Weight Is Not A Measure

At yoga trainings, classes or workshops I’ve attended it is not unusual for the doshas to come up.  When they do it is very common for someone to turn to me, look me up and down in a flash, then with a smug finality announce,

“You’re a Kapha”   

I smile and respond,

“Fuck You”

No not really but I am sorely tempted. I’m tempted because sometimes my fiery Pitta nature gets the best of me.   I’m working on it.

I’m sure there are some people reading this who might think that wanting to tell my fellow yogis and yoginis to fuck off is not very yogic.  That’s okay with me as long as you are also thinking that it isn’t very yogic to sum up an individual based simply on their size.  The doshas are not just about body types. 

But we're human and humans like easy answers (me too) and we seem to make a lot of assumptions about people based on their appearance. I’ve been rejected in partner work .  I've  listened quietly and smiled (I told you I am working on it)  when people are amazed I can perform an asana, or exclaim that I have pretty good alignment.  They actually say these things out loud in astonishment.  Out loud.

 

Sometimes, when discussing my difficulty with a particular pose or discussing how much yoga has helped me I may mention my weight in passing as this does have an impact on my asana practice.   When I say overweight, or god forbid, f-a-t, there are always a few yoginis who cry in unison “Awwww”. You know that “awwwwwww”.  It’s the, ‘You shouldn’t talk/think/feel that way about yourself.  That is sooo saad’  awwwwwww.  

Please note before you ‘awwwwww’ at me.

I did not say fat and ugly. 

I did not say fat and stupid. 

I did not say fat and lazy.

Weight is a number on a scale.   When I googled 'weight', I learned that weight is actually a measure of one half of a repulsive force exerted on a body, or mass, by contact with, or support from, another body. Whatever that means.  

Weight is only one measure of one thing.  It is not a measure of moral fiber, the ability to love, intelligence, will, determination, kindness or spirituality. 

It is not even a measure of the quality of my yoga practice.  Really, it isn’t. 

I understand we live in a larger (no pun intended) culture where thin is in.  I've noticed that many yogis and yoga teachers have entered the practice by way of sports and fitness. I understand the excess weight can be a death knell to the competitive athlete or professional dancer and that fat is a scary thing for them.  I completely get that yoga practitioners are bombarded with the same media and cultural messages as the rest of society but I propose we try to leave the cultural beauty and fitness body ideal out of my yoga practice and I won’t swear at you.  Deal?