Yoga is known for the tight clothes and tiny thin bodies that twist and stretch into impossible angles and positions. Typically, all tiny and willowy people partake in this to keep fit and find inner peace, but plus size women want to do it too. This is why, Jessamyn Stanley, a plus size woman who refuses to be told that she is anything but beautiful is revolutionary: wearing the tight clothes of yoga-goers even though she is many sizes bigger and resisting the social norm to cover herself up. She says that Yoga is her life and she refuses to let anyone put her down for teaching and participating in the clothing that she wears. Yoga is about what is inside, not outside, and true Yogies will see that right away. jessamynstanley.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (h/t: lostateminor)
Jessamyn Stanley started yoga by accident thanks to a Groupon offer in 2011
“We live in a society where we are trained to think that being overweight is wrong so people are going to stare at you”
“Our society throws crazy shade at anyone whose body differs from the models featured in Western media.”
“The only thing that you can control is your reaction to that”
“I’m teaching about three classes a week right now, then later this summer I’m going to teach every weekend in different parts of the country…”
“There are a lot of things you learn as a larger-bodied person practising yoga — what to do with your stomach, what to do with your breasts”
“I always tell people (especially women) to stop sending negative energy into their bodies and thoughts”
“That negative energy is responsible for all body unhappiness”
“The only person in control of your life experience is you. “
“I think it’s intimidating [to see the ‘typical yoga body’ at the front of the class]”
“It creates more of an aspirational experience as opposed to an inspirational one. It doesn’t actually elicit what yoga should give people”
“The whole point of this practice is to burn away the parts of our lives that are built up over the years that don’t matter, and to burn that away to who you truly are”
“Your body is not standing in your way. Only your mind is standing in your way”
