International Yoga Day: 3 Things You Should Never Do Before Doing Yoga

While doing Yoga does not call for many rules to be followed, there are a few things you should definitely not do before performing a yoga routine or you may risk your health in doing them. As the world gears up to celebrate International Yoga Day on the 21st June 2017, read through the 3 top things you should avoid doing before you do yoga and get ready to join them on your mat.

1. Do not eat

While you may have heard that eating before doing yoga is not advisable, here's why it can actually be dangerous for you. Yoga involves bending, stretching and deep breathing. It also requires you to direct all your energy and thoughts into your inner core and spirit. After we eat, our body uses a lot of energy in digesting the food which can make us lethargic. Doing yoga in such a state will not get you any of the benefits of the asana as your effort will remain incomplete. Additionally, performing yoga on a full stomach can cause painful cramps, nausea and even vomiting.

 

2. Do not shower

Showering just before yoga is not recommended for reasons similar to the fact that you shouldn't shower immediately after doing yoga. A hot shower draws your blood from the glands and internal organs of your body to the surface of the skin. It also drains away essential energy that was built in your body during the yoga routine. So it is essential that you wait to take a bath after a yoga session. Similarly, it is advisable that you don't take a bath at least 2 hours before a yoga session. Another reason to avoid a bath before yoga is to see what yoga does to our body. Certain yoga poses produce heat in the body while others cool down your body to bring about the beneficial changes. Having a hot or cold water bath disrupts the temperature of the body from the normal and making it tougher for the effects of yoga to take place.

Related: International Yoga Day 2017: Did You Know The Best Time To Do Yoga?

3. Do not drink coffee

If you have ever had coffee to zap you out of your drowsiness, then you know that coffee changes the internal balance of your body. Caffeine triggers stress reaction in our body like an increased heart rate and muscle tension. This will make you unable to focus or meditate during your yoga routine, and so prevent you from reaching a positive outcome.

While a lot of things race through our mind and clamor for attention, yoga is about calming your mind to direct your energy towards an end goal. Avoid doing these things to ensure that you enjoy complete unity with your spirit while doing yoga.

Also read: International Yoga Day 201: The Do's And Don'ts Of Yoga