Perfectly Imperfect:

A Yoga Community for Better Body Image

Release the pressure to be perfect and learn how to consistently be present for improved self-love, physical wellbeing, and spiritual peace. 

Are any of the following true for you?

  • I think often about what my body used to be able to do and look like. I mourn for the body I used to have. 

  • Exercise is triggering for me because I’m so critical of myself. I used to be stronger and more flexible and it's really difficult for me to face how much my body has changed. 

  • I'm in pain, I feel exhausted, and I feel ashamed that I've let my body get to this point. 

  • I'm not happy with the way I look or feel. 

  • I like Yoga but it's hard to find classes that are accessible for me and where I feel comfortable with the teacher and other students. 

  • It's hard to love myself.

You want to feel strong.

You want to be pain-free.

You want to feel good in your body and to feel good about your body and yourself. 

You want to have a body you can love. 

You wish you could be kinder to yourself.

You’ve been trying to embrace body positivity and let go of the diet mentality, but something isn’t adding up. Whether you’re in pain, you’re disconnected from your body, or you can’t let go of the desire to be thin, you know you need to try a different approach. Sometimes it seems like the only solution is to go back to your old ways of dieting and a strict workout routine. But maybe even that feels inaccessible because of your physical limitations.

The truth is that this approach will never get you to where you want to be because approaching self-care from a place of self-criticism, deprivation, and control will always feel more like a punishment than an act of self-love. 

This approach requires you to be perfect in order to earn the right to feel good about yourself but the truth is that you always have been and always will be worthy of self-love.

We've been taught that our bodies are a reflection of the choices we've made, the "work" we've put in, or how "good" we’ve been - and that is simply untrue. Our bodies are products of our genetics, environment, and past experiences, none of which is in our control. Not to mention the fact that they are constantly aging. This is why keeping up with all of the rules has always proven to be unsustainable and unattainable.

Deep down you probably know that the harsh, demanding strictness you think you need is actually contributing to the problem. And that the solution is in learning how to be loving, present, compassionate, and patient with yourself in the body you have now (and committing to that practice, even though it’s hard).

You deserve to see your value now (it is possible). 

You deserve a community who knows what you're going through, and can help you see that there's nothing wrong with you (there truly isn’t). 

You deserve a loving, experienced guide who can support you through the challenges that will arise along the way (and those challenges will arise). 

You don't need to change your body in order to love it.

What you need to change is your relationship with your body so you can love it unconditionally. 

And changing your relationship with your body takes time and consistent effort.

Learning this process is how you can begin to actually care for yourself in a sustainable and loving way. 

“Sometimes when I read about yogic practices, I think, ‘I could never do that’, but Naomi reframed some self-care concepts and yogic practices to make them seem much more accessible and attainable. Since our workshop, I've been feeling more grounded, aware, and focused. I also appreciate the way she talked about food and movement while emphasizing that, although these ideas have been co-opted by diet culture, our goal in this workshop was never weight loss, and none of the suggestions were iron-clad rules.”

— Kitty

Yoga is a complete self-care system that has withstood the test of time (thousands of years, in fact). It has so much more to offer than just the physical benefits gained through the asana practice. Asana (yoga postures), Meditation, Pranayama (breathing exercises) relaxation, and philosophy all work beautifully together to help practitioners calm their minds, see their lives from a new perspective, improve strength, energy, and vitality, and connect with their true selves. Strengthening this connection with the Self is what allows us to stop hyper-focusing on our appearance, let go of our over-identification with the body, and consistently remember that our worth is so much greater than what we look like. 

“Naomi is a trustworthy and attentive listener. She was direct and specific with her insights, including areas I needed to let go of old ideas about myself. She offered new elements to my practice based on our discussions. The mantras and yoga breathing have become consistent for me, and I find myself turning to them intuitively instead of the inner critic. The time I spent with her was an accelerator to my personal and spiritual growth.”

— Marni

Perfectly Imperfect: A Yoga Community for Better Body Image is a three-month program where you'll find a community of like-minded people who are in the same boat as you are and who will support you as you work to build loving, sustainable habits to help you feel stronger, more energized, and most importantly, more at peace with your body. This is a space free of triggering diet and weight loss talk, led by an experienced, large-bodied Yoga Therapist and body image expert. 

