Beginning your yoga journey can be intimidating. It can seem like everyone around you has been at it for years, flipping into inversions and pretzel poses effortlessly. For plus-size women, starting a yoga journey can be an even more daunting venture.
Over the years, the image of yoga has become uniformly slim and white, lacking inclusivity for thick and brown bodies. This not only is an inaccurate representation of yoga’s true roots. It also scares women away from a practice that may transform their lives. This is why it’s critical to destigmatize thick women in yoga.
Empowerment and wellness coach and founder of Thick Thigh Yoga Saisha Lacon spoke with 21Ninety about body positivity, her personal yoga journey, body-inclusive athleisure brands and more.
21NINETY: What is the dharma behind Thick Thigh Yoga?
SAISHA LACON: Thick Thigh Yoga is a wellness space where underrepresented body types can feel confident, empowered and nurtured. All bodies are welcome in my classes and events. They will actually be supported, instead of ignored.
I believe in challenging societal expectations and redefining what a “yoga body” looks like. Thick Thigh Yoga exists to empower individuals to embrace their bodies through movement, mindfulness and self-love, while providing a space that celebrates diversity, inclusivity and body positivity.
21N: How do you advocate for body positivity through your work?
SL: I advocate for body positivity by providing accessible yoga practices that encourage people to embrace their bodies. Through my classes, social media and retreats, I share my personal experiences. [I also share] those of my clients who have found freedom in their bodies. I emphasize that strength and beauty come in all forms, and I actively work to dismantle the notion that wellness is exclusive to slim, white bodies. My goal is to create representation and inspire others to find joy and confidence in their own skin.
21N: How can any women who feel apprehensive about embarking on a group fitness journey ease their anxiety?
SL: It’s important to remember that fitness is a journey, not a competition. Start by finding a space that aligns with your values and where you feel welcomed. You don’t need to be “fit enough” or “thin enough” to start.
My advice is to enter with a mindset of curiosity, rather than judgment. Focus on what your body can do, rather than what it can’t yet or how it looks. Embrace the community aspect, knowing others are on their own unique journeys as well. Take breaks when needed, listen to your body and be kind to yourself. This is exactly why I suggest starting with one one-on-one sessions or online classes to boost your confidence and knowledge, allowing you to feel more comfortable in the group setting.
21N: What are the benefits of mindful movement?
SL: Mindful movement offers so many benefits for all bodies from increased mobility and flexibility to reduced stress and better mental clarity. It also helps cultivate a deeper connection with your body. You learn to appreciate what it can do. With practices, like yoga, you’re able to engage in a range of movement that builds strength, promotes heart health and reduces the impact of chronic pain. All while fostering self-acceptance, spiritual and mental wellness.
21N: Why do you think yoga and pilates became so uprooted and associated with slim, white bodies rather than thick, Black bodies?
SL: Yoga and pilates were originally practiced in non-Western cultures and had nothing to do with body size or race. However, through commercialization, media representation and the fitness industry’s focus on aesthetics, the wellness space became heavily marketed toward slim, white bodies. This erasure has pushed people of color and larger-bodied individuals out of spaces that originally welcomed everyone. Now, it’s about reclaiming those practices and making them accessible to all body types and ethnic backgrounds again.
21N: Did you have to overcome your own apprehension when embarking on your own yoga journey? What does the practice mean to you now?
SL: Initially I did not have any issues joining a yoga class because I went to my best friend’s class. I had the luxury of being taught by a person that I loved, and I felt very welcome in the space. I truly only started to feel apprehension and confusion in the space when I started to look for resources that I felt represented me and my body. To this day, it’s harder to find any materials for people with larger bodies.
This is exactly what led the charge for me to say I need to be the representation that I don’t see. It’s not fair for larger body people who are fully capable, but unaware because the materials don’t exist. I’m going to make sure it exists now. I know how discouraging it feels to not see anybody who looks like you in a class, especially now with the internet being so vast and you still don’t see yourself in any way. I have created a space where people understand this is here for us too.
21N: How can society make more of these wellness spaces inclusive for all body types?
SL: We need more representation in media and advertising that showcases diverse bodies. Fitness professionals, brands and studios must actively create welcoming environments. [They can] offer classes that are size-inclusive and hiring instructors from diverse backgrounds. Language matters too. Avoid fat-shaming or promoting weight loss, as the primary goal helps create a space that focuses on overall well-being. Make adaptations in class formats and equipment to ensure that every body type can participate without feeling out of place. Yoga teachers should know modifications for bodies that are not theirs, which is a common issue and part of why people with different bodies feel like they aren’t seen or are ignored. [They also may feel] judged immediately for what the expectation of their movements is going to be.
21N: Are there body-inclusive athleisure brands or wellness practitioners you want to shout out?
SL: I personally have my own brand of bathing suits and yoga wear that comes in sizes 2xs to 6xl, with new items coming in October. I love brands like Girlfriend Collective and Superfit Hero for making athleisure that are both size-inclusive and ethically produced. For wellness practitioners, I admire the work of Christa Janine. [She] is a fellow advocate in body-positive yoga. Dianne Bondy focuses on accessible yoga. Alex Elle and Rupi Kaur’s writing is so inspirational in the space of self love and grace.
21N: Do you have any overall advice for thick yogis?
SL: Remember that your body is powerful and capable of so much. Don’t let anyone or anything make you feel like you don’t belong in wellness spaces. Embrace the journey, listen to your body, and celebrate every small victory along the way. Yoga isn’t about how you look in the pose. It’s about how you feel in it and after your practice. Keep showing up for yourself, practice self-compassion, and know that your body is perfect as it is, right now. You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Take up space here, love yourself here, and the rest will come.
This article has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.