<p>“One more thing: get proper attire for whatever gym class you pick. Even if you are very concerned with body image, no one in the gym is going to scrutinize your clothing. I’ve seen bodies of all shapes and sizes in spandex in gyms, and frankly, spandex is so much better for exercising than baggy cut off sweats and tees that are three sizes too big.”</p>
<p>BunsenBurner, genuinely very curious - why do you find that to be the case? I did varsity sports in high school, some club sports in college, and got back into some exercise after college (gym is not for me, but I do things like run stairs, push-ups). I’ve never gotten special clothing (I guess because regular stuff seems to work well for me) - just regular shorts and tees, so would like to hear why it makes a big difference?</p>
<p>Oh, never mind, maybe you meant for yoga - I think Cardinal Fang may have answered my question.</p>
<p>I have found yoga transformative and I agree with what’s been said upthread - you do what you can do. I don’t have a lot of shoulder mobility - no injury, just how I’m built - so I can’t do things like clasp my hands behind my back in a bind or do eagle pose where you wrap your arms around one another. I just modify it and move on. JHS’ attitude is exactly the right one. It’s very accepting. No one is keeping score. That was a mental hurdle I had to get over. </p>
<p>Someone upthread mentioned private lessons. I would highly, highly recommend 6 to 8 private lessons for anyone starting a yoga practice. </p>
<p>I’m fit but uncoordinated and having a private instructor for a short series of lessons was fantastic. I had taken a couple of group classes before the private lessons and didn’t realize that I was doing many of the poses incorrectly. </p>
<p>Learning the correct technique is important both for getting the full benefits and avoiding injuries. Plus a lot of the poses are much easier once you learn how to do them correctly. I would imagine that the one-on-one attention would be even more valuable for someone with health issues.</p>
<p>Actually, it depends on the class and poses as to how loose/tight yoga clothing is appropriate. One of the yoga classes I take it is better for shirts to be more fitted and for me to wear shorts. The other class, baggy tshirts are just fine, with jeggings or whatever other shorts or long pants I happen to wear. If you aren’t doing inversions where your shirt will be sliding around, it doesn’t matter, but if you are, it’s good to have the shirt tucked in.</p>
<p>I have never purchased special clothing for yoga and am fine with whatever is in my wardrobe. My instructors tend to wear a variety of clothing as well. It’s important that you not be constricted by your clothing or expose more than you intend, but most folks have clothing already in the wardrobe that will work for that. If you’re in doubt and think the class may involve you bending over, try doing it in your own home in front of a mirror to see what you’re exposing, for peace of mind.</p>
<p>CF - seriously, do you take every word literally? Don’t you think your comment about yoga founders not wearing “spandex” was… a bit silly? . If we have to go back to the roots of yoga, not only we have to abolish Lycra and synthetics during it, but we have to get rid of foam mats, yoga studios, and all other modern conveniences. </p>
<p>acollegestudent, let me ask: by “regular” tees and shorts do you really mean street wear, like denim shorts and spaghetti strapped tops?! That would mean you are not really doing any real exercising. I’m sure you meant some shorts and tees that qualify as athletic wear for a beginner (comfy, do not rub in wrong places, wick moisture, and do not restrict movement). My comment was addressed at OP and anyone else who is considering starting a routine but might have concerns as to how others in the class, gym, trail, etc. will look at them. She called herself “fat”. I have seen too many overweight people of my age who call themselves “fat” and are extremely concerned with covering up their bodies when they exercise. They end up exercising in bulky, inappropriate for the activity clothing, and the clothing contributes significantly to their misery! Some do not realize that a simple outfit change could make a huge difference (do not get me started on ladies running in wrong size bras and complaining afterwards that their upper bodies hurt despite the fact that the legs did all the work ).</p>
<p>Again, one does not have to spend a fortune on this. Target’s Champion clothes are nice (and get discounted heavily - e.g., I have a $2 pair of shorts from there), and TJMaxx discounts national brands very handsomely.</p>
<p>I also second the sseamom’s recommendation of a community center class! In my experience, those places welcome everyone and have beginner classes taught by good instructors. </p>
<p>I’d second the recommendation for private sessions before starting in a class setting. I found that it really helped me to feel more comfortable in class and to know my limitations. I have almost no ankle flexion in my right ankle as the result of a broken ankle with pins/plate (now only one pin). That ankle affects my ability to do a number of poses, but once I learned how to deal with it, I felt 100% better in class.</p>
<p>FYI, I saw an older, rather obese woman working 1 on 1 in the pilates studio yesterday. She was building core strength and flexibility on one of those machines that look like a medieval torture rack. </p>
