Actress Isla Fisher on Yoga Love and Body Acceptance

Some of you may recognize actress Isla Fisher as the rambunctious flirt in Wedding Crashers or maybe you know her as Mrs. Borat. (That’s Sacha Baron Cohen’s wife in real life). Or maybe you’ll see her for the first time alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Lurhmann’s take on The Great Gatsby.

In any case, Isla is also a mother of two daughters under the age of 6 and recently told Fitness magazine, of which she is the May cover model, how much she loves the benefits of yoga and why she chooses not to step on a scale.

From the looks of the magazine cover, though, you’d think all there is to talk about is how to get a hot yoga butt. But…

BUT, in the actual interview, that’s hardly how the conversation went down, and her answers are so not aligned with the overall scheme of the magazine we’re surprised the editors didn’t can the interview all together. We do hope people read this one and not just the parts about sculpting sexy yoga butts and hot summer bods. Here’s what Isla had to say about her regular yoga practice.

You practice yoga five days a week. What’s the biggest benefit you get from it?

Not only are you strengthening your muscles and releasing tension, but yoga also gives you a mind-body experience. When you’re really focused on your breathing, you’re able to clear your head, and all the worries of everyday life go out the window. I love that feeling of being connected with my own body.

It’s also incredibly calming. If I’m stuck in traffic or have a bad moment in my day, I go back to my yoga practice and I breathe. Sometimes I solve a problem that was bothering me, like deciding whether to take a role in a movie. There is some­thing about breathing into all of the tense places in your body and releasing them that frees your mind.

Because that’s not quite good enough, naturally, they manage to squeeze in the butt bit, too.

How has yoga changed your shape?

I’m more toned. Every woman likes her tush in jeans when she’s worked on it a little more!

Annnd, that’s that.

The rest of the interview continues with body shaming bait, but Isla won’t bite. She’s asked the question: Hollywood is obsessed with weight. Do you get on the scale regularly? that stops just short of suggesting there’s something wrong if you don’t. (Note: It comes up that Isla gained 65 lbs and 70 lbs during her two pregnancies and she’s since lost the weight, the first time more quickly for a role, the second, taking her own sweet time.)

I don’t even own a scale. I have two young girls, and I wouldn’t want them to see me weighing myself all the time. I don’t think it sends the right message.

Her admirable, maybe surprising answer to the awkward (obligatory?) question about her favorite body part:

My stomach. Even though it will never be flat again, it’s still my favorite because it reminds me of my greatest achievement: my babies.

And because we expect Fitness magazine to be focused on women not being good enough as they are and always needing work, they ask, Is there a part you feel you’ll forever be working on?

No. For me, so much about life is acceptance. You can look in the mirror and find a million things wrong with yourself. Or you can look in the mirror and think, I feel good, I have my health, and I’m so blessed. That’s the way I choose to look at it. I don’t need to be perfect. I’m doing just fine.

In other words, In your face. Namaste…[drops mic, walks away]

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Earlier…

• Radiohead’s Thom Yorke Meditates and Stands on His Head Before Performing
• Marilyn Monroe Gets Her Yoga Close-Up (Photos)
• Kate Beckinsale Schools Chelsea Handler on Yoga and Toxic Lifestyle – Funny Video
• Yoga, ‘It Just Makes My Day’ – Matthew, Age 6