With summer really heating up, it's important to stay hydrated, especially when practicing Bikram yoga. Here is some great advice from MindBodyGreen, originally posted on our blog (here).
How can you tell if a student is not properly hydrated in class?
When
a student is having a hard time in general, this can be a sign of
dehydration and/or loss of electrolytes. Signs are: tiredness,
dizziness, they’re not sweating enough, and /or their muscles are
cramping.
If
you are properly hydrated, and have an empty stomach (not especially
full of toxins that day), the class should not be a huge struggle. Many
people need to take a few classes for their bodies to acclimate to the
heat, but if every class continues to be hard, talk to one of your
teachers. Together you can trouble shoot and find out what's going on.
Usually it's a simple solution.
What
would you recommend to a hot yoga student in terms of replenishment if
they are only hydrating with water during a summer practice?
If you’re practicing hot yoga, like the Bikram series, you cannot properly hydrate with just water, especially in the summer.
Electrolytes
are charged molecules (positive or negative) that become active in
water. They conduct electricity in the body and are instrumental for
transmitting signals. They regulate, among other things: muscle
contraction, heart rate, balance of body fluid, and pH levels. They affect all organs and systems in the body.
The
body needs the right balance of water AND electrolytes for
communication signals to be sent throughout the body. For example, if
you are depleted in sodium or potassium, the signal from the nervous
system cannot reach the muscle cell. This results in muscle cramping.
It's
not just sodium and potassium we need. Other essential electrolytes
include: magnesium, chloride, phosphate, sulphate, and calcium ions and
bi-carbonates.
There
are many sports drinks out there, and which one to consume is a
personal decision. Personally, I am not a big fan of them for the
following reasons:
- Sports drinks often have too much sodium and sugar. In an extreme emergency, they will help. As a regular source of hydration, they are not the best.
- The more processed a drink is, the less efficient the electrolytes become.
- Exposure to air and UV rays (including sunlight) diminish electrolyte activity. Heavily processed drinks in clear bottles are not the best source of electrolytes.
I
recommend coconut water – it cannot be beat. In fact, coconut juice is
so similar to human blood that in WW2 they used it in blood
transfusions for wounded soldiers! It is nature's miracle. Try to pick
one that is not from concentrate, and if possible not pasteurized (there
are brands now that use pressurizing technique to kill bacteria. This
keeps active molecules more intact.)
There
are other good sources of electroytes: Emergen-C, Ultima Replenisher,
and mineral drops - to name a few. There are lots of options available
at health food sport supplement stores. When using these, do not let
them sit too long in your water or let them get too hot in the room.
I recently read the following on active.com:
“Drink by schedule, not by thirst. If you feel thirsty you are already
dehydrated.” Is there truth to this statement? What about the old adage:
drink when you’re thirsty?
It
is hard to say exactly how much a person should drink; everyone is
different in terms of activity level, and how much a person sweats.
Generally speaking, the average person loses approx. 2 liters of water a
day through breath, moderate sweating, and urination. A good rule: body
weight X 0.7 = # ounces one should drink a day, on average.
If
you are practicing Bikram, especially on a consistent basis, this HAS
to be more. The more water you drink, and the more you sweat, the more
important it is to replenish your electrolytes!
I
would suggest starting off by drinking on a schedule. Most of us are
dehydrated and have become acclimated to feeling this way. We’re not
attuned to feelings of thirst. In fact, many people mistake the feeling
of thirst for hunger, so we eat instead of drinking water.
Until
you have put your body back on track and established a pattern for
being hydrated, I recommend discipline with water consumption.
What should we include in our food diet to help along hydration?
Foods high in water: fruit and veggies, especially. Avoid caffeine (try decaf!), alcohol, and starches as they are dehydrating.
How should a student pace themselves with liquids in a 90 minute hot yoga class?
It
is best to come into the room already hydrated. Do not try to hydrate
in the room! It takes about 45 minutes to process water. Ideally, water
in the room should be for refreshment. If you’re practicing Bikram Yoga,
you should not need more water than little sips in between every 3 or
4 postures. Having a full belly of water is uncomfortable.
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