Yoga Wellness and Water drinking habits (Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. Be water, my friend).

‘All know that the drop merges into the ocean, but few know that the ocean merges into the drop’– KABIR

To understand water is to understand the cosmos, the marvels of nature and life itself.’– MASARU EMOTO

Water: the element of movement, feminine energy, feeling, forgiveness and cleansing. Water is emotion. Water is fluid. It has no shape of its own but rather follows the shape of the earth below it, or what holds it. We can look at our physical bodies as the incredible earthen containers of the fluid essence that flows through them, our emotions.

Our structure provides shape, but water is what fills that structure allowing it to flow and to change. Like water, we too must learn to let our energy flow, yield, cleanse, change, and release. After all, 70% of each one of us is made up of this beautiful element. Just like how the planet is made up of 70% of water bodies.

When you practice yoga, you are systematically raising the heat in the body. If you drink cold water, the heat will rapidly fall, and this will cause various other reactions. You will become more susceptible to allergic conditions, excess mucus and such things. If you are doing intense asana and you suddenly drink cold water, you may catch a cold immediately. So, don’t drink water when you are doing asana. And do not go to the bathroom during practice time because you should work out the water in the form of sweat.

Water is life and life is water. Water has memory and water element is the principle of cohesion. In the body, this emerges as nourishment, growth, and lubrication. Water element cools, moistens, adheres, soothes, softens, smoothest, dulls and spreads. Water element also regulates lubrication and connection, protecting the body and mind from the destructive nature of wind and fire elements. When we express free-flowing water element, we connect easily to others. Emotionally we feel content, express ourselves calmly and smoothly, and allow things to “roll off our back.”

Water element governs the hips, so when our connection to water element falters, our hips can be weak or very tight. Drink water only in sited positions or conch shell position for yoga cleansing therapy. You should only drink water when you are thirsty base on Yoga Sutras philosophy.

It is encouraged to take bath before and after yoga. Try to get up early in the morning drink water first, to clear your bowels, take bath and then do yoga. Our body works for the elimination of waste products in the night and it is better to get rid of the toxins after waking up.

Here’s how to drink water at the correct time to maximize its effectiveness on your Body: 

Drink two glasses of water after waking up to activate internal organs.

Drink one glass of water 30 Minutes before meals helps digestion. 

Do not drink water during meals as it may disrupt digestion process.

Drink one glass of water 30 Minutes after meals helps digestion. 

Drink one glass of water before taking a bath – helps lower blood pressure.

Drink two glass of water before 30 minutes before physical activities.

Drink 1 glass before going to bed to avoid strokes or heart attacks

The rule of thumb for overall daily water consumption is based on your body weight ½ oz. of water per pound of body weight is recommended.
That converts to 1 litre of water for every 70 pounds of body weight.

If you need motivation to drink more water, remember that it…

  • constitutes 80% of your brain
  • regulates your body temperature
  • constitutes 85% of your blood
  • helps carry nutrients and oxygen to your cells
  • moistens oxygen for breathing
  • helps converts food into energy
  • helps body absorb nutrients
  • removes wastes
  • constitutes 22% of your bones
  • constitutes 75% of your muscles
  • cushions and protects vital organs
  • cushions joints
  • maintains health of all tissues including your face & skin

Never stand and drink water

Stomach damage: when we stand and drink water, it flows easily and in great volume down the food canal and splashes onto the lower stomach wall. This splash damages the stomach wall and the nearby organs. Long term practice disturbs the digestive system and further cause’s heart and kidney problems.

Kidney damage: water intake while standing lets the water pass through kidneys with a push without much filtration. This may cause impurities to gather in the bladder or in blood. Now kidneys, bladder and heart are at stake.

Arthritis: if water is taken while standing it disturbs the balance of other body fluids. Ultimately it also affects the joint regions and cause deficiency of required fluids in joints. This results in joint pains known as arthritis.

Amazing Healing Benefits of Drinking Water in a Copper Vessel

Drinking 2 to 3 glasses of water that has been stored in a copper vessel is another easy way to supply your body with enough copper. According to Ayurveda, drinking copper-enriched water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach helps balance all three doshas (Kapha, Vata and Pitta).

Copper is an essential mineral that has many roles in the body. It helps maintain a healthy metabolism, promotes strong and healthy bones and ensures your nervous system works properly. While copper deficiency is rare, it seems that fewer people today are getting enough of the mineral.

  1. Helps the digestive system perform better.
  2. Helps heal wounds faster.
  3. Slows down ageing.
  4. Helps maintain heart health and beats hypertension.
  5. Mitigates the risk of cancer.
  6. Protects you from infections.
  7. Regulates the working of the thyroid gland.
  8. Beat’s arthritis and inflamed joints.

“I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man.”-Henry David Thoreau