We Are Not Limited By Our Curves
This lens is your one stop shop to plus size yoga. You'll find reviews of my favorite CDs and books as well as links to some of the best yoga sites on the web.
Yoga is a fun, relaxing, strengthening form of exercise that is good for your body and your mind.
Namaste
Yoga Just My Size with Megan Garcia
In an intro, Megan discusses how she came to perform yoga, how she was motivated to produce a video and how it works. She talks about being self conscious and limited by her size and what yoga has done for her. This video is designed to increase self confidence, produce a sense of calm, lengthen tight muscles and improve posture. Weight loss is not the focus of this video. Like with most exercise videos, there is a caution for all viewers especially if you're pregnant or menstruating.Yoga: Just My Size is divided into 3 sections: Warm up, Workout, and Deep Relaxation. Throughout the twenty minute routine Megan wears a body hugging unitard showing off her chubby belly and double chin. According to her website, her frame is 210 pounds, the 5'10" and a size 18. As Megan performs the moves a voice narrates directions on how to perform them and what to use. The background music is louder and annoying, bordering on cheesy cheap.
The warm up works through five slow, non-strenuous movements, holding each posture for five deep breaths. After a lunge transition to the standing position for the workout Megan performs five new postures, again with five deep breaths. This set is repeated once more before doing another lunge transition, to the floor to do four more poses as a transition to prepare the body for the final step, deep relaxation.
Tips are not given through the video so it's important, if you're not going to watch the whole video right through to at least watch the special tips section first. Here she provides some info on how to use a chair, pillow, wall or shoulder block for a few of the popular poses.
In a short interview at the end, Megan declares, "I want to help women feel beautiful and confident, in their own skin." She feels anyone larger than a size 8 must practise yoga because, "Yoga forces you to look inside."
I have some experience with yoga; both with classes and on my own. I found the moves easy to do with little strain. The great thing about the DVD is you can easily skip the intro and go right into the warm up. I hate DVDs that make you go through opening credits to get to the starting point. As a time saver the warm-up would be an excellent mini energizer in the morning and the deep relaxation at night would help settle the day before sleep.
As I mentioned earlier, the music is a bit cheesy. The alternating clips of rushing clouds are hypnotic. Megan doesn't provide the instruction. The simple moves provide an excellent platform for beginners but are perhaps too simplified for advanced practitioners other than a change of view and routine to their video collection. It is short so there are no excuses for not fitting it into your activity schedule a few times a week. I'm sure you'll be addicted in no time.
Menu Options:
Entire Program
Intro
Warm-Up
The Workout
Deep Relaxation
Special Tips (modifications)
Interview
Just My Size Brand Video
Weblinks
Language selection
Just My Size is available from Amazon.
Breath
Six Foot Mandala Round Yoga Mat
Now here is a yoga mat that a plus size yogi can be proud of. No more readjusting to stay on the mat. No more hanging off the mat while doing floor work. And it's big enough to share with a toddler.This six foot mandala yoga mat is available from Yoga Accessories for $98.95.
Get your own Six Foot Mandala Round Yoga Mat.
Plus Size Yoga Wear
Always for Me
Tights, pants, capris, tanks, and bras.2 points
Just My Size
Pants, tops, bras and more0 points
CafePress: Funny t-shirts, unique gifts, and custom t-shirts
Over 15 pages of yoga saying T-Shirts0 points
Plus Size Active Wear
It's a common misconception that plus size chics d more...0 points
Mega Yoga
Megan Garcia is a plus size model for both magazine and catalogues. In 2005 she was the instructor for the Just My Size yoga video. Mega Yoga is her own venture based on her years as a practitioner and certified yoga instructor in Manhattan, New York.Mega Yoga covers the basic concepts of yoga and focuses strongly on the ability to treat yourself with compassion and avoid judgement. Or as Megan says, to take up space with no second thoughts. In the physical realm it teaches you how to use props like straps, blocks, walls and chairs to intensify or modify a pose.
With a motivating voice she guides readers through breath, movement and meditation to generate strength and sensitivity via Hatha (movement) yoga, all modified for the plus size woman. An ongoing theme throughout Mega Yoga is the importance of getting to know your body and how it works. Because plus size women have cushions where the average yoga user doesn't Megan offers "skills" such as moving the flesh and binding the breasts as a way of getting deeper into poses. I don't have the chest issue so I can't let you know how effective this technique is but the moving flesh is a viable option.
Mega Yoga is a full colour, heavy weight, glossy, 157 page book intended for beginners. It's divided into seven categories. Each category of poses has Megan wearing a different colour outfit which is a great marker if you're quickly flipping through the book to find a specific section. The pictures are clear and they are numbered so you know where to look next. The pose explanations are brief and point out areas to keep an eye or focus on. Practically every page has a sidebar for mega tips, modifications, cautions or ways to intensify poses.
There is more to yoga than poses so Megan teaches three types of breathing common to yoga practise but sometimes lost in class translation: dirgha breathing, ujjayi breathing and alternate nostril breathing.
At the end, everything is arranged into three programs, 30 minute, 60 minute and 90 minute, with a small image of each pose and what page to find it on if you need further direction.
Here are the categories:
Introduction
Warm-ups
Standing poses
Wall poses and Inversions
Cleansing Poses
Quiet Poses
Programs
I really enjoyed reading Mega Yoga and found it helpful for fine tuning moves I was somewhat familiar with as well as giving me some basic background information on the poses. I did not feel overwhelmed by the material and it is a quick read.
What I would have liked to have seen is a pull out section of the programs so I could post them for easier reference or perhaps a ring binding so the book would stay open at the page I'm working on. Technical things that have nothing to do with the content.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mega Yoga and highly recommend it.
Mega Yoga is available from Amazon.com.
Balance
Large and Lovely, BellaOnline
BellaOnline's Large and Lovely site knows there is more to you than being fat. Articles, reviews, rants and links for fat chics with cool hips.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byFavorite Yoga Links
Share your favorite Yoga Links and vote for the best!
Yoga Journal
Homepage YogaJournal.com -- covering yoga poses, y more...1 point
A Gentle Way
Stress Management Experts, Yoga Therapy, Gentle Yo more...1 point
Yoga - history and tradition from India
Information on hatha yoga and the other classic ty more...1 point
My Yoga Online Video Classes Pilates Meditation Downloads
My Yoga Online is the premium yoga videos streamin more...0 points
Plus Size Active Wear
It's a common misconception that plus size chics d more...0 points
Joyful Yoga Studio - Chandler, Arizona yoga, pilates and Zumba
A warm, encouraging environment for people of all more...0 points
Yoga Sutras by Patanjali - Science of Yoga - Taimni
A very scholarly translation and commentary on THE more...0 points
Blogging about Yoga
- Workout Clothes for Curvy Gals
- November 18, 2009 -- Not long ago, an ABC 7 viewer contacted us after seeing a fashion show featuring plus-size models. The viewer wanted to know if we ...
- Business briefcase
- Kim Schleicher, director of programs at the Feathered Pipe Foundation, has been invited to participate in a yoga teacher training in Cuba in January. ...
- PRINCETON AREA: Community Calendar: Nov. 30 - Dec. 6, 2009
- Restorative Yoga with the Healing Power of Crystal Bowls with Jay Schwed and Elizabeth Piccard. 2 to 4 pm $40. . Princeton Center for Yoga & Health, ...
Peace
More Yoga
Living Large - Yoga Journal
Hatha yoga isn't just for the slim and slinky. A f more...1 point
Big Yoga Review - Large & Lovely
Meera Patricia Kerr, a 60 year old Southwest Michi more...0 points
Big Yoga Interview
Meera Patricia Kerr began Integral Yoga teacher tr more...0 points
Plus Size Yoga for Heel Pain
What follows is a short series of moves I have fou more...0 points
Interview with Sally Pugh, Yoga Instructor
Everything is coming up Yoga, especially for plus- more...0 points
Interview with Lanita Varshell, Yoga Instructor
Lanita Varshell is the owner and founder of A Gent more...0 points
Yoga Self-Care - Happy in Your Own Skin
Whether you're doing battle with an eating disorde more...0 points
Striking a Pose for Girth - NYT
0 points
Yoga with Rodney Yee
A.M. and P.M. Yoga
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 12/01/2009)
Although not specifically developed for plus size people, I enjoy Rodney Yee's AM / PM yoga. It includes two 20 minute programs, one to enliven your senses and another to calm you down.
This is a beginner level yoga and is tolerable to larger sizes but if you are looking for something to give you alternatives because of your size this isn't it. You need to have some idea of how your body works and how to adjust it on your own to get the benefits of this video.
