Too fat for yoga?

I like that I don't have to use a towel with them and they cope with me being the sweatiest person in the hot yoga pod. I keep a small towel to hand for sweaty brow 😁but I don't need to stand on a grippy towel as the mat is grippy even when wet.

Mine was also a birthday treat! Excellent choice & they come in lovely colours too.

I practive about 5 days a week so I splurged on a Liforme yoga mat - they are £££ but are super grippy, even when sweaty. You can pick them up on Vinted & they often have offers 20% off etc

Keep going with it! I started yoga when I was bigger than I am now, and actually there are some poses (seated poses) which were easier then than they are now! I am not JLO so have lost weight in all the places I’d have preferred to keep it!

Trust me, big or small, there are certain movements everyone struggles with and nobody is looking at you, they’re just focusing on not toppling over when doing their warrior pose!

All shapes and sizes in my class, we do hatha, yin, restorative and somatic yoga. Lots of people use blocks and bolsters to help and many people do gentler versions of movements. I do most poses with my eyes shut so no idea what other people are doing! What helped my confidence was realising that everyone is different, even the shape of joint sockets and muscle length and the only person you're competing against is yourself. I could only just bend over when I started and now I can bend forward and out my hands flat on the floor. I started because I needed statins for blood pressure and was stressed to breaking point, my blood pressure is completely normal now

Well done for going again.

I have a thicker mat from Decathlon and my studio offers blankets, so I fold one under my knees and it works fine for me.

I wouldn't be afraid of a thicker mat/double mat, it's fine for everything except balance exercises (stand on one leg and ...), and for them I just stand out of the mat, the flat ground is the best for them anyway.
You might get back to a single or thin later, but for now the exercise needs to be reasonably comfortable for you.

Well done for giving it (and yourself) another chance. Hopefully it keeps getting better for you!

If your wrists are sore you could try folding the mat, I find it really helps me. There are a few ladies in my classes that take knee supports with them, so you could look at them maybe? I always worry a thick mat might be too soft and cushiony?

I also wear grippy socks as I feel much more secure in them!

I usually just use two yoga mats from the studio, and then I have a small microfibre towel that sits under my hands. I find my feet are grippy enough on the mat but my hands need something to stop them slipping.

These https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cushion-Extra-Elbows-Pilates-Kneeling/dp/B0FL7Y89HK/ref=asc_df_B0FL7Y89HK?mcid=00321cc1eb82372aa337c3aa65e8761d&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=765234131882&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=147639544804350878&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9196425&hvtargid=pla-2442422563103&psc=1&hvocijid=147639544804350878-B0FL7Y89HK-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

I favour really thin mats for the types of yoga I do. Some of my participants use those thick foam mats which are nice for lying-down poses but don’t work as well for standing poses like Warriors because the foam stretches. Have you seen those knee pads? I’ll see if I can find a link or photo- some of my people use those for kneeling poses.

Oh, I see I’m a bit slow on the uptake 😂 So glad you went back and enjoyed it.

Oh please persevere if you enjoyed it! I teach yoga and other fitness classes and I have participants of all shapes, sizes and ages. I have noticed actually that some of my larger folks are very flexible- often more so than average.

If you enjoyed it and the class was within your ability, then of course this class is suitable for you. 🧘 I really hope you keep going. People stopping exercise because of self-consciousness makes me really sad.

At my class the instructor is very good about saying things like 'only as far as is comfortable' and 'take a rest when your body needs to' and suggesting less challenging poses or using props, as alternatives. If yours isn't doing this, then I'd suggest you try out different classes.

Yes! I was also going to suggest Yoga with Adrienne if you wanted to get some practice in at home. Her mantra is "find what feels good" and I think that really helps and might give you the confidence to do a child's pose / take the easier option if the class that you go to is a bit intense! She does 30 days of yoga series and the day 8 video is always a nice relaxing session 😊

I have a friend who used to do iron man competitions where you run a marathon, bike and swim in the same day. Took her to a yoga class once and she said it was impossible! It's like any new exercise and may feel horrible at first but it's a great way of moving and it does get easier. Just remember to breathe!!

I'd be wary of hot yoga. You absolutely do move more easily when it's warmer, but I almost fainted in a hot yoga class. I have also learnt kundalini isn't for me, nor is laughter yoga (though that was a really tough workout on the abs.) It's good to try different styles if they're available though, and you might find one you really love.

I was physically sick at my first yoga class 10 years ago, but it was hot yoga and I couldn't cope. I was a size 12-14 then, and maybe 11 stone.

It didn't help me lose weight at all though. The only thing which has done that are spinning classes.

The instructor was very nice and I might have missed some chat at the start about what to do if you need a rest etc. so maybe next time I'll feel more reassured that I can just pause if I need to.

Ok, in this case, try coming early the next time. Some instructors will get a word with the newcomers, ask about experience and health limitations. If not, you can mention it's your second time ever, and you found it hard to keep up, and the instructor should encourage the rest/alternative positions.

And it's absolutely ok to use the easier options as much as you like, this isn't sprint, this is about getting a positive habit.

In my eyes the best instructor isn't the one with the most flexible body, but the one who can adjust to beginners and people with healt limitations.

Really do just buy a second "normal" mat and use two, then you have the option to just use one if you'd rather.

Or if possible, just fold your mat over under your knee etc when needed?

Well done on starting, its made a massive difference to me and is the only thing I've ever stuck to

I always think I am the sweatiest at hot yoga. Sometimes I come out completely drenched and my kids will ask if I’ve had a shower my hair is so wet. But I’m short sighted & the pod is dark so I don’t really know if it’s true or not. It’s 37 degrees and meant to be hot. After final relaxation last night the very slim woman in front of me was laughing how inside her ears was dripping with sweat & I get that too.

Getting hot & sweaty in normal temp yoga is good too - your body moves so much better when it’s warm.

women are too often shamed by sweat. I’ve felt this myself in the past & it pains me to see my teen daughters trying to avoid sweating. Sweating shows your body is working, growing strong. Sweating shows your body is doing what it’s designed to do.

Release yourself into the sweat of your bodies delightful movement- it’s liberating.

Please don’t give up! I’m fat and do yoga, you will gain strength and flexibility if you keep going. You’ve done the hardest part by showing up to the first class! Don’t quit!