What does a yogi look like? There's no perfect mould. Each person practices in his or her own way, for his or her own reasons. And that means yoga can serve an infinite number of purposes.
Maybe you want to quiet your mind with relaxing breath work. Or perhaps you like to start your day by pushing yourself through an intense vinyasa flow. Or you might be motivated to bend your body into all kinds of impressive poses. Whatever your yoga style (even if you think you don't have one at all), there is a type for you.
To prove it, we talked to 10 of the most popular yogis on Instagram to learn more about what drives them to their unique forms of practice — and to get their tips for total beginners. Get ready to breathe deep and go with the flow.
Valerie Sagun (@biggalyoga)
Do you have any yoga rituals?
“I’ve gotten more into chanting and meditation, just doing a quick meditation beforehand and doing different mantras. I do a couple that we had done at my yoga teacher training as a start to my practice."
Has yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
“Before yoga, I had that stereotypical thing that’s common in people with bigger bodies, where I thought, I can’t do that until I lose weight. [Yoga was part of what] got me over the mental hurdle of always telling myself that. I don’t have to wait to do anything. That has helped me get over my fear of wanting to rock climb... That’s one of the things where I was like, I have to lose a lot of weight. But after yoga, I tried it. Everything has opened up a lot more.”
Do you think there are any stereotypes about people who do yoga?
“There’s only been a certain type of people shown doing yoga: thin, blond, white women. That’s the big stereotype of what yoga is, but…it’s not that people who are bigger or people of colour haven’t done yoga before, it’s just that we’re all [now] finally being shown in the bigger picture.”
Photo: via @biggalyoga.
Rosemarie (@badwolfyoga)
Favourite pre-yoga snack:
“I don't usually snack much before practice. But if I do need to fuel up, I go for a banana and a handful of nuts.”
Favourite post-practice snack:
“I love to snack on cheese or some Greek yogurt with fruit puree. My current favourite go-to is Chobani Greek Yogurt with mango!”
Do you have any other yoga rituals?
“I like to write in my journal as my own form of meditation before my practice. Airing my grievances and putting my worries to paper before I begin helps to clear the air and makes me feel lighter emotionally and physically in my practice.”
Favourite yoga playlist:
“I have a ‘Liquid Flow’ playlist on Spotify that I'm still currently building. It's a slower playlist with deep notes and bass, and it makes me feel strong and sexy whenever I practice to it. A few of the artists on there are Lana Del Rey, Alina Baraz, Banks, and FKA Twigs.”
Describe your body in one word:
“Resilient.”
Why that word?
“I've put my body through a lot over the last 28 years! From self-harm to diets and cleanses, I did not treat my body the way it was supposed to be treated for a long time. But I wake up every morning healthy and alive and pushing through. I bend and I sway, but I will never break.”
What have you learned about your body by practicing yoga?
“My body is definitely capable of more than I ever gave it credit for. I was never athletic growing up, so things like Wheel Pose scared the hell out of me! But I was determined and pushed through. And after some pushing I saw that, yes, my back can bend like that. Or, yes, I can do a kickass Crow Pose.”
Has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
“I listen to my body so much more in and out of practice. When I first started practicing, I don't think I was too kind to my body. I pushed a little too much, even though it was telling me over and over again that I needed to slow down, catch my breath. I had tunnel vision — I saw the end result but not what would lead me up to it.”
One piece of advice you would give to a beginner:
“Take your time! The journey — not the end result — is where you become you!”
Photo: via @badwolfyoga.
Jo Meneses (@bodyroots)
Favourite pre-yoga snack:
“My favourite anytime snack, especially if I’m going into class on an empty stomach, would be a Granny Smith apple with fresh almond butter. The best almond butter is the one from Whole Foods, right out of the machine.”
Favourite post-yoga snack:
“Some sort of green smoothie with...avocado or banana, with lots of different greens, and nut milk.”
Describe your body in one word:
“Connected.”
Why that word?
“I feel, with my Pilates and yoga background, that I am able to know where I am from head to toe. I know where to place myself, I know how to align myself, I know when to push deeper, and I know when to back off to avoid injury.
