‘I'm just as flexible as skinny girls’: Size 22 woman wows with complicated yoga poses on social media
- San Francisco-based woman Valerie Sagun, 27, has over 80,000 followers on her Instagram page Big Gal Yoga where she posts photos of herself in poses
It's yoga like you've never seen it before!
Valerie
Sagun, a 27-year-old yoga fanatic from the San Francisco area, has been
taking social media by storm with her feats of strength and flexibility
on her Instagram page Big Gal Yoga - promoting body positivity as she goes.
'I
just want to make sure that people don't feel like that they have to be
scared or intimidated by learning yoga from someone who doesn't look
like them,' she explains on her website's blog.
She's got the moves: Valerie Sagun, a
27-year-old yogi, has gained over 80,000 followers on Instagram thanks
to her impressive yoga poses
Striking a balance: Valerie claims
that her aim is to show others that they don't need to be intimidated
out of trying yoga because of their size
'All
of us have body issues whether you are big or small, but it's good to
just take the time to look at yourself and just love it as it is now.'
In
a series of stylish, ever-colorful yoga outfits, Valerie stretches her
way to poses that even the slim-and-trim yogi would find challenging -
showing that thin does not automatically mean athletic and vice versa.
She
performs headstands, balances on a yoga wheel and even bends into the
splits with ease in her photos, which have gained her over 80,000
followers on the social media site.
'My
fans are surprised when I do the splits because I'm a bigger girl, but
I'm just as flexible as skinny girls,' Valerie recently told Closer. 'Some poses hurt my wrists because I'm carrying a lot of weight – but I love chocolate and meatballs!
On point: In addition to her impressive poses, Valerie models a variety of colorful and creative yoga wear
Size is just a number: Valerie is able to pull off poses that even slim-and-trim people would find challenging
Moving up: Valerie started taking yoga while studying fine art at university three years ago
'I don't care what people say, I believe I have a great body – women tell me I'm inspiring and men think my curves are sexy!'
The
plus-size social media sensation began doing yoga about three years ago
while taking a Fine Arts degree at university, after signing up to take
Hatha classes twice per week.
She
now uses almost anywhere as her personal yoga mat - pulling moves in
her backyard, a local park, on the beach and as well as in a local
studio, sharing her achievements along the way in photo and video form.
The
practice has been so life-changing and inspiring for her, she recently
announced that she hopes to learn to pass on the benefits to others by
becoming a teacher and giving other plus-size people the confidence to
try yoga.
Positive: Valerie also promotes
self-acceptance, saying, 'I believe I have a great body – women tell me
I'm inspiring and men think my curves are sexy!'
Whenever,
wherever: Starting with taking Hatha classes twice per week, Valerie has
moved onto not only taking classes, but practicing any place she can
Ups and
downs: The yogi says that one downside to practicing at her size is that
she gets sore wrists because of her weight, but makes no apologies
because she loves 'chocolate and meatballs'
On her way: Valerie intends to gain teacher training and pass on her tips and tricks to pupils
Valerie is currently raising money through GoFundMe for teacher training tuition to the 7 Centers Yoga Arts in Sedona, Arizona.
So far, she has raised $2,700 of the $4,000 thanks to her very vocal supporters.
'Please
continue to do what you love!' wrote one woman who donated to Valerie's
cause. 'I'm also a big gal learning yoga and I love that you are strong
enough to follow your dream.'
'You
are absolutely fantastic. So beautiful and so inspiring,' wrote
another. 'I am a former yoga instructor and I don't think I can do half
the poses you are currently awesome at!'
After reading this I have no reason not to try and learn yoga myself. i wouldn't call myself fat but I am a bigger sized girl and I have always shied away from going to yoga classes because I am worried about what other people will think of me and my size. This has really inspired me to go out and learn some yoga poses.
ReplyDeleteIrving Hammond @ Panacea CR