This Plus-Sized Yogi Is Showing The World That Body Weight Is Just A State Of Mind
Queer “Fat Femme” yogi Jessamyn Stanley is challenging preconceived notions of what a Yoga body should look like. She stumbled upon Bikram yoga by chance in 2011 while at grad school through a Groupon offer, and was instantly hooked. Now, the 27-year-old North Carolina resident is a certified yoga instructor herself, and has over 55,000 Instagram followers.
Stanley is often scantily clad in her Instagram photos. “I think it’s intimidating [to see the ‘typical yoga body’ at the front of the class],” she told nymag. “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.”
More info: 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”
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I love this article. I found it to be both beautiful and inspiring. However, while viewing on the mobile version of this site, I found the fact that an ad for losing belly fat in the middle of an article for bodily acceptance to be confounding, if not insulting.
Allow me to clarify. My comment has nothing to do with accepting "unhealthy conditions". I truly believe that being healthy (physically, mentally, spiritually) is important for all individuals, regardless of size. However, if we're being honest, the vast majority of individuals have no genuine interest in a person's actual health, particularly that of a plus-sized person. What we, as a society, are actually concerned with is the APPEARANCE of health, and the fact that the terms "obese" and "obesity" are used so readily to describe those who don't fit into the neat and tidy acceptable, social norm only proves my point. I found that this so-called "concern" is really thinly disguised, and therefore acceptable, fat-shaming. I do believe that there are those who genuinely care but also believe that the qualifiers of health may need to be redefined. I've even heard medical professionals say that the BMI chart is not entirely accurate. Whatever body type you have, may you accept it.
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I don,t think people should be ashamed of being fat but I also think it is not good for you. I have been overweight and know how it feels. I am 190 now and needy lose some more lbs so I can feel better.
Being physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and socially healthy is a holistic view of a healthy person. However, I do not agree with this article that being "obese" and "overweight" is okay. It is not. One will be a great risk for cardiovascular as well as other physical and physiological problems. Keeping a good balance from the different aspects of health mentioned is needed.
but eight years is a long time to lose. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587%2814%2970229-3/abstract and 19 years is a long time to live chronically ill http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Obesity/48953
Absolutely beautiful soul! What an inspiration you are to men and women everywhere! I loved reading this! Thank you for sharing your beautiful story.
I'm glad this article shared about the importance of spiritual health and by doing yoga that is a physical exercise. Health is an all-rounded aspect, the existing and excessive body fats would not be burned away with just exercise and good state of mind alone. I was looking for ways to get healthier and was very fortunate to have found the right way. With a healthier lifestyle, I ditched 4kg and shaped up effortlessly. Welcome to like my page, www.facebook.com/janwellies I'm glad to share my happiness with you ^_^
I'm glad this article talks about spiritual health while doing a physical exercise. It's important to know that the existing body fats, which are the deciding factor contributing to the health of a plus sized person, could not be burned away through exercise alone. I was looking for ways to get healthier and was very fortunate to have found the right way. 4kg of body fats poofed away and I shaped up effortlessly! Welcome to like my page www.facebook.com/janwellies , I'm glad to share my happiness with you ^_^ See you there!
This is a very nice article! Very inspiring. However, I think you have a pretty important typo as the first word of the article. Why are you using the word "Queer"? Seems inappropriate and nonsensical (some may even find it insulting).
I think you have an important typo as your first word in the article. Why are you calling her "Queer"?
I'm pretty sure it's not Bored Panda calling her "queer", rather, the woman herself.
Load More Replies...
So fantastic. What a beautiful person and an empowering message.
This is fantastic and a great inspiration for plus-size people who make excuses like "Im too fat to do any sport activities"! If you WANT something, you WILL FIND a way, like this brave lady did! However, I just want to express my opinion- it doesn't look very graceful. Not meaning to throw shade. Don't hate me. <3
Inspiring. Poeple would think at first glance (I include myself) "hey, since 2011 and Yoga didn't help you loose way?)But that's not the point, she is happy with her size, not with what society says is the ideal. And she is proove that you can do yoga no matter what your weight. She is a yoga certified teacher! Let's stop the negativity of "but where is your balance if you have extra weight etc" because her body balance isn't being interfereed by anything. She is living in the present and she is way more flexible than any of us. Cheers, girl! I'm following you on Insta now.
This is wonderful. There are many reasons for carrying more weight than normal and it is not always possible to lose it (meds that cause weight retention for example). I am soooo impressed with this woman and her achievements. It is inspiring.
I love your mind, your body, your energy! I hope our energy's cross some day! YOUR MY HERO <3
I have to save the photo of crow pose as inspiration :) Amazing strength. This is the beauty of yoga.
I love this article. I found it to be both beautiful and inspiring. However, while viewing this on the mobile site, I found the ad for losing belly fat in the middle of a story about bodily acceptance to be confounding, if not insulting.
That woman probably weighs 300 pounds, and every bit of it is muscle. Did you see her legs? No cellulite at all!
This is f*****g disgusting. People might be eating. These examples of human waste should be shunned from society and ridiculed at every opportunity.
I completely agree with loving your body, but definitely do not agree with obesity. You don't (and probably won't) have to look like a model to simply be healthy. I'm not the skinniest person, but I try to keep my weight under control, and have a healthy lifestyle. While it's not right to bash an overweight person, we definitely shouldn't condone their unhealthy lifestyle. It's just going to cause a whole lot of health issues later down the road.
