The Best Foods to Eat Pre- and Post-Yoga Class!

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The struggle before yoga class of being hungry, but not wanting to overdo it and spend an hour on the mat feeling uncomfortable. The conundrum of choosing what to eat after class that best serves your body’s nutritional wants and needs. Both are feelings we (and you, probably) can probably relate to!

We wanted to take a closer look at the foods that are best to eat before yoga class for a healthy and energetic practice, and what foods are best to eat after so that your body feels rejuvenated, relaxed, and awesome in general. See below for our favorites!

Pre-Class:

Tip 1? Once again, don’t overdo it! If you’re like us and enjoy an early morning before work class, or an after work early evening class, you probably know that those are a couple of the main mealtimes of the day. How to remedy the situation and not feel hungry? Snacks! Snacks are a lifesaver – whether you’re on the go to a class or on the go in general.

Below are some of our favorite, tried and true snacks for pre-class nosh:

1. Oatmeal

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is filled with soluble fiber (which is slow to digest and won’t interfere with your workout), energy-boosting carbohydrates, and magnesium, which helps boost your energy. Try bringing a small packet of to-go oatmeal with you for easy preparation on the go, or make a light portion at home for some healthy sustenance pre-pose.

2. Almonds

Almonds

Almonds are super easy to bring with you wherever you go, and provide an awesome hit of protein and healthy fats. Try roasted and unsalted almonds for the healthiest option. For some extra natural sugar to boost your energy, throw some raisins in there, too! Almonds also contain potassium, which will help to keep you from cramping up, and magnesium to maximize your energy levels.

 3. Bananas

Bananas

What’s the world’s favorite on the go fruit? Bananas! These babies are packed with natural sugar and carbs for energy, along with potassium so that you’re kept well-hydrated and aren’t hit with a leg cramp in the middle of crow pose.

What to avoid pre-class? Foods heavy in insoluble fiber (which is quicker to digest), liquid, and dairy. Foods containing large amounts of any of these can cause uncomfortable gas and/or bloating. A couple of examples include soups (no one wants to go into downward dog after eating soup), bean-heavy foods like hummus, and milk.

Post-Class:

After a workout of any kind, hydration is extremely important! Start by hydrating with some good old fashioned water before moving onto a post class snack or meal.

Then, once you’ve hydrated, focus on healthy foods packed with natural ingredients. Below are some of our favorite go-tos:

 1. Whole grain toast with peanut butter

Toast

This is a filling and healthy snack filled with protein, whole grains, and healthy fats.

2. A salad packed with greens and protein

Salad

Salad often gets a bad rap for being “boring”, but the truth is that salad can be extremely delicious! Try a mixed greens salad with healthy and delicious vegetables (think avocados, onions and tomatoes), protein (hard boiled eggs, cheeses, tofu, sunflower seeds), and a delicious balsamic vinaigrette to top it all off. This is a great way to fuel up after class and cover all the nutritional areas your body craves – and requires – after working up a sweat.

3. Greek yogurt

Yogurt

Craving something dessert-like post class but don’t want to undo all the good work you’ve just done? Go with Greek yogurt! Packed with protein, this is a sweet treat you’re sure to feel good about. Try mixing it with berries or adding some honey or Agave in for an extra kick. And, if you’re feeling extra creative, make your own Greek yogurt pops!

What to avoid? Mainly, food laziness. Resist the urge to pick up a bag of chips from the store on the way home, or to order pizza instead of taking that extra step. Your body will thank you.

For all of your yoga mat, prop, and clothing needs for looking and feeling your best during your practice, visit us today at barefootyoga.com!

Posted under Food and Cooking, Health and Fitness, Yoga News

This post was written by Carolina on October 9, 2015

Yoga Poses for Morning, Noon, and Night: Starting (and ending!) Your Day in the Best Way Possible

Morning:

CatCowPose

What an awesome stretch to start the day! If you’ve tried it before, you know how satisfying cat-cow pose it. It helps to stretch out your back and abdomen muscles, while still being a calming stretch that helps you start your day in a relaxed and restored way.

 

DownwardDog

Another great stretch for the beginning of the day! This will help wake you up and do away with some of that morning stiffness.

 

CamelPose

You’ve stretched out your back, now time for the front! Camel pose is a great way to open up your chest, torso, and hip flexors, readying you for the day ahead.

 

Noon:

Warrior1

Practicing warrior one midday, as well as transitioning into warrior two and three, is a great way to energize the middle of your day! Whether you’ve got a case of afternoon sleepiness, or your day has been a whirlwind that doesn’t show signs of slowing down, practicing some warrior poses will help to refresh, and refocus your mind and allow you to access a renewed sense of personal empowerment for a wonderful afternoon. (These are also ideal poses if you don’t have your mat with you!)

 

Warrior2

Warrior3

Night:

Upwarddog

Ah, the time to wind down, relax, and cozy up. These three poses are a great way to get your body and mind into a bedtime state of mind. Upward dog provides a deep and relaxing stretch, helping to work out the tensions accumulated throughout the day. Try doing it on your squishiest mat or on your rug for optimum comfort.

 

LegsUptheWall

This is another pose that will help to stretch you out and wind you down! And, it’s another pose ideally used with rug, mat, or blanket (depending on the level of support needed) placed underneath your back for comfort.

 

CorpsePose

This pose is the closest you’re going to get to actually laying down in bed, so why not do it right before bedtime? Take as many deep breaths as you need, and help yourself wind down and let go of any burdens from the day that are holding you down. Allow them to be released and make way for the new day to come.

To find any of the yoga products used in these photos, such as props, blankets, mats, and more, go to www.barefootyoga.com!

Please Note: All forms of exercise involve a risk of personal injury, so be mindful of what you are doing and cease to perform any of these exercises if any pain occurs and/or consult with your physician before beginning practice. Namaste.

Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Mats, Yoga News, Yoga Supplies

This post was written by Carolina on October 7, 2015

Featured Studio: Namaste Yoga

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Namaste Yoga, with locations in Oakland and Berkeley, strives to live up to their name by honoring all those who walk through their doors. Their studios center around the enrichment of their students by helping them to live their lives joyfully and in the moment, resulting in a better balance of life, family, work, and wellness.

Classes at Namaste Yoga are available in a multitude of styles such as Vinyasa Flow, Power Yoga, Prenatal Yoga and Yin Yoga. One particularly exciting and unique class is Nia Dance, which incorporates wisdom from martial arts, jazz, tai chi and modern dance into an exhilarating, yoga-based workout. In addition to their variety of yoga classes, they also offer wellness services including massage, acupuncture, Ayurveda and naturopathy.

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They also serve their community through their Namaste SEVA program, which focuses on a new cause or charitable organization each quarter. In the yogic tradition, Seva is the idea of selfless service, improving the lives of others without any expectation of reward. Recipients of Namaste SEVA’s support have included food banks, housing charities, and organizations helping at-risk children and teens.

Namaste Yoga has been a long-time customer of Barefoot Yoga, and offers a number of our products including yoga mats, mat bags and yoga blocks. If you’re in the Bay Area, stop by one of their three locations for a warm and welcoming experience!

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Posted under Eco-Friendly Yoga Products, Health and Fitness, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Mats, Yoga News, Yoga Studios, Yoga Supplies, Yoga Teachers

This post was written by Lauren on October 6, 2015