Hydration Is A Lifestyle

We may not want to admit this to ourselves, but this may be a common hydration scenario for more than a few Bikram Yoga students, not only at Detroit Bikram, but around the country...

• speeding down the road (i.e. Orchard Lake Road or Big Beaver Road)
• just trying to get to class on time
• probably talking your cell phone
• guzzling down some beverage in an attempt to hydrate at the last minute

We hope this isn't the case too often!

The Result: feeling super hot, tired and lethargic in class.

The Remedy: HYDRATE... HYDRATE... HYDRATE...

With our busy lifestyle we often don't realize that we are not hydrated enough for a Bikram Yoga class until it's too late, so we try to make up for it at the last minute. It's really NOT ENOUGH to drink water on your drive to class, or to try to chug water or gatorade during class to make up for dehyration.

If you aren't used to drinking water throughout the day, just give it a try for one week. Notice how you feel different in class! Just drink clean, refreshing, healthy, simple WATER!

If you really want to enjoy the intensity of a Bikram Yoga class, it is important to establish hydration as a lifestyle, which means: drinking lots of fresh water throughout the day on a regular basis. In addition to drinking water on a regular basis, other things we consume make a significant impact on our hydration. For example, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole foods is very hydrating, not only because these foods are juicy, but also because they are natural sources full of minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes, which are equally important for proper hydration.

On the flip side, drinking coffee, carbonated beverages, and alcohol, or eating junk foods, frozen foods, etc... consuming any of these items can be dehydrating, because they dry us out, and leach minerals from the body.

This picture to the right is a good example of what NOT to do the night before a Bikram Yoga class. Alcohol is a liquid but it will dehydrate you, and you will feel the difference in class the next day! Ouch!

It's easy to lose site of the common sense associated with hydration habits, especially if you have an excessively busy or stressful week.

Fortunately learning how to hydrate properly with Bikram Yoga is mostly common sense, as long as you take an alert and positive approach to it. Trial and error with your own daily hydration habits is one way to learn. Talking to your teacher and fellow students is another way. And as always there is a wealth of information online about hydration, sweating, and exercise which you can research at your own convenience.

We also have some tips here for staying well hydrated in the hot room. These are basic guidelines only and the actual requirements for your ideal hydration will vary based on your weight, your level of fitness, how much you sweat in class, how much effort you put into class, etc:

• Drink 16 to 20 oz of water 2 hours prior to the start of class.
• Drink at least 8 classes of water throughout the day, or half of your body weight in ounces.
• Eat lots of fresh juicy fruits and vegetables throughout the day.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary beverages.
• Take a regular electrolyte supplement (emergence-c, coconut water, sports drink, pedialyte etc) to replenish any minerals lost from sweating.
• Show some skin during class, and let your sweat flow! Sweating is the body's primary defense against overheating, and bare skin allows your body to release heat more easily. If you wipe your sweat off the skin, evaporation (your cooling system) will not occur and there is a strong possibility of over heating.
• Bring water with you into the room. Sip water about every 20 minutes during class.
• Rehydrate after class with at least 32oz of fluids.

  

Every single thing that we do at Detroit Bikram is designed to support you 100% in your yoga practice and your life. What you can do on YOUR end as a yoga student, is to be as responsible and knowledgable as possible with your daily hydration habits. The result will be that you really will get the most out of this life-transforming practice.

Please talk to us at the desk, or leave a comment below if you have any questions about hydration.

See you soon in class!

~ Jenny Barrett, Certified Bikram Yoga Teacher, Co-Director

Jenny Barrett is the senior mentoring teacher and Co-Director of Detroit Bikram in Michigan. Jenny completed her Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in 2000, and has taught over 7,000 Bikram Yoga classes in the past 11 years.

Note: the information provided in this article is for basic informational purpose only, and is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for the advice of your doctor or other health professional