So, this is an update to the original post. After a lot of conversation and consideration I have changed the name of the class to Yoga 2eXceL. The name was becoming too distracting and I think we still get our point across that yoga isn’t about size or body image. It’s about exploring and expressing your true self, free of those trappings.
We hope you join us to explore this class.
ORIGINAL POST:
Just B Yoga has had a classed called Yoga 2XL for two years. It’s a play on the word Excel but meant to convey it’s for larger sizes as well. (Yoga 2XL is Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Just B Yoga)
We feel passionately that yoga should be made available for all shapes and sizes. As yoga has become more popular it has also been used to perpetuate a stereotype that yoga is for skinny people and particularly skinny women. But yoga is for all body sizes and shapes and serves to benefit us beyond our bodies and physical health. It can help us find a more positive self talk with and about ourselves.
We are grateful for our teacher, Connie Varma, and our students who have come to find their practice in a non-judgmental space.
Recently the name of the class has come into criticism on our Facebook wall. Some folks feel the name, 2XL is insulting.
“…Not sure naming a class Yoga 2XL is a step toward a positive body image!” one reader wrote.
“I didn’t read that as Too Excel….I read it as too x-large. It is an insult because who are you to decide who is too large for regular yoga?”
What is regular yoga? Should we support a class for larger bodies? Does it separate and segregate or enable and empower?
I write this only to share our sentiment here at Just B Yoga. And I want to open the conversation up on the need for the class and what the heck to call it.
Skillful teachers will modify their teaching to the needs and limitations of their students. We offer different poses and sequences for arthritis and joint replacements, wrist issues and high blood pressure.
The fact of the matter is those who are bigger or taller have physical issues to work with and around when it comes to moving their bodies. Girth can be a challenge to work with in forward folding and twists. Size can have impact on joints and endurance. Size affects wear and tear on our bodies. We would be lying to say it doesn’t.
“Regular” yoga classes, as the reader mentioned, often go at a pace for those already fit or those seeking a workout. They often call out postures based on what the teacher can do and not what the students find accessible.
Tailoring a class for bigger bodies indicates to the student “this class will make yoga accessible to you and not make you feel you CAN’T.”
Folks of all sizes are welcome into the room – we don’t weigh or measure at the door. But they know the class is being taught to accommodate certain limitations and or challenges.
Now…when it comes to what to call it? That’s the tricky part and it’s where we run into resistance and reactions to perceived insensitivity and insult.
Plus-sized Yoga. Fat Yoga. Buddha Body Yoga. Big Yoga (Grand Rapids). Curvy Yoga.
Anna Guest-Jelly – the founder of Curvy Yoga encouraged me to be honest in my teaching when I reached out to her. And she doesn’t shy away from using the word “fat.”
Is fat a bad word? Big? Plus? Heavy?
Is it an insult? Or do we feel so self-conscious about it we don’t want it uttered in public? Is it like WE can call ourselves fat but others can’t?
Wise and mindful speech is just as important a piece of yoga as asana, so we do want to extend our practice into our words. We at at Just B Yoga wanted to convey empowerment but also make it clear that it was for larger sizes. Thus 2XL.
I have had folks call me and say “that’s my shirt size, is that my yoga?”
We hope the title just opens the door to someone giving yoga a try who might not have otherwise. We hope they see our space as an environment where it’s safe to wear yoga clothes and not feel judged. We hope our students gain positive body image and confidence to attend ANY yoga class with the practice that they develop with us.
So, what do you think?
Should there be yoga classes for bigger bodies?
What should it be called? Should care be taken in the naming?
How can the name convey loving kindness?
Deepest gratitude.
B
22 Responses
I can understand why some may feel the title is “insulting”, but to me it was welcoming. I have always been intimidated by yoga because I am a vuluptuous lady and have a big bosom to work around when trying to fold into poses, etc. Having a class that caters to this encouraged me to attend classes more regularly and take more pride in my body. I felt great and carried myself better and enjoyed working with the amazing Connie. I felt comfortable in a space where the people were at my level and had the same issues I did trying to maneuver our bodies into poses that took up little space. I love that this class is offered, and in fact, it is one of the only classes I attend. Thank you for offering classes that are inclusive and comfortable and encourage us all to work with what we have and take pride in it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us Shannon.
I’m open to new names.
We’re happy you practice with us.