This group is for people of all sizes and genders who are ready to commit to showing up for themselves (and their community). We won't be talking about diets or celebrating changes in body size in this group. Instead, we'll celebrate increased self-awareness, personal growth, and acts of self-love. You may need to sit with some discomfort during this program, but in the words of Jean Klein, "The only way out is to simply observe."

“Naomi created a safe, warm, and welcoming environment and responded to the needs of the group in powerful ways. Her deep knowledge of yoga and various stress management practices were clear and so effortlessly facilitated. I appreciated the mix of practice with learning and the tangible examples and takeaways. This course came right on time and I'm so proud to be continuing my journey on my own with a great foundation.”

— Kourtney

What’s Included

  • Community

    Connect with a group of likeminded people who understand what you’re going through and share your values. Discover the healing benefits of community as you meet weekly to share with one another, and build lifelong connections.

  • Education

    Five group learning sessions where you’ll learn about various yoga practices, yoga philosophy, and ayurveda, and how they can help manage stress and improve your connection with yourself: body, mind, and spirit.

  • Yoga

    Four live yoga classes each week. You will be able to practice at a level and pace that’s appropriate for you and each class will include breathwork and relaxation. Watch your strength and peace with your body grow over time.

  • 1:1 Support

    4 one-on-one coaching/yoga therapy sessions with me. We’ll create an individualized protocol just for you and work together to help you overcome the obstacles and challenges getting in the way of your wellbeing.

“Naomi is an insightful and responsive teacher who has so much to share. The combination of information and practical application was stellar. I wholeheartedly recommend taking one of Naomi’s courses.”

— Jenna

  • 4 one-on-one sessions with me

    • Your first two one-on-one sessions will be scheduled before the group sessions begin. You will fill out an intake form ahead of time and in our first session, we’ll meet for an hour and a half so that I can do a thorough Yoga Therapy intake with you. We’ll go over your form together and I’ll get as complete a picture of you as possible so that I can create an individualized protocol for you, which I’ll share in our second session. From there, together we’ll help you decide which Yoga classes are right for you and discuss other ideas to help you get the most out of your experience. To learn more about the intake process and Yoga Therapy in general, you can watch the video beneath this white text box.

  • Choose from 5 Yoga classes each week.*

    • A beginner-friendly class on Mondays, 6:15-7:15pm CT (for those new to Yoga or with minimal experience)

    • Two dynamic classes on Sundays, 10:30-11:45am CT and Tuesdays, 6:15-7:15pm CT (for those with more experience and familiarity with the practice. These classes are accessible to folks with a variety of abilities.)

    • Alternating Gentle Yoga class and Chair Yoga class on Thursdays, 7:30-8:30pm CT (available to all)

    • Alternating Yoga Nidra and Restorative Yoga on Tuesdays, 7:30-8:30pm CT (available to all)

      *I will help you figure out which classes are right for you in our one-on-one sessions! All Yoga classes will be recorded and available to you for the duration of the program.

  • Weekly Community sessions

    • We’ll meet for an hour once a week (Thursdays, 6:15-7:15pm CT) to connect as a community. We’ll use this time to learn about The 5 Competencies of the Be Body Positive Model, which will provide you with tools that you’ll be able to use for the rest of your life to help you be kind to yourself and develop a more peaceful and loving relationship with your body. The Body Positive has been doing this work for over 25 years and I’ve been working with them since 2014, so you’ll be in good hands.

    • Expect to give and receive support to/from your fellow group members, bond, and share your experiences integrating what you’re learning.

  • 5 Learning sessions on some Sundays after Yoga (Learning and Community)

    • Learning sessions are 1-1.5 hours long, depending on the topic, and will take place after Yoga classes on five Sundays, spread out over the three months. Learn more about how and why Yoga is such a powerful practice, diving into the physiology and neuroscience that supports what Yogis have understood for thousands of years. We’ll also discuss Yoga philosophy to equip you with more tools and practices for your lifelong journey with your body.

  • Access to my 19-video Introductory Yoga Video Series for the duration of the program.

    • This series is perfect for practicing on your own or for getting a refresher on the details about how to do various aspects of the practice. It’s like having me in your back pocket to remind you why we do things a certain way or the gentler way of doing that one pose.

Details

Cost and Payment

I am offering five different payment tiers for this program in order to make it as accessible as possible. You will indicate which tier is appropriate for you when you fill out the registration form and I’ll follow up with the payment link. If the tier you choose is no longer available, I will put you on the waiting list (and will let you know that I did).

