“I used to take ballet but I can’t go back because I’ve gained some weight.” <\/em><\/strong>-a medium sized, middle aged woman in my yoga class<\/p>\n “I want to fit in a bikini by the summer.”<\/em><\/strong>-a 6th grade dancer (to her mom) who already fits in a bikini just fine<\/p>\n “Thank you for a class that burned a lot of calories,\u00a0I’m\u00a0going out for my\u00a0son’s birthday\u00a0tonight.” –<\/strong><\/em>an already thin woman in my Yoga Sculpt class (whose son probably really wants his mom to eat cake with him)<\/p>\n “I haven’t been back to your class because I’ve gained weight and I don’t want to look at all the other skinny girls there.”-<\/em><\/strong>a\u00a0yoga student who I hadn’t\u00a0seen in awhile<\/p>\n “Nothing like a stomach bug to lose those last 10 lbs…”<\/strong> –<\/em>a fellow fitness professional<\/p>\n “I need to go on a diet this week.”-<\/em><\/strong>a 17 year old\u00a0dance\u00a0student of mine (who thought I wasn’t listening)<\/p>\n Is it just me, or is this kind of talk really depressing? It’s kind of the norm, but when I actually take the time to think about it I realize how much it sucks. This is\u00a0fatphobia in action. And it’s not just oppressive for actual fat people.\u00a0It also keeps people of all shapes and sizes stuck obsessing over every calorie they consume and every step they take. The world of yoga, dance, and fitness is a\u00a0bubble of super fit people. I work in it every day. In spite of the fact, many of the people who take my classes like to call themselves “fat” on the regular. The truth is, nearly all of them have at least some level of thin privilege<\/a>.<\/p>\n Occasionally when someone says one of these comments directly to me, I can come up with a witty reply. Most of the time, it’s just conversation that I overhear. I pretend not to be paying attention and bite my tongue. I know that most\u00a0people are not interested in hearing a\u00a0lecture on how to be more body positive. So I’ve been sitting with a lot of this commentary for the past few months. I’ve been making\u00a0mental (and sometimes actual) notes of it, and compiling my thoughts. It’s hard to find the words on the spot sometimes, but I’ve come up with a list of some\u00a0responses to the things I hear my students say.<\/p>\n I want everyone to feel welcome in my classes.<\/strong> Even if you are new to this, or don’t happen to look like every other person in the room I’m happy you’re here.<\/p>\n You don’t need to make excuses for yourself.<\/strong> So many people call themselves\u00a0out on their lack of strength or flexibility or experience before they’ve even tried my class. It’s all good. Just\u00a0do\u00a0your best. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n I could care less if you ever achieve a 6 pack from doing core work.<\/strong> There are plenty of other good reasons<\/a> to pursue a strong core, though!<\/p>\n I think it’s awesome when you rock the clothes that make you feel comfortable in class<\/strong>, regardless of your body type. For example, when in a hot-as-balls yoga class, a\u00a0sports bra by itself should be fair game for anyone who wants to wear it. I am usually too preoccupied with other things, like giving alignment cues and checking the volume of the music to even notice what you are wearing. (This is probably why so many of my dance students get away with breaking the dress code in my class.)<\/p>\n Don’t ask me how many calories I think we burned.<\/strong> Don’t know don’t care. I gave up counting those somewhere in between the time I sold my heart rate monitor watch on eBay<\/a>\u00a0and before fitbits became a thing. Again, there are better ways<\/a> to measure your progress.<\/p>\n You don’t have to do any workout you hate.<\/strong> I hope you take my class because it’s your favorite way to break a sweat. If not, go find a new activity. I promise I won’t be mad.<\/p>\n You can’t assume anything based on someones appearance. <\/strong>I know that, and I want you to know it too.\u00a0Aesthetics and performance are two completely different goals. I see a ton of people come through\u00a0my classes every week. I’ve quickly learned that just because someone appears to be “fit” by conventional standards doesn’t necessarily mean they are. The opposite also proves to be true quite often. And guess what? All are welcome. I’m not judging and neither should you.\u00a0Come as you are and be the best version of you that you can be.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/itsjennaj.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/NOT-COOL-1-683x1024.png\")
<\/p>\nThis might be normal but it’s NOT COOL!<\/h2>\n
For every dancer, yogi, and fitness junkie who rolls up into my class, these are a few things\u00a0I want you to know:<\/h2>\n
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