“The Body Roots motto is ‘No movement wasted.’ I don’t feel like people need to kill themselves with excess anything to get a proper workout. I really feel that movement should be well-thought-out and intelligent. And, once you know how to connect to your body, you can do anything you want, from lifting weights to positioning yourself in yoga and avoiding injury.”
What have you learned about your body by doing yoga?
“I learned how to just be there. Especially in NYC, it’s a constant moving animal. It’s like a hive that never stops. And whenever I lay my mat down, it’s all about pausing and being where I am [and knowing that] not every day is going to be the same, but just accepting that I’m there to just be in my skin. That’s one of the things that yoga really gave me.”
Has doing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
“Yoga has allowed to be comfortable in my own skin. I’m 44 now, and I’ve been doing yoga for 18 years on and off. But the more I practice, the more I am able to be comfortable with my body and where it is that day, and to not judge it. That’s a tough thing to do… So many things in our society tell us we have to be a certain height, size, wear a certain style. And with yoga, all that gets stripped away.”
Photo: Via @bodyroots.
Davina Davidson (@yogawithdavina)
Favourite yoga playlist:
“I create new playlists every few months, my favourite right now is ‘Free Flowing!’ It's a mix of electronic, house, and deep house.”
Describe your style of yoga:
“I teach and practice Rocket yoga. It's a set sequence with the freedom to add into the base sequence.”
Describe your body in one word:
“Strong.”
Why that word?
“I am not only physically strong but I am mentally strong. My body supports me in every aspect of my life, and it has yet to fail me. I've learned some great lessons, however, I've only gotten stronger!”
Has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body? “Absolutely; at first I didn't really realise how strong or capable I was, because I felt so awkward. However, in time, I've learned so much about acknowledging limits and creating possibility.”
One piece of advice you would give to a beginner:
“Stay with it! Oftentimes I coach newer students to just come back — no right and wrong movements, it's just an experience. I say, if they are doing anything that is harmful, I will come and assist them, otherwise I encourage them to listen to their body and accept what it is capable of in that moment. Trust the process!”
Photo: Via @yogawithdavina.
Erin Motz (@badyogiofficial)
Do you think there are any stereotypes about people who practice yoga?
“I think the popular stereotype now tends to be middle- to upper-middle-class white women who love green juice, wear the ‘right’ clothes, and can throw both legs behind their heads like it's the most natural thing in the world.”
What do you think of those stereotypes?
“I think the stereotype just represents one small segment of a much larger group. There are many, many more yogis who enjoy a burger as much as a green juice and are as eager to do down-dog as someone else is to twist like a pretzel. Both of those (and everywhere in between!) are equally ‘yogic’ if you ask me. Just like in any other context, stereotypes do little to nothing when it comes to serving any real purpose, so I guess I don't think much of them.”
One piece of advice you would give to a beginner:
“Yogis come in all shapes, sizes, ages, with different levels of ability, goals, and reasons for hitting the mat — the list goes on. Try to see your yoga practice as a tool that you can use to feel good instead of something to conquer. Remember that this can be a lifelong journey, so don't be afraid to take it slowly and enjoy how it changes and accommodates your life as you need it to. It might be intense and aerobic or it might be slow and restorative; both are good.”
Photo: Via @badyogiofficial.
Jessamyn Stanley (@mynameisjessamyn)
Favourite song or playlist for yoga:
"I have two playlists of the most random mix of music. It’s mostly hip-hop and a lot of rock. My go-to album is always Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City by Kendrick Lamar. But it runs the gamut. I love 'yoga' music [like kirtan chanting], but when you start to learn about different styles of yoga, [sometimes] you think that’s all you can listen to. I think that's beautiful, but I also think there are endless opportunities for cultural appropriation when you only associate that music with yoga. It's really important for Westerners to see that and still incorporate ourselves into our practice.
"[Culturally appropriative yoga] is totally normalised in our society because there’s a low level of respect for the very serious religious traditions that yoga is based on. So, for me to listen to different kinds of secular music, it’s really establishing a heritage for myself, so I can feel the practice and understand it in a way that is unique to me."
