What it means to be a plus-size person of color practicing yoga, breaking stereotypes, and DIY yoga, on Episode 7 of the Bawdy Love Podcast.
Known for posting her headstands and backbends on Instagram, Jessamyn Stanley didn’t always love yoga – in fact, her first Bikram session was anything but relaxing. But years later, she found respite and spiritual curiosity in yoga amidst crushing depression. Now, Jessamyn is in love with yoga and inspires women of all sizes to embrace their bodies and try yoga through her blog and Instagram.
In this episode, we talk about the many barriers to entry that new yoga practitioners face – from financial to spiritual. We discuss what the stereotypical practitioner looks like (white, thin, wealthy woman) and the cultural appropriation that accompanies some Western practices. Jeesamyn also gives you some tips for DIY practice in your own home with your own props.
Sign-up for the Bawdy Love Podcast newsletter and get bonus content, exclusive deals, and my secret episode Silencing Your Inner Critic During Sex. Past episodes, longer show notes and more can be found at LaurenMarieFleming.com/Podcast.
Topics covered in this conversation include:
plus-size yoga, self-love, cultural appropriation, and removing barriers to entry in practice.
Also discussed: Jessamyn’s article on the expenses of yoga.
Quotables from this episode:
- “You can practice a pose your entire life & learn something new the day before you die.” -@JessNotJazz on the Bawdy Love Podcast
- “Yoga came to the west via eastern men & was translated to the lives of wealthy white people.” -@JessNotJazz on the Bawdy Love Podcast
- “My taped-together box set of Star Wars VHS tapes is still one of my favorite props.” -@JessNotJazz on the Bawdy Love Podcast
- “It doesn’t matter if you actually touch your foot. The point is to really open your body.” -@JessNotJazz on the Bawdy Love Podcast
- “The worst thing in life is realizing that you’ve been moving in autopilot.” -@JessNotJazz on the Bawdy Love Podcast
More About Jessamyn Stanley
Jessamyn Stanley is a yoga teacher, body positivity advocate, and writer based in Durham, North Carolina. Jessamyn uses high energy vinyasa flow as a way to move past mental and emotional barriers. Her classes provide a body positive approach to yoga which celebrates students’ bodies and encourages them to ask “How Do I Feel?” rather than “How Do I Look?” when practicing yoga.
Jessamyn graduated from Asheville Yoga Center’s 230- hour Teacher Training Program and her eponymous yoga lifestyle blog and Instagram attract thousands of followers daily, offering tips and advice for other yoga practitioners while documenting her home yoga practice. Jessamyn contributes to Mind Body Green, Buzzfeed, and Elephant Journal, and has been featured by a wide range of international and national media outlets including Good Morning America, New York Magazine, The Huffington Post, The Daily Mail, and The Sunday Times, among others.
To connect with Jessamyn:
- JessamynStanley.com
- Instagram – MyNameIsJessamyn
- Tumblr – My Name Is Jessamyn
Connect more with Lauren and the Bawdy Love revolution:
Bawdy Love is a revolution, one full of people audacious enough to stand up and say “I am worthy of love as I am right here, right now, no exceptions. My body deserves to be seen, my voice deserves to be heard. I will not shrink. I will expand and thrive.”
Are you in?
- Join the revolution and get your free Bawdy Love basics video series.
- Connect with other like-minded Bawdy Lovelies on the Bawdy Love Facebook group.
- Get personalized tips and tools to boost your self-confidence, incorporate self-care into your daily routine, and profoundly love your body with individual coaching with Lauren.
Sign-up for the Bawdy Love Podcast newsletter and get bonus content, exclusive deals, and my secret episode Silencing Your Inner Critic During Sex. Past episodes, longer show notes and more can be found at LaurenMarieFleming.com/Podcast.