Yoga. It’s THE modern phenomenon. Think about it - that spiritual, mental and physical practice born out of ancient Hinduism and Buddhism that was once only found in hippies’ sitting rooms? It can now be experienced alongside beefcakes with dumbbells at your local Fitness First. Talk about cultural shifts….
But what, exactly, are we all buying into? That green, lean and clean lifestyle that you see splattered all over your Instagram feed, that’s what. If we’re totally honest, we’re pursuing a warm glow and tighter abs more than we’re searching for inner peace. Put simply, we’ve fallen head first into another clever marketing trap that tells us the only way to get fit and healthy now is upside down, red faced in a £20 a session yoga class.
Fortunately curvy yoga, or #fatyoga has come around just in time to remind us - aren’t we all missing the point a bit? Without sounding all preachy (ok, maybe just a little bit), yoga is as much about the mind and spirit as it is the body, and you don’t need a particular body type to experience the benefits of it... And if, like a majority of the planet's population, you don’t fit the ‘yoga bunny’ stereotype, you’re in luck. Because from LA to London, classes are popping up that cater for people who can’t touch their toes. Or maybe even see them. Whatevs! Everyone can get involved.
And what’s even better is you can do it all in your own home. We’ve searched the web for some of the best tutorials that quite literally anyone can do. So get your granny over and have a go at some of these. Namaste, bitches.
Yoga for complete beginners
Adriene uploads a new video every week - and this video, aimed at complete beginners, is only 20 minutes long. So if you’re too busy to spend 1.5 hours in a studio, this is a perfect alternative.
Yoga for dummies
Is actually a thing. These guys publish videos for total novices, so even if you don't know the difference between a yoga mat and a towel, you're in safe hands.
Namaskar: Yoga for everyone
This YouTube channel has a huuuuge international following, and for good reason. They focus on the more traditional aspects (aka spirituality) of the practice. So if you need to get your mojo back after a bad day at work, check out some of their videos.
Yogasteya.com
This site is a mecca for yoga-lovers of all shapes and sizes. Sign up and you get 24/7 access to their virtual online yoga studio, as well as joining their buzzing online community. (And, FYI, their tagline is ‘You don’t need the body of a 21 year old fitness model to be fit, healthy and happy.’ Amen.)
Yoga for boys too
So we said yoga for everyone, so we better live up to that, right? If you've been trying to get your boyfriend to do just a tiny bit more excercise, this is the ticket. You can become yoga-whizzes together, without even leaving your bedroom....
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.