Summer Hydration for Hot Yoga

Hey yogis!

It’s getting HOT outside. Does that mean you should quit your hot yoga practice and join us again in the fall? Of course it doesn’t. It just means you need to be extra mindful outside of the room and be sure that you are taking care of yourself. How are you suppose to maintain your healthy body and happy mind if you stop coming to yoga?!

When a student has a tough class, we typically ask them if they are properly hydrating before class. 9 times out of 10 the answer is "No". Every single cell in your body needs water to function properly. In Bikram Yoga we sweat A LOT, so it is very important to replenish after class and even more important to hydrate BEFORE CLASS. We all know once you're in that hot room, it's too late ;-) 

Simply drinking a lot of plain water is not going to do the trick for how much we are sweating in Bikram Yoga (especially during the summer!). You need to be replacing your electrolytes. One of the simplest and most cost effective electrolyte mixes that you can make at home is to take purified water, add lemon juice, a little Himalayan pink salt or Celtic Sea salt, and raw honey or maple syrup. Shake it up and BAM - delicious hydration in a cup. HERE is a recipe with exact measurements. You can also take advantage of the beverages we have at the studios - Lumi juices are packed with nutrients, coconut water is one of the fastest ways to get a lot of potassium back in your body, and the Ultima electrolyte packets are a delicious addition to your hydration routine (with no added sugar!). 

We're not in the business of telling anyone what to eat, but a healthy diet obviously helps with hydration and overall wellbeing. Here is a list of the top ten hydrating fruits and veggies:

-Cucumbers                   -Watermelon                 -Pineapple               -Celery

-Blueberries                   -Lettuce                        -Tomatoes                -Pears

-Grapefruit                     -Cantaloupe 

The beautiful thing is that the more you practice, you will naturally start to crave healthier foods and drink more water. That's how amazing your body is - it's always telling you what it needs, and when we practice yoga, we take the time to listen. 

Drink up ( and eat your fruits and veggies) yogis!