Should I slim down before Yoga?

[steffi]

I have a yoga video that was given to me by a friend of a friend of a friend. I had an evening to myself a few days ago and tried it. It has been something I wanted to learn for a long time and just never created the time.....
Anyway, I thought I would die. I seemed so bulky and awkward, and the folks in the video didn't seem to have any spare inches. Should I think about losing some weight before I try this? Would a slimmer me be able to maneuver better?
Just tought someone might have some advice for a beginner!

Thanks,

[pina la nina]

I took a class with a lot of bulky folks and I don't think their size (or mine for that matter which is roundish) restricted their flexibility. In fact my dh who is very fit has a really hard time with yoga. I think the weakness of a lot of the videos I've seen is that they don't explain well the options for less flexible folks, or show you how postures can be adapted for various levels. Some parts of my body are more limber than others - I have an especially difficult time with poses that require certain arm positions, for example. There are props (blocks to rest your hands on, straps to help you reach your feet, etc) that can help you achieve certain positions that otherwise you aren't ready for - and a good tape should show you how to use those. So I think its the tape thats lousy not you! Don't wait to do yoga until you've lost weight. Try to find a better tape or class (check out a discussion in the books & other media forum on yoga tapes for suggestions) I think doing yoga will help you feel motivated to lose weight in a healthy way. Good luck!

PS - I also think that they sometimes recruit extra skinny people for the videos, which is very mean!!

[MaWhit]

Not necessarily

One of the wonderful things about Yoga is how versatile it is. It is different for everybody and each person makes their own modifications. It is crucial to listen to your body and folow YOUR limits, not those of the pros on the tape. I was overweight when I started Yoga, and am no 8 months pregnant and doing Yoga daily. I think that the pregnancy videos show some of the best modifications for different body types... There are also some good begfinner videos out there, but I can't think of any right now. I think you should go check out a variety of videos from your local library until you find something that works for you. ANY body type can do Yoga... and Yoga can help you lose weight.

[dfoy]

I don't think you really need to slim down first. Try these (all from Living Arts):
AM Yoga
PM Yoga
Yoga for Relaxation
Power Yoga

They are all beginner tapes. You will love Yoga! Stick with it! You will be surprised at how fast you will get the hang of it. Use props when you need to (yoga blocks, straps, etc. - hold onto a chair when you need to) Also, get a mat. I practice on a hardwood floor with a large yoga mat & it works great. You might consider taking a class so an instructor can show modifications for poses.

[Sierra]

I agree with the above posts.

I used to have, I think, the best yoga teacher on the face of the planet. She began studying yoga as a child, and when she came to the U.S. as an adult, she decided to open up her own yoga school (she then passed her school on to her students when she finally moved back to India because of her husband's work).

In one of the classes I took with this woman, she had a student who was so large, he could barely leave his home. He was trying to change his life. His doctors had recommended he receive digestive system surgery to correct his obesity (Because of the very, very high risks of this kind of surgery, good doctors who are not just about making a buck will advise someone has this kind of surgery only if the obesity has become a fatal condition. I myself have cared for a couple of patients who have died as a complication of the surgery). So the point was, this man was not very well at all.

There were some special instructions my instructor gave this man because of the severity of his obesity, but despite his obesity, he became one of my yoga teacher's better students.

One of the greatest lessons this instructor taught me about yoga is that it isn't about poses or flexibility or twisting the body this way or that. It is about breath. It is about alignment, on the outside and inside, and between the outside and inside. It is about grounding oneself and floating above all at once.

Don't worry about getting all those fantastic poses at first. Watch the video all the way through once (sometimes they take a while to get to the instructions for beginers), and then turn on the video again and just glide from motion to motion. Get the particulars of the pose right. If they say palm up, turn your palm up. If they say turn your knees out, turn your knees out. But if they say to try to lock your fingers behind you back, see if you can slowly work over time toward having your fingers touch.

I agree that getting a video that is more focused on beginers would help. Even better would be to take a class. But if you can't afford these options, remember that yoga requires you to start with nothing more than you have.

Let us know how it goes.

Best wishes,
Sierra

[mamarain]

What a beautiful story (and what a great teacher) Sierra!

[steffi]

Thank you guys so much. Sierra, your post really made me feel better....and a bit more excited about this.
I tried that video again, but it really does seem for folks who have done this before. I am on the hunt for something for beginners. Thank you all for the suggestions.
I know that this is certainly something you develop over time. I never expected to fall into it. Yesterday, hubby came home with a huge book on Natural Living and it has a 10 week beginner yoga plan in it. I think I will give that a try. I find just reading the concepts behind yoga calming.....I'm so looking forward to this!

Thank you for the advice ladies.....you renewed me! I really appreciate it!
Have a marvelous day!

[Momtwice]

I have a loved one who loves yoga. He is heavy.
When he does yoga he feels strong and flexible
and it improves his digestive health, strength,
flexibility, mental health, and slims him down...but only
a bit. It does not make him skinny. He is more flexible
when he does yoga, than most slim people.

[lunarmomma]

One of the beautiful philosophies of yoga is "start where you are" .
You don't have to "be" anything other than what/who you are this minute.
And, that is what you bring to your practice. Your self.
All the best to you.

[KarenB]

yoaga from a book...

I tried tapes, too, and found them disspiriting. Even with tapes that have beginner's poses and modifications, watching the person on the tapes do it so easily while looking nothing like the person I see in the mirror was discouraging.

