Calling for all tips from large-chested yoginis! I know we’re not the majority in most studios, but sisters, I absolutely celebrate each of you who shows up on the mat despite the unique challenges we face with our beautiful, abundant bodies!
Our curves are actually teaching us to be more creative and intuitive yogis - what a gift that is! My chest has definitely been my greatest teacher in finding modifications that honor my body’s wisdom. When low lunges feel impossible, I’ve fallen in love with using blocks under my hands or trying a supported runner’s lunge with my knee slightly lifted. Game changers!
The joy I feel when I finally find that perfect adjustment is unmatched, and it reminds me that yoga truly is for everybody (and every body). I’m so grateful for spaces like this where we can share our victories and laugh about the moments when child’s pose becomes more like “resting Buddha” pose. Your practice is valid, your modifications are brilliant, and your presence on the mat is nothing short of inspiring!
What kinds of modifications are you making?
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Pro tip for my fellow yogis with… generous chest blessings! Try widening your stance during lunges and forward folds as it creates more space and comfort. For child’s pose, spread those knees wide like you’re making room for magic!
I absolutely adore Adriene, but I do wish she’d acknowledge these modifications more often in her flows. When she talks about creating that ‘cozy personal sanctuary’ in certain poses, some of us are like… girl, this is less sanctuary and more like trying to breathe through a pillow fortress!
Keep flowing, beautiful souls!
Some poses were literally designed without considering breasts at all, which suddenly made sense why I felt like I was being smothered by my own chest!
So many traditional poses were created in a time when only men practiced, which explains why some inversions feel impossibly uncomfortable for those of us with curves. Now I approach every pose thinking about how to honor my body’s unique needs (just like we’d modify for tight hamstrings, why not for abundant chests?).
Adapting poses isn’t ‘cheating’, it’s actually practicing yoga the way it was meant to be: personalized for each individual body.
I totally relate! Sometimes my body feels like it has its own agenda during certain poses. I’ve been focusing on strengthening my back and core through poses like cobra and plank variations to better support my upper body.
In ancient yogic philosophy, they believed that accepting our body’s unique challenges during practice actually deepens our spiritual connection, it’s called ‘santosha’ or contentment with what is. So when my flexibility feels limited, I try to remember that working with (not against) my body’s structure is part of the journey too!
If you’re venturing into backbends, these modifications might not be as effective. I still struggle with Wheel Pose because my chest feels compressed. I’m focusing on strengthening my back and shoulders to support the movement better, that might be the trick to some of the more intermediate/advanced movements.
Oh my goodness, yes to the Child’s Pose struggles! Opening my knees WIDE transforms everything suddenly, I can actually feel my spine lengthening instead of just squishing myself into an uncomfortable ball, and it’s become one of my favorite restorative poses now.
In traditional yogic philosophy, using props like blocks is actually considered a form of ahimsa (non violence) toward yourself by honoring your body’s current needs rather than forcing it into positions. The blocks help me find that sweet spot where I can breathe deeply and really feel grounded in the pose. Plus, they make it so much easier to keep proper alignment without straining!
takes deep breath Oh yes, I totally understand!
I keep trying to breathe through those moments and let them float away like clouds, but honestly? They still manage to throw off my flow.
Grounding myself with a wider stance really does make a difference; it’s like giving myself more foundation to work with.
Oh my goodness, yes to all of this!
I started widening my stance in forward folds and pointing my toes out slightly, wait, actually as I’m typing this, I’m realizing that’s literally what created space for my chest to finally fold deeper without feeling squished! Our bodies naturally guide us to these modifications when we listen, and suddenly what felt impossible becomes this beautiful, spacious stretch that honors exactly who we are on the mat.
The most liberating discovery in my practice came during a forward fold when I realized I could actually place my chest on either side of my knee, creating this beautiful channel of space that suddenly allowed my forehead to meet my knee and my breath to flow freely like a river finding its natural course.
There’s something empowering about releasing the need to compress and contain our bodies with multiple tight layers, instead embracing softer support like tank tops with supportive built-in bras that honor our natural form while still providing the stability we need. It used to be suffocating poses, and now it’s a genuine connection with my body.
What once felt like an obstacle becomes an invitation to explore creative pathways and discover new dimensions of each asana. Our abundant forms aren’t barriers to overcome but wise teachers guiding us toward innovations that make the practice uniquely our own, and every modification we discover is like finding a secret door in a familiar room that opens to unexpected possibilities.
Omgggg you should totalllly watch Alia’s Curvy Flow video!! It’s sooooo helpful and packed with amazinggg tips that have realllly transformed my practice!
I’ve been experimenting with widening my stance in poses and while everyone swears by it, I’m starting to think I’m just creating a whole new challenge of trying not to look like I’m doing warrior pose in every single asana!
Sometimes we need to completely swap out poses rather than just modifying them, like when Child’s Pose just doesn’t give me that deep back stretch, no matter how many props I use, Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend gives me that same calming effect and amazing stretch.
I stopped trying to force my body into the ‘right’ shape and started focusing on what the pose is actually supposed to do for me. Much better. Now I’m all about finding poses that create the same benefits rather than chasing after picture-perfect shapes that just don’t work with my anatomy!
The challenge isn’t just with the poses, but the transition between them sometimes.
Maintaining a wider foundation throughout your practice might actually enhance stability once your body adapts to this new alignment. Sometimes what feels unstable initially is simply our body resisting change from familiar patterns. Rather than reverting to old habits, you might explore staying with the discomfort a bit longer; often our greatest growth comes from gently pushing through that initial wobble. The narrower stance may feel safer, but could it be limiting your potential expansion?
not to overcompensate by arching your back too much in poses where your chest feels like it’s in the way 
.
and it led to some serious back discomfort 
. Keep your spine aligned 
and engage your core 
!