Describe your body in one word:
"Powerful."
Why that word?
"Because it is — in so many ways. It has overcome so many odds that I never thought it could, physical and emotional. If you spend decades telling your body that it’s shit, it is a miracle coming to a place of love with your body. If you talk shit to your body, it’s just going to act shitty... I spent a lot of time being really fucking negative with my body...and the fact that my body has overcome my mind, and I've managed to come to a place of trust and general happiness despite all of these thoughts, is amazing to me.
"I can talk about the bullets that have been shot at me by my friends, my family, my not-friends, my not-family, the media...but the most powerful bullets are the ones I shot at myself. And to be able to overcome that damage is powerful."
What have you learned about your body by practicing yoga?
"I’ve learned that it’s way more resilient than I thought it was. Something I hear nonstop from people who are larger-bodied is that certain body parts are in their way. Like, my belly’s in my way. It makes twisting and forward-folding very difficult. And then, when you see your body in these poses that you thought you could never attempt, and you take a picture of it — it may not look like the most advanced interpretation, it might just be the beginning of a bigger journey — you're able to see a moment that happened and that you survived. And my belly is there. It’s a part of that. I don’t just put it in a box. You see that, and you have to say 'Wow, it’s not getting in my way. Maybe it's my mind getting in the way.' I feel like I never had that conversation before I started practicing."
Has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
"It has, but I don’t think yoga is the main reason why... For me, yoga has been the catalyst. It has made me see how many boundaries we have created as human beings that are totally worthless. And if I can say the boundaries are bullshit, why don't I just say, 'Fuck you' to whoever or whatever? It happens probably 20,00 times a day in my life.
"When I go out to eat, for example. If you're eating and you're fat, it 'needs' to be really healthy, and even then people have opinions about it. So for me to say "I'm hungry; I think I'm going to get fries' in front of other people, I have to say 'Fuck you.' Stuff like that is what has led to me being confident in my body."
What is one piece of advice you would give to a beginner who wants to start yoga?
"Stop thinking what other people think about you. A lot of fat-bodied people will say 'I want to go to class, but people are going to stare at me, and I'm going to be the fattest person.' I really feel awkward about the fact that I'm the one that has to break it to you, and I'm sorry that I have to be this frank, but everybody is going to stare at you. And yes, you might be the fattest person in class.
"But are you going to spend your entire life worrying about what other people think of you? That is such a waste of time... We all need this proverbial slap across the face — that no one else's opinion matters but yours."
Photo: Via @mynameisjessamyn.
Rachel Brathen (@yoga_girl)
Favourite post-yoga snacks:
"Fruit is always my go-to for really any moment of the day. I like to cut up citrus and eat it in front of my computer as I get to work after my practice. And I drink a lot of coconut water."
Do you have any other yoga rituals?
"I always practice in the morning, so I always drink hot water and lemon. I bring it to my mat, and I sit with it in the beginning of my practice. I also oil pull...that's swishing coconut oil for 20 minutes. [It] helps me reset in the morning."
How would you describe your style of yoga?
"I practice a vinyasa flow, but I also incorporate a lot of yin and restorative practices. I teach the people in front of me, so it changes every day. But I teach a heart-centred practice, so it's related to our emotional being. The pose is never the end goal for what I teach; it’s the tool we use to unlock the bigger pieces of our hearts."
Describe your body in one word:
"Limitless."
Why that word?
"When I started practicing, I had a lot of pain. I had been in a car accident. I had scoliosis. I couldn't touch my toes — there were so many things that were very intimidating to me. And then, every single year, I push my level of Oh, I’ll never be able to do this. I really have come to the conclusion that there’s no limit to what you can create when you set a loving intention and really take care of your body and soul."
What have you learned about your body by practicing yoga?
"The body really changes every day. So one of the most important things I've learned is to adapt to where I am in this moment, and not get stuck with a rigid yoga needs to look like this mentality. It's more about what your body needs. Sometimes that means really slowing down, even though you think you want dynamic 90 minutes every day. Life moves up and down, and we need to adapt our practice to that."
