How to Teach Plus-Size Yoga Students
Training for Yoga Teachers
with Pam Chamberlain
Do you want to better meet the needs of plus-size yoga students? If so, this training is for you! Share the life-changing practice of yoga with all students—regardless of shape or size.
There is high demand for yoga classes that meet the needs of students in larger bodies, and there’s a shortage of yoga teachers who know how to offer appropriate instruction. Pam’s Plus-Size Yoga classes are full with waiting lists, and students travel across the city because they can’t find suitable yoga classes closer to home.
Through this interactive, experiential training session, you’ll become a yoga teacher who effectively meets the needs of students in bigger bodies:
recognize the barriers plus-size students face coming to a yoga class
experience poses from the perspective of a student in a bigger body
practice variations that are suitable for bigger bodies
learn about safety, precautions, effective use of props, and which poses to avoid
learn principles for interacting with plus-size students
use body-affirming language that creates a safe, inclusive environment and empowers students in their practice
draw from yoga philosophy to help students to lovingly inhabit their bodies
counter myths and stereotypes about obesity and plus-sized yoga students
Participants receive a Letter of Completion from a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP®), that can be submitted to a professional organization for six hours of CE credit.
Studio Managers: Interested in hosting an in-studio training session for your teaching staff? Pam would be happy to work with you to customize training specific to the needs of your studio. Contact us!
What people are saying…
"Pam offered a learning experience that benefited our whole team of teachers. She thoughtfully shared her knowledge in a class-style demo. She created a safe space for us to ask questions and to feel comfortable while inquiring about sensitive topics. Her knowledge is evident and was very much appreciated. Thank you for guiding our teachers through important instruction in a way that helped us all to broaden our perspectives and assist us on our journey towards being better, more inclusive teachers."
—Jessica Jacobs, Studio Owner, The Yoga Junction
"After a challenging experience with a plus-size student, I took this training to improve my teaching skills. Pam’s warm invitation to ask questions encouraged me to ask for the understanding I needed to become a better teacher for students in bigger bodies. Her experiential approach to explaining the obstacles for movement in a plus-size body created a depth of insight that I wouldn't have understood with words alone. Pam's candid sharing of her expertise, generously and non-judgmentally, removed barriers in my ability to successfully meet more students’ needs."
—Erin McCaig, Yoga Teacher
Yoga Teachers: Questions about this or other teacher-training opportunities? We’d love to hear from you.
Instructor: Pam Chamberlain
When: March 7 - 8, 2025
Friday: 6:30 - 8:30 pm; Saturday 9:30am - 2:30pm
Where: 4616 Valiant Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta
Prerequisite: Yoga Teacher’s Certificate
Cost: $250 payable by e-transfer or cheque
Pam has taught hundreds of women to embrace yoga, no matter their age, shape, or size. She received certification through The Yoga Studio College of Canada’s Iyengar-style program and has been mentoring yoga teachers for over a decade. She co-founded the Calgary Yoga Collective, where she teaches classes for plus-size students, and she hosts annual yoga retreats for plus-size women. Pam is the founder of the Yoga Plus™ teacher-training program, and she is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider® who is passionate about teaching yoga teachers to meet the needs of plus-size students.