Such an important conversation to keep people from feeling inadequate when they struggle...in yoga....and in life. We all have our own natural strengths and weaknesses and learning to make modifications can give us confidence. Thanks Charlie for reminding us.😊

This is why it’s silly to compare yourself to others or be competitive in yoga. It’s about you and your body today.

This is so satisfying to hear. My little T-Rex arms make me feel so dumpy during certain poses. I’m not going to worry about it anymore. They arm what they arm. 😄

I’d really love to see this talked about even more. For instance - weight-related proportional differences. When I was heavier, my thighs were significantly larger (I tend to have more sizable thighs as it is) and child’s pose was not a thing lol my thighs made it impossible to fold over comfort or adequately.

This is the first thing my friends say when i tell them to try yoga! So important to know especially for beginners. The discouragement was overwhelming for me (long legs, short short torso) but you taught me that early on and I've been with you ever since! Thank you Charlie ❤

That is why you are my number one yoga instructor 😊 you made me feel “normal.” The previous instructors that I followed were all tall, and they all made me feel awkward on specific postures (not their fault). Being of a similar height as you helped me see that it is possible, with work and persistence, to do any pose. 😊

Thank you for sharing this, so people won't feel certain pose are impossible.

i get so much comfort from your videos & shorts. being a student, I didn't really have the mental (and as a result physical) energy to progress my yoga journey for almost a year and a half. i found your videos about a month ago and i seamlessly progressed in to intermediate practices because your flows are just so much fun, thank you!

You just do this Yoga thing so good Charlie. Like it's not just coming to the mat or getting alignment you really talk about the science of yoga and I love you for it

Thank you Charlie! And that explains why I love your yoga sessions so much as I have quite similar body type as yours, it makes it so easy to follow up with all the poses that you share. Thank you again ❤

Wow thanks for talking about this. I’m a short torso long legged gal and bottom heavy. Now it all makes sense 😭

Thank you thank you! ❤ This has really helped me remember to be gracious with myself and not get grumpy when certain postures feel harder.

The algorithm is crazy for this because I was just thinking about this during my morning yoga.

Omg yes!!! I’ve been doing Pilates for awhile now and there are certain poses where my hip flexers start killing me! I thought it was just a strength thing but I didn’t realize the length of my legs could be the reason! Thank you for this video! I definitely feel a little better about myself haha

Thanks for this piece of info. I'm hearing this for the 1st time and never thought of in this angle. I didn't know such a thing called body proportion exists and it has so much to do with getting deeper into each pose. Thanks for enlightening us with this info.

You've really helped me understand what it means when my teachers say it's how it feels not how it looks.

I would add the lotus pose. For some people, even extremely flexible this might be challenging.

That explains everything. In the end, yoga is about challenging our body, not comparing to others Thanks Charlie❤

I wish people truly understood this! I learned this some years ago I was studying under an ashtanga yogi and it made my huge impact in my teaching and practice

Yes! I’ve been doing yoga for over 10 years and to this day one of the hardest poses for me is sukhasana (cross legged easy pose). I have an extremely short torso and narrow hips

Yes, thank you for this! I have a short rosso and quite long legs and some poses are quite a struggle for me as a semi-beginner yoga practicer.

I’ve always known body proportions are big considerations but knowing the specifics of why is so helpful! Thank you! I’ve always wondered why I struggle with leg lifts and touching my toes and I now realizing it’s probably due to long legs. I would love to see videos on how to stretch or strengthen the appropriate muscles for these challenges! ❤

Charlie this is just GOLD 🌟 ⭐ 🌟 thank you so much for giving hope through compassion and holding space for all

How am I just now realizing that your hair is gloriously thick? GORGEOUS!

Ooh I didn’t realise that. I thought it was because I wasn’t flexible enough. That may be true 😅 but there are definitely some poses which I find very easy (now) and others I still can’t reach far enough to do. Thank you 🙏 x

This a such an important message. Far too often we feel inadequate for not achieving a pose, when for some of us in reality anotomically we just can't. Which is totally fine. We are all unique. 😊😃🧘🏼‍♀️

I love these videos! Your explanations make so much sense and allows one to have a little more compassion on oneself!