<p>I agree with Bunsen Burner about the appropriate clothing. Regardless whether it is strictly “necessary,” it is a whole lot more comfortable to wear clothing that has been engineered for a particular activity. And, with yoga, it is important for the instructor to be able to see the alignment of your body to help correct the poses; wearing baggy clothing makes it hard for the instructor to do that. Plus, yoga studios tend to be very warm and can be stuffy, even non-“hot” yoga. Bulky clothing is uncomfortable.</p>
<p>Once in a while, I will throw on some regular old leggings and a ribbed tank for my yoga class, thinking they are essentially the same as my actual yoga pants and tanks. They are not! The crotch of the pants starts traveling down and I have to yank them up and the bottom of the tank starts curling up. It is distracting! When I wear actual yoga clothes, I never notice what I am wearing during the class because they stay put. </p>
<p>Finally, I want to reiterate what others have said: it is part of the culture of yoga NOT to be checking out other people’s bodies. Yoga is about focusing inward and blocking out outside distractions and the breathing techniques are very effective at facilitating that mindset. Plus, there are no mirrors at yoga studios. It is very different than working out at a gym that has a competitive or sexualized vibe. </p>
<p>If you do try it, let us know what you think! </p>
<p>I am an absolute beginner at yoga, took my first class last Saturday and my second last evening. I was pleasantly surprised at how the instructors emphasized that you can do variations of the poses to fit your comfort level. I could not do a few poses due to knee issues but it was not a problem and I felt comfortable rather than self conscious. And I am not an athletic person at all.I also noticed that people were focused on their own journey and not on anyone else’s. </p>
<p>One of the things I liked about yoga was that the class was barely lit, perhaps just candles. Each person does what he/she can, in their own personal space. At the yoga studio, there could be 4 people in a class. In the gym, maybe 15-25 people. </p>
<p>After my accident, almost 3 years ago, I left yoga because my left shoulder and right elbow were injured. I shifted to Pilates, partly because I knew the instructor so well. there was far less emphasis on holding my body up. I modified a lot, and whole series I could not do. I had elbow surgery 7 weeks ago, and once again, had to step back with anything that put weight on arms. The teacher is sensitive to the needs of people in class, and offers moderations to exercises. </p>
<p>There are teens to the older ones, like me. People are friendly. They care if you come regularly, but there is no judgment as to how well u r doing. It truly is a room of people doing their personal best, which can vary with the day. </p>
<p>Bikram and Bikram knock offs have a mirrored wall in the front and on one side. I find that I’m usually too focused on whether or not aim going to die during the class to worry about what anyone else looks like or is wearing! I do notice the people who have on WAY more clothing than I would want in 105 degrees. </p>
<p>I would look for a Hatha or Iyengar Yoga class. Both are based on poses (asanas) that aren’t as ‘deep’ as the more athletic yoga versions around and depend on belts & pillows to get you into poses. My SIL is somewhat overweight and she’s a yoga instructor. </p>
<p>Thanks, MomofWildChild, for the correction re mirrors in Bikram studios. I stand corrected. I’ve never done Bikram or other hot yoga. The studios I’ve gone to don’t have mirrors; didn’t know that it varied by style.</p>
<p>Lergnom the “Medieval Torture Device” was probably a reformer. A remarkable piece of equipment. I teach Pilates mat classes as well as reformer, trapeze table, etc… . I have just as many heavy clients as thin ones. I try really hard not to think of exercise in terms of how I look or how the client looks. Instead focusing on what it helps them do. Tying a shoe, picking up a grandchild etc…
I like to see people in something a little more form fitting -so I can see their back. </p>
<p>I do Pilates w a trainer twice a week and Corepower Yoga whenever I can. Both are great and no judgment; everyone’s focused on their own journey. I agree you do have to wear the right clothing for the activity; it does make a difference. </p>
<p>I do think most people doing yoga will be watching their own body, not everyone else’s, but, I have noticed especially in the crowded trendy Bikram class I did, that implants behave differently than natural in yoga class. It is kind of amusing.</p>
<p>Bikram is one thing I can’t get behind. I used a groupon to go to a Bikram class a few years back, walked into the room, and with the carpeting that absorbs everyone’s sweat … it smelled like stinky feet. I don’t mean just a little, but overwhelmingly so. And it was maybe 110 degrees or so. I’m one of those who doesn’t like to be too hot in the first place. I was seriously retching from the smell and the class hadn’t even started, so I said screw it, this isn’t worth it and walked out. </p>
<p>The Corepower (hot vinyasa flow) that I do is heated (I think it’s 85 degrees) and I’m dripping sweat during it, but not to that extent. And it has wood/laminate floors so they can be mopped down after class! </p>
Don’t you think your comment about yoga founders not wearing “spandex” was… a bit silly? 
. If we have to go back to the roots of yoga, not only we have to abolish Lycra and synthetics during it, but we have to get rid of foam mats, yoga studios, and all other modern conveniences. </p>