Yoga Body Size Nightmare?
Nervous about going for the yoga class because you are worried that you aren’t build for yoga or you will not be able to pull off the half-moon pose perfectly? This is an absolute stereotype that need to be debunk that yoga are only meant for slender or flexible people.
In fact, your body size, shape, gender, race, flexibility, age or race will not stop you from getting the benefit of practicing yoga and it’s definitely not what it’s about.
The truth is yoga is for Every Body (literally) and here’s why! The very essence of yoga is about forming positive relationship with ourselves at the purest form.
My Yoga Nightmare
Let me share with you my own Yoga Nightmare Experience but it didn’t stop me from pursuing yoga. Instead, I came out stronger and decided to discover more about the true essence of Yoga which allows me to spread positive awareness about how Yoga is for all body sizes. .
A little backstory [2–3 years ago]
— I started out as a total yoga rookie & despite my slender physique, I was quite inflexible. With 0 experience about yoga under my belt, I started my yoga journey with one of the local studio. This was when my nightmare begins. Trust me, I was expecting calm vibes for my first Yoga Class but it wasn’t like I imagined…
My inflexibility was my №1 concern so prior to my first class I tried to have a brief chat with the instructor to voice my concern and explained my beginner’s inflexibility worries to my instructor.
So fast forward to my actual yoga nightmare, it was totally not what I was expecting.
Peace, calm and serenity was totally off the menu! My dream bubbles about yoga was burst on my very first class!
Looking back upon my nightmare class, I realized that what I experienced wasn’t like a typical yoga class. Not only did the instructor scornfully pointed out my errors throughout the lesson, repeatedly pointing out that I should’t look at how the poses should be done (even though I had no experience with some of the poses).
I was even made to attempt poses on my first class that obviously put me at a disadvantage & pushes way pass my flexibility limits.
I remembered feeling downcast, uncomfortable and sore in my own skin as I went home that day.
There was this huge part of me that believed the instructor and felt like my body wasn’t made for Yoga and all the negative thoughts started forming in my mind
- “ Should I even continue to pursue Yoga?”
- “ I am just too inflexible for yoga, this isn’t right for me”
- “Maybe I am just cut out for this”
So I started practicing yoga on my own and investing my time in pursuing Yoga Teacher Training which helps me to overcome all the negative thoughts. It slowly opens my eyes to a Yoga World Full Of Possibilities, I won’t say I am an expert but after experiencing the benefits of Yoga. I came to understand what the true meaning of Yoga which totally change my perspective.
Shine a positive light on me
So here’s a little recap of my positive experience of Yoga, I have become more flexible over the years but not by pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Instead, it’s through practicing within my range of mobility & comfort level. Even though, pushing your limit is good but Yoga isn’t a competition with others- it isn’t about who’s the most flexible/ who can hold a headstand longer?
It’s learning to be comfortable in your own skin & doing what feels right to your body. It’s a personal yoga journey, you are only competing with yourself to do the best with whatever you have.
One greatest takeaway from Yoga is this new sense of profound calmness even on tough days. It’s from the practice of yoga that let me focus more on the present moment, putting the worries of my past & future behind me. It’s like my new found ‘superpower’, experiencing less stress and anxiety. It’s taking the power of control back, a better great mind body connection. To solely focus on my current asana pose & breathing through it like water in the stream.
I truly believe that Yoga is for all Body Sizes and it’s indeed for Every Body!
Don’t listen to the instructor or the inner voice that tells you that you’re not good enough, you are more than enough! Do what makes you happy!
No matter the sizes, anyone can master anything with determination, passion and sincerity! The world is giving to those that are willing to receive, open your heart and arms out to a world full of possibilities!
Go for that Yoga class that you always wanna attend or do the follow-along Yoga video that you want to do! Put on your smile & be the best version of yourself!
Here’s a little Yoga Video if you want to attempt some relaxing Yoga flow:
