We did our first beginners class tonight and maaannnnn I feel like someone beat me up!!

I have a question though, when you are a larger individual doing weights, when we bring the weights up with our arms, do we match our body build to do them? Or do we bring them in front of our bodies the same as the coach? (Meaning my arms naturally rest further away from my body when moving arms up & down)

Also, I've got bad hips, not knees. Any suggestions for what I can do to replace all these squats yall have going on? Lol