B
XL-ent Yoga? Just throwing that out there. I am coming to this class in two weeks. I have a very busy schedule, but FINALLY I will have a night for this practice. Call it what you like, I’m excited as all get out! Woot!
Hey! I like that one!
Thanks for the suggestion. And we can’t wait to have you come.
B
I don’t usually respond to these things, but I feel compelled to do so now. Part of the reason I haven’t taken yoga is that I have little time and no money. But even more, as a big woman, I was afraid that I wouldn’t fit in (no pun intended). Seeing this story linked on Facebook (thanks Emily) and reading through it, made me feel included instead of excluded.
I have to agree with Shannon; while I can see why some people might rankle at the term at first, I think people need to get over themselves. We are what we are: if we can use yoga or any other positive means to either change what we are to become healthier, or to learn to accept what we are in a peaceful way, then who cares what it’s called?
Thank you so much. Happy it connected with you.
We hope you join us one day!
B
Hmm . . . giving this class a name that isn’t insulting but at the same time makes bigger-bodied people feel welcome is definitely tricky. I also didn’t read “2XL” as “To Excel.” I just thought you were being clear as to who this yoga class was for. If you were looking to change the name to one that is clearly more positive, how about “Big, Beautiful, & Being” or “BBB.” I think you already like those letters. 🙂
I wrote this on Facebook but wanted to say:
I like the Yoga 2XL class because when I say it, it sounds like “Yoga, to Excel”. Part of my life’s motto is to possess high ideals and to attain somewhat unto them.
I also like the class – Connie – the people who participate. I feel like the class works for my body (currently XL, formerly XXXL) and my physical challenges. Between a shattered knee and a torn rotator cuff, I need to modify poses. But if you think Yoga 2XL is easy, we do Chair Pose…. on our toes.
That said, if changing the name makes it more welcoming to others, great. But the description needs to remain the same. I come and go to Yoga 2XL depending on schedules/budget, but I always feel welcome – whatever size I am – XL XXL XXXL+. It’s never mattered and I hope that it continues to be a place where we can figure out a way to have a yoga practice that is flexible and thoughtful.
As always, I <3 you guys. XOXO
I’m not a larger person, but I do have physical limitations so I know how frustrating and embarrassing it can be to need to do something differently from everybody else, especially because many teachers really don’t seem to know many modifications even though they always assure me they do. It’s to the point that I’ve given up on most yoga despite the pervasive advertising that anyone can do yoga. I think offering a class that is specifically geared towards the necessary modifications can really boost confidence and encourage people to participate who normally wouldn’t, so I definitely think you should offer some kind of class for larger people.
In a wonderful world where a wide variety of classes could be offered, it would be especially fantastic to have two types of modified yoga – yoga for people who are new to it, and yoga for people who are experienced in yoga but have had an injury or gained weight and now need modifications that they didn’t before. In classes that are geared towards physical limitations, I’m frequently left feeling like the asanas are so basic that it was a waste of my time and money to go, and it hurts my self-esteem even more to be knocked back to such a basic level that it’s like my years of yoga practice never happened. What I really want is to learn modifications that would allow me to get as close as possible to my pre-injury practice, and I’m sure there are a lot of people with similar issues.
As for the name, aside from “curvy” already kind of being taken, I’d avoid that because it has actually become a loaded term because of the whole “real women have curves” thing. Once you explained it “2XL” is clever, but I also did not read it as such initially. I second “XLent” as a good idea, because it’s easier to see the wordplay.
PS – I do think it’s important that whatever name you choose isn’t focused on women. Men already frequently feel nervous about yoga, and large people feel nervous about yoga, therefore large men are a pretty tough crowd to get into yoga! A feminine name would leave almost no chance that they’d even try it.
For me, the title is inviting. I am both a “big” girl and I have other co-occuring physical limitations, to walk into a class and see other people “my size” said to me that this is a place where I am welcome to come and meet on my mat without judgment or expectations that weren’t realistic for me. Connie has a beautiful way of challenging and respecting the diverse group of attendees and their individual needs. I’m sure anyone else who has actually attended the class can attest to this. Should there be separate classes? That I can’t answer but I feel as though having been a regular attendee of this class gave me the motivation and encouragement to continue with my yoga at a time when I was both, big, and new. I am now more experienced and I owe a lot of my growth as a yogi to the 2xl class, regardless of the name.
