body and strength and stop when necessary.

The wrists are very delicate and also very vital to your yoga practice. An injury could set you back weeks or worse.

Be mindful of the strength that is required for what you are doing, and work on practicing everyday to build up that strength.

3. Take it slow.

Make sure you go at your own pace. Excess weight can make it more difficult to keep up with others and may make breathing a little more difficult.

Some poses, such as wheel pose, are very labor intensive and make most people very out of breath when they practice them. This is especially the case when you start out and your body is not used to them. Keep this in mind when you are practicing.

Listen to your body, and rest when you need to. Never stop challenging yourself, but know when your body needs rest.

4. Use Props.

This really goes for anyone, but it can be even more useful if you have excess weight to work around. Do not shy away from using props.

If you can’t reach the ground, use a yoga block. If you can’t touch your toes, use a yoga strap. It’s better to perform the poses with a block or a strap than to skip them altogether.

Props serve as a helpful tool to use while you build the strength and flexibility to move on without them. They can be an invaluable tool in your practice if you let them.

5. Remember that the limit does not exist.

There are no limits for others, and there are none for you either. You are your only limit.

Your muscles operate in the same way as everyone else’s. Continue to challenge yourself, and you will continue to push past any preconceived notions or imaginary limits that you once had.

You will continue to progress with yoga, and you will find that the poses that once seemed impossible now feel very easy.