For so many of us, it’s part of the routine: brew a pot of coffee before work in the morning, pick up a cup when the afternoon slump sets. As a part of living a healthy lifestyle, you might wonder if your daily coffee and yoga habits are compatible, or if drinking coffee might be adversely affecting your practice. Our team of experts explore what it means to be a coffee drinker and a yogi at the same time.
The Case for Coffee and Yoga
You likely already know the benefits of yoga for your body and your mind, but what about the perks of drinking coffee? In addition to helping you wake up or shake off grogginess, recent research shows that coffee has some pretty great health benefits. Coffee is full of antioxidants, which help ward off disease. Coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers, strokes, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also true that drinking too much coffee can have negative side effects, like insomnia, acid reflux, and dependency. While coffee drinking doesn’t necessarily help your yoga practice, having a cup of coffee after you wake up isn’t likely to interfere with your five o’clock practice. In moderation, coffee and yoga can coexist as a part of a healthy routine.
When You Should Never Drink Coffee
Drinking coffee right before you step onto your mat is almost always a recipe for unrest. What most coffee drinkers love about the beverage is that little jolt you get shortly after finishing a cup. While it could be tempting to hit the java to give yourself a little “push” on days when you might not feel like getting on your mat, coffee and yoga just don’t mix right before practice. You may have difficulty relaxing, experience an upset stomach, or feel jittery during moments when you should be feeling calm.
At the end of the day, the healthiest yoga practices and the healthiest eating habits are all about balance. If you’re not ready to give up your morning latte, that’s okay. But be wary of drinking too much coffee, or drinking it right before your yoga class. Coffee certainly can have a negative impact on your yoga practice, but coffee and yoga can also coexist as a part of the same healthy lifestyle.