Exactly why i follow you and Kino, we have thebsame body types! ❤🎉

I saw a short of yours once and never caught your name but I loved the message. Today, this popped up on my FYP and I’m taking it as a sign to subscribe and practice 🙏

THANK YOU. I have such long legs and a super long torso. That affects my center of gravity most of all. I had to learn the hard way that my downward facing dog would have to look differently to be what it should be. But it's really frustrating that not many teachers realise this. That has resulted in my fair share of yoga injuries which is ... Not great

Body proportions are important, but more important still is skeletal variability. There are some poses that are unavailable to some people because of limited internal or external hip rotation, for example. If there is a pose that you could not have attained when you were 8 years old, likely you will not be available for you as an adult.

This makes so much sense! Thank you

Thank u for enlightening us.. used to always think y it is difficult for me to perform some asanas...this answers it

THANK YOU!!! I have thought I’m doing something wrong because some positions are still really hard for me and I’ve been doing Yoga for about 2 years. I have gotten better, but still struggle. This is probably why.

As a long legs short arms T-Rex woman I'm glad I found this video and now understood why it's always so hard to do certain poses

Very important to know this!!! Thank you❤️

Yes! Exactly this and teachers should be mentioning it in class. I have very long legs and a very short (and wide! ) torso with average length arms. I find things like lotus and dancer very easy but hate half moon and arm balances.

Thank you for sharing... I always felt bad for my short limbs not able to reach or do certain poses...

Thank you for pointing this out! I am an oversized person and simutanosly very flexible so a lott of yoga poses dont challenge me because i dont have space to go deeper in the pose and therfore i dont feel a thing cause i am really flexible.

Definetly! I have short arms and my full bust is always getting in the way 😅

Your body is designed to fit itself. You are proportionate to yourself. For example in warriors or low lunge, you can measure by stepping forward so your knee is in your armpit. That will give you the right distance. Set up the pose with the right measurements and use techniques and you will be able to work toward the strength and mobility for binds or keeping legs straight.

thank you Charlie from Cuba 🎉

Thank you Charlie for sharing your impressions.

Wow, this was an immediate like and subscribe for me. Definitely something I have struggled with at 6'3" and particularly long below the knees.

Thank you for putting in words, what I always thought. I'm so grateful for that ❤

I learned this especially when weight training. For example, I do squats differently because of my body type and hyper mobility. Same goes for yoga where I struggle at times because of it. Eventually it should get easier though it you name adjustments so you can do the pose. There's no shame in that 💜

Now I know why those low boats are so hard. Thanks

Love this clarification! It was be a little discouraging when a pose seems impossible to achieve. I’d be curious to know what the anatomical advantage/disadvantage is w pigeon pose. I always try to get my front shin parallel w the top of the mat, but doing it that way means I have to use a pillow beneath my front glute.

I really love these videos! They give a lot of insight

Thank you for sharing this piece of information! It was needed ❤

Can confirm, my arms and torso are super long and binding poses are my favorite because they're so dang easy!

I've always wondered about this!

You're lovely, Charlie ❤ Thank you so much for all that you bring us ❤

Brilliant. Thank you for acknowledging this ❤

So true now know why .Thank you for this.

Great video!!! So true.

Thank, teacher 🤠🕊️, very interesting! ❤😂🎉😢😮😮😅😅

😮 first person talking about it 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Breathtaking 💞

Que excelente explicação sobre as posturas... adoro os seus vídeos. Abraço de Portugal ❤

And let's not forget the struggle of having more fat in certain places. There's poses I just can't do anymore because my waist and thighs and even back have more fat on them now that I'm 40 than when I was 20. It's just different now and I'm accepting it.

THANK YOU!

