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

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.