Many of us can’t get through the day without our mandatory cups of coffee, coco-cola or caffeinated energy drinks. However, kicking the habit, can have a major impact on your yoga practice and life.
I used to be a full blown caffeine addict. I would drink green tea with breakfast, but I would also have a cup of black coffee and (wait for it) a can of diet coke! I felt like the bubbles helped me wake up and the caffeine got me through the day. Of course, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Everyone knows that caffeine provides a temporary energy hit that can help to wake us up, but my overload of caffeine left me feeling sick, tired and dehydrated. Apart from the caffeine, I lived a healthy lifestyle, but it wasn’t until I travelled half way across the world, to do my yoga teacher training, that I finally bit the bullet. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider giving up caffeine for good:
Do you want to be more flexible?
One of the main reasons that yogis avoid caffeine is its immediate effect on flexibility. Caffeine has an inflammatory effect on the body, which causes stiffness. Many yoga students notice a vast difference in their levels of flexibility on a caffeine free day. The dehydrating effects of caffeine, also impact flexibility and your ease of movement.
Do you want to calm the mind?
Whilst caffeine can make us feel temporarily energised, it can also make us jittery and anxious, even giving us headaches. As well as asana (which are the poses we make in yoga), mental focus is a key component of any yoga practice. Caffeine can leave us distracted and lacking in composure. This not only effects our peace of mind, clarity and stress levels but can also have a huge impact on our balance. If you are lacking in energy a dynamic yoga practice, or even just a couple of deep breaths can be all that is needed to get the blood pumping and the oxygen levels up, leaving you feeling revitalized.
Do you have trouble sleeping?
Even though we use caffeine to keep us awake in the day, when it comes to bed time it can be hard to unwind, especially if you have lots of caffeine in your system. A good nights sleep will mean you are far more lively in the day. Caffeine may even be the cause of your tiredness in the first place! If you are having trouble sleeping, yoga is a great way to regulate the sleep cycle. Poses like half tortoise and child’s pose are a great way to calm the nervous system and slow breathing should have you asleep in no time.
Are you trying to lead a healthy lifestyle?
Just like cigarettes and alcohol, caffeine is a legal drug that chemically alters the body. Whilst caffeine can act as an appetite suppressant, it does more bad than good. Cutting out caffeine is a great way to detoxify the body. If you are trying to diet, then yoga is a far better health tool than a cup of coffee. Yoga helps to even out the hormonal balances in the body, making it easier to loose weight and get into shape. As you get more serious about your practice you will find your body naturally making good choices about what it does and doesn’t want to eat. It is far better to listen to your bodies natural voice and take in the nutrients that your body needs, than try and suppress it with caffeine.
Of course, giving caffeine up can be tricky. It is so engrained in our lifestyle that cutting out a trip to the local coffee shop can even feel traumatic. Caffeine can seem like your friend! As caffeine is an addictive substance giving it up can also cause headaches, so some people suggest weaning yourself of caffeine slowly.
I personally chose to go cold turkey and I have never regretted it, not once! After a flight halfway around the world I was worried about my sleeping cycle, so chose to cut out caffeine completely. On the first night I slept like a baby and didn’t have trouble sleeping for the whole month. Yes, I had a killer headache for a couple of days but I was jet lagged, it was to be expected. On the third day, I felt fantastic!
Next time you go to your favourite cafe try swapping the coffee for your favourite herbal tea and instead of picking up even more toxic and caffeinated cold drinks, choose a coconut water, fresh juice or plain old eau!
If you can’t resists the occasional cuppa, opt for an organic, fairtrade coffee and makes sure you saver every mouthful!
Tell us what you think by leaving us a comment below.
Thank you so much for writing this article on caffeine. I have a love/hate relationship with it. I think it’s my ‘friend’ but know it’s my ‘enemy’. I’m having trouble sleeping and know it effects my yoga practice. This article has inspired me to give up… again, hopefully this time for good. Thank you again. Namaste Stacey