One piece of advice you would give to a beginner:
"Be kind to yourself. No one ever judges you like you do."
Photo: Via @yoga_girl.
Irene Pappas (@fitqueenirene)
Favourite pre- and post-yoga snacks:
"I usually try to practice yoga on an empty stomach, but if I need a little energy, my go-tos are a green juice, a spoonful of coconut oil, or a banana. After yoga, it's game on! Avocado toast (with a little hot sauce) is my current favourite."
Do you have any other pre-yoga rituals?
"Before practicing, I like to take some time to meditate and clear my mind before moving my body. I also love to take a hot shower or bath, especially before a morning practice."
Favourite playlist for yoga:
"I love music and I am constantly updating my playlists on Spotify. Right now my favourite playlist is called 'Flow.'"
Describe your body in one word:
"Home."
Why that word?
"For a long time, I was unhappy with my body. I thought that by working out obsessively, I could create 'the perfect body,' and then I would be happy. But it simply wasn't the case. Eventually, I had to realise that my body wasn't what needed to change. Instead, I needed to change the way I looked at myself. Now I see that, throughout my travels, the one thing that remains consistent and familiar is my body, and it has become my spiritual home in many ways."
What have you learned about your body by practicing yoga?
"I learned that my body is a gift, and that if I took it for granted, it would be taken away. This was clear to me when I was constantly pushing myself and striving to be stronger and more flexible, as if I wasn't enough already. This was when my wrist was critically injured and my entire perspective shifted."
Has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
"Yoga gave me permission to love myself, even if my jeans didn't fit or if my face broke out. It gave me a deeper sense of awareness and acceptance, which resulted in infinite gratitude for what my body does for me each and every day. Through my practice (and photographing my practice for Instagram) I had to look at my body in different and sometimes unflattering shapes, and I had the choice to dwell on it or get over it. Most days I am over it, although sometimes I am still hard on myself."
Photo: via @fitqueenirene.
Laura Kasperzak (@laurasykora)
Favourite post-yoga snack:
"My favourite snack at the moment is Organic Sea Salt Pretzels from Mary’s Gone Crackers."
Favorite music for yoga:
"My top five favourite songs in my yoga playlist at the moment are: 1) 'Rebirth of Slick' by Digable Planets, 'Midnight Terrain' by Hermitude, 'Shoop' by Salt-N-Pepa, 'Amazing Day' by Coldplay, and 'Harvest Moon' by Poolside."
Describe your style of yoga:
"High-energy fusion yoga with an emphasis on moving and flowing and a lot of arm balances and inversions."
What have you learned about your body by practicing yoga?
"Yoga has taught me that I am capable of amazing things, on and off my mat, at any age. Physically, I am stronger than I was in my 20s and after having two kids."
Has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
"Yoga has made me appreciate my body much more. It has taught me to have patience and not rush into poses."
Photo: Via @laurasykora.
Favourite pre- and post-yoga snacks:
"Hint Water! It's the best thing in the world because I hate water and Hint actually makes me love it."
Do you have any other yoga rituals?
"I like to set a focus for my daily practice. Maybe [it's] something stressful I am trying to overcome, or a feeling I want to process, or a goal I am trying to achieve. I'm kind of a nutter about what I wear, so I carefully pick my gear based on what I am focusing on that day. If I am trying to find calm from my practice, calmer colours. If I am trying to find strength, I'll wear brighter and bolder colours."
How would you describe your style of yoga?
"Realistic. I'm a busy woman, and I have done yoga everywhere. In fact, I just did arm balances with my boss in the middle of our office. I believe that although I can't fit a traditional yoga session into every day of my life, that short bursts of practices can help calm a hectic or stressful day, or help me work through a challenge I am trying to solve."
What have you learned about your body by practicing yoga?
"I think the world likes to focus a lot on what's not possible — what we can't achieve. Yoga has opened me up to a 'can' way of thinking. Possibility comes from patience and practice. Yoga reminds me of that daily. Now, I find myself more open to trying and doing new things — even if it might mean finding a way to modify it for my body type."
