Are you interested in yoga? I highly recommend that you pursue your plan because it's one of the best ways to improve your body and mind. Learning yoga will also improve your digestion. One of the first things you'll have to learn as you pick up this workout is the type of food you should eat before a practice.

After all, you don’t know what will happen to your tummy with all the twisting and turning that's done in a yoga class. Should you eat a full meal before yoga? Or is skipping a meal recommended? What foods are OK to eat prior to having a yoga session? Let's answer some questions.

Is it OK to eat a full meal before yoga?

Most experts agree that doing yoga poses with a full belly can cause major problems like stomachaches and bloating.

The rule of thumb is to stop eating one to two hours before a yoga class. Doing so should help you avoid painful digestive problems.

You should also avoid eating meat and other foods that are slow to digest because you could suffer from indigestion. Spicy and saucy foods, as well as vegetables, aren’t ideal either.

So what foods should you be eating before rolling your yoga mat?

Here are six foods that you can choose from:

Bananas

Bananas are one of the more popular pre-workout foods. It is easy to know why.

For one, it's very portable. You can easily bring a banana or two in your bag and eat it an hour before going to your yoga session. It's also rich in potassium.

Aside from helping you sleep better , bananas are an excellent source of magnesium that can prevent cramps and flatulence. You won’t have to worry about those digestive problems when you eat this nutritious fruit.

Almonds

Almonds can help sustain your energy levels throughout your yoga session. Similar to bananas, almonds are rich in potassium. They also have magnesium and high levels of vitamin E.

Almonds are also high in riboflavin. Also known as vitamin B2, they ensure proper flow of oxygen in the body and its conversion to energy.

Moreover, almonds will make you feel satiated to the point that you won’t be thinking of grabbing a sandwich before you hit the yoga mat.

Oatmeal

This is another light snack that you can enjoy an hour or so before going to a yoga class. Oatmeal can make you feel full. It's also rich in fiber and can help keep your blood sugar at stable levels. It's also packed with magnesium.

One major concern about oatmeal is that it’s a bit boring. But you can add fixings like blueberries and cranberries to make it sweet. The additions are also healthier replacements to maple syrup.

But don’t eat too much oatmeal before a yoga class. Half a cup of this tasty and nutritious snack should be enough to keep you satiated throughout your session.

Dark chocolate

Chocolate might have a reputation for being a calorie-rich snack, but dark chocolates can actually be a very good food to eat prior to working out. It can increase the flow of blood to your brain so you can better focus during your yoga class. It also has the chemical phenylethylamine – which stimulates the brain to release endorphins. Plus, it's packed with caffeine which can enhance alertness.

Prunes

This one might raise your eyebrows, but a small serving of prunes (about 1 ounce) actually has less than a gram of fiber, so I can assure you that prunes are safe to eat before a yoga class.

Prunes are rich in potassium. A pack of prunes has about 300 milligrams of this energy-giving mineral. Plus, like bananas and dark chocolates, prunes are easily portable. You should not have any problem bringing one and eating it while on the way to class.

Greek yogurt

As long as you are not lactose-intolerant, consuming a small serving of Greek yogurt should help you get through a yoga class. It's rich in protein and lactose that can sustain your energy levels.

Indeed, there are plenty of snacks that you can have an hour or so before going to a yoga session. These foods are all nutritious and can give you the energy you need to last through a yoga class. I suggest you stock portable foods like bananas, yogurt and almonds so you can grab one of them before heading out.

What do you like to eat before yoga? Let us know!

Susan Conley