When Sophia took one of Shannon Kaneshige’s (they/them) Fat Yoga classes, she felt fully visible in a movement space for the first time. In this expansive conversation, Shannon shares how their a-ah moments on a hiking trail and while watching their 6-month old receive cancer treatment changed everything. Shannon believes that when we connect to embodied self agency on the mat, we bring that agency into all areas of our lives. For many fat folks, we’ve not been allowed to be nice to our bodies, to feel gentleness towards our bodies, and Shannon’s here to shift that thinking.

Shannon Kaneshige is a fat, white, non-binary yoga practitioner, instructor, and sociologist. As a 500 RYT, they have become known for their expertise in teaching diverse body types and creating options for folks of all abilities. Shannon helps folks use movement, medit ...