I’ve been following this closely for several days now, and as a person who has practiced with both physical and emotional limitations at various points throughout my yoga journey, I’m feeling quite mixed. Language can have a very profound impact on how we view things in the world – as well as how we view and think about ourselves. To complicate things even further, people can interpret the same exact words in completely different ways – hence the debate on whether “2XL Yoga” is welcoming term, an empowering term, or self-deprecating term.
I don’t know if changing the name of the class is the best course of action or not; however, if you decide to modify the name, one idea I thought of is to call the class “Moving into WellB-ing.” It’s a word-play off the yoga studio and the studio’s all-encompassing mission, as opposed to a word-play off of a person’s body type. This name implies that the class is a safe space for ALL people who are making a commitment to better health regardless of size, gender, physical, or emotional limitations.
Thank you for such a thought-provoking conversation!
The first time I saw the name of this class- I had a bad gut reaction to it- to me it said “Too big” (too big for yoga, too big to be pretty, too big to be accepted). Now I recognize and own that this is completely the result of my personal internal dialogue and issues and is NOT the result of the name of this class.
Still, if you aren’t big or haven’t struggled with these issues than perhaps you wouldn’t understand this. To me those letters make me feel bad- when I have to buy an XL shirt- I condemn myself. Another proof of my failure to be more disciplined or whatever it maybe. I think its cool that some people embrace the word ‘fat’ but I don’t. Not for myself. I want to be as far away from that association and word as humanly possible (some people also embrace the word ‘fag’ and the ‘n’ word- which I don’t).
I have backed off this issue because I recognize the importance of communicating that there is a class for women that wouldn’t feel comfortable in a standard class- a safe space for people who are bigger to explore yoga and to get healthier. I LOVE that concept- and I LOVE what Connie has cultivated in this class.
I also really appreciate the ability to have this conversation and to be honest about it- even if it isn’t comfortable- so thanks B.
That being said- if the name were even changed to 2eXceL.. I think that would clear up the tag/guilt association for me. Another suggestion I have is ‘Yoga for the Rest of Us’ or ‘Curvy Yoga’ or ‘Safe Space Yoga’ or anything with a more clear positive association.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Tiff! I appreciate it.
Ok duh- Curvy Yoga is taken! I knew it sounded good for a reason. 🙂 Love you B
First of all, congrats B on getting such a wonderful discussion line going! I wish the Wellington Wellness fan base was as eager to participate in conversations. I’ve already posted some of my thoughts on the FB page but after reading this blog, I just have to say one more thing: I think “XLent Yoga” is absolutely brilliant! It still has the word play but does not mimic the clothing size, which is a touchy subject (IMO). So my vote goes for that!
Keep on doing what you do. Even though I’m halfway across the country from you, I gain–and LEARN!–so much from following you & Just B Yoga. I honor & celebrate you. Namaste.
I just started coming last week and I didn’t really think that much about the name. It was my first time doing an entire yoga routine and it was hard. I’m naturally flexible (and strong), but it was definitely challenging. I’ve been in “exercise” classes where I wasn’t able to keep up and it’s not a fun feeling. However, just the fact that you have a class for someone like me would lead me to think that I don’t have to start out perfect, I just have to start. With that said, I will be back, whatever it’s called. Thank you!
Yes please to classes for people with bigger bodies. I’d probably be most appealed to a class called something like “Fat Yoga,” but I”m also someone who embraces the word fat and uses it as a self descriptor. I’ve been meaning to make it to this class for a while (first a conflicting class and now still recovering from any injury).
Fat is only a negative word because we’ve been taught it is. In and of itself, it contains no value judgement, only description. I want to encourage you to stay away from medicalized terms like overweight and obese that suggest that there is some weight that is correct.
Thanks for asking about this.
Thank you!
I like the name Yoga 2Xcel — (I think that’s right) I really want to do yoga, to excel: but, I can’t help but feel awful about my body and lack of strength among very young, strong classmates. I do think Fat Yoga is a bad name, as it sets up a negative reaction, possibly adopting body mass index as an IDENTITY rather than a metric that can be altered.
As a bigger gal, I think this is wonderful. A place where you are accepted as is. It says “You are ok the way you are, let’s help you do this” You can be fit at any size. I like the name. This studio has a wonderful spirit because it accepts people! All types of people!
Thanks Becky. We appreciate your feedback! Namaste. B
Comments are closed.