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After reading my co-blogger’s GREAT post on Fat Acceptance, I have to admit, it was tough to find a way to write something that carried that thread through into my post. Once you read a piece like that, you can’t help but feel many different things. It really stirred up so many emotions for me, too. Thank you, Kelly.
So I thought about it a little and decided well, if you are an individual who feels self-conscious about their weight, so much so that even entering through the front door of a gym is an emotionally daunting exercise, then yoga or Pilates may be for you.
Pilates is series of strength and mobility exercises which lengthen and strengthen your muscles without putting any stress on your joints or heart. You get stronger, and you increase your sense of balance.
Yoga, as many of us know, also builds balance, flexibility and deepens the mind-body connection. Each make for great entry points for a beginner, or someone with health or weight concerns who may be feeling a little overwhelmed by jumping into a more rigorous form of exercise.
The nice thing about each is they can slowly help build your confidence, give you unique but relevant results and make your transition into a healthier lifestyle that much easier.
Even if you simply start with a book on meditation and practice alone in your living room, it is a start, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The peaceful practice of clearing your thoughts and sharpening your focus can be liberating and very soothing.
So if you read this and think, “Ugh, I can’t do that, skinny women in tights. that’s not me,” well, yes it is! Yoga in particular can be a very “soft landing” for people who want to take better care of their body and minds and are looking for a less stressful way to take that first step. And it is an incredibly healthy way to build a sense of inner peace with whatever you are dealing with in life. It makes so many things possible.
Peace.
Holy cow, Lolli, do you think the woman in the picture is overweight? I think you’ve been reading Vogue for too long-women aren’t overweight just because they’re not size 2.
Anyway, more to the point, yoga can be hard for larger people, downward dog puts lots of pressure on the hands, and some of the other poses are dependent on low body weight.
The picture does make me uncomfortable. Why? Because I am worried for her, I see with the weight comes a risk for all sorts of conditions and diseases. What is wrong with our society? it is okay to accept that someone is overweight (especially if it is beyond their control), but it doesn’t mean that you have to approve of or encourage unhealthy habits.
I just want to see people be healthy and happy.
I love both yoga and pilates – I found they both have helped strengthen my core and my balance. Yoga can be fore everyone – a good beginner’s instructor can make all the difference. Don’t ever feel self-conscious – do it for you!
great post. yoga especially, since it is so focused on your thoughts and your current frame of mind, is the prefect form of exercise to really learn to appreciate your body. taking the time to quietly listen to it, and slowly learn how it works and feels to push it to certain limits is great for helping you appreciate it even more.
well said.