Any Raw Bikram Yogis/Yoginis?

[Vegansara]

I do Bikram method yoga and am planning on going to the teacher training next year.

I'm also transitioning to raw, and am wondering what others eat before/after class, what makes you feel like you are feeding your body enough?

Also, I'm pretty sure that Bikram yoga and a raw food lifestyle will quickly have me in the best shape of my life in no time - and then I'll get to just stay there :) What have been other people's experiences?

[Aleesha Sattva]

i don't do bikram but i do yoga 5 days a week. i eat nothing - i drink nothing before my morning class and if i go to class in the evening i try to eat/drink a few hours before. i prefer to do yoga with an empty tummy... i find i feel so much better that way.

(((hug))) and welcome!
Aleesha

[Vegansara]

Thanks Aleesha! I usually go in the evenings after work, and then head straight to bed - do you usually eat after? I have this idea that I need protein after a workout, do you think a handful of nuts would be sufficient? Or can someone debunk this as a myth for me?

Thanks :)

[Dimond]

Since you're new to raw, you may find you need food. I always found a smoothie beforehand and afterwards helped. But you can experiment with what you need. I wouldn't try no food right away though. At least some light fruit, if not a smoothie. I've been raw for awhile and sometimes I can exercise on an empty stomach, sometimes not. At night it's easier than the morning when I'm usually starving. Just listen to your body. Nuts are not the best if you're going to sleep right after since you want easy-to digest foods then.

[RawLibrarian]

Thanks Aleesha! I usually go in the evenings after work, and then head straight to bed - do you usually eat after? I have this idea that I need protein after a workout, do you think a handful of nuts would be sufficient? Or can someone debunk this as a myth for me?

Thanks :)

What I do after a Bikram class is have a banana and drink coconut water once I clean up after class and while I am walking to the Metro. I don't wait till I get home. The potassium in the banana really helps after sweating so heavily; ditto the electrolytes in the coconut water. Once I'm home, I will have a salad or something.

Personally I think people in the US are obsessed with protein deficiency. People who are in a starvation mode get true protein deficiency diseases like marasmus or kwakiorkor; the vast majority of people in this country, raw foodists included, do not get these diseases unless they have been badly malnourished for a long time (like with anorexia) ... and if you're following Alissa's guidelines, that simply won't happen. You could always have some hemp seeds (less fatty and easier to digest than nuts) by themselves or on a salad if you are worried about protein after your class.

[Vegansara]

Thank you for the replies! Can I ask about coconut water - how do you get it? Do you buy it or do you have to drain it from the coconut yourself? And if so, how long does it keep - could I keep it in the fridge all day?

Thanks for the tip on the hemp seeds. I know I don't need tons of protein after class, but I can feel the difference when I don't have any.

Thanks again!

[RawLibrarian]

Thank you for the replies! Can I ask about coconut water - how do you get it? Do you buy it or do you have to drain it from the coconut yourself? And if so, how long does it keep - could I keep it in the fridge all day?

Thanks for the tip on the hemp seeds. I know I don't need tons of protein after class, but I can feel the difference when I don't have any.

Thanks again!

Well, coconut water is something I cheat on, since I get it boxed (Vita Coco)--it isn't raw because it is pasteurized. I simply don't want to hassle with hacking open a coconut and my health food store does not sell them. 'Real' fresh coconut water lasts a couple of days in the fridge. I got some fresh once (from a raw chef here--he opened it and drained the water into a jar for me.) It started going 'off' after about 4 or 5 days. Coconut water is full of electrolytes (and I like the taste too); I highly recommend it for rehydration.

[Aleesha Sattva]

i order a case from a local market... fresh is always best!!!

and no i don't eat after i work out at yoga unless i'm hungry. i always let my body lead me!

[freshlight]

Wow Aleesha, 5 days a week! I went there last week for the first time ever and it was AMAZING! I'm definitely going to go there again. The best bit for me was at the end when she said that we should bow and thank our body...so true: do we ever do that?? I bet not often enough. Happy yoga time, everyone!

[SparklePlenty]

Love this thread since I just committed to 30 days of yoga. My intention is to revfitalize my adrenals and yoga is one component of my multi-dimensional plan. :)

[Corbeau]

I do yoga every day at home, and only go to classes every other saturday. I think yoga and raw go together like raw cacao and gogi berries! Perfect match! I usually don't get around to doing yoga until after lunch, so I usually do it with some food in my belly ( i've usually had a smoothie and a salad by then).

[RawSar]

When I was doing Bikram Yoga I never ate right before the class. I always had the best classes on an empty stomach. If I did eat, especially something heavy it wanted to come back up during the whole class. I only did that a couple times... lesson learned. :p
As for after if it was in the evening that I finished I would have some goji berry water and that's it. Usually I wanted to go straight to sleep after class in the evenings.
If the class was in the AM or Afternoon I would usually have a big class of green smoothie - it does the body good ;)
I wish I could get fresh organic unbleached coconut here, otherwise I would definitely have a class of coconut water too!
I miss going to Bikram Yoga - I was obsessed with it !!!!!!!!!

[mizmoo]

I have found that if I eat anything within the three hour period before a class I feel a bit sick. On coming out I usually have a green smoothie with me or a banana.

The smoothie usually consists of cucumber, a stick of celery (for electrolytes) kale (if I have it) and hemp seeds and/or flax seed powder. Hemp seeds are an excellent source of protein. I would say that nuts are two hard to digest straight after exercise, especially since most of the blood has left your stomach to concentrate on other parts of your body.

I fix the smoothie in the morning and keep it in the fridge at work until class. I got alot of info from a raw athlete www.runningraw.com

Hope that helps!

[DwightLight]

You shouldn't eat anything two hours before a yoga class, especially if you'll be doing inversions (shoulderstand, headstand etc). You can drink juice within 30 to 45 minutes of class if you're hungry, that will help hold you over. After class I enjoy Oranges... there's something about citrus after yoga that I love, really watery fruit, yum.

[eileencrone]

Hi: I teacher YogaFit style of yoga and also practice ashtanga yoga on my own. The union of raw food and yoga is perfect! I usually eat fruit early if I practice or teach in the morning. I might have some tahini on celery an hour or so before I teach in the evening. Good luck with your training.
Eileen

[eileencrone]

I recently heard Tonya Zavasta talk about her new book Raw Food and Hot Yoga. You may want to check that out at www.beautifulonraw.com
Eileen