Xheavyweight® Yoga Is A Practice
Its Students Don’t Take Lightly

by Darline Turner Lee, Physician Assistant, ACSM Exercise Specialist

Article Last Reviewed: Sept. 9, 2006

“Welcome everyone,” says instructor Abby Lentz. “If you’re ready, I’d like to go ahead and get started. I want to encourage you all to go with what your body will do. There’s no rush. If there are particular movements that you can’t do right now, it’s okay. You’ll get there-in time.”

The small gathering is cozy and six students sit comfortably on mats facing the instructor. The “studio” is the reception area of Central Family Practice, with its stuffed clouds hanging from the ceiling and tasteful southwestern décor. The calm atmosphere is what one would expect for a yoga class, but similarities to “conventional” yoga classes end there. All of the participants, including, are large-what many would call obese. But HeavyWeight® Yoga participants are every bit as serious about their yoga practice as their slim counterparts, and the supportive nurturing environment welcomed me and three other newcomers in as friends.

HeavyWeight® Yoga is the brainchild of Lentz, certified Kripalu and Restorative Yoga instructor and owner of HeartFelt Yoga. “Kripalu yoga emphasizes proper breathing and alignment, as well as developing an inner peace that can be transferred to the outer environment,” says Lentz. She is particularly drawn to the principle of being good to oneself and sending positive messages. Although Lentz has been practicing yoga since 1974, she did not earn her teaching certificate until June 2004. She believed yoga was a practice for “skinny, disciplined people” which she wasn’t. She weighed approximately one hundred and twenty-five pounds when she started practicing yoga, but gained weight as the decades rolled by, as many people do. Her inner messages were always, “You’re old, you’re fat and you’re ugly.”

Nina Beucler, one of the first Kripalu instructors in Austin and Lentz’s mentor says, “Kripalu yoga’s philosophy is to create non-threatening environments which cater to the needs of the students.“ says
“Yoga is a heart led practice. If you’re not open to everyone, you’re not really practicing yoga. Yoga is inclusive, not exclusive. Abby really has the heart for Kripalu instruction and it’s only fitting that her practice is called HeartFelt Yoga.”

“For this pose, the important element is to keep your pelvis and spine on the mat,” Lentz says to her students. “Tune into your skeleton and not your flesh. Your flesh will always be in contact with the mat, but I want you to remain aware of what your skeleton is doing and not your flesh.”

Lentz began working with other large individuals like herself during her training and began to redesign and realign yoga for the larger body. “Larger individuals just can’t move from one position to another as rapidly as smaller individuals and the pace of conventional yoga classes is often intimidating. The weight dramatically changes how to do the poses.”

Shelle Madalinski, one of Lentz’s first students, said “Other classes are just too fast. I have tried several other classes, but often ended up in tears, frustrated because I could not keep up with the pace and perform the poses. I’d get discouraged and quit going. HeavyWeight® Yoga makes yoga accessible to heavy people. No matter how big or inactive you feel, Abby gives you the tools, the encouragement and the environment in which to grow.” Madalinski has stayed with yoga longer than any other form of exercise due in large part to Lentz.

Other studio owners say that they offer yoga classes in which larger individuals may participate, but they typically don’t offer classes consisting only of larger individuals.

“We occasionally offer a four to six class series called Yoga for Bigger Bodies,” say Rich Goldstein, one of the owners of Yoga Yoga. “But only once or twice a year. We encourage all of our participants to start with one of our beginner classes and to develop a long-term commitment to yoga. Yoga practice is not a quick fix and to make changes, people need to develop body awareness and acceptance. That takes time.”

Kat Graham, owner of Balanced Body Yoga and Wellness in Cedar Park says, “We offer a beginners class every Tuesday and Thursday evening. It’s a class where you can come and learn the principles of yoga and master the poses. Although it’s not a class specifically for overweight people, it’s a perfect environment for beginners. The classes are small and intimate and participants are encouraged to take as much time as they need in this class to learn the principles of yoga and the poses.”

Wayne Baker, the owner of YogaGroove Bikram Yoga in Austin says, “Bikram yoga is an excellent modality for beginners. Bikram Yoga is very healing and restorative. Participants naturally develop good health, muscle tone, a sense of well-being and proper weight.”

“Now move your abdominal flesh to one side and reach,” Lentz tells her class.

“HeavyWeight® Yoga is based on the principles of body awareness, self acceptance and self love,” says Lentz. She stresses body awareness, not losing weight, and teaches her students to focus on what the inner body is doing, the skeleton, not what the flesh is doing. Lentz aims to give her students the confidence and support to work hard on their individual yoga practices.

“Of course it would be better for my health if I weighed less, but I am not going to let my current size stop me from doing the things that I love and that are good for me,” says Lentz. “And in time, I’ll be able to better control my weight. For now, I am happy that I am able to make healthy choices for myself out of love for myself.”

HeavyWeight® yogini Babs Didner says, “I love having a larger teacher. Abby really understands what her students’ bodies can do. It’s so encouraging to see a large, limber, strong body.” Didner now focuses on developing a strong body, knowing she can change her body from the inside before she sees it change on the outside.

Didner highly recommends HeavyWeight® Yoga to other large individuals who are considering starting a yoga practice. “When I first started yoga, I cried, because it was so hard for my body to do the poses. But in HeavyWeight® Yoga, there are always new people, large people, all moving at their own pace, focusing on their own bodies. It’s really refreshing.”

HeavyWeight® yogini Connie Ryan agrees. “HeavyWeight® Yoga showed me that I can be strong and flexible now. I am learning to push myself in an area where I previously had many mental limitations. I don’t feel self conscious in HeavyWeight® Yoga, so I can relax and work hard.”

That was the refreshingly absent component of the class. There was no emphasis on body size or shape. There were no stolen glances or whispered comments. There was no judgment.

HeavyWeight® Yoga provides an environment where a large person can begin to make physical changes without being self-conscious. Abby Lentz has created a safe place in which large people can begin a practice of body awareness and transformation while modeling strength, flexibility, and self-confidence. HeavyWeight® Yoga is blazing a trail and transforming yoga and lives in the process.

Yoga Venues that Accommodate Beginners with Bigger Bodies In Austin
Balanced Body Yoga and Wellness – Located in Cedar Park, Balanced Body Yoga and Wellness focuses on integrating the mind, body and spirit to bring peace and balance to the lives of its clients. The studio offers thirteen classes each week all suitable for the beginner and applicable to yogis of all levels. For more information, visit www.balancedbodyyoga.com or call 512- 848-0780.

Heart Felt Yoga – A yoga practice based on Kripalu yoga. The emphasis is on body awareness, self-acceptance, and self-love. Classes offered in classic Kripalu yoga, HeavyWeight Yoga and Stretch and Restore Yoga. For more information, visit www.heartfeltyoga.com or call 512-258-4988.

YogaGroove – YogaGroove is a Bikram yoga studio. Bikram yoga is a series of twenty six poses (asanas) practiced at high temperatures designed to oxygenate and detoxify and restore it to a healthy, natural working order. YogaGroove offers twenty-six classes per week at a variety of times and skill levels. For more information, visit www.yogagroove.com or call 512-407-9909.

Yoga Yoga – With four studios in Austin, Yoga Yoga has something for everyone. Classes are offered in a variety of yoga modalities including Hatha, Kundalini, and Ashtanga yoga. There are also weekend intensives as well as teacher training workshops and series. There are classes for the first time practitioner as well as the veteran yogi. Go to www.yogayoga.com to find the class and location best for you.