While I agree with loving your body, I don't agree with being obese. That's called being unhealthy. We shouldn't bash people that are unhealthy, but we definitely should condone them for being so heavy. It's not natural, and will most likely cause a lot of health issues down the road.
I love this article. I found it to be both beautiful and inspiring. However, while viewing on the mobile version of this site, I found the fact that an ad for losing belly fat in the middle of an article for bodily acceptance to be confounding, if not insulting.
Allow me to clarify. My comment has nothing to do with accepting "unhealthy conditions". I truly believe that being healthy (physically, mentally, spiritually) is important for all individuals, regardless of size. However, if we're being honest, the vast majority of individuals have no genuine interest in a person's actual health, particularly that of a plus-sized person. What we, as a society, are actually concerned with is the APPEARANCE of health, and the fact that the terms "obese" and "obesity" are used so readily to describe those who don't fit into the neat and tidy acceptable, social norm only proves my point. I found that this so-called "concern" is really thinly disguised, and therefore acceptable, fat-shaming. I do believe that there are those who genuinely care but also believe that the qualifiers of health may need to be redefined. I've even heard medical professionals say that the BMI chart is not entirely accurate. Whatever body type you have, may you accept it.
Load More Replies... I don,t think people should be ashamed of being fat but I also think it is not good for you. I have been overweight and know how it feels. I am 190 now and needy lose some more lbs so I can feel better.
Being physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and socially healthy is a holistic view of a healthy person. However, I do not agree with this article that being "obese" and "overweight" is okay. It is not. One will be a great risk for cardiovascular as well as other physical and physiological problems. Keeping a good balance from the different aspects of health mentioned is needed.
but eight years is a long time to lose. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587%2814%2970229-3/abstract and 19 years is a long time to live chronically ill http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Obesity/48953
Absolutely beautiful soul! What an inspiration you are to men and women everywhere! I loved reading this! Thank you for sharing your beautiful story.
I'm glad this article shared about the importance of spiritual health and by doing yoga that is a physical exercise. Health is an all-rounded aspect, the existing and excessive body fats would not be burned away with just exercise and good state of mind alone. I was looking for ways to get healthier and was very fortunate to have found the right way. With a healthier lifestyle, I ditched 4kg and shaped up effortlessly. Welcome to like my page, www.facebook.com/janwellies I'm glad to share my happiness with you ^_^
I'm glad this article talks about spiritual health while doing a physical exercise. It's important to know that the existing body fats, which are the deciding factor contributing to the health of a plus sized person, could not be burned away through exercise alone. I was looking for ways to get healthier and was very fortunate to have found the right way. 4kg of body fats poofed away and I shaped up effortlessly! Welcome to like my page www.facebook.com/janwellies , I'm glad to share my happiness with you ^_^ See you there!
This is a very nice article! Very inspiring. However, I think you have a pretty important typo as the first word of the article. Why are you using the word "Queer"? Seems inappropriate and nonsensical (some may even find it insulting).
I think you have an important typo as your first word in the article. Why are you calling her "Queer"?
I'm pretty sure it's not Bored Panda calling her "queer", rather, the woman herself.
Load More Replies... So fantastic. What a beautiful person and an empowering message.
This is fantastic and a great inspiration for plus-size people who make excuses like "Im too fat to do any sport activities"! If you WANT something, you WILL FIND a way, like this brave lady did! However, I just want to express my opinion- it doesn't look very graceful. Not meaning to throw shade. Don't hate me. <3
Inspiring. Poeple would think at first glance (I include myself) "hey, since 2011 and Yoga didn't help you loose way?)But that's not the point, she is happy with her size, not with what society says is the ideal. And she is proove that you can do yoga no matter what your weight. She is a yoga certified teacher! Let's stop the negativity of "but where is your balance if you have extra weight etc" because her body balance isn't being interfereed by anything. She is living in the present and she is way more flexible than any of us. Cheers, girl! I'm following you on Insta now.
This is wonderful. There are many reasons for carrying more weight than normal and it is not always possible to lose it (meds that cause weight retention for example). I am soooo impressed with this woman and her achievements. It is inspiring.
I love your mind, your body, your energy! I hope our energy's cross some day! YOUR MY HERO <3
I have to save the photo of crow pose as inspiration :) Amazing strength. This is the beauty of yoga.
I love this article. I found it to be both beautiful and inspiring. However, while viewing this on the mobile site, I found the ad for losing belly fat in the middle of a story about bodily acceptance to be confounding, if not insulting.
That woman probably weighs 300 pounds, and every bit of it is muscle. Did you see her legs? No cellulite at all!
This is f*****g disgusting. People might be eating. These examples of human waste should be shunned from society and ridiculed at every opportunity.
I completely agree with loving your body, but definitely do not agree with obesity. You don't (and probably won't) have to look like a model to simply be healthy. I'm not the skinniest person, but I try to keep my weight under control, and have a healthy lifestyle. While it's not right to bash an overweight person, we definitely shouldn't condone their unhealthy lifestyle. It's just going to cause a whole lot of health issues later down the road.
While I agree with loving your body, I don't agree with being obese. That's called being unhealthy. We shouldn't bash people that are unhealthy, but we definitely should condone them for being so heavy. It's not natural, and will most likely cause a lot of health issues down the road.
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