When you workout, you have to drink water. Period. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Your body desperately needs to be hydrated when you push it, and that includes during Yoga.
You might think that because yoga isn’t cardio, that water isn’t as important, but you would be wrong. You need to be hydrated before, during and after yoga class if you want to get the greatest benefits out of your workout.
Improved Performance
Research has shown that losing just 2% - 5% of your body weight in fluid can decrease your performance by up to 30%. That can really hurt your edge when it comes to performing all of your yoga moves at your max ability. So, the more you stay hydrated, the better your ability to perform at your peak.
Better Muscle and Joint Function
Water is responsible for helping your muscles contract, absorb nutrients, and remove waste. Hydration also lubricates your joints. So, with adequate water consumption, you’ll experience less muscle fatigue and fewer muscle cramps, for a better feeling overall. You’ll also be more coordinated the more hydrated you are.
Stay Cool
Do you hate sweating up a storm during yoga class? Water helps improve your blood flow, so you can more easily dissipate heat into the air. This means that no matter how hot the room is or how hard you’re working on your yoga poses, the more hydrated you are, the cooler you’ll stay and the less sweaty you’ll be. So, be sure to keep one of our Wai Bottles with you at all times.
Improved Cardiovascular Health
While yoga might not be a cardio workout, holding a hard position for a long period of time can get your blood pumping. The more hydrated you are, the better your blood volume and the more easily your heart can get oxygen to your cells. This means you’ll feel stronger even during the most difficult poses.
Feel Better
When you’re hydrated, you really push your body during yoga without increasing your risk of nausea, vomiting, or other gastro-intestinal problems that are common with dehydration. Drinking enough water can also help you avoid feeling bloated and sick from drinking too little water. This means you can leave yoga feeling like a goddess instead of a slug.
How to Stay Hydrated for Yoga
It’s important to be smart and practice strategies to help you stay hydrated before, during, and after your yoga class. The best thing you can do is make drinking water a priority and to see what hydration strategy works best for you.
- Get Hydrated Before Class: Make sure to drink about twenty ounces of water at least two hours before class starts.
- Drink Throughout Class: Don't be afraid to take a break during class to grab a drink of water. A good rule of thumb is to drink 3 to 8 ounces of water every 15 minutes. Just keep a 17oz Verve Rise bottle beside you.
- Add Electrolytes: To improve your hydration and to decrease your risk of muscle cramps, add an electrolyte mix to your water to recover what you’ll lose from sweating.
- Hydrate After Class: Don’t forget to keep drinking water after class. If you’re thirsty, you need more water.