Teaching Yoga for Round Bodies

Introduction

  1. Adho Mukha Shvasana
  2. Ardha Matsyendrasana
  3. Balasana
  4. Bhujangasana
  5. Chandrasana
  6. Dandasana
  7. Dhanurasana
  8. Garudasana
  9. Janushirasana
  10. Jathara Parivartanasana
  11. Matsyasana
  12. Padahastasana
  13. Parvatasana
  14. Paschimotanasana
  15. Salabhasana
  16. Sarvangasana
  17. Sasamgasana
  18. Savasana
  19. Setu Banghasana
  20. Siddhasana
  21. Standing Backward Bend
  22. Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation)
  23. Tadasana
  24. Trikonasana
  25. Ustrasana
  26. Utkatasana
  27. Vajrasana
  28. Viparita Karani
  29. Virabhadrasana
  30. Vrikasana

Viparita Karani
The Simple Inverted Pose

This is another asana that my neck protests, so I myself don’t practice it. The main problem(s) for the fat person would probably be once again getting the elbows in enough to provide the necessary leverage, plus the sheer amount of weight that must be supported by the arms/wrists, which is a difficulty even for many thinner students.

When I was first learning this asana, I would lift my torso, then blithely sway, putting weight on first one shoulder, then another, in order to move the elbows in. It made the asana possible for me, but I was doing heinous things to my neck in the process. I have seen other strong fat people attempt the same maneuver, and I’ve had to rush to stop them. It’s frustrating for the fat student who is otherwise ready to try the asana.

A way around the difficulty is to practice against the wall or with a chair. With the buttocks and feet resting against the wall, legs bent, it is possible to support some of the weight via the legs instead of the hands, just enough to shift the elbows in without torquing the neck. However, it could place a little extra flexion strain on the neck, so one must use caution.

The notes about blankets mentioned for Halasana also apply here.


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All authors are graduates of Ananda Yoga Teacher Training.

Ananda Yoga Registered Yoga School for 200 and 300 hours

About the Author

Kay Erdwinn, M.D., teaches “Yoga for Round Bodies” in Placerville, California.


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