Patagonia-body-love

Part of our mission at Yoga Journal is to expand the conversation and include a more diverse group of yogis in print and on the web.

People with bigger bodies are discovering comfort and empowerment in yoga studios around the globe. Use these tips to help support yourself, or your students, on the mat.

“If you had told me as a child or young adult that I would someday feel at home in my own skin, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

"There I was, trying to keep my belly from popping out of my shirt and pretending that I had the confidence to pull off the tight workout clothing I was wearing. And there they were, svelte and toned, looking like workout clothes were made for them."

“The first time I heard those words, my response was, ‘You’re f--king crazy.’ I’m a dude. I’m a combat veteran. I don’t have yoga pants. I don’t need yoga in my life.”

“When someone walks out of my class before it begins, I often wonder if it’s because of who I am or what I look like,” shares Chelsea Jackson Roberts, who leads Yoga Journal’s new Inclusivity Training course.