Comments on: water tips for hot yoga

By: Naz

Naz — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:05:22 +0000

Hot yoga is extremely taxing on the body and my experience has been that no matter how well I am hydrated before class, I need to take in sips of water on frequent basis. Preparing for hot yoga starts by hydrating the body a couple of days with copious amount of water and electrolytes.

By: Carlos Melden

Carlos Melden — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:53:43 +0000

“bossy” and true yoga, have nothing to do with each other. Plus, who wants to do the same 26 postures every practice?

Long live Ahimsa! Long Live HOT VINYASA!

By: ReggieJackson

ReggieJackson — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:52:52 +0000

I started doing Bikram just over 4 months ago and go four times a week. There are good reasons not to chug down water. I sip after the first water break and then when I need to. The reason you don’t want to towel off is that the sweat cools you off. I love Bikram!!!! Yes the instructors are bossy, but they want you to be safe and to have a good class. Also, people moving around or drinking while others are in postures is just obnoxious and dangerous.

By: apimom

apimom — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:14:40 +0000

Instructors showing displeasure? Own views, rules, allowed? What am I? A little kid in kindergarden?

Just picture the same things pertaining to a cashier at a supermarket. I am the customer – I need to be considerate, not to impose my view and behaviour unto others but I am paying for my pleasure not to please an instructor or be allowed to do certain things – sorry guys!

Suggestions are fine and I personally usually do not drink during a class, as it gives me a stomach ache.

On the other hand I work in another sports related field and the “allowed” statements comes from quite a few customers as some of them seem to get high on the allowed and rule feelings?

So take a sip when you feel you need it, please do not bang bottles on the floor and try to be as unobtrusive as possible. One person in a 40 people yoga class doing something else is quite noticable to everybody else and it does change the flow of the class.

How about common sense on each end? And to all instructors: consider the Club Med approach!

By: worksy

worksy — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:14:10 +0000

My fave Bikram yoga teacher always says “drink when you need to but drink in between the postures.” In the 2.5 years I’ve been practicing Bikram in different cities and different instructors, nobody will yell at you for drinking outside of prescribed water breaks as long as you are considerate of others (especially during balancing poses!)

By: pound

pound — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:20:53 +0000

When I practice hot yoga I am very conscious of taking in plenty of electrolytes in addition to water. Sweat isn’t just water; it is also composed of many different salts. Some people who drink and drink during class but just feel worse and worse may be diluting the remaining electrolytes in their blood at the same time as sweating them out. I know I feel awful if I drink too much water.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:23:28 +0000

Interesting string. I go to Moksha, and they are cool about drinking when you need to. I like to gentle suggestions to wait until the class is warmed up, and the prompting to drink between certain poses. Some studios and instructors seem to focus on the student and his/her pratice. Others seem to have more focus on the etiquette. Find what works for you. In defense of those instructors who set aside drinking times, I hate it when I get distracted by those loud plastic bottles in the middle of meditation.

Be peaceful, present, and less rigid.

By: Nicoya

Nicoya — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 03:38:57 +0000

Drinking water during hot yoga does not hydrate you.

By: dolly

dolly — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:52:11 +0000

Currently, I’m practising bikram yoga in kl and the instructor has his own views about drinking water. He shows his displeasure when we drink water before the tree pose and one other pose. I find it so confusing when the instructors do not share the same rules.Other instructors have allowed us to drink anytime after the eagle pose. Get your act right!

By: HumbleMama

HumbleMama — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:47:51 +0000

I practice hot yoga at Yoga Tropics in Encinitas, CA. The instructors never have a problem with people drinking water in class. They encourage you to drink when you feel the need to. That being said, some instructors point out that too much water can put out your internal fire. I personally very rarely drink during class. I found myself kind of obsessing about it during class which made me really unfocused. I have in turn put my focus on my breathing which has now taken my practice to the next level. Too much water, for me, made it hard to keep my breath and to move into the postures. Do what works best for you.

By: Jbizzle

Jbizzle — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:21:50 +0000

Hate Bikram. Bunch of water nazis, and control freaks.

Yoga is about you, do what feels good. Shouldn’t be about them forcing you through their boring class.

By: Arielle

Arielle — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:00:34 +0000

One thing that may not have been mentioned already: at the Bikram studio where I practice the instructors ask that we drink after the balance series and between postures so as not to affect other students’ balance/concentration. When students are moving in unison with similar focus it does great things for the energy in the room and improves everyone’s practice! That being said, it is yoga practice, not yoga perfect (as my favorite teacher is fond of reminding us…!)

By: Gina

Gina — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 07:11:09 +0000

I totally get why people are turned off by the two-water-break “rule” in a traditional Bikram class…but, there is a method to the madness! A couple things to consider:
>On average, it takes 30-60 minutes for your body to process/digest water, so drinking during class doesn’t actually help you to be more hydrated during practice.
>Your body sends blood to your digestive system to do the processing/digesting…which means that blood isn’t available for your muscles and your cooling system. You need your systems to work effectively and efficiently to get the most out of your practice.
>Bikram yoga is a discipline, and learning to prepare properly and maintain focus without distraction will lead to the greatest benefit.

So, if the water thing is a Bikram deal-breaker for you, cool…thankfully there are many other yoga options : )

One last thought – more important than your water bottle, is your breath!

By: Helen

Helen — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:10:47 +0000

i second heather’s and natasha’s comments, and similar. if your yoga instructor is a “water nazi” (or any kind of nazi) you should probably find a new teacher.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 06:17:03 +0000

Hii there !!

I do Moksha (hot yoga) between 3 to 5 times a week and how it works here is you can have some water whenever you like but it is best to wait between poses or when they is a downdog so you can jump right back in with the class. By all means if you need water go for it ! There is no rule in Moksha bout when , where or how to drink your water :”)

Also something very important .. always go into class well hydrated !! And don’t forget to drink plenty of water after class to re-hydrate your body , especially after sweating all those toxins out in the hot classes!! :”)