The ancient art of yoga contains in-depth knowledge of the functioning of human body and mind. There are asanas and Pranayama techniques to connect you with the universal consciousness.
Of late there is a raging debate in the yoga community. Do you know what is the debate about? It is a question – Should one practice yoga on an empty or full stomach? Yoga experts have come up with the answer.
Should One Do Yoga On Empty Stomach or Not?
As per yoga experts, practicing yoga on an empty stomach is the best approach. It helps you derive all benefits from yoga. You should maintain a gap of at least 4 hours between your last meal and yoga practice. It does not matter whether you practice beginner yoga stretches or a Headstand, never practice yoga on a full stomach.
But, first let us find out why doing yoga on a full stomach is always a bad idea.
Reasons Never to Practice Yoga on Full Stomach
Having food in your digestive system during the practice can make you feel nauseous.
You might feel the urge to freshen up when the digestive system is processing food. It can disrupt the yoga practice.
It is not all talks and no show! Yoga experts have enough reasons to convince you why doing yoga on a empty stomach makes sense.
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3 Reasons to Practice Yoga On An Empty Stomach
Yoga experts have come up with 3 reasons why you should practice yoga on an empty stomach.
- Your Body Needs Time to Digest
Many studies prove that doing yoga on an empty stomach is a good decision. You should stop eating 1 to 2 hours before asana practice. At most, if you have a heavy meal then maintain a gap of at least 4 hours between it and yoga practice.
Digestion takes a lot of energy. This is the energy your body needs during yoga practice. With food in the digestive tract your body sends energy to the tissues for processing the food. It is what moves the food through the gastrointestinal system. This is the same energy that helps your body absorb the essential nutrients.
Practicing yoga on a full stomach takes that energy away from the digestive process. As a result your body fails to process all nutrients. This causes the food to remain stuck in your stomach instead of moving further. In the long run this makes you feel bloated or gassy. Thus, it is a good idea to practice yoga on an empty stomach.
- Intermittent Fasting Helps in Weight Loss
Practicing yoga with an empty stomach helps your body utilize the stored fat as energy. Doing this on a full stomach has the opposite effect. It forces your body to focus more on the energy you consumed rather than the exercise.
Yoga is a great intermittent fasting workout as it is gentle on your body. Fasting makes it easier for your body to focus on the workout. This helps burn extra calories at high intensity. It comes handy even if you enroll in a chair yoga for beginners class.
- Full Stomach = Less Effective Yoga
Food in your stomach or intestines takes up space in the abdomen. Practicing challenging yoga poses in this state is not a good idea. Thus, practicing headstand or shoulderstand puts unnecessary pressure on your belly.
An empty stomach gives enough space to your abdomen to expand and contract during yoga. You experience a more intense twist and a deeper stretch in spinal extension. It makes it easier for your body to flow from one yoga asana to the next. Thus, practicing yoga on empty stomach is not a decision you would come to regret.
A common question that many yoga practitioners ask is –
Can I Consume Coffee Before Yoga?
Coffee offers your body the much-needed energy boost for yoga practice. But it also increases your heart rate and leads to dehydration. You can have coffee at least 1 to 2 hours before the practice. This gives your body enough time to process the caffeine.
Traditional yogis state that you should avoid any type of stimulants. Consuming stimulants makes it harder for you to dive deeper into the yoga session.
Conclusion
Having an empty stomach before yoga practice helps you reap the full benefits of yoga. Be it the beginner yoga stretches or advanced yoga asanas, doing either on a full stomach is never a good idea.