Yoga for beginners: Tips on what food to eat for yoga

If we had that table-top set up, we'd be eating fruits all day. Thank you to Paul Keleher over Flickr for this aesthetically beautiful shot.

I’ve heard people complain about the food they’ve eaten before going to class has affected their yoga session. Whether it’s because of the food causing some acid reflux or the food feeling “heavy” while doing yoga, I realized that it is probably more of what you eat than when you eat. You may have been strict eating two hours before your yoga session - as the usual recommendation interval before doing any physical activity - but have you been really conscious of what you eat? If I decide to do yoga in the morning but my daily morning routine includes a cup of hot brewed coffee, does it mean I can drink? These are just some of the questions that I intend to help you with.
Here are some tips in helping you have a better yoga class by being smarter with what you’re eating before your yoga class.

1. Don’t eat these food that cause acid reflux!

Have you ever felt the food you’ve just eaten try and come up to your esophagus? Then that’s acid reflux. Foods that cause acid reflux are chocolate, coffee, spearmint, alcoholic drinks, onions, citrus fruit juice, spicy foods, caffeinated drinks.  We wouldn’t want to have the taste of coffee or caffeinated drinks when we’re bending or stretching. If you have to, make sure you eat at least 3 hours before your yoga session.

2. Avoid heavy foods like meats, fried foods, processed foods and pasta.

These are just filling and take long to digest. Complex carbohydrates and protein, fatty and oily, chemical-rich foods are stuff that will surely slow you down for a worthwhile yoga session. Instead, go for…

3. Fruits and vegetables.

These aren’t just easy to digest but they’re good for you. Fruits and vegetables that provide the bodies essential vitamins and nutrients, together with yoga is a perfect combination!

4. Listen to your body

Everyone’s body is unique. These rules may apply to others and might not apply to some. It is better to practice yoga on an empty stomach but we wouldn’t want you to lose concentration because you haven’t eaten anything for 6 hours or so.
Yoga is about breathing, stretching and creating “balance”. Hope that this “balance” does not only occur in your body and mind but also in your diet. Find that balance between feeling good and feeling hungry before your yoga session. Eat smart and train hard everyone!