Yoga for Overweight and Obese
Most overweight/obese people believe that they cannot engage in yoga practice. However, the good thing about yoga is that it can be done by almost anyone. Practicing yoga for overweight people can be a quite challenging task but you need to take heart because nothing good comes on a silver plate. Do not feel daunted if you attend a yoga session in a class full of half-sized people and their pace is a bit faster for you to manage.
Moreover, do not lose hope when you find difficulties performing certain poses, but instead take the courage, practice more and seek assistance from your instructor. In addition, you can use a yoga app to guide you through your practice if you are unable to attend a yoga class.
If you attend a typical yoga class with people of all sizes, try to move at your own pace rather than emulating those who are lightweight since they will be moving at a faster pace. Moreover, the transition from one pose to another may take you some time; therefore, you should not panic if you are lagging behind. Practicing yoga has many health benefits such as improved fitness, stress reduction, improved cardiovascular health, increased flexibility and many more. Being overweight should not hinder you from practicing yoga if you want to reap all the benefits that come from this.
The following tips will guide you to get the best out of yoga practice:
Stretch your feet at a comfortable distance
In most standing postures, you are supposed to stretch your feet apart to reach the width of your hips. However, if you are a plus size, you should stretch your feet at a comfortable distance and this will help you to increase your stability. Try not to lose balance as you can fall easily.
Choose a pose that is suitable for you
There are different types of yoga styles. However, if you are overweight some poses may not be suitable for you as they are more demanding to the body. Try to choose a pose that you can manage comfortably without straining yourself. If you try to do more than what your body can accommodate, there is a likelihood that you may end up with an injury or completely fail to do the pose. This may discourage you from practicing yoga anymore in the future.
Always be positive
As you practice yoga, you should know that yoga is not about perfection neither is it about competition. Always take the practice of yoga as a chance to connect your body and mind. For you to achieve any positive results from practicing yoga, you need to be consistent in your practice.
Know your body limits
Do not try to push your boundaries to reach the level of other people. As you practice yoga, always set your boundaries so that your instructor and peers know that there is a point your body cannot go beyond. They will learn to respect that. Do poses, which you are comfortable with, rather than doing postures that you cannot manage. Thus, you avoid being injured as you practice yoga.
Use props
Props are great teaching and learning tools. They help you find space, freedom, and stability in your poses. There are different options for yoga props, which you can put in practice. They include blankets, walls, and straps. The yoga props are meant to support you when doing various yoga poses.
They make it easier for you to perform poses, which could be harder if you were to complete them without any support. Choose a yoga prop that makes you feel comfortable as you carry out your practice. If you find any difficulty in using the yoga props, you should always seek help from your instructor.
Conclusion
There is no limit when it comes to yoga practice. For any overweight person, yoga is the best practice that can bring you completeness and at the same time keep you fit and flexible.