You can pay all at once or once a month. Either way, your first payment will be collected before your initial consultation. If you need your payment to be spread out further than three payments, I can work with you.

Thank you for choosing the tier that is most appropriate for your financial situation. When each person pays to their full ability, it creates more equity. Also remember that when you invest appropriately for your situation, it often inspires you to get the most out of the experience.

  • $3000 total

  • $2,325 total

  • $1650 total

  • $1050 total

  • Monthly cost determined by you

“Working with Naomi helped me to release some long-held negative thought patterns. She is so supportive and compassionate - I feel so much more empowered and less overwhelmed as I take the next steps on my journey.”

— Julia

 FAQ

  • I am currently on hiatus from running group programs but will reach out to those who have joined the interest list when I’m ready to schedule this program again.

  • None! I have experience teaching mixed classes, with newbies and seasoned practitioners alike, where each person practices according to where they are at in their Yoga journey. The introductory video series will also be invaluable in supporting you to develop your confidence with the practice. If you are concerned, I highly recommend opting in to The Total Package if possible so you can get additional support from me.

  • All sessions will be recorded and available to you for the duration of the program, so if you have to miss a few sessions, you’ll be able to catch up at your convenience. I do recommend that you do your absolute best to attend live as much as possible in order to reap the most benefits.

  • I’ve been teaching Yoga since 2009 and finished my 2-year Yoga Therapy certification in January 2022. I’m a certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (C-IAYT). I’ve been teaching this material to groups and with one-on-one clients since 2020.

    I’m also a licensed Be Body Positive Facilitator and have been working with the non-profit The Body Positive since 2014. I have 20 hours of trauma-informed yoga training and am deeply engaged in my own process of self-discovery and practice, which serves me well in supporting others. This includes examining my privilege and biases, so that I can strive to create spaces that are comfortable for people who are different from me.

    Finally, I’m a certified Health and Wellbeing coach, so I understand how to support people in setting and reaching their wellness goals.

  • Your wishes, desires, and goals are yours, I respect them, and I’m not here to try and convert anyone to my philosophy. However, there are many programs out there that offer weight loss and dieting support. Those types of programs are often triggering and therefore inaccessible for people who have a history of disordered eating. This program was designed with those people in mind, so I am fully committed to ensuring that conversations around intentional weight loss and dieting are kept at bay. If getting support around weight loss and dieting is something that’s important to you, this is not the program for you.

  • I have experience teaching people with a range of disabilities. If you are concerned that I may not be able to accommodate you, please fill out the registration form and we can schedule a call to discuss your needs. If you are new to Yoga, I recommend opting in to The Total Package so I can give you one-on-one support as you get comfortable with your practice.

  • You have until Wednesday, January 11th to cancel your registration and get a refund minus a $30 processing fee. If you’ve already gained access to the Introductory Yoga Series when you cancel, an additional 15% of your tuition will be deducted from your refund. If you have had an intake session with me, the value of the session, which is $170, will be deducted from your refund as well. Once the program begins, you are responsible for the full tuition.

  • Nope! While many people who choose to work with me are women identified or non-binary, I enthusiastically welcome people of all genders to join.

  • If you have an active, diagnosed eating disorder, you must be regularly attending therapy, and I ask that you allow me to be in communication with your therapist. I have a form for you to provide your consent for this purpose. If you have a history of an eating disorder but it is no longer active, or you have general disordered eating behaviors but not an actual eating disorder, you do not need to put me in touch with a therapist. If you suspect or know you have an eating disorder but are not in therapy, I hope to be able to welcome you in a future iteration of this program once you are getting the support you need.

  • The best Yoga education you can receive is the education gained through personal experience. When you practice consistently over a significant period of time, you learn an incredible amount about yourself and about the practices and you experience benefits that you would never otherwise experience. After three months of regular practice, your new habits will be solidly ingrained, leaving you in a strong position to continue them on your own.

  • Please email me at: naomi at naomifinkelstein dot com! I’m more than happy to answer any questions you still have.

“Naomi absolutely met me and the other participants where we were and allowed for individual attention on poses and personal needs. I cannot recommend her programs highly enough. ”

— Heidi

Join Perfectly Imperfect and finally commit to a sustainable, supportive approach to increasing your self-love and comfort with your body and whole self.