Fitness and Recreation Resources
Big Folks Exercise and Fitness Resources FAQ covers equipment, clothing, videos, organizations, classes, research, and much more. Another FAQ on Big Folks Sports and Activities FAQ discusses the specifics of all kinds of activities, from golf and jogging to white water rafting and belly dancing.
Active at Any Size is a site sponsored by the National Institutes of Health to help fat and supersized people get more fit...at any size!
Living XL offers a variety of sports and outdoor equipment for big people--from to camping gear to personal floatation devices to bicycle seats, and more.
Junonia carries plus-size activewear for all kinds of sports and activities, including tennis, cycling, skiing, swimming, walking, yoga, and more
Kelly Bliss, a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and a Certified Aerobics Instructor, also offers fitness classes and videos for large and supersized people. You can learn more on her Healthy Lifestyles at Any Size site.
Rochelle Rice's In Fitness & In Health site has information on a variety of fitness classes and individualized instruction for large women, based in her New York City studios.
Jennifer Portnick is a size positive certified aerobics instructor and personal trainer in San Francisco. Her Feeling Good Fitness site has details about her classes and consulting services. It also has links to some news stories about her successful weight discrimination complaint against Jazzercise, who told her she was too fat to teach aerobics for them. Like Jennifer says, "Don't change your body, change the rules!"
Megan Garcia teaches MegaYoga--body-positive yoga techniques modified for all body shapes using props and gentle adjustments. She teaches classes in New York City, and has published a how-to book and a DVD.
In the San Francisco Bay area, Sally Pugh teaches Yoga for Large Women.
And in Seattle, Patricia Hedtke teaches Yoga for Round Bodies
.
Jodi Stolove's Chair Dancing videos demonstrate a seated exercise program that improves muscle tone, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. They're designed for people at all fitness level as an alternative to conventional exercise that requires standing up, getting up and down from the floor, or using special equipment.
If you need workout clothes for aerobics, yoga, dance, or other activities, here are a few places that have what you need in plus sizes:
Danskin has a plus size line of fitness, dance and yoga apparel.
Bodysuit.com presents a collection of bodysuits and workout wear in women sizes to accent all our lovable curves!
NetSweat features plus size fitness clothes for women in sizes up to 6XL.
A Big Attitude carries activewear in sizes up to 6XL.
Belly dancing is a lovely art form and a wonderful, fat-friendly form of exercise. Belly Dancing For Full Figured Women features photos, costume ideas, links, and much more.
Saqra is a wonderful, fat-positive bellydance teacher and performer, based in Kent (near Seattle), Washington.
Fat Chance Bellydance is a studio in San Francisco that offers classes, and sells videos and DVDs for those who live everywhere else.
Oddessy Martial Arts Supply carries martial arts uniforms in large sizes.
Charlotte Cooper's How to Ride a Bike: A Guide for Fat Cyclists covers equipment, accessories, getting started riding, and even dealing with unsolicited opinions from the sidelines.
The Potbelly Cycling Association takes a lighthearted and accepting approach to cycling with a potbelly. It wishes to encourage folks with potbellies to get on bikes and roll. It's fun!
Super Sized Cycles was created so that plus sized people could purchase bicycles that easily support their weight, be comfortable and safe, and inspire them to exercise. They have plus sized bikes, tricycles, and recumbent bikes that support up to 550 pounds.
RealSeats Bicycle Seats is a new design that will "'levitate and cradle' your bottom on a dual padded woven nylon seat cover." They promise that RealSeat works with all new or old bicycles, and accommodate riders up to 300 pounds.
Team Estrogen has a selection of plus-size cycling apparel in sizes up to 4XL.
If you ride horses, Horse & Rider Etc. has traditional ladies English riding apparel in plus sizes, while Hobby Horse Clothing Company can deck you out in Western riding gear.
Ocean Ray Wetsuits makes custom wetsuits fit to your specific measurements...guaranteed to fit!
Liquid Fit is another company that makes custom wetsuits to fit any body shape and size--"Wetsuits that fit like they were poured on you."
And if you're ready to take that wetsuit out for a dive, Big Adventures offers scuba diving trips for plus size women and their allies. They say their trips provide opportunities for women to take on a new challenge in a supportive environment while also developing a sense of community with other women through a set of shared goals.
Cabela's offers all kinds of outdoor equipment and clothing in a wide range of sizes--chest waders, fly fishing vests, hunters' blaze orange jackets, thermal underwear, lifejackets, and more.
BigCamo.com makes big and tall hunting, fishing and outdoor clothing in sizes up to 10XL.
Frogg Toggs makes rain gear to fit up to a 60" chest.
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