Yoga in Bed
Yoga in Bed
Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2009)
"Whether you're a novice or an ardent devotee finding time to practice yoga can be a difficult challenge in today's hectic world. With this in mind expert instructor Edward Vilga offers a program that fits into even the busiest of schedules with two 15-minute workouts specifically designed to be performed in bed. Based on his book of the same name Vilga's fun and easy-to-follow YOGA IN BED presents one energizing morning routine that prepares you for the upcoming day and one relaxing evening practice that lulls you to sleep."
Yoga Accessories
Here are a few product although not necessary can make getting into and staying in position easier as well as assisting with a deeper stretch.
Extra Thick Deluxe Yoga Mat - $ 14.69
Retail Price: 23.99
You Save: $9.30
Cylindrical Junior Bolster (Blue) - $ 34.99
Retail Price: 46.99
You Save: $12.00
Mexican Yoga Blanket - $ 14.99
Retail Price: 19.99
You Save: $5.00
Cotton Unscented Eye Pillow (Blue) - $ 9.99
Retail Price: 12.99
You Save: $3.00
8 Foot Yoga Strap w/D-Ring Buckle (Blue) - $ 6.99
Retail Price: 9.99
You Save: $3.00
If You Like Yoga... You May Also Like Pilates
Look Great, Feel Great: "Plus Size Pilates"
Amazon Price: $11.49 (as of 12/01/2009)
"Plus Size Pilates is designed for today's real woman. This workout is custom tailored for the plus sized women and is a great way to get into shape and stay that way!Join us in an energizing MORNING WORKOUT to make you feel energized invigorated and inspired! A reviving MIDDAY WORKOUT toning for legs and arms perfect to iron and stretch you out .A relaxing EVENING WORKOUT calming yet challenging workout to allow the tensions of the day to melt away."
Yoga For Real Bodies
HeavyWeight Yoga: Yoga for the Body You Have Today
Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 12/01/2009)
Yoga for the Rest of Us with Peggy Cappy
Amazon Price: $17.49 (as of 12/01/2009)
Yoga for All of Us: A Modified Series of Traditional Poses for Any Age and Ability
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 12/01/2009)
![Yoga for Round Bodies (Set - Vol 1 & 2) [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512HRXN41XL._SL75_.jpg)
Yoga for Round Bodies (Set - Vol 1 & 2) [VHS]
Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2009)
Plus Size Yoga Guestbook
If you want to create a page like this on any topic you love then you can start here.
I have created over 100 lenses on a wide variety of topics. Please check out a few more of my Squidoo lenses.
But first sign my guestbook so I know you were here. Warm fuzzies of any kind are always welcome.
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- Bhakti Bhakti Sep 22, 2009 @ 4:21 am
- It's great to see this support and information for plus size yogis. I am a plus size yoga teacher: yoga is such a great thing for ANY shape or size. I have a plus size yoga class starting in October (I'm in Auckland, New Zealand), called Maha Yoga. Check out my website if you like, www.mahayoga.co.nz. I love the idea of having an international 'community' of plus size yogis, supporting each other!
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- spirituality spirituality Jul 22, 2009 @ 10:36 am
- :) blessed by a squidangel today :)
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- yogis-yoginis yogis-yoginis Jun 13, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
- Very good lens. Yoga is good for everyone I am glad that you are putting information out to encourage more people to reap the benefits it brings.
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- ottoblotto ottoblotto May 13, 2009 @ 8:36 am
- I never knew about these videos; a really informative lens!
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- Meera Meera May 5, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
- What a great resource! After I did the original DVD for Big Yoga, I realized a need for an easier practice, so I'm going into the studio next week to create Big Yoga-Flex-Ability! And my book is coming out in June...Thanks for your inspiring work getting the word out to all the folks who thought they couldn't do yoga!
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Five Favorite Things
A Plus Size Shopping Blog
Every week I'll share five favorite things. It could be dresses, tops, pants, bags, shoes and jewelry. I may even throw in the occasional website or book. Five new posts every week!
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- BigGirlBlue
- aka BigGirlBlue
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- 973 following
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- @LMAshton I can do an inverted braid. That's about it. Otherwise, pony or riding free.
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- @autismfamily I'm going to say one. It says "drum" not "drums". I think they are showing different colours but don't see spot to pick color.
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- I've added 4 more sales to the Plus Size Cyber Monday post --> http://tinyurl.com/yzs3bvw Still time left.
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- It's weird, all the blog spam I've received the last few weeks isn't even in English.
by BigGirlBlue
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