Has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
"Definitely. I never hated my body before, but I did at times use it as an excuse for why I didn't try certain things. Now, I find myself unafraid to fail. I've learned you must first fail to succeed."
Do you think there are any stereotypes about people who practice yoga?
"Oh yes! I just heard someone to say, 'Yoga is for rich, white hipsters,' which was weird to hear while in India. I think that the perspective is changing, but there are definitely yoga stereotypes: the rich hipster, the gym-obsessed, the flexible hippie, the Indian guru. People associate race, gender, and sexual orientation with the type of people that do yoga. It makes yoga seem inaccessible — that you have to be thin or rich or eccentric or exotic to try it. Ironically, most basic stretches have cores in yoga.
"Yoga has been such a change agent in my life, it makes me sad that people resist trying it because of the stereotypes that surround it. I also think these stereotypes prevent yoga teachers from being exposed to different body types, making it harder for them when someone does give yoga a try."
Photo: via @glitterandlazers.
Alicia Archer (@kinkysweat)
How would you describe your style of yoga?
"It’s basically training contortion in the vein of circus arts. Although it’s similar to yoga in shapes, the goals are different. Namely, it’s purely for entertainment — it’s not spiritual.
"It's been getting a lot of heat because the distinction [between yoga and flexibility training] is being blurred. People are doing yoga for the physical benefits rather than spiritual. In fact, you can just stretch. Flexibility is a method and requires techniques. If you don’t like yoga or you're not comfortable with the spiritual aspect, you don’t have to force yourself to go to a yoga class."
Describe your body in one word:
"Bendy."
Why that word?
"Because I’m learning how to become flexible in my life, as well as my body. The saying goes, 'I bend so I don’t break.' Which means becoming ultra-supple so you can be understanding and patient, but still have a good foundation to work from."
How has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
"I’m so much more forgiving and understanding of my body, because I want it to do such extreme things. I give it the time to warm up and to rest. I'm very much in tune with what it needs and when I need to take a break. Building my skill and staying injury-free meant learning that recovery is the best thing for my body [rather than just] training ultra-hard."
One piece of advice you would give to a beginner:
"Get ready to be so frustrated — especially with handstands. One day, you might feel [like you've got it], and the next day, your hips feel like they want to break. It’s just learning, when those moments happen, to not get mad at your body, and instead find out why it's reacting this way."
Photo: via @kinkysweat.
Favourite pre-yoga snack:
"I love warm lemon water before morning practice, and a green juice with vegan muffin an hour before an afternoon/evening practice. I try to keep it light, but have a fast metabolism, so it works best for me to eat a little closer to yoga than for some yogis."
Do you have any other pre- or post-yoga rituals?
"I always do the same stretches before practice: I say a prayer in child's pose to give thanks for the ability to move freely without pain, and cat/cow with intuitive movement to begin synchronising with my breath. Post-yoga is feeding time! A good practice makes me ravenous, so it's a perfect time to get down in the kitchen on a breakfast burrito or hit a nearby Indian restaurant with a fellow yogi."
Do you have a favourite song or playlist for yoga?
"I love all different kinds of music for yoga, but right now I'm vibin' hard on DJ Drez and Marti Nikko's album Dreaming in Sanskrit. It's kirtan-meets-reggae with some beautiful vocals."
Has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
"Definitely. Yoga teaches acceptance of where you are, in order to stop measuring progress in a physical sense and start measuring progress in an emotional and mental sense. People come to yoga for fitness or because of pain. Initially, we all kind of hate it, but can't figure out why we keep coming back. There's this unfolding process that happens right under your nose — little shifts in the way you think and act off the mat. That's the real yoga."
Do you think there are any stereotypes about people who practice yoga?
"Skinny. Into Eastern religions. Hippie. Young. Naturally flexible. I think the Westernization of yoga has a lot of influence on those stereotypes. Back when Bikram popularised Yoga, it was all about Hollywood and which celebrities were practicing. The current Instagram culture has done a lot to reinforce those stereotypes, but it's also done a lot to tear them down.