I found a great book, Richard Hittleman's 28 Day Yoga Exercise Plan. It's pretty old and so doesn't have the same aggressive attitude that some more recent tapes have. It allows you to work at your own pace and is very encouraging about everything. Great pictures help you find the pose and the book's format lets you work at your own pace, which is hard with videos. At the end of the book is a daily practice plan to use once you feel ready. I started and stopped several times before I completed the series. At first I thought I was just too large for this (30 lbs over at the time) but I kept on doing it anyway, and the day that my hardest pose came right away and I knew I had it right and it felt good was a very good day. I have since added Pilates (also from a book - classes are just impossible to schedule these days), dropped 20 lbs and really miss it when I skip a day.


You might be able to find a used one on Amazon. Or check it out of the library first, but if you like it definitely buy it so it will be there when you are ready.

Good luck and

[yogamama]

I agree with the other posts - yoga can help you lose weight, but not necessarily right away. I suggest that you start with gentle hatha yoga and walking. Yoga and walking are the perfect fitness combo for life!

I also saw a yoga video called "Yoga for Round Bodies" and I loved the title. Maybe you can do a search and see if you can find it on the web. Then let me know how it is...

Blessings.
Kathleen

[Joyce in the mts.]

Hello wonderful ones!...

My name is Joyce and I am new here. I wanted to share a thing or two you may find helpful with regards to your question.

I lost a great deal of weight a few years back. I have been doing yoga now for several years, and when I began, I was quite heavy, wanted to quit smoking and lose weight.

Also I was incested when I was a teen and I wanted to make peace with my body. We, who have been incested often have body issues, like seperating from our bodies and never really feeling safe enough to inhabit them because we often feel our bodies betrayed us.

I found that after about a year and a half I had lost about 40 lbs, and was truly grounded in my body and I liked being there.

And as a heavier person, I was still very flexible...so I knew I was actually in better physical shape than I had thought. I took alot of pride in that and my teacher was so very supportive of me too.

So I recommend yoga to you. Be gentle and loving to your body and it will begin to feel very very good to be in it AND...as you practice (even once a week is great!) and gain tone in your muscles, and go beyond your original capability flexibility-wise, you will feel very good about it! Truly!

I have gained weight back but I also continue to do yoga gently and it always calls me back to the truth: that I am stronger than I think, more flexible than I realize, and that I am graceful and beautiful. You will love it and the way your body feels doing it.

That coupled with walking is truly wonderful for losing weight, toning muscles and gaining more energy in your life.

Also belly dancing is cool for people of all sizes....and fun.

So do your will, but know that you have my support for sure!...Joyce in the mts.

[MamaOui]

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[cielle]

Kripalu Yoga Gentle is good and has some variation in the bodies of the video participants. It is also set up so that you can do either a half hour session or an hour so you can go at your own pace.

Jenn

[shematrix]

I my Yoga For Weight loss Video with Suzanne Deason. It has different variations of the poses for everyone. For the beginner(me!) to the most experienced. I also find a block very helpful for getting those poses done right.

Enjoy! It will get easier.

Brenda

[MarsupialMama]

I know nearly everyone has already said this, but I want to say it again!
As a yoga instructor, I think I can say that oga is perfect for everyone! One of the most important things to remember is that you are a different person, and different shape than anyone else, be it someone on the tape, or your instructor. Yoga is so wonderful because it's just as effective for someone who can perfectly do each pose, or someone who's strugling to do them. Just do it as best you can, stretch your body is far as you can.

Also, I'd recommend a book over a video!

I hope I'm helpful!

(sorry for typos!)

[mama-mukti]

Originally posted by shematrix
I my Yoga For Weight loss Video with Suzanne Deason. It has different variations of the poses for everyone. For the beginner(me!) to the most experienced. I also find a block very helpful for getting those poses done right.

Enjoy! It will get easier.

Brenda

I also highly rec that video - esp for beginners or larger people.

Keep in mind that as you practice your asanas - there is more to yoga than just poses; relaxation and meditation or affirmations can be VERY helpful for you if you want to be kind to your body and soul.

[Alegria]

Joyce in the mts. Your post touched me, It almost made me cry. I'm glad yoga could be healing for you emotionally.

[MysticHealerMom]

hi, i just saw this thread, and thot i'd chime in, too. everyones words here are very inspiring and i share your sentiments.

i think starting off w/a class is a great idea b/c for one it's hard to know where your body is w/o a mirror or someone to help you w/your alignment, if you aren't already highly body aware.

in India, most yogis do not look anything like the hardbody yoga diehards here. and they are quite flexible and healthy. it is truly about the breath and the balance, not what pretzel you can get yourself into.

my first yoga class was called 'gentle yoga' and I realized after i'd signed up that it was actually yoga for older folks - it said so in the description, but i glossed over it - fortunately, because the class wasn't too hard for me and i got plenty of attention b/c the class was smaller, mellower and i still had special needs that i didn't even realize - like i've got an old injury inwhich i hyperextended my elbow, which only really manifests itself in downward dog, so i forget what i learned in that class has stayed with me for ther yoga classes and when i do videos. i also pick up quite a bit from yoga books and Yoga Journal magazine.

best wishes!

[zora]

YOGA TAPE

I second the Yoga for Weight Loss tape. I think she does a great job of explaining the movements. She has women of different body types in the video. I really like it. My 2 cents-- don't change your body, change your tape!