Teaching Yoga for Round Bodies

Introduction

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

Bhujangasana
The Cobra Pose

This asana is usually not harder for fat people than for anyone else. However, there are a couple of items to keep in mind.

One, usually the hardest part of the asana is lying prone with the head on the ground. It’s hard for a fat person to breathe that way, since some abdominal and chest fat is compressed upward. Once one enters the asana, it stops being a problem. Two, it is very difficult for a fat person to keep the legs together.

The normal difficulty with this is exacerbated by the need to tighten the buttocks and press the pubis and thighs into the floor. This “squishes” the thighs, and once again, the fat has to go somewhere, and it ends up on the sides.

I haven’t found that spreading the legs slightly creates any problem as long as the buttocks are tight and the pubis is pressed to the floor to protect the lower back. However, one may use a strap to help keep the knees from separating too far, if necessary.