"There's a beautiful movement on social media where people are proudly displaying their practices that don't fit those stereotypes. All races, all body types, all genders and socioeconomic statuses are being represented, and it's a big deal for the home practitioner who is anxious about being welcomed in a studio."
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
"There is no perfect body. There is no perfect practice. Just be you. Don't compare yourself to anyone, because your uniqueness is the only thing in this world you truly own. Focus on nurturing the undying spirit within, and everything else will follow. Self-love looks good on you!"
Photo: Via @daughteroftheuniverse.
Dawn Sora Moore (@monkeymix)
Do you have any yoga rituals:
"I'm a go-go-go type of person. So I like to sit and be still after practice, or have coffee before my day, just to have an opportunity to let the practice sink in."
Describe your body in one word:
"Proud."
Why that word?
"I'm 45 and I’ve never been more fit in my life. I've lived a lifetime of eating well, and I feel like every day is an investment in yourself — loving yourself means investing in you."
Has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
"It's changed my life. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a presence about me that is calming on and off the mat. That's the biggest gift you can give yourself."
Do you think there are any stereotypes about people who practice yoga?
"Everyone thinks a yogi needs to be a hippie or completely quiet, but I believe yoga is an expression of the most authentic version of who you are. And there's a yoga for everyone. For instance, I encourage laughing in my classes. I might say 'Let that shit go,' and I don’t try to hide behind what I am not. It's just shining your light the most authentic way."
One piece of advice you would give to a beginner:
"Approach your mat without any expectations. If [my students] have seen me on social media, I do all these inversions, and I don't want them to think that’s the expectation. I love helping people grow and develop that foundation. And I want them to understand that if all you do is the breathing, then you've done more than someone doing all the moving without the breathing. That’s where the magic happens.
"And if you ever want to test if your ego is leading you, try SUP [stand up paddle board] yoga. Because mother nature rules."
Photo: Via @monkeymix.
Masumi Goldman (@masumi_g)
Favourite post-yoga snacks:
"If I’m at home, I love eating apple slices with almond butter. If I’m not home, I like to carry individual packs of nuts or a Perfect Bar in my bag."
Do you have any other post-yoga rituals?
"I usually try to do a seated meditation after practicing yoga. If my body is warm, I find that I can sit for longer periods of time without discomfort. When I first started a meditation practice, I tried doing it as soon as I woke up, but my body was just too tight to sit without fidgeting first thing in the morning."
Favourite playlist for yoga:
"I don’t have a favourite playlist, but I LOVE cover songs and try to include at least one in each of my classes. It’s so much fun to hear different variations of well-known songs. Here are a few favourites: 'Dream On' by Kelly Sweet, 'Comfortably Numb' by Dar Williams, and 'Wicked Game' by Emika."
How would you describe your style of yoga?
"Eclectic. I love it all, so I try to mix it up. Sometimes, I’ll crave a hot, sweaty flow in a heated studio. Other times, I prefer practicing yin yoga in my bedroom. When I teach, my sequences are physically demanding, but I’ll incorporate some long yin stretches at the beginning or at the end of class."
How would you describe your body in one word?
"Resilient."
Why that word?
"This body has survived 70-pound weight gains during each of my pregnancies, two C-sections, and 10 years of Lyme disease. My body has been through a lot, but it bounces back and continues to push on."
What have you learned about your body by practicing yoga?
"Before I started practicing yoga, I thought I knew my body and its limitations. Once I began practicing yoga consistently, I surprised myself by being able to get into a full split (Hanumanasana). Never in my wildest dreams did I think that my body could do this. I couldn’t even do a split when I was a kid!
"From this experience (and many more since then), I learned that my body’s limitations are often dictated by my mind, not my body. Today, I try not to think too hard about what my body can or cannot do. I just try and see what happens."
Photo: via @masumi_g.
Amber Karnes (@amber_karnes)
What have you learned about your body by practicing yoga?
