Prairie Yoga Now Offers Plus-Size Yoga Two Days a Week

Submitted by Prairie Yoga.

Lisle, IL - Prairie Yoga offers plus-size Yoga on Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., from March 5 – April 30, and Thursdays, 5:30 – 6:45 p.m., from March 17 – May 5.

This eight-week series is adapted for larger bodies using props and modifications that help make traditional yoga poses accessible to anyone.

The instructor, Rachel Townsend, graduated from a yoga teacher training at Ganesha Yoga and Fitness which specializes in teaching to plus-size students. Rachel encourages her students to work with the body they have today, exactly as it is, and celebrate the body for what it can do. Affirmations for self-acceptance continue throughout the lesson along with cues to place everyone into safe anatomical alignment.

When alignment counters the habits of her students, she corrects them with a gentle humor. For example, she warns students to align their feet more narrowly under the “hips of your bones, not the hips in your head.” Students begin the class seated on chairs or bolsters and follow instruction for warming up the fingers, hands, wrists, and shoulders.

From there standing poses focus on balance and stability for hips and knees. Included in most classes is an exercise she calls Ice Walking, a practice of mindfully walking with one foot in front of the other, forward and backward on the mat. “It helps activate the muscles of the feet and lower leg in a way that we don’t often do.” One main difference between this class and other yoga classes is that students do not move up and down from the floor very much in consideration of those with high blood pressure or injuries of the knee or hip.

This class series is fully body positive, which focuses on the idea that all bodies are good bodies, and you are where you are. Even as students move through poses that they may find challenging, the emphasis lies not just in the pose and movement, but also in connecting mind and body with awareness and compassion.

One of her students (Laura D.) has this to say about the experience: “[This class has] great guidance and marvelous teaching. I missed out on years of yoga because I just thought I couldn’t do it with this body, but I was SO very wrong! It feels fantastic...and my body is definitely grateful that I am listening to it more.”

When asked what the most difficult part of yoga is for her students, Rachel responds “Signing up for class the first time!” After that, she says it is simply a matter of showing up and being ready to have a great time.

To find out more about upcoming plus-size classes, contact Prairie Yoga by emailing prairieyoga@comcast.net or calling 630-968-3216. Anyone interested may also visit prairieyoga.org to see a listing of all Prairie Yoga’s studio class and specialty class offerings.

About Prairie Yoga
Prairie Yoga is recognized as a premiere yoga center for mindful, alignment-based yoga. The faculty is highly trained with extensive experience in a variety of yoga styles. Founded in 2006, the organization’s aim is two-fold; to lead the way in offering exceptional group classes and workshops to students of all abilities and to offer the best and most comprehensive professional teacher training programs and continuing education opportunities taught by world-class master instructors from across the country. Prairie Yoga is located at 4701 Auvergne Avenue, Suite 104 in Lisle, Illinois.www.prairieyoga.org.