Last Friday, a couple of us larger yogis went to our instructor’s house and took pictures in her living room. Some will be used at an upcoming workshop she’s teaching for other yoga instructors on how to offer body positive cues and pose modifications to make their classes more inclusive.
She gave us the prompt: “What do you wish more yoga teachers knew about creating body-positive classes?”
We said:
Don’t assume that we aren’t as strong or flexible.
Don’t assume that this is my first ever yoga/fitness class.
Don’t assume that I hate my body.
Don’t assume that I’m there for weight loss.
Don’t assume anything about what I eat.
Don’t assume anything about my health.[Warrior I, Pigeon, Warrior II, and a bonus of yours truly laughing while losing balance in Half Moon.]
Beautiful…there’s nothing more beautiful than someone trying! Nothing more than a gorgeous woman taking care of herself! Don’t quit, never stop trying, do it for yourself! You’re inspiring 🙂
No, I refuse to be inspiring in the way you’re making me ‘inspiring.’ In fact, I’m tired of all y’all using these photos of me, a fat person doing —not trying— yoga, as some feelgood, hope-for-humanity dick stroking.
Bless y’all’s damn hearts and good intentions, but honest to God.
I’ve had it up to here.This whole post was about how fat people should be able to do sport or enjoy movement without other people sticking their nose in. “Great job! Keep it up! Don’t quit! Good for you for taking care of yourself! You’re inspiring!” Like CAN YOU NOT with the patronizing.
This. Fat people aren’t your inspiration porn.
Shit like this is part of why it’s hard for fat people to enjoy exercise, ESPECIALLY when the assumption is ALMOST ALWAYS that you are exercising for the sole purpose of losing weight.
I just want fat people to know they can do yoga. I’ve met a lot of people who assume that their size limits them. IT REALLY DOESN’T. You can be just as strong and flexible and awesome as anybody else!
To hell with weight loss. I don’t know why* everybody assumes that’s the only reason a woman would possibly go to the gym, when there are a thousand possible reasons. Wanting to be strong. Wanting to improve your balance. Wanting to take care of your joints, or ease back pain from bad posture, or treat mood or metabolism disorders, or just because it damn well makes you happy. The gym can be ‘me time,’ and everybody deserves the experience of learning how to wear their body and enjoy it for the beautiful, amazing organic machine it is.
* I do know why, but to hell with that too.