"Yoga cracked open my curiosity toward my body. I didn’t think I could love it, but I thought that maybe it could be my partner in crime. I thought I could at least be in it, and use it to explore things.
"As I have practiced throughout the years, I cultivated awareness of my body. I got to know it. I learned about the sensations I was feeling. I started to be able to identify them. I learned to cultivate that internal witness. I learned mindfulness — paying attention, on purpose, without judgment. I learned to be present."
Has practicing yoga changed the way you feel about your body?
"For me, yoga has been an integral part of a decade-long journey toward self-acceptance and body positivity — a journey of making peace with my body and helping others to do the same.
"I know what it’s like to struggle with low self-esteem, bad body image, disordered eating, and the desperate shame that comes with feeling that I’m not enough.
"I also know what it’s like to fully inhabit my body. To see my body as a weapon, an ally, my partner in crime. To accept myself — imperfect, flawed, broken — and come out on top to live a life without shame or apology. I know what it’s like to finally realise that I am enough, just as I am. Yoga cracked open that knowledge for me."
Do you think there are any stereotypes about people who practice yoga?
"Yoga magazines, marketing that's used to sell yoga products, as well as mainstream media, tell us that yogis are young, white, rich, thin, flexible, female, and able-bodied.
"Yoga practitioners come in different shapes, sizes, ages, genders, and abilities. When people who are new to yoga or curious about yoga see yoga magazines and yoga marketing as their first exposure to the practice, they'll see thin, very flexible, white people doing advanced poses. They won't see props that would enable someone with a disability to join in. They won't see anyone who is fat and very rarely will they see a person of colour. They won't see themselves reflected in yoga, and will probably think their body is wrong and that yoga is not for them.
"I think it's crucial that we continue to push forward the message that yoga is for all bodies. There are many of us out there who are doing this type of work. Yoga For All, Yoga International, the Accessible Yoga Conference, the Yoga and Body Image Coalition, and the Yoga Service Council are just a few."
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
"Stop postponing your life. Please stop waiting for some magic moment (that may never happen) to come around. Some magic moment where you are tall, thin, have smooth skin, no cellulite, and a perfect career.
"Just show up. Just go do what you love. Stop worrying about whether or not you look cool or nerdy or fat or stupid. You look fine. Your body is fine. You are enough."
Photo: Via @amber_karnes.
Jen Carter (@zenjenyogi)
Favorite pre-yoga snack:
“It’s important not to have a full stomach when you practice yoga, but about an hour before I like to eat an apple or an orange, something that has some natural sugar to give me some energy. You need to have energy, so it’s important to eat something, and it’s important to hydrate both before and after yoga.”
Do you have any other yoga rituals?
“Prior to the physical practice, I always set an intention...Whether it’s an intention just for that practice or a lifelong intention, just knowing why I’m on the mat is important, so that when things do get hard, I can keep bringing my attention back to my intention.
“I like to keep it very simple. For instance, if I was in not such a good mood prior to showing up to the mat, I might think to myself, I am happy, so that, as I move through the practice and something makes me not happy (like a pose that I’m not typically fond of), then I can recall that intention. It just shifts whatever I’m doing and helps me look at it in a new way.”
Describe your body in one word:
“Loved.”
Why that word?
“Because I’ve incorporated a daily meditation practice, and it brought everything into homeostasis... Right now in my life is the first time I truly love my body — every aspect of it — and just love myself. I’ve been divorced for three years and [have] taken this time to really learn to love myself. It sounds cliché, but people always say you can’t love anybody else until you love yourself first, and it’s so true. But loving yourself means taking care of yourself from the inside out, and I’m doing that through meditation, exercise, and picking the right foods.”
One piece of advice you would give to a beginner:
“To not judge themselves. To know that this is a practice, and it’s a lifelong practice. If you can’t do a pose today, that’s okay. Just think of it like any other practice, like playing piano; you didn’t show up as Beethoven on the first day. The whole point of the physical practice of yoga is to be flexible in the body so you can be flexible in the mind. As you become more flexible, you’re creating more space in the mind. So be easy on yourself and look at it as a practice.”
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