Yoga for plus-sized students a growing market

Have you ever walked into a traditional yoga class and found a plus-size woman trying to fit in? Her mat is usually set up in the back of the room where she won’t draw attention to herself, embarrassed by her voluptuousness and extra pounds. Yet she deserves to be there just like everyone else. Unfortunately, the problems faced by plus-sized women in traditional yoga settings aren’t addressed in a class full of 20-something skinnies able to swing their legs into downward facing dog or bend forward without breaking out in a sweat. And there are many yoga teachers out there who just won’t give the plus-size woman the time of day, unfortunately, and continue to teach class as if she doesn’t exist. Yes, this happens.

Enter the new yoga class for the plus-sized woman, a growing market that needs more and more teachers. And the time is right, because over 60% of women in the United States are overweight, and it would be a sad thing if they weren’t allowed to embrace the practice of yoga, where they could tap into their inner consciousness and learn new ways to love their bodies and embrace their uniqueness.

This past weekend I attended a 10-hour teacher training workshop in Scottsdale, Arizona geared toward adapting yoga and modifications for the plus- and super-sized woman taught by Lanita Varshell, owner and founder of A Gentle Way Yoga Center in San Diego, California, the oldest and most respected yoga therapist and hatha yoga instructor for the plus-sized population. While Lanita is also an expert in stress management and an inspiring speaker and yoga teacher, she is also known for her Gentle Yoga Meditation in Movement Style, working primarily with people who are overstressed, in chronic pain, or who are seniors, plus- and super-sized looking for a way to change their lives for the better in a safe and nurturing environment.

Thirteen yoga teachers at various stages of their careers gathered together in a room for two full days at the Hilton Garden Inn and shared their stories, soaked in knowledge and filled notebooks with helpful tidbits about how to teach and modify poses for plus-sized women. We learned how to use chairs, blankets, bolsters and straps to make yoga more accessible to someone who has just a bit more rolls than the average yogi to someone who’s extremely obese. Lesson plans included sun salutation modifications to deep relaxation sequencing on the floor covered with cozy blankets and bolsters to rest weary oversized legs. The second day rewarded us with actual students who graced us with their large presence while Lanita guided them through some relaxation poses that gently moved their bodies in ways they never thought possible, opening up channels in their minds that will hopefully send signals that tell them to keep coming back for more.

Although I’m not a plus-sized woman myself, I went to this training because I want to help plus-size women practice yoga in a safe and comfortable environment. More studios need to open classes specially targeted to the plus-sized women, because they need their own space and their own modifications to enjoy the practice without fear of being made fun of or not being able to reach their goals effectively. Yoga for plus-sized women is a very focused niche, and someone who aspires to teach plus-sized women must have a specialness about her that demonstrates caring and understanding uncommonly found in traditional yoga classes where the focus is mainly on the perfect pose and the perfect body. Understanding how to modify to certain poses and what props are essential for a safe and effective practice is paramount to its success, and Lanita’s style of teaching is something that should be broadcast all over so that more and more studios offer classes geared toward the plus-size woman.

Lanita Varshell offers a 200-hour teacher training at her studio in December and July of every year, as well as various workshops and retreats throughout the year. If you’re interested in breaking out of the traditional style of yoga and advancing toward a more rewarding and specialized niche, consider teaching yoga for the plus-sized woman and let your heart sing with joy as you share your wisdom and love with women who are just a little plumper and who need a little extra dose of tender loving care while they explore their own unique yoga journey.