Staying Hydrating While Doing Yoga

June 10, 2020

Yoga is about managing body and breath. However, if you’re wondering how you can squeeze a water break or two between sessions, then please understand that when and how water consumption matters, especially when it comes to yoga. Water is essentially good for you, of course, but you would still have to balance water consumption and yoga to where water doesn’t hinder your progress, or make you sick. Here are some great pointers to keep in mind.

Don’t Drink Cold Water

“Although it’s tempting to have a chilled glass of water, don’t do it,” says Louie Cross, a lifestyle blogger at Uktopwriters and Bestaustralianwriters. “In fact, cold water interferes with agni, the digestive fire that helps circulate our life force energy, or prana, throughout our bodies. On the other hand, drinking warm water helps stimulate digestion and circulation, which makes it easier for your body to take in nutrients and get rid of toxins. Even sipping some warm water slowly in a seated position helps your body and organs to relax.”

Drink Before Yoga

Drinking during class is a bad idea. If you’re thirsty during the session, chances are you didn’t drink water beforehand. Your best bet is to try and drink a couple of glasses in an hour before doing yoga. This allows the water to hydrate you prior to the session, and it prevents you from stopping for a water break during class.

Drink After Yoga

Feeling dehydrated after practice? Don’t panic!

After you do yoga, you can have a glass or two to help you fully flush away the remaining toxins from your body. No sugary or caffeinated drinks, or alcohol, right after practice, since those beverages will immediately rob you of any hydration that you have left in your system, and can cause fatigue, cramping and muscle stiffness. The goal of yoga is to feel focused and energized; therefore, stick with water.

Drink Water Regularly

“Drinking water is a given,” says Jude Davey, a sports blogger at Bestbritishessays and Revieweal. “Drinking water every day is essential, so that you’ll be well-prepped for things like yoga. You can even incorporate natural flavors like lemon, berries, cucumber, or ginger in your water to make it taste better, while still keeping you hydrated.”

Benefits

• Improves Performance – Studies have shown that losing 2% - 5% of your body weight in fluid can decrease your performance by up to 30%. And in yoga, you’re going to have to perform efficiently at your highest ability. So, when you stay hydrated, you’ll be able to perform better in things like yoga.
• Better Muscle and Joint Function – Water helps your muscles contract, absorb nutrients, and remove waste; and, it even lubricates your joints. So, drinking plenty of water before and after yoga (as well as throughout the day) will help you experience less muscle fatigue and fewer muscle cramps, and also help you be more coordinated during the day.
• Stay Cool – Sweating can be annoying to deal with, especially during yoga – it’s a normal reaction to working your body in physical activity. As long as you stay hydrated, you’ll be cooler, and sweat less often. That’s why most yoga classes allow their students to bring a bottle of water with them to sessions.
• Improved Heart Health – Although yoga isn’t considered a cardio workout, it’s still considered physical activity, since you’ll be holding a hard position for a long period of time – that can actually get your blood pumping. Therefore, the more hydrated you are, the easier it will be for blood to circulate, and the easier it will be for your heart to get oxygen to your cells. This makes you feel stronger even as you try to attempt the most difficult poses in yoga.
• Feeling Great – Dehydration can cause (or increase risk of) symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or other gastro-intestinal problems. But when you’re drinking plenty of water, you won’t feel any bloating or sickness from the lack there of. So, when you’re doing yoga, you’ll be more refreshed and energized as you perform poses, instead of tired and sluggish.

Conclusion

Water is essential to exercising, including yoga; it’s an important part of having a healthy body. However, when and how to drink water still matters. Get the most out of your yoga practice by balancing it with healthy water consumption to help you stay hydrated and prevent any cramps and strains.

Molly Crockett writes for Bigassignments and Eliteassignmenthelp. She also contributes to Stateofwriting, as a guest writer. As a marketing writer, she shares her unique lifestyle tips and personal development advice with her audience.