YES!!! this is why i liked your videos at first, i'm 5ft and always thought i did some asanas wrong but turns out i'm just petite, so thank you as always 🩵

Charlie, your English is perfect 👍🏻

I always knew this as a long legged person! Even the reason it’s harder for me to reach my toes is because they are so far away!!! Bahaha

I find seated twists more difficult because I have barely any space between my ribs and my pelvis

You are a very good communicator!

Good point.

weight too. for thin people bending legs is so much easier, you can literally fold your legs in half on top of themselves. while for someone with more weight on their legs, folding your legs in half is possible, but you can’t go as deep because there is too much flesh in the way.

Yessss! Thank you this is so important

Hello Charlie! Thank you for your channel ✨ I was hoping to know the reference of your t-shirt? 🧚🏻‍♀️ Love your work 🫶🏻

Ohh I know Charlie. Binding poses are sooo hard for me because my arms are simply not long enough to make the hinge to facilitate them. But yes, boat pose I can do in my sleep. My solution - married a guy with opposite proportions and our kids fortunately have proportionally longer legs😃

We need more videos like this

Thankyou so much for this

I am a Small Person but have long Legs....and its so often that poses challenging me so much just because i have so long legs in propotion the rest xD but since i know it, i can improve better :)

I have super short arms and it makes supporting myself impossible without props in a lot of poses.

I have SUPER short legs. And a long torso wide shoulders med chest and large biceps. I am the best at arm stands

Haha yep i struggle with boat for sure but binding is a piece of cake

@CharlieFollows can u recommend any yoga book to read about yoga? U are wonderful, I like ur practices 2 much!!!

I’m 6’ tall. Some poses are really challenging!

Thank you ❤

❤ I am tall, and pretty in to geometry, so I have thought about this at times. I have had problems with landing outside the mat, so I started wondering about the angles of a downward dog, and other things hpw they would differ, with having to stay on a mat. Or leglength relative to armlength, and these days about soft body parts that can get in the way ...

Thank you :)

Thanks for this - a great reminder

This is something I have been frustrated about sometimes - I seem to have very different body proportions than you, Charlie 😅

Noticed this long ago. Some things are almost impossible for me to do fully.

I'm 6 2 and definitely have a tough time with certain poses

Ahhh so this is why I can barely manage boat pose! Thank you

Before I started doing Pilates (which I’ve been doing for years now) I found it hard to hold this pose. I alternate between Yoga and Pilates. The more Pilates you do the easier certain poses become as the focus is more on core strength.

I'm just so impressed by you. Awesome, was wondering why I couldn't do boat...oh, my abs are flabby.

My anatomy is why I can’t do compass. I’m super flexible and incredibly fit but my hips aren’t shaped in a way that allows for that movement

I have short arms and legs with large boobs. So in a lunge I always need blocks under my hands or my boobs get squashed against my knee and my hands don’t touch the floor. Boobs, any amount of belly fat that makes your stomach pooch out/hang down even when your core is engaged can make certain postures difficult. Also, because I have wide knee bones my feet can never touch when I’m standing with both legs close together in mountain or preparing for chair pose. My calves have also always since childhood been super tight, so my heels can’t touch the floor in upward dog or a deep low squat.

I can't do staff pose properly because my torso is too long. If I sit up straight only my fingertips reach the floor.😂

Blessings 🦋💫ty for all you share 🌼

Certainly 💯❤

Merci!

I find it really hard to step from down dog into a lunge in one go, I often have to use a hand to help my front leg forward to the correct position, I've always believed this is because my legs are quite short in proportion to my body, I'm a bit like a munchkin cat! Am I right that this makes it harder?

Absolutely. I'm large chested which means that when I'm in regular Child's Pose I get a faceful of boob which makes breathing difficult.

I stopped attending yoga at work because I always felt humiliated that I couldn't do certain things and the instructor wouldn't provide me with an alternative...

I’m tall and my body is made of angry gravel so this makes a lot of sense lol