Another n00b Question

[seleneheart]

All your comments and suggestions for my last question were really helpful. I ended up getting some things at Target, which weren't expensive at all. Some pants that were soft and loose, but not baggy, and they worked much better. I have issues with breast pain which is part of a long, complicated medical issue that led me to try yoga in the first place, to help with some of my symptoms. Anyway, I bought a top that is supportive and keeps things in place, thus reducing the pain.

My question now is food. I used to be heavily into lifting weights and it seemed like it didn't matter much what I ate as far as it affecting my ability to do the lifting.

I'm a leisurely breakfast and two cups of coffee person on the weekends, so as usual, I ate and then waited at least an hour before beginning my practice. However, possibly because of the amount of time one spends in the head down position, I felt sort of head-spinny by the end of the routine.

My only times that are free to practice are after breakfast on the weekends or after I get home from work during the week.

So . . . any food advice? I don't go without breakfast, never have in my entire life, so that's not negotiable.

Comments

[zats_clear]

and going without breakfast is not good so you are right there! how much yoga are you doing and what kind of practice will dictate what/when you eat. I find I can easily do a short 7-10 min wake up practice on an empty stomach, but then need a few hours after a meal to do a full on practice.

for your weekends, I would recommend skipping the coffee and going with a two part breakfast...something to literally break your fast (toast or fruit) that is light and then your more leisurely breakfast following your practice. regardless, I have found that coffee, tea or (ugh!) citrus juice before a practice never turns out well!

[seleneheart]

The two part breakfast seems to be the consensus!! I'll do it, starting tomorrow.

BTW, what do you consider a 'wake up practice'?

[zats_clear]

i do surya namaskar 3 times w/o the lunges incorporating warrior one, warrior two, extended side angle pose and extended triangle pose instead. whole thing takes about 7-9 minutes and stretches me out from sleeping. i do it right when i wake up and started it so i could stay in a guest bed at my mom's (horrid thing, no support) w/o needing chiropractic care when I returned home!

[piscinarii]

I usually have something small before practice - like yogurt and fruit, or oatmeal, or toast - before yoga, to keep my tummy settled and so I don't feel crappy - then after yoga will eat the rest of breakfast.

[seleneheart]

I will definitely do that tomorrow. I'm amazed that I thought yoga was just a bunch of stretching. It's so much harder than I thought.

[altamira16]

I think that the type of head down position and the quality of your instructor may make a difference as well. I had been out of practice for a while, but then I restarted recently. Our teacher had us doing many inverted postures that left me dizzy at first, but this wears off as you continue with your practice.

Camel pose was one that frequently left me dizzy.

[seleneheart]

I hope I get used to it soon!! This morning I was just hungry, even after a yogurt.

[green_grrl]

Re: the breast pain, have you learned lymphatic breast massage? I recently learned about it, and last month's period was the first time I wasn't swollen and tender in years. I wish someone had told me sooner!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq5ComJWr3Q

[seleneheart]

Thanks for that, I finally got a chance to watch it. I'll try it and hope some of the pain goes away.