Our bodies are composed of 60% water and without its presence in our bodies our health will indefinitely collapse. As yogis we all know the importance of staying hydrated and see it as a pillar of our yoga practice. But even the most health conscious of us can miss out on the full benefits that drinking water can have in our bodies and minds!!
Body~
Water allows us to reach our full potential when working out, and proper hydration allows us to better absorb nutrients, improve our digestion, and clears our body of toxins. Water really clears out our pipes and helps with weight management. Drinking water before meals keeps us from overeating and having proper water levels ultimately helps us better capture nutrients from our meals. When we practice yoga we all know what it’s like to break a sweat–but temperature regulation wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t drink enough water. Our bodies tend to retain water if we’re dehydrated so we can run the danger of overheating and sweating less without water in our system.
Mind~
Water boosts our brain activity and enhances our sense of concentration. Overheating and failing to maintain healthy levels of water can all prevent us from getting deeper in our sessions. Staying hydrated combats brain fog and helps us find that laser focus we need to transcend and attain inner peace with our yoga.
Our balance can even improve from drinking water as well. Proper hydration can help our inner ear functions, the part of the body which controls our sense of balance/motion. And without balance, our Yoga is absolutely crippled.
Common mistakes to avoid~
You might be thinking, “How do you mess up drinking water? I just drink when I’m thirsty duh”, but in reality common mistakes can lead to health complications that are completely preventable.
Drinking during exercise or whilst running/walking can make the water we drink go straight through our digestive system, potentially leaving some food undigested–causing heartburn and preventing our bodies from absorbing the proper nutrients. It is advisable to then drink 1 hour before meals and 90 minutes after food consumption to leave our digestion cycle undisrupted. Drinking very chilled water and gulping down lots of water can also affect digestion and cause impurities to build up in our kidneys and bladder!!
*We have to listen to our bodies especially when doing exercise, but if you absolutely need water to continue your workout–remember to drink slowly with little sips to allow our bodies to reap the full benefits of water.
Finding the right balance for water consumption~
The daily amount of water one should drink varies from person to person. Age, height, weight, climate and your activity level all have a say in how much water you should drink. Overconsumption can lead to water intoxication–attributed to diluted levels of sodium, potassium, and electrolytes. Underconsumption likewise can contribute to fatigue and tiredness which can adversely affect your holistic health, and ultimately make our yoga practice suffer. So finding the right balance for YOU is absolutely imperative.
On average drinking 2-2.5 liters of water a day is generally the rule of thumb here, but as Yoga teaches us everyday we must be mindful and pay attention to the unique needs of our bodies. Successfully avoiding these mistakes can improve our sense of balance and sharpen our focus in every way. So next time you attend one of our classes remember to fuel up and always aim to go deeper! Much respect, namaste.
Here’s a great video for further learning: