Yoga Food and Hot Yoga Food
What is it best to eat before Yoga? And After yoga?
In order to maintain our bodies strong, it is beneficial to pay attention not only to your Yoga Routine (are you doing enough yoga a week to get strong, flexible and healthy?) but also to the food intake before and after class.
As we mentioned last week, drinking water is an essential part of your yoga diet, as water helps cleansing and nourishing the body -and, remember, our bodies are above 50 percent water.
But when it comes to food, some dilemas pop up:
Can I eat before a yoga class?
Can I eat before a Hot yoga class?
What healthy foods are there to eat after class?
In Hot Yoga Altea, we have practiced Yoga for over a decade and can tell you what it works most of the times for most of us.
Nonetheless, always stay true to your body and personal choices; we are just sharing a few ideas here ; )
Food Before Yoga
Now, there is Yoga and Hot Yoga (our Bikram sequence at 37ºC).
- For Hot Yoga
Just do not eat before class, at least have your last meal 1.5hour before class, practice with an empty stomach. Even before those 1.5h, just treat yourself with a light meal (avoid 3 courses, or any heavy food). Obviously, do not drink any alcohol with your meal as it dehydrates your body and you need all that water in your body to keep sweating during class.
If you are wondering what is a light meal, it is something easy to digest. Carbs will give you fuel for Hot Yoga Class, but protein will take longer to digest; it is better to eat it after class, as a recovery food. Find Carbs in starchy tutbers such sweet potatoes and potatoes, beans, legumes, fruits, rich bread or quinoa.
If your Hot Yoga class is in the morning, let’s say 10 am, you can have a VERY light beakfast 1.5hour before class. Coffee or tea with a slice of sugar free home made banana bread, or a small bowl of yogurt or kefir with fruit. Remember all the forward bends and twists coming ahead in your class, so keep breakfast very simple.
- For Yoga
If you are not practising a strong and physically demanding yoga, such as Yin, or slow Hatha, Hot Yoga Altea recommends a maximum of a light meal or breakfast, at least 1 hour before class. In yoga, digestion should be all done before class. Again, any carbohydrate, a tea or coffee and a banana, smoothies, oats, soup and bread…
But if you are coming to Ashtanga or Power Yoga, keep it really simple. 1 hour before class I would eat a bit of fuel food easy to digest. Some date along with my latte, goats kefir and some berries, or a piece of banana. Our Ashtanga and Power yoga classes happen in the morning, so you can have a beautiful breakfast after class.
Food After Yoga
Again, there is a difference between a hot yoga class and other yogas. After a Hot Yoga class, your body mainly needs REHYDRATING, with coconut water or other drink containing minerals (electrolytes). These drinks will restore hydration lost during the class. However, you will also need to provide proper nourishment to your body.
In the same way, after other yoga class, drinking is beneficial but also eating to repair and recover.
What and When to eat after a Yoga Class?
Eat within 2 hours after class to provide the body what it quickly needs to repair. Reach for minimally processed, whole food carbohydrates with some fruit. A fruit smoothie with protein and fats is also a great choice if you’re on the go, but be sure to follow it up with a whole foods meal.