My perception of having a yoga body is everything in the right places and I just don’t have that.
I am working through my yoga teacher training course and realising that I am embracing my body for what it is and quite liking it and thanking it every day for carrying me through life.🙏🙏❤️
I was always told by my teachers "it's not about the poses". Then, why, I asked, is there always some perfect looking person on the cover of Yoga Journal? To sell. We are a celebrity culture and social (not) media amplifies the part of our brain that compares us to others. Let's not take the bait and celebrate who we really are! Thank you Lizzie Lasater.
What amazes me is that you started with intensive yoga practice while, througout the years, you switched to a restorative yoga pratice.
In 2015, I did not think I had a yoga body either (I am curvy myself) until I met a person who teaches yoga for curvy people. I realised that there is a whole part of the population that could benefit of the practice but they do not have a model to show them that yoga is for everyone, taking into account their individual morphology.
I teach now to people with limitations or different body (slim or curvy, flexible or not at all, aches, ...) The goal is to make it accessible to everyone.
Lost count of how many times that story about 'not having a yoga body' or its close cousin, imposter syndrome, has shown up over the decade I've been a yoga teacher! Reassuring to hear I'm not alone in that 🙏
I am doing essentially the same yoga now at 234 lbs and age 69 that I was doing in the 7th grade and anorexic. The difference now is that my yoga practice goes more intelligently more deeply inward, thanks in part to better dealing with my ahamkar/ego and stress/triggers. I have become my anorexic's worst nightmare, but now I have the tools and language to deal with it.
Oh my yes, the Yoga Industrial Complex sure dug itself a hole with the slender-person-in-tight-leggings thing. What a distortion of all the teachings! It's so difficult to get people beyond that carefully and relentlessly created perception.
I love the saying I first heard from Judith Lasater than every asana is like a hologram: any part of the pose contains the whole pose.
It's not what the pose looks like to someone else -- it's where my mind, intelligence, consciousness, and awareness go when I am in the pose. That's where the yoga is.
Thought it was me alone - I did yoga years ago when I was younger but due to work & caring commitments I stopped. And have now put on weight since Covid - working from home & caring for my now deceased husband -. I’m now so embarrassed to attend any yoga classes & tend to do online yoga when I can. I would do much prefer a group session for any advice / corrections to my exercises
Oh Lizzie you bring joy to my heart to heart to words "yoga in not about the body" and "the location for the party".
I too have struggled to accept what is the " yoga body" and have come full circle as I teach others to listen to their bodies and embrace who they are in this moment.
Our world so needs to see more "curvy/real" women on the front of mags but in the meantime we can all be proactive in embracing ourselves and loving each other as we are.
Yes, I also thought my body was not a "yoga body"--not young enough, not lean enough, not flexible enough, etc. I am certainly glad that I did not listen to that negative voice in my head. By the time I took my RYT 200 course, I understood well that every body holds opportunity and is subject to limitations. Thanks for sharing this and reminding me of all that.
I can relate and I really appreciate your sharing this. I love the body as "the location for the party". Thank you for sharing the practices as well I've been enjoying them so much.
I love the statement, "It's like the location for the party." It makes me smile and is freeing.
Yes I can!!!
My perception of having a yoga body is everything in the right places and I just don’t have that.
I am working through my yoga teacher training course and realising that I am embracing my body for what it is and quite liking it and thanking it every day for carrying me through life.🙏🙏❤️
I was always told by my teachers "it's not about the poses". Then, why, I asked, is there always some perfect looking person on the cover of Yoga Journal? To sell. We are a celebrity culture and social (not) media amplifies the part of our brain that compares us to others. Let's not take the bait and celebrate who we really are! Thank you Lizzie Lasater.
like sarah wrote below, i love: "the location for the party". such a great phrase. thanks, lizzie, from one soul to another.
What amazes me is that you started with intensive yoga practice while, througout the years, you switched to a restorative yoga pratice.
In 2015, I did not think I had a yoga body either (I am curvy myself) until I met a person who teaches yoga for curvy people. I realised that there is a whole part of the population that could benefit of the practice but they do not have a model to show them that yoga is for everyone, taking into account their individual morphology.
I teach now to people with limitations or different body (slim or curvy, flexible or not at all, aches, ...) The goal is to make it accessible to everyone.
Lost count of how many times that story about 'not having a yoga body' or its close cousin, imposter syndrome, has shown up over the decade I've been a yoga teacher! Reassuring to hear I'm not alone in that 🙏
I am doing essentially the same yoga now at 234 lbs and age 69 that I was doing in the 7th grade and anorexic. The difference now is that my yoga practice goes more intelligently more deeply inward, thanks in part to better dealing with my ahamkar/ego and stress/triggers. I have become my anorexic's worst nightmare, but now I have the tools and language to deal with it.
Humbled by your sharing, Lauren. Thank you.
Oh my yes, the Yoga Industrial Complex sure dug itself a hole with the slender-person-in-tight-leggings thing. What a distortion of all the teachings! It's so difficult to get people beyond that carefully and relentlessly created perception.
I love the saying I first heard from Judith Lasater than every asana is like a hologram: any part of the pose contains the whole pose.
It's not what the pose looks like to someone else -- it's where my mind, intelligence, consciousness, and awareness go when I am in the pose. That's where the yoga is.
Thought it was me alone - I did yoga years ago when I was younger but due to work & caring commitments I stopped. And have now put on weight since Covid - working from home & caring for my now deceased husband -. I’m now so embarrassed to attend any yoga classes & tend to do online yoga when I can. I would do much prefer a group session for any advice / corrections to my exercises
Wonderfully written Lizzie!
Oh Lizzie you bring joy to my heart to heart to words "yoga in not about the body" and "the location for the party".
I too have struggled to accept what is the " yoga body" and have come full circle as I teach others to listen to their bodies and embrace who they are in this moment.
Our world so needs to see more "curvy/real" women on the front of mags but in the meantime we can all be proactive in embracing ourselves and loving each other as we are.
Love your work and your mamas🥰🥰🥰🥰
“yoga is not about the body” - love it whenever I hear someone in the yoga community say that!
Yes, I also thought my body was not a "yoga body"--not young enough, not lean enough, not flexible enough, etc. I am certainly glad that I did not listen to that negative voice in my head. By the time I took my RYT 200 course, I understood well that every body holds opportunity and is subject to limitations. Thanks for sharing this and reminding me of all that.
I can relate and I really appreciate your sharing this. I love the body as "the location for the party". Thank you for sharing the practices as well I've been enjoying them so much.
They're helping me be kinder to myself
This really resonated with me—thank you for reminding us that yoga is about so much more than appearance. Loved the perspective!"
Lizzie, will you and your mama offer the Montana retreat in 2024? I am looking for a meaningful way to celebrate 50 years of practicing yoga.
Well they haven't officially invited us yet, but I hope so!