Former binge-eater Dana Falsetti fights back at fat shamers by owning it at yoga

Dana Falsetti is proving to her thousands of Instagram followers that you don’t need to be thin to be flexible.

After hitting a low point in her life during college when she reached her heaviest weight of 300lbs, Dana joined the gym in hopes of feeling happier about her body.

But, after losing a significant amount of weight, Dana didn’t feel any happier about herself.

‘I was still me, I brought myself and all of my habits and tendencies and fears with me to my ‘new’ body,’ she writes on her website.

 

Upcoming workshops! Sign up at the link in my bio. We had a blast today at @mindthemat - sometimes the energy is just so on and everybody is laughing and falling and down to keep trying. I saw a woman who said she was too old to go upside down straddle press into a headstand out of nowhere... I saw tears of revelation and clarity and triumph. I mean seriously I get to witness some incredible moments. As a teacher there's nothing more special to me than that moment where equal parts trust, surrender, and strength all work together to make magic happen. So if you\'re feeling hesitant, if you\'ve always wanted to try or are quietly practicing at home, come to a workshop. We focus on breaking down the vinyasa into its foundational shapes and/or how to piece together a strong, safe, and lighthearted inversion practice. Check the bullshit and the door and find out what you are more than capable of. PS I\'ll be with @mynameisjessamyn in Denver! Photo by @brookemichellej

A photo posted by Dana Falsetti (@nolatrees) onFeb 20, 2016 at 7:30pm PST

 

It's not impossible - you just can\'t give up so fast. This is a hard lesson that I\'ve been learning over the last couple years. We live in a time of immediate satisfaction. We want what we want... when we want it (now). But the practice doesn\'t work like that. I think saying something is impossible is just an excuse not to try, and in my eyes giving yourself that chance to try is everything. It's not impossible. You just need to believe in yourself enough to prove yourself wrong.

A photo posted by Dana Falsetti (@nolatrees) onFeb 4, 2016 at 8:26am PST

As a last attempt to regain her self-esteem, Dana joined a local yoga class, which she says at first was daunting.

‘I walked in having the largest body in the room on top of being the beginner, and yoga was hard,’ she said.

‘I couldn’t hold downward dog for five breaths, my shoulders were on fire, and all the while other people in the room were popping up into optional headstands like it was no big deal,’ she said.

She doubted she would be able to join in with these people, thinking her body would limit her practice.

But it turns out, it is not your body that enables you to set limits. It’s your mind.

And Dana has proved that, by completely owning it at yoga.

 

It’s important for beginners – especially those in larger bodies – to know that a graceful, strong, and mindful practice is accessible. Your body is not in the way and you don’t have to wait until you’re in a different place in your life to start exploring your potential. We are the ones holding ourselves back. Yoga has helped me embrace my body, believe in my worth, and proven time and time again that appearances don’t matter – what matters is how you feel. codyapp.com/makingshapes This plan has 3 Instructional videos, 3 Flow classes and 1 Strength class that repeat over the course of the month. Continuing to show up for yourself is key, so repeating the classes will help you familiarize yourself with the movements and build strength and confidence. The Strength video will help you prepare for the other videos by developing foundational strength in your entire body. The Instructional videos focus on alignment and break down postures to their foundational shapes. You’ll be able to apply your knowledge and strength in the flow classes. To learn more, try the free preview! Link is in my bio. Only 48 hours left to get Making Shapes at the early bird pricing.

A photo posted by Dana Falsetti (@nolatrees) onFeb 1, 2016 at 7:24am PST

 

I practice to prove myself wrong. I remember being so convinced I\'d never do crow or a headstand... forearm balance seemed like a total fantasy. I was wrong not to believe in myself, but that's a lesson I needed to learn. Keep showing up long enough to find out you\'re already capable, already all the things you think you need to be, and you\'ll keep coming back. Check out my new @codyapp plan to work on the steps in between. That's where all the magic happens.

A photo posted by Dana Falsetti (@nolatrees) onJan 25, 2016 at 6:11pm PST

Now she shows off her skills to the rest of the world to help them to realise that they can do it to.

She writes: ‘Many people think they need to be thin, flexible, or strong to practise yoga.

Please, hear me when I say that yoga is for everybody.’

She hopes others will use yoga as a way to find out how they’re feeling inside, instead of a way to further their judgement of their own attractiveness.

Dana believes joining yoga is a spiritual practice, and one that’s life-changing.

Since developing her yoga skills, Dana has received a huge online following. She currently has over 150,000 Instagram followers, who are all inspired by her strength and openness. One fan has deemed her an ‘incredible inspiration’ while others follow her account to keep themselves motivated within their own health journey.

She currently offers workshops all around the USA, and teaches online classes to others hoping to find their own inner peace via her website.

She says: ‘Give yourself a chance, give yourself the gift of knowing your worth and it will change your life.’