Drinking Water Before Doing YOGA.

by Shubhangi Kaushik
(Delhi)

Is it harmful to drink water before doing yoga poses?

Answer

Hello Shubhangi

If you feel thirsty you can drink a glass of water half an hour before starting yoga class. Strictly limit your water intake half an hour prior to yoga practice. If you still feel thirsty take few sips of water at room temperature (not cold water)before starting yoga.

It is also understood that before starting your yoga practice you should not be dehydrated or thirsty. For that matter keep drinking water throughout the day and do not rely on drinking one to two glasses of water just before the yoga class.

Before and after yoga practice, drinking of water at room temperature or luke warm water is preferable to cold water.

Yoga practice opens up energy channels of our body for smooth flow of prana. Drinking of water will interfere with this flow of vital energy in our body.

When you practice yoga your stomach should be empty, all food items should have moved along the digestive tract so that the stomach is empty. Although digestion of food items may take 3-4 hours for digestion, water can move faster through your digestive system. Therefore, any amount of water you drink should be clear of the stomach before starting yoga.

Preferably it is better to keep drinking water at regular intervals to keep the body hydrated. This way you can avoid drinking water just before yoga practice.

Hope this works